bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative frailty predicts postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty in elderly patients: a prospective observational study
Authors: Jin Yinan , Tang Suhong , Wang Wenwen , Zhang Wei , Hou Yunfan , Jiao Yang , Hou Bailing , Ma Zhengliang
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Frailty is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserves, which is reportedly associated with postoperative adverse outcomes and may increase the risk of postoperative pain. Our study aimed to explore whether frailty was an independent risk factor for pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in elderly patients.
Methods
Included in this prospective observational study were patients aged 65 or older who underwent primary TKA. Frailty of the patients was assessed before surgery using the comprehensive geriatric assessment-frailty index and pain was evaluated before and after surgery using the Numerical Rating Scale.
Results
Of the 164 patients included in the final analysis, 51 patients were identified as being frail. Patients with chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) had a significantly higher frailty index than those without CPSP, which was the same in patients with acute postoperative pain (APSP). After adjusting for other confounding factors, frailty was shown to be an independent risk factor for both CPSP (OR: 4.242, 95% CI: 1.286–13.997, P = 0.018) and APSP (OR: 13.232, 95% CI: 3.731–46.929, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for frailty predicting CPSP was 0.728 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.651–0.805).
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrated that preoperative frailty in elderly patients was a predictor of acute and chronic postoperative pain after TKA, suggesting that the frailty assessment should become a necessary procedure before operations, especially in elderly patients.
An ancient polymorphic regulatory region within the BDNF gene associated with obesity modulates anxiety-like behaviour in mice and humans
Authors: MacKenzie Alasdair , McEwan Andrew , Hing benjamin , Erickson Johanna , Urama Charity , Norton-Hughes Emily , Berry Susan , D'Ippolito Mariam , Delibegovic Mirela , Grassmann Felix
Published: June 2023

Obesity and anxiety are morbidities notable for their increased impact on society during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the mechanisms governing susceptibility to these conditions will increase quality of life and our resilience to future pandemics. In the current study we explored the function of a highly conserved regulatory region (BE5.1) within the BDNF gene that harbours a polymorphism strongly associated with obesity (rs10767664; p = 4.69x10− 26). Analysis in primary cells suggested that the major T-allele of BE5.1 was an enhancer whereas the obesity associated A-allele was not. However, CRISPR/CAS9 deletion of BE5.1 from the mouse genome (BE5.1KO) produced no significant effect on the expression of BDNF transcripts in the hypothalamus, no change in weight gain after 28 days and only a marginally significant increase in food intake. Nevertheless, transcripts were significantly increased in the amygdala of female mice and elevated zero maze and marble burying tests demonstrated a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviour that could be reversed by diazepam. Consistent with these observations, human GWAS cohort analysis demonstrated a significant association between rs10767664 and anxiousness in human populations. Intriguingly, interrogation of the human GTEx eQTL database demonstrated no effect on BDNF mRNA levels associated with rs10767664 but a highly significant effect on BDNF-antisense (BDNF-AS) gene expression and splicing. The subsequent observation that deletion of BE5.1 also significantly reduced BDNF-AS expression in mice suggests a novel mechanism in the regulation of BDNF expression common to mice and humans which contributes to the modulation of mood and anxiety in both species.
Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Incident Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in China
Authors: Liu Yuanjiao , Zhu Jinghan , Guo Ziye , Yu Jiazhou , Zhang Xuhui , Ge Huiqing , Zhu Yimin
Published: June 2023

Background
Limited evidence is available on the association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (e-CRF) and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Chinese population.
Methods
A total of 10507 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) was recruited as baseline. e-CRF was calculated from sex-specific longitudinal non-exercise equations and further grouped into quartiles. Cox proportional models were used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incidence risks of CVD, heart disease and stroke.
Results
During a median follow-up of 7 years, a total of 1862 CVD, 1409 heart disease and 612 stroke events occurred. In fully adjusted models, each one MET increment of e-CRF was associated with lower risk of CVD (HR = 0.91, 95%CI = 0.85–0.96 for males, HR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.81–0.94 for females). Compared with the Quartile (Q)1 group, the HRs (95%CI) of the Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups were 0.84 (0.63–1.03), 0.72 (0.57–0.91) and 0.66 (0.51–0.87) for CVD in males. Females had HRs of 0.79 (0.66–0.96) in Q2, 0.71 (0.57–0.88) in Q3 and 0.58 (0.45–0.75) in Q4 for CVD. The associations between e-CRF and heart disease and stroke were slightly weaker than that for CVD in both males and females.
Conclusions
Higher e-CRF decreases the incident risk of CVD, heart disease and stroke.
Operational Analysis of the Pediatric Patient Flow in a Hospital
Authors: Takagi Hideaki , Kanai Yuta
Published: June 2023

The authors of this paper have been studying the system-scientific modeling of the inpatient flow in an acute-care hospitalusing the recorded order log data for the movement of patients over the observation period. We have thus far published theresults for obstetric \cite{Takagi-Kanai-Misue} and neonatal \cite{Kanai-Takagi} patients.The order log in the University of Tsukuba Hospital during the two fiscal years 2010--2011 is used as a data source.
In the present study, we deal with pediatric patients who are transferred over several wards from their admission untiltheir discharge. We calculate the number of admissions, ward transfers, and discharges during the two years of observation.Special attention is paid to the numbers of patients who are hospitalized before and after the finite observation periods.We consider the total number of days on which patients stay in each ward over the observation period, which is called the\textit {patient-days} (PD) as a measure of clinical load brought by patients on the hospital. We count the numbers ofpatients who arrive to, depart from, and stay in each ward over the observation period and show that these numberssatisfy the \textit{conservation law} for the patient flow in a hospital. We also confirm an identity relation among the meannumber of patients staying in each ward per day, mean number of patients who arrive to that ward per day, and mean numberof days a patient stays in that ward, called the mean \textit{length-of-stay} (LoS), which may be thought of as adiscrete-time, finite-horizon version of \textit{Little's law} in queueing theory. We propose a \textit{patient residence chart}to visualize the movement of each patient during their hospitalization. We present a method to classify the paths of patients,i.e., a sequence of pairs (ward number, length-of-stay on that ward), from which we calculate a variety of measures ofpatient movement.
Super-speed high-resolution distributed Brillouin sensor for mapping strain waves propagating an optical fiber
Authors: Song Kwang-Yong , Kim Ju Hyun , Yoon Jae Hyeong
Published: June 2023

Distributed fiber sensors based on Brillouin scattering have recently advanced into high-speed and high-resolution systems, aimed at identifying and characterizing dynamic strain events in civil structures and materials. This article introduces a super-speed, high-resolution distributed Brillouin sensor implemented through the utilization of lock-in-free balanced detection of orthogonally-polarized probe sidebands. The proposed system achieves a sampling rate exceeding 106 Sa/s (1 MSa/s) with a centimeter-level spatial resolution, surpassing the capabilities of previous Brillouin sensors. In test experiments, we demonstrate the polarization-independent measurement of the local Brillouin gain spectrum at a sampling rate of 2 MSa/s with a spatial resolution of 5 cm. Additionally, we acquire the full distribution map of Brillouin frequency along a 5.2 m standard single-mode fiber, utilizing a 10 kHz repetition rate and 144 sampling points. This high-performance system allows us to analyze the occurrence and propagation of the axial strain waves in a suspended optical fiber, induced by the popping noise of a powered speaker.
A detailed study to understand controlled additive manufacturing of regenerated cellulose
Authors: Garces Irina , Ngo Tri-Dung , Ayranci Cagri , Boluk Yaman
Published: June 2023

Environmental concerns within the 3D printing industry have attracted interest in finding biodegradable, eco-friendly material solutions. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on the planet. Cellulosic pulp, derived from biomass, can be dissolved in eco-friendly solvents such as N-methyl morpholine N-oxide (NMMO) to produce Lyocell™. Lyocell™ has had applications in the textile industry for the last decade. It has shown promise in producing high-quality cellulosic fibers and the ability to be altered, tailored, and manufactured with ease. Despite this, additive manufacturing using cellulose is still an area of research with ample room to grow. In this work, we propose an in-depth study of using Lyocell™ to manufacture 3D-printed parts using an affordable desktop 3D-printer modification. The 3D printing process of Lyocell™ is completely circular as the solvent can be recovered from 3D-printed parts, and the printed parts are biodegradable. The design of the developed 3D printing equipment, the rheological properties, and the 3D printing of the cellulose-NMMO solution are discussed in this work.
CircEYA3 aggravates intervertebral disc degeneration through miR-196a-5p/EBF1 axis and NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Tianfu , Song Dehui , Li Yingxia , Li Zhengwei , Dapeng Feng
Published: June 2023

Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the most frequent causes of disability. Currently, there is an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis and progression of IDD..Regulatory non-coding RNAs, including circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in IDD progression. This study aimed to examine the role and molecular mechanism of circEYA3 in IDD.Methods In order to gain a deeper understanding of the potential regulatory effects of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in IDD, all expression matrices underwent standardized analyses. The involvement of the circEYA3/miR-196a-5p/EBF1 axis in IDD was confirmed through both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The molecular mechanism of EBF1 in IDD was further elucidated through various methods, including Chip-seq analysis and Immunofluorescence staining.Results Firstly, a circRNA/miRNA/mRNA network in IDD was constructed according to the standardized analyses of all expression matrixes. We identified differential expression of transcription factor EBF1, circEYA3 and microRNA-196a-5p in normal and IDD NP tissues. Alteration of circEYA3 mediated the degradation of extracellular mechanisms (ECM), apoptosis and proliferation of NP cells (NPC). MiR-196a-5p was identified as a direct regulatory target of circEYA3 and EBF1. Functional analysis showed that circEYA3 and EBF1 modulated ECM degradation, apoptosis and proliferation of NPC, which could be reversed by miR-196a-5p. EBF1 regulated the activity of the NF-кB signaling pathway by activating the promoter region of IKKβ. Collectively, The circEYA3 modulated the progression of IDD and mediated the activity of the NF-kB signaling pathway by regulating the miR196a-5p/EBF1 axis.Conclusions Our research proposed a new molecular mechanism for the development of IDD and provided a prospective therapeutic target for IDD.
Modelling the Dynamics of a Probe in Vicinity of Eross-433 With a Fourth-Order Polynomial Density Profile
Authors: ourabi El haj El , Bennai Mohamed
Published: June 2023

In the present work, we study the motion of a probe in the gravitational field generated by an elongated geo-cruiser asteroid of irregular shape, which we model by an inhomogeneous mass distribution. We propose a model of inhomogeneous mass distribution with a symmetric polynomial density profile of order 4 and then establish the analytical expression of the gravitational potential generated by this segment. The Lagrangian formalism allowed us to establish the dynamic equations of motion of the probe in the gravitational field generated by this body, which we solved numerically.
Effects of Superheated Steam Pretreatment on Muscle Release and Meat Quality of Shucked Tropical Oyster (Crassostrea iredalei)
Authors: Ping Cheng Wei , Patar Azim , Foo Wong Yong , Zulfigar Siti Balqis , Liu Chengchu , Zulkurnain Musfirah
Published: June 2023

Superheated steam (SS) is promising for thermal shucking application of oysters due to its high energy. Tropical oysters Crassostrea iredalei was probed with K-type thermocouples connected to a datalogger to monitor and record process temperatures during superheated steam pretreatment at different temperatures (170, 210, and 250 °C) and holding time (4, 5, 6 min) followed by rapid ice immersion. The combination of heating and rapid chilling on the release of oyster meat during shucking were evaluated for muscle relaxation, muscle release, meat quality, texture profile analysis, and color and optimized for maximum muscle release and meat quality. The thermal profiles of SS reveled rapid temperature increment of both muscle and oyster shell compared to conventional steam, resulting in increased relaxation of adductor muscles and degree of meat release with increase in temperature and time Texture of the oyster meat retained hardness, gumminess and chewiness of the fresh oyster at low superheated steam temperature and short exposure time. Sufficient meat detachment of more than 85% was achieved at 170 °C and 5 min with minimum meat quality changes which also lower in microbial load (4.1 x 103 CFU/g), TVB-N (11.7 mg/100 g) and final pH reduction (0.3) compared to untreated [microbial load (5.2 x 103 CFU/g), TVB-N (15.7 mg/100 g), pH reduction (0.6)] and microwave treated [microbial load (4.3 x 103 CFU/g), TVB-N (21.0 mg/100 g), pH reduction (0.5)] samples. In sum, SS is potential to minimize oysters shucking time and prolonged shelf life of shucked oysters without compromising meat quality.
Changes in perceived stress during a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention predicting occupational recovery from work-related stress: a longitudinal study
Authors: Jensen Johan Høy , Flachs Esben Meulengracht , Petersen Kajsa Ugelvig , Sejbæk Camilla Sandal , Ross Lone , Eller Nanna Hurwitz , Khoury Bassam
Published: June 2023

Purpose
The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group intervention is increasingly being used in clinics to alleviate stress-related symptoms. The aim was to evaluate the association between pre-post changes in levels of perceived stress during the MBSR program and occupational recovery from prolonged work-related stress. Potential moderators of the association were assessed.
Methods
This study was based on secondary analyses of pre-existing data from 450 patients commencing an MBSR program between 15 October 2015 and 2 April 2019. Data on clinical, sociodemographic, and psychosocial factors were collected via an online survey administered at baseline and the end of the MBSR program. Pre-post changes in levels of perceived stress were evaluated using Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The outcome was stable (versus unstable) employment for at least four consecutive weeks evaluated at 26-week and 52-week follow-ups. Missing data were managed with multiple imputation. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression, with adjustment for confounding factors from clinical, occupational, and psychosocial factors in the latest held job.
Results
The average reduction in PSS-10 scores was 5.0 (SD = 5.5). Each one-point pre-post reduction on the PSS-10 scale was associated with a lower risk of full-time sick-leave at 26-week (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.20) and 52-week follow-up (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.30). None of these associations were moderated by any predictors.
Conclusion
A greater reduction in levels of perceived stress during participation in an MBSR program, predicts enhanced occupational recovery from long-term work-related stress.
Cognitive inhibition difficulties in individuals with hemiparesis: Evidence from an immersive virtual reality target-distractor salience contrast visual search serious game
Authors: Ajana Khawla , Everard Gauthier , Sorrentino Gregorio , Lejeune Thierry , Edwards Martin Gareth
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Stroke can result in various impairments that require multidisciplinary rehabilitation. For example, preserved cognitive executive functions predict motor recovery success. Despite knowing these links, the evaluation of executive function in hemiparesis patients remains underexplored. Here, we examined whether post-stroke individuals with upper limb hemiparesis (SI:HP) had cognitive inhibition deficits using a new immersive virtual reality (IVR) serious game .
Methods: Twenty SI:HP with no known history of cognitive impairment and who were not undergoing any neuropsychological rehabilitation and twenty age-matched healthy control individuals (CI) were recruited. They performed the 6-level serious game requiring responses to spatial target presented amongst 11, 17 and 23 distractors with high versus low target-distractors saliency contrasts. Responses were made with less-effected hand for SI:HP group and dominant hand for CI. Response time (RT), and kinematic variables were measured.
Results: The SI:HP group was slower and more variable than the CI group. All participants were slower and more variable when responding to the low compared to high target-distractors saliency conditions, and when responding to targets with increased numbers of distractors. A significant interaction between task saliency and distractor number showed slower and more variable responses with increased numbers of distractors in the low saliency condition, but not in the high saliency condition. Interactions involving group and saliency for RT and CV showed that SI:HP compared to CI group showed a greater differences in responses to low versus high saliency conditions.
Conclusion: These results suggested that relative to the CI group, the SI:HP group showed cognitive inhibition impairments in the IVR serious game. As cognition plays a fundamental role in motor recovery, these results suggest a need for systematic cognitive screening of post-stroke patients.
Trial registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT04694833, Date of registration: 11/24/2020
Association study of rs1632947, rs1233334, and rs371194629 Polymorphisms in HLA-G Gene Expression and sHLA-G with lupus
Authors: Halboot Kamil Mahdi , Haghi Mehdi , Feizi Mohammad Ali Hosseinpour , Kondori Mohammad Khalaj , Ardalan Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that has been associated with HLA-G in previous studies on immunological diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between three HLA-G gene polymorphisms (rs1632947, rs1233334, and rs371194629) and their impact on HLA-G mRNA expression and soluble HLA-G levels in serum. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probe PCR. RNA extraction, reverse transcription PCR, and real-time PCR assay were conducted to assess the expression of microRNAs in serum and tissue samples. Soluble HLA-G was mesurede using ELISA in serum. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software with a significance level of p-value of 0.05. Results show a significant difference in the frequency of the G allele for two 5' untranslated region (UTR) polymorphisms of the HLA-G gene (rs1632947 and rs1233334) located at position − 964 and − 725, respectively, between the lupus patients and controls, with p-values of 0.009 and 0.040, respectively. In addition, the study identified the 14 bp insertion allele of the rs371194629 polymorphism located in the 3' UTR of the gene as a risk factor for lupus, with a p-value of 0.001. Our results also show that lupus-related alleles may increase the risk of developing the disease by upregulating the expression of HLA-G and increasing soluble HLA-G levels in serum. The findings of the study suggest that the identified genetic variants may play a role in the development of lupus and could be useful in identifying individuals at risk for the disease. These results are important for advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of lupus and may have implications for the development of new treatments and diagnostic tools for the disease.
An epigenetic clock for gestational age based on human umbilical vein endothelial cells from a diverse population of newborns
Authors: Peng Gang , Sosnowski David W. , Murphy Susan K. , Johnson Sara B. , Skaar David , Schleif William S. , Hernandez Raquel G. , Monforte Hector , Zhao Hongyu , Hoyo Cathrine
Published: June 2023

Background
Epigenetic clocks are emerging as a useful tool in many areas of research. Many epigenetic clocks have been developed for adults; however, there are fewer clocks focused on newborns and most are trained using blood from European ancestry populations. In this study, we built an epigenetic clock based on primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells from a racially and ethnically diverse population.
Results
Using human umbilical vein endothelial cell [HUVEC]-derived DNA, we calculated epigenetic gestational age using 83 CpG sites selected through elastic net regression. In this study with newborns from different racial/ethnic identities, epigenetic gestational age and clinical gestational age were more highly correlated (r = 0.85), than epigenetic clocks built from adult and other pediatric populations. The correlation was also higher than clocks based on blood samples from newborns with European ancestry. We also found that birth weight was positively associated with epigenetic gestational age acceleration (EGAA), while NICU admission was associated with lower EGAA. Newborns self-identified as Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black had lower EGAA than self-identified as non-Hispanic White.
Conclusions
Epigenetic gestational age can be used to estimate clinical gestational age and may help index neonatal development. Caution should be exercised when using epigenetic clocks built from adults with children, especially newborns. We highlight the importance of cell type-specific epigenetic clocks and general pan tissue epigenetic clocks derived from a large racially and ethnically diverse population.
Caregiving is women's work: unequal distribution of unpaid housework in Chile during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zapata-Román Gabriela , Energici María Alejandra , Alarcón Samanta , Moller Francisco
Published: June 2023

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the burden of household domestic and caregiving responsibilities unevenly for women. Confinement measures and the mandatory closure of nurseries and schools replaced in-classroom education with online education. For many households, working dynamics transitioned into remote or so-called ‘hybrid’ work, and suddenly, all household members were spending 24 hours a day at home. Using data from the first National Survey of Unpaid Home Care (ENCIC), this article offers an in-depth analysis of the gender distribution of unpaid domestic and care work within Chilean households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings confirm an overload of unpaid work for women during the pandemic: they are the primary caregivers of children, teenagers and dependent people in over 70% of cases, and it is women who take over most domestic tasks at home, particularly the most time-consuming ones and those considered less pleasant by literature. Men tend to participate in shorter and simpler activities and tasks that involve leaving the house. There is no family composition where women have a higher probability than men to negotiate a lower domestic workload, not even when women are household heads. The gender disparity is even more pronounced in nuclear households, where women are 7.4 times more likely than their male partners to be responsible for household tasks and 2.9 times more likely to be in charge of caregiving.
JEL Codes: B54, D13, J22, O54
Design and finite element analysis of cross-screw fixation strategy for Sanders IIB calcaneal fractures
Authors: Jiang Daixiang , Lu Hui , Liu Dingxi , Xiong Hanlin , Cheng Qian , Yu Yue , Cao Xiaolu , Liu Rong
Published: June 2023

Background
Clinicians are increasingly opting for minimally invasive cross screw fixation (CSF) in the treatment of non-severely comminuted calcaneal fractures. However, there is a dearth of design and theoretical guidance regarding the fixation strategy for calcaneal fractures using minimally invasive CSF in clinical practice. The objective of this study is to design a fixation strategy for Sanders type II B calcaneal fractures based on commonly used screw placement methods in clinical practice. Furthermore, we aim to compare the biomechanical stability of different strategies through finite element analysis. The findings of this study will serve as a valuable reference for clinical surgical screw placement.
Methods
To create a Sanders type II B calcaneal fracture model, we utilized the most up-to-date research on calcaneal fracture heatmaps. By incorporating the anatomical characteristics of the calcaneus and commonly employed minimally invasive screw placement methods in clinical practice, we developed three-dimensional digital designs of CSF strategies on this model. Subsequently, biomechanical experiments were conducted on each strategy within a virtual environment using finite element techniques. The stress distribution, stress magnitude, and displacement of the fracture model were carefully observed and analyzed.
Results
When subjected to identical loading conditions, Strategy 4 demonstrated smaller maximum displacements of the calcaneus, screw, and fracture gap compared to the other strategies. Among all the strategies, Strategy 5 exhibited the highest maximum stress in the calcaneus, while Strategy 6 had the highest maximum stress in the screw. The three-dimensional digital designs of CSF strategies were developed on this model by integrating the anatomical characteristics of the calcaneus and commonly utilized minimally invasive screw placement methods in clinical practice.
Conclusion
Our designed Strategy 4 involved the insertion of dual longitudinal screws in a parallel manner from the superior aspect of the calcaneal tuberosity. Additionally, two transverse screws were utilized to fix the articular facet fragment, and one transverse screw was employed to secure the lateral wall of the calcaneus. This fixation method demonstrated superior fixation strength and reduced stress concentration compared to the other strategies. As a result, Strategy 4 serves as a valuable reference for surgeons performing actual clinical screw placement during surgical procedures.
Increase of ASH1L Expression Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development and Affects the Prognosis of Liver Transplantation Patients
Authors: Yu Xinghui , Zhang Weiqi , Xiang Wen , Ma Yongqiang , Liu Siyuan , Li Zhaoxian , Tan Yuying , Xie Yan , Zhang Li , Jiang Wentao
Published: June 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Risk factors associated with HCC include cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, metabolic syndrome, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Unfortunately, the cure rate of HCC remains low, primarily due to difficulties in early-stage detection. The identification of effective therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers is thus imperative. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying HCC development remain elusive. Recent studies have indicated a significant correlation between DNA methylation and cancer development. Notably, bioinformatics analysis of human patient databases has revealed amplification of ASH1L, a histone methyltransferase and a homolog of drosophila ASH1, in tumor tissues. Alterations in ASH1L expression have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, uterine cancer, and leukemia. Its molecular mechanism and cellular functions are undergone extensive studies. Specifically, investigating the role of ASH1L in HCC development represents a promising avenue for understanding the underlying mechanisms. Building upon these backgrounds and considerations, this study aims to elucidate the detrimental effects of ASH1L on the prognosis of HCC patients following liver transplantation, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. With using various approaches, ASH1L was found to be strongly correlated with HCC. Furthermore, ASH1L shows promise as a potential biomarker for early detection, prognosis prediction, and personalized treatment strategies for HCC.
Dynamic Changes and Effects of H2S, IGF-1, and GH in The Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Wu Xin , Kong Yang , Zou Peng , Wang Yanbin , Zhang Hongtao , Cui Guangqiang , Zhu Wei , Chen Hongguang
Published: June 2023

Background: The goal of this investigation was to examine the expression changes of H2S, IGF-1, and GH after TBI and to detect their roles after TBI.
Methods: In this study, we first collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from TBI patients at different times after injury and evaluated the concentrations of H2S, IGF-1, and GH. In vitro TBI conditions were stimulated by using HT22 hippocampal neurons and LPS-induced BV2 microglia cells. Models of TBI were established using controlled cortical impact (CCI) in vivo. CCK-8 assay, qRT-PCR and ELISA were used. Western blot was performed to assess the expression of CBS, CSE, IGF-1, and GHRH. Moreover, the recovery of TBI mice was evaluated for behavioral function by applying the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), the Rotarod test, and the Morris water maze.
Results: We discovered that serum H2S, CSF H2S, and serum IGF-1 concentrations were all adversely associated with the severity of the TBI, while the concentrations of IGF-1 and GH in CSF and GH in the serum were all positively related to TBI severity. Experiments in vitro and in vivo indicated that activated-BV2 cells enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines and suppressed the cell viability of HT22 cells. In addition, treatment with NaHS, IGF-1, and GH alleviated the activation of BV2 cells. Furthermore, NaHS, IGF-1, and GH treatment alleviated motor function deficits after TBI.
Conclusion: This study gives novel information on the functions of H2S, IGF-1, and GH in TBI.
Dimethyl fumarate treatment in relapsing remitting MS changes the inflammatory CSF protein profile by a prominent decrease in T-helper 1 immunity
Authors: Hojjati Sara , Ernerudh Jan , Vrethem Magnus , Mellergård Johan , Raffetseder Johanna
Published: June 2023

Background
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a widely used treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), nevertheless, the precise mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Notably, limited attention has been given to investigating alterations in the protein composition of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Analyzing the modifications in inflammation- and neurodegeneration-associated proteins in the CSF and plasma of persons with MS (pwMS) undergoing DMF treatment, is a potential tool to unravel the impacts of DMF treatment and monitor the response to this therapy.
Methods
Using the proximity extension assay (PEA), a technique that provides high sensitivity and specificity, we measured the levels of 182 inflammation and neuro-associated proteins in paired samples of plasma (n=28) and cerebrospinal fluid (n=12) of pwMS both before and after one year of treatment with DMF. Disease activity and progression were evaluated through clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging. To uncover drug-induced effects on the protein profile and identify potential biomarkers for predicting treatment response, we employed non-parametric statistical tests, STRING network analysis, and logistic regression models.
Results
Levels of 21 plasma proteins and 10 CSF proteins significantly changed during one year of treatment with DMF (p<0.01). T-helper 1 (Th1)-associated proteins (CXCL10, CXCL11, granzyme A, IL-12p70, lymphotoxin-alpha) consistently decreased in CSF, while IL-7 increased, in line with a reduction in the pro-inflammatory and presumed disease promoting Th1 immunity. The changes in plasma protein levels did not follow the same pattern as in CSF. Levels of 10 proteins in CSF and 1 protein in plasma differed among responders and non-responders (p<0.01), and logistic regression models showed proteins (including plexins and neurotrophins) as potential biomarker candidates for prediction of treatment response.
Conclusions
DMF treatment induced prominent changes of CSF protein levels, with a consistent decrease in Th1-associated pro-inflammatory proteins. Several proteins in CSF related to neurodegeneration showed a potential to predict response to treatment, suggesting the use of protein biomarkers as a tool for personalized medicine.
Selecting sustainable approach for remediation of PFOA contaminated soils: AHP decision-making
Authors: Soltanian Mehdi , Salmak Saba , Baghdadi Majid , gitipour Saeid , Ramandi Hamed Lamei
Published: June 2023

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is an emerging persistent organic and one of the most commonly used PFAS, has a wide range of applications in industrial and production processes, and humans can regularly be exposed to it, so remediation of PFOA-contaminated soil is of great importance. This research presents the importance of PFOA soil pollution, soil remediation related technologies, their mechanisms and the order of remediation priority for three different hypothetical scenarios. Our comprehensive literature review shows that while some remediation methods have shown positive results, some, such as ultrasound, are ineffective in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the fact that generally, the selection of a practical and compelling soil remediation technique depends on site assessments, our investigation and analysis by implementing an analytical hierarchy process and considering remediation time, environmental impacts, ecological impact, soil disturbance, post management, etc. as criteria, leads to the solidification/stabilization, oxidation, electrokinetic, phytoremediation and bioremediation as the most feasible and promising approaches for remediation of PFOA contaminated sites in our three suggested scenarios, but with different preferences. On the other hand, negative aspects of the electron beam, pulsed corona, and ball milling have placed them at the bottom of our selection list for field scale remediation.
Acetylcholine Hydrolytic Activity of Fibrillated β-Amyloid (1-40) Peptide
Authors: Sanchis Ivan , Spinelli Roque , Siano Alvaro
Published: June 2023

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the presence of senile plaques composed of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) aggregates with toxic effects that are still not fully understood. Recently, it was discovered that Aβ(1-42) fibrils possess catalytic activity on acetylcholine hydrolysis. Catalytic amyloids are an emerging and exciting field of research. In this study, we examined the catalytic activity of the fibrils formed by Aβ(1-40), the most abundant Aβ variant, on acetylcholine hydrolysis. Our findings reveal that Aβ(1-40) fibrils exhibit moderate catalytic activity, indicating that natural peptide aggregates could serve as biocatalysts and provide new insights into the potential role of Aβ in neurological disorders.
Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis identifies specific female genetics for HCM with a higher cardiovascular risk
Authors: Kuang Hongyu , Liu Guangliang , Chen Yunlin , Long Yuxiang , Yin Yuehui
Published: June 2023

Background
The study was conducted to identify specific gene expressions and mostly associated mechanisms of sex differences in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Methods and results The differential expressed genes (DEGs) and biological functions were analyzed. Furthermore, LASSO model, combined with SVM-RFE feature was applied for core genes. GO terms and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted. Core genes and related mechanisms were verified in male to tell the sex differences in genetics. There revealed seven core genes, i.e., ZFP36, CEBPD, S100A9, CDC42EP4, RASD1, S1PR3,and MYH6, with a significant decrease in HCM females. GSEA indicated there existed signaling pathways including fatty acid β-oxidation, tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme complex, autophagy, and ribosome pathways involved in low expressions of these genes in female-specific HCM. Also, core gene expressions were verified in male-specific HCM, indicating more reduction of RASD1 and MYH6 in HCM females than males. As to autophagy-related signatures, expression levels of NAMPT decreased significantly in HCM women, with sex differences, meanwhile there presented a significantly positive correlation between NAMPT with RASD1 (R=0.557, p<0.001) orMYH6(R=0.516, p<0.001).
Conclusions
The comprehensive bioinformatic analyses indicated that low RASD1/MYH6/NAMPT expressions in cardiac tissues of females were closely related to HCM with a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
Intersektionalität und erzählte Welten : Einführung
Authors: Abrego Verónica , Henke Ina , Kißling Magdalena , Lammer Christina , Leuker Maria-Theresia
Published: June 2023

Intersektionalität hält als Forschungsgegenstand, als Schauplatz theoretischer Diskussion und als Analyseperspektive seit Jahren verstärkt Einzug in unterschiedliche akademische Disziplinen und Bereiche. Es verwundert daher nicht, dass sich das Intersektionalitätsparadigma auch im Bereich der Literaturwissenschaft und -didaktiken zunehmend als produktiv erweist, wie wir mit dem Sammelband zeigen wollen, der intersektionale literaturwissenschaftliche und -didaktische Fallstudien aus unterschiedlichen Philologien versammelt und so ein Prisma der Erforschung literarischer Repräsentationen des Zusammenspiels von einander verschärfenden bzw. abschwächenden Diskriminierungskategorien bietet. Inwiefern die Einzelbeiträge kritische Reflexionen verschiedener Positionen der Intersektionalitätsforschung präsentieren und Beispiele für die vielfältige Ausgestaltung intersektional orientierter Textanalyse auf theoretischer und methodischer Ebene anbieten sowie didaktische Lesarten des Intersektionalitätsparadigmas aufzeigen, machen wir aufbauend auf einer ausführlichen Begriffs- und Theoriereflexion einleitend deutlich.
Königin of Color : Belacane in Wolframs von Eschenbach "Parzival" als intersektionale Figur
Authors: Mieger Hannah
Published: June 2023

Sie ist Schwarz, Heidin und regiert ein Königreich. Mit der Figur Belacane präsentiert Wolfram von Eschenbach im "Parzival" seinem Publikum eine Frau, die den höfischen Schönheitsvorstellungen widerspricht. Immer wieder wird die Schwarze Hautfarbe Belacanes und ihres Volkes explizit im Kontrast zum dagegen unmarkierten weißen Protagonisten betont und abgewertet. Erst die Information über Belacanes Jungfräulichkeit macht sie für den christlichen Ritter Gahmuret attraktiv, der ihre Tugendhaftigkeit als Zeichen ihrer innerlichen Taufe sieht. Dass Belacane unter all den Menschen, die "höllenfarben" (51,24) sind, eine Ausnahmestellung zugesprochen wird, offenbart die Abwertung aller anderen BIPoC und macht sie für Gahmuret zum Objekt der Begierde. Er befreit die Jungfrau in Nöten erst von ihren Belagerern, dann von ihrer Keuschheit und wird so zum König über ihr Land, bis er die schwangere Belacane plötzlich heimlich verlässt. Der Brief, den er ihr hinterlässt, dokumentiert die Mehrfachabwertung Belacanes: aufgrund ihres Frau-Seins wird sie zum Medium der Stammeserhaltung, aufgrund ihres zukünftigen Mutter-Seins zum Kommunikationsmittel mit dem noch ungeborenen Sohn und aufgrund ihres heidnischen Glaubens zur Legitimation für die Trennung. Hannah Mieger analysiert anhand der Belacane-Episode, wie die drei Differenzkategorien Race, Religion und Gender miteinander interagieren und zeigt dadurch, dass prämoderne Texte intersektional lesbar sind.
"Sie trugen bunte Gewänder und funkelnden Schmuck, einige auch Messer, Speere oder Pfeil und Bogen" : ein intersektional perspektiviertes Modell für die Bilderbuchanalyse
Authors: Seidel Nadine
Published: June 2023

In dem Beitrag wird ein intersektional perspektiviertes Analysemodell für multimodale Erzähltexte (Bilderbücher) vorgestellt. Zunächst wird das Korpus der sogenannten queeren Kinder- und Jugendliteratur kursorisch aufgefächert und dabei gezeigt, dass in den Erzähltexten, die als 'diversitätssensibel' vermarktet werden, meist auf die klassische Außenseiterfigur zurückgegriffen und somit die Binarität einer vermeintlichen Norm und deren Abweichung perpetuiert wird. Durch das Analysemodell sollen literarische Darstellungen von Positionierungen innerhalb einer 'Matrix der Macht' desavouiert werden: Entlang der interdependenten Kategorien Age, Race, Geschlecht, Familie und Körper sollen die Positionierungen der Figuren auf der histoire-Ebene zugeordnet werden, während die Kategorien auf der discours-Ebene wählbar und erweiterbar sind. Mit dem Blick auf das Bilderbuch als multimodales Erzählmedium müssen die literarischen Inszenierungen nicht nur auf Bild- sondern auch auf Schrifttextebene berücksichtigt und hierbei insbesondere auf intermodale Spannungsverhältnisse geachtet werden. Der Beitrag schließt mit der exemplarischen Analyse der Bilderbücher "Weihnachtspost für Ayshe" (Scheffler/Spanjardt 2005) und "Wie ich Papa die Angst vor Fremden nahm" (Schami/Könnecke 2003).
A rare case of intracranial Castleman disease
Authors: Sulin K. A. , Chizhova K. A. , Samochernykh N. K. , Belov I. Yu. , Makarov I. A. , Mitrophanova L. B. , Gulyaev D. A.
Published: June 2023

Introduction. Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder also known as angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia or giant lymphoid hyperplasia. CD is considered unicentric in the presence of a single focus and if the clinical picture is represented by multiple lymphadenopathy and systemic manifestations, it is considered multicentric. Manifestation of the disease by the occurrence of a focus that mimics a tumor of the meninges or brain is extremely rare, only 20 cases are known including the one presented in our article. The main treatment for localized forms is surgical resection. Our observation is devoted to a rare variant of intracranial CD. Description of the clinical case. Woman, 35 years old, was admitted to the clinic with complaints of recurrent headache of moderate intensity of a diffuse nature and difficulty in counting and writing. A month before hospitalization a single generalized epileptic seizure occurred. In the clinical picture at the time of admission, Gerstmann-Schilder syndrome was noted which topically corresponded to the lesion of the right parietal lobe. MRI of the brain with contrast enhancement showed pathological infiltration in the structure of the right parietal bone, the presence of a massive paraosseous component that spread intracranially with compression of the right parietal lobe, and moderately pronounced perifocal edema. The neoplasm was removed totally with a fragment of the dura mater (DM). The plastic of DM was performed with a vascularized periosteal flap and one-stage plastic of the skull defect with a titanium implant. According to histological and immunochemical studies, as well as additional examinations, a diagnosis of unicentric CD was established. According to the results of the control MRI of the brain with contrast enhancement after 3, 6 and 12 months, data for relapse were not revealed. The patient currently does not report any symptoms of the disease. Conclusion. Intracranial unicentric CD is a benign disease amenable to radical surgical treatment and does not require further adjuvant therapy. Despite the complexity of differential diagnosis between CD and meningiomas, the primary treatment strategy remains the same in all cases: total surgical removal.
First dorsal metacarpal artery flap in soft tissue reconstruction of recurrent thumb squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yap P. , Saad A. Z.M. , Wan Sulaiman W. A. , Johar S. F.N.M. , Shah N. S.M.
Published: June 2023

Background. Subungual squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of thumb is a rare disease. However, it is the most common malignancy affecting the nail bed. Early recognition is crucial and important for prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. Often this tumour needs to be treated surgically with wide local resection, which results in a defect in the thumb. If not handled appropriately, such defects render restriction in functionality of the involved thumb as well as a poor aesthetic outcome. In the worst-case scenario, it may result in a poor function of involved hand. Thus, reconstruction of the involved thumb is necessary. The main aim of reconstruction is to regain the hands' function and preserved the thumbs' sensation. Secondarily, to have an aesthetically pleasing hand. Our hands carry out delegate job and important duty for daily function. Especially, the thumb working together with the other fingers to carry out the hand function as one unit. Loss of thumb function affects the whole performance of the hand. Case descriptions. We report a case of recurrent subungual squamous cell carcinoma of thumb, which had wide local resection and subsequently underwent soft tissue coverage with an islanded first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) perforator flap. One month after surgery, the patient was able to regain a good functional outcome of the hand. In this report, we discussed the procedures that had been done. Conclusion. The patient regained full functional hand after reconstruction with preserved sensation over distal thumb. The aesthetic outcome is satisfactory. The FDMA perforator flap is a very pliable and robust flap for reconstruction of distal thumb defect.
Predictors of the efficacy of intraoperative radiotherapy in organ-preserving treatment of early breast cancer
Authors: Alaichiev N. A. , Usynin E. A. , Doroshenko A. V. , Kondakova I. V. , Garbukov E. Yu. , Sereda E. E. , Startseva Zh. A. , Vostrikova M. A. , Ivanova A. G.
Published: June 2023

Background. Despite the improvement in combined modality treatment of early breast cancer (BC), the rate of locoregional recurrence remains in the range of 7-15 %. Therefore, the search for prognostic factors for BC is of great significance. The aim of the study was to estimate the relationship between clinical and morphological parameters and 10-year recurrence-free survival rate in BC patients after combined modality treatment including intraoperative radiotherapy (IOLT). Material and Methods. The study enrolled 383 patients with morphologically verified T1-3N0-1M0 stage breast cancer. The median age of the patients was 53 years (range: 28 to 80 years). All patients underwent breast-conserving surgery with IOLT delivered to the tumor bed at a single dose of 10 Gy (24.8 Gy according to the iso-effect). External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to the conserved breast was given in the postoperative period. Results. Within the 10-year follow-up, 20 (5.2 %) locoregional recurrences occurred, of which 7 (35 %) developed with a primary tumor size of ≤ 2 cm (T1), and most recurrences - 13 (65 %) were detected with the primary tumor size corresponding to T2-3. In patients with luminal A subtype of BC and in patients with triple negative BC, the recurrence rates were 5 % and 45 %, respectively. The 10-year survival rate of patients after combined modality treatment with IOLT was 94.8 %. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the relationship between the recurrence rate and clinical/ morphological parameters of the tumor, such as tumor size and molecular subtype. These parameters should be taken into account when planning treatment in patients with early BC.