bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of a bone conserving revision stem for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in senile osteoporotic population
Authors: CHEN MENGCUN , Wang Jinlong , Yang Shuhua , Liu Xianzhe
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Primary hemi-arthroplasty is gaining rising attention to treat unstable intertrochanteric fractures in senile patients with severe osteoporosis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the early clinical and radiographic outcomes using bone conserving revision stem for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in senile osteoporotic population.
Methods

A retrospective observation of a series of 31 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures were conducted. The average age of the patients enrolled was 82.1 years and all patients underwent primary hemi-arthroplasty with the application of bone conserving and fully porous-coated revision stem. Clinical and radiographic evaluations during both the hospital-stay and follow-up were performed.
Results

The 31 patients were followed up for an average of 23 months postoperatively. The average operation time was 74.2 min while the mean intraoperative blood loss was 200.1 ml, with an average 11.1 g/L decrease of hemoglobulin after the procedure. The mean Harris hip score was 82.1 and visual analog scale was 1.7 at the latest follow-up. No intra-operative or postoperative peri-prosthetic fracture was noted. Postoperative complications included one thrombosis formation in posterior tibial vein and one congestive heart failure, both patients were discharged uneventfully after treatment. Twenty-one (21/31, 67.7%) patients regained their pre-injury walking activities. Radiographically, none of these hips had evident loosening of the stem or osteolysis. With follow-up period of 23 months, the mortality rate was 3.2% (1/31) with no revision required.
Conclusion

Primary hemi-arthroplasty with application of the bone conserving, cementless revision stem could serve as a reliable alternation in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in senile population with osteoporosis.
Volumetric Response of Brain Oligometastatic Disease to Focal Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy
Authors: Wijetunga Asanka , Jayamanne Dasantha , Adams Jessica , Back Michael
Published: April 2021

Background: This study aimed to assess the volumetric response, morbidity and failure rates of hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) for definitive focal management of brain oligometastatic disease. Methods: Patients managed with HFRT for unresected oligometastatic brain disease were entered into an ethics-approved database. HFRT was delivered using IMRT or VMAT with 30Gy or 25Gy in 5 fractions. Individual lesions had volumetric assessment performed at three timepoints. Primary endpoint was change of volume from baseline (GTV0) to one-month post-HFRT (GTV1); and to seven-months post-HFRT (GTV7). Secondary endpoints were local failure, survival, and rate of radiation necrosis. Results:One hundred and twenty-four patients with 233 lesions were managed with HFRT. Median follow-up was 23.5 months with thirty-two (25.8%) patients alive at censure. Median overall survival was 7.3 months, with 36.3% survival at 12 months, with superior survival predicted by GTV0 (p=0.003) and percentage volumetric response (p<0.001). Systemic therapy was delivered in 81.5% of cases. At one-month post-HFRT 206 metastases (88.4%) were available for assessment; at seven-months post-HFRT this had reduced to 118 metastases (50.6%). Median metastasis volume at GTV0 was 1.6cm3 (range: 0.1-19.1). At GTV1 and GTV7 this reduced to 0.7cm3 (p<0.001) and 0.3cm3 (p<0.001) respectively, correlating to percentage reductions of 54.9% and 83.3%. No significant predictors of volumetric response following HFRT were identified. Local failure was confirmed in 4.3% of lesions and radiation necrosis in 3.9%. Conclusion: HFRT is an effective method for oligometastatic disease in the brain to maximise initial volumetric response whilst minimising pseudoprogression and radiation necrosis.
Unresponsive Thin Endometrium Caused by Asherman Syndrome Treated With Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zhang Yanling , Shi Libing , Lin Xiaona , Zhou Feng , Xin Liaobing , Xu Wenzhi , Yu Huaying , Li Jing , Pan Mei , Pan Yibin , Dai Yongdong , Zhang Yinli , Shen Jia , Zhao Lijuan , Lu Min , Zhang Songying
Published: April 2021

BackgroundUnresponsive thin endometrium caused by Asherman’s syndrome (AS) is the major cause of uterine infertility. However, current therapies are ineffective. This study is to evaluate the effect of transplantation with collagen scaffold/umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (CS/UC-MSCs) on this refractory disease.MethodsEighteen infertile women with unresponsive thin endometrium, whose frozen–thawed embryo transfers (FET) were cancelled due to reduced endometrial thickness (ET ≤ 5.5 mm), were enrolled in this before and after self-control prospective study. Hysteroscopic examination was performed to confirm no intrauterine adhesions, then ten million UC-MSCs loaded onto a CS were transplanted into the uterine cavity in two consecutive menstrual cycles. Then uterine cavity was assessed through hysteroscopy after two transplants. FET were performed in the following cycle. Pregnancy outcomes were followed-up. Endometrial thickness, uterine receptivity and endometrial angiogenesis, proliferation and hormone response were compared before and after treatment.ResultsSeventeen patients completed the study. No treatment-related serious adverse events occurred. Three months after transplantation, the average ET increased from 4.11 ± 1.01 mm to 5.87 ± 0.77 mm (P < 0.001). Three of 15 patients after FET got pregnant, of whom 2 gave birth successfully and 1 had a miscarriage at 25 weeks’ gestation. One of 2 patients without FET had a natural pregnancy at 36 weeks after transplantation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased micro-vessel density, upregulated expression of Ki67, estrogen receptor alfa and progesterone receptor, indicating an improvement in endometrial angiogenesis, proliferation, and response to hormones.ConclusionCS/UC-MSCs can promote the growth of unresponsive thin endometrium caused by AS, possibly through promoting endometrial proliferation and angiogenesis and enhancing the response of the endometrium to hormones.Trial Registration﻿ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03724617). Registered 26 October 2018-prospectively registered, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/
Tumor-stroma Ratio as a New Prognosticator for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: a Comprehensive Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Ma Ru , Lin Yu-Lin , Li Xin-Bao , Yan Feng-Cai , Xu Hong-Bin , Peng Zheng , Li Yan
Published: April 2021

Background: As a rare clinical tumor syndrome, pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. In-depth pathological analysis is essential to assessing tumor biological behaviors, assisting treatment decision, and predicting clinical prognosis of PMP. Tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) is a promising prognostic parameter based on tumor and stroma. This study was to explore the relationship between TSR with pathological characteristics and prognosis of PMP.Methods: PMP patients with complete data who underwent last cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy were collected. The TSR of postoperative pathological images was quantitatively analyzed by Image-Pro Plus. Then the relationship between TSR with clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemical characteristics and prognosis of PMP was analyzed.Results: Among the 50 PMP patients included, there were 27 males (54.0%) and 23 females (46.0%), with a median age of 55 (31 - 76) years. The patients with histopathological types of disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis (DPAM) and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMCA) were both 25 (50.0%), 4 cases (8.0%) with vascular tumor emboli, 3 cases (6.0%) with nerve invasion, and 5 cases (10.0%) with lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemical results showed that Ki67 label index was < 25% in 18 cases (36.0%) and ≥ 25% in 32 cases (64.0%). The range of TSR was 2% - 24% (median: 8%). The cutoff value of TSR was 10% based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. There were 31 cases with TSR < 10% while 19 cases with TSR ≥ 10%. It showed that TSR was closely related to histopathological types (P < 0.001) and Ki67 label index (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), preoperative carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, pathological types, vascular tumor emboli and TSR influenced prognosis of PMP patients (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed preoperative CEA, vascular tumor emboli and TSR were independent prognostic factors.Conclusion: TSR could be a new independent prognosticator for PMP.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Variety Identification Based on Developed Retrotransposon-Based Insertion Polymorphism (RBIP) Markers in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas (L.) Lam)
Authors: Meng Yusha , Su Wenjin , Ma Yanping , Liu Lei , Gu Xingguo , Wu Dianxing , Shu Xiaoli , Lai Qixian , Tang Yong , Wu liehong , Wang Yin
Published: April 2021

Sweet potato, a dicotyledonous and perennial plant, is the third most crucial tuber/root crop species behind potato and cassava in terms of production. Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are highly abundant in sweet potato, contributing to genetic diversity. These LTR retrotransposons play a significant role in sweet potato genotypes. Retrotransposon-based insertion polymorphism (RBIP) is a high-throughput marker system to study the genetic diversity of plant species. To date, there have been no transposon marker-based genetic diversity analyses of sweet potato. We report a structure-based analysis of the sweet potato genome for the main LTR-retrotransposon subfamilies, Ty3-gypsy and Ty1-copia, which revealed a total of 21555 LTR retrotransposons. By searching using hidden Markov models (HMMs), 1616 LTR retrotransposon sequences containing at least two models were found. A total of 48 RBIP primers were synthesized based on the high copy numbers of conserved LTR sequences. RBIP markers of the genetic diversity and population structure of 105 sweet potato germplasm resources revealed 56 amplicons with an average polymorphism of 91.07%. Sweet potato accessions were collected from 6 provinces of China, Japan and America. A UPGMA dendrogram, a model-based genetic structure and principal component analysis (PCA) divided the sweet potato germplasms into 3 groups containing 8, 53, and 44 germplasms. All three analyses produced significant groupwise consensus. However, almost all the germplasms contained only one primary locus. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) among the groups indicated higher intergroup genetic variation (53%) than intrapopulation genetic variation. In addition, long-term self-retention may cause some germplasm resources to exhibit variable segregation. These results suggest that these sweet potato germplasms are not well evolutionarily diversified, although geographic speciation could have occurred at a limited level. This study highlights the utility of RBIP markers for determining the intraspecies variability of sweet potato.
Red Ginseng Water Extract Aggravates Inflammation in Sebocytes and Outer Root Sheath Cells After Treatment With Lipopolysaccharide and Mice With Cutibacterium Acnes-induced Inflammatory Nodules
Authors: Kwack Mi Hee , Lee Weon Ju
Published: April 2021

Ginseng has been known in Korea as a health-supportive herbal medicine from time immemorial. Red ginseng is one of processed ginseng that is produced from white ginseng through steaming and drying. Many protective functions of red ginseng have been reported from various groups in many diseases. In this study, we first investigated whether red ginseng water extract (RG) aggravates inflammation in human sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and mice with Cutibacterium (C.) acnes strain (ATCC 1182)-induced inflammatory nodules. Sebocytes and ORS cells were isolated and cultured from the human scalp. The RG augmented LPS mediated inflammation by increased the mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines in sebocytes and ORS cells. In addition, RG also showed the increased protein expression of p-NFκB, p-c-jun and p-JNK in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Furthermore, RG upregulated the LPS-induced production of sebum in sebocytes. In addition, RG inhibited improvement of inflammatory nodules and showed the increased expression of inflammatory biomarkers in inflammatory nodules of Cutibacterium acnes injected mice. Collectively, our data strongly suggest that RG is one of the aggravating factors of acne vulgaris. It would be better to stop taking RG in patients with inflammatory acne.
Dexmedetomidine Versus Lidocaine for Postoperative Analgesia in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Craniotomy: a Protocol for a Prospective, Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Bao Di , Chi Dongmei , Li Lu , Liu Bin , Zhang Di , Qiao Lanxin , Liang Yi , Wang Yaxin , Jin Xu
Published: April 2021

Background: Postoperative pain is a common problem that occurs in pediatric patients following neurosurgery which may lead to severe complications. Dexmedetomidine is a commonly used adjuvant medicine in craniotomy owing to its sedative, amnestic, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. Besides, studies suggest that lidocaine has similar effects on sedation, analgesia, and neuroprotection. Both two adjuvants can reduce postoperative pain after neurosurgery in adults. However, it is still unknown whether dexmedetomidine or lidocaine can reduce postoperative pain in children undergoing craniotomy and if yes, which is a better medicine choice. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine on postoperative pain in pediatric patients after craniotomy. Methods/design: We will perform a randomized (1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial. Children aged 1–12 years scheduled for craniotomy will be eligible for inclusion. The 255 recruited participants will be stratified by age in two strata (1–6 years and 7–12 years), and then each stratum will be equally randomized to three groups: Group D (infusion of dexmedetomidine [intervention group]), Group L (infusion of lidocaine [intervention group]), and Group C (infusion of normal saline [control group]). Patients will be followed-up at 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery. The primary outcome will be total sufentanil consumption within 24 h after surgery.Discussion: In this clinical trial, we expect to clarify and compare the postoperative analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine infusion on pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy. We believe that the results of this trial will provide more choices for postoperative analgesia for the pediatric population.Trial registration: Chinese ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR1800019411. Registered 10 November 2018. Registered with the name of “A randomized double-blind controlled trial for low-dose dexmedetomidine and lidocaine in the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in children” URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=32822
Clinical Value of Minimal Residual Disease Assessed by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry in Amyloid Light Chain Amyloidosis
Authors: Li Xiaozhe , Huang Beihui , Liu Junru , Chen Meilan , Gu Jingli , Li Juan
Published: April 2021

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in newly diagnosed amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis.Methods: Clinical data from 25 consecutive newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis patients with MRD data tested at 3 months after first-line therapy completion were retrospectively analysed in a single centre from 2012 to 2019. First-line therapy included 8 courses of VD or 4 courses of VD plus sequential autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), both without maintenance therapy.Results: Of 25 patients with very good partial response (VGPR) or better, 19 (76%) achieved MRD negativity. Baseline characteristics were not different between MRD-negative and MRD-positive patients. More ASCT patients than non-ASCT patients (90.0% vs 53.3%, P＝0.043) achieved MRD negativity. In the MRD-negative and MRD-positive groups, cardiac response was observed in 93% and 25% (P=0.019) and any organ response in 94% and 50%, respectively (P=0.023). At a median follow-up of 25.1 months, MRD-negative patients showed significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) from diagnosis than MRD-positive patients (24.52 vs 76.39 months, P=0.004).Conclusions: MRD negativity measured by MFC at 3 months after first-line therapy completion in patients with AL amyloidosis is measurable and associated with improved organ response rates and PFS over a long follow-up.
Metformin Protects Lens Epithelial Cells Against Senescence in Naturally Aged Model of Mouse
Authors: Chen Mengmeng , Fu Yushan , Wang Xu , Wu Ruitong , Su Dongmei , Zhou Nan , Qi Yanhua
Published: April 2021

Background: The senescence of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is a major factor of age-related cataract (ARC). ARC results in visual impairment and severe vision loss in elderly. However, the specific mechanism of ARC is not yet clear and there are no effective therapeutic agents to halt the formation of ARC. The current study aimed to further explore the underlying mechanism of formation of ARC and investigate the potential anti-aging effect of metformin (MET) on ARC. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: the young control group (Young, 3 months, n=40), the naturally aged group (Aged, 20months, n=60) and MET group (MET, 20 months, n=60). The young control group (Young, 3 months, n=40) and the naturally aged group (Aged, 20months, n=60) mice received ad libitum standard purified mouse diet and water, while the MET group mice were fed on chows supplied with 0.1% MET for 10 months. The transparency of lens and age-associated proteins P21, P53 were assessed in LECs in three groups. Furthermore, we determined the expressions of AMPK pathway and the effect of MET on AMPK pathway in LECs during the aging process of ARC. Besides, the relationship of autophagy and the senescence of in LECs and the role of MET in the autophagy in in LECs during the aging process of ARC were examined. Results: Our results indicated that age-related inactivation of AMPK pathway and age-related impairment of autophagy might contribute to the senescence of in LECs and occurrence of ARC. Importantly, these results demonstrated that MET effectively alleviated the senescence of in LECs and the formation of ARC probably via inactivation of AMPK pathway and augmentation of autophagy. Conclusion: These findings reveal that MET can be exploited as a potentially useful drug for ARC prevention. Our study will be informative for development of innovative strategies to the clinical treatment of ARC.
The Forecast of COVID-19 Spread Risk at The County Level
Authors: Hssayeni Murtadha , Chala Arjuna , Dev Roger , Xu Lili , Shaw Jesse , Furht Borko , Ghoraani Behnaz
Published: April 2021

The early detection of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is important to save people's lives and restart the economy quickly and safely. People’s social behavior as captured by their mobility data plays a role in spreading the disease. Therefore, we used the daily mobility data aggregated at the county level beside COVID-19 statistics and demographic information for short-term forecasting of COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. The daily data are fed to a deep model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to predict the accumulated number of COVID-19 cases in the next two weeks. A significant average correlation was achieved (r=0.83 (p=0.005)) between the model prediction and the actual accumulated cases in the interval from August 1, 2020 until January 22, 2021. The model predictions had r > 0.7 for 87% of the counties across the United States. Lower correlation was reported for the counties with a total cases of <1,000 during the test interval. The average mean absolute error (MAE) was 605.4, and it was decreasing with the decrease in the total number of cases during the testing interval. The model was able to capture the effect of government responses on COVID-19 cases. Also, it was able to capture the effect of age demographics on the COVID-19 spread where average daily cases decrease with the decrease in retires percentage, and increase with the increase in young percentage. Lessons learned from this study not only can help with managing the COVID-19 pandemic but also could also help with early and effective management of possible future pandemics.
Association of Pro-inflammatory Diet With Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension; Results From RaNCD Cohort Study
Authors: Jam Samira Arbabi , Rezaeian Shahab , Najafi Farid , Hamze Behroz , Shakiba Ebrahim , Moradinazer Mehdi , Darbandi Mitra , Hichi Fatemeh , Eghtesad Sareh , Pasdar Yahya
Published: April 2021

Background: Dietary factors and inflammation are associated with most non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a developed validated assessment tool. This study was conducted to assessed association of DII with the hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was performed on 9,811 participants of 35 to 65 years of the base-line phase data of Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort study. The DII was calculated using 31 parameters food of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The estimates were performed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.Results: The mean DII scores in healthy participants was -2.32± 1.60, in participant with T2DM, hypertension and both were -2.23± 1.59, -2.45± 1.60 and -2.25± 1.60, respectively (P= 0.011). Pre-inflammatory diet was significantly higher in male compared to female (P<0.001). In the most pro-inflammatory diet was significantly higher BMI (body mass index), triglyceride, energy intake, smokers; and was significantly lower socio-economic status (SES), physical activity and HDL-C compared to the most anti-inflammatory diet. Participants with T2DM, hypertension and comorbidity had a significantly higher mean of anthropometry indices (P<0.001) and lipid profile compared to healthy subjects (P<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and physical activity, the odds of T2DM in the fourth quartile of DII was 1.48 (95% CI: 1.19, 1.85) times higher compared to the first quartile of DII. Conclusions: Pro-inflammatory diet was weak associations with hypertension. Pro-inflammatory diet was significant associations with increasing T2DM and its related risk factors. Modification of diet and lifestyle is suggested to reduce inflammation.
Association of Sleep Disturbances and Cognitive Decline among Cognitively Normal Elders Over Time
Authors: Feng Wei , Kuetche Mandela William Nzoyoum , Zhang Meng , Liu MengMeng , Aklilu Deginet , Wang Wei , Wang XiaoNan , Guo Xiuhua
Published: April 2021

Background: While sleep disturbances (SD) has been shown to be associated with worse cognition, but the causal relationship between the two subjects to debate. Our objective was to investigate the longitudinal impact of SD on cognitive function.Objective: To determine the effect of self-reported clinical diagnosis of SD on longitudinal changes in brain amyloid-PET, CSF-biomarkers (Aβ42, T-tau and P-tau) and cognitive function in cognitively normal.Methods: A total of 463 cognitively normal elders (357 normal and 106 SD) were included. Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants were collected from 2005 to 2020. The generalized linear mixed models adjusting variables which were selected by the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and the marginal effect estimation method was used to estimate the risk effect of SD. Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated the relative hazard of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), among baseline SD patients.Results: The age range of participants was 73.60±5.71 years old, and the female proportion was 43.63%. In adjusted regression models, Participants with baseline SD had higher likelihood of developing worse cognition over subsequent follow-up, PACC (decrease 7.53 points [95%CI, 7.36-7.70]; P<0.001), MMSE (decrease 5.26 points [95%CI, 5.17-5.35]; P<0.001), and CDR–Sum of Boxes (increase 5.61 points [95%CI, 5.67-5.54]; P=0.001). Similarly, Cox regression analysis suggested that sleep disturbances is a risk factor of AD (HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.08 to 2.22).Conclusion: SD probably is a warning sign of AD, because it is associated with greater likelihood of cognitive decline or dementia over time. Associations are likely multifactorial and could be explained by intervening variables in the path from SD to dementia, or by common risk factors for pathological processes in brain. These findings suggest need for more attentions of older adults with sleep compromise.
TRPC channels blockade abolishes septic cardiac dysfunction by hampering intracellular inflammation and Ca2+ leakage
Authors: Cao Wei , Tang Na , Tian Wen , Ma Guang-Yuan , Xiao Xiong , Zhou Lei , Li Ze-Zhi , Liu Xiao-Xiao , Li Chong-Yao , Wu Ke-Han , Liu Wenjuan , Wang Xue-Ying , Gao Yuan-Yuan , Yang Xin , Qi Jianzhao , Li Ding , Liu Yang , Chen Wen-Sheng , Gao Jin-Ming , Li Xiao-Qiang
Published: April 2021

Intracellular Ca2+ dysregulation is a key marker in septic cardiac dysfunction; however, regulation of the classic Ca2+ regulatory modules cannot successfully abolish this symptom. The present study shows that the knockout of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channel isoforms, TRPC1 and TRPC6, can strikingly ameliorate LPS-challenged heart failure and prolong survivability in mice. The LPS-triggered Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum both in cardiomyocytes and macrophages is significantly inhibited by Trpc1 or Trpc6 knockout. Meanwhile, TRPC’s molecular partner, calmodulin is uncoupled during Trpc1 or Trpc6 deficiency and binds to TLR4’s Pococurante site and atypical isoleucine-glutamine-like motif to block the inflammation cascade. Importantly, blocking the C-terminal CaM/IP3R binding domain in TRPC with chemical inhibitor could markedly obstruct the Ca2+ leak and TLR4-mediated inflammation burst, demonstrating a powerful cardioprotective effect in endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis. Our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of septic cardiac dysfunction and suggest a novel approach for its treatment.
Enhancement on the Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfers by Modified Lignin Materials: Application on Decolorization of Azo Dye
Authors: Chen Rong-ping , Cai Jia-li , Li Qing , Wei Xin-yuan , Gan Cheng-hao , Min Hui-hua , Yu Lei , Yong Qiang
Published: April 2021

Background: Extracellular electron transfers (EETs) are mainly involved in anaerobic respiration of quinone-respiring strains, which is applicable in many fields, such as microbiological fuel cell, bio-hydrogen production, anoxic denitrification, and bio-reduction of azo dyes. However, this kind of instinctive function of microbes was nonspecific and low efficient, which needed to be improved by addition of exogenous redox mediators (RMs). In this work, vanillin, syringaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, as the precursors of lignin, were functionally modified to RMs in effort to accelerate the bio-reduction azo dyes.Results: The results showed that the decolorization efficiency of MO motivated by modified vanillin were increased from 20% to 95% in less than 12 h. And the modified syringaldehyde was increased to 85% in 24h. According to GC-MS, the modified products of vanillin and syringaldehyde were mainly kinds of phenols, ketones and quinones. The RMs exhibited better electrochemical performances by CV measurement and the •OH radicals were found according to EPR. Under saline condition, the strain, in the presence of RMs, still exhibited a high and stable removal efficiency to MO.Conclusions: The novel RMs of biodegradation to azo dyes were prepared from lignin monomers. The RMs based on bio-materials are environment-friendly and have a remarkable effect in biodegradation of azo dyes. This work may provide a new route for the functional utilization of lignin-resource and a theoretical guidance for efficient biodegradation of azo dye wastewater.
Protective Effects of Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Induced Spatial Learning and Memory Impairment
Authors: Eslami Majid , Khorshidi Laleh , Ghasemi Maryam , Rashidian Amir , Mirghazanfari Mahdi , Nezhadi Akram , chamanara mohsen , Mirjani Ruhollah
Published: April 2021

3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or "Ecstasy", which has been used for recreational purposes, is shown to cause learning and memory impairment. Statins, beyond their efficient cholesterol-lowering action through inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-COA) reductase, possess multiple neuroprotective impacts referred to as pleiotropic effects. In this regard, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. Adult male Wistar rats received atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 mg/kg; orally) and rosuvastatin (5, 10, 20 mg/kg; orally) for 21 consecutive days. Then, Morris water maze (MWM) was performed to examine learning and memory functions. Rats were injected with MDMA (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg; I.P) 30 min before training sessions in 4 training days of MWM task. Afterward, rats were sacrificed under general anesthesia and their hippocampuses were dissected to evaluate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and caspase-3 and -9 activities. Our Findings showed that MDMA impaired spatial memory functions and dramatically upregulated ROS production, LPO, and caspase-3 and 9 activities. Also, atorvastatin (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) and rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg) significantly improved memory performances and inhibited upregulation of ROS, LPO, and caspase-3 and -9 activities induced by MDMA. In conclusion, the amelioration of MDMA-induced memory impairment and hippocampal apoptosis through atorvastatin and rosuvastatin could be accredited to the observed suppression of ROS production, LPO, and caspase-3 and -9 activities, since excessive exposure of hippocampus to oxidative stress enhanced apoptotic caspases activities, promoted to neuronal apoptosis.
CAZyme Prediction in Ascomycetous Yeast Genomes Guides Discovery of Novel Xylanolytic Species with Diverse Capacities for Hemicellulose Hydrolysis
Authors: Ravn Jonas L. , Engqvist Martin K. M. , Larsbrink Johan , Geijer Cecilia
Published: April 2021

Background Ascomycetous yeasts from the kingdom fungi inhabit every biome in Nature. While filamentous fungi have been studied extensively regarding their enzymatic degradation of the complex polymers comprising lignocellulose, yeasts have been largely overlooked. As yeasts are key organisms used in industry, understanding their enzymatic strategies for biomass conversion is an important factor in developing new and more efficient cell factories. The aim of this study was to identify polysaccharide-degrading yeasts by mining CAZymes in 332 yeast genomes from the phylum Ascomycota. Selected CAZyme-rich yeasts were then characterized in more detail through growth and enzymatic activity assays. Results The CAZyme analysis revealed a large spread in the number of CAZyme-encoding genes in the Ascomycetous yeast genomes. We identified a total of 224 predicted CAZyme families, including several CAZymes likely involved in degradation of plant polysaccharides. Growth characterization of 40 CAZyme-rich yeasts revealed no cellulolytic yeasts, but several species from the Trichomonascaceae and CUG-Ser1 clades were able to grow on xylan, β-glucan and xyloglucan. Blastobotrys mokoenaii, Sugiyamaella lignohabitans, Spencermartinsiella europaea and several Scheffersomyces species displayed superior growth on xylan and well as high enzymatic activities. These species contained several putative xylanolytic enzymes, including the well-studied xylanase-containing glycoside hydrolase families GH10 and GH30 that appear attached to the cell surface. B. mokoenaii was the only species containing a GH11 xylanase, which was shown to be secreted. Surprisingly, no known xylanases were predicted in the xylanolytic species Wickerhamomyces canadensis, suggesting that this yeast possess novel xylanases. In addition, by examining non-sequenced yeasts closely related to the xylanolytic yeasts, we were able to identify novel species with high xylanolytic capacities. Conclusions Our approach of combining high-throughput bioinformatic CAZyme-prediction with growth and enzyme characterization proved to be a powerful pipeline for discovery of novel xylan-degrading yeasts and enzymes. The identified yeasts display diverse profiles in terms of growth, enzymatic activities and xylan substrate preferences, pointing towards different strategies for degradation and utilization of xylan. Together, the results provide novel insights into how yeast degrade xylan, which can be used to improve cell factory design and industrial bioconversion processes.
Pipelines and Systems for Threshold Avoiding Quantification of LC-MS/MS data
Authors: Brotons Alejandro Sánchez , Eriksson Jonatan , Kwiatkowski Marcel , Wolters Justina , Kema Ido , Barcaru Andrei , Kuipers Folkert , Bakker Stephan , Bischoff Rainer , Suits Frank , Horvatovich Peter
Published: April 2021

The accurate processing of complex LC-MS/MS data from biological samples is a major challenge for metabolomics, proteomics and related approaches. Here we present the Pipelines and Systems for Threshold Avoiding Quantification (PASTAQ) LC-MS/MS pre-processing toolset, which allows highly accurate quantification of data-dependent acquisition (DDA) LC-MS/MS datasets. PASTAQ performs compound quantification using single-stage (MS1) data and implements novel algorithms for high-performance and accurate quantification, retention time alignment, feature detection, and linking annotations from multiple identification engines. PASTAQ offers straightforward parametrization and automatic generation of quality control plots for data and pre-processing assessment. This design results in smaller variance when analyzing replicates of proteomes mixed with known ratios, and allows the detection of peptides over a larger dynamic concentration range compared to widely used proteomics preprocessing tools. The performance of the pipeline is also demonstrated in a biological human serum dataset for the identification of gender related proteins.
A fronto-insular-parietal network for the sense of body ownership
Authors: Moro Valentina , Pacella Valentina , Scandola Michele , Besharati Sahba , Rossato Elena , Jenkinson Paul , Fotopoulou Akaterini
Published: April 2021

Neuropsychological disturbances in the sense of limb ownership (DSO) provide a unique opportunity to study the neurocognitive basis of the sense of body ownership. Previous small sample studies focused on discrete cortical lesions and modular accounts, which cannot explain the modulations of DSO by multisensory, affective and cognitive manipulations. We tested the novel hypothesis that DSO would be associated not only with discrete cortical lesions, but also with disconnections of frontoparietal and fronto-insular white-matter tracts, supporting functional networks for multisensory integration and salience monitoring. To overcome the aforementioned methodological limitations, we drew on an advanced, probabilistic lesion-analysis and Bayesian statistics approach and tested this hypothesis in 49 right-hemisphere patients. Our results reveal that, as predicted, DSO is associated with lesions and disconnections of a fronto-insular-parietal network, suggesting that the sense of body ownership involves the convergence between bottom-up processes of multisensory integration and top-down control and monitoring of sensory salience.
Induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy with or without consolidation chemotherapy versus Chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Xiang Mingyue , Han Dali , Liu Bo , Zhang Guifang , Gong Heyi
Published: April 2021

Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy(I-CCRT), induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy(I-CCRT-C), and concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy(CCRT-C) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESSC). Methods Patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin plus fluorouracil or docetaxel from February 2012 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate survival. Efficacy was assessed using RECIST, version 1.0. Prognosis factors were identified with Cox regression analysis. Results Patients were treated with CCRT-C(n=59), I-CCRT(n=20), and I-CCRT-C(n=48), SCRT(n=119). The median follow-up duration was 73.9 months for the entire cohort. The ORR of the CCRT-C, I-CCRT, and I-CCRT-C, SCRT groups was 89.8%, 70.0%, and 77.1%, respectively ( P = 0.078). The median PFS in the CCRT-C, I-CCRT, and I-CCRT-C groups was 32.5, 16.1, and 27.1 months, respectively ( P = 0.464). The median OS of the CCRT-C, I-CCRT, and I-CCRT-C groups was 45.9, 35.5, and 54.0 months, respectively ( P = 0.788). Cox regression analysis indicated that I-CCRT and I-CCRT had comparable PFS and OS with CCRT-C( P > 0.05). Neutropenia grade ≥ 3 in CCRT-C, I-CCRT, I-CCRT-C, and SCRT groups was 47.5%, 15%, and 33.3% of patients, respectively( P =0.027). Conclusions I-CCRT and I-CCRT-C using cisplatin plus fluorouracil or docetaxel regimen had comparable outcomes with CCRT-C for locally advanced ESCC. I-CCRT and I-CCRT-C seem to have less severe neutropenia than CCRT-C, and potential to be a standard treatment option for locally advanced ESCC.
An Efficient Trajectory representative generation moving data prediction using different Clustering algorithm
Authors: Mishra Vishnu Kumar , Mishra Megha , Dewangan Bhupesh Kumar , Choudhury Tanupriya
Published: April 2021

This paper highlighted Moving and Trajectory Object Cluster (MOTRACLUS) algorithm and analysis the sub-trajectories and real-trajectories algorithm for moving data and suggest a new approach of moving elements. This paper evaluates the Hurricane data measure and mass less data measure entropy of trajectories objects of moving data of Chhattisgarh location. The paper covered Prediction Generation with their distance cluster minimum description length (MDL) algorithm and others corresponding distance cluster (CLSTR) algorithm. This paper highlighted the k-nearest algorithm with least cluster section (LCSS) model and dimensional Euclidean of MDL algorithm. Our algorithm consists of two parts that is partitioning and grouping phase. This paper develops and enhances a cluster of trajectory object and calculates the actual distance of moving object. This algorithm works on the CLSTR algorithm and calculates Trajectory movement of object. In this we evaluate the entropy of moving object by consideration the heuristic parameter.
Atomistic mechanism of cadmium incorporation into hydroxyapatite
Authors: Liu Huan , Lu Xiancai , Cui Xiangjie , Zhang Lijuan , Chan Ting-Shan
Published: April 2021

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) has been widely used to remove cadmium (Cd) in contaminated water and soils via Cd-Ca substitution. The Cd incorporation into HAp affects its structure; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, a series of Cd-substituted hydroxyapatites were synthesized and characterized with various techniques. Cd incorporation causes a decrease in a- and c-lattice parameters due to the radius of Cd2+ being slightly smaller than that of Ca2+. As the Cd content increases, the particle sizes of the synthesized samples decrease and their specific surface areas increase. Raman bands shift linearly and the ν1(PO4) peak at 961 cm−1 becomes broadened with increasing Cd content. Change in X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of the P K-edge indicates distortion of phosphate with Cd incorporation. Total electron yield (TEY) spectra of the Ca L2,3-edge show a decrease in the octahedral symmetry, suggesting preferential occupancy of Cd over the Ca2 site. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of the Ca K-edge reveals no obvious change in the local environment of Ca induced by Cd incorporation. However, EXAFS analysis of the Cd K-edge indicates that the substituted Cd occupies one Ca2 site in hexagonal Ca2 positions at low-Cd contents [<10 mol% of Cd/(Cd+Ca)], while both Ca1 and Ca2 sites are occupied at higher Cd contents. This study provides atomistic insight into the mechanism for Cd incorporation in HAp, which will help develop an approach for effective Cd removal using HAp for environmental remediation.
Petrologic evolution of boninite lavas from the IBM Fore-arc, IODP Expedition 352: Evidence for open-system processes during early subduction zone magmatism
Authors: Scholpp Jesse L. , Ryan Jeffrey G. , Shervais John W. , Stremtan Ciprian , Rittner Martin , Luna Antonio , Hill Stephen A. , Atlas Zachary D. , Mack Bradford C.
Published: April 2021

Boninite samples from several intervals within Hole U1439C, recovered during IODP Expedition 352, show highly variable mineral chemistries that imply complex crystallization histories. Small pyroxene grains show oscillatory zoning with cores and zones ranging from pigeonite to augite. Late crystallizing augite has highly variable Al2O3 contents (1.9–13.7 wt%) and Ca-Tschermak component contents (3–13 mol%), which reflect disequilibrium conditions. Large, euhedral, low-Ca pyroxene (i.e., enstatite/clinoenstatite) crystals exhibit complex sector and oscillatory zoning patterns. Cr-rich spinel is found as inclusions both in olivine and low-Ca pyroxene. Early crystallized olivine phenocrysts have embayed and reacted margins, and some early crystallized olivines exhibit zoning. A few olivines have multiple zones, with both normal and reverse zoning between Fo86–92. Olivine xenocrysts also have embayed and reacted margins; however, xenocrysts do not exhibit chemical zoning patterns and have consistent Fo88 compositions. Disequilibrium crystallization of pyroxene rims reflects rapid cooling during an eruption. Sector zoning in low-Ca pyroxenes is the result of crystallization during periods of moderate undercooling between mixing events. Oscillatory, normal, and reverse zoning in olivine and pyroxene appears to have formed in response to multi-stage magma mingling or mixing processes, which introduced additional Ca, Fe, Ti, and Al into parental boninitic melts. The presence of olivine xenocrysts and orthopyroxene indicate equilibrium at 2–4 kbar (Whattam et al. 2020) indicates that boninite magma mixing events likely occurred within shallow magma chambers containing olivine-rich cumulate piles. Large mixing events probably destabilized the magma chamber, resulting in devolatilization and eruption. In contrast, small mixing events lacked the energy to destabilize the chamber, resulting in repeated compositional oscillations in minerals affected by multiple small mixing events.
Petrogenetic and tectonic interpretation of strongly peraluminous granitic rocks and their significance in the Archean rock record
Authors: Frost Carol D. , Da Prat Fabio A.
Published: April 2021

Strongly peraluminous granitic rocks (SPG), defined by an aluminum saturation index ≥1.1, become abundant in the rock record in the Neoarchean. This study identifies three different varieties of Neoarchean SPG in the Archean Wyoming Province, U.S.A. These include calcic SPG, represented by the Webb Canyon Gneiss and Bitch Creek Gneiss of the Teton Range; calc-alkalic to alkali-calcic suites composed entirely of SPG, including the Rocky Ridge garnet granite gneiss of the northern Laramie Mountains and the Bear Mountain granite in the Black Hills; and calc-alkalic to alkali-calcic suites that include both weakly and strongly peraluminous granitic rocks, such as the Mount Owen batholith, Wyoming batholith, and Bears Ears granite. Although the petrogenesis of all the SPG suites involves partial melting of crustal sources, the composition of those sources, the melting conditions, and the tectonic settings vary. The calcic suites originate by dehydration melting or water excess melting of hornblende-plagioclase rocks at relatively high temperature. The suites composed entirely of SPG formed by partial melting of metasedimentary rocks by reactions involving muscovite at lower temperatures. Suites with both weakly and strongly peraluminous granite may form by partial melting of metasedimentary rocks by reactions involving biotite or by assimilation of aluminous melts of felsic crust by differentiated calc-alkalic magma. Most of the Wyoming SPG appear to have formed in collisional orogens, but SPG of the Wyoming batholith and Bears Ears granite are associated with continental arc magmatism. The appearance of SPG in the Neoarchean rock record marks the time when subduction enabled the formation of strong, thick, increasingly felsic continental crust, which in turn allowed the development of a mature, clastic sedimentary cover. Lateral movement of crustal blocks led to collisional orogeny, SPG magma genesis, and the formation of the first supercontinents.
Experimental Study on the Impact of Type of Sulphate in Lime Stabilised Clays
Authors: A R Sindhu , P Minukrishna , Abraham B.M.
Published: April 2021

Marine clays are distinguished by high compressibility and low shear strength. It has been reported that lime stabilisation is very much potent, and can be used as an ideal ground improvement technique in the case of marine clays. Cochin marine clays are sometimes abundant in primary and secondary sources of sulphates of sodium, lithium, potassium and calcium. Different types of sulphates may have different impact on lime stabilised clays. Present study investigates the effect of different types of sulphates in lime treated marine clays. Marine clay samples were collected by auger boring and all the physical properties were determined. Sulphate content in clay was also found. Clay samples were treated with 6% of lime and 4% of sodium sulphate, lithium sulphate and potassium sulphate and were kept for various curing periods of zero days, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Atterberg limits, free swell index, unconfined compressive strength and pH of all samples were determined. It was found that the plasticity and swelling characteristics of lime treated clay were influenced by the addition of sulphates. It was also found that all the three types of sulphates had detrimental effect on the gain in strength of lime stabilised soil. But the effect varies significantly with the type of sulphate present in the clay. This necessitates the importance of determination of the type sulphate present in the marine clay, before planning the soil stabilisation using lime.