bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Musculoskeletal injury epidemiology of military recruits: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors: Murphy Myles C. , Stannard Joanne , Sutton Vanessa R. , Owen Patrick J. , Park Brendon , Chivers Paola T. , Hart Nicolas H.
Published: December 2022

Background: Injuries are a common occurrence in military recruit training, however due to differences in the capture of training exposure, injury incidence rates are rarely reported. Our aim was to determine the musculoskeletal injury epidemiology of military recruits, including a standardised injury incidence rate.
Methods: Epidemiological systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Five online databases were searched from database inception to 5th May 2021. Prospective and retrospective studies that reported data on musculoskeletal injuries sustained by military recruits after the year 2000 were included. We reported on the frequency, prevalence and injury incidence rate. Incidence rate per 1000 training days (Exact 95% CI) was calculated using meta-analysis to allow comparisons between studies. Observed heterogeneity (e.g., training duration) precluded pooling of results across countries. The Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Assessment Checklist for Prevalence Studies assessed study quality.
Results: This review identified 41 studies comprising 451,782 recruits. Most studies (n=26; 63%) reported the number of injured recruits, and the majority of studies (n=27; 66%) reported the number of injuries to recruits. The prevalence of recruits with medical attention injuries or time-loss injuries was 22.8% and 31.4%, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed the injury incidence rate for recruits with a medical attention injury may be as high as 19.52 injuries per 1000 training days; and time-loss injury may be as high as 3.97 injuries per 1000 training days. Longer recruit training programs were associated with a reduced injury incidence rate (p=0.003). The overall certainty of the evidence was low per a modified GRADE approach.
Conclusion: This systematic review with meta-analysis highlights a high musculoskeletal injury prevalence and injury incidence rate within military recruits undergoing basic training with minimal improvement observed over the past 20 years. Longer training program, which may decrease the degree of overload experienced by recruit, may reduce injury incidence rates. Unfortunately, reporting standards and reporting consistency remain a barrier to generalisability.
Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42021251080)
The role of parental health beliefs in seeking an eye examination for their child
Authors: Masarwa Dua , Niazov Yulia , Natan Merav Ben , Mostovoy Dina
Published: December 2022

Background
We aimed to explore the role of parental health beliefs in parent seeking of eye examinations for their children, using the Health Belief Model.
Methods
In this quantitative correlational survey study, 100 parents who presented to Barzilai University Medical Center in July 2021 to perform an eye examination to their child completed a questionnaire.
Results
Only 29.6% of the parents knew that a vision screening is performed in first grade, and 10% of the parents did not know where to access eye care for their child. Moreover, 19% of the parents indicated that they were concerned that their child would be prescribed glasses unnecessarily, and 10% believed that wearing glasses would weaken their child's eyes. Various parental health beliefs regarding children’s eye examinations were found associated with parent seeking of eye examinations for their child. Thus, perceived susceptibility (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), perceived benefits (r = 0.39, p < 0.01), and perceived barriers (r=-0.31, p < 0.01) are associated with parent seeking of eye examinations for their child. Also, parents' level of knowledge was associated with seeking eye examinations for their child (r = 0.20, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
Parent perceptions of the child’s susceptibility to vision problems and perceived barriers to seeking eye examinations predicted parents seeking of eye examinations for their child. Interventions aimed at increasing timely eye examinations among children should focus on raising parent awareness of vision problems in childhood, dispelling misconceptions, and providing parents with practical information regarding available services.
Prophylactic Effect of retromuscular mesh during Loop Ileostomy closure On incisional herNia incidence – a multicentre randomized patient- and observer-blind trial (P.E.L.I.O.N Trial).
Authors: Müller Sven , Weyhe Dirk , Herrle Florian , Horvath Philipp , Bachmann Robert , von Ehrlich-Treuenstätt Viktor , Heger Patrick , Nasir Nadir , Klose Christina , Ritz Alexander , Sander Anja , Grohmann Erich , Dörr-Harim Colette , Mihaljevic Andre L.
Published: December 2022

Background: Incisional hernia is a frequent complication following loop ileostomy reversal. Incisional hernias are associated with morbidity, loss of health-related quality of life and costs and warrants the investigation of prophylactic measures. Prophylactic mesh implantation at the time of surgical stoma reversal has shown to be a promising and safe method to prevent incisional hernias in this setting. However, the efficacy of this method has not yet been investigated in a large multicentre RCT with adequate external validity. The P.E.L.I.O.N. trial will evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic mesh reinforcement after loop ileostomy closure in decreasing the rate of incisional hernia versus standard closure alone
Methods: P.E.L.I.O.N. is a multicentre, prospective, randomized, patient- and observer-blind trial. Patients undergoing loop ileostomy closure will undergo intraoperative 1:1 randomization into either abdominal wall closure with a continuous slowly absorbable suture in small stitch technique without mesh reinforcement (control group) or abdominal wall closure with an additional reinforcement with a retromuscular non-absorbable, macro-pore (pore size ³ 1000 μm or effective porosity >0%) light-weight monofilament or mixed structure mesh. A total of 304 patients (152 per group) will need to be randomised in the study. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1014 patients are expected to be screened for eligibility in order to recruit the necessary number of patients. Primary endpoint will be the frequency of incisions hernias within 24 months according to the European Hernia Society definition. Secondary endpoints will be the frequency of surgical site occurrences (including surgical site infections, wound seromas and hematomas and enterocutaneous fistulas), postoperative pain, the number of revisions surgeries and health-related quality of life. Safety will be assessed by measuring postoperative complications ≥ grade 3 according to the Dindo-Clavien Classification.
Discussion: Depending on the results of the P.E.L.I.O.N. trial prophylactic mesh implantation could become the new standard for loop ileostomy reversal.
Trial registration: DRKS00027921, U1111-1273-4657
Effect of 12-week intermittent calorie restriction on liver fat content in comparison with standard-of-care in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (FLICR)
Authors: Lee Han Ah , Moon Hyeyoung , Kim Yuri , Lee Hye Ah , Kim Hwi Young
Published: December 2022

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, and can result in various complications. Owing to the lack of effective pharmacological therapies, life style modifications are the cornerstone treatment for NAFLD. However, there has been no recommendation for a specific dietary therapy because no significant effects have been observed in previous studies. Intermittent calorie restriction (ICR), which consists of alternating phases of extreme energy restriction and regular energy intake, is a novel dietary approach for NAFLD treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated a significantly higher reduction in liver fat content in the ICR group than in the standard of care (SOC) or continuous calorie restriction groups in patients with NAFLD. However, critical weaknesses limit the broader application of ICR in clinical practice, such as the lack of appropriate assessment tools, different cut-offs of body mass index (BMI) used to define obesity, and different food portions. Thus, we report a protocol for a prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 12-week ICR on improving liver fat content in NAFLD patients (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-intermittent calorie restriction [FLICR]).
Methods: We will include adult (19–75 years) NAFLD patients diagnosed by histologic assessment or magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) ≥8%. A total of 72 patients will be classified according to BMI (obese group: BMI ≥25 kg/m2 [n=36] and non-obese group: BMI <25 kg/m2 [n=36]), and followed up for 24 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups: the SOC or ICR group. The primary objective will be the change in liver fat content measured using MRI-PDFF from baseline to 12 weeks.
Discussion: This FLICR study may provide clinical evidence on ICR in the treatment of NAFLD in both obese and non-obese patients. The use of ICR in patients with NAFLD will improve the clinical outcomes of patients facing a shortage of effective medical therapy.
Trial registration: This trial was registered at the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health, ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05309642 (date of registration: April 4, 2022), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05309642.
The Role of Mg in CaO-MgO Composite Catalyst for Biodiesel Production via Transesterification of Soybean Oil
Authors: Hu Mingyue , Pu Jianglong , Qian Eika W. , Wang Hui
Published: December 2022

To improve the activity and stability of catalysts in transesterification for biodiesel production, Mg-doped CaO-MgO catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation in this study. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by BET, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), CO2 temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), oxygen temperature-programmed oxidation (O2-TPO), and in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The performance of the prepared catalysts in the transesterification reaction of soybean oil with methanol was evaluated. The results showed that the added Mg was present in both doped and supported forms. The doped form of Mg reduced the lattice spacing of CaO, improved the intensity and number of basic sites, and enhanced the activity of the catalyst in the transesterification reaction. The poor pore structure of the supported form of MgO weakened the adsorption and diffusion of reactant molecules to the basic sites, which was unfavorable to the activity, but it could protect the basic sites on the catalyst surface from water and CO2 contamination in the air, which was favorable to the stability of the catalyst. The 1Mg3Ca catalyst showed optimal performance in the transesterification reaction due to its higher Mg doping and suitable specific surface area. The main cause of catalyst deactivation is the formation of hydroxides and carbonates on the surface, which are removed in the order of H2O > Mg(OH)2 > Ca(OH)2 > CaCO3 during high-temperature activation.
A study protocol for the randomized clinical trial SAFIR FAMILY TALK: a selective primary preventive intervention vs. service as usual for children of parents with mental illness.
Authors: Nielsen Signe Sofie , Mikkelsen Lisbeth Juhl , Quaade Nikolaj , Beardslee William , Gladstone Tracy , Poulsen Katrina Bonnemose , Rosenberg Nicole , Hjorthøj Carsten , Thorup Anne , Nordentoft Merete , Ranning Anne
Published: December 2022

Background
Children of parents with mental illness have an increased risk of developing mental illness themselves throughout the lifespan. This is due to genetic factors but also environmental disadvantages during childhood associated with parental mental illness. Selective primary preventive interventions for the children are recommended to mitigate risk-factors and strengthening protective factors, but large-scale, longitudinal studies are needed. This study aims to investigate the effect of the Family Talk Preventive Intervention in a cohort of children and their parents with mental illness.
Methods
The study is a randomized clinical trial with 286 planned families with at least one parent with any mental illness and at least one child age 7 to 17 years. It will be carried out in the mental healthcare system in the Capital Region of Denmark. Families will be referred from hospitals and municipalities. The children and parents will be assessed at baseline and then randomized and allocated to either the Family Talk Preventive Intervention or service as usual. The intervention group will be assigned to Family Talk Preventive Intervention, a manualized program consisting of ~ seven sessions for the family, including psychoeducation about parental mental illness and resilience in children, stimulating dialogue between family members and creating a common family narrative. The study period for both groups will be 12 months. Follow-up assessments will be conducted after 4 months and 12 months. The primary outcomes are the children’s level of functioning, parental sense of competence and family functioning.
Discussion
Given the prevalence of transgenerational transmission of mental illness, a systematic approach to prevention is needed in the mental healthcare setting. This study provides valuable knowledge on the Family Talk Preventive Intervention with a large sample size, inclusion of any parental mental illness, and examination of the primary outcomes.
Do gamblers and loot boxers share similar fallacies of thought? A comparative analysis of Cognitive Biases
Authors: Sanmartín Francisco J. , Velasco Judith , Gálvez-Lara Mario , Cuadrado Fátima , Moriana Juan A.
Published: December 2022

Cognitive biases have been associated with the beginning and maintenance of addictive behaviours. While these biases have been widely studied in gambling, they have not been sufficiently explored in loot boxes (LBs), a new phenomenon that shares similar mechanisms. The present study aimed to compare cognitive biases (illusion of control, predictive control, interpretative biases, gambling-related expectancies and the perceived inability to stop gambling) in gamblers, LB purchasers, free-LB openers, and a control group. For this aim, 279 participants completed a self-report composed of ad-hoc questions and standardised measures. The results showed no differences between gamblers, LB purchasers and LB openers on illusion of control and predictive control. In contrast to LB openers, gamblers and LB purchasers obtained statistically similar scored on interpretative biases, gambling-related expectancies and the total score of the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS). Only gamblers experienced a higher perceived inability to stop gambling. Moreover, gamblers, LB purchasers and LB openers scored higher on all biases compared to the control group. When the overlap between the groups was controlled, gamblers and loot boxers shared all cognitive biases but the perceived inability to stop gambling; and scored statistically higher than the control group in all cognitive biases except for the illusion of control. The study provides additional evidence of the relationship between gambling and LB consumption.
Hospital admissions and deaths due to acute cardiovascular events during the COVID-19 pandemic in residents of long-term care facilities
Authors: Gellert Paul , Kohl Raphael , Jürchott Kathrin , Noack Betty , Hering Christian , Gangnus Annabell , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth , Herrmann Wolfram J , Kuhlmey Adelheid , Schwinger Antje
Published: December 2022

Aims
Hospital admissions due to acute cardiovascular events dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population; however, evidence for residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF) is sparse. We investigated rates of hospital admissions and deaths due to myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in LTCF residents during the pandemic.
Methods and results
Our nationwide cohort study used claims data. The sample comprised 1,140,139 LTCF residents over 60 years of age (68.6% women; age 85.3±8.5 years) from Germany. We included MI and stroke admission and compared numbers of in-hospital deaths from January 2020 to end of April 2021 (i.e., during the first three waves of the pandemic) with the number of incidences in 2015-2019. To estimate incidence risk ratios (IRR), adjusted Poisson regression analyses were applied.
During the observation period (2015-2021), there were 19,196 MI and 73,953 stroke admissions. MI admissions declined in the pandemic phase by 22.5% (IRR=0.68 [CI 0.65-0.72]) compared to previous years. This decline was slightly more pronounced for NSTEMI than for STEMI. MI fatality risks remained comparable across years (IRR=0.97 [CI95% 0.92-1.02]). Stroke admissions dropped by 15.1% (IRR=0.75 [CI95% 0.72-0.78]) in the pandemic. There was an elevated case fatality risk for haemorrhagic stroke (IRR=1.09 [CI95% 1.03-1.15]) but not for other stroke subtypes compared to previous years.
Conclusion
This study provides first evidence of declines in MI and stroke admissions and in-hospital deaths among LTCF residents during the pandemic. The figures are alarming given the acute nature of the conditions and the vulnerability of the residents.
Singe atom Bi decorated copper alloy enables C-C coupling for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into C2+ products
Authors: Cao Yucheng , Chen Suya , BO SHUOWEN , Fan Wenjun , Li Jiangnan , Jia Chunmei , Zhou Zhen , Liu Qinghua , Zheng Lirong , Zhang Fuxiang
Published: December 2022

Single atom alloy (SAA) catalysts have been recently exploited for promotion of various heterogeneous catalysis, but it remains unexplored for selective electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into multi-carbon (C2+) products involving C-C coupling. Herein we report a single-atomic Bi decorated Cu alloy (denoted as BiCu-SAA) electrocatalyst that could effectively modulate selectivity of CO2 reduction into C2+ products instead of previous C1 ones. The BiCu-SAA catalyst exhibits remarkably superior selectivity of C2+ products with optimal Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 73.4% compared to the pure copper nanoparticle or Bi nanoparticles-decorated Cu nanocomposites, and its structure and performance can be well maintained at current density of 400 mA cm-2 under the flow cell system. Based on our in-situ characterizations and density functional theory calculations, the BiCu-SAA is found to favor the activation of CO2 and subsequent C-C coupling during the electrocatalytic reaction, as should be responsible for its extraordinary C2+ selectivity.
The efficacy of machine learning in predicting fetal growth restriction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Chenhan , Chunya Ji , Guimei Lin , Linliang Yin , Xuedong Deng , Benjing Wang
Published: December 2022

Objectives
Fetal growth restriction(FGR) is one of the most common causes of perinatal death and various short- and long-term complications. Accurate identification of fetal growth restriction is essential to reduce adverse perinatal outcomes. With the development of machine learning, many predictive models for fetal growth restriction have emerged. We assessed their performance by conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Methods
A systematic literature search was performed for relevant studies reported before May 31, 2022. The quality of the studies was assessed in strict accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (version 2020). Models with the reported area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) indicator curve were meta-analyzed to determine the factors that contributed most to model performance.
Results
After the screening, 20 papers were eligible for synthesis, 19 were rated as high risk of bias, and 1 was rated as unclear risk of bias. From which 37 models were extracted, the c-statistic of the pooled random effects model (I2 = 96.0%) was 0.8123 (0.7824–0.8433, 95%CI). Among them, the c-statistic of the pooled risk model using the consensus developed by the Delphi procedure as the defined model was 0.81 (0.77–0.85, 95%CI), and the c-statistic of the pooled risk model using other defined models was 0.83 (0.78–0.87, 95%CI). In selecting predictors, most models were constructed by combining basic maternal characteristics, maternal pregnancy radionics, and serological indicators during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Machine learning has an excellent predictive value for FGR, which indicates that practical machine learning can be used as a possible means of FGR identification. However, improvements are needed in terms of quality and study design. We look forward to a unified definition and establishing an effective scoring tool to identify FGR accurately and intervene in time.
Change in Cytokine Profiles Released by Mast Cells Mediated by Lung Cancer-derived Exosome Activation Potentiate Cancer-associated Thrombosis
Authors: Ben Suqin , Huang Xiulin , Shi Yongxin , Xu Ziheng , Xiao Hui
Published: December 2022

Background: Cancer-associated thrombosis is a significant cause of lung cancer mortality. Mast cells play a role in thrombosis, but their role in cancer-associated thrombosis has not been elucidated.
Method: We identified the presence of mast cells in the tumor microenvironment by analysis of single-cell sequencing data. The relationship between the mast cell proportion and the expression levels of thrombosis-related genes, neutrophil-related genes, neutrophil extracellular trap-related signature genes, and immune infiltration levels in lung cancer patients was analyzed using bioinformatics. Confocal microscopic observation of bone marrow mast cell uptake after exosomes isolated from lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 were labeled using PKH67. Mast cell degranulation detected by β-hexosaminidase release rate. Cytokine array analysis of altered mediators released by bone marrow mast cells after exosome uptake.
Results:In this study, we show that the proportion of mast cells in lung cancer patients is closely related to the expression levels of thrombosis-related genes and neutrophil extracellular traps signature gene, which play a key role in thrombosis. Moreover, Lung cancer cell-derived exosomes were taken up by mast cells and activated to release procoagulant mediators.
Conclusion: Our study shows that lung cancer cell-derived exosomes activate mast cells to release procoagulants, which predispose lung cancer to thrombotic complications.
Deep learning approach to genome of two-dimensional materials with flat electronic bands
Authors: Mishchenko Artem , Bhattacharya Anupam , Timokhin Ivan , Chatterjee Ratnamala , Yang Qian
Published: December 2022

Many-body electron-electron correlations play central role in condensed matter physics; they govern a wide range of phenomena, stretching from superconductivity to magnetism, and are behind numerous technological applications. Two-dimensional (2D) materials with flat electronic bands provide a natural playground to explore this rich interaction-driven physics, thanks to their highly localized electrons. The search for novel 2D flat band materials has since attracted intensive efforts, especially now with the development of open science databases encompassing thousands of materials with computed electronic bands. In this work, we automate the otherwise daunting task of materials search and classification by combining supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms. To this end, a convolutional neural network was employed to identify 2D flat band materials, which were then subjected to symmetry-based analysis using a bilayer unsupervised learning algorithm. Such hybrid approach of exploring materials databases allowed us to reveal completely new material classes outside the known flat band paradigms, with high efficiency and accuracy. Our results present a genome of 2D materials hosting flat electronic bands that can be further explored to enrich the physics of electron-electron interactions.
Crystal structure of LRG1 and the functional significance of LRG1’s glycan for LPHN2 activation
Authors: Kim Ho Min , Yang Jimin , Yin Guo Nan , Kim Do-Kyun , Han Ah-reum , Lee Dong Sun , Min Kwang Wook , Fu Yaoyao , Yun Jeongwon , Suh Jun-Kyu , Ryu Ji-Kan
Published: December 2022

The serum glycoprotein leucine-rich ɑ-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1), primarily produced by hepatocytes and neutrophils, is a multifunctional protein that can modulate various signalling cascades, mainly TGFβ signalling. Serum LRG1 and neutrophil-derived LRG1 have different molecular weights due to differences in glycosylation, but what impact the differential glycan composition in LRG1 has on its cellular function is largely unknown. We previously reported that LRG1 can promote both angiogenic and neurotrophic processes under hyperglycemic conditions by interacting with LPHN2. Here, we determined the crystal structure of LRG1, identifying the horseshoe-like solenoid structure of LRG1 and its four N-glycosylation sites. In addition, our biochemical and cell-biological analysis found that de-glycosylation of LRG1, particularly the removal of glycans on N325, is critical for high-affinity binding of LRG1 to LPHN2, thereby promoting LRG1/LPHN2-mediated angiogenic and neurotrophic processes in mouse tissue explants, even under normal glucose conditions. Moreover, intracavernous administration of de-glycosylated LRG1 in a diabetic mouse model ameliorated vascular and neurological abnormalities and restored erectile function. Collectively, these data indicate a novel role of LRG1’s glycans as molecular switches that can tune the range of LRG1’s cellular functions, particularly the LRG1/LPHN2 signalling axis.
The toxic effects of Anabolic Steroids on cardiac and skeletal muscles with the potential ameliorative effects of Silymarin and Fenugreek Seeds Extract in Adult Male Albino Rats
Authors: Hassan Dalia Abd Elwahab , Ghaleb Sherien S. , Zaki Amr , Abdelmenem Ahmed , Nabil Shimaa , Alim Mostafa Abdallah Abdel
Published: December 2022

Background
Anabolic steroids are commonly abused by body builders and athletes aiming to increase their strength and muscle mass but unfortunately, the long-term use of AS may lead to serious side effects. Our research was directed to assess the toxic effects of anabolic steroids on cardiac and skeletal muscles in male albino rats and to evaluate the potential ameliorative effects of fenugreek seeds extract and silymarin.
Methods
Our research was done on 120 male albino rats that were allocated into 6 groups; group I: Served as a control group, group II: Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate, group III: Received silymarin orally, group IV: Received fenugreek seeds extract orally, group (V): Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate and silymarin and group (VI): Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate and fenugreek seeds extract. By the end of the study, rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and autopsy samples for histopathological examination.
Results
The anabolic steroids toxic effects on rats showed a significant decrease in serum HDL level and increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels. There was a significant elevation in cardiac troponin level. As regards to histopathological examination of the cardiac and skeletal muscles, the study showed marked degenerative changes and necrosis. Both silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract provided a protective effects on the biochemical and histopathological changes.
Conclusions
Anabolic steroids have a toxic effect on the cardiac and skeletal muscles of albino rats with improvement by treatment with fenugreek seeds extract and silymarin.
Control of white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) through plant-mediated RNA interference
Authors: Walker Philip L. , Ziegler Dylan J. , Giesbrecht Shayna , McLoughlin Austein , Wan Joey , Khan Deirdre , Hoi Vanessa , Whyard Steve , Belmonte Mark F.
Published: December 2022

The causative agent of white mold, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is capable of infecting over 600 plant species and is responsible for significant crop losses across the globe. Control is currently dependent on broad-spectrum chemical agents that can negatively impact the agroecological environment, presenting a need to develop alternative control measures. In this study, we developed transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (AT1703) expressing double-stranded (ds)RNA to silence S. sclerotiorum ABHYDROLASE-3 and slow infection through host induced gene silencing (HIGS). Leaf infection assays show reduced S. sclerotiorum lesion size, fungal load, and ABHYDROLASE-3 transcript abundance in AT1703 compared to wild-type Col-0. To better understand how HIGS influences host-pathogen interactions, we performed global RNA sequencing on AT1703 and wild-type Col-0 directly at the site of S. sclerotiorum infection. RNA sequencing data reveals enrichment of the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway, as well as transcription factors predicted to regulate plant immunity. Using qPCR, we identified predicted interacting partners of ABHYDROLASE-3 in the polyamine synthesis pathway of S. sclerotiorum that demonstrate co-reduction with ABHYDROLASE-3 transcript levels during infection. Together, these results demonstrate the utility of HIGS technology in slowing S. sclerotiorum infection and provide insight into the role of ABHYDROLASE-3 in the A. thaliana – S. sclerotiorum pathosystem.
Machine Learning-Based Radiomics Model to Predict Benign and Malignant PI-RADS v2.1 Category 3 lesions : A Retrospective Multi-center Study
Authors: Jin Pengfei , Shen Junkang , Yang Liqin , Zhang Ji , Shen Ao , Bao Jie , Wang Ximing
Published: December 2022

Purpose: To develop machine learning-based prediction models derive from different MRI sequences for distinction between benign and malignant PI-RADS 3 lesions before intervention, and to cross-institution validate the generalization ability of the models.
Methods: The pre-biopsy MRI datas of 463 patients diagnosed as PI-RADS 3 lesions were collected from 4 medical institutions. 2347 radiomics features were extracted from the VOI of T2WI, DWI and ADC maps. The ANOVA feature ranking method and support vector machine (SVM) classifier were used to construct 3 single-sequence models and 1 integrated model combined with the features of three sequences. All the models were established in the training set and independently verified in the internal test and external validation set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to quantify the predictive performance of each model. Hosmer-lemeshow test was used to evaluate the degree of fitting between prediction probability and pathological results. Non-inferiority test was used to check generalization performance of the integrated model.
Results: T2WI-model with the mean AUC of 0.717 for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) (internal test AUC = 0.738 vs. external validation AUC = 0.695, P = 0.264) and 0.624 for predicting all cancer (internal test AUC = 0.678 vs. external validation AUC = 0.589, P = 0.547). DWI-model with the mean AUC of 0.658 for predicting csPCa (internal test AUC = 0.635 vs. external validation AUC = 0.681, P = 0.086) and 0.655 for predicting all cancer (internal test AUC = 0.712 vs. external validation AUC = 0.598, P = 0.437). ADC-model with the mean AUC of 0.746 for predicting csPCa (internal test AUC = 0.767 vs. external validation AUC = 0.724, P = 0.269) and 0.645 for predicting all cancer (internal test AUC = 0.650 vs. external validation AUC = 0.640, P = 0.848). Integrated model with the mean AUC of 0.803 for predicting csPCa (internal test AUC = 0.804 vs. external validation AUC = 0.801, P = 0.019) and 0.763 for predicting all cancer (internal test AUC = 0.801 vs. external validation AUC = 0.754, P = 0.047).
Conclusions: The radiomics model based on mechine learning has the potential to be a non-invasive tool to distinguish cancerous, noncancerous and csPCa in PI-RADS 3 lesions and the generalization ability between different date set.
Safety and efficacy of total thoracoscopic surgery for patients with tricuspid regurgitation and reduced right ventricular function after left heart valves replacement: a retrospective comparative study
Authors: Lin Zhiqin , Xu Zheng , Chen Xiujun , Lin Feng , Chen Liangwan , Dai Xiaofu
Published: December 2022

Background: Tricuspid valve surgery is the standard treatment for tricuspid valve disease refractory to pharmacologic therapy. However, patients with tricuspid regurgitation after previous left heart valves replacement with reduced right ventricular (RV) function are at greater risk of surgery. We compared the clinical outcomes of tricuspid valve replacement in this subgroup of patients through mini-thoracotomy and conventional full-sternotomy approach.
Methods: We identified 44 patients at our institution with tricuspid regurgitation and reduced right ventricular function after left heart valves replacement who underwent either total thoracoscopic tricuspid valve replacement (T-TVR) or conventional tricuspid valve replacement (C-TVR) from December 2014 and May 2021. Patient clinical characteristics, hospital course, and postoperative changes in RV function were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.
Results: Baseline characteristics between T-TVR and C-TVR were comparable including a high incidence of liver dysfunction and renal insufficiency. There were no statistically differences between the two groups in terms of hospital mortality (8.0% vs. 21.1%, P = 0.211). Patients in the T-TVR group had less total drainage volume (201.60±77.05 ml vs 614.74±182.31 ml, p <0.001), required fewer postoperative blood product transfusions,
and had a lower total length of hospital stay (15(15-16) vs. 16(14-17) days, P = 0.019) compared to the C-TVR group. T-TVR was associated with better and faster recovery of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricle fractional area change (RVFAC) (adjusted β =0.003, 95% CI: 0.000 to .005, p = .024, and adjusted β = 0.381, 95% CI: -0.349 to 1.111, p = 0.306; respectively) within the first 3 months postoperatively compared with C-TVR.
Conclusions:
T-TVR represents a viable alternative to current surgical strategies as a potentially sicker cohort demonstrated similar hospital mortality compared to conventional surgery, with reduced length of hospital stay, fewer blood transfusions, and more favorable in promoting RV functional recovery in the early period. Future prospective, randomized-controlled trials with longer follow-up durations are needed to validate these findings.
Soluble VE-cadherin disrupts endothelial barrier function via VE-PTP/RhoA signalling
Authors: Knop Juna-Lisa , Burkard Natalie , Danesh Mahsdid , Dandekar Thomas , Srivast Mugdha , Hiermaier Matthias , Waschke Jens , Flemming Sven , Schlegel Nicolas
Published: December 2022

Aim: Increased levels of soluble Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin fragments (sVE-cadherin) have previously been linked with inflammation-induced loss of endothelial barrier function. We tested whether sVE-cadherin is critically involved in the onset of endothelial barrier dysfunction.
Methods and Results: Application of recombinant human sVE-cadherin (extracellular domains EC1-5) on human microvascular endothelial cells in vitro and in a rat model in vivo induced loss of endothelial barrier function and reduced microcirculatory flow. sVE-cadherinEC1-5 led to decreased localization of VE-cadherin at cell borders. Additionally, sVE-cadherinEC1-5 perturbed VE-protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP)/VE-cadherin interaction. VE-PTP inhibitor AKB9778 blunted all sVE-cadherinEC1-5-induced effects in vitro and in vivo. Downstream effects involve VE-PTP-dependent RhoA activation which was attenuated by AKB9778. Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 blocked sVE-cadherinEC1-5-induced loss of endothelial barrier function.
Conclusion: sVE-cadherin disrupts endothelial barrier function by dismantling the VE-cadherin complex at cell borders via VE-PTP-dependent RhoA activation. This uncovers a novel pathophysiological role of sVE-cadherin in the context of endothelial barrier dysfunction in inflammation.
Mucociliary transport velocity is decreased in nasal polyp mucosae despite vigorous ciliary beating
Authors: Nguyen Thi Nga , Koga Yuma , Wakasugi Tetsuro , Kitamura Takuro , Suzuki Hideaki
Published: December 2022

Background

Mucociliary transport function in the airway mucosa is essential for maintaining a clean mucosal surface. This function is impaired in upper and lower airway diseases. Nasal polyps are a typical pathological feature of prolonged rhinosinusitis. Like the ordinary nasal mucosa, nasal polyps have a ciliated pseudostratified epithelium with vigorous ciliary beating. We herein measured ex vivo mucociliary transport velocity (MCTV) and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and explored the expressions of planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins in nasal polyps in comparison with turbinate mucosae.

Methods

Inferior turbinates and nasal polyps were collected from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis during endoscopic sinonasal surgery. Ex vivo MCTV and CBF were measured using a high-speed digital imaging system. Expressions of PCP proteins were explored by fluorescence immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR.

Results

The MCTV of nasal polyps was significantly lower than that of the turbinates (7.43±2.01 vs. 14.56±2.09μm/s; P=0.0361), whereas CBF did not differ between the two tissues. The MCTV vector was pointed to the posteroinferior direction in all turbinates with an average inclination angle of 41.0 degrees. Immunohistochemical expressions of Dishevelled-1, Dishevelled-3, Frizzled3, Frizzled6, Prickle2 and Vangl2 were lower in the nasal polyps than in the turbinates. The expression levels of mRNAs for Dishevelled-1, Dishevelled-3 and Frizzled3 in the nasal polyps were also decreased in comparison with the turbinates.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ciliary transport in nasal polyps is impaired although vigorous ciliary beating is maintained, and that the impairment may be caused by a decrease in Dishevelled/Frizzled proteins and resultant PCP disarrangement.
Epidemiological and Histopathological Characteristics of Gynecological Cancers in Somalia
Authors: Hussein Ahmed Issak , Omar Abdikarim Ali , Hassan Hiba Bashir , Abdullahi Ismail Mohamud , Mohamed Shamsa Hussein , Birge Ozer
Published: December 2022

Background: Gynecological malignancies are prevalent, with a high mortality rate. The present is the first report from Somalia regarding the epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of gynecological cancers.
Methods: This study reviewed all pathology results obtained from gynecologic patients who underwent various procedures and biopsies over seven years. The investigated parameters were sociodemographic features, histopathological characteristics, and management options, including surgical interventions.
Results: The prevalence of gynecological cancers in our study was 7.1%. Among 225 cases with histopathologically confirmed primary gynecological malignancies, cervical and endometrial cancers were the most common (n= 137 and 42, 61% and 18.6%), respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type in cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers. All patients diagnosed with cervical cancer had no history of cervical screening. Approximately 70% of the patients presented in the late stages of the disease. More than half (n=28, 67%) of patients with Endometrioid adenocarcinoma have been found to have other comorbidities, including diabetic Mellitus (n=17, 60.7%) and hypertension (n=11, 39.3%). Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without pelvic lymphadenectomy were performed in 35/42 patients with endometrial cancer.
Conclusions: Cervical carcinoma was the most frequently observed gynecological malignancy during the study period. Majority of our patients presented in the late stages of advanced disease. Lack of adequate knowledge of the disease, poor socioeconomic status, limited resources, and inadequate expertise is believed to be the causes of the late presentation of the patients. Since cervical cancer is a preventable disease, national screening and awareness programs are necessary to reduce the burden of cancer and improve women's health in Somalia.
SARS-CoV-2 engages replication and inflammasome activation through lipid remodeling via SREBPs
Authors: Bozza Patrícia , Soares Vinicius , Dias Suelen , Santos Julia , Azevedo-Quintanilha Isaclaudia , Moreira Isabela , Sacrmento Carolina , Rodrigues Natalia , Temerozo Jairo , Silva Marcos , Barreto-Vieira Debora , Souza Thiago
Published: December 2022

SARS-CoV-2 and other ssRNA + viruses induce major cellular lipid rearrangements, exploiting the host's metabolic pathways to replicate. Sterol regulatory-element binding proteins (SREBPs) are a family of transcription factors that control lipid metabolism. SREBP1 is associated with the regulation of fatty acid metabolism, while SREBP2 controls cholesterol metabolism, and both isoforms are associated with lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been shown to increase the expression and activation of SREBPs, but the impact of this pathway on the infection outcome is still poorly explored. Here, we evaluated the effect of pharmacologic and molecular inhibition of SREBP1 and SREBP2 in a SARS-CoV-2-infected lung epithelial cell line (Calu-3). We showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced the expression and activation of SREBP1 and SREBP2, enzymes of lipid metabolism and LD accumulation. Partial inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication and cell death was observed with the genetic knockdown of SREBP1 or SREBP2, while combined SREBP1 and SREBP2 knockdown led to synergistic inhibition. Combined SREBP1 and SREBP2 knockdown inhibited DGAT-1 expression and abrogated SARS-CoV-2-triggered LD formation in Calu-3 cells. Moreover, blockage of LD biogenesis by DGAT1 siRNA inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication and cell death. Pharmacological inhibition with the dual SREBP activation inhibitor fatostatin reduced virus replication, cell death and LD biogenesis. In addition, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 induced cell death by pyroptosis, with activation of caspase-1, cleavage of gasdermin D1 and release of IL-1β and IL-18 depending on SREBP activation. Collectively, our findings help to elucidate that SREBPs are crucial host factors required for viral replication, LD biogenesis and inflammasome activation and indicate SREBP as a host target for the development of antiviral strategies.
Life is more satisfying when evaluated as a whole: A Principal Component Analysis of Mexicans' subjective well-begin.
Authors: Martinez-Sermeño Flor , Sheagren Powell , Garduno-Rivera Rafael
Published: December 2022

For decades, there has been consensus that measures of well-being must move past easily available economic data, and newer measurements of well-being are often obtained through individual questions or questionnaires. Despite being easier to compare person to person, recent trends have shown that the former singular global evaluations are held back by their propensity to be heavily influenced by the most recent, important or frequent event in a person's life, ignoring other aspects of life and differentiating what the survey is recording per respondent. Questionnaires, however, present a secondary problem of creating the same comparability that individual questions have. Most methods are laboriously hand-made or made questionnaire specific, which takes more work on a survey level. The present study proposes using a principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm to index subjective well-being from multidimensional data. To prove the validity of this method, we use data from the 2021 BIARE Mexican subjective well-being survey to construct an index with a PCA model of 37 variables related to different aspects of well-being. Dimensions related to Satisfaction in Life, Positive and Negative feelings are used to compute a single well-being value (Happiness Index) for each individual and a mean and variance for a State-level happiness estimation. This approach allows us to explore the importance of the different aspects of happiness that could be useful for policy interventions to maintain and improve Mexican well-being and shows a case study of the use of a PCA methodology which could be flexibly applied to many other data sources. Results show that the global evaluation of life satisfaction was generally higher than the Happiness Index. These results mean that, to Mexicans, life is more satisfying when evaluated globally as the aggregated satisfaction or feeling of each aspect of life.
JEL: E21; I31; J17; C38; N36.
Extension of the Spectral Difference method to premixed laminar and turbulent combustion
Authors: Marchal Thomas , Deniau Hugues , Boussuge Jean-François , Cuenot Bénédicte , Mercier Renaud
Published: December 2022

A Spectral Difference (SD) algorithm on tensor-product elements which solves the reacting compressible Navier-Stokes equations is presented. The classical SD algorithm is shown to be unstable when a multi-species gas where thermodynamic properties depend on temperature and species mass fractions is considered. It is demonstrated that computing primitive variables from conservative variables at solution points and extrapolating them at flux points, rather than conservative variables, make the SD method stable for such case. In addition, a new methodology, more stable, for computing the diffusive fluxes at an interface is detailed. To allow the simulation of combustion, characteristic and wall boundary conditions for multi-species flows in the SD framework are introduced and the thickened flame turbulent combustion model is adapted to the SD context. Validation test cases from one-dimensional and two-dimensional laminar flames to a three-dimensional turbulent flame have been performed showing excellent agreement with each of the reference solutions. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a 3D turbulent flame is simulated using the SD method. The interest of employing a high-order method, such as the SD, in combustion is demonstrated: high values of the polynomial degree improve the quality of the results which advocates for the use of p-refinement when simulating reacting flows.
Identification of the key ferroptosis-related genes in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic dissection and thoracic aortic aneurysm using integrated bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification
Authors: Wang Haiyue , Zhang Hongwei , Yang Peng , Lu Chen , Liu Yu , Zhang Yu , Xie Yi , Xu Zhenyuan , Hu Jia
Published: December 2022

Background
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) are interrelated diseases, but there is no evidence of a relationship between ferroptosis and the common pathogenesis of TAD and TAA. To investigate the potential target of inhibiting TAD/TAA, we identified the key ferroptosis-related genes in the pathogenesis of TAD/TAA through integrated bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification.
Results
A total of 263 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found between normal and TAD/TAA datasets. In the functional enrichment of DEGs, immune-related and inflammation-related pathways dominated. Moreover, eight key ferroptosis-related genes were identified and verified. Western blot and qRT-PCR results showed that HIF1A, SAT1, ARNTL and DDIT4 were significantly differentially expressed in normal and TAD/TAA aortic tissues. Finally, these key genes in vascular smooth muscle cells were validated in erastin-induced ferroptosis model and macrophage co-culture model. Our finding suggests these key ferroptosis-related genes were activated in the process of ferroptosis and participated in the regulation of ferroptosis during macrophage infiltration.
Conclusions
HIF1A, SAT1, ARNTL and DDIT4 were identified as key ferroptosis-related genes and play a central role in both TAA and TAD. These findings will provide us with new insight into the mechanisms of ferroptosis in TAD/TAA and suggest therapeutic targets to inhibit the progression of TAD/TAA.