bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the volatile organic compounds of epidural analgesia-ameliorated metabolic disorder in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus based on untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Sana Si Ri Gu Leng , Lv Yang , Chen Guangmin , Guo Lei , Li Enyou
Published: February 2023

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disease with an increasing annual incidence. Our previous observational study found that pregnant women with gestational diabetes had mild cognitive decline, which may be related to methylglyoxal (MGO). This study aimed to investigate whether labor pain aggravates the increase in MGO and explored the protective effect of epidural analgesia on metabolism in pregnant women with GDM based on solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS). Pregnant women with GDM were divided into a natural birth group (ND group, n = 30) and epidural analgesia group (PD group, n = 30). After fasting for ≥ 10 h overnight, venous blood samples were collected pre- and post-delivery to detect MGO, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and 8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) by ELISA. Serum samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using SPME-GC-MS. MGO, IL-6, and 8-iso-PGF2α levels in the ND group increased significantly post-delivery (P < 0.05) and were significantly higher in this group than the levels in the PD group (P < 0.05). Compared to the PD group, VOCs in the ND group increased significantly post-delivery. Further results indicated that propionic acid may be associated with metabolic disorders in pregnant women with GDM. Epidural analgesia can effectively improve the metabolism and immune function in pregnant women with GDM.
Evaluation of food and nutrient intake in a population of subjects affected by periodontal disease with different levels of bone mineral density
Authors: Guasti Leonardo , Cianferotti Luisella , Pampaloni Barbara , Tonelli Francesco , Martelli Francesco , Iantomasi Teresa , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Both osteoporosis and periodontitis are pathologies characterized by an imbalance in the bone tissue. Vitamin C is an important factor involved in maintaining the health of the periodontium; its deficiency causes characteristic lesions to periodontal tissues such as bleeding and redness of the gums. Among the essential minerals for the health of the periodontium we find instead calcium.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of the proposed study are to study the association between the presence of osteoporosis and periodontal disease. We tried to identify the possible connections between particular dietary patterns and therefore the etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease and secondarily of osteoporosis.

Materials and methods

110 subjects were recruited in a single-center observational cross-sectional study carried through the collaboration between the University of Florence and the private institute of dentistry Excellence Dental Network based in Florence, suffering of periodontitis, 71 osteoporotic/osteopenic and 39 non-osteoporotic/osteopenic. Anamnestic data and information on eating habits were collected.

Results

The population showed eating habits that do not meet the intake levels recommended by the L.A.R.N. Regarding the relationship between nutrient intake and plaque index, it appears that in the population, the higher the intake of vitamin C through food, the lower the plaque index value is. This result could reinforce the scientific evidence that there is a protective factor in the onset of periodontal disease by the consumption of vitamin C which to date is still the subject of investigation. In addition, the same type of trend would also have been observed for calcium intake, but a larger sample size would be required to make this effect significant.

Conclusions

The relationship between osteoporosis and periodontitis and the role of nutrition in influencing the evolution of these pathologies still seems to be deeply explored. However, the results obtained seem to consolidate the idea that there is a relationship between these two diseases and that eating habits play an important role in their prevention.
Iron status and obesity-related traits: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhou Zengyuan , Zhang Hanyu , Chen Ke , Liu Changqi
Published: February 2023

Background

The association between iron status and obesity-related traits is well established by observational studies, but the causality is uncertain. In this study, we performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal link between iron status and obesity-related traits.

Methods

The genetic instruments strongly associated with body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation (TSAT), and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were obtained through a series of screening processes from summary data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European individuals. We used numerous MR analytical methods, such as inverse-variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and maximum likelihood to make the conclusions more robust and credible, and alternate methods, including the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran’s Q test, and leave-one-out analysis to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneities. In addition, the MR-PRESSO and RadialMR methods were utilized to identify and remove outliers, eventually achieving reduced heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Results

The results of IVW analysis indicated that genetically predicted BMI was associated with increased levels of serum ferritin (β: 0.077, 95% CI: 0.038, 0.116, P=1.18E-04) and decreased levels of serum iron (β: -0.066, 95% CI: -0.106, -0.026, P=0.001) and TSAT (β: -0.080, 95% CI: -0.124, -0.037, P=3.08E-04), but not associated with the levels of TIBC. However, the genetically predicted WHR was not associated with iron status. Genetically predicted iron status were not associated with BMI and WHR.

Conclusions

In European individuals, BMI may be the causative factor of serum ferritin, serum iron, and TSAT, but the iron status does not cause changes in BMI or WHR.
Treated post-acute sequelae after COVID-19 in a German matched cohort study using routine data from 230,256 adults
Authors: Müller Doreen , Stengel Sandra , Roesler Martin , Schillinger Gerhard , Dräther Hendrik , Günster Christian , Tillmanns Hanna , Erhart Michael , Szecsenyi Joachim , Merle Uta
Published: February 2023

Background

Post-acute sequelae after COVID-19 are still associated with knowledge gaps and uncertainties at the end of 2022, e.g., prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment, and long-term outcomes, and pose challenges for health providers in medical management. The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of the multi-faceted condition of long-/ post-COVID. It was designed to evaluate whether a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first COVID-19 wave in Germany increases the rate of disease, as measured via a record of insurance data on diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment, in the subsequent 12 months compared with matched control groups without recorded SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Method

50 outcome variables at disease, symptom and treatment levels (14 main categories and 36 sub-categories; new diagnoses) were defined from health insurance data. Logistic regression was carried out for two groups of patients tested positive in a PCR test in March/April 2020 for SARS-CoV-2, compared to the respective risk-adjusted (age, administrative region, 1:5 propensity-score matching), contemporaneous control group without prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (CG): First, individuals with outpatient treatment of acute COVID-19, indicating a not severe course (COV-OUT), and second, individuals with inpatient treatment of acute COVID-19, indicating a severe course (COV-IN) were compared with their respective control group.

Results

The mortality rate in COV-OUT (n = 32,378) and COV-IN (n = 5,998) groups is higher compared to their control groups with odds ratio (OR) 1.5 [95%CI (1.3, 1.6)] and 1.7 [95%CI (1.5, 1.8)] respectively. Both groups were more likely to have experienced at least one outcome compared to their CG [OR = 1.4, 95%CI (1.4, 1.4)]; OR = 2.5, 95%CI [2.4, 2.6]). 42/37 (COV-IN/COV-OUT) outcome variables showed increased ORs. COV-OUT: Loss of taste and smell [OR = 5.8, 95%CI (5.1, 6.6)], interstitial respiratory diseases [OR = 2.8, 95%CI (2.0, 4.1)] and breathing disorders [OR = 3.2, 95%CI (2.2, 4.7)] showed the highest ORs. COV-IN: Interstitial respiratory diseases [OR = 12.2, 95%CI (8.5, 17.5)], oxygen therapy [OR = 8.1, 95%CI (6.4, 10.2)] and pulmonary embolism/anticoagulation [OR = 5.9, 95%CI (4.4, 7.9)] were the most pronounced.

Conclusion

Following a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, 8.4 [COV-OUT, 95%CI (7.7, 9.1)] respectively 25.5 [COV-IN, 95%CI (23.6, 27.4)] percentage points more subjects showed at least one new diagnosis/symptom/treatment compared to their matched CG (COV-OUT: 44.9%, CG: 36.5%; COV-IN: 72.0%, CG: 46.5%). Because the symptoms and diagnoses are so varied, interdisciplinary and interprofessional cooperation among those providing management is necessary.
Ancient fires enhance Amazon forest drought resistance
Authors: Vedovato Laura B. , Carvalho Lidiany C. S. , Aragão Luiz E. O. C. , Bird Michael , Phillips Oliver L. , Alvarez Patrícia , Barlow Jos , Bartholomew David C. , Berenguer Erika , Castro Wendeson , Ferreira Joice , França Filipe M. , Malhi Yadvinder , Marimon Beatriz , Marimon Júnior Ben Hur , Monteagudo Abel , Oliveira Edmar A. , Pereira Luciana O. , Pontes-Lopes Aline , Quesada Carlos A. , Silva Camila V. J. , Silva Espejo Javier E. , Silveira Marcos , Feldpausch Ted R.
Published: February 2023

Drought and fire reduce productivity and increase tree mortality in tropical forests. Fires also produce pyrogenic carbon (PyC), which persists in situ for centuries to millennia, and represents a legacy of past fires, potentially improving soil fertility and water holding capacity and selecting for the survival and recruitment of certain tree life-history (or successional) strategies. We investigated whether PyC is correlated with physicochemical soil properties, wood density, aboveground carbon (AGC) dynamics and forest resistance to severe drought. To achieve our aim, we used an Amazon-wide, long-term plot network, in forests without known recent fires, integrating site-specific measures of forest dynamics, soil properties and a unique soil PyC concentration database. We found that forests with higher concentrations of soil PyC had both higher soil fertility and lower wood density. Soil PyC was not associated with AGC dynamics in non-drought years. However, during extreme drought events (10% driest years), forests with higher concentrations of soil PyC experienced lower reductions in AGC gains (woody growth and recruitment), with this drought-immunizing effect increasing with drought severity. Forests with a legacy of ancient fires are therefore more likely to continue to grow and recruit under increased drought severity. Forests with high soil PyC concentrations (third quartile) had 3.8% greater AGC gains under mean drought, but 33.7% greater under the most extreme drought than forests with low soil PyC concentrations (first quartile), offsetting losses of up to 0.68 Mg C ha–1yr–1 of AGC under extreme drought events. This suggests that ancient fires have legacy effects on current forest dynamics, by altering soil fertility and favoring tree species capable of continued growth and recruitment during droughts. Therefore, mature forest that experienced fires centuries or millennia ago may have greater resistance to current short-term droughts.
Emergence and competition of virus variants in respiratory viral infections
Authors: Bessonov Nikolai , Neverova Daria , Popov Vladimir , Volpert Vitaly
Published: February 2023

The emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs) of the SARS-CoV-2 infection is one of the main factors of epidemic progression. Their development can be characterized by three critical stages: virus mutation leading to the appearance of new viable variants; the competition of different variants leading to the production of a sufficiently large number of copies; and infection transmission between individuals and its spreading in the population. The first two stages take place at the individual level (infected individual), while the third one takes place at the population level with possible competition between different variants. This work is devoted to the mathematical modeling of the first two stages of this process: the emergence of new variants and their progression in the epithelial tissue with a possible competition between them. The emergence of new virus variants is modeled with non-local reaction–diffusion equations describing virus evolution and immune escape in the space of genotypes. The conditions of the emergence of new virus variants are determined by the mutation rate, the cross-reactivity of the immune response, and the rates of virus replication and death. Once different variants emerge, they spread in the infected tissue with a certain speed and viral load that can be determined through the parameters of the model. The competition of different variants for uninfected cells leads to the emergence of a single dominant variant and the elimination of the others due to competitive exclusion. The dominant variant is the one with the maximal individual spreading speed. Thus, the emergence of new variants at the individual level is determined by the immune escape and by the virus spreading speed in the infected tissue.
The central role of natural killer cells in preeclampsia
Authors: Wei Xiaoqi , Yang Xiuhua
Published: February 2023

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease that is unique to pregnancy and affects multiple systems. It can lead to maternal and perinatal mortality. The precise etiology of PE is unclear. Patients with PE may have systemic or local immune abnormalities. A group of researchers has proposed that the immune communication between the fetus and mother is primarily moderated by natural killer (NK) cells as opposed to T cells, since NK cells are the most abundant immune cells in the uterus. This review examines the immunological roles of NK cells in the pathogenesis of PE. Our aim is to provide obstetricians with a comprehensive and updated research progress report on NK cells in PE patients. It has been reported that decidual NK (dNK) cells contribute to the process of uterine spiral artery remodeling and can modulate trophoblast invasion. Additionally, dNK cells can stimulate fetal growth and regulate delivery. It appears that the count or proportion of circulating NK cells is elevated in patients with or at risk for PE. Changes in the number or function of dNK cells may be the cause of PE. The Th1/Th2 equilibrium in PE has gradually shifted to an NK1/NK2 equilibrium based on cytokine production. An improper combination of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C may lead to insufficient activation of dNK cells, thereby causing PE. In the etiology of PE, NK cells appear to exert a central effect in both peripheral blood and the maternal-fetal interface. To maintain immune equilibrium both locally and systemically, it is necessary to take therapeutic measures directed at NK cells.
Exploring the association and causal effect between white blood cells and psoriasis using large-scale population data
Authors: Zhou Guowei , Ren Xiangmei , Tang Zhenwei , Li Wang , Chen Wenqiong , He Yi , Wei Benliang , Zhang Hailun , Ma Fangyu , Chen Xiang , Zhang Guanxiong , Shen Minxue , Liu Hong
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. A few studies have shown that psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease in which multiple immune cells play crucial roles. However, the association between circulating immune cells and psoriasis remains elusive.

Methods

To explore the role of circulating immune cells in psoriasis, 361,322 individuals from the UK Biobank (UKB) and 3,971 patients with psoriasis from China were included to investigate the association between white blood cells and psoriasis via an observational study. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) were used to evaluate the causal relationship between circulating leukocytes and psoriasis.

Results

The risk of psoriasis increased with high levels of monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils (relative risks and 95% confidence intervals, respectively: 1.430 (1.291–1.584) for monocytes, 1.527 (1.379–1.692) for neutrophils, and 1.417 (1.294–1.551) for eosinophils). Upon further MR analysis, eosinophils showed a definite causal relationship with psoriasis (odds ratio of inverse-variance weighted: 1.386, 95% confidence intervals: 1.092–1.759) and a positive correlation with the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score (P = 6.6 × 10-5). The roles of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in psoriasis were also assessed. More than 20,000 genetic variations associated with NLR, PLR, and LMR were discovered in a GWAS analysis using the UKB data. Following adjustment for covariates in the observational study, NLR and PLR were shown to be risk factors for psoriasis, whereas LMR was a protective factor. MR results indicated that there was no causal relationship between these three indicators and psoriasis; however, NLR, PLR, and LMR correlated with the PASI score (NLR: rho = 0.244, P = 2.1 × 10-21; PLR: rho = 0.113, P = 1.4 × 10-5; LMR: rho = -0.242, P = 3.5×10-21).

Discussion

Our findings revealed an important association between circulating leukocytes and psoriasis, which is instructive for the clinical practice of psoriasis treatment.
Improved memory CD8 T cell response to delayed vaccine boost is associated with a distinct molecular signature
Authors: Natalini Ambra , Simonetti Sonia , Favaretto Gabriele , Lucantonio Lorenzo , Peruzzi Giovanna , Muñoz-Ruiz Miguel , Kelly Gavin , Contino Alessandra M. , Sbrocchi Roberta , Battella Simone , Capone Stefania , Folgori Antonella , Nicosia Alfredo , Santoni Angela , Hayday Adrian C. , Di Rosa Francesca
Published: February 2023

Effective secondary response to antigen is a hallmark of immunological memory. However, the extent of memory CD8 T cell response to secondary boost varies at different times after a primary response. Considering the central role of memory CD8 T cells in long-lived protection against viral infections and tumors, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the changing responsiveness of these cells to antigenic challenge would be beneficial. We examined here primed CD8 T cell response to boost in a BALB/c mouse model of intramuscular vaccination by priming with HIV-1 gag-encoding Chimpanzee adenovector, and boosting with HIV-1 gag-encoding Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara. We found that boost was more effective at day(d)100 than at d30 post-prime, as evaluated at d45 post-boost by multi-lymphoid organ assessment of gag-specific CD8 T cell frequency, CD62L-expression (as a guide to memory status) andin vivokilling. RNA-sequencing of splenic gag-primed CD8 T cells at d100 revealed a quiescent, but highly responsive signature, that trended toward a central memory (CD62L+) phenotype. Interestingly, gag-specific CD8 T cell frequency selectively diminished in the blood at d100, relative to the spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. These results open the possibility to modify prime/boost intervals to achieve an improved memory CD8 T cell secondary response.
Immune checkpoint molecules in prevention and development of asthma
Authors: Kanannejad Zahra , Soleimanian Saeede , Ghahramani Zahra , Sepahi Najmeh , Mohkam Milad , Alyasin Soheila , Kheshtchin Nasim
Published: February 2023

Allergic asthma is a respiratory disease initiated by type-2 immune responses characterized by secretion of alarmins, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, eosinophilic inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Immune checkpoints (ICPs) are inhibitory or stimulatory molecules expressed on different immune cells, tumor cells, or other cell types that regulate immune system activation and maintain immune homeostasis. Compelling evidence indicates a key role for ICPs in both the progression and prevention of asthma. There is also evidence of asthma development or exacerbation in some cancer patients receiving ICP therapy. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of ICPs and their roles in asthma pathogenesis, and to assess their implications as therapeutic targets in asthma.
Clinical application of immune repertoire sequencing in solid organ transplant
Authors: Wong Paaksum , Cina Davide P. , Sherwood Karen R. , Fenninger Franz , Sapir-Pichhadze Ruth , Polychronakos Constantin , Lan James , Keown Paul A.
Published: February 2023

Background

Measurement of T cell receptor (TCR) or B cell receptor (BCR) gene utilization may be valuable in monitoring the dynamic changes in donor-reactive clonal populations following transplantation and enabling adjustment in therapy to avoid the consequences of excess immune suppression or to prevent rejection with contingent graft damage and to indicate the development of tolerance.

Objective

We performed a review of current literature to examine research in immune repertoire sequencing in organ transplantation and to assess the feasibility of this technology for clinical application in immune monitoring.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and PubMed Central for English-language studies published between 2010 and 2021 that examined T cell/B cell repertoire dynamics upon immune activation. Manual filtering of the search results was performed based on relevancy and predefined inclusion criteria. Data were extracted based on study and methodology characteristics.

Results

Our initial search yielded 1933 articles of which 37 met the inclusion criteria; 16 of these were kidney transplant studies (43%) and 21 were other or general transplantation studies (57%). The predominant method for repertoire characterization was sequencing the CDR3 region of the TCR β chain. Repertoires of transplant recipients were found to have decreased diversity in both rejectors and non-rejectors when compared to healthy controls. Rejectors and those with opportunistic infections were more likely to have clonal expansion in T or B cell populations. Mixed lymphocyte culture followed by TCR sequencing was used in 6 studies to define an alloreactive repertoire and in specialized transplant settings to track tolerance.

Conclusion

Methodological approaches to immune repertoire sequencing are becoming established and offer considerable potential as a novel clinical tool for pre- and post-transplant immune monitoring.
Analysis of dog bite surveillance data, Volta Region, Ghana, 2020
Authors: Gborie Sahr Raymond , Issahaku Gyesi Razak , Bonful Harriet Affran , Bandoh Delia Akosuah , Squire James , Ameme Donne Kofi , Kenu Ernest
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Dog bite is the second most common injury sustained by humans after snake bites, and it is amongst the top 12 causes of non-fatal injuries worldwide. Globally, 59,000 human deaths occur annually due to rabies, and 95% of these deaths occur in Asia and Africa. Dog bites remained a public health concern in Ghana, with three out of every 1000 incidence resulting in human rabies. Analysis of the surveillance data is key in understanding the burden of dog bites in the Volta region. This study describes the epidemiology of dog bites in the Volta Region, Ghana, to inform policy on prevention and control.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive analysis of secondary data on dog bites. We obtained aggregate data from 2015 to 2019 from the District Health Management Information System (DHMIS). Variables extracted were gender, age, and location. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel cleaned, reviewed, and analyzed. We used descriptive statistics to summarize results into frequency and proportion and displayed results in tables, graphs, and maps.

Results

During the study period, 4737 dog bite cases were identified from a population of 1,907,529 (incidence of 248 per 100,000). Twelve (0.25%) humans were confirmed for rabies with a 100% case fatality rate. Males accounted for 2455 (51.8%) of dog bite cases. The age group between 10 and 19 years (21.9%) was most affected. About 35.0% (1640/4737) were administered with the anti-rabies vaccine, and 25.3% (1200/4737) were administered anti-tetanus toxoid. Keta district (550 per 100000) reported the highest incidence of dog bites. Dog bite cases were highest in the third and fourth quarters of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017.

Conclusion

The incidence of dog bites and rabies was high in the Volta region. Children and adolescents were mostly affected. There was a low coverage rate of anti-rabies vaccine and anti-tetanus toxoids usage. We recommended that the Regional Health Directorates and the Regional Veterinary Department develop robust strategies to control stray or free-roaming dogs in the Volta region.
Prioritizing the protection and creation of natural and nature-based features for coastal resilience using a GIS-based ranking framework – an exportable approach
Authors: Hendricks Jessica , Mason Pamela , Herman Julie , Hershner Carl
Published: February 2023

Increasing the preservation and creation of natural and nature-based features (NNBF), like wetlands, living shorelines, beaches, dunes and other natural features to improve community resilience in the face of increasing coastal flooding may be achieved by highlighting the locally relevant benefits that these features can provide. Here we present a novel application of the least-cost geospatial modeling approach to generate inundation pathways that highlight landscape connections between NNBF and vulnerable infrastructure. Inundation pathways are then used to inform a ranking framework that assesses NNBF based on their provision of benefits and services to vulnerable infrastructure and for the broader community including 1) the flooding mitigation potential of NNBF, 2) the relative impact of those NNBF on local infrastructure, and 3) co-benefits for the broader community linked to incentive programs like nutrient reduction crediting and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System. Inundation pathways are also used to identify locations lacking in benefits from NNBF as target areas for NNBF restoration or creation. This approach, applied here for coastal Virginia, with project outputs available via an interactive map viewer1, can be customized for application in any community to identify high-priority NNBF that are particularly beneficial for preservation and to identify target areas for new or restored features.
Symbiont composition and coral genotype determines massive coral species performance under end-of-century climate scenarios
Authors: Klepac Courtney N. , Eaton Katherine R. , Petrik Chelsea G. , Arick Lindsay N. , Hall Emily R. , Muller Erinn M.
Published: February 2023

The recent decline of coral health and substantial loss of coral cover along Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) results from local stressors such as degraded water quality and disease outbreaks in addition to anthropogenically driven global stressors including ocean warming and acidification. Intervention strategies intended for the restoration of degraded reef habitats need a better understanding of the influence of ocean warming and acidification on coral health to target coral species and individual genotypes that may be more resistant or resilient to such stressors. Here, we examined a suite of physiological traits (coral host and algal symbiont) in response to experimentally elevated water temperatures and pCO2 levels, both separately and in concert, using threatened reef-building corals Pseudodiploria clivosa and Orbicella faveolata reared within a land-based coral nursery. After two months of exposure, responses differed by coral species, where P. clivosa showed declined physiology in response to combined ocean warming and acidification stress and ocean warming alone, whereas O. faveolata showed a positive response under ocean acidification. Responses to temperature could be associated with the algal symbionts harbored, as P. clivosa was dominated by the thermally sensitive Breviolum, and O. faveolata was dominated by the thermally tolerant Durusdinium. Additionally, corals were raised in well-sourced seawater that was naturally high in pCO2, which could have led to corals acclimating to acidified conditions. Of the three P. clivosa genets tested, we determined a top-performing genotype under the combined warming and acidification treatment. O. faveolata, however, displayed high genet variation by treatment and phenotypic trait, making genotype performance rankings challenging to discern. The evidence provided in this study demonstrates that high phenotypic variation in nursery-reared corals contributes to variable warming-acidification responses, suggesting that high-standing genetic variation in nursery-reared corals could support diverse coral restoration population outcomes along FCR.
Physical and mechanical properties of foamed concrete with recycled concrete aggregates
Authors: Han Shangyu , Zhang Peiheng , Zhang Huihua , Kang Dengyuan , Wang Xianrong
Published: February 2023

A large amount of waste concrete is produced during old city reconstruction. In order to realize the lightweight reuse of recycled concrete aggregate, a new preparation scheme of foamed concrete is proposed. Through single-factor tests, the effects of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) gradation, RCA volume ratio, water-cement ratio and foam content on the preparation process and performance of RCA foamed concrete (RCAFC) were explored. The results showed that RCA grade has significant influence on the performance of RCAFC. Grading level Ⅲ (i.e., the mass ratio of five-type aggregates sized, respectively, 9.5–16 mm, 16–19 mm, 19–26.5 mm, 26.5–31.5 mm and 31.5–37.5 mm is 2:4:8:3:3) can reduce the water absorption by 4.6%, increase the compressive strength by 6.0%, and decrease the difficulty of sample preparation compared with the natural grading. The increase of RCA volume fraction is directly proportional to the compressive strength and inversely proportional to the water absorption. With the raising of water-cement ratio, the fluidity of foamed concrete paste increases linearly, the dry density decreases, the water absorption decreases first and then increases, and the compressive strength increases first and then decreases. The increase of foam content is inversely proportional to fluidity, dry density and compressive strength, and it is directly proportional to water absorption. Among the above four factors, the grade of RCA has the greatest impact on the early strength of the sample, whilst the content of foam is the smallest.
Biomining Sesuvium portulacastrum for halotolerant PGPR and endophytes for promotion of salt tolerance in Vigna mungo L.
Authors: John Joseph Ezra , Maheswari Muthunalliappan , Kalaiselvi Thangavel , Prasanthrajan Mohan , Poornachandhra Chidamparam , Rakesh Srirangarayan Subramanian , Gopalakrishnan Boopathi , Davamani Veeraswamy , Kokiladevi Eswaran , Ranjith Sellappan
Published: February 2023

Halophytic plants can tolerate a high level of salinity through several morphological and physiological adaptations along with the presence of salt tolerant rhizo-microbiome. These microbes release phytohormones which aid in alleviating salinity stress and improve nutrient availability. The isolation and identification of such halophilic PGPRs can be useful in developing bio-inoculants for improving the salt tolerance and productivity of non-halophytic plants under saline conditions. In this study, salt-tolerant bacteria with multiple plant growth promoting characteristics were isolated from the rhizosphere of a predominant halophyte, Sesuvium portulacastrum grown in the coastal and paper mill effluent irrigated soils. Among the isolates, nine halotolerant rhizobacterial strains that were able to grow profusely at a salinity level of 5% NaCl were screened. These isolates were found to have multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, especially 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity (0.32–1.18  μM of α-ketobutyrate released mg−1 of protein h−1) and indole acetic acid (9.4–22.8  μg mL−1). The halotolerant PGPR inoculation had the potential to improve salt tolerance in Vigna mungo L. which was reflected in significantly (p < 0.05) higher germination percentage (89%) compared to un-inoculated seeds (65%) under 2% NaCl. Similarly, shoot length (8.9–14.6 cm) and vigor index (792–1785) were also higher in inoculated seeds. The strains compatible with each other were used for the preparation of two bioformulations and these microbial consortia were tested for their efficacy in salt stress alleviation of Vigna mungo L. under pot study. The inoculation improved the photosynthetic rate (12%), chlorophyll content (22%), shoot length (5.7%) and grain yield (33%) in Vigna mungo L. The enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase were found to be lower (7.0 and 1.5%, respectively) in inoculated plants. These results revealed that halotolerant PGPR isolated from S. portulacastrum can be a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable method to improve crop productivity under high saline conditions.
A randomized pilot trial assessing the reduction of gout episodes in hyperuricemic patients by oral administration of Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 30632, a strain with the ability to degrade purines
Authors: Rodríguez Juan M. , Garranzo Marco , Segura José , Orgaz Belén , Arroyo Rebeca , Alba Claudio , Beltrán David , Fernández Leónides
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Hyperuricemia and gout are receiving an increasing scientific and medical attention because of their relatively high prevalence and their association with relevant co-morbidities. Recently, it has been suggested that gout patients have an altered gut microbiota. The first objective of this study was to investigate the potential of some Ligilactobacillus salivarius strains to metabolize purine-related metabolites. The second objective was to evaluate the effect of administering a selected potential probiotic strain in individuals with a history of hyperuricemia.

Methods

Inosine, guanosine, hypoxanthine, guanine, xanthine, and uric acid were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The uptake and biotransformation of these compounds by a selection of L. salivarius strains were assessed using bacterial whole cells and cell-free extracts, respectively. The efficacy of L. salivarius CECT 30632 to prevent gout was assessed in a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial involving 30 patients with hyperuricemia and a history of recurrent gout episodes. Half of the patients consumed L. salivarius CECT 30632 (9 log10 CFU/day; probiotic group; n = 15) for 6 months while the remaining patients consumed allopurinol (100–300 mg/daily; control group; n = 15) for the same period. The clinical evolution and medical treatment received by the participants were followed, as well as the changes in several blood biochemical parameters.

Results

L. salivarius CECT 30632 was the most efficient strain for inosine (100%), guanosine (100%) and uric acid (50%) conversion and, therefore, it was selected for the pilot clinical trial. In comparison with the control group, administration of L. salivarius CECT 30632 resulted in a significant reduction in the number of gout episodes and in the use of gout-related drugs as well as an improvement in some blood parameters related to oxidative stress, liver damage or metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

Regular administration of L. salivarius CECT 30632 reduced serum urate levels, the number of gout episodes and the pharmacological therapy required to control both hyperuricemia and gout episodes in individuals with a history of hyperuricemia and suffering from repeated episodes of gout.
Convolutional neural network based on automatic segmentation of peritumoral shear-wave elastography images for predicting breast cancer
Authors: Xie Li , Liu Zhen , Pei Chong , Liu Xiao , Cui Ya-yun , He Nian-an , Hu Lei
Published: February 2023

Objective

Our aim was to develop dual-modal CNN models based on combining conventional ultrasound (US) images and shear-wave elastography (SWE) of peritumoral region to improve prediction of breast cancer.

Method

We retrospectively collected US images and SWE data of 1271 ACR- BIRADS 4 breast lesions from 1116 female patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 45.40 ± 9.65 years). The lesions were divided into three subgroups based on the maximum diameter (MD): ≤15 mm; >15 mm and ≤25 mm; >25 mm. We recorded lesion stiffness (SWV1) and 5-point average stiffness of the peritumoral tissue (SWV5). The CNN models were built based on the segmentation of different widths of peritumoral tissue (0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm) and internal SWE image of the lesions. All single-parameter CNN models, dual-modal CNN models, and quantitative SWE parameters in the training cohort (971 lesions) and the validation cohort (300 lesions) were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

The US + 1.0 mm SWE model achieved the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the subgroup of lesions with MD ≤15 mm in both the training (0.94) and the validation cohorts (0.91). In the subgroups with MD between15 and 25 mm and above 25 mm, the US + 2.0 mm SWE model achieved the highest AUCs in both the training cohort (0.96 and 0.95, respectively) and the validation cohort (0.93 and 0.91, respectively).

Conclusion

The dual-modal CNN models based on the combination of US and peritumoral region SWE images allow accurate prediction of breast cancer.
Plant-derived natural products and combination therapy in liver cancer
Authors: Wang Yuqin , Li Jinyao , Xia Lijie
Published: February 2023

Liver cancer is one of the malignant cancers globally and seriously endangers human health because of its high morbidity and mortality. Plant-derived natural products have been evaluated as potential anticancer drugs due to low side effects and high anti-tumor efficacy. However, plant-derived natural products also have defects of poor solubility and cumbersome extraction process. In recent years, a growing numbers of plant derived natural products have been used in combination therapy of liver cancer with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, which has improved clinical efficacy through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of tumor growth, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis, enhancement of immunity, reversal of multiple drug resistance and reduction of side effects. The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of plant-derived natural products and combination therapy on liver cancer are reviewed to provide references for developing anti-liver-cancer strategies with high efficacy and low side effects.
Robotic-assisted surgery in the pediatric surgeons’ world: Current situation and future prospectives
Authors: Mei Hong , Tang Shaotao
Published: February 2023

Robotic-assisted surgery has been fully embraced by surgeons for the adult population; however, its acceptance is too slow in the world of pediatric surgeons. It is largely due to the technical limitations and the inherent high cost associated with it. In the past two decades, indeed, there has been considerable advancement in pediatric robotic surgery. A large number of surgical procedures were performed on children with the assistance of robots, even with comparative success rates to standard laparoscopy. As a newly developing field, it still has many challenges and obstacles. This work is centered on the current status and progression of pediatric robotic surgery as well as the future perspectives in the field of pediatric surgery.
Chinese herbal medicine for threatened miscarriage: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xie Hongliang , Zhang Aolin , Mou Xuan , He Tao , Li Junwei , Wang Chi Chiu , Fan Xiaohui , Li Lu
Published: February 2023

Objective: To conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for threatened miscarriage.

Data Sources: Electronic databases were searched from inception to 30 June 2022. Study Eligibility Criteria: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy and safety of CHM or combined CHM and Western medicine (CHM-WM) and compared with other treatments for threatened miscarriage were included for analysis.

Methods: Three review authors independently evaluated included studies, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data for meta-analysis (continuation of pregnancy after 28 gestational weeks, continuation of pregnancy after treatment, preterm birth, adverse maternal outcomes, neonatal death, TCM syndrome severity, β-hCG levels after treatment), sensitivity analysis (β-hCG level) and subgroup analysis (TCM syndrome severity, β-hCG level). The risk ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated by RevMan. Certainty of the evidence was assessed according to GRADE.

Results: Overall, 57 RCTs involving 5,881 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with WM alone, CHM alone showed significant higher incidence of continuation of pregnancy after 28 gestational weeks (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.11; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21; n = 1; moderate quality of evidence), continuation of pregnancy after treatment (RR 1.30; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.38; n = 10; moderate quality of evidence), higher β-hCG level (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) 6.88; 95% CI 1.74 to 12.03; n = 4) and lower Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome severity (SMD −2.94; 95% CI −4.27 to −1.61; n = 2). Compared with WM alone, combined CHM-WM showed significant higher incidence of continuation of pregnancy after 28 gestational weeks (RR 1.21; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27; n = 15; moderate quality of evidence), continuation of pregnancy after treatment (RR 1.19; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.23; n = 41; moderate quality of evidence), higher β-hCG level (SMD 2.27; 95% CI 1.72 to 2.83; n = 37) and lower TCM syndrome severity (SMD −1.74; 95% CI −2.21 to −1.27; n = 15). No significant differences in reducing the adverse maternal outcomes and neonatal death were found in combined CHM-WM compared with WM alone (RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.62 to 1.52; n = 8; RR 0.39; 95% CI 0.12 to 1.21; n = 2).

Conclusion: Current evidence supported CHM could be a potential treatment for threatened miscarriage. However, results should be interpreted with caution considering the low to moderate quality of the available evidence.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-6-0107/], identifier [INPLASY20220107].
The use of African medicinal plants in cancer management
Authors: Gaobotse Goabaone , Venkataraman Srividhya , Brown Phenyo D. , Masisi Kabo , Kwape Tebogo E. , Nkwe David O. , Rantong Gaolathe , Makhzoum Abdullah
Published: February 2023

Cancer is the third leading cause of premature death in sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer has the highest number of incidences in sub-Saharan Africa due to high HIV prevalence (70% of global cases) in African countries which is linked to increasing the risk of developing cervical cancer, and the continuous high risk of being infected with Human papillomavirus In 2020, the risk of dying from cancer amongst women was higher in Eastern Africa (11%) than it was in Northern America (7.4%). Plants continue to provide unlimited pharmacological bioactive compounds that are used to manage various illnesses, including cancer. By reviewing the literature, we provide an inventory of African plants with reported anticancer activity and evidence supporting their use in cancer management. In this review, we report 23 plants that have been used for cancer management in Africa, where the anticancer extracts are usually prepared from barks, fruits, leaves, roots, and stems of these plants. Extensive information is reported about the bioactive compounds present in these plants as well as their potential activities against various forms of cancer. However, information on the anticancer properties of other African medicinal plants is insufficient. Therefore, there is a need to isolate and evaluate the anticancer potential of bioactive compounds from other African medicinal plants. Further studies on these plants will allow the elucidation of their anticancer mechanisms of action and allow the identification of phytochemicals that are responsible for their anticancer properties. Overall, this review provides consolidated and extensive information not only on diverse medicinal plants of Africa but on the different types of cancer that these plants are used to manage and the diverse mechanisms and pathways that are involved during cancer alleviation.
Sap flow and growth response of Norway spruce under long-term partial rainfall exclusion at low altitude
Authors: Zavadilová Ina , Szatniewska Justyna , Petrík Peter , Mauer Oldřich , Pokorný Radek , Stojanović Marko
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Under ongoing climate change, more frequent and severe drought periods accompanied by heat waves are expected in the future. Under these conditions, the tree’s survival is conditioned by fast recovery of functions after drought release. Therefore, in the presented study, we evaluated the effect of long-term water reduction in soil on tree water use and growth dynamics of Norway spruce.

Methods

The experiment was conducted in two young Norway spruce plots located on suboptimal sites at a low altitude of 440 m a.s.l. In the first plot (PE), 25% of precipitation throughfall was excluded since 2007, and the second one represented the control treatment with ambient conditions (PC). Tree sap flow, stem radial increment, and tree water deficit were monitored in two consecutive growing seasons: 2015-2016, with contrasting hydro-climatic conditions.

Results

Trees in both treatments showed relatively isohydric behavior reflected in a strong reduction of sap flow under the exceptional drought of 2015. Nevertheless, trees from PE treatment reduced sap flow faster than PC under decreasing soil water potential, exhibiting faster stomatal response. This led to a significantly lower sap flow of PE, compared to PC in 2015. The maximal sap flow rates were also lower for PE treatment, compared to PC. Both treatments experienced minimal radial growth during the 2015 drought and subsequent recovery of radial growth under the more the humid year of 2016. However, treatments did not differ significantly in stem radial increments within respective years.

Discussion

Precipitation exclusion treatment, therefore, led to water loss adjustment, but did not affect growth response to intense drought and growth recovery in the year after drought.