bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurological presentations of inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Shulpekova Yu. O. , Ablaev V. U. , Damulin I. V.
Published: March 2021

The aim. To characterize the main types of neurological manifestations in inflammatory bowel diseases – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Main concepts. Neurological disorders represent an important aspect of extraintestinal inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) manifestations. According to publications, the incidence of psycho-neurological syndromes varies from 0.25% to 47.50% that apparently depends on the patient’s selection in studies. Neurological signs are not always associated with IBD activity and may precede the manifestation of intestinal inflammation. The most typical include cerebral thromboembolism, peripheral and cranial neuropathies, demyelinating disorders, and cerebral vasculitis. The incidence of ischemic stroke in IBD can reach 6.4%, with approx. 20% of affected persons under 17 y.o. Hemiparesis is the predominant consequence. The risk of intracranial venous thrombosis is increased depending on the activity of intestinal inflammation; this complication can precede manifestation of IBD. Fifty per cent increased risk of multiple sclerosis in IBD patients was shown. The types of peripheral nerves involvement include mononeuropathy, plexopathy, multiple mononeuropathy, compression neuropathy, polyneuropathy and cranial neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy may be found in 32–37% of IBD patients with a special examination. Demyelinating type, sensory axonal polyneuropathy with thin and thick fibers damage, and motor axonal polyneuropathy with thick fibers damage are observed approximately in equal proportions. It is important to differentiate ‘primary’ neuropathy with vitamin B12 and folic acid deficient, alcoholic, diabetic and drug-induced neuropathy. Clinical improvement is usually seen in the course of immunosuppressive therapy. Cranial neuropathy (mostly of II, VI, VII, VIII of cranial nerves) is described in IBD. Neurological disorders associated with administration of metronidazole, sulfasalazine, cyclosporin A, antibodies to TNF-α and integrins α4 and α4ß7 continue to be highly actual.

Conclusion. There is a variety of neurologic syndromes in IBD which represents an important part of extraintestinal manifestations. Mild psychoneurological disorders may be not recognized in time. The majority of symptoms and signs may regress in the course of treatment of IBD and nutrients deficiency correction. The special attention should be paid to neurological status control while the biologic and immunosuppressor agents and metronidazole are administered.
Chronic pain in elderly patients
Authors: Ekusheva E. V. , Komazov A. A.
Published: March 2021

The purpose. The article is devoted to chronic pain (CP) in elderly patients and the possibilities of various therapeutic strategies for this category of patients.

Basic provisions. Chronic pain and the biological aging process have similar pathophysiological (cellular and molecular) mechanisms of development. However, chronic pain is not an inevitable component of the aging process, however, it is much more common in older people, the diagnosis and therapy of which is associated with atypical clinical manifestations of pain in elderly patients and the need for a more attentive, balanced approach when assessing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes associated with the aging process. To ensure adequate pain relief, a multidisciplinary approach and appropriate therapies are used.

Conclusion. The final result of CP treatment (reduction in pain intensity, restoration of functional activity, autonomy, etc.) depends on polymorbidity, geriatric status and cognitive capabilities of the patient; therefore, it is necessary to take into account all available factors for adequate and complete pain therapy.
Secondary progressive sclerosis in Russia, medical and social characteristics of patients and urgent tasks of therapy
Authors: Vlasov Ya. V. , Polyarnaya N. G. , Fomina T. A. , Lasch N. Yu. , Guseva M. R. , Boyko A. N.
Published: March 2021

Currently, it is possible to treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). This is the most unfavorable type of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the article provides a medical and social analysis of MS course at this group of patients. There is evidence that these patients are highly socialized members of society, usually family members, so their non-participation in socially useful work significantly affects the whole life of society. Many of them receive pathogenetic treatment drugs that do not work at this stage of MS. That is, the large cost of purchasing medicines not only does not help these patients, but also is an irrational expenditure of public funds.
Modern principles of treatment of arterial hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis
Authors: Teplova N. V. , Evsikov E. M. , Artamonova N. G. , Chervyakova G. A. , Dzheksembekov A. G.
Published: March 2021

The literature review presents current international data on the principles of choice of hypotensive therapy tactics in patients with chronic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis. safe levels of blood pressure reduction, reflected in the regulatory documents of European and American nephrological and cardiological associations, methods of their control are discussed. Data on the nephroprotective effects of the main classes of hypotensive drugs – angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers – are presented. The necessity of monitoring the safety of hypotensive therapy in glomerulonephritis with chronic kidney disease using methods of blood pressure monitoring is emphasized.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPANY’S CSR PROGRAM IN EMPOWERING THE ECONOMY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Dewi Sandra
Published: March 2021

This research aims to explain the implementation of the company's CSR program in empowering the economy of rural communities during the Covid-19 pandemic based on Riau Provincial Regulation Number 6 of 2012. The method of the research is socio-legal research. The results of the research explain that the Covid-19 Pandemic has the impact toward the sustainibility local economy of Riau Province, including the people of Palas Village. In addition for expecting social grant from the government, one great opportunity for inhabitants of Palas Village for the enhancement of local economy condition must based on the application on the CSR programs of companies operating system in Pelalawan Regency. Companies that carry out their business activities in the field of natural resources and / or fields related to natural resources must require to carry out CSR. Based on Article 32 of Riau Provincial Regulation Number 6 of 2012, it is stated that companies that do not implement CSR will be worned of administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings and restrictions on business activities, freezing of business activities, and revocation of business activities.
Optimizing the Femoral Offset for Restoring Physiological Hip Muscle Function in Patients With Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Hu Xiangjun , Zheng Nan , Chen Yunsu , Dai Kerong , Dimitriou Dimitris , Li Huiwu , Tsai Tsung-Yuan
Published: March 2021

Objective

Femoral offset (FO) restoration is significantly correlated with functional recovery following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Accurately assessing the effects of FO changes on hip muscles following THA would help improve function and optimize functional outcomes. The present study aimed to (1) identify the impact of FO side difference on the hip muscle moment arms following unilateral THA during gait and (2) propose the optimal FO for a physiological hip muscle function.

Methods

In vivohip kinematics from eighteen unilateral THA patients during gait were measured with a dual-fluoroscopic imaging system. The moment arms of thirteen hip muscles were calculated using CT-based 3D musculoskeletal models with the hip muscles’ lines of actions. The correlation coefficient (R) between FO and hip muscle moment arm changes compared with the non-implanted hip was calculated. We considered that the FO reconstruction was satisfactory when the abductor moment arms increased, while the extensor, adductor, and flexor moment arms decreased less than 5%.

Results

A decreased FO following THA was significantly correlated with a decrease of the abductor and external rotator moment arms during the whole gait (R> 0.5) and a decrease of extensor moment arms during the stance phase (R> 0.4). An increased FO following THA was significantly associated with shorter flexor moment arms throughout the gait (R< −0.5) and shorter adductor moment arms in the stance phase (R< −0.4). An increase in FO of 2.3–2.9 mm resulted in increased abductor moment arms while maintaining the maximum decrease of the hip muscles at less than 5.0%.

Conclusion

An increase of 2–3 mm in FO could improve the abductor and external rotator function following a THA. Accurate surgical planning with optimal FO reconstruction is essential to restoring normal hip muscle function in THA patients.
Screening for Reading Difficulties: Comparing Eye Tracking Outcomes to Neuropsychological Assessments
Authors: Gran Ekstrand Anna Carin , Nilsson Benfatto Mattias , Öqvist Seimyr Gustaf
Published: March 2021

The use of eye tracking to assess reading fluency has been proposed as a novel and efficient screening method for identifying school children with atypical reading development or risk of dyslexia. Currently, however, little is known about the relationship between the predictive outcomes produced by eye tracking screening systems and specialist cognitive assessments. Here we investigate this relationship in the context of a neuropsychological case study involving eight subjects (9–10 years) who were identified as being at risk of dyslexia by an eye tracking screening system. We analyze to what extent these subjects displayed cognitive limitations when assessed with a neuropsychological test battery, and to what extent cognitive difficulties were limited to reading and decoding, or whether they extended to other domains as well. As a group, the subjects performed on average significantly worse in reading and decoding than in other cognitive domains. Five subjects performed more than 1.25 standard deviations below the mean for age. In line with empirical evidence, co-occurring difficulties in the attention domain were also observed in a few struggling readers. Overall, the results support the view that eye tracking can be a useful tool to assess and monitor children’s reading development during the early school years.
Clinical Outcome and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of CSII Versus MDI in Children and Adolescent With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a Public Health Care System of China
Authors: Hu Sicui , Yang Hongxiu , Chen Zhihong , Leng Xuefei , Li Cheng , Qiao Lingyan , Lv Weiqing , Li Tang
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical and economic consequences of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) vs. multiple daily injections (MDI) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) from a public health care system in developed areas of developing country, considering changes in glycemic Control, daily insulin requirements, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), frequency of severe hypoglycemia and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and diabetic complications.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of children and adolescents with T1DM. Data were collected at baseline and the end of every year including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin dose, lipid profile, blood pressure, and adverse events (severe hypoglycemia and DKA). The Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model (CDM) to simulate diabetes progression by utilizing the clinical data obtained from the two groups. The main outcome measures were Life Expectancy, Quality adjusted life years (QALYs), Total Costs and Incremental Costs and Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) of CSII compared with MDI in Chinese pediatric patients with T1DM in Qingdao City (60 years).

Results

Mean HbA1c values and daily insulin doses were significantly lower in those receiving CSII therapy throughout follow-up. Mean direct lifetime costs were ¥ 67,137 higher with CSII treatment than with MDI for pediatric patients. Treatment with CSII was associated with an improvement in life expectancy of 0.41 years for pediatric patients compared with MDI based on CORE diabetes model simulation. The corresponding gains in QALYs were 0.42. These data produced corresponding ICER is ¥ 161,815 per QALY for pediatric T1DM patients in Qingdao. Sensitivity analyses suggested that our base-case assumptions were mostly robust.

Conclusions

CSII is associated with improved long‐term clinical outcomes compared with MDI. Based on this model analysis, CSII appears to be more cost-effective for the Qingdao TIDM pediatric population and health care system.
Association Between Longitudinal Change in Abnormal Fasting Blood Glucose Levels and Outcome of COVID-19 Patients Without Previous Diagnosis of Diabetes
Authors: Song Siwei , Zhang Shujing , Wang Zhihui , Wang Sufei , Ma Yanling , Ma Pei , Luo Huilin , Wang Mengyuan , Jin Yang
Published: March 2021

This retrospective study examined changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels during hospitalization and their effect on risk of death for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients without previously diagnosed diabetes. A model with low- and high-stable pattern trajectories was established based on a longitudinal change in FBG levels. We analyzed FBG trajectory-associated clinical features and risk factors for death due to COVID-19. Of the 230 enrolled patients, 44 died and 87.83% had a low-stable pattern (average FBG range: 6.63–7.54 mmol/L), and 12.17% had a high-stable pattern (average FBG range: 12.59–14.02 mmol/L). There were statistical differences in laboratory findings and case fatality between the two FBG patterns. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that increased neutrophil count (odds ratio [OR], 25.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.07, 313.03), elevated direct bilirubin (OR, 5.80; 95%CI: 1.72, 19.58), elevated creatinine (OR, 26.69; 95% CI: 5.82, 122.29), lymphopenia (OR, 8.07; 95% CI: 2.70, 24.14), and high-stable FBG pattern (OR, 8.79; 95% CI: 2.39, 32.29) were independent risk factors for higher case fatality in patients with COVID-19 and hyperglycemia but no history of diabetes. FBG trajectories were significantly associated with death risk in patients with COVID-19 and no diabetes.
Improvement of Insulin Sensitivity Increases Pregnancy Rate in Infertile PCOS Women: A Systemic Review
Authors: Liu Yuqi , Li Juan , Yan Zhe , Liu Dan , Ma Jinfang , Tong Nanwei
Published: March 2021

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility in reproductive-age women. Insulin increases steroidogenesis, deranges granulosa cell differentiation, and affects follicle growth. However, results from randomized control trials (RCTs) were heterogeneous, and little strong evidence associated actual achievement of insulin sensitivity (IS) improvement with reproductive outcomes.

Objectives

To identify evidence of the reproductive benefit of IS improvement in infertile PCOS women by analyzing eligible RCTs.

Search Strategy

Different search strategies with unlimited keywords, including treatment, therapy, intervention, polycystic ovary syndrome/PCOS, insulin resistance, pregnancy, conceive, live birth, and randomized controlled trials/RCT were used in databases including Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science to November 20th, 2021.

Data Collection and Analysis

Two authors independently abstracted study details and assessed study quality.

Main Results

Ten RCTs that covered different races and met the inclusion criteria were included for analysis and discussion. Clinical pregnancy rate was increased in infertile PCOS women when they had significant improvement of IS after treatment regardless of the various interventions (non-surgical). The benefits of IS improvement appeared superior in PCOS women without severe obesity. The effect of IS improvement on pregnancy rate was independent of the change of BMI.

Conclusions

Nonsurgical therapeutic strategies that promote superior IS improvement may aid infertile PCOS women to increase their possibility of successful pregnancy regardless of the various interventions. The improvement of IS might be more important than the reduction of BMI in the improvement of pregnancy rate in infertile PCOS women.
The Role of Histone Lysine Methylation in the Response of Mammalian Cells to Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Di Nisio Elena , Lupo Giuseppe , Licursi Valerio , Negri Rodolfo
Published: March 2021

Eukaryotic genomes are wrapped around nucleosomes and organized into different levels of chromatin structure. Chromatin organization has a crucial role in regulating all cellular processes involving DNA-protein interactions, such as DNA transcription, replication, recombination and repair. Histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs) have a prominent role in chromatin regulation, acting as a sophisticated molecular code, which is interpreted by HPTM-specific effectors. Here, we review the role of histone lysine methylation changes in regulating the response to radiation-induced genotoxic damage in mammalian cells. We also discuss the role of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and histone demethylases (HDMs) and the effects of the modulation of their expression and/or the pharmacological inhibition of their activity on the radio-sensitivity of different cell lines. Finally, we provide a bioinformatic analysis of published datasets showing how the mRNA levels of known HMTs and HDMs are modulated in different cell lines by exposure to different irradiation conditions.
Disparate Interferon Signaling and Shared Aberrant Basaloid Cells in Single-Cell Profiling of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Authors: Valenzi Eleanor , Tabib Tracy , Papazoglou Anna , Sembrat John , Trejo Bittar Humberto E. , Rojas Mauricio , Lafyatis Robert
Published: March 2021

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) differ in the predominant demographics and identified genetic risk alleles of effected patients, however both diseases frequently progress to respiratory failure and death. Contrasting advanced SSc-ILD to IPF provides insight to the role dysregulated immunity may play in pulmonary fibrosis. To analyze cell-type specific transcriptome commonalities and differences between IPF and SSc-ILD, we compared single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 21 explanted lung tissue specimens from patients with advanced IPF, SSc-ILD, and organ donor controls. Comparison of IPF and SSc-ILD tissue identified divergent patterns of interferon signaling, with interferon-gamma signaling upregulated in the SPP1hi and FABP4hi macrophages, cytotoxic T cells, and natural kill cells of IPF, while type I interferon signaling and production was upregulated in the corresponding SSc-ILD populations. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells were found in diseased lungs only, and exhibited upregulated cellular stress pathways in SSc-ILD compared to IPF. Alveolar type I cells were dramatically decreased in both IPF and SSc-ILD, with a distinct transcriptome signature separating these cells by disease. KRT5-/KRT17+ aberrant basaloid cells exhibiting markers of cellular senescence and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were identified in SSc-ILD for the first time. In summary, our study utilizes the enriched capabilities of scRNA-seq to identify key divergent cell types and pathways between IPF and SSc-ILD, providing new insights into the shared and distinct mechanisms between idiopathic and autoimmune interstitial lung diseases.
Role of Polymorphisms of NKG2D Receptor and Its Ligands in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Human Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Machuldova Alena , Holubova Monika , Caputo Valentina S. , Cedikova Miroslava , Jindra Pavel , Houdova Lucie , Pitule Pavel
Published: March 2021

Natural killer cells possess key regulatory function in various malignant diseases, including acute myeloid leukemia. NK cell activity is driven by signals received through ligands binding activating or inhibitory receptors. Their activity towards elimination of transformed or virally infected cells can be mediated through MICA, MICB and ULBP ligands binding the activating receptor NKG2D. Given the efficiency of NK cells, potential target cells developed multiple protecting mechanisms to overcome NK cells killing on various levels of biogenesis of NKG2D ligands. Targeted cells can degrade ligand transcripts via microRNAs or modify them at protein level to prevent their presence at cell surface via shedding, with added benefit of shed ligands to desensitize NKG2D receptor and avert the threat of destruction via NK cells. NK cells and their activity are also indispensable during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, crucial treatment option for patients with malignant disease, including acute myeloid leukemia. Function of both NKG2D and its ligands is strongly affected by polymorphisms and particular allelic variants, as different alleles can play variable roles in ligand-receptor interaction, influencing NK cell function and HSCT outcome differently. For example, role of amino acid exchange at position 129 in MICA or at position 98 in MICB, as well as the role of other polymorphisms leading to different shedding of ligands, was described. Finally, match or mismatch between patient and donor in NKG2D ligands affect HSCT outcome. Having the information beyond standard HLA typing prior HSCT could be instrumental to find the best donor for the patient and to optimize effects of treatment by more precise patient-donor match. Here, we review recent research on the NKG2D/NKG2D ligand biology, their regulation, description of their polymorphisms across the populations of patients with AML and the influence of particular polymorphisms on HSCT outcome.
Maternal HLA Ib Polymorphisms in Pregnancy Allo-Immunization
Authors: Persson Gry , Picard Christophe , Marin Gregory , Isgaard Cecilie , Stæhr Christina Seefeldt , Molinari Nicolas , Chiaroni Jacques , Lebech Morten , Hviid Thomas Vauvert F. , Di Cristofaro Julie
Published: March 2021

During pregnancy the formation of alloreactive anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies are a major cause of acute rejection in organ transplantation and of adverse effects in blood transfusion. The purpose of the study was to identify maternal HLA class Ib genetic factors associated with anti-HLA allo-immunization in pregnancy and the degree of tolerance estimated by IgG4 expression. In total, 86 primiparous women with singleton pregnancies were included in the study. Maternal blood samples and umbilical cord samples were collected at delivery. Clinical data were obtained. Maternal blood serum was screened for HLA class I and II antibodies, identification of Donor Specific Antibody (DSA), activation of complement measured by C1q and IgG4 concentrations. Mothers were genotyped for HLA class Ib (HLA-E, -Fand-G). Anti-HLA class I and II antibodies were identified in 24% of the women. The maternalHLA-E*01:06allele was significantly associated with a higher fraction of anti-HLA I immunization (20.0%vs.4.8%, p = 0.048). The maternal HLA-G 3’-untranslated regionUTR4-HLA-G*01:01:01:05haplotype and theHLA-F*01:03:01allele were significantly associated with a low anti-HLA I C1q activation (16.7%vs. 57.1%, p = 0.028; 16.7%vs.50.0%, p = 0.046; respectively). BothHLA‑GandHLA-F*01:03:01showed significantly higher levels of IgG4 compared with the other haplotypes. The results support an association of certainHLA class Iballeles with allo-immunization during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the roles ofHLA-E*01:06, HLA-F*01:03andHLA‑G UTR4in reducing the risk for allo-immunization.
Influence of Stochastic Resonance on Manual Dexterity in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Double-Blind Interventional Study
Authors: Nobusako Satoshi , Osumi Michihiro , Matsuo Atsushi , Furukawa Emi , Maeda Takaki , Shimada Sotaro , Nakai Akio , Morioka Shu
Published: March 2021

Background: There is increasing evidence that the stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon provided by subthreshold mechanical noise stimulation improves the sensory-motor system. However, the effect of SR on children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess whether SR activated by subthreshold vibrotactile noise stimulation of the wrist influences manual dexterity in children with DCD.

Methods: A double-blind interventional study was conducted. Participants were 30 children (age: 9.3 ± 1.44 years, range 6–11 years; 27 male, three female; 25 right-handed, five left-handed) meeting DCD diagnostic criteria in DSM-5. The manual dexterity test was administered the day before SR intervention (baseline-data). SR was elicited using subthreshold vibrotactile noise stimulation at 60% of the vibrotactile threshold measured at the wrist. SR was delivered two times and the manual dexterity test was administered during each SR stimulation block (SR-on condition) and after each SR stimulation block (SR-off), for a total of four measurements. Target outcomes were the component score, the standard score, and the percentile score of the manual dexterity test.

Results: The manual dexterity test scores in the SR-on condition were significantly improved compared to scores at the baseline and in the SR-off condition (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The present study showed that subthreshold noise stimulation eliciting SR significantly improved manual dexterity outcomes in children with DCD during stimulation but not after stimulation. Future studies will need to investigate the carry-over effects of SR stimulation.
Perinatal Palliative Care: Cultural, Spiritual, and Religious Considerations for Parents—What Clinicians Need to Know
Authors: Kain Victoria J.
Published: March 2021

For perinatal palliative care (PPC) to be truly holistic, it is imperative that clinicians are conversant in the cultural, spiritual and religious needs of parents. That cultural, spiritual and religious needs for parents should be sensitively attended to are widely touted in the PPC literature and extant protocols, however there is little guidance available to the clinician as to how to meet these needs. The objective of this review article is to report what is known about the cultural, spiritual and religious practices of parents and how this might impact neonates who are born with a life-limiting fetal diagnosis (LLFD). The following religions will be considered—Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity—in terms of what may be helpful for clinicians to consider regarding rituals and doctrine related to PPC. Data Sources include PubMed, Ovid, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Medline from Jan 2000–June 2020 using the terms “perinatal palliative care,” “perinatal hospice,” “cultur*,” and “religiou*.” Inclusion criteria includes all empirical and research studies published in English that focus on the cultural and religious needs of parents who opted to continue a pregnancy in which the fetus had a life-limiting condition or had received perinatal palliative care. Gray literature from religious leaders about the Great Religions were also considered. Results from these sources contributing to the knowledge base of cultural, spiritual and religious dimensions of perinatal palliative care are considered in this paper.
Brusatol Derivative–34 Attenuates Allergic Airway Inflammation Via Inhibition of the Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Pathway
Authors: Ding Yasi , Tang Weibin , Pei Fei , Fu Lixia , Ma Pei , Bai Jinye , Lin Mingbao , Liu Yunbao , Hou Qi
Published: March 2021

Brusatol derivative-34 (Bru-34), a derivative of brusatol, has been shown significantly anti-inflammatory activity in mice in our previously work. However, to our knowledge, there were very limited studies on how Bru-34 affected airway inflammation. Thus, in this present study, the effects and potential mechanisms of Bru-34 on allergic airway inflammation were examined both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that Bru-34 attenuated the allergic airway inflammation in mice, with significant decreasing of the inflammatory cells and mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and attenuation of the histopathological alterations in the lung tissues. In addition, Bru-34 significantly inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines in antigen induced rat basophilic leukemia -2H3 (RBL-2H3) cells. What’s more, Bru-34 significantly decreased the expression of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), p-Syk, cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), p-cPLA2, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and p-NF-κB both in allergic mice lung tissue and antigen induced RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, the collaborative effects of Bru-34 with inhibitors against Syk, cPLA2, and NF-κB, showed that Syk was an important target of Bru-34, and cPLA2 and NF-κB played important roles in the coordinated inflammatory response. In conclusion, Bru-34 could significantly modulate the allergic airway inflammation, and its potential mechanism was revealed at least partially via down-regulating of Syk-cPLA2 -NF-κB signaling.
Airway Epithelial Inflammation In Vitro Augments the Rescue of Mutant CFTR by Current CFTR Modulator Therapies
Authors: Gentzsch Martina , Cholon Deborah M. , Quinney Nancy L. , Martino Mary E. B. , Minges John T. , Boyles Susan E. , Guhr Lee Tara N. , Esther Charles R. , Ribeiro Carla M. P.
Published: March 2021

In cystic fibrosis (CF), defective biogenesis and activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) leads to airway dehydration and impaired mucociliary clearance, resulting in chronic airway infection and inflammation. The most common CFTR mutation, F508del, results in a processing defect in which the protein is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and does not reach the apical surface. CFTR corrector compounds address this processing defect to promote mutant CFTR transfer to the apical membrane. When coupled with potentiators to increase CFTR channel activity, these drugs yield significant clinical benefits in CF patients carrying the F508del mutation. However, processing of CFTR and other proteins can be influenced by environmental factors such as inflammation, and the impact of airway inflammation on pharmacological activity of CFTR correctors is not established. The present study evaluated CFTR-rescuing therapies in inflamed CF airway epithelial cultures, utilizing models that mimic the inflammatory environment of CF airways. Primary bronchial epithelial cultures from F508del/F508del CF patients were inflamed by mucosal exposure to one of two inflammatory stimuli: 1) supernatant from mucopurulent material from CF airways with advanced lung disease, or 2) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from pediatric CF patients. Cultures inflamed with either stimulus exhibited augmented F508del responses following therapy with correctors VX-809 or VX-661, and overcame the detrimental effects of chronic exposure to the CFTR potentiator VX-770. Remarkably, even the improved CFTR rescue responses resulting from a clinically effective triple therapy (VX-659/VX-661/VX-770) were enhanced by epithelial inflammation. Thus, the airway inflammatory milieu from late- and early-stage CF lung disease improves the efficacy of CFTR modulators, regardless of the combination therapy used. Our findings suggest that pre-clinical evaluation of CFTR corrector therapies should be performed under conditions mimicking the native inflammatory status of CF airways, and altering the inflammatory status of CF airways may change the efficacy of CFTR modulator therapies.
Improving the Dysregulation of FoxO1 Activity Is a Potential Therapy for Alleviating Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Wang Yan , He Weichun
Published: March 2021

A substantial proportion of patients with diabetes will develop kidney disease. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most serious complications in diabetic patients and the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Although some mechanisms have been revealed to contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of DKD and some drugs currently in use have been shown to be beneficial, prevention and management of DKD remain tricky and challenging. FoxO1 transcriptional factor is a crucial regulator of cellular homeostasis and posttranslational modification is a major mechanism to alter FoxO1 activity. There is increasing evidence that FoxO1 is involved in the regulation of various cellular processes such as stress resistance, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis, thereby playing an important role in the pathogenesis of DKD. Improving the dysregulation of FoxO1 activity by natural compounds, synthetic drugs, or manipulation of gene expression may attenuate renal cell injury and kidney lesion in the cells cultured under a high-glucose environment and in diabetic animal models. The available data imply that FoxO1 may be a potential clinical target for the prevention and treatment of DKD.
Exploring the Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Coronary Artery Disease From the Difference of Gene Expression
Authors: Wang Qian-Chen , Wang Zhen-Yu , Xu Qian , Li Ruo-Bing , Zhang Guo-Gang , Shi Rui-Zheng
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is closely adjacent to the coronary arteries and myocardium, its role as an endocrine organ to affect the pathophysiological processes of the coronary arteries and myocardium has been increasingly recognized. However, the specific gene expression profiles of EAT in coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been well characterized. Our aim was to investigate the role of EAT in CAD at the gene level.

Methods

Here, we compared the histological and gene expression difference of EAT between CAD and non-CAD. We investigated the gene expression profiles in the EAT of patients with CAD through the high-throughput RNA sequencing. We performed bioinformatics analysis such as functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network construction to obtain and verify the hub differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the EAT of CAD.

Results

Our results showed that the size of epicardial adipocytes in the CAD group was larger than in the control group. Our findings on the EAT gene expression profiles of CAD showed a total of 747 DEGs (fold change >2, p value <0.05). The enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that more pro-inflammatory and immunological genes and pathways were involved in CAD. Ten hub DEGs (GNG3, MCHR1, BDKRB1, MCHR2, CXCL8, CXCR5, CCR8, CCL4L1, TAS2R10, and TAS2R41) were identified.

Conclusion

Epicardial adipose tissue in CAD shows unique gene expression profiles and may act as key regulators in the CAD pathological process.
Consistency in Motion Event Encoding Across Languages
Authors: Montero-Melis Guillermo
Published: March 2021

Syntactic templates serve as schemas, allowing speakers to describe complex events in a systematic fashion. Motion events have long served as a prime example of how different languages favor different syntactic frames, in turn biasing their speakers toward different event conceptualizations. However, there is also variability in how motion events are syntactically framed within languages. Here, we measure the consistency in event encoding in two languages, Spanish and Swedish. We test a dominant account in the literature, namely that variability within a language can be explained by specific properties of the events. This event-properties account predicts that descriptions of one and the same event should be consistent within a language, even in languages where there is overall variability in the use of syntactic frames. Spanish and Swedish speakers (N= 84) described 32 caused motion events. While the most frequent syntactic framing in each language was as expected based on typology (Spanish: verb-framed, Swedish: satellite-framed, cf. Talmy,2000), Swedish descriptions were substantially more consistent than Spanish descriptions. Swedish speakers almost invariably encoded all events with a single syntactic frame and systematically conveyed manner of motion. Spanish descriptions, in contrast, varied much more regarding syntactic framing and expression of manner. Crucially, variability in Spanish descriptions was not mainly a function of differences between events, as predicted by the event-properties account. Rather, Spanish variability in syntactic framing was driven by speaker biases. A similar picture arose for whether Spanish descriptions expressed manner information or not: Even after accounting for the effect of syntactic choice, a large portion of the variance in Spanish manner encoding remained attributable to differences among speakers. The results show that consistency in motion event encoding starkly differs across languages: Some languages (like Swedish) bias their speakers toward a particular linguistic event schema much more than others (like Spanish). Implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the typology of event framing, theories on the relationship between language and thought, and speech planning. In addition, the tools employed here to quantify variability can be applied to other domains of language.
Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies Among Undergraduate Health Science Students of Jimma University Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak: Online Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Awoke Mengist , Mamo Girma , Abdu Samuel , Terefe Behailu
Published: March 2021

Background: The rapid spread of COVID-19 infection has led countries across the globe to take various measures to contain the outbreak, including the closure of Universities. Forcing University students to stay at home has created enormous stress and uncertainty in their daily life.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the perceived stress and coping strategies among undergraduate health science students of Jimma University amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Materials and methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 337 undergraduate health science students from August to September 5, 2020. The perceived stress scale (PSS)-10 and Brief-COPE scale were used to assess the level of stress and coping strategies, respectively. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 22 was employed for data analysis. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of high perceived stress.

Results: The overall mean [±standard deviation (SD)] age of the participants was 22.88 (±1.78) years. The mean (±SD) PSS score was 22.16 (±1.41), and high perceived stress was reported in 121 (35.9%) participants. The overall mean (±SD) coping score was 72.34 (±12.31), and approach coping was the predominantly used strategy for coping with stress. Personal perception of being stressed by the daily number of COVID-19 cases/deaths in Ethiopia (AOR = 4.61, p < 0.01), rare online talk/chat with friends (AOR = 4.07, p = 0.01), presence of confusion due to the inconsistent strategies developed by the health/government authorities in view of the scientific recommendations (AOR = 2.22, p = 0.01), perception of self/family members being at risk of getting sick (AOR = 0.53, p = 0.03), decreased household income following the COVID-19 pandemic (AOR = 3.92, p = 0.01), practicing denial (AOR = 1.34, p < 0.01), self-blame (AOR = 1.23, p = 0.02), planning (AOR = 1.28, p = 0.01), and religion (AOR = 1.41, p < 0.01) as means of coping with stress were associated with high perceived stress.

Conclusion: Over one-third of the participants had a high level of perceived stress, and the majority of them were practicing effective means of coping with stress. The authors recommend that the hosting University in collaboration with the concerned bodies develop innovative strategies to improve the psychological well-being of the students.
Resilience Predicts the Trajectories of College Students’ Daily Emotions During COVID-19: A Latent Growth Mixture Model
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Lei , Liu Yuan , Zhang Junyi , Zhang Xiaoying , Zhao Jingxin
Published: March 2021

The objective of this study was to examine the association between resilience and trajectories of college students’ negative and positive affect during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 391 college students recruited from China completed a daily online negative and positive affect scale for 1 week, and their resilience was also measured. Profiles of brief trajectories of negative and positive affect over time were identified using the latent growth mixture model, and the effect of resilience on these trajectories was further explored. Two latent profiles of negative affect were found: a constant high negative affect profile and a slowly decreasing low negative affect profile, while three latent profiles of positive affect were identified: a slowly increasing high positive affect profile, a rapidly decreasing medium positive affect profile, and a constant medium positive affect profile. The optimism dimension of resilience predicted the membership in the various profiles significantly, whereas the prediction of tenacity and strength dimensions of resilience was not significant. Activities that promote resilience, especially optimism, should be included to improve the daily emotions of college students during COVID-19.
Assessing the Sentinel-2 Capabilities to Identify Abandoned Crops Using Deep Learning
Authors: Portalés-Julià Enrique , Campos-Taberner Manuel , García-Haro Francisco Javier , Gilabert María Amparo
Published: March 2021

The termination or interruption of agro-forestry practices for a long period gradually results in abandoned land. Abandoned land parcels do not match the requirements to access to the basic payment of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Therefore, the identification of those parcels is key in order to return fair subsidies to farmers. In this context, the present work proposes a methodology to detect abandoned crops in the Valencian Community (Spain) from remote sensing data. The approach is based on the assessment of multitemporal Sentinel-2 images and derived spectral indices, which are used as predictors for training machine learning and deep learning classifiers. Several classification scenarios, including both abandoned and active parcels, were evaluated. The best results (98.2% overall accuracy) were obtained when a bi-directional Long Short Term Memory (BiLSTM) network was trained with a multitemporal dataset composed of twelve reflectance time series, and a derived bare soil spectral index (BSI). In this scenario we were able to effectively distinguish abandoned crops from active ones. The results revealed Sentinel-2 features are well suited for land use identification including abandoned lands, and open the possibility of implementing this type of remote sensing based methodology into the CAP payments supervision.
Grumpy Dogs Are Smart Learners—The Association between Dog–Owner Relationship and Dogs’ Performance in a Social Learning Task
Authors: Pongrácz Péter , Rieger Gabriella , Vékony Kata
Published: March 2021

We investigated how dog–owner relationship–with a focus on possible behavioural problems–might associate with the individual variability in dogs’ social learning performance. Dog owners first completed a questionnaire about their relationship with their dogs (N = 98). Then, dogs were tested in a detour test: a control group without demonstration, a group where the owner demonstrated the task and another group where the experimenter demonstrated the task. Finally, the dogs participated in two behaviour tests measuring their tractability and possessiveness. The two principal components from the questionnaire (called “overactive” and “irritable”) did not show significant association with dogs’ detour performance in the control group. “irritable” dogs performed better in the unfamiliar demonstrator group. These more persistent, goal-oriented dogs also looked back less at their owners during the detour. In the individual problem-solving context, the factor “overactive” had a similar effect on looking back at the owner, suggesting that the items of this component primarily are not connected to the dog–human relationship. Our results indicate that dog–human relationship has an integral role in the complex social behaviour of dogs, which warrants for the need of further empirical testing of the associations between social dynamics in dogs and their relationship with humans, including problem behaviours.
Retrospective Analysis of the Effectiveness and Reversibility of Long-Acting Contraception Etonogestrel (Implanon®) in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: Roubos Sandra , Louwerse Annet L. , Langermans Jan A. M. , Bakker Jaco
Published: March 2021

Contraception is an important population control method for the colony management of primates housed in captivity. Etonogestrel (ENG) implants (i.e., Implanon®) are a widely used progestin-based contraceptive in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with the theoretical advantages of being reversible and long-acting. However, no dose and efficacy data are available yet. Therefore, data from 52 adult female marmosets contracepted with ENG (one-fourth or one-third of an implant) housed at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC, Rijswijk, The Netherlands) over the past 18 years were analyzed. Using an electronic database, a retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted to calculate the reproductive data before, during and after ENG use. The data show an effectiveness in preventing pregnancy of 99%. The implant was effective within one week after insertion. Unintended pregnancies did occur, but in 60% of these cases, the animals were already pregnant at the time of implant insertion. In these cases, healthy offspring were born despite the use of the implant. No stillbirths, neonatal deaths or maternal deaths could be linked to ENG use. After implant removal, 83% of the animals delivered healthy offspring. No difference in contraception efficacy was observed between the use of one-fourth or one-third of an implant. ENG achieved a contraceptive protection exceeding 99% and was shown to be reversible concerning fertility. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed analysis on the use of ENG in marmosets.
Heat-Treated Bifidobacterium longum CECT-7347: A Whole-Cell Postbiotic with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Gut-Barrier Protection Properties
Authors: Martorell Patricia , Alvarez Beatriz , Llopis Silvia , Navarro Veronica , Ortiz Pepa , Gonzalez Nuria , Balaguer Ferrán , Rojas Antonia , Chenoll Empar , Ramón Daniel , Tortajada Marta
Published: March 2021

Non-viable preparations of probiotics, as whole-cell postbiotics, attract increasing interest because of their intrinsic technological stability, and their functional properties, such as immune system modulation, gut barrier maintenance, and protection against pathogens. However, reports on Bifidobacteria-derived postbiotics remain scarce. This study aims to demonstrate the functional properties of a heat-treated (HT), non-viable, Bifidobacterium longum strain, CECT-7347, a strain previously selected for its anti-inflammatory phenotype and ability to improve biomarkers of intestinal integrity in clinical trials. The study used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and HT-29 cell cultures as eukaryotic model systems. Our results show that HT-CECT-7347 preserves the capacity to protect against oxidative stress damage, while it also reduces acute inflammatory response and gut-barrier disruption, and inhibits bacterial colonization, by activating pathways related to innate immune function. These findings highlight the interest of the ingredient as a novel postbiotic and pave the way to broaden the range of HT-CECT-7347 applications in gut health.