bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects of epigallocatechin gallate and l-theanine in nerve repair and regeneration by anti-amyloid damage, promoting metabolism, and nourishing nerve cells
Authors: Xie Xinya , Wan Juan , Zheng Xin , Pan Wenjing , Yuan Jiayi , Hu Baozhu , Feng Meiyan , Liu Zhonghua , Cai Shuxian
Published: August 2022

Green tea has significant protective activity on nerve cells, but the mechanism of action is unclear. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and N-ethyl-L-glutamine (L-theanine) are the representative functional components of green tea (Camellia sinensis). In this study, an AD model of Aβ25–35-induced differentiated neural cell line PC12 cells was established to study the synergistic effect of EGCG and L-theanine in protecting neural cells. The results showed that under Aβ25–35 stress conditions, mitochondria and axons degenerated, and the expression of cyclins was up-regulated, showing the gene and protein characteristics of cellular hyperfunction. EGCG + L-theanine inhibited inflammation and aggregate formation pathways, significantly increased the percentage of G0/G1 in the cell cycle, downregulated the expression of proteins such as p-mTOR, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin B1, upregulated the expression of GAP43, Klotho, p-AMPK, and other proteins, promoted mitochondrial activity and energy metabolism, and had repair and regeneration effects on differentiated nerve cells. The synergistic mechanism study showed that under the premise that EGCG inhibits amyloid stress and inflammation and promotes metabolism, L-theanine could play a nourish nerve effect. EGCG + L-theanine keeps differentiated nerve cells in a quiescent state, which is beneficial to the repair and regeneration of nerve cells. In addition, EGCG + L-theanine maintains the high-fidelity structure of cellular proteins. This study revealed for the first time that the synergistic effect of EGCG with L-theanine may be an effective way to promote nerve cell repair and regeneration and slow down the progression of AD. Our findings provide a new scientific basis for the relationship between tea drinking and brain protection.
Bioimpedance analysis combined with sagittal abdominal diameter for abdominal subcutaneous fat measurement
Authors: Lai Chung-Liang , Lu Hsueh-Kuan , Huang Ai-Chun , Chu Lee-Ping , Chuang Hsiang-Yuan , Hsieh Kuen-Chang
Published: August 2022

Abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue (ASFT) is an independent predictor of mortality. This prospective observational study aimed to establish a rapid, safe, and convenient estimation equation for abdominal subcutaneous fat area (SFA) using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) combined with sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD). A total of 520 adult subjects were recruited and were randomly divided into 2/3 (n = 346) and 1/3 (n = 174) to form a modeling group (MG) and a validation group (VG), respectively. Each subject's abdomen was scanned using computed tomography to obtain target variables (SFACT). Predictor variables for all subjects included bioimpedance index (h2/Z), anthropometric parameters height (h), weight (W), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and SAD, along with age and sex (male =1, female = 0). SFA estimation equation SFABIA+SAD was established for the MG using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Cross-validation was performed using VG to evaluate the performance of the SFABIA+SAD estimation equation. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was applied from the MG, including SFABIA+SAD = 49.89 + 1.09 SAD−29.90 Sex + 4.71 W−3.63 h2/Z−1.50 h (r = 0.92, SEE = 28.10 cm2, n = 346, p < 0.001). Mean differences in SFABIA+SAD relative to SFACT were −1.21 ± 21.53, 2.85 ± 27.16, and −0.98 ± 36.6 cm2 at different levels of obesity (eutrophic, overweight, obese), respectively. This study did not have a large number of samples in different fields, so it did not have completely external validity. Application of BIA combined with SAD in anthropometric parameters achieves fast, accurate and convenient SAF measurement. Results of this study provide a simple, reliable, and practical measurement that can be widely used in epidemiological studies and in measuring individual SFA.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Prognostic Value and Immune Infiltration of Butyrophilin Subfamily 2/3 (BTN2/3) Members in Pan-Glioma
Authors: He Dong , Qin Zhen , Liu Zihao , Ji Xiaoshuai , Gao Jiajia , Guo Hua , Yang Fan , Fan Haitao , Wei Yanbang , Wang Zixiao , Liu Qian , Pang Qi
Published: August 2022

The BTN2/3 subfamilies are overexpressed in many cancers, including pan-glioma (low- and high-grade gliomas). However, the expression and prognosis of BTN2/3 subfamilies and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in pan-glioma remain unknown. In the present study, we systematically explored and validated the expression and prognostic value of BTN2/3 subfamily members in pan-glioma [The Cancer Genome Atlas–glioblastoma and low-grade glioma (TCGA-GBMLGG) merge cohort] using multiple public databases. We used clinical specimens for high-throughput verification and cell lines for qRT-PCR verification, which confirmed the expression profiles of BTN2/3 subfamilies. In addition, the function of the BTN2/3 subfamily members and the correlations between BTN2/3 subfamily expression and pan-glioma immune infiltration levels were investigated. We found that BTN2/3 subfamily members were rarely mutated. BTN2/3 subfamilies were overexpressed in pan-glioma; high expression of BTN2/3 subfamily members was correlated with poor prognosis. In addition, BTN2/3 subfamilies might positively regulate proliferation, and the overexpression of BTN2/3 subfamilies influenced cell cycle, differentiation, and glioma stemness. In terms of immune infiltrating levels, BTN2/3 subfamily expression was positively associated with CD4+ T-cell, B-cell, neutrophil, macrophage, and dendritic cell infiltrating levels. These findings suggest that BTN2/3 subfamily expression is correlated with prognosis and immune infiltration levels in glioma. Therefore, the BTN2/3 subfamilies can be used as biomarkers for pan-glioma and prognostic biomarkers for determining the prognosis and immune infiltration levels in pan-glioma.
Survival after wedge resection versus lobectomy for stage IA second primary NSCLC with previous lung cancer-directed surgery
Authors: Song Congkuan , Lu Zilong , Li Donghang , Pan Shize , Li Ning , Geng Qing
Published: August 2022

Background

The surgical procedure for early-stage second primary non-small cell lung cancer (SP-NSCLC) remains controversial, especially for patients with previous lung cancer-directed surgery. This study aims to compare the survival after wedge resection and lobectomy for these patients.

Methods

Stage IA SP-NSCLC patients with clear clinical information were searched from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The Cox proportional hazard model, the competing risk model, and the Kaplan–Meier survival curve were used to describe the survival difference between wedge resection and lobectomy. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) method was also performed to reduce the potential impact of confounding factors between the two groups.

Results

Of the 320 eligible stage IA SP-NSCLC patients included in this study, 238 (74.4%) patients underwent wedge resection and 82 (25.6%) patients received lobectomy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 61.3% with wedge resection and was 66.1% with lobectomy. Both before and after PSM, wedge resection showed similar OS and lung cancer-specific mortality as lobectomy in the entire cohort. Additionally, in all subgroup analyses, wedge resection demonstrated equivalent survival to lobectomy. However, in the female, sublobectomy for the first primary lung cancer, and interval ≤ 24 months subgroups, wedge resection displayed a higher lung cancer-specific mortality than lobectomy (fine-gray test, all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Overall, wedge resection is comparable to lobectomy in OS for stage IA SP-NSCLC patients with previous lung cancer-directed surgery. Therefore, we believe that wedge resection may be sufficient for these patients, although, in some cases, wedge resection has a higher lung cancer-specific mortality rate than lobectomy.
Prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in laryngeal cancer: What should we expect from a meta-analysis?
Authors: Hu Xianyang , Tian Tengfei , Sun Qin , Jiang Wenxiu
Published: August 2022

Background

Although many studies have shown the predictive value of the high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for various cancers, there are conflicting reports regarding their role in laryngeal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between high NLR/PLR and laryngeal cancer prognosis with the help of meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Embase and other databases were used to search relevant studies. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using either the random-effect-model or fixed-effect model. Sensitivity analyses and subgroups were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was also adopted.

Result

5716 patients from 20 studies were involved in this meta-analysis. Pooled observed survival (OS) (HR=1.70, 95%CI, 1.41-2.04, p<0.001), progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=1.81, 95%CI, 1.47-2.23, p<0.001), and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR=1.86, 95%CI, 1.45-2.38, p<0.001) showed the prediction of high NLR for poor prognosis. It also suggested that high PLR predicted poor OS (HR=1.89, 95%CI, 1.21-2.94, p<0.001).

Conclusion

This study indicated that high NLR was associated with poor OS, PFS, and DFS in laryngeal cancer patients, and high PLR was related to poor OS. Both could be potential predictors of prognosis.
The modulation of ion channels in cancer chemo-resistance
Authors: Zhao Jiayu , Li Mei , Xu Jiao , Cheng Wei
Published: August 2022

Ion channels modulate the flow of ions into and out of a cell or intracellular organelle, leading to generation of electrical or chemical signals and regulating ion homeostasis. The abundance of ion channels in the plasma and intracellular membranes are subject to physiological and pathological regulations. Abnormal and dysregulated expressions of many ion channels are found to be linked to cancer and cancer chemo-resistance. Here, we will summarize ion channels distribution in multiple tumors. And the involvement of ion channels in cancer chemo-resistance will be highlighted.
Methionine cycle-dependent regulation of T cells in cancer immunity
Authors: Zhao Tian , Lum Julian J.
Published: August 2022

The methionine cycle comprises a series of reactions that catabolizes and regenerates methionine. This process is crucial to many cellular functions, including polyamine synthesis, DNA synthesis, redox balance, and DNA and histone methylation. In response to antigens, T cells activate the methionine cycle to support proliferation and differentiation, indicating the importance of the methionine cycle to T cell immunity. In cancer, T cells serve as important effectors of adaptive immunity by directly killing cancerous cells. However, the tumor microenvironment can induce a state of T cell exhaustion by regulating the methionine metabolism of T cells, posing a barrier to both endogenous T cell responses and T cell immunotherapy. Here we review the role of methionine cycle metabolites in regulating the activation and effector function of T cells and explore the mechanism by which tumor cells exploit the methionine pathway as a means of immune evasion. Finally, we discuss new perspectives on reprogramming the methionine cycle of T cells to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy.
CCL5 mediates breast cancer metastasis and prognosis through CCR5/Treg cells
Authors: Qiu Juanjuan , Xu Li , Zeng Xiaohong , Wu Hao , Liang Faqing , Lv Qing , Du Zhenggui
Published: August 2022

Background and aims

CCL5 is considered to contribute to the biological function of a variety of cancer types, but its specific mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of CCL5 in the invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of breast cancer.

Methods

The expression of CCL5 in tumor tissue and serum was measured with a Luminex protein detection kit, and the correlation between CCL5 and clinical parameters was evaluated. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to analyze the effect of CCL5 on the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Protein interaction network analysis and gene coexpression were used to determine the receptor that has the strongest interaction with CCL5. Enrichment analysis was used to study the possible pathway by which CCL5 affects breast cancer progression. We used immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry to estimate the fraction of immunity-related components in the tumor microenvironment.

Results

The expression level of CCL5 in breast cancer patients was positively correlated with the degree of axillary lymph node metastasis; CCL5 in tumor tissue was correlated with estrogen receptor status (P = 0.034), progesterone receptor (P = 0.009), nuclear grade (P = 0.013), clinical stage (P < 0.001) and molecular subtype (P = 0.024) in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer patients with high CCL5 expression had worse disease-free survival (P = 0.031) and breast cancer-specific survival (P = 0.043); however, CCL5 had no effect on overall survival (P = 0.077). CCL5 affected tumor progression through CCR5, and the T-cell-related immune pathway may be the main pathway; the CD4+/CD8+, CCR5+/CD4+ and Treg/CCR5+ cell ratios were significantly increased in the lymph node metastasis group.

Conclusion

CCL5 affects the Treg/CD4+CCR5+ cell ratio in breast cancer patients through CCR5, thus affecting breast cancer metastasis and prognosis.
Comparison of real-world data (RWD) analysis on efficacy and post-progression outcomes with pembrolizumab plus chemo vs chemo alone in metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 < 50%
Authors: Attili Ilaria , Valenza Carmine , Santoro Celeste , Antonarelli Gabriele , Trillo Aliaga Pamela , Del Signore Ester , Catania Chiara , Spitaleri Gianluca , Passaro Antonio , de Marinis Filippo
Published: August 2022

Background

Following the introduction of immunotherapy (IO) in the first-line (1L) treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without sensitizing EGFR/ALK mutations, increasing real-world data depict how difficult it is to replicate data from clinical trials to clinical practice, with high rates of early treatment failure. In the context of chemo-IO, our study aims to compare platinum-pemetrexed-pembrolizumab combination to platinum-doublet alone in patients with low PD-L1 (<50%).

Methods

We retrospectively collected medical records from patients with stage IV non-squamous NSCLC with PD-L1<50%, consecutively treated at our Centre from 2016 to 2021. Patients were grouped according to 1L treatment received: chemo-IO (group A) or platinum-doublet (group B). Survival outcomes were analyzed and compared among the two groups.

Results

Overall, 105 patients were included: 49 in group A and 56 in group B. At data cut-off, median follow-up was 12.4 and 34.8 months, with 32/49 and 52/56 events for progression-free survival (PFS) and 21/49 and 29/56 events for overall survival (OS), respectively. No difference in PFS was observed between group B and group A (6.6 versus 8 months, HR 1.12, 95%CI 0.57-1.40). Patients receiving 1L platinum-doublet had significantly longer OS compared to those receiving chemo-IO (median OS 23.8 vs 14.9 months, HR 0.47, 95% CI 1.15- 3.98, p=0.01). 12 month-OS was 58% (95% CI 44-76%) in group A and 78% (95% CI 68-91%) in group B (p=0.040). Subgroup analysis identified KRAS G12C mutation as potentially affecting PFS in patients receiving chemo-IO (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0-10-0.91). The OS benefit of platinum-doublet was consistent across subgroups, with particular benefit in female sex, liver or pleural metastases, PD-L1 negative. Overall, only 46.9% of patients with progression received subsequent treatment in group A (15/32), compared to 86.5% in group B (45/52, all receiving 2L IO), with no difference in PFS to 2L (group A 3.7months, group B 4.1months, p=0.3).

Conclusions

Despite small study population and differential follow-up, our study demonstrates that sequential use of 1L platinum-doublet and 2L IO is not inferior to 1L chemo-IO in non-squamous NSCLC with PD-L1<50%. In addition, we identified subgroups who might benefit differentially from the two approaches.
Prenatal ultrasound phenotypic and genetic etiology of the 17q12 microduplication syndrome
Authors: Cai Meiying , Lin Min , Guo Nan , Fu Meimei , Xu Liangpu , Lin Na , Huang Hailong
Published: August 2022

Background

Several studies have reported on the clinical phenotype of the 17q12 microduplication syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder, in children and adults, but few have reported on its prenatal diagnosis. This study analyzed the prenatal ultrasound phenotypes of the 17q12 microduplication syndrome to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and monitoring of this disease in fetuses.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 8,200 pregnant women who had received an invasive antenatal diagnosis at tertiary referral hospitals between January 2016 and August 2021 was performed. Amniotic fluid or cord blood was sampled from the pregnant women for karyotyping and chromosome microarray analysis (CMA).

Results

The CMA revealed microduplication in the 17q12 region of the genome in five fetuses, involving fragments of about 1.5–1.9 Mb. Five fetuses with the 17q12 microduplication syndrome had different prenatal ultrasound phenotypes, including duodenal obstruction (two fetuses); mild ventriculomegaly, dysplasia of the septum pellucidum, agenesis of the corpus callosum (one fetus); and a strong echo in the left ventricle only (one fetus). The ultrasound phenotype of one fetus was normal. Among the five fetuses with the 17q12 microduplication syndrome, the parents of three refused CNV segregation analysis, while CNV segregation analysis was performed for the remaining two fetuses to confirm whether the disorder was inherited maternally or paternally, with normal phenotypes. After genetic counseling, the parents of those two fetuses chose to terminate the pregnancy, while the parents of the three unverified fetuses continued the pregnancy, with normal follow-up after birth.

Conclusion

Although prenatal ultrasound phenotypes in fetuses with the 17q12 microduplication syndrome are highly variable, our study has highlighted the distinct association between duodenal obstruction and the 17q12 microduplication syndrome. Understanding the relationship between the pathogenesis of the 17q12 microduplication in prenatal ultrasound phenotypes and its long-term prognosis will contribute to better genetic counseling concerning the 17q12 microduplication syndrome, which is still a challenge.
Unbiased transcriptome mapping and modeling identify candidate genes and compounds of osteoarthritis
Authors: Cao Hui , Fu Yifan , Zhang Zhenzhen , Guo Weichun
Published: August 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage loss, subchondral bone remodeling, and synovial inflammation. Given that the current therapies for advanced OA patients are limited, the understanding of mechanisms and novel therapies are urgently needed. In this study, we employed the weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) method and the connectivity map (CMap) database to identify the candidate target genes and potential compounds. Four groups of co-expressing genes were identified as the OA-related modules. The biological annotations of these modules indicated some critical hallmarks of OA and aging, such as mitochondrial dysfunctions and abnormal energy metabolism, and the signaling pathways, such as MAPK, TNF, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Some genes, such as RELA and GADD45B, were predicted to extensively involve these critical pathways, indicating their potential functions in OA mechanisms. Moreover, we constructed the co-expressing networks of modules and identified the hub genes based on network topology. GADD45B, MAFF, and MYC were identified and validated as the hub genes. Finally, anisomycin and MG-262 were predicted to target these OA-related modules, which may be the potential drugs for OA therapy. In conclusion, this study identified the significant modules, signaling pathways, and hub genes relevant to OA and highlighted the potential clinical value of anisomycin and MG-262 as novel therapies in OA management.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of erlotinib-based IDO1 inhibitors
Authors: Hou Xi-xi , Gong Xiao-qing , Mao Long-fei , Sun Ge , Yang Jian-xue
Published: August 2022

Erlotinib is a highly specific and reversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the targeted therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) However, the efficacy of erlotinib is limited because the development of drug resistance during chemotherapy. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) is a rate-limiting tryptophan catabolic enzyme that is activated in many human cancers. In this study, we designed a series of erlotinib-based 1,2,3-triazole compounds by combining erlotinib with phenyl or benzyl azide. Attentive FP prediction model was used to predict the bioactivity of those compounds. We discovered that most of the erlotinib-based 1,2,3-triazole compounds are capable of suppressing IDO1 activities in vitro experiments. Among them, compound 14b (IC50 = 0.59 ± 0.05 μM) had the strongest inhibitory effect on IDO1. In addition, compound 14b significantly inhibited tumor growth comparable to the antitumor activity of erlotinib and the IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat in murine tumor models.
Clinical Efficacy and In Vitro Drug Sensitivity Test Results of Azithromycin Combined With Other Antimicrobial Therapies in the Treatment of MDR P. aeruginosa Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Huang Yuqin , Wang Wenguo , Huang Qiang , Wang Zhengyan , Xu Zhuanzhuan , Tu Chaochao , Wan Dongli , He Miaobo , Yang Xiaoyi , Xu Huaqiang , Wang Hanqin , Zhao Ying , Tu Mingli , Zhou Quan
Published: August 2022

Objective: The aim of the research was to study the effect of azithromycin (AZM) in the treatment of MDR P. aeruginosa VAP combined with other antimicrobial therapies.

Methods: The clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected and analyzed to elucidate the efficacy of different combinations involving azithromycin in the treatment of MDR-PA VAP. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five drugs was measured by the agar dilution method against 27 isolates of MDR-PA, alone or in combination.

Results: The incidence of VAP has increased approximately to 10.4% (961/9245) in 5 years and 18.4% (177/961) caused by P. aeruginosa ranking fourth. A total of 151 cases of MDR P. aeruginosa were included in the clinical retrospective study. Clinical efficacy results are as follows: meropenem + azithromycin (MEM + AZM) was 69.2% (9/13), cefoperazone/sulbactam + azithromycin (SCF + AZM) was 60% (6/10), and the combination of three drugs containing AZM was 69.2% (9/13). The curative effect of meropenem + amikacin (MEM + AMK) was better than that of the meropenem + levofloxacin (MEM + LEV) group, p = 0.029 (p < 0.05). The curative effect of cefoperazone/sulbactam + amikacin (SCF + AMK) was better than that of the cefoperazone/sulbactam + levofloxacin (SCF + LEV) group, p = 0.025 (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between combinations of two or three drugs containing AZM, p > 0.05 (p = 0.806). From the MIC results, the AMK single drug was already very sensitive to the selected strains. When MEM or SCF was combined with AZM, the sensitivity of them to strains can be significantly increased. When combined with MEM and AZM, the MIC50 and MIC90 of MEM decreased to 1 and 2 ug/mL from 8 to 32 ug/mL. When combined with SCF + AZM, the MIC50 of SCF decreased to 16 ug/mL, and the curve shifted obviously. However, for the combination of SCF + LEV + AZM, MIC50 and MIC90 could not achieve substantive changes. From the FIC index results, the main actions of MEM + AZM were additive effects, accounting for 72%; for the combination of SCF + AZM, the additive effect was 40%. The combination of AMK or LEV with AZM mainly showed unrelated effects, and the combination of three drugs could not improve the positive correlation between LEV and AZM.

Conclusion: AZM may increase the effect of MEM or SCF against MDR P. aeruginosa VAP. Based on MEM or SCF combined with AMK or AZM, we can achieve a good effect in the treatment of MDR P. aeruginosa VAP.
Osimertinib: Another medication related to osteonecrosis of the jaws? A case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Feng , Wei Shengnan , Zhang Zexuan , Zhang Yuan , He Jingya , Sun Bin
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an oral complication in cancer patients being treated with either antiresorptives, mainly denosumab and bisphosphonates, or antiangiogenic drugs. Osimertinib is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for the treatment of patients with EGFR T790M advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TKI-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported in recent years, but these cases almost occur in combination with bisphosphonates, and the data on MRONJ associated to osimertinib is scarce.

Case report: We reported a case of MRONJ associated only with osimertinib. A 69-year-old female patient with NSCLC developed MRONJ after 4 years of treatment with osimertinib. Six months ago, she felt persistent pain and swelling in the right maxilla. After 3 months of pain, her dentist extracted one tooth in the right maxilla under local anesthesia. We examined her gingiva and found fistula and pus spillage. A digital volume tomography scan revealed sequestrum. The patient underwent surgical debridement of the necrotic bone under general anesthesia and administered intravenous antibiotics at the hospital. Histopathological analysis of the bone biopsy revealed a diagnosis of MRONJ.

Conclusion: This report provides evidence that osimertinib monotherapy can cause MRNOJ, and has a contribution to explore the formation mechanism of MRONJ. For those patients who take osimertinib, routine oral examinations and monitoring should be performed before and during treatment, as well as prompt closure of wounds and antibiotic treatment to avoid infection after invasive oral surgery such as tooth extraction.
Case Report: Rhabdomyolysis secondary to vildagliptin overdose in a suicidal attempt: A case report and brief literature review
Authors: Tang Zhijia , Fan Xiaofang , Feng Zhen , Han Bing , Guo Nan
Published: August 2022

Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening syndrome associated with direct or indirect muscle damage that is rarely reported with dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors. Here we presented a case in which a 58-year-old female suffered from severe swelling and pain in bilateral lower limbs and oliguria after a suicidal vildagliptin overdose. Drug-induced rhabdomyolysis and drug-induced liver injury were diagnosed based on laboratory and radiological findings. The patient was treated with fluid resuscitation, insulin, electrolyte replacement, diuretics, urine alkalizing agents, anticoagulants, antioxidants, and 24-h bedside ECG monitoring and suicide prevention. After 20 days of hospitalization and close monitoring, the patient was discharged without sequelae. Risk factors, diagnostic criteria, disease mechanisms, and outcomes were also discussed. This case illustrated that overdose of oral anti-diabetic medications may result in clinically significant adverse events, such as rhabdomyolysis in this case with a DPP-4 inhibitor. Although the incidence is low, special attention should be paid to intentional or accidental exposure to anti-diabetic medications during suicide attempts, especially in depressed patients with diabetes.
A possible trigger for a wave-function collapse
Authors: Cordin Michael
Published: August 2022

The measurement problem is usually analysed with the quantum decoherence or wave-function collapse theory. Both theories seem to be equivalent with respect to experiments. The trigger/reason for a wave-function collapse is not clearly defined (in the corresponding theory) and the present work is an attempt to close this gap. The present thought experiment describes a measurement to determine the localization of an electron inside a box. The present work assumes that the determination of information (about the localization of the electron) induces a wave-function collapse. It seems possible to identify a clearly defined trigger for a wave-function collapse in the described model system.
Experimental study on the permeability jail range of tight gas reservoirs through the gas–water relative permeability curve
Authors: Gong Wei , You Lijun , Xu Jieming , Kang Yili , Zhou Yang
Published: August 2022

The permeability jail refers to a specific water saturation range in a tight gas reservoir, where almost no gas or water phase can flow effectively. In the process of drilling and fracturing, water saturation rises and falls into the permeability jail. To reduce or avoid falling into the permeability jail in the recovery process, a method for measuring gas–water relative permeability of tight sandstone is established here that considers salt sensitivity, gas slippage effect, stress sensitivity, and high bound water saturation. Then, the permeability jail range was determined to provide guidance and suggestions for field application. Considering a typical tight sandstone as an example, the proposed method was used to expand the measurement range of gas–water relative permeability and observe the permeability jail range, laying an experimental foundation for accurately determining the permeability jail range in a given formation. The Byrnes model can preliminarily predict the permeability jail range with accurate bound water saturation and residual gas saturation. When the permeability jail phenomenon occurs in the core, the larger the permeability is, the smaller the permeability jail range will be; and the larger the porosity is, the smaller the permeability jail range will be. When the permeability jail phenomenon occurs in the tight sandstone reservoir, the damage to the reservoir due to external fluid and solid phased particles should be strictly controlled. The damage is stronger, the permeability and porosity decline, and the permeability jail range is wider. Other gases or solvents can be used as fracturing fluids to minimize formation damage.
Systemic risk of multi-layer financial network system under macroeconomic fluctuations
Authors: Gao Qianqian , Lv Dayong , Jin Xiaomei
Published: August 2022

As the global economy continues to integrate, COVID-19 is affecting businesses around the world, causing the financial system to become more complicated. The complicated relationship between various agents in the financial system makes potential hazards more easily transmitted. Most studies of systemic risks have focused on single-layer networks, and macroeconomic fluctuations have not been quantified in multi-layer models of financial networks. In this paper, three different macroeconomic shock scenarios (showing upward, downward, and random trends) are constructed to affect the firm’s business activities, and a multi-layer financial network model is developed to simulate systemic risk under macroeconomic fluctuations. Firms with medium and high leverage and small asset sizes, as well as banks with smaller asset sizes and fewer bank-firm credit linkages, are found to be more likely to default. The study also found that average firm leverage exhibits two inflection points, causing banks’ default probabilities to “rise, then fall, and then rise,” with the inflection point value being the lowest under the upward trend of macroeconomics. In addition, the higher the ratio of firm loans to total bank assets, the more likely the bank is to default. Appropriate loan maturity extension has also helped to reduce systemic risk, especially in light of the macroeconomic downward trend. Furthermore, improving the capital adequacy ratio can reduce the bank’s default probability under macroeconomic fluctuations.
Lower extremity isokinetic strength characteristics of amateur boxers
Authors: Zhou Zixiang , Chen Chao , Chen Xin , Yi Wenjuan , Cui Weijia , Wu Rui , Wang Dexin
Published: August 2022

Aim: Sufficient strength and dynamic stability of the lower limbs are essential for improving punching force and preventing injury in amateur boxers. However, there are still no comprehensive reports on the isokinetic knee strength of boxers with different performance levels. The current study aimed to profile the isokinetic muscle strength of flexion and extension of the knee in boxers, as well as bilateral, unilateral, and functional ratios, and investigate the variation in these muscle strength characteristics associated with different performance levels.

Methods: Boxers were divided in two performance groups, elite (five males and four females) and non-elite groups (five males and four females). Muscle strength of the knee was determined via an IsoMed2000 device. Parameters examined included peak torque of the hamstring (H) and quadriceps (Q) during concentric (con) and eccentric (ecc) contractions at low (60°/S), medium (180°/S), and high (240°/S) speed and bilateral ratios (BLs), unilateral ratios (ULs), and functional ratios of dominant (D) and non-dominant limbs.

Results: In all angular velocities, the peak torque of H and Q was stronger in the elite group than in the non-elite group. ULs were lower in the elite group than in the non-elite group in Hcon/Qcon at 180D (p < 0.01) and 180ND (p < 0.05) and in Hecc/Qecc at 60D, 180D (p < 0.05) and 240D (p < 0.01). The elite group had higher BLs than the non-elite group in Hcon at 60°/S (p < 0.05) and Qcon at 180°/S (p < 0.05). The non-elite group had a higher functional ratio than elite boxers in Hecc/Qcon at 180D and 240D (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Elite boxers had stronger knee strength in con and ecc contractions. All boxers had normal Hecc/Qecc and Hcon/Qecc. Hcon/Qcon and Hecc/Qcon were abnormal at lower angular velocity. Elite boxers had higher BLs and lower ULs, indicating that they are at a higher risk of injury.
The effectiveness of traditional vs. velocity-based strength training on explosive and maximal strength performance: A network meta-analysis
Authors: Held Steffen , Speer Kevin , Rappelt Ludwig , Wicker Pamela , Donath Lars
Published: August 2022

This network meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of different velocity-based (VBT) and traditional 1RM-based resistance training (TRT) interventions on strength and power indices in healthy participants. The research was conducted until December 2021 using the online electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, PsycNet, and SPORTDiscus for studies with the following inclusion criteria: 1) controlled VBT trials, 2) strength and/or jump and/or sprint parameters as outcomes (c), participants aged between 18 and 40 years, and 4) peer-reviewed and published in English. Standardized mean differences (SMD) using a random effects models were calculated. Fourteen studies with 311 healthy participants were selected and 3 networks (strength, jump, and sprint) were achieved. VBT, TRT, repetitions in reserve (RIR), low velocity loss (lowVL), and high velocity loss (highVL) were ranked for each network. Based on P-score rankings, lowVL (P-score ≥ 0.59; SMD ≥ 0.33) and highVL (P-score ≥ 0.50; SMD ≥ 0.12) revealed favorable effects on strength, jump, and sprint performance compared to VBT (P-score ≤ 0.47; SMD ≤0.01), TRT (P-score ≤0.46; SMD ≤ 0.00), and RIR (P-score ≤ 0.46; SMD ≤ 0.12). In conclusion, lowVL and highVL showed notable effects on strength, jump, and sprint performance. In particular for jump performance, lowVL induced favorable improvements compared to all other resistance training approaches.
Sleep and spa therapies: What is the role of balneotherapy associated with exercise? A systematic review
Authors: Castelli Lucia , Galasso Letizia , Mulè Antonino , Ciorciari Andrea , Fornasini Francesca , Montaruli Angela , Roveda Eliana , Esposito Fabio
Published: August 2022

Balneotherapy and exercise are potential factors influencing sleep through several physiological pathways and relaxing effects. This review aims to assess whether balneotherapy can improve sleep quality in concomitance or not with exercise. The research was conducted on Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The current review followed PRISMA reporting guidelines and involves twenty-one articles grouped into four sections based on the characteristics of the balneotherapy protocol: 1.a Balneotherapy–thermal water immersion alone (five studies); 1.b Balneotherapy–thermal water immersion with other spa treatments (six studies); 2.a Balneotherapy and physical exercise–balneotherapy and out-of-the-pool physical exercise (eight studies); 2.b Balneotherapy and physical exercise–balneotherapy and in-pool physical exercise (three studies). Apart from healthy or sub-healthy subjects, patients recruited in the studies were affected by fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal pain, subacute supraspinatus tendinopathy, and mental disorders. Duration, number of sessions, and study protocols are very different from each other. Only one study objectively evaluated sleep, whereas the others used subjective sleep assessment methods. Eight studies considered sleep as a primary outcome and ten as secondary. Sixteen out of twenty-one studies described improvements in self-perceived sleep quality. Thus, balneotherapy associated with other spa treatments and physical exercise seems to be effective in improving self-perceived sleep quality. However, the miscellany of treatments makes it difficult to discern the isolated effects of balneotherapy and physical exercise. Future studies should consider using an objective sleep assessment method and describing the pathways and physiological mechanisms that could provoke sleep changes during balneotherapy treatments.
Accurate segmentation of green fruit based on optimized mask RCNN application in complex orchard
Authors: Jia Weikuan , Wei Jinmeng , Zhang Qi , Pan Ningning , Niu Yi , Yin Xiang , Ding Yanhui , Ge Xinting
Published: August 2022

Fruit and vegetable picking robots are affected by the complex orchard environment, resulting in poor recognition and segmentation of target fruits by the vision system. The orchard environment is complex and changeable. For example, the change of light intensity will lead to the unclear surface characteristics of the target fruit; the target fruits are easy to overlap with each other and blocked by branches and leaves, which makes the shape of the fruits incomplete and difficult to accurately identify and segment one by one. Aiming at various difficulties in complex orchard environment, a two-stage instance segmentation method based on the optimized mask region convolutional neural network (mask RCNN) was proposed. The new model proposed to apply the lightweight backbone network MobileNetv3, which not only speeds up the model but also greatly improves the accuracy of the model and meets the storage resource requirements of the mobile robot. To further improve the segmentation quality of the model, the boundary patch refinement (BPR) post-processing module is added to the new model to optimize the rough mask boundaries of the model output to reduce the error pixels. The new model has a high-precision recognition rate and an efficient segmentation strategy, which improves the robustness and stability of the model. This study validates the effect of the new model using the persimmon dataset. The optimized mask RCNN achieved mean average precision (mAP) and mean average recall (mAR) of 76.3 and 81.1%, respectively, which are 3.1 and 3.7% improvement over the baseline mask RCNN, respectively. The new model is experimentally proven to bring higher accuracy and segmentation quality and can be widely deployed in smart agriculture.
Methylation hallmarks on the histone tail as a linker of osmotic stress and gene transcription
Authors: Xiao Mu , Wang Jinbiao , Xu Fang
Published: August 2022

Plants dynamically manipulate their gene expression in acclimation to the challenging environment. Hereinto, the histone methylation tunes the gene transcription via modulation of the chromatin accessibility to transcription machinery. Osmotic stress, which is caused by water deprivation or high concentration of ions, can trigger remarkable changes in histone methylation landscape and genome-wide reprogramming of transcription. However, the dynamic regulation of genes, especially how stress-inducible genes are timely epi-regulated by histone methylation remains largely unclear. In this review, recent findings on the interaction between histone (de)methylation and osmotic stress were summarized, with emphasis on the effects on histone methylation profiles imposed by stress and how histone methylation works to optimize the performance of plants under stress.
Carex rigescens caffeic acid O-methyltransferase gene CrCOMT confer melatonin-mediated drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco
Authors: Li Yan , Sun Yan , Cui Huiting , Li Mingna , Yang Guofeng , Wang Zengyu , Zhang Kun
Published: August 2022

Melatonin is an important, multifunctional protective agent against a variety of abiotic and biotic stressors in plants. Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes the last step of melatonin synthesis in plants and reportedly participates in the regulation of stress response and tolerance. However, few studies have reported its function in melatonin-mediated drought resistance. In this study, CrCOMT was identified and was strongly induced by drought stress in Carex rigescens. CrCOMT overexpression in transgenic tobacco increased tolerance to drought stress with high levels of seed germination, relative water content, and survival rates. CrCOMT overexpression in tobacco improved membrane stability, and plants exhibited lower relative electrolytic leakage and malondialdehyde content, as well as higher photochemical efficiency than the wildtype (WT) under drought stress. The transgenic plants also had higher levels of proline accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity, which decreased oxidative stress damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) hyperaccumulation under drought stress. The transcription of drought stress response and ROS scavenging genes was significantly higher in the CrCOMT overexpression plants than in the WT plants. In addition, CrCOMT transgenic tobacco plants exhibited higher melatonin content under drought stress conditions. Exogenous melatonin was applied to C. rigescens under drought stress to confirm the function of melatonin in mediating drought tolerance; the relative water content and proline content were higher, and the relative electrolytic leakage was lower in melatonin-treated C. rigescens than in the untreated plants. In summary, these results show that CrCOMT plays a positive role in plant drought stress tolerance by regulating endogenous melatonin content.
Effectiveness of treating depression with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing among inpatients–A follow-up study over 12 months
Authors: Altmeyer Susanne , Wollersheim Leonie , Kilian-Hütten Niclas , Behnke Alexander , Hofmann Arne , Tumani Visal
Published: August 2022

Increasing prevalence of depression poses a huge challenge to the healthcare systems, and the success rates of current standard therapies are limited. While 30% of treated patients do not experience a full remission after treatment, more than 75% of patients suffer from recurrent depressive episodes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy represents an emerging treatment option of depression, and preliminary studies show promising effects with a probably higher remission rate when compared to control-therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy. In the present study, 49 patients with severe depression were treated with an integrated systemic treatment approach including EMDR therapy that followed a specific protocol with a treatment algorithm for depression in a naturalistic hospital setting. Following their discharge from the hospital, the patients were followed up by a structured telephone interview after 3 and 12 months. 27 of the 49 (55%) patients fulfilled the Beck’s depression criteria of a full remission when they were discharged. At the follow-up interview, 12 months after discharge, 7 of the 27 patients (26%) reported a relapse, while the remaining 20 patients (74%) had stayed relapse-free. The findings of our observational study confirm reports of earlier studies in patients with depression, showing that EMDR therapy leads to a high rate of remission, and is associated with a decreased number of relapses. Patients with depression receiving EMDR treatment may be more resilient to stressors.
Nexus Between Financial Development, Renewable Energy Investment, and Sustainable Development: Role of Technical Innovations and Industrial Structure
Authors: Dong Xing , Akhtar Nadeem
Published: August 2022

Significant challenges confronting China include reducing carbon emissions, dealing with the resulting problems, and meeting various requirements for long-term economic growth. As a result, the shift in industrial structure best reflects how human society utilizes resources and impacts the environment. To meet China's 2050 net-zero emissions target, we look at how technological innovations, financial development, renewable energy investment, population age, and the economic complexity index all play a role in environmental sustainability in China. Analyzing short- and long-term relationships using ARDL bounds testing, we used historical data spanning 1990–2018. According to the study's findings, the cointegration between CO2 emissions and their underlying factors was found. The deterioration of the environment directly results from financial development, increasing economic complexity, and population aging. Technical advancements, investments in renewable energy sources, and changes to the industrial structure all contribute to lower CO2 emissions. Granger causality results were also reliably obtained in this study. According to our findings in the fight against environmental problems, a key tool for meeting long-term sustainability goals is policy prescriptions that use technological innovations, renewable energy investment, and industrial structure.