bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The yield of early-pregnancy HOMA-IR index for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus in different BMI and age groups
Authors: Hashemipour Sima , Zohal Mahnaz , Modarresnia Leila , Kolaji Sepideh , Panahi Hamidreza , Badri Milad , Chopani Sarah Mirzaeei , Kelishomi Sara Esmaeili , ghassemi Amirabbas , Ghafelehbashi Seyyed Hamidreza
Published: September 2023

Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a highly prevalent disorder with maternal and neonatal complications. Early prediction of GDM can be beneficial for lifestyle modifications to prevent GDM.
Method: This study is part of the Qazvin Maternal and Neonatal Metabolic Study (QMNMS) in Iran in which pregnant women with gestational age ≤14 weeks were enrolled and followed until delivery to investigate the risk factors for maternal and neonatal complications. The predictive value and best cut-off of early-pregnancy Homeostasis of Model Assessment -Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) to predict GDM in BMI and age categories were evaluated using logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis, respectively.
Results: GDM was developed in 16.7% of 772 participants who completed the study. In the logistic regression analysis, the third HOMA-IR tertile was independently associated with 3.7 times higher GDM development (95% CI:1.9-7.3, P<0.001). Despite the high prevalence of GDM in advanced maternal age (GDM rate=30.9%), HOMA-IR had no association with GDM occurrence in this high-risk group. In both normal BMI and overweight/obese groups, HOMA-IR was a moderate predictor of GDM development (AUC=0.638, P=0.005 and AUC=0.622, P=0.008, respectively). However, the best cut-off for predicting GDM was 2.06 (sensitivity 67.5%, specificity 61.1%) in normal BMI and 3.13 (sensitivity 64.6%, specificity61.8%) in overweight/obese BMI.
Conclusion: The present study revealed the necessity of considering the baseline GDM risk group when using the HOMA-IR index to predict GDM. Using lower cut-offs is more accurate for women with a normal BMI. In the advanced maternal age, there is no yield of HOMA-IR for predicting GDM.
Effect of body fat mass loss on prognosis of radical resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on bioelectrical impedance analysis
Authors: Shibata Yoshiyuki , Sudo Takeshi , Tazuma Sho , Sada Haruki , Tanimine Naoki , Shimada Norimitsu , Tazawa Hirofumi , Suzuki Takahisa , Onoe Takashi , Shimizu Yosuke , Tashiro Hirotaka , Yamaguchi Atsushi , Takahashi Shinya
Published: September 2023

Background
Few reports have performed a prognostic analysis based on bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with radical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and its usefulness in prognostic analysis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate body composition changes in patients undergoing radical resection for PDAC and analyze its impact on prognosis.
Methods
The medical records of radical resection for patients with PDAC were retrospectively reviewed, and the parameters of body composition, including body weight, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass (BFM), and extracellular water-total body water ratio, from preoperatively to 12 months postoperatively, for each surgical procedure were measured based on direct segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody 770 (InBody Inc., Tokyo, Japan) device. The clinicopathological and prognostic factors were analyzed.
Results
Among 79 patients who underwent radical resection for PDAC, 36 (46%), 7 (8%), and 36 (46%) underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, total pancreatectomy, and distal pancreatectomy, respectively. The multivariate overall survival analysis demonstrated that BFM loss percentage at 1 month postoperatively ≧ 14% (p = 0.021), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.014), and non-adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001) were independent poor prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative BFM < 12 kg and preoperative albumin < 3.5 g/dL were independently associated with BFM loss percentage at 1 month postoperatively ≧ 14% (p = 0.016 and p = 0.047, respectively).
Conclusions
Loss of BFM in the early postoperative period may have a poor prognosis in radical resection of PDAC.
Comparing MMSE and RUDAS in detecting cognitive impairment: A population-based study from Punjab, North India
Authors: Yadav Neha , Chaudhary Vineet , saraswathy Kallur Nava , Dhamija Rajinder Kumar , Devi Naorem Kiranmala
Published: September 2023

Background
The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) are commonly used tools for screening cognitive impairment (CI) in epidemiological research globally. However, discrepancies have been noted in their ability to detect CI. Hence, present study was carried out to understand the test performance of MMSE and RUDAS among adults of a homogeneous group of rural Punjab, North India.
Methods
A total of 956 adults aged 18–75 years of both sexes, were recruited from the Jat Sikh community in rural Punjab. Sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, employment status, annual income, family size) and lifestyle variables (smoking behavior, alcohol intake, and diet pattern) were collected using pretested and modified interview schedules. CI screening was performed using MMSE and RUDAS tools. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 22.
Results
The overall prevalence of CI was found to be 40.3% and 27.8% using MMSE & RUDAS respectively. MMSE and RUDAS demonstrated a moderate correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.43) and a moderate agreement (Kappa value = 0.42). The highest concordance (79.1%) between the two tools in detecting CI was observed among elderly participants ( > = 60 years). Furthermore, in sociodemographic and lifestyle categories, both tools showed relatively higher concordance, with no discrepancies among the elderly group.
Conclusions
MMSE and RUDAS have shown a moderate correlation and agreement among the studied group. However, relatively higher concordance was observed among elderly individuals. Hence, both the screening tools should primarily be used for the elderly group. Whereas, modifications maybe needed to administer them on the younger group.
Differentially Expressed Genes and Pathways between Reversible and Irreversible Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Congenital Heart Disease Investigated by Bioinformatics Analysis in Rat Model
Authors: Zeng Haowei , Lan Beidi , Liu Xiaoqin , Xie Hang , Zhang Yushun
Published: September 2023

Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) is one of the common types of PAH. Although the treatments of PAH–CHD are greatly advanced, it is still characterized by a poor prognosis, especially in its irreversible stage. The molecular mechanism underpinning the transition from the reversible stage to the irreversible stage is not well established.
Methods and results
GSE149899 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, which is a dataset harvested from rat PH model induced by monocrotaline together with aortocaval shunt ((control (n = 5), reversible (n = 12), irreversible (n = 6)). R software was used to determine 252, 445, and 880 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control group and the reversible PAH-CHD, the control group and the irreversible PAH-CHD, the reversible and irreversible PAH-CHD, respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed the biological functions of these DEGs. We concluded that common DEGs between reversible and irreversible PAH-CHD mainly enriched in the cell cycle, the p53 signaling pathway. The unique DEGs of reversible PAH-CHD involved in cell cycle, base excision repair. DEGs exclusively found in irreversible PAH-CHD were associated with complement and coagulation cascades, ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, The P53 signaling pathway, ferroptosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, cell cycle, complement and coagulation cascades were up-regulated both in reversible and irreversible groups, but up-regulation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cell cycle were more pronounced in the reversible group, whereas ferroptosis and complement and coagulation cascades was more pronounced in the irreversible group. The TNF signaling pathway, cellular senescence, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway were exclusively up-regulated in the reversible group, while the renin-angiotensin system was up-regulated and the AMPK signaling pathway was down-regulated exclusively in the irreversible groups.
Conclusions
The distinguishing pathways and hub genes between reversible and irreversible PAH-CHD may be attributable to the loss of reversibility of PAH-CHD in the end stages, and may cast new light on future research.
Relationship between oral health and depression: data from the National Health Survey
Authors: Palomer Tomás , Ortuño Duniel , Ramirez Valeria
Published: September 2023

Objective
To evaluate the relationship between oral health status, self-perception of oral health, and depression.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 2953 individuals that were ≥ 18 years of age and participated in the Chilean National Health Survey (NHS), 2016–2017. Information on oral, dental, and mental health, and the presence or absence of depressive symptoms was collected. Secondary data analysis was carried out using STATA and included logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, and educational level. All expansion factors were taken into consideration.
Results
Participants experiencing frequent dental or prosthesis-related discomfort while eating (odds ratios (OR): 1.58; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.99–2.54) or speaking (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.01–2.43) were at a higher risk of exhibiting suspected depression compared to those who did not experience these difficulties. The odds (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.65–2.16) of having been diagnosed with depression in the past 12 months were also higher among participants experiencing frequent dental or prosthesis-related discomfort. Removable upper denture users were at a higher risk of exhibiting suspected (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.11–3.74) compared to those that did not use them. Participants diagnosed with depression in the past 12 months had a slightly lower number of teeth (median = 24) compared to those without depression (median = 25), although this difference was not statistically significant (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.96–1.02).
Conclusion
Experiencing dental or prosthesis-related difficulties in in eating, speaking, and social interactions is associated with an increased risk of suspected depression or a diagnosis of depression. These findings highlight the importance of developing comprehensive healthcare approaches that consider mental health in the context of oral health.
Detection of Indian isolates of soil borne and tuber borne Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) infecting Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through LAMP assay
Authors: T ARCHANA , A Kamalakannan , C GOPALAKRISHNAN , I JOHNSON , L RAJENDRAN , S Varanavasiappan , S RAJESH , P THAMARAISELVI S
Published: September 2023

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is one of the most notorious plant diseases of potato and causes severe yield losses globally. R. solanacearum produce fluidal white colored colonies with a light pink centre on CPG medium. Bacterial wilt pathogen is a soil as well as tuber borne, so earlier detection of bacterial wilt pathogen is necessary to take up timely management practices. Traditional methods used for detection of R. solanacearum are labor-intensive, expensive, time-consuming and can be carried out only in well-equipped laboratories. Hence, the present study was aimed to develop a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for R. solanacearum, as an alternative approach for quick and efficient detection of the bacterial wilt. LAMP reaction mix was optimized by adjusting the concentrations of MgSO4, dNTPs, betaine, time, temperature etc. The optimum temperature and time for the detection of R. solanacearum was 65°C for 50 minutes. The positive samples showed colour change from violet and reconfirmed in 2% agarose gel electrophoresis which produced ladder like bands. The LAMP assay developed was highly specific to detect R. solanacearum from other bacteria and sensitive with a lowest detection limit of 10 pg/µl of template DNA. The developed LAMP assay was validated with R. solanacearum isolates, infected stem, tubers and soil and also it was capable of detecting latent infection of R. solanacearum in seed tubers. Hence, LAMP assay protocol provides a rapid, specific and sensitive tool for the latent detection of R. solanacearum in seed potato tubers.
Impacts Investigation of Gas Barrier on Effective Thermal Conductivity and Service Life of Vacuum Insulation Panel
Authors: Shi Mingxiao , Yang Lixia , Chen Zhaofeng , Kan Ankang , Zhang Jiaxiang
Published: September 2023

Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) are highly efficient thermal insulation materials with extremely low thermal conductivity based on the vacuum principle. With the sealing properties of the gas barrier envelopes, long service life of the VIP is obtained. The mechanism and influence factors of gas and water vapor permeability were mathematically analyzed to explore the influence of gas barrier envelopes on the thermal performance of VIPs. Three typical gas barriers were studied and the selection of the gas barrier and other aspects of optimization were involved. The relationships among temperature, humidity, solubility coefficient, diffusion coefficient, and permeability were concluded, which shows that temperature has a much greater effect on the permeability of the gas barrier relative to humidity. The numerical analysis and influencing factors of VIPs’ service life were also exemplified with three different types of gas barrier envelopes. The experimental results show that depending on the environment, the temperature has a major impact on the effective thermal conductivity and service life of VIP. The research was significant in the selection of gas barriers, the optimization of the performance, and the development of vacuum insulation material༎
Protective effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide on fibroblasts after MGO-induced nonenzymatic glycation
Authors: Chen Chunyu , Liu Xiaoxing , Li Li , Guo Miaomiao , He Yifan , Dong Yinmao , Meng Hong , YI Fan
Published: September 2023

Background
Nonenzymatic glycation of fibroblasts causes functional downregulation and behavioral disorders in skin.
Methods
To investigate the effect of Inonotus obliquus on the nonenzymatic glycation of skin, we examined advanced glycation end product (AGE) inhibition by four extract fractions: n-butanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and aqueous alcoholic precipitation. The physical properties and chemical structure of the most effective, purified, crude I. obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) were examined. The effects of IOP on carboxymethyl lysine (CML) accumulation, inflammatory factor release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, key extracellular matrix (ECM) protein (MMPs 1, 2 and 9, FN-1, LM-5 and COL-1) mRNA expression and cell survival, migration and adhesion were examined by cellular assays.
Results
The results showed that IOP is a polysaccharide with a molecular weight Mw of 2.396×104 (± 6.626%), which is mainly composed of glucose, galactose, xylose, mannose and arabinose (29.094:21.705:14.857:9.375:7.709). In addition, the results of cellular anti-glycation assay showed that IOP had strong anti-glycation activity in the range of 6–24 µg/mL, which could promote ECMs by inhibiting the accumulation of CML, inhibit the release of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1\-2\-9), and promote the ECMs (COL1, FN1, LM5) protein synthesis, and improve cellular dysfunction.
Conclusion
The IOPs effectively reduced the levels of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species caused by AGEs, further prevented the impairment of cell behaviour (decreased migration levels, reduced cell adhesion) and prevented the downregulation of expression of key extracellular matrix proteins due to AGEs. The results indicate the potential application of IOPs as AGE inhibitors in skin care.
Two-dimensional high resolution electron properties of femtosecond laser-induced plasma filament in atmospheric pressure argon
Authors: Bak Junhwi , Rincon Gerardo Urdaneta , Pokharel Sagar , Miles Richard , Tropina Albina
Published: September 2023

This work reports the measurement of two-dimensional electron properties across a femtosecond laser-induced plasma filament in atmospheric pressure argon. Radial electron properties across the ~100 um diameter filament are obtained at discrete axial locations at 2.5 mm steps by one-dimensional high-resolution laser Thomson scattering with a spatial resolution of 10 um. These measurements reveal comprehensive plasma structural information in the filament. The Thomson spectral lineshapes exhibit clear spectral sidebands with an α parameter ~1, enabling the measurement of both electron temperature and density profiles. These measurements yield electron densities on the order of 1022/m3 and electron temperatures on the order of 1 eV, which are in good agreement with past works. Heating from the probe laser due to inverse bremsstrahlung is taken into account to correct the Thomson scattering electron temperature measurements. Under these conditions electron-neutral collision induced bremsstrahlung becomes the dominant laser-induced plasma heating process. The measurements reveal structural features of the filament, including an asymmetrically skewed density structure in the axial direction and reversed radial distributions of electron density and temperature.
Wigner’s friend scenario and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics v2
Authors: Li Qian
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of "Wigner's friend" and point out that new understanding should be made to Born's rule and measurement process: Born's rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system's, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek's views, we believe that Born's rule reflects the coordination between different parts of the measured results in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the history records. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed, which is an objective interpretation. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner's friend-like scenarios or paradoxes extending Wigner's friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings brand-new perspectives to many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new interpretation in the future.
An Effective Approach for Load Balancing and Resource Scheduling in Cloud-Based Healthcare Communication
Authors: Sohal Asha , Khatkar Monika
Published: September 2023

Cloud computing is frequently utilized in distributed environments to handle user demands for resources and services. In order to respond to user requests for resources within a specific time window, resource scheduling is utilized. Healthcare management and systems rely on internet-connected smart gadgets in today's environment. These devices manage the enormous volumes of data that smart medical sensors process and collect while maintaining performance parameters like throughput and latency. To avoid any insensitivity, load balancing amongst the smart operating devices has become necessary. Both a distributed and centralized approach to managing massive amounts of data is achieved through load balancing (LB). LB architecture for scheduling in resource deployment in cloud-based healthcare terms is elaborated in this study. Authors use various reinforcement learning algorithms and Q-learning techniques for resource scheduling. These algorithms are used in cloud-based healthcare systems to forecast the best method to manage demand. The recommended system offers a short fabrication time, low energy consumption, and reduced latency time. Utilizing performance measurements for throughput, time of make-span, and latency rate, the suggested approaches performance is examined using MATLAB. The make span in this work is smaller than in the current process, and the proposed mechanism has a higher throughput.
The Tarímbaro-Álvaro Obregón Fault, a major structure of the Morelia-Acambay Fault System in Central México
Authors: Gómez-Vasconcelos Martha Gabriela , Avellán Denis Ramón , García Jesús Ávila , Lacan Pierre , Israde-Alcántara Isabel , García Oscar , Castellano Jelime Aray , Audin Laurence
Published: September 2023

Seismic hazard assessment in central México is essential considering the numerous crustal active faults crossing densely populated cities. The Morelia-Acambay Fault System in central México comprises at least thirty active E-W normal faults that affect Miocene to Holocene units and are responsible for several devastating earthquakes. However, most of these faults are unstudied; their behavior and seismogenic potential are unknown. The ENE-striking ~ 40-km-long Tarímbaro-Álvaro Obregón (TAO) fault is one of these major tectonic structures. It is located on the northern border of the Morelia Metropolitan area, where more than one million inhabitants live within 10 km of the fault. We studied this normal fault by means of a detailed and multidisciplinary characterization due to its large surface expression and the current anthropization, which makes the use of classical techniques difficult. This study integrates geological, geophysical, seismological, and paleoseismic data, providing data for a better seismic hazard assessment. The TAO fault zone comprises three right-stepping en échelon segments separated by relay zones. This study reveals a mean vertical slip rate of 0.04 ± 0.08 mm/yr, and 1.3 m of single-event vertical displacement. The TAO fault can produce magnitude 6.2 to 7.2 earthquakes, representing a significant potential seismic source in central México.
Hybrid Model for Sentiment Analysis Combination of PSO, Genetic Algorithm and Voting Classification
Authors: Srivast Garima , Singh Vaishali , Kumar Sachin
Published: September 2023

Sentiment analysis of texts in social media has received a lot of attention in the fields of natural language processing and data mining in recent years as a result of the growth of social network services like Twitter and Weibo. Users of social media can share information on their platforms, and their numbers are always growing. As is common knowledge, themes and domains and sentiment analysis are strongly intertwined. It would be exceedingly challenging to manually gather enough labelled data from the large-scale social media, which covers a wide range of topics, to train sentiment classifiers for many domains. The various machine learning models is proposed in the previous years for the sentiment analysis. It is analyzed that models which are already been proposed are unable to attain good accuracy. In this paper, novel model is proposed which is the combination of PSO and genetic algorithm for the feature extraction and voting method is used for the classification. The proposed model is implemented in python and performance is measured in terms of accuracy, precision and recall. The proposed model is also tested on three different datasets with different number of instances. The datasets which are used for the sentiment analysis is of twitter and are collected using Tweepy API.
The Effectiveness of Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) in Facial Nerve Crush Injury
Authors: Balaban Emre , Demir Emine , Erdivanlı Özlem Çelebi , Mercantepe Tolga , Gökçe Fatih Mehmet , Tümkaya Levent , Dursun Engin
Published: September 2023

Objectives
This study aims to evaluate the effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on regeneration of facial nerve after crush injury.
Materials and Methods
A total of 14 rats were randomized into 2 groups.Control group (CG) (n = 7) received crush injury to the right facial nerve.CGF group (CGFG) (n = 7) received crush injury to the right facial nerve and consentrated growth factor prepared from their own blood thereafter.Left facial nerves were used for functional comparison.Nerve function was evaluated with whisker movements and electromyography.Histologic properties were evaluated with Hematoxylene-Eosin and Masson-trichrome staining;immunohistochemical properties were evaluated with degeneration markers Neurofilament-H and Anti-Tau.
Results
In CGFG,whisker functions both started earlier to recover and recovered more quickly compared with CG.CG showed significantly prolonged latency and reduced amplitudes in the first week compared with CGFG (p < 0.05).Recordings of 4th week latency and amplitudes were similar to the preoperative period in CGFG (p > 0.05);whereas recordings of same week were significantly worse in CG (p < 0.05).Edema and fibrosis were also more pronounced in CG compared with CGFG.Neurofilament-H and Anti-Tau significantly high in CG (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Concentrated growth factor promotes recovery in facial crush injury.It may prove as a cost-effective,practical and effective treatment choice in peripheral nerve injury.
Clinical Relevance:
This study aims to evaluate the effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on regeneration of facial nerve after crush injury.
A mechanistic investigation of metal-free allylic fluorination of styrenes for the synthesis of allyl fluoride derivatives using density functional theory
Authors: Singh Harjinder , Saini Vaneet
Published: September 2023

The primary objective of this work is to delve into the intricacies of allylic fluorination reactions through the application of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These reactions hold significant importance in the realm of synthesizing organofluorine compounds. The specific focus lies on comprehending the interaction mechanisms when styrenes, a class of organic molecules, come in contact with an electrophilic fluorinating reagent known as Selectfluor. Notably, this interaction pathway demonstrates remarkable efficiency in yielding allylic fluoride products. The proposed mechanism for this transformation involves a sequential process. To unveil the microcosmic intricacies governing this reaction between the alkene substrate and Selectfluor, advanced computational methodologies are employed. The paper systematically outlines the computational strategies harnessed to probe the minute details of the reaction mechanism. The outcomes of these computations are subsequently subjected to thorough analysis, encompassing crucial facets such as transition states and energy barriers. This analytical depth enhances the fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism and sheds light on the underlying factors influencing its feasibility and efficiency. In a broader context, the insights garnered from this study carry significant utility. They provide pivotal guidance for the optimization of reaction conditions, facilitating the fine-tuning of experimental setups. Moreover, the elucidated mechanism serves as a platform for the design of even more efficient and selective allylic fluorination reactions. This paper, by amalgamating theoretical insights with practical synthetic objectives, contributes to the broader advancement of organofluorine compound synthesis and allied fields.
Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol for Ormosia robusta Baker, a critically endangered tree by using woody plant medium with 6-Benzylaminopurine that conforms genetic fidelity of the regenerated plantlets
Authors: Singha RK Nilasana , Mao Ashiho Asosii , Barik Saroj Kanta
Published: September 2023

Ormosia robusta Baker (Fabaceae) is a critically endangered (CR) tree species with highly restricted distribution in the north-eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Mizoram in India, and Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand. Due to very small adult population size, and poor natural regeneration, tissue culture-based micropropagation method can be a promising solution for its recovery. We optimized a protocol for multiple shoot induction from a nodal culture of in vitro raised seedlings on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 4 µM concentration of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) that generated the maximum number of shoots (3.6 ± 0.2) and highest shoot length (4.0 ± 0.2) per explant after 12 weeks of culture. WPM supplemented with activated charcoal yielded a maximum number of roots i.e. 3.0 ± 0.1 with a mean root length of 4.2 ± 0.1 cm per shoot. These were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than those of WPM supplemented with 2 µM Indole Butyric Acid (IBA). The genetic composition of in vitro micropropagated plants was compared with that of the donor mother plants using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. The genetic fidelity tests yielded 99 and 66 DNA bands in ISSR and SCoT, respectively. The similarity value was calculated based on SCoT profiles alone (0.97 to 1.00) and also for the combined ISSR and SCoT profiles (0.99 to 1.00) with both denoting a high percentage of genetic uniformity. The UPGMA cluster dendrogram was generated from the pooled data matrix of ISSR and SCoT that exhibited 99% genetic similarity of regenerants with the mother plant. This is the first report on establishing a reproducible micropropagation protocol, and subsequent genetic homogeneity assessment of in vitro propagated O. robusta, which should be helpful to recover the CR species.
Effect of pravastatin on renal function in patients with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A real-world observational study
Authors: Kim Hae Jin , Hur Kyu Yeon , Lee Yong-ho , Kim Jin Taek , Lee Yong-Kyu , Baek Ki-Hyun , Choi Euy Jin , Hwang Won Min , Bang Ki Tae , Lim Jung Soo , Chung Yun Jae , Jo Sung Rae , Oh Joon Seok , Lee Soon Hee , Ko Seung-Hyun , Choi Sung Hee
Published: September 2023

Pravastatin can mitigate the progression of kidney disease; however, Asian data on its renal impact are lacking. This multicenter prospective observational study aimed to assess pravastatin’s effect on renal function in Korean patients with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in real clinical practice. We enrolled 2,997 T2DM patients, who were followed up for 48 weeks post-pravastatin prescription. The effect of pravastatin on percent change in eGFR was assessed at weeks 12, 24, and 48 from baseline in patients (n = 2,604) with available estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values. We noted a significant improvement in eGFR, with mean percent changes of + 2.53 ± 26.65, + 2.56 ± 27.69, and + 2.96 ± 28.82% at the respective time points (all p < 0.01). Positive eGFR outcomes were observed in subgroups with baseline eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m², age ≥ 65 years, T2DM duration > 5 years, baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7%, and prior statin therapy. Concurrently, the pravastatin group exhibited improvements in the 24th week in lipid levels, and glucose levels, including fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. Our findings emphasize pravastatin’s potential to improve eGFR in Korean patients with dyslipidemia and T2DM, thus aiding in the attenuation of kidney disease progression.
Treatments of retinoschisis with multiple abnormal blood vessels in high myopia: a case report
Authors: Xu Xiaotong , Wei Zhangwanyu , Dong Fangtian , Sun Zixi , Bian Ailing , Li Donghui , Chen Huan , Zhao Xufeng , Yu Weihong
Published: September 2023

Background
Retinoschisis is not an uncommon complication in patients with high myopia. And paravascular retinoschisis might be a precursor to myopic macular retinoschisis. However, few cases of retinoschisis near the vascular arcade with abnormal vessels have been reported. Such abnormal vessels may cause vitreous hemorrhage, and vision is severely impaired as the disease progresses. At the same time, due to the small number of reported cases, opinions on the treatment of these abnormal blood vessels are not unified. In this article, we reported two cases of high myopia with retinoschisis near the vascular arcade with abnormal blood vessels, and different treatments of three eyes of retinoschisis with abnormal blood vessels near the arcade in high-myopic patients to provide new evidence for the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Case presentation:
This study included three eyes of two patients with high myopic retinoschisis with or without foveal detachment accompanied by retinoschisis at the vascular arcade with abnormal retinal vessels. Both patients were middle-aged women with high myopia. The eye with macular retinoschisis with fovea detachment was treated with vitrectomy combined with fovea-spared inner limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade, and the other two eyes were treated with focal retinal laser photocoagulation. The abnormal vessels in all three eyes completely regressed within 1 to 3 months after treatment. Morphological changes in the abnormal retinal vessels after the treatment were evaluated by color fundus photography (CFP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).
Conclusions
In this article, we report some clinical manifestations of retinoschisis with multiple abnormal vessels near the vascular arcade in high myopia and show that both laser and vitrectomy treatment can successfully regress abnormal vessels.
Antibiotic susceptibility is associated with some of the virulence associated genes in Proteus isolates
Authors: Jafari Narges , Ahmadrajabi Roya , Tadjrobehkar Omid
Published: September 2023

Background: Proteus species are opportunistic pathogens that are involved in different Human infections. Several virulence associated factor including adhesins, toxins have introduced in Proteus species. Investigating anti-virulence agents instead of or in combination with antibiotics were recommended as a solution for antibiotic resistance problem. According to this, we tried to investigate any association between virulence associated genes and antibiotic resistance in Proteus isolates.
Results: ninety one Proteus mirabilisand 9 Proteus vulgaris were investigated. Minimum antibiotic resistance was detected against amikacin and norfloxacin(6%). Totally, 5.5% of isolates were multiple drug resistant(MDR) that all were P mirabilis. Thirteen percent, 10% and 34% of isolates were ESBL, carbapenemase and AmpC positive respectively. ESBL and carbapenemase positive isolates were significantly(p≤0.05) more prevalent in community acquired isolates . The zapA(98%) and atfA(77%) had maximum and minimum frequency among the investigated virulence associated genes respectively. Statistical analysis showed that rsbA, mrpA, zapA, hpmA, pmfA and filI genes that considered as more potent virulence associated genes than atfA and ucaA are regarded as antibiotic resistance predictor in the Proteus isolates
Conclusion: the study findings suggest that, norfloxacin, amikacin and tobramycin are best choice against MDR Proteus isolates. The rsbA, mrpA, zapA, hpmA, pmfA and filI genes could be good targets for designing the future anti-virulence therapies.
Point-of-care ultrasound assessment of pelvic urine leakage in two patients presenting with flank pain: a case series and literature review
Authors: Moradkhani Asra , Zangi Mona , Azami Mobin , Ghasemi-Rad Mohammad , pakniyat Abdolghader.
Published: September 2023

Background: Urinoma, a rare condition resulting from urine leakage due to trauma to the kidney, bladder, or urethra, is typically diagnosed using enhanced computed tomography with delayed imaging. This report presents two cases of urinoma likely caused by overdistention of the renal pelvis following excessive fluid intake and the presence of a ureteral stone.
Case presentation: We present two cases of 36-year-old and 38-year-old patients who presented with flank pain. Point-of-care ultrasound played a pivotal role in identifying perinephric fluid in Morrison's space and the splenorenal space, respectively. These ultrasound findings guided further investigations, leading to definitive diagnoses via abdominal pelvic CT scans. Comprehensive lab tests were also conducted. Treatment involved the successful placement of a double J stent into the renal pelvis over the wire under fluoroscopic guidance, which significantly reduced the patients' complaints during follow-up. Antibiotic treatment was continued post-procedure.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the rare occurrence of urinoma from ureteral lithiasis, emphasizing the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Association between Childhood Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Wei Shiyang , Wang Yafeng , Liu Niping , Zhao Renfeng
Published: September 2023

Background: The relationship between adult obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) have been previously reported, but the causal effect of childhood obesity on PCOS remains poorly understood. A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to investigate the causal association of childhood obesity and PCOS.
Methods: A genome-wide association study(GWAS)identifies SNPs associated with childhood obesity based on 13848 individuals of European ancestry. Data at the summary level for PCOS were obtained from a GWAS conducted by the FinnGen consortium, which included a large sample size of 118870 individuals, consisting of 642 cases and 118228 controls. Mendelian randomization（MR）methods including Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode analysis were performed in this study. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the precision and robustness of the findings.
Results: The impact of genetically determined childhood obesity on PCOS is substantial, as evidenced by the IVW analysis (OR=1.507, 95% CI 1.193-1.903; P=5.77×10−4) and the weighted median analysis (OR=1.578, 95% CI 1.829–2.104; P=1.91×10−3).The main findings were supported by sensitivity analyses, which yielded consistent estimates using the IVW and MR-Egger methods.
Conclusion: It is suggested that an elevated prevalence of childhood obesity could be associated with an increased risk of PCOS. The prevention of PCOS should be promoted in childhood populations with high obesity. Additional investigation is necessary to confirm these discoveries and explore the underlying biological processes.
The association between systolic toe pressures, tobacco smoking and foot ulceration
Authors: Bechara Nada , Hng Tien-Ming , Gunton Jenny
Published: September 2023

Smoking may increase the risk of diabetic foot disease and ulceration. It does so by impairing glycaemic control and promoting the formation of advanced glycated end-products. Additionally, smoking is known to delay surgical wound healing and accelerate peripheral arterial disease. We aimed to determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking and whether toe pressures differed in smokers with a foot ulcer among patients attending Blacktown Mount Druitt Hospital (BMDH) High Risk Foot Service (HRFS). This study is a retrospective interrogation of our prospectively collected clinic database. Eligible participants were adults attending the HRFS between June 2020 and April 2022. Participants were included if they had an ulcer, at least one systolic toe pressure reading completed at their initial visit and attended at least one follow-up visit. Participants were followed until healing, loss to follow-up or April 2023. A total of 195 participants were included; 36 smokers, 82 ex-smokers, and 77 controls who had never smoked. Smoking status was by self-report. Current smokers were significantly younger at initial presentation (p = .006) and tended towards lower socioeconomic status (SES, p = .058). Left toe pressures using photoplethysmography (PPG) were significantly lower (<30mmHg) in current smokers (p = .036), suggestive of reduced perfusion. Diabetes complications were most prevalent in ex-smokers. At the end of follow up period, smokers had the numerically highest rates of amputation and ex-smokers had highest mortality rates. In conclusion, smokers ulcerate younger and tended to have lower SES. Collecting information about the brachial artery pressures and the time since consuming the last cigarette may clarify any relationship between smoking and toe pressures.
Trial registration: WSLHD HREC ethics approval 2111-02 and ANZCTR registration 382470. Registered on 15/09/2021.
Conventional and digital record maxillary occlusal for the manufacture of complete-arch implant-supported fixed protheses: controlled and randomized clinical trial
Authors: Pereira Ana Larisse Carneiro , Campos Maria de Fátima Trindade Pinto , Tôrres Ana Clara Soares Paiva , Carreiro Adriana da Fonte Porto
Published: September 2023

Objectives.
Evaluate the precision of the digital record maxillary oclusal, compared to the conventional one for the manufacture of complete-arch implant-supported fixed protheses.
Materials and methods.
20 participants were included who used a mandibular interim complete-arch fixed prosthesis and conventional complete dentures maxillar. The participants were randomized between two types of record maxillary oclusal: conventional (CMR) and digital (DMR). With the prostheses finished, the distribution of occlusal contact points was evaluated, number of occlusal contact points, time to obtain the record maxillary occlusal and work cast. A descriptive analysis to evaluate the distribution of occlusal contact points, Wilcoxon test for the number of occlusal contact points and Mann-Whitney test for the time taken to obtain the working casts and record maxillary oclusal, and occlusal adjustment time (p<0.05).
Results.
There was a similarity between the relation records methods regarding the distribution of occlusal contact points. There was no difference in the number of occlusal contact points on the anterior (p=0.439) and posterior (p=0.227) teeth. No relationship was observed between the distribution and amount of occlusal contact points (CMR: p=0.288 / DMR: p=0.183). CMR requires less working time (p=0.000). The CMR method took more occlusal adjustment time (p=0.008).
Conclusion.
The DMR used may be an option to obtain the functional space necessary for the assembly of teeth in complete-arch implant-supported fixed protheses. However, it requires more working time.
Clinical Relevance.
The DMR can be a clinical option for capturing the functional space for the assembly of teeth in complete-arch implant-supported fixed protheses.
C Microscopic Molecular Dynamics Studies of Atomic Enhanced SBR Polymer Composites
Authors: Chen Hongyue , Liu Siyuan , Fan Jingdao , Li Pengfei
Published: September 2023

A three-layer microscopic model with Fe atoms as the top and bottom layer and SBR polymer composites as the middle layer was established and studied. By adding C atoms as reinforcement, the stability changes of SBR polymer composites before and after adding C atoms were studied. In this study, the molecular dynamics method was used to observe the interlayer SBR polymer composites by applying shear load on the top and bottom Fe atoms.The simulation shows that the relative atomsic concentration, temperature, velocity, overall temperature average, kinetic energy, total energy and MSD in the thickness direction are reduced after adding C atoms. The stability of SBR polymer composites is enhanced, and the deformation under shear is weakened. In addition, it is found that the binding energy between SBR polymer composites and Fe atoms is reduced after adding C atoms.The stability of SBR polymer composites is improved during use.This work provides a method for studying the properties of rubber composites by studying the enhancement of the stability of SBR polymer composites from the microscopic point of view.
Effect of Low-Volume Interval Training on Whole-Body, Abdominal and Visceral Fat in Adults Living with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Xiangui , Jiao Jiao , Liang Wei , Wang Xiang , Zhang Haifeng
Published: September 2023

Background
Interval training can be classified into high-intensity interval training (HIIT, 80%-100%V̇O2max) and sprint interval training (SIT, ≥ 100%V̇O2max) according to exercise intensity. HIIT can be further divided into high-volume HIIT (HV-HIIT, pure training time ≥ 15min/session) and low-volume HIIT (LV-HIIT, pure training time < 15min/session). The effectiveness of HV-HIIT in reducing body fat among adults has been well-proven, but there is a lack of comprehensive analysis on the impacts of low-volume interval training (i.e. LV-HIIT and SIT) on fat loss.
Objective
The systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the effectiveness of low-volume interval training in improving whole-body fat, abdominal and visceral fat in adults living with overweight and obesity.
Methods
Following the PRISMA guidelines and inclusion criteria, eligible articles were extracted from seven electronic databases and the reference lists of key papers in the field. The search was limited to English articles published on and before May 2023. Effect sizes were calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) for four intervention outcomes, whole-body fat, body fat percentage, abdominal fat, and visceral fat.
Results
Out of the 4568 identified studies, a total of 50 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 1843 participants (age: 19.8 to 70.5 years, BMI: 25 to 39.5 kg/m2). The low-volume interval training protocol included in this review had an average training duration of 9.5 weeks, a frequency of 3.3 times per week, an exercise session time of 6.2 minutes, and an exercise intensity of ≥ 80%V̇O2max or HRmax. Compared to the comparator groups of no-exercising (CON), low-volume interval training significantly reduced whole-body fat mass (-6.4%, p < 0.001), body fat percentage (-5.3%, p < 0.001), abdominal fat (-5.8%, p = 0.02) and visceral fat (-12.6%, p < 0.001). Compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), low-volume interval training showed a significant reduction in visceral fat (-3.9%, p = 0.04). No significant differences were observed between low-volume interval training and HV-HIIT in four outcome measures.
Conclusion
Low-volume interval training (LV-HIIT and SIT) groups show significant reductions in whole-body, abdominal and visceral fat among overweight and obese adults. It is more effective than MICT in reducing visceral fat. These findings emphasize the efficiency of low-volume interval training as an intervention for fat loss.
The study protocol was registered (Registration No.: CRD42022341699) with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).
Effects of Alternating Shielding Gases and post weld heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of the GMA welded Joints of AA6061 Aluminium Alloy
Authors: Govindasamy mahadevan , T Senthilkumar , N Ramasamy
Published: September 2023

The present paper focuses on the effect of alternating shielding gases and post weld heat treatment on tensile properties and porosity of GMA welded AA6061 joints. These properties of weld joints will be greatly influenced by microstructure and hardness of the welded joints. Hence, in this investigation tensile strength, porosity, microstructure and micro hardness measurements were carried out on the cross section of weldments. Investigations were conducted utilizing the Universal Testing Machine, Vickers Micro Hardness Tester, X-ray radiography, Optical Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Hence, in this research, a complete analysis has been carried out to understand the influence of shielding gases and post weld heat treatment on mechanical and metallurgical behavior of GMA welded joints of AA6061aluminium alloy. It was represented in this research; tensile strength of post heat treatment welded aluminum alloy was increased by 44.9% than non post treatment of welded joints. Also, the micro hardness has been greatly improved post weld heat treatment in AA6061 alloy specimens. It was evident from the micro structures and fractography analysis of the AA6061 alloy components.