bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PG-SGA outperforms the NRS 2002 for nutritional risk screening in cancer patients: a retrospective study from China
Authors: Chen Xinqiao , Liu Xiangliang , Ji Wei , Zhao Yixin , He Yuwei , Liu Yining , Li Qiguang , Shi Hanping , Cui Jiuwei
Published: November 2023

Background and aims

As a chronic wasting disease, cancer can lead to metabolic and physiological changes in patients, resulting in severe malnutrition. Therefore, accurate assessment of nutritional status and adoption of scientifically sound nutritional interventions are of great importance for patients with cancer. This study aimed to assess the necessity of implementing the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) tool in conjunction with the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in patients with cancer.

Methods

This retrospective study collected the clinical data of cancer patients from November 2011 to December 2018 in the Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, First Hospital of Jilin University. The NRS 2002 and the PG-SGA were used as screening tools for malnutrition. Clinical characteristics and laboratory results were detected. Anthropometric indices including hand-grip strength (HGS), visceral fat area (VFA), calf circumstance (CC), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were also collected. The diagnostic results from the NRS 2002 were compared to the malnutrition diagnosis using the PG-SGA.

Results

Of the 2,645 patients included in this retrospective study, the nutritional risk was found in 1763 (66.6%) patients based on the PG-SGA, and in 240 (9.1%) patients based on the NRS 2002, respectively. Among the 240 patients evaluated by the NRS 2002 for risk of malnutrition, 230 were also assessed by the PG-SGA as malnourished. There were no significant differences observed in the clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters between the two groups.

Conclusion

The PG-SGA is effective and had a higher positive rate in screening malnutrition for patients with cancer. The NRS 2002 is not necessary for patients who are to be assessed with the PG-SGA.
Effect of medium-chain triglycerides supplements and walking on health-related quality of life in sedentary, healthy middle-aged, and older adults with low BMIs: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial
Authors: Ishikawa Haruna , Kojima Keiichi , Watanabe Shinji , Nosaka Naohisa , Mutoh Tatsushi
Published: November 2023

Introduction

To extend individuals’ healthy life expectancies, the improvement of subjective health and quality of life (QOL) has been increasingly prioritized, alongside the improvement of their physical functioning. Reports have indicated that intake of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) benefits the physical health of older individuals requiring nursing care, and athletes, and healthy individuals. But there are few studies investigating the effects of MCTs on subjective health and QOL. The present study sought to evaluate the combined effects of 12-week MCTs supplements and moderate-intensity walking exercise on the subjective health and QOL of middle-aged and older adults aged 60–74 with low BMIs (< 24 kg/m2) and who had no exercise habits.

Methods

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted. Three MCTs supplement groups with different doses and fatty acid compositions were compared with a control group. The study used the SF-36v2 questionnaire to assess subjective health and health-related QOL (HRQOL).

Results

The result showed significant improvements in the scores on subscales of the physical QOL, such as Physical functioning and General health, and summary scores on the mental QOL, compared to the control.

Conclusion

It is estimated that the combination of continuous intake of MCTs and walking exercise may affect HRQOL and improve subjective physical and mental health in sedentary, healthy, middle-aged and older adults.

Clinical trial registration

https://rctportal.niph.go.jp/s/detail/um?trial_id=UMIN000046861, UMIN000046861.
New insights into fibrotic signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shan Liang , Wang Fengling , Xue Weiju , Zhai Dandan , Liu Jianjun , Lv Xiongwen
Published: November 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mostly occurs in the background of liver fibrosis, and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) exist in HCC tissues and adjacent tissues. HSC activation is involved throughout the development of HCC precancerous lesions, which has gradually attracted the attention of related researchers. In addition, HCC can promote the activation of HSCs, which in turn accelerates the occurrence and development of HCC by promoting tumor angiogenesis. In this review, we reviewed 264 studies from PubMed and ScienceDirect to summarize and analyze current significant fibrotic signaling in HCC. As a result, we found 10 fibrotic signaling pathways that are closely related to the activation, proliferation, invasion, migration, and promotion of apoptosis of HCC cells. In addition, we found that crosstalk between various fibrotic signaling pathways of HCC, hypoxia-induced energy metabolic reprogramming of HCC cells, matrix stiffness and stemness of HCC cells, and ferroptosis of HCC cells and HSCs are the latest research hotspots. Furthermore, related drugs that have been found to target these 10 fibrotic signaling pathways of HCC are listed. Our study provides a new reference for developing anti-HCC drugs.
Exploration and validation of the Ki67, Her-2, and mutant P53 protein-based risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model for predicting colorectal cancer progression and prognosis
Authors: Yuan Chaofeng , Huang Jiannan , Wang Yizhuo , Xiao Huijie
Published: November 2023

Introductions

Identifying biological markers of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and prognosis and exploring the intrinsic connection between these molecular markers and CRC progression is underway. However, a single molecular tumor marker is often difficult to assess and predict the progression and prognosis of CRC. Consequently, a combination of tumor-related markers is much needed. Ki67, Her-2, and mutant P53 (MutP53) proteins play pivotal roles in CRC occurrence, progression and prognosis.

Methods

Based on the expressions by immunochemistry, we developed a risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model by R software and Pythons to explore the value of these proteins in predicting CRC progression, prognosis, and examined the relationship of these proteins with the CRC clinicopathological features from 755 (training set) and 211 CRC (validation set) patients collected from the hospital.

Results

We found that Ki67 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular invasion, organization differentiation, and adenoma carcinogenesis. Moreover, Her-2 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular and nerve invasion, pMMR/dMMR, signet ring cell carcinoma, and organization differentiation. MutP53 expression was significantly correlated with T-stage, N-stage, TNM-stage, vascular and nerve invasion, adenoma carcinogenesis, signet ring cell carcinoma, organization differentiation, and pMMR/dMMR. Increased expression of each of the protein indicated a poor prognosis. The established risk model based on the three key proteins showed high predictive value for determining the pathological characteristics and prognosis of CRC and was an independent influencer for prognosis. The nomogram prediction model, which was based on the risk model, after sufficient evaluation, showed more premium clinical value for predicting prognosis. Independent cohort of 211 CRC patients screened from the hospital verified the strong predictive efficacy of these models. The utilization of the XGBoost algorithm in a lymph node metastasis model, which incorporates three crucial proteins, demonstrated a robust predictive capacity for lymph node metastasis.

Discussion

The risk model, nomogram and lymph node metastasis model have all provided valuable insights into the involvement of these three key proteins in the progression and prognosis of CRC. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further screening of effective models that utilize biological markers of CRC.
Comparison of netupitant/palonosetron with 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist in preventing of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Zhang Hang , Zeng Qiang , Dong Tian , Chen Xinchuan , Kuang Pu , Li Jian , Wu Qiuhui , Liu Ting , Niu Ting , Liu Zhigang , Ji Jie
Published: November 2023

Background

The use of 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists (5HT3RA) has long been considered the standard regimen for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, their therapeutic outcomes have been unsatisfactory. NEPA, an oral formulation combining the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist netupitant and the 5HT3RA palonosetron, has received regulatory approval for the management of highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. This study aims to compare the efficacy of NEPA with that of 5HT3RA alone in preventing CINV among patients undergoing multiday conditioning chemotherapy prior to HSCT.

Patients and methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent HSCT between September 2019 and September 2022. Efficacy outcomes were assessed based on the rates of patients achieving complete response (CR: no emesis and no use of rescue medication), complete control (CC: CR without significant nausea), no vomiting, and no significant nausea.

Results

The NEPA group consisted of 106 patients, while the 5HT3RA group included 107 patients. The NEPA group exhibited significantly higher rates of CR compared to the 5HT3RA group during the overall phase (71.7% vs. 32.7%, P<0.001), acute phase (78.3% vs. 43.0%, P<0.001), and delayed phase (84.9% vs. 58.9%, P<0.001). Similarly, rates of CC, no vomiting, and no significant nausea were significantly better in the NEPA group across all phases (P<0.001).

Conclusion

NEPA demonstrated superior efficacy compared to 5HT3RA in preventing CINV during all phases of multiday conditioning regimens among patients undergoing HSCT.
Saccharin and aspartame excite rat retinal neurons
Authors: Yang Jaeyoung , Myers Jason , Slaughter Malcolm M.
Published: November 2023

Retinal sensitivity to a variety of artificial sweeteners was tested by monitoring changes in internal free calcium in isolated retinal neurons using Fluo3. Several ligands, including aspartame and saccharin elevated internal free calcium. The effects of these ligands were mediated by both ligand-gated membrane channels and G-protein coupled receptors. We explored the receptors responsible for this phenomenon. Surprisingly, mRNA for subunits of the sweet taste receptor dimer (T1R2 and T1R3) were found in retina. Interestingly, knockdown of T1R2 reduced the response to saccharin but not aspartame. But TRPV1 channel antagonists suppressed the responses to aspartame. The results indicate that artificial sweeteners can increase internal free calcium in the retinal neurons through multiple pathways. Furthermore, aspartame reduced the b-wave, but not the a-wave, of the electroretinogram, indicating disruption of communication between photoreceptors and second order neurons.
Routine follow-up transjugular liver biopsy in Fontan patients: technical considerations and safety of an initial case series and literature review
Authors: Mandilaras Guido , Meyer Zora , Mühlberg Richard , Braun Annabell , Haas Nikolaus A. , Jakob Andre , Dalla Pozza Robert , Wildgruber Moritz , Fischer Marcus
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Patients with Fontan palliation are susceptible to congestive hepatopathy and Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) because of hemodynamic changes. The staging of liver fibrosis involves various methods, including invasive biopsy. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) offers a less invasive alternative, enhancing liver disease surveillance in routine cardiac catheterization. We detail the technical aspects, share initial outcomes, and discuss existing literature.

Methods/results

During routine follow-up cardiac catheterization indicated by hemodynamic or clinical alterations, four patients aged between 16 and 26 years with univentricular Fontan circulation and three patients with biventricular circulation underwent TJLB during routine surveillance catheterization. The examinations were performed under conscious sedation and local anesthesia without general anesthesia. Jugular access was obtained at the site of liver localization, and a 5 F multipurpose catheter was inserted into the liver veins. After hand angiography to delineate the local hepatic venous anatomy, an exchange wire was used to place the bioptome, and three consecutive biopsies were performed. There were no complications, especially perforation or bleeding. The technical success rate was 100%, with all obtained samples appropriate for histopathological diagnostics. The total additional procedure time was less than 20 min.

Conclusion

TJLB is an attractive alternative method for obtaining liver specimens in the scope of FALD care. We believe that it should be performed during routine hemodynamic evaluations in Fontan patients and can be performed safely with very low additional time expenditure. As the biopsy site is intravascular, the risk of external bleeding or hematoma is significantly reduced despite the high intrahepatic pressures and the usually impaired coagulation profile in these patients. Based on our initial experience and the lower complication rates compared with other techniques, TJLB should be considered a standard approach in these patients and used more often during the long-term follow-up of Fontan patients. It can be performed in the same setting whenever a hemodynamic assessment of patients with congenital heart defects is required.
Opinion paper: effectiveness of sirolimus in treating partial Di George syndrome with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome-like features
Authors: van der Werff ten Bosch Jutte
Published: November 2023

Di George syndrome is a disorder well known by pediatricians, caused by deletions in chromosome 22q11.2 and presenting with a wide range of clinical abnormalities, including immunodeficiency. Thymic function is diminished, leading to a decreased output of naive T cells (naïve T-helper cells, naïve T-regulatory cells, naïve cytotoxic T cells) as compared to healthy age matched controls. Immunedysregulation, such as autoimmunity and immunoproliferation are common in these patients, because the lack of a correctly functioning T cell repertoire. treatment of these complication are a challenge in many immunodeficiencies, including Di George syndrome. Gu et al. discuss a case of a patient with 22q11 deletion and lymphoproliferation and treated successfully with Sirolimus. This opinion paper highlights the need to collect information on the treatment of patients with immunoproliferation through sharing of information of individual cases and international cooperation.
Impact of room acoustics and visual cues on speech perception and talker localization by children with mild bilateral or unilateral hearing loss
Authors: Lewis Dawna , Al-Salim Sarah , McDermott Tessa , Dergan Andrew , McCreery Ryan W.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study evaluated the ability of children (8–12 years) with mild bilateral or unilateral hearing loss (MBHL/UHL) listening unaided, or normal hearing (NH) to locate and understand talkers in varying auditory/visual acoustic environments. Potential differences across hearing status were examined.

Methods

Participants heard sentences presented by female talkers from five surrounding locations in varying acoustic environments. A localization-only task included two conditions (auditory only, visually guided auditory) in three acoustic environments (favorable, typical, poor). Participants were asked to locate each talker. A speech perception task included four conditions [auditory-only, visually guided auditory, audiovisual, auditory-only from 0° azimuth (baseline)] in a single acoustic environment. Participants were asked to locate talkers, then repeat what was said.

Results

In the localization-only task, participants were better able to locate talkers and looking times were shorter with visual guidance to talker location. Correct looking was poorest and looking times longest in the poor acoustic environment. There were no significant effects of hearing status/age. In the speech perception task, performance was highest in the audiovisual condition and was better in the visually guided and auditory-only conditions than in the baseline condition. Although audiovisual performance was best overall, children with MBHL or UHL performed more poorly than peers with NH. Better-ear pure-tone averages for children with MBHL had a greater effect on keyword understanding than did poorer-ear pure-tone averages for children with UHL.

Conclusion

Although children could locate talkers more easily and quickly with visual information, finding locations alone did not improve speech perception. Best speech perception occurred in the audiovisual condition; however, poorer performance by children with MBHL or UHL suggested that being able to see talkers did not overcome reduced auditory access. Children with UHL exhibited better speech perception than children with MBHL, supporting benefits of NH in at least one ear.
How to know when little kidneys are in trouble: a review of current tools for diagnosing AKI in neonates
Authors: Evans Rebecca E. , Peterson Jennifer , Kim Jon Jin , Mahaveer Ajit
Published: November 2023

Due to a plethora of risk factors, including prematurity, neonates are at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) and, once established, AKI is associated with poor outcomes. The most widely used AKI biomarker is creatinine, despite research demonstrating creatinine to be a suboptimal tool for diagnosing neonatal AKI. This article uses an amalgamated case study to illustrate the inadequacies of creatinine for detection of preterm AKI and to present a range of novel AKI biomarkers relevant to the neonatal population. Clinical evaluation of novel AKI biomarkers is needed to improve precision and rapidity of AKI management in neonates.
Prescription characteristics of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang in pain management: a population-based study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Chun-En , Hsu Sheng-Feng , Chen Ching-Chih , Wu Szu-Ying , Hung Yu-Chiang , Hsu Chung Y. , Tsai I.-Ju , Hu Wen-Long
Published: November 2023

Objective: To explore the prevalence and distinctive features of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang (XFZYT) prescriptions by analyzing the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to identify the specific medical problems for which XFZYT is prescribed.

Methods: This nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study included 109,073 XFZYT users and 532,848 XFZYT non-users among Chinese herbal product (CHP) users in NHIRD. Chi-squared tests were used to analyze disparities between the XFZYT user and XFZYT non-user cohorts, and the mean age was evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Logistic regression was used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results: XFZYT was frequently used to treat pain. The top five conditions for which the Taiwanese traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners would prescribe XFZYT were chest pain; headache; myalgia and myositis; lumbago; and neuralgia, neuritis, and radiculitis.

Conclusion: This study represents an inaugural comprehensive survey conducted on the utilization of XFZYT prescriptions among patients with diverse diseases. XFZYT is mostly used to treat pain conditions in Taiwan. Combined with the combination use of other CHPs, XFZYT is used to treat symptoms of the chest and respiratory system, soft tissue conditions, menstruation disorders, and joint and back discomfort. These results suggest that further clinical trials are warranted to verify the effects of XFZYT in pain management.
Does data protection law in South Africa apply to pseudonymised data?
Authors: Thaldar Donrich
Published: November 2023

The use of pseudonymised datasets is increasingly commonplace as research institutions seek to balance data utility with data security. Yet, a crucial question arises: How does South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) govern these datasets, especially given their ambiguous state between de-identification and possible re-identification? A thorough examination of POPIA suggests that the determination of whether a pseudonymised dataset is personal information—and thus whether processing the dataset falls within POPIA’s purview—must be informed by the specific context of the responsible party in possession of the pseudonymised dataset. When a research institution retains both the pseudonymised dataset and its linking dataset, the pseudonymised dataset remains identifiable and is thus personal information that falls within POPIA’s purview. However, when only the pseudonymised dataset—without the linking dataset—is transferred to another entity, it is non-personal information in the hands of such a recipient, thus freeing the recipient from POPIA compliance. Such a delineation offers research institutions greater flexibility in sharing and using pseudonymised datasets. Importantly, because the original provider of the pseudonymised dataset (who has the means to re-identify the dataset) remains governed by POPIA, the privacy rights of data subjects are not undermined.
A novel approach to pulmonary bronchial tree model construction and performance index study
Authors: Liu Yang , Qiu Weiyan , Li Longyu , Chen Rongchang , Kang Yan , Ruan Shuangchen
Published: November 2023

The demand for respiratory disease and dynamic breathing studies has continuously driven researchers to update the pulmonary bronchial tree’s morphology model. This study aims to construct a bronchial tree morphology model efficiently and effectively with practical algorithms. We built a performance index system using failure branch rate, volume ratio, and coefficient of variation of terminal volumes to evaluate the model performance. We optimized the parameter settings and found the best options to build the morphology model, and we constructed a 14th-generation bronchial tree model with a decent performance index. The dimensions of our model closely matched published data from anatomic in vitro measurements. The proposed model is adjustable and computable and will be used in future dynamic breathing simulations and respiratory disease studies.
Optimizing dose-schedule regimens with bayesian adaptive designs: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Chen Xin , He Ruyue , Chen Xinyi , Jiang Liyun , Wang Fei
Published: November 2023

Due to the small sample sizes in early-phase clinical trials, the toxicity and efficacy profiles of the dose-schedule regimens determined for subsequent trials may not be well established. The recent development of novel anti-tumor treatments and combination therapies further complicates the problem. Therefore, there is an increasing recognition of the essential place of optimizing dose-schedule regimens, and new strategies are now urgently needed. Bayesian adaptive designs provide a potentially effective way to evaluate several doses and schedules simultaneously in a single clinical trial with higher efficiency, but real-world implementation examples of such adaptive designs are still few. In this paper, we cover the critical factors associated with dose-schedule optimization and review the related innovative Bayesian adaptive designs. The assumptions, characteristics, limitations, and application scenarios of those designs are introduced. The review also summarizes some unresolved issues and future research opportunities for dose-schedule optimization.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting all-cause mortality in American adult hypertensive populations
Authors: Yang Long , Shen Xia , Seyiti Zulihuma , Tang Jing , Kasimujiang Abudushalamu , Dejite Tuohutasheng , Zhao Ling , Shan Xue-Feng , Gao Xiao-Ming
Published: November 2023

Backgrounds: Hypertension stands as the predominant global cause of mortality. A notable deficiency exists in terms of predictive models for mortality among individuals with hypertension. We aim to devise an effective nomogram model that possesses the capability to forecast all-cause mortality within hypertensive populations.

Methods: The data for this study were drawn from nine successive cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years from 1999 to 2016. The dataset was partitioned into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. We opted for clinical practice-relevant indicators, applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to identify the most pertinent variables, and subsequently built a nomogram model. We also employed concordance index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess the model’s validity.

Results: A total of 17,125 hypertensive participants were included in this study with a division into a training set (11,993 individuals) and a validation set (5,132 individuals). LASSO regression was applied for the training set to obtain nine variables including age, monocytes, neutrophils, serum albumin, serum potassium, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, serum creatinine and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and constructed a nomogram prediction model. To validate this model, data from the training and validation sets were used for validation separately. The concordance index of the nomogram model was 0.800 (95% CI, 0.792–0.808, p < 0.001) based on the training set and 0.793 (95% CI, 0.781–0.805, p < 0.001) based on the validation set. The ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA curves all showed good predictive performance.

Conclusion: We have developed a nomogram that effectively forecasts the risk of all-cause mortality among American adults in hypertensive populations. Clinicians may use this nomogram to assess patient’s prognosis and choose a proper intervention in a timely manner.
Construction of a pharmaceutical care mode for cancer pain patients in primary care based on the Delphi method: an effective analysis
Authors: Xie Han , Chen Xinyi , Xue Min , Li Huaying , Ge Yonghan , Ge Weihong
Published: November 2023

Objective: Pain is one of the most common symptoms of cancer patients. Patients with advanced stages of cancer are always transferred to primary medical institutions or treated with home medication due to their specific pathophysiological characteristics. Studies have shown that continuous pharmaceutical care can improve the effectiveness and safety of drug therapy for cancer pain patients in primary care, but no relevant research has been conducted in China. Based on the Delphi method, this study aims to construct a pharmaceutical care mode for cancer pain patients and analyze its effect in drug therapy treatment in primary care in China.

Methods: A pharmaceutical care mode for cancer pain patients in primary care was developed through two rounds of expert consensus. A total of 200 cancer pain patients from January 2022 to January 2023 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were recruited and divided into an intervention group and control group. The self-developed pharmaceutical care mode in primary care was conducted in the intervention group, while the traditional pharmaceutical care mode was conducted in the control group. Comparisons between the groups were performed in terms of pain assessment rate, reasonable rate of pain assessment, pain score, and incidence of adverse reactions.

Results: The initiative of experts in the two rounds of consultation was 100%, with an authority coefficient of 0.83. The coordination coefficient of the second round was higher than that of the first round, indicating that the consistency of expert opinions was enhanced. There were 100 cases in each group, and 12 and 8 were lost to follow-up in the intervention group and control group, respectively. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a significantly higher pain assessment rate, a reasonable rate of pain assessment, and a significantly lower pain score and incidence of adverse reactions.

Conclusion: Under the scientific and reasonable mode of pharmaceutical care for cancer pain patients at the primary level, standardized drug therapy could significantly enhance the efficacy of treatment, thereby improving the quality of life of patients.
Utilizing liposomal encapsulation approach to address nephrotoxic challenges of colistimethate sodium through a preclinical study
Authors: Mektrirat Raktham , Paengjun Noppanut , Chongrattanameteekul Peerawit , Umsumarng Sonthaya , Cheunsri Suppara , Photichai Kornravee , Lewchalermvong Kittima , Sansamur Chalutwan , Okonogi Siriporn , Katip Wasan
Published: November 2023

The use of Colistin, a last-resort antimicrobial drug, carries the risk of acute kidney injury. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of colistin-encapsulated liposomes (CL) in reducing nephrotoxicity. Additionally, a liposomal preparation of colistimethate sodium was formulated using the reverse phase evaporation method with a 3:1 ratio of phospholipids to cholesterol. The liposomal properties were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy, and release kinetic assay. The killing kinetics of the formulations on embryonic kidney cells were assessed using in vitro MTT reduction assay. The nephrotoxicity of CL and colistimethate sodium solution (CS) was evaluated in vivo by administering a dose of 20 mg/kg to rats every 12 h for 3 days, with a negative control group receiving a 0.9% saline solution (NSS). The study results revealed that monodisperses of CL showed a smooth surface and distinct boundaries, with an average size of 151.50 ± 0.46 nm and a narrow size distribution of 0.25 ± 0.01. The liposomal particles showed high entrapment efficiency of 96.45% ± 0.41%, with a ζ-potential of −60.80 ± 1.01 mV and a release rate of 50% of colistimethate sodium within the first 480 min. The CL induced nephrocytotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. However, CS had notably lower IC50 values compared to its liposome preparations at 48 and 72 h (p < 0.05). In vivo study results show that serum levels of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and total white blood cell count (WBC) were significantly lower in the CL group (SDMA = 8.33 ± 1.70 μg/dL; WBC = 7.29 ± 0.99 log10 cells/mL) compared to the CS group (SDMA = 15.00 ± 1.63 μg/dL; WBC = 9.73 ± 0.51 log10 cells/mL). Our study findings enhance the understanding of the safety profile of CL and its potential to improve patient outcomes through the use of liposomal colistin medication. Additional clinical studies are necessary to establish the optimal safety regiment in humans.
Case report: Self-administration of alpha-1 antitrypsin therapy: a report of two cases
Authors: Escribano Dueñas Ana M. , Martín García Mónica , Tortajada Goitia Begoña , Arenas Villafranca José Javier
Published: November 2023

Intravenous augmentation therapy with human alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor for the management of respiratory disease is recommended for people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) who are nonsmokers or former smokers. Augmentation therapy usually requires weekly administration at the hospital or clinic and poses an additional burden for patients due to interference with daily life, including work and social activities. Self-administration is a useful alternative to overcome this limitation, but there is a lack of published information on clinical outcomes. We report two cases of individuals with AATD at different stages of the disease who were successfully managed with self-administered augmentation therapy, with increased satisfaction because of the independence gained, lack of interference with clinical stability, and no relevant safety issues.
Double-edged sword role of reinforcement learning based decision-makings on vaccination behavior
Authors: Kan Jia-Qian , Zhang Feng , Zhang Hai-Feng
Published: November 2023

Pre-emptive vaccination has been proven to be the most effective measure to control influenza outbreaks. However, when vaccination behavior is voluntary, individuals may face the vaccination dilemma owing to the two sides of vaccines. In view of this, many researchers began to use evolutionary game theory to model the vaccination decisions of individuals. Many existing models assume that individuals in networks use the Fermi function based strategy to update their vaccination decisions. As we know, human beings have strong learning capability and they may continuously search for the optimal strategy based on the surrounding environments. Hence, it is reasonable to use the reinforcement learning (RL) strategy to reflect the vaccination decisions of individuals. To this end, we here explore a mixed updating strategy for the vaccination decisions, specifically, some individuals called intelligent agents update their vaccination decisions based on the RL strategy, and the other individuals called regular agents update their decisions based on the Fermi function. We then investigate the impact of RL strategy on the vaccination behavior and the epidemic dynamics. Through extensive experiments, we find that the RL strategy plays a double-edged sword role: when the vaccination cost is not so high, more individuals are willing to choose vaccination if more individuals adopt the RL strategy, leading to the significant suppression of epidemics. On the contrary, when the vaccination cost is extremely high, the vaccination coverage is dramatically reduced, inducing the outbreak of the epidemic. We also analyze the underlying reasons for the double-edged sword role of the RL strategy.
Analysis of risk factors for changes of left ventricular function indexes in Chinese patients with gout by echocardiography
Authors: Dang Wantai , Luo Danling , Hu Jing , Luo Hui , Xu Xiaohui , Liu Jian
Published: November 2023

Background: Echocardiographic data investigating the association between left ventricular (LV) function and gout is still limited.

Purpose: To analyze the association of echocardiographic parameters based on two-dimentional speckle tracking analysis with clinically related indicators in patients with gout, and to provide a clinical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients with gout.

Methods: This study collected gout patients who visited the outpatient and inpatient departments of the first affiliated hospital of chengdu medical college from November 2019 to December 2020. Spearman correlation test was performed to analyze the correlation coefficients between the laboratorial indicators with echocardiographic parameters. And the logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the independent effects.

Results: The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was a risk factor for the decrease in absolute value of global longitudinal strain [GLS (OR = 2.34; 95% CI, 1.01–5.39; p = 0.04)], Urea was a risk factor for absolute reduction in GCS (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07–1.85; p = 0.02), age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04–1.16; p = 0.001), and hypertension (OR = 8.35; 95% CI, 1.83–38.02; p = 0.006) were risk factors for increased E/Em. High urea levels were significantly related with high risks of LVH (OR = 1.59, 95% CI, 1.04–2.43; p = 0.03) and enlargement of LAVI (OR = 1.68, 95% CI, 1.01–2.80; p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Our study found that elevated urea and FPG were risk factors for subclinical LV myocardial dysfunction in patients with gout, which might provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in clinical practice.
Development and validation of functional kompetitive allele-specific PCR markers for herbicide resistance in Brassica napus
Authors: Shi Jianghua , Yu Huasheng , Fu Ying , Wang Tanliu , Zhang Yaofeng , Huang Jixiang , Li Sujuan , Zheng Tao , Ni Xiyuan , Zhao Jianyi
Published: November 2023

Effective weed control in the field is essential for maintaining favorable growing conditions and rapeseed yields. Sulfonylurea herbicides are one kind of most widely used herbicides worldwide, which control weeds by inhibiting acetolactate synthase (ALS). Molecular markers have been designed from polymorphic sites within the sequences of ALS genes, aiding marker-assisted selection in breeding herbicide-resistant rapeseed cultivars. However, most of them are not breeder friendly and have relatively limited application due to higher costs and lower throughput in the breeding projects. The aims of this study were to develop high throughput kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assays for herbicide resistance. We first cloned and sequenced BnALS1 and BnALS3 genes from susceptible cultivars and resistant 5N (als1als1/als3als3 double mutant). Sequence alignments of BnALS1 and BnALS3 genes for cultivars and 5N showed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions 1676 and 1667 respectively. These two SNPs for BnALS1 and BnALS3 resulted in amino acid substitutions and were used to develop a KASP assay. These functional markers were validated in three distinct BC1F2 populations. The KASP assay developed in this study will be valuable for the high-throughput selection of elite materials with high herbicide resistance in rapeseed breeding programs.
Prolonged exposure to freezing stress reduces the ability of chickpea seedlings to effectively tolerate extremely low temperatures
Authors: Nabati Jafar , Nezami Ahmad , Hasanfard Alireza , Nemati Zahra , Kahrom Nastaran
Published: November 2023

The duration and intensity of freezing stress are the most critical factors determining injury in autumn chickpeas, limiting their production and development. To evaluate the effects of freezing temperature and duration on the survival rate (SU%), as well as the physiological and biochemical characteristics of autumn chickpea seedlings, a study was conducted using five different temperatures (0, -6, -8, -10, and -12°C) and five different durations (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, and 5 h) of exposure to freezing stress. The SU% of chickpea seedlings decreased to zero after exposure to temperatures of -10°C and -12°C for 5 hours. As the temperature decreased from -8°C to -12°C and the duration of exposure to freezing stress increased from 1 to 5 hours, the leaf membrane stability index decreased by 33%, 48%, 46%, 57%, and 58%, respectively. The highest and lowest total pigment contents were observed after 1 hour at 0°C and 5 hours at -12°C, respectively. The maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv’/Fm’) was not affected by temperatures as low as -8°C in any of the time treatments during the recovery period. However, this parameter’s value decreased as the freezing stress duration increased. At -12°C, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase increased by 44.6%, 38.3%, and 33.0%, respectively, as the duration of stress was increased from 1 hour to 5 hours. A positive and significant correlation was observed between plant dry weight, membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigment content, and Fv’/Fm’ with SU% after exposure to freezing stress. The minimum temperature and the maximum duration of freezing stress tolerance in chickpea seedlings were observed at -12°C for two hours. Our findings confirm that prolonging the freezing duration disrupts the defense mechanisms of chickpea seedlings. Therefore, future studies on breeding chickpeas tolerant to freezing stress should concentrate on attributes strongly correlated with SU%.
Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae race 1 and 4 via race-specific real-time PCR and target enrichment
Authors: Mestdagh Hanna , Van Poucke Kris , Haegeman Annelies , Dockx Tinne , Vandevelde Isabel , Dendauw Ellen , Decombel An , Höfte Monica , Heungens Kurt
Published: November 2023

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae (Fol) causes a vascular disease in lettuce that results in significant yield losses. Race-specific and sensitive real-time PCR assays were developed for Fol races 1 and 4, which are prevalent in Europe. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, unique DNA loci specific to each race were identified and subsequently used for the design of primers and hydrolysis probes. Two assays per race were developed to ensure specificity. The two assays of each race could be run in duplex format, while still giving a sensitivity of 100 fg genomic DNA for all assays. Sample preparation methods were developed for plant tissue, soil, and surfaces, with an extra enrichment step when additional sensitivity was required. By controlling the incubation conditions during the enrichment step, the real-time PCR signal could be matched to the number of spore equivalents in the original sample. When enriching naturally infested soil, down to six conidiospore equivalents L-1 soil could be detected. As enrichment ensures sensitive detection and focuses on living Fol propagules, it facilitates the evaluation of control measures. The developed detection methods for soil and surfaces were applied to samples from commercial lettuce farms and confirmed the prevalence of Fol race 4 in Belgium. Monitoring of soil disinfestation events revealed that despite a dramatic decrease in quantity, the pathogen could still be detected either immediately after sheet steaming or after harvesting the first new crop. The detection method for plant tissue was successfully used to quantify Fol in lettuce inoculated with race 1, race 4 or a combination of both. Under the temperature conditions used, race 4 was more aggressive than race 1, as reflected in larger amounts of DNA of race 4 detected in the roots. These newly developed assays are a promising tool for epidemiological research as well as for the evaluation of control measures.
Functional identification of the calcineurin B-like protein PavCBL4 in modulating salt tolerance in sweet cherry
Authors: Fu Quanjuan , Hou Sen , Gao Rui , Wei Guoqin , Sun Yugang
Published: November 2023

Abiotic stresses, such as high salinity, pose a significant threat to plant growth and development, reducing crop yield and quality. Calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins serve as crucial calcium sensors in plant responses to diverse environmental stresses. However, the CBL family in sweet cherry has not been identified at the genome-wide level, and the regulatory role of CBL proteins in cherry plants’ salt response is unclear. Here, we identified 10 CBL family genes (PavCBLs) from the Prunus avium genome and cloned seven of them. We comprehensively analyzed PavCBL genes for collinearity, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, and conserved motifs. Expression analysis revealed significant induction of transcription under abiotic stress, with PavCBL4 displaying the most substantial expression change. Additionally, we identified PavCBL4 as a PavSOS2 (Salt Overly Sensitive 2)-interacting protein through Y2H and Split-LUC assays. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that PavCBL4 is present in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Functional assessment of PavCBL4 in the PavCBL4-overexpressing transgenic ‘Gisela 6’ plants showed its positive role in enhancing salt tolerance in cherry plants. Measurements of Na+ content and antioxidant enzyme activity under salt stress indicated that PavCBL4 functions positively by inhibiting Na+ accumulation and promoting ROS scavenging in response to salt stress. These findings lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PavCBL-mediated salt tolerance in sweet cherry.
Psychological well-being of teachers: influence of burnout, personality, and psychosocial climate
Authors: Espinoza-Díaz Ivette Margarita , Tous-Pallarés Jordi , Lucas-Mangas Susana , Valdivieso-León Lorena , Vigil-Colet Andreu
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Those who are professionally dedicated to teaching can be exposed with their work to situations that influence their perception of psychological well-being. This study aims to evaluate how the factors of personality, emotional intelligence, burnout and the psychosocial climate derived from the work environment of teachers influence their levels of psychological well-being, to verify whether these variables allow us to establish a predictive model of psychological well-being by means of multiple regression analysis.

Methods

Participants were a group of 386 teachers in early childhood, Primary and Secondary education, both in training and in active service (71.5% women; 28.5% men). A correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed to establish a predictive model of psychological well-being. We used 5 instruments: Psychosocial Climate at Work Scales (ECPT); verall Personality Assessment Scale (OPERAS); Questionnaire for Evaluation of Burnout Syndrome at Work (CESQT); Spanish adaptation of the Riff Psychological Well-being Scales (EBP) and Spanish validation of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24).

Results

Most of the relationships were significant, and the multiple regression analysis explains 58.5% of the global variance of psychological well-being in teachers, being emotional stability the most relevant and main predictor of psychological well-being, explaining its 38.1%.

Discussion

Personality shows a great influence in psychological well-being of teachers, particularly emotional stability. The ability to establish predictive models to explain psychological well-being in educational environments is confirmed.
A self-regulation intervention conducted by class teachers: impact on elementary students’ basic psychological needs and classroom engagement
Authors: Cunha Jennifer , Martins Juliana , Peseta Rafaela , Rosário Pedro
Published: November 2023

Literature has reported a decrease in students’ engagement throughout schooling, but more worrying, is that elementary students already show signs of disengagement. This data sets the case to develop interventions at this school level. The narrative-based intervention “Yellow Trials and Tribulations” aimed to promote self-regulation has been proven to positively impact elementary students’ school engagement. Acknowledging that classroom engagement is expected to be more closely related to learning and achievement than school engagement, the current study aims to extend the research of the mentioned intervention on elementary students’ classroom engagement (i.e., behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and agentic dimensions), as well as on basic psychological needs (i.e., perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness)—an antecedent of students’ engagement. The current intervention was implemented by 4th-grade class teachers trained for that purpose and was assessed following a quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest data collection. Participants were 90 students in the experimental group, and 91 in the comparison group. A multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was run for each construct. At the end of the intervention, children in the experimental group reported higher perceived competence and classroom engagement (all dimensions) than their counterparts in the comparison group (small and medium effect sizes were found). No follow-up was conducted to examine whether the intervention effects were long-lasting. Results are expected to support researchers’ and educators’ efforts to effectively implement the intervention, and maximize its benefits to students. For example, extra efforts could be made to help implementers better respond to students’ psychological needs (in this case, perceived autonomy and relatedness), and consequently increase classroom engagement (especially behavioral and emotional engagement, which revealed lower effect sizes).