bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Warming effects on arctic tundra biogeochemistry are limited but habitat‐dependent: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Pold Grace , Baillargeon Natalie , Lepe Adan , Rastetter Edward B. , Sistla Seeta A.
Published: October 2021

Arctic tundra consists of diverse habitats that differ in dominant vegetation, soil moisture regimes, and relative importance of organic vs. inorganic nutrient cycling. The Arctic is also the most rapidly warming global area, with winter warming dominating. This warming is expected to have dramatic effects on tundra carbon and nutrient dynamics. We completed a meta‐analysis of 166 experimental warming study papers to evaluate the hypotheses that warming changes tundra biogeochemical cycles in a habitat‐ and seasonally specific manner and that the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles will be differentially accelerated, leading to decoupling of elemental cycles. We found that nutrient availability and plant leaf stoichiometry responses to experimental warming were variable and overall weak, but that both gross primary productivity and the plant C pool tended to increase with growing season warming. The effects of winter warming on C fluxes did not extend into the growing season. Overall, although warming led to more consistent increases in C fluxes compared to N or P fluxes, evidence for decoupling of biogeochemical cycles is weak and any effect appears limited to heath habitats. However, data on many habitats are too sparse to be able to generalize how warming might decouple biogeochemical cycles, and too few year‐round warming studies exist to ascertain whether the season under which warming occurs alters how ecosystems respond to warming. Coordinated field campaigns are necessary to more robustly document tundra habitat‐specific responses to realistic climate warming scenarios in order to better understand the mechanisms driving this heterogeneity and identify the tundra habitats, communities, and soil pools most susceptible to warming.
Personal intergroup contact between different groups of ex‐combatants and civilians: Evidence from a behavioural experiment in Rwanda
Authors: Onuki Mayuko , Aoyagi Keitaro , Takasaki Yoshito
Published: October 2021

Although personal intergroup contact is known to predict positive intergroup outcomes, little is known about the kind of positive personal contact that reduces prejudice in real‐world post‐conflict societies. Using a behavioural experiment, the present study examined the effect of face‐to‐face personal contact between three groups of ex‐combatants (national army, former national army and armed group) and civilians with disabilities in Rwanda. A total of 444 participants were randomly assigned to intergroup or intragroup pairs under high and low personalisation conditions, and their person preference, evaluative bias and impressions of contact partners were compared to those who had contact without personalisation. Between ex‐combatants of the national army and civilians, low personalisation generally resulted in better intergroup outcomes than high personalisation or no personalisation. The trend is reversed for personalisation between the three groups of ex‐combatants, who are former adversaries. Implications for personal contact in real‐world post‐conflict societies are discussed.
Critical role of the high mobility group A proteins in hematological malignancies
Authors: De Martino Marco , Esposito Francesco , Fusco Alfredo
Published: October 2021

The high mobility group A (HMGA) protein family is composed of three non‐histone chromatin remodeling proteins that act as architectural transcriptional factors. Indeed, although HMGA proteins lack transcriptional activity per se, they bind the minor groove of DNA at AT‐rich sequences, and, interacting with the transcription machinery, are able to modify chromatin modeling, thus regulating the expression of several genes. HMGA proteins have been deeply involved in embryogenesis process, and a large volume of studies has pointed out their key role in human cancer. Here, we review the studies on the role of the HMGA proteins in human hematological malignancies: they are overexpressed in most of the cases and their expression correlates with a reduced survival. In some cases, such as in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia, HMGA2 gene rearrangements have been also described. Finally, recent studies evidence a synergism between HMGA and EZH2 in diffuse B‐cell lymphomas, suggesting an innovative therapy for this disease based on the inhibition of the function of both these proteins.
A retrospective study of maternal near miss in the Critical Maternal Care Center in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, China: A single‐center study
Authors: Zhang Shumin , Qi Yalan , Xue Xiumei , Zhang Xiaojing , Cao Qingling , Fang Yuelan , Ge Mingming
Published: October 2021

Background and aims

Through a retrospective study of maternal near miss (MNM) cases treated by the Suqian Critical Maternal Care Center in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, we summarized the most common diseases that caused MNM, treatment measures, and short‐term prognosis in this region. The purpose of the research is to improve the clinical evidence of maternal health care in the region.

Methods

The study is a retrospective descriptive study. Among the pregnant women admitted to the Critical Maternal Care Center from 1 January 2015, to 31 December 2019, the pregnant women with severe pregnancy complications or comorbidities were identified as the research subjects. The study subjects were divided into an MNM group and a control group according to the MNM criteria recommended by the WHO.

A retrospective analysis of the study subject data, including causes and clinical manifestations of MNM, treatment measures, and short‐term prognosis, was conducted.

Results

The total number of deliveries was 27 619. There were 145 women in the control group and 65 women in the MNM group. The number of MNM cases accounted for 2.4% (65/27619) of the total number of deliveries. Placenta previa, postpartum hemorrhage, and hypertension accounted for 72.3% (47/65) of the causes of MNM cases observed. In the MNM group, the most common clinical manifestation was bleeding (80.0%, 52/65). Sixty‐three patients underwent massive blood transfusion (96.9%, 63/65), and 36 underwent hysterectomy (55.4%,36/65). The prevalence of interventional procedures and unplanned secondary operations in the MNM group was higher than that in the control group.

Conclusions

The top three causes of MNM were placenta previa, postpartum hemorrhage, and hypertension in pregnancy in Suqian area. Sufficient blood sources, convenient and fast blood transfusion procedures, and the use of large amounts of blood transfusion technology have an important impact on the success of treatment. Hysterectomy is still the main method of MNM treatment.
Heterogeneous timing of freshwater input into Kobbefjord, a low‐arctic fjord in Greenland
Authors: Abermann Jakob , Langley Kirsty , Myreng Sille M. , Rasmussen Kerstin , Petersen Dorthe
Published: October 2021

The majority of freshwater input from Greenland to the global ocean stems from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Currently, almost a quarter of the freshwater flowing from Greenland is derived from catchments that are disconnected from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Despite their importance to the total freshwater flux and influence on fjord geochemistry, there is relatively little monitoring data available for those catchments and therefore the drivers of regional differences in export are largely unknown. We present a dataset of 12 years of discharge of four catchments less than 15 km apart, that are different in size (between 7 and 32 km2), local glacier coverage (4%–11%) and lake cover (0%–5%). They all drain into Kobbefjord, a well‐studied fjord in West Greenland, near Greenland's capital Nuuk. Between catchments, the magnitude of discharge varies at annual, seasonal and sub‐daily timescales, due to differences in physical catchment properties as well as local climate variability. We find that annual specific discharges vary greatly (between 1.2 and 1.9 m/year on a 12‐year average) due to a longitudinal precipitation gradient from West to East caused by different amount of orographic precipitation shading. The seasonal cycle of discharge (amplitude, timing and minimum flow) differs among the sites mainly due to different exposure to solar radiation as a driver for major snowmelt; the small ice coverage in the catchments plays only a minor role in discharge variability. Dry years generally increase the relative differences in annual specific discharge and no significant temporal trends have been found in the studied catchments. On a sub‐daily timescale, the difference in timing of maximum discharge during fair‐weather days (>80% maximum solar radiation and no precipitation) ranged between 7 and 12 h, which is attributed to differences between the presence and elevation of lakes among the catchments. The response of discharge to major precipitation events is discussed, where a delay of between 5 and 7 h is found for the catchments that do not contain lakes near the gauge.
Predictors of immediate neonatal outcome after cesarean section in Uganda
Authors: Båvenäs Erica , Möller Christoffer , Bhandarkar Prashant , Mulowooza Jude , Löfgren Jenny
Published: October 2021

Objective

To identify predictors of low Apgar score, immediate neonatal death, and stillbirth after cesarean section in Uganda.

Methods

Records of cesarean sections performed at all 14 regional referral hospitals and also 14 first‐level (district) hospitals in Uganda were reviewed. Both elective and emergency cases were included. Data comprised mother's age, indication, type of anesthesia, and immediate outcome of the newborn. To evaluate the relation of the predictor variables to outcome, regression analysis was performed.

Results

A total of 37 585 cesarean sections were recorded. The indications for cesarean section that led to the highest neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates and lowest mean Apgar scores were uterine rupture and hemorrhage. Emergency surgery and general anesthesia had worse neonatal outcomes than elective surgery and spinal anesthesia. Compared with general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia was favorable for neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion

Elective surgical planning and scale‐up of the use of spinal anesthesia may potentially reduce stillbirths and immediate neonatal deaths.
An automatized workflow from molecular dynamic simulation to quantum chemical methods to identify elementary reactions and compute reaction constants
Authors: Schmitz Gunnar , Yönder Özlem , Schnieder Bastian , Schmid Rochus , Hättig Christof
Published: October 2021

We present an automatized workflow which, starting from molecular dynamics simulations, identifies reaction events, filters them, and prepares them for accurate quantum chemical calculations using, for example, Density Functional Theory (DFT) or Coupled Cluster methods. The capabilities of the automatized workflow are demonstrated by the example of simulations for the combustion of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is shown how key elementary reaction candidates are filtered out of a much larger set of redundant reactions and refined further. The molecular species in question are optimized using DFT and reaction energies, barrier heights, and reaction rates are calculated. The setup is general enough to include at this stage configurational sampling, which can be exploited in the future. Using the introduced machinery, we investigate how the observed reaction types depend on the gas atmosphere used in the molecular dynamics simulation. For the re‐optimization on the DFT level, we show how the additional information needed to switch from reactive force‐field to electronic structure calculations can be filled in and study how well ReaxFF and DFT agree with each other and shine light on the perspective of using more accurate semi‐empirical methods in the MD simulation.
Regulation of electrogenic Na+/HCO3− cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) function and its dependence on m‐TOR mediated phosphorylation of Ser245
Authors: Giannaki Marina , Ludwig Christina , Heermann Stephan , Roussa Eleni
Published: October 2021

Astrocytes are pivotal responders to alterations of extracellular pH, primarily by regulation of their principal acid‐base transporter, the membrane‐bound electrogenic Na+/bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBCe1). Here, we describe amammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐dependent and NBCe1‐mediated astroglial response to extracellular acidosis. Using primary mouse cortical astrocytes, we investigated the effect of long‐term extracellular metabolic acidosis on regulation of NBCe1 and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms by immunoblotting, biotinylation of surface proteins, intracellular H+ recording using the H+‐sensitive dye 2′,7′‐bis‐(carboxyethyl)‐5‐(and‐6)‐carboxyfluorescein, and phosphoproteomic analysis. The results showed significant increase of NBCe1‐mediated recovery of intracellular pH from acidification in WT astrocytes, but not in cortical astrocytes from NBCe1‐deficient mice. Acidosis‐induced upregulation of NBCe1 activity was prevented following inhibition of mTOR signaling by rapamycin. Yet, during acidosis or following exposure of astrocytes to rapamycin, surface protein abundance of NBCe1 remained ‐unchanged. Mutational analysis in HeLa cells suggested that NBCe1 activity was dependent on phosphorylation state of Ser245, a residue conserved in all NBCe1 variants. Moreover, phosphorylation state of Ser245 is regulated by mTOR and is inversely correlated with NBCe1 transport activity. Our results identify pSer245 as a novel regulator of NBCe1 functional expression. We propose that context‐dependent and mTOR‐mediated multisite phosphorylation of serine residues of NBCe1 is likely to be a potent mechanism contributing to the response of astrocytes to acid/base challenges during pathophysiological conditions.
Pharmacokinetic Simulation Analysis of Less Frequent Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab Dosing: Pharmacoeconomic Rationale for Dose Deescalation
Authors: Peer Cody J. , Heiss Brian L. , Goldstein Daniel A. , Goodell Jennifer C. , Figg William D. , Ratain Mark J.
Published: October 2021

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, anti–programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibodies, have revolutionized oncology but are expensive. Using an interventional pharmacoeconomic approach, these drugs can be administered less often to reduce costs and increase patient convenience while maintaining efficacy. Both drugs are good candidates for less frequent dosing because of long half‐lives and no evidence of a relationship of dose to efficacy. Established population pharmacokinetic models for both nivolumab and pembrolizumab were used to simulate profiles for multiple dosing regimens on 1000 randomly generated virtual patients. Simulations were initially performed on standard dose regimens to validate these in silico predictions. Next, simulations of nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg every 3 weeks revealed that >95% of patients maintained ≥1.5 μg/mL at steady state, which was inferred as the minimum effective concentration (MEC) for both drugs. Various alternative dosing regimens were simulated for both drugs to determine which regimen(s) can maintain this MEC in >95% of patients. Extended dosing regimens of nivolumab 240 mg every 4 weeks and 480 mg every 8 weeks along with pembrolizumab 200 mg every 6 weeks were simulated, showing that >95% of patients maintained MEC or greater. These simulations demonstrate the potential to reduce drug exposure by at least 50%, thus substantially reducing patient visits (as well as costs), while maintaining equivalent efficacy. These models provide the scientific justification for an ongoing prospective randomized clinical trial comparing standard interval fixed dosing with extended interval fixed dosing, and ultimately an efficacy‐driven comparative trial.
How Economic Inequality Shapes Thought and Action
Authors: Goya‐Tocchetto Daniela , Payne B. Keith
Published: October 2021

The degree of economic inequality in a given time and place sets the context in which people understand how they measure up to others. Because of this, inequality does not just describe how outcomes are distributed. It also serves as a kind of input into people’s thinking and decision making. In this paper, we provide an overview of our recent work examining the ways that inequality can function as a social context that shapes people’s expectations, needs, desires, and attributions. We argue that people’s positions in economic hierarchies can shape perceptions of what people believe to be fair and how much people need. Better understanding these psychological mechanisms may help to explain the associations between inequality and effects at the societal level, such as health outcomes and crime. When it comes to inequality, it may be intuitively appealing to emphasize fair processes over equitable outcomes, and having enough rather than some people having more. Yet, our research and others', suggest that inequality in the environment shapes what counts as “fair,” and what counts as “enough.”
Mapping the genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic traits in Sweden and the United Kingdom
Authors: Reed Zoe E. , Larsson Henrik , Haworth Claire M. A. , Rai Dheeraj , Lundström Sebastian , Ronald Angelica , Reichenberg Abraham , Lichtenstein Paul , Davis Oliver S. P.
Published: October 2021

Background

Autistic traits are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and are known to vary geographically in prevalence. But to what extent does their aetiology also vary from place to place?

Methods

We applied a novel spatial approach to data on autistic traits from two large twin studies, the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS; N = 16,677, including 8307 twin pairs) and the Twins Early Development Study in the UK (TEDS; N = 11,594, including 5796 twin pairs), to explore how the influence of nature and nurture on autistic traits varies from place to place.

Results

We present maps of gene‐ and environment‐ by geography interactions in Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK), showing geographical variation in both genetic and environmental influences across the two countries. In Sweden genetic influences appear higher in the far south and in a band running across the centre of the country. Environmental influences appear greatest in the south and north, with reduced environmental influence across the central band. In the UK genetic influences appear greater in the south, particularly in more central southern areas and the southeast, the Midlands and the north of England. Environmental influences appear greatest in the south and east of the UK, with less influence in the north and the west.

Conclusions

We hope this systematic approach to identifying aetiological interactions will inspire research to examine a wider range of previously unknown environmental influences on the aetiology of autistic traits. By doing so, we will gain greater understanding of how these environments draw out or mask genetic predisposition and interact with other environmental influences in the development of autistic traits.
Informalisation of international volunteering: A new analytical framework explaining differential impacts of the ‘orphanage tourism’ debate in the Netherlands
Authors: Kinsbergen Sara , Konijn Esther , Kuijpers‐Heezemans Simon , op 't Hoog Gabriëlle , Koch Dirk‐Jan , Molthof Mieke
Published: October 2021

Over the past years, there has been increasing public criticism of international volunteering. Yet, the academic literature has so far given limited insight into the diversity of this complex and ‘liquid’ field. To fill this gap, this article develops a taxonomy of volunteering providers with different goals and behaviours. The value of this new taxonomy is illustrated by applying the analytical framework to ‘orphanage tourism’ in the Netherlands. The study highlights the differential impact of public criticism on orphanage tourism, with a catalysing effect on the trend of informalisation towards increasing prominence of smaller nonspecialist development‐oriented providers in this field.
An Update in Imaging Evaluation of Histopathological Grade of Soft Tissue Sarcomas Using Structural and Quantitative Imaging and Radiomics
Authors: Fang Shaobo , Yang Yanyu , Xu Nan , Tu Yun , Yin Zhenzhen , Zhang Yu , Liu Yajie , Duan Zhiqing , Liu Wenyu , Wang Shaowu
Published: October 2021

Over the past two decades, considerable efforts have been made to develop non‐invasive methods for determining tumor grade or surrogates for predicting the biological behavior, aiding early treatment decisions, and providing prognostic information. The development of new imaging tools, such as diffusion‐weighted imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, perfusion imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy have provided leverage in the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas. Artificial intelligence is a new technology used to study and simulate human thinking and abilities, which can extract and analyze advanced and quantitative image features from medical images with high throughput for an in‐depth characterization of the spatial heterogeneity of tumor tissues. This article reviews the current imaging modalities used to predict the histopathological grade of soft tissue sarcomas and highlights the advantages and limitations of each modality.

Level of Evidence

5

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Presence and clinical impact of human herpesvirus‐6 infection in patients with moderate to critical coronavirus disease‐19
Authors: Lino Katia , Alves Lilian S. , Raposo Jessica V. , Medeiros Thalia , Souza Cintia F. , Silva Andrea A. da , de Paula Vanessa S. , Almeida Jorge R.
Published: October 2021

Human herpesvirus‐6 (HHV‐6) may cause serious diseases in immunocompromised individuals. SARS‐CoV‐2/HHV‐6 coinfection has been emphasized in previous works, mostly case reports, small series, or epidemiological studies, but few are known about its real clinical outcomes. Here we present a real‐world pilot study aiming to understand the frequency and the clinical impact of HHV‐6 coinfection in moderate to critically ill patients hospitalized due to COVID‐19. SARS‐CoV‐2 and HHV‐6 were evaluated in nasopharyngeal samples at the hospital admission of suspected COVID‐19 patients. From 173 consecutive cases, 60 were SARS‐CoV‐2 positive and 13/60 (21.7%) were HHV‐6 positive after identified as the HHV‐6B species by a Sanger sequencing. The SARS‐CoV‐2+/HHV‐6+ group was younger but not significant for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, but significant among therapeutic immunosuppressed patients (as systemic lupus erythematosus and kidney transplant patients). In the medical records, only sparse data on cutaneous or neurological manifestations were found. Biochemical and hematological data showed only a trend towards hyperferritinemic status and lymphopenia. In conclusion, despite the impressive high frequency of HHV‐6 coinfection in SARS‐CoV‐2 positive cases, it did not impact general mortality. We suggest larger future prospective studies to better elucidate the influence of HHV‐6 reactivation in cases of COVID‐19, designed to specific assessment of clinical outcomes and viral reactivation mechanisms.
A simple algorithm for selecting cases to investigate acute and early HIV infections in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Matsuda Elaine Monteiro , Ahagon Cintia Mayumi , Coelho Luana Portes Ozório , Campos Ivana Barros , Colpas Daniela Rodrigues , Campos Norberto Camilo , López‐Lopes Giselle Ibete Silva , Silva Valeria Oliveira , de Oliveira Isabela Penteriche , Brígido Luís Fernando de Macedo
Published: October 2021

We documented the outcome of an over 10‐year (2011–2021) effort to diagnose acute and early HIV infections (AEHI) in an Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic with limited resources. Of a total of 132, 119 HIV‐RNA tests were performed from 2017 to 2020, 12 cases were identified, using a simple algorithm: risk exposure of 6 weeks or less before the visit and/or symptoms compatible with acute retroviral syndrome 7–30 days after exposure and/or undetermined 3rd generation rapid diagnostic test or serology. AEHI diagnoses varied from 2.4% among asymptomatic to 25% for undetermined serology cases using this simple screening applicable to different settings.
NELL1 augments osteogenesis and inhibits inflammation of human periodontal ligament stem cells induced by BMP9
Authors: Wang Liu , Li Xiangfen , Song Yao , Zhang Lan , Ye Ling , Zhou Xuedong , Song Dongzhe , Huang Dingming
Published: October 2021

Background

Periodontitis could lead to periodontal destruction such as the loss of alveolar bone. The issue that how to achieve the regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal tissues under the inflammatory environment needs to be solved urgently. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is one of the most potent osteoinductive BMPs and induces osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The aim of this study is to explore the possible effect of BMP9 on the osteogenic differentiation of inflammatory periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs).

Methods

Human PDLSCs were cultured in osteoinductive medium with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide Porphyromonas gingivitis (LPS‐PG). Adenoviral vector expressing system was used to overexpress target genes. In vitro expression of osteogenic markers was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, alkaline phosphatase assay, and alizarin red staining. Subcutaneous implantation nude mice models were used to evaluate the effects of BMP9 on PDLSCs in vivo. Microcomputed tomography, hematoxylin & eosin staining, and trichrome staining were performed to assess ectopic bone formation.

Results

In the LPS‐PG induced inflammatory environment, BMP9 promoted osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs, but upregulated the expression of inflammatory markers (P > 0.05); NEL‐like protein 1 (NELL1) downregulated the expression of inflammation genes in PDLSCs induced by BMP9, while augmenting BMP9‐induced osteogenesis of the cells both in vitro and in vivo. In the above process, the MAPK/p38/ERK signaling pathway was triggered by NELL1.

Conclusion

The combination use of BMP9 and NELL1 might have the potential to promote the regeneration of alveolar bone in periodontitis.
Parenting in matched pairs of women of color experiencing intimate partner violence and living with and without HIV
Authors: Thurston Idia B. , Howell Kathryn H. , Kaufman Caroline C. , Mandell Jessica E. , Decker Kristina M.
Published: October 2021

This study explored the associations between depression and parenting among women of color with low income levels who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV. Participants were 60 Black, multiracial, and Hispanic/Latina mothers (Mage = 36.66, SD = 6.99) in the midsouth region of the United States. Mothers were recruited from community organizations and reported their experiences with IPV, HIV, depression, potentially traumatic events (PTE), parenting practices, and child maladaptive functioning. Participants living with HIV and experiencing recent IPV (i.e., cases) were matched on age, race, ethnicity, and educational attainment with mothers experiencing recent IPV (i.e., controls), for a matched sample of 30 pairs. Analyses were conducted to examine how HIV status moderated the associations between depressive symptoms and both negative and positive parenting while accounting for PTE, child maladaptive functioning, and IPV severity. The moderation model for negative parenting was significant, f2 = 0.58, but the moderation model for positive parenting was not, p = .346. Specifically, moderation was supported, B = 0.43, 95% CI [0.03, 0.83], t(53) = 2.17, p = .035, indicating that the association between depressive symptoms and negative parenting was moderated by HIV status. The findings highlight the added burden of a physical health condition on parenting practices. Given the role of negative parenting (i.e., inconsistency, poor monitoring, corporal punishment) in exacerbating poor health outcomes among children exposed to adversity, clinicians and researchers must develop family‐based strategies to decrease these practices.
Gait and Age‐Related Hearing Loss Interactions on Global Cognition and Falls
Authors: Sakurai Ryota , Kawai Hisashi , Yanai Shuichi , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Ogawa Susumu , Hirano Hirohiko , Ihara Kazushige , Takahashi Masatoki , Kim Hunkyung , Obuchi Shuichi , Fujiwara Yoshinori
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Age‐related hearing loss (ARHL) is considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment and falls. The association may be modulated by gait performance because ARHL is related to mobility decline, which strongly contributes to cognitive impairment and falls. We investigated the interactive effects of gait and ARHL on global cognition and falls among older adults.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

The auditory acuity of 810 community‐dwelling older adults was measured using a pure‐tone average of hearing thresholds at 1,000 and 4,000 Hz in the better‐hearing ear. Participants were then stratified as follows: normal hearing, ≤25 dB; mild hearing loss (HL), >25 and ≤40 dB; and moderate to severe HL, >40 dB. Gait speed was assessed as an indicator of gait performance and fall occurrence within the previous year. Global cognition was determined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test.

Results

A total of 320 (39.5%) and 233 (28.8%) participants had mild and moderate to severe HL, respectively. Hierarchical multiple and logistic regression analyses showed interactions between gait performance and moderate hearing loss on both global cognition and the occurrence of falls. Specifically, older adults with moderate hearing loss who walked slowly showed lower MoCA scores and a higher incidence of falls, whereas those with decent gait speed did not show such a tendency.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that poor gait performance might modulate the effects of ARHL, leading to cognitive decline and falls. Poor cognitive performance and falls may be prevalent in older adults with ARHL, especially in those with slower gait and moderate hearing loss.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:857–863, 2022
The effect of various RRA treatments on the strength and corrosion behavior of a new type of Al–Zn–Mg–Er–Zr alloy
Authors: Wu Hao , Li Wencai , Wen Shengping , Huang Hui , Lu Juntai , Nie Zuoren
Published: October 2021

The effect of various retrogression and reaging (RRA) treatments on the strength and corrosion behavior of a new type of Al–Zn–Mg–Er–Zr alloy has been investigated by hardness testing, tensile testing, and evaluating the intergranular corrosion (IGC) and exfoliation corrosion (EXCO) behavior. The results show that the RRA treatment can effectively improve the IGC and EXCO resistance by sacrificing less strength due to the formation of grain interior precipitates and the grain boundary precipitates similar to the T6 temper and T73 temper, respectively. At the peak value of the hardness, the alloy retrogressed at 190°C shows the better IGC and EXCO resistance; the alloy retrogressed at 170°C exhibits the higher strength. The optimal combination of strength, IGC and EXCO resistance is obtained after retrogression at 180°C for 60 min. For the different heat‐treatment tempers, the corresponding microstructure evolution of the precipitates, including Al3(Er,Zr) particles is discussed in detail.
Sample preparation and culture condition effects on MALDI‐TOF MS identification of bacteria: A review
Authors: Topić Popović Natalija , Kazazić Snježana P. , Bojanić Krunoslav , Strunjak‐Perović Ivančica , Čož‐Rakovac Rozelindra
Published: October 2021

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) is an excellent tool for bacterial identification. It allows high throughput, sensitive and specific applications in clinical diagnostics and environmental research. Currently, there is no optimal standardized protocol for sample preparation and culture conditions to profile bacteria. The performance of MALDI‐TOF MS is affected by several variables, such as sample preparation, culture media and culture conditions, incubation time/growth stage, incubation temperature, high salt content, blood in the culture media, and others. This review thus aims to clarify why a uniformed protocol is not plausible, to assess the effects these factors have on MALDI‐TOF MS identification score, and discuss possible optimizations for its methodology, in relation to specific bacterial representatives and strain requirements.
Parkinson's Disease Phenotypes in Patient Neuronal Cultures and Brain Organoids Improved by 2‐Hydroxypropyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin Treatment
Authors: Jarazo Javier , Barmpa Kyriaki , Modamio Jennifer , Saraiva Cláudia , Sabaté‐Soler Sònia , Rosety Isabel , Griesbeck Anne , Skwirblies Florian , Zaffaroni Gaia , Smits Lisa M. , Su Jihui , Arias‐Fuenzalida Jonathan , Walter Jonas , Gomez‐Giro Gemma , Monzel Anna S. , Qing Xiaobing , Vitali Armelle , Cruciani Gerald , Boussaad Ibrahim , Brunelli Francesco , Jäger Christian , Rakovic Aleksandar , Li Wen , Yuan Lin , Berger Emanuel , Arena Giuseppe , Bolognin Silvia , Schmidt Ronny , Schröder Christoph , Antony Paul M.A. , Klein Christine , Krüger Rejko , Seibler Philip , Schwamborn Jens C.
Published: October 2021

Background

The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is only partially understood despite the fact that environmental causes, risk factors, and specific gene mutations are contributors to the disease. Biallelic mutations in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)‐induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) gene involved in mitochondrial homeostasis, vesicle trafficking, and autophagy are sufficient to cause PD.

Objectives

We sought to evaluate the difference between controls' and PINK1 patients' derived neurons in their transition from neuroepithelial stem cells to neurons, allowing us to identify potential pathways to target with repurposed compounds.

Methods

Using two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional models of patients' derived neurons we recapitulated PD‐related phenotypes. We introduced the usage of midbrain organoids for testing compounds. Using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9), we corrected the point mutations of three patients' derived cells. We evaluated the effect of the selected compound in a mouse model.

Results

PD patient‐derived cells presented differences in their energetic profile, imbalanced proliferation, apoptosis, mitophagy, and a reduced differentiation efficiency to tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) neurons compared to controls' cells. Correction of a patient's point mutation ameliorated the metabolic properties and neuronal firing rates as well as reversing the differentiation phenotype, and reducing the increased astrocytic levels. Treatment with 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin increased the autophagy and mitophagy capacity of neurons concomitant with an improved dopaminergic differentiation of patient‐specific neurons in midbrain organoids and ameliorated neurotoxicity in a mouse model.

Conclusion

We show that treatment with a repurposed compound is sufficient for restoring the impaired dopaminergic differentiation of PD patient‐derived cells. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Juvenile‐Onset Huntington Disease Pathophysiology and Neurodevelopment: A Review
Authors: Bakels Hannah S. , Roos Raymund A.C. , van Roon‐Mom Willeke M.C. , de Bot Susanne T.
Published: October 2021

Huntington disease is an autosomal dominant inherited brain disorder that typically becomes manifest in adulthood. Juvenile‐onset Huntington disease refers to approximately 5% of patients with symptom onset before the age of 21 years. The causal factor is a pathologically expanded CAG repeat in the Huntingtin gene. Age at onset is inversely correlated with CAG repeat length. Juvenile‐onset patients have distinct symptoms and signs with more severe pathology of involved brain structures in comparison with disease onset in adulthood. The aim of this review is to compare clinical and pathological features in juvenile‐ and adult‐onset Huntington disease and to explore which processes potentially contribute to the observed differences. A specific focus is placed on molecular mechanisms of mutant huntingtin in early neurodevelopment and the interaction of a neurodegenerative disease and postnatal brain maturation. The importance of a better understanding of pathophysiological differences between juvenile‐ and adult‐onset Huntington disease lies in development and implementation of new therapeutic strategies. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Novel CACNA1A Variant p.Cys256Phe Disrupts Disulfide Bonds and Causes Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Nikonishyna Yuliia V. , Ortner Nadine J. , Kaserer Teresa , Hoffmann Jessica , Biskup Saskia , Dafotakis Manuel , Reetz Kathrin , Schulz Jörg B. , Striessnig Jörg , Dohrn Maike F.
Published: October 2021

Background

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a progressive, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder typically associated with CAG repeat expansions.

Objective

We assessed the pathogenicity of the novel, heterozygous missense variant p.Cys256Phe (C256F) in the pore‐forming α1‐subunit of the Cav2.1 Ca2+ channel found in a 63‐year‐old woman with SCA with no CAG repeat expansion.

Methods

We examined the effect of the C256F variant on channel function using whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings in transfected tsA‐201 cells.

Results

The maximum Ca2+ current density was significantly reduced in the mutant compared to wild‐type, which could not be explained by lower expression levels of mutant Cav2.1 α1‐ protein. Together with a significant increase in current inactivation, this is consistent with a loss of channel function. Molecular modeling predicted disruption of a conserved disulfide bond through the C256F variant.

Conclusions

Our results support the pathogenicity of the C256F variant for the SCA phenotype and provide further insight into Cav2.1 structure and function.
Weaving attention U‐net: A novel hybrid CNN and attention‐based method for organs‐at‐risk segmentation in head and neck CT images
Authors: Zhang Zhuangzhuang , Zhao Tianyu , Gay Hiram , Zhang Weixiong , Sun Baozhou
Published: October 2021

Purpose

In radiotherapy planning, manual contouring is labor‐intensive and time‐consuming. Accurate and robust automated segmentation models improve the efficiency and treatment outcome. We aim to develop a novel hybrid deep learning approach, combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and the self‐attention mechanism, for rapid and accurate multi‐organ segmentation on head and neck computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods

Head and neck CT images with manual contours of 115 patients were retrospectively collected and used. We set the training/validation/testing ratio to 81/9/25 and used the 10‐fold cross‐validation strategy to select the best model parameters. The proposed hybrid model segmented 10 organs‐at‐risk (OARs) altogether for each case. The performance of the model was evaluated by three metrics, that is, the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance 95% (HD95), and mean surface distance (MSD). We also tested the performance of the model on the head and neck 2015 challenge dataset and compared it against several state‐of‐the‐art automated segmentation algorithms.

Results

The proposed method generated contours that closely resemble the ground truth for 10 OARs. On the head and neck 2015 challenge dataset, the DSC scores of these OARs were 0.910.02, 0.730.10, 0.950.03, 0.760.08, 0.790.05, 0.870.05, 0.860.08, 0.870.03, and 0.870.07 for brain stem, chiasm, mandible, left/right optic nerve, left/right submandibular, and left/right parotid, respectively. Our results of the new weaving attention U‐net (WAU‐net) demonstrate superior or similar performance on the segmentation of head and neck CT images.

Conclusions

We developed a deep learning approach that integrates the merits of CNNs and the self‐attention mechanism. The proposed WAU‐net can efficiently capture local and global dependencies and achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance on the head and neck multi‐organ segmentation task.
3D gray density coding feature for benign‐malignant pulmonary nodule classification on chest CT
Authors: Zheng BingBing , Yang Dawei , Zhu Yu , Liu Yatong , Hu Jie , Bai Chunxue
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Early detection is significant to reduce lung cancer‐related death. Computer‐aided detection system (CADs) can help radiologists to make an early diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a novel 3D gray density coding feature (3D GDC) and fuse it with extracted geometric features. The fusion feature and random forest are used for benign–malignant pulmonary nodule classification on Chest CT.

Methods

First, a dictionary model is created to acquire codebook. It is used to obtain feature descriptors and includes 3D block database (BD) and distance matrix clustering centers. 3D BD is balanced and randomly selecting from benign and malignant pulmonary nodules of training data. Clustering centers is got by clustering the distance matrix, which is the distance between every two blocks in 3D BD. Then, feature descriptor is obtained by coding the pulmonary nodule with codebook, and 3D GDC feature is the result of histogram statistics on feature descriptor. Second, geometric features are extracted for fusion feature. Finally, random forest is performed for benign–malignant pulmonary nodule classification with fusion feature of the 3D gray density coding feature and the geometric features.

Results

We verify the effectiveness of our method on the public LIDC‐IDRI dataset and the private ZSHD dataset. For LIDC‐IDRI dataset, compared with other state‐of‐the‐art methods, we achieve more satisfactory results with 93.17 ± 1.94% for accuracy and 97.53 ± 1.62% for AUC. As for private ZSHD dataset, it contains a total of 238 lung nodules from 203 patients. The accuracy and AUC achieved by our method are 90.0% and 93.15%.

Conclusions

The results show that our method can provide doctors with more accurate results of benign–malignant pulmonary nodule classification for auxiliary diagnosis, and our method is more interpretable than 3D CNN methods, which can provide doctors with more auxiliary information.
Evaluation of double‐tuned single‐sided planar microcoils for the analysis of small 13C enriched biological samples using 1H‐13C 2D heteronuclear correlation NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Moxley‐Paquette Vincent , Wu Bing , Lane Daniel , Bastawrous Monica , Ning Paris , Soong Ronald , De Castro Peter , Kovacevic Ivan , Frei Thomas , Stuessi Juerg , Al Adwan‐Stojilkovic Danijela , Graf Stephan , Vincent Franck , Schmidig Daniel , Kuehn Till , Kuemmerle Rainer , Beck Armin , Fey Michael , Bermel Wolfgang , Busse Falko , Gundy Marcel , Boenisch Holger , Heumann Hermann , Nashman Ben , Dutta Majumdar Rudraksha , Lacerda Andressa , Simpson André J.
Published: October 2021

Microcoils provide a cost‐effective approach to improve detection limits for mass‐limited samples. Single‐sided planar microcoils are advantageous in comparison to volume coils, in that the sample can simply be placed on top. However, the considerable drawback is that the RF field that is produced by the coil decreases with distance from the coil surface, which potentially limits more complex multi‐pulse NMR pulse sequences. Unfortunately, 1H NMR alone is not very informative for intact biological samples due to line broadening caused by magnetic susceptibility distortions, and 1H‐13C 2D NMR correlations are required to provide the additional spectral dispersion for metabolic assignments in vivo or in situ. To our knowledge, double‐tuned single‐sided microcoils have not been applied for the 2D 1H‐13C analysis of intact 13C enriched biological samples. Questions include the following: Can 1H‐13C 2D NMR be performed on single‐sided planar microcoils? If so, do they still hold sensitivity advantages over conventional 5 mm NMR technology for mass limited samples? Here, 2D 1H‐13C HSQC, HMQC, and HETCOR variants were compared and then applied to 13C enriched broccoli seeds and Daphnia magna (water fleas). Compared to 5 mm NMR probes, the microcoils showed a sixfold improvement in mass sensitivity (albeit only for a small localized region) and allowed for the identification of metabolites in a single intact D. magna for the first time. Single‐sided planar microcoils show practical benefit for 1H‐13C NMR of intact biological samples, if localized information within ~0.7 mm of the 1 mm I.D. planar microcoil surface is of specific interest.
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in biomedical and clinical applications: A review
Authors: Anik Muzahidul I. , Mahmud Niaz , Al Masud Abdullah , Hasan Maruf
Published: October 2021

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been extensively used in various applications ranging from environmental detection to biomedical applications. Due to their unique characteristics such as tunable surface properties as well as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), GNPs have garnered attention in various applications exclusively in therapy and diagnostics. Their ease of synthesis and compatibility with various functionalizing ligands has made them efficient and a robust biomedical platform. Due to their flexibility in synthesis and functionalization, GNPs have been profoundly used in cancer treatment as well as, antiviral, and antibacterial agents. In addition, owing to possessing unique optical properties, GNPs have been utilized as molecular imaging and contrast agent. This article discusses and highlights special characteristics of GNPs that have been exploited in biomedical applications in recent years to improve biomedical research in various biomedical field such as nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and contrast agent, vaccine development, medical implant, diagnostics, biosensing, and lab‐on‐chip applications. Moreover, their size dependent biocompatibility, biodistribution, and excreation was discussed in details for various in vivo applications. At the forefront of modern theraputic technology, GNPs based cancer treatment and antiviral agents have great potential which is also highlighted briefly in this article. In addition, current state of ongoing clinical trials and challenges associated with regulatory approval are explored. Lastly, the article sheds light on recent findings on the toxicity of GNPs and discusses the current challenges and prospects to future direct GNPs based biomedical research.
Effect of different positions on gastric residuals in preterm infants initiating full enteral feeding
Authors: Gözen Duygu , Erkut Zeynep , Uslubaş Rabia , Bilgin Leyla
Published: October 2021

Background

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding in different positions on the gastric residual volume after feeding in preterm infants who initiated full enteral feeding.

Methods

This quasi‐experimental study was conducted with the hypothesis that testing the right lateral position leads to less gastric residual than left lateral position and the prone position leads to less gastric residual than the supine position. The data were collected in four stages from 35 preterm infants. Initially, the infants were positioned in supine position and were fed. After feeding, the infant rested in the supine position for 3 h. The stomach content was aspirated, and the volume of gastric residual was measured at the 60th, 120th, and 180th min after feeding. These steps are repeated in order of in the right lateral, left lateral, and prone position. Total gastric residual volume and type of enteral feeding were evaluated.

Results

There was no significant difference among the positions in terms of the volume of gastric residuals in the measurements made at 60th (P = 9.552), 120th (P = .505), and 180th min (P = .430). When the amount of decrease in the gastric residual volumes was a significant difference between all measurement times in right lateral and prone positions (P < .001).

Conclusion

Although no significant difference was determined between the positions, the smallest residual volumes were determined in the right lateral and prone positions. The amount of decrease in residual volume was significant in right lateral and prone positions.