bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Difference in aqueous concentration and vitreous mass of cytokines in high myopias with and without choroidal neovascularization
Authors: Zhang Shian , Mao Jianbo , Chen Nuo , Fang Yuyan , Chen Yijing , Zheng Zicheng , Chen Yiqi , Shen Lijun
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To investigate and compare the aqueous humor (AH) concentration and vitreous mass of cytokines in high myopias (HM) with and without myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). And the correlations between cytokines and the size of CNVs on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were also be analyzed.

Methods

This observational study included 56 highly myopic eyes with and without CNV and 57 control eyes with cataracts. AH samples were obtained prior to the intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF and cataract surgery. This study measured multiple inflammatory cytokines including VEGF, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by multiplex bead assay. AH cytokine level, axial length, and vitreous volume were used to calculate the vitreous mass of cytokines.

Results

The vitreous mass of VEGF in eyes with mCNV was significantly higher than that in control group. However, the difference in AH concentration of VEGF between high myopias with mCNV was not observed. Inflammatory cytokines were upregulated (IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1) in highly myopic eyes both with and without mCNV (all P<0.05). There was also a significant difference in the vitreous mass of IL-8 and IP-10 among all three groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion

We confirmed the secretion of VEGF increased in eyes with mCNV from a new perspective. The development of both HM and mCNV were related to inflammatory cytokines and the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines may precede upregulation of VEGF. The vitreous mass might be tried as a more reliable potential biomarker in eyes with longer axial length.
Reduced detection rate of artificial intelligence in images obtained from untrained endoscope models and improvement using domain adaptation algorithm
Authors: Park Junseok , Hwang Youngbae , Kim Hyun Gun , Lee Joon Seong , Kim Jin-Oh , Lee Tae Hee , Jeon Seong Ran , Hong Su Jin , Ko Bong Min , Kim Seokmin
Published: November 2022

A training dataset that is limited to a specific endoscope model can overfit artificial intelligence (AI) to its unique image characteristics. The performance of the AI may degrade in images of different endoscope model. The domain adaptation algorithm, i.e., the cycle-consistent adversarial network (cycleGAN), can transform the image characteristics into AI-friendly styles. We attempted to confirm the performance degradation of AIs in images of various endoscope models and aimed to improve them using cycleGAN transformation. Two AI models were developed from data of esophagogastroduodenoscopies collected retrospectively over 5 years: one for identifying the endoscope models, Olympus CV-260SL, CV-290 (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and PENTAX EPK-i (PENTAX Medical, Tokyo, Japan), and the other for recognizing the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). The AIs were trained using 45,683 standardized images from 1,498 cases and validated on 624 separate cases. Between the two endoscope manufacturers, there was a difference in image characteristics that could be distinguished without error by AI. The accuracy of the AI in recognizing gastroesophageal junction was >0.979 in the same endoscope-examined validation dataset as the training dataset. However, they deteriorated in datasets from different endoscopes. Cycle-consistent adversarial network can successfully convert image characteristics to ameliorate the AI performance. The improvements were statistically significant and greater in datasets from different endoscope manufacturers [original → AI-trained style, increased area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, P-value: CV-260SL → CV-290, 0.0056, P = 0.0106; CV-260SL → EPK-i, 0.0182, P = 0.0158; CV-290 → CV-260SL, 0.0134, P < 0.0001; CV-290 → EPK-i, 0.0299, P = 0.0001; EPK-i → CV-260SL, 0.0215, P = 0.0024; and EPK-i → CV-290, 0.0616, P < 0.0001]. In conclusion, cycleGAN can transform the diverse image characteristics of endoscope models into an AI-trained style to improve the detection performance of AI.
Case report: Rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury in a statin-treated hypothyroid patient–kill two birds with one stone
Authors: Chiang Wen-Fang , Chan Jenq-Shyong , Hsiao Po-Jen , Lin Shih-Hua
Published: November 2022

Statin treatment for hypercholesterolemia may cause reversible rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in susceptible patients. However, persistent rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury following discontinuation of statins require careful evaluation of the underlying causes to avoid missing a curable disease. We describe a 50-year-old woman with hypercholesterolemia [total cholesterol 345 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 266 mg/dL] on atorvastatin therapy (40 mg daily) for 1 month that presented with myalgia and muscle weakness. Relevant laboratory studies revealed persistent higher hypercholesterolemia with total cholesterol (312 mg/dL), high creatine kinase (CK) (5,178 U/L), and high creatinine levels (1.5 mg/dL) without dysmorphic red blood cells and proteinuria. Despite the cessation of statin therapy, serum CK level increased to 9,594 U/L, and creatinine remained at 1.5 mg/dL. A thorough work-up to assess potential underlying causes indicated low T3 and free T4 and high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, consistent with hypothyroidism. With aggressive thyroxine replacement for 1 month, all of the clinical features, along with elevated serum CK and creatinine levels, were completely resolved. This case highlights the fact that hypothyroidism must be kept in mind as a potential cause of concomitant myopathy and kidney injury, especially in patients with statin-resistant hypercholesterolemia.
Amniotic membrane transplantation and conjunctival autograft combined with mitomycin C for the management of primary pterygium: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Taher Nada Omar , Alnabihi Ahmed Naji , Hersi Reem Mahmoud , Alrajhi Rawan Khalid , Alzahrani Reham Ahmad , Batais Waleed Talib , Mofti Alaa Hesham , Alghamdi Saeed Abdullah
Published: November 2022

Background

Pterygium is a common ocular surface disease. Recurrence is the greatest concern in the treatment of pterygium. Thus, a standardized and effective treatment modality with minimal risk for complications is needed for the management of pterygium. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate different tissue grafting options, including conjunctival autograft (CAG) with mitomycin C (MMC), CAG alone, and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT), for the management of primary pterygium.

Methods

We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for relevant studies. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which CAG + MMC and AMT were compared with surgical excision with CAG alone for the treatment of primary pterygium. The rates of recurrence and adverse events reported in the studies were also evaluated. Risk ratio (RR) was used to represent dichotomous outcomes. The data were pooled using the inverse variance weighting method. The quality of the evidence derived from the analysis was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials.

Results

Twelve RCTs (n= 1144) were deemed eligible and included for analysis. Five RCTs had a low risk of bias, five had some concerns, and two had a high risk of bias. Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in the rate of pterygium recurrence after CAG + MMC (RR = 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02–0.63). This outcome was rated as high-quality evidence according to the GRADE criteria. There were insignificant differences between the rates of recurrence after AMT and CAG (RR = 1.51; 95% CI, 0.63–3.65). However, this result was rated as low-quality evidence. Regarding adverse events, patients treated using AMT showed significantly lower rates of adverse events than those treated using CAG (RR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22–0.95). However, this finding was rated as low-quality evidence as well. CAG + MMC showed a safety profile comparable to that of surgical excision with CAG alone (RR = 1.81; 95% CI, 0.40–8.31). This result was also rated as low-quality evidence.

Conclusion

A single intraoperative topical application of 0.02% MMC during excision of pterygium followed by CAG has significantly shown to decrease the rate of pterygium recurrence to 1.4% with no severe complications.
Differences in cytokines expression between Vero cells and IPEC-J2 cells infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus
Authors: Yuan Chen , Sun Lidan , Chen Ligong , Li Limin , Yao Zuojun , Wang Yawen , Guo Haiyong , Li Tanqing , Song Qinye
Published: November 2022

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) primarily infects suckling piglets and causes severe economic losses to the swine industry. Cytokines, as part of the innate immune response, are important in PEDV infection. The cytokines secreted by cell infection models in vitro might reflect true response to viral infection of target cells in vivo. Vero cells and IPEC-J2 are commonly used as an in vitro model to investigate PEDV infection. However, it is not clear which type of cells is more beneficial to the study of PEDV. In our study, firstly, Vero cells and IPEC-J2 were successfully infected with PEDV virulent strains (HBQY2016) and attenuated vaccine strains (CV777) and were capable of supporting virus replication and progeny release. Moreover, cytokine differences expression by Vero cells and IPEC-J2 cells infected with two PEDV strains were analyzed. Compared with IPEC-J2 cells, only the mRNA levels of TGF-β, MIP-1β and MCP-1 were detected in Vero cells. ELISA assay indicated that compared to the control group, the PEDV-infected group had significantly induced expression levels of IL-1β, MIP-1β, MCP-1, IL-8, and CXCL10 in IPEC-J2 cells, while only secretion level of IL-1β, MIP-1β and IL-8 in Vero cells were higher in PEDV infected group. Finally, cytokines change of piglets infected PEDV-HBQY2016 strains were detected by cDNA microarray, and similar to those of IPEC-J2 cells infected PEDV. Collectively, these data determined that the IPEC-J2 could be more suitable used as a cell model for studying PEDV infection in vitro compared with Vero cells, based on the close approximation of cytokine expression profile to in vivo target cells.
Microbial gut diversity in four grasshopper species and its correlation with cellulose digestibility
Authors: Ling Yao , Li Wen-Jing , Li Fei-Fei , Xue Xiao-Bao , Gao Yuan-Yi , Wang Li , Liang Ke , Li Xin-Jiang
Published: November 2022

Grasshoppers are common pests, and their intestinal microbes have coevolved with them. These microorganisms have varied community structures, and they participate in the nutritional absorption and metabolism of grasshoppers. Here, we describe the gut microbiota diversity of four species of grasshoppers, Oxya chinensis, Pararcyptera microptera meridionalis, Gastrimargus marmoratus, and Calliptamus abbreviatus. We constructed a 16S rDNA gene library and analyzed the digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose in grasshoppers using moss black phenol and anthrone colorimetry. The grasshopper with the highest microbial diversity in the gut among the four species was Oxya chinensis, and there were no significant differences in gut microbial diversity between the two geographic collections of Oxya chinensis. The most dominant phyla of the four grasshopper gut microorganisms were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, and the most dominant genus was Enterobacter. The gut microbiota features of the four grasshoppers were correlated with their cellulose and hemicellulose digestibility. There was a significant positive correlation with cellulose digestibility for Pantoea. A significant negative correlation was found with cellulose digestibility for Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, Citrobacter, Serratia. A significant negative correlation was found with hemicellulose digestibility for Pantoea. This study contributes to the understanding of the structural composition of different species of grasshoppers gut microbiota, which may be useful for developing grasshopper digestive tracts as bioreactors for cellulose decomposition, improving the decomposition and utilization of agricultural straw, producing clean biomass energy, and processing biologically derived products.
Archaeal contribution to carbon-functional composition and abundance in China’s coastal wetlands: Not to be underestimated
Authors: Yang Meiling , Liu Na , Wang Baoli , Li Yajun , Li Jianfeng , Liu Cong-Qiang
Published: November 2022

Microbial diversity, together with carbon function, plays a key role in driving the wetland carbon cycle; however, the composition, driving factors of carbon-functional genes and the relationship with microbial community have not been well characterized in coastal wetlands. To understand these concerns, microbes, carbon-functional genes, and related environmental factors were investigated in twenty wetlands along China’s coast. The results indicate that carbon-functional gene composition is dominated by archaeal rather than bacterial community and that Nanoarchaeaeota is the dominant archaeal phylum associated with carbon cycling in anoxic sediments. Compared with microbes, carbon-functional composition was more stable because they showed the highest Shannon diversity and archaeal functional redundancy. Deterministic processes dominated microbial community, and stochastic processes were more important for carbon-functional genes. Labile Fe governed archaeal and carbon-functional composition by coupling with nitrogen and carbon biogeochemical cycles, while bacterial community was affected by NH4-N and SOC/SON. This study highlights the predominant contributions of archaea to carbon-functional genes and to the stability of carbon-functional composition, thus providing new insights into the microbial dominance of the carbon cycle and the evaluation of carbon function in coastal wetlands.
Characterization of Escherichia coli and other bacteria isolated from condemned broilers at a Danish abattoir
Authors: Alfifi Ahmed , Christensen Jens P. , Hounmanou Yaovi Mahuton Gildas , Sandberg Marianne , Dalsgaard Anders
Published: November 2022

Meat inspection is important to ensure food safety and protect public health. Visual inspection of slaughtered carcasses for pathological changes should be supported by bacteriological analysis to determine whether the entire carcass or parts of it should be condemned. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial species present in different sample types from condemned broiler carcasses. Furthermore, we investigated the genetic characteristics, zoonotic potential, and relatedness ofEscherichia coli, the predominant bacterial species isolated from the carcasses. A total of 400 broiler carcasses condemned because of cellulitis (100), scratches (100), hepatitis (100), and healthy control carcasses (100) were selected. Samples of meat, pathological lesion, and bone marrow of each carcass were obtained for microbial analysis. From the analyzed samples, 469 bacterial isolates were recovered withE.coliaccounting for 45.8%, followed byAeromonasspp. (27.9%), in particularA.veronii. The highest rate of bacterial isolation was observed in carcasses condemned with cellulitis, whereas carcasses with hepatitis had the lowest rate of bacterial isolation. Forty-fourE.coliisolates originating from different sample types were selected for whole genome sequencing. A clonal relationship was shown betweenE.colifrom different sample types of the same carcass condemned with cellulitis and scratches. A major clade ofE.coliwas found in carcasses condemned with cellulitis with isolates containingmdf(A),tet(A), andblaTEM-1Bgenes that confer resistance to macrolides, tetracycline, and ampicillin, respectively.E.coliin this clade all belonged to ST117 and clustered withE.coliisolates previously collected from dead chickens and carcasses condemned due to cellulitis in Denmark, Finland, and the United Kingdom. Bacterial evaluation results of carcasses condemned with cellulitis, scratches (moderate to severe skin lesion), and acute hepatitis confirmed the need for total condemnation of carcasses with these pathological findings. A similar evaluation should be done for carcasses affected with chronic hepatitis, and minor scratches lesions.
Development and application of an indirect ELISA for detecting equine IgG antibodies against Getah virus with recombinant E2 domain protein
Authors: Qiu Xiangshu , Cao Xinyu , Shi Ning , Zhang He , Zhu Xiangyu , Gao Yan , Mai Zhanhai , Jin Ningyi , Lu Huijun
Published: November 2022

Getah virus (GETV) disease is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that causes fever, aseptic meningitis, and abortion in a variety of animals. Currently, the epidemic trend of GETV disease increases seriously worldwide, especially in China, posing a potential threat to animal safety and public health. However, there are few reports about the epidemiological investigation of GETV disease in China as well as a lack of commercial diagnostic kit for GETV antibody. Therefore, the establishment of a rapid, sensitive and suitable GETV antibody detection method for large-scale samples is an urgent request to fully understand the prevalence of GETV disease. Here, a recombinant plasmid pET22b-GETV-E2d that contained the domain of GETV-E2 (E2d) fused to His-tag was constructed to express recombinant protein E2d (rE2d) in Escherichia coli. The rE2d was mainly expressed in inclusion bodies. And it was purified successfully by nickel affinity column so that it could be used to develop an indirect ELISA (rE2d-ELISA). After optimizing reaction conditions of rE2d-ELISA, the cut-off value was determined as 0.396 with 100 equine sera tested by virus neutralization test (VNT). Furthermore, rE2d-ELISA method showed the positive rate of IgG antibodies against GETV was 54.3% based on testing 646 clinical serum samples obtained in Xinjiang whereas the overall coincidence rate between rE2d-ELISA and VNT was 94.0%, with 98.2% sensitivity and 92.6% specificity. The findings suggest that the developed IgG ELISA employing recombinant E2d promises was an efficient and low-cost type of antibody detection method for horse, which will benefit for prevention of GETV outbreaks in horses.
Transcriptomic and phenotype analysis revealed the role of rpoS in stress resistance and virulence of pathogenic Enterobacter cloacae from Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Authors: Gao Xiaojian , Qian Qieqi , Zhu Yujie , Chen Zhen , Xu Jingwen , Xu Wenjing , Jiang Qun , Wang Jun , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: November 2022

Enterobacter cloacae is widely distributed in the aquatic environment, and has been determined as a novel pathogen of various aquatic animals recently. Our previous studies have indicated E. cloacae caused repeated infections in Macrobrachium rosenbergii, suggesting a high survival ability of the bacteria, and rpoS gene has been known to regulate stress response and virulence of many bacteria. In this study, the E. cloacae-rpoS RNAi strain was constructed by RNAi technology, and the regulation role of rpoS in stress resistance and virulence of E. cloacae was explored by transcriptomic and phenotype analysis. The transcriptome analysis showed a total of 488 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between rpoS-RNAi and wild-type strains, including 30 up-regulated genes and 458 down-regulated genes, and these down-regulated DEGs were mainly related to environmental response, biofilm formation, bacterial type II secretory system, flagellin, fimbrillin, and chemotactic protein which associated with bacterial survival and virulence. The phenotype changes also showed the E. cloacae-rpoS RNAi strain exhibited significantly decreasing abilities of survival in environmental stresses (starvation, salinity, low pH, and oxidative stress), biofilm production, movement, adhesion to cells, pathogenicity, and colonization to M. rosenbergii. These results reveal that rpoS plays an important regulatory role in environmental stress adaptation and virulence of E. cloacae.
Coexistence of blaNDM–5 and tet(X4) in international high-risk Escherichia coli clone ST648 of human origin in China
Authors: Shafiq Muhammad , Zeng Mi , Permana Budi , Bilal Hazrat , Huang Jinhu , Yao Fen , Algammal Abdelazeem Mohamed , Li Xin , Yuan Yumeng , Jiao Xiaoyang
Published: November 2022

The emergence of pathogens is conferring resistance to last-resort therapies such as tigecycline, colistin, and carbapenems, limiting the therapeutic options, and raising concerns about the emergence of new “superbugs.” This study reports the first incident of a blaNDM–5 and tet(X4) co-harboring Escherichia coli with resistance to carbapenem and tigecycline recovered as the causative agent of a urinary tract infection in a 94-year-old patient. The E. coli strain ECCL209 carries multiple resistance genes [i.e., blaTEM–1B, blaNDM–5, blaCMY–2, aadA22, florR, erm(B), mph(A), erm(42), lnuG, qnrS1, and sul2] and exhibits resistance to almost all clinically used antibiotics. MLST analysis found that the strain belongs to ST648, considered a worldwide high-risk pandemic clone. Moreover, multiple plasmid incompatibility types were detected, i.e., IncHI1A, IncHI1B, IncFII, IncFIA, IncFIB, IncQ1, Col, and IncX4. Genetic analysis revealed that blaNDM–5 and tet(X4) genes were localized on two hybrid plasmids with multiple replicons. Continuous monitoring studies are suggested to quantify the antimicrobial resistance and assess the dissemination of such superbugs into a human healthcare setting.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in tissue-specific metabolic modulation by SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Santos Alef Aragão Carneiro dos , Rodrigues Luiz Eduardo , Alecrim-Zeza Amanda Lins , de Araújo Ferreira Liliane , Trettel Caio dos Santos , Gimenes Gabriela Mandú , Silva Adelson Fernandes da , Sousa-Filho Celso Pereira Batista , Serdan Tamires Duarte Afonso , Levada-Pires Adriana Cristina , Hatanaka Elaine , Borges Fernanda Teixeira , de Barros Marcelo Paes , Cury-Boaventura Maria Fernanda , Bertolini Gisele Lopes , Cassolla Priscila , Marzuca-Nassr Gabriel Nasri , Vitzel Kaio Fernando , Pithon-Curi Tania Cristina , Masi Laureane Nunes , Curi Rui , Gorjao Renata , Hirabara Sandro Massao
Published: November 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is triggered by the SARS-CoV-2, which is able to infect and cause dysfunction not only in lungs, but also in multiple organs, including central nervous system, skeletal muscle, kidneys, heart, liver, and intestine. Several metabolic disturbances are associated with cell damage or tissue injury, but the mechanisms involved are not yet fully elucidated. Some potential mechanisms involved in the COVID-19-induced tissue dysfunction are proposed, such as: (a) High expression and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α IL-6, IL-1β, INF-α and INF-β, increasing the systemic and tissue inflammatory state; (b) Induction of oxidative stress due to redox imbalance, resulting in cell injury or death induced by elevated production of reactive oxygen species; and (c) Deregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, exacerbating the inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. In this review, we discuss the main metabolic disturbances observed in different target tissues of SARS-CoV-2 and the potential mechanisms involved in these changes associated with the tissue dysfunction.
Dietary bile acid supplementation alters plasma biochemical and hormone indicators, intestinal digestive capacity, and microbiota of piglets with normal birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation
Authors: Liu Yang , Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Zhu Qian , Yu Zugong , Kong Xiangfeng
Published: November 2022

Piglets with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) have poor small intestinal morphology and function, resulting in impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients and lower growth performance. Bile acids (BA) are important in regulating digestive enzyme activity, digestion and absorption of lipids, intestinal development, and protecting the liver. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary BA supplementation on plasma biochemical and hormone indicators, intestinal morphology and function, and microbial community in piglets with normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR. Weaned piglets (24 IUGR and 24 NBW) were allocated to four groups (12 piglets per group) and fed the following diets: (i) NBW group, NBW piglets fed a basal diet; (ii) NBW + BA group, NBW piglets fed a basal diet with 400 mg/kg BA; (iii) IUGR group, IUGR piglets fed a basal diet; and (iv) IUGR + BA group, IUGR piglets fed a basal diet with 400 mg/kg BA. The feeding trial lasted 28 days. The results showed that IUGR decreased the weight of the jejunum, whereas dietary BA supplementation decreased the jejunum weight and increased the length, weight, and index of ileum in NBW piglets (p < 0.05). In addition, IUGR increased (p < 0.05) the plasma choline esterase (CHE) and glucose levels of weaned piglets regardless of BA supplementation. Dietary BA supplementation increased the plasma albumin, triglyceride, and total protein concentrations while decreased plasma aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), CHE, lactate dehydrogenase, and NH3 levels regardless of IUGR (p < 0.05). The IUGR increased trypsin level in the ileum, whereas dietary BA supplementation decreased jejunal trypsin and lipase and ileal lipase levels of weaned piglets regardless of IUGR (p < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed the potential link between the intestinal microbial community and intestinal health-related indices of weaned piglets. These findings suggest that IUGR could decrease small intestinal morphology and function, whereas dietary BA supplementation could promote the ileum development of NBW piglets, protect the liver by reducing plasma ALT and AST levels, and increase the proportion of potentially beneficial bacteria in the small intestine of NBW and IUGR piglets, contributing to intestinal development and health of weaned piglets.
Short-term head-down bed rest microgravity simulation alters salivary microbiome in young healthy men
Authors: Sun Hui , Zhou Qian , Qiao Pengyan , Zhu Di , Xin Bingmu , Wu Bin , Tang Chuhua
Published: November 2022

Microgravity influences are prevalent during orbital flight and can adversely affect astronaut physiology. Notably, it may affect the physicochemical properties of saliva and the salivary microbial community. Therefore, this study simulates microgravity in space using a ground-based −6° head-down bed rest (HDBR) test to observe the effects of microgravity on oral salivary secretion function and the salivary microbiome. Sixteen healthy young male volunteers were recruited for the 15-day −6° HDBR test. Non-stimulated whole saliva was collected on day 1 (pre-HDBR), on days 5, 10, and 15 of HDBR, and day 6 of recovery. Salivary pH and salivary flow rate were measured, and the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and analyzed in 80 saliva samples. The results showed that there were no significant differences in salivary pH, salivary flow rate, and alpha diversity between any two time points. However, beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences between pre-HDBR and the other four time points. After HDBR, the relative abundances of Actinomyces, Parvimonas, Peptostreptococcus, Porphyromonas, Oribacterium, and Capnocytophaga increased significantly, whereas the relative abundances of Neisseria and Haemophilus decreased significantly. However, the relative abundances of Oribacterium and Capnocytophaga did not recover to the pre-HDBR level on day 6 of recovery. Network analysis revealed that the number of relationships between genera decreased, and the positive and negative correlations between genera changed in a complex manner after HDBR and did not reach their original levels on day 6 of recovery. PICRUSt analysis demonstrated that some gene functions of the salivary microbiome also changed after HDBR and remained significantly different from those before HDBR on day 6 of recovery. Collectively, 15 days of −6° HDBR had minimal effect on salivary secretion function but resulted in significant changes in the salivary microbiome, mainly manifested as an increase in oral disease-related bacteria and a decrease in oral health-related commensal bacteria. Further research is required to confirm these oral microbial changes and explore the underlying pathological mechanisms to determine the long-term effects on astronauts embarking on long-duration voyages to outer space.
Detection and characterization of bioaerosol emissions from wastewater treatment plants: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Tian Jianghan , Yan Cheng , Alcega Sonia Garcia , Hassard Francis , Tyrrel Sean , Coulon Frederic , Nasir Zaheer Ahmad
Published: November 2022

Rapid population growth and urbanization process have led to increasing demand for wastewater treatment capacity resulting in a non-negligible increase of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in several cities around the world. Bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs may pose adverse health risks to the sewage workers and nearby residents, which raises increasing public health concerns. However, there are still significant knowledge gaps on the interplay between process-based bioaerosol characteristics and exposures and the quantification of health risk which limit our ability to design effective risk assessment and management strategies. This review provides a critical overview of the existing knowledge of bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs including their nature, magnitude and size distribution, and highlights the shortcoming associated with existing sampling and analysis methods. The recent advancements made for rapid detection of bioaerosols are then discussed, especially the emerging real time detection methods to highlight the directions for future research needs to advance the knowledge on bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs.
Microsecond melting and revitrification of cryo samples with a correlative light-electron microscopy approach
Authors: Bongiovanni Gabriele , Harder Oliver F. , Drabbels Marcel , Lorenz Ulrich J.
Published: November 2022

We have recently introduced a novel approach to time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) that affords microsecond time resolution. It involves melting a cryo sample with a laser beam to allow dynamics of the embedded particles to occur. Once the laser beam is switched off, the sample revitrifies within just a few microseconds, trapping the particles in their transient configurations, which can subsequently be imaged to obtain a snap shot of the dynamics at this point in time. While we have previously performed such experiments with a modified transmission electron microscope, we here demonstrate a simpler implementation that uses an optical microscope. We believe that this will make our technique more easily accessible and hope that it will encourage other groups to apply microsecond time-resolved cryo-EM to study the fast dynamics of a variety of proteins.
Stability of motor-nonmotor subtype in early-stage Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Xiao Yi , Wei Qianqian , Ou Ruwei , Hou Yanbing , Zhang Lingyu , Liu Kuncheng , Lin Junyu , Yang Tianmi , Jiang Qirui , Shang Huifang
Published: November 2022

Background

The different clinical characteristics and prognostic values of the motor-nonmotor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been established by previous studies. However, the consistency of motor-nonmotor subtypes in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease required further investigation. The present study aimed to evaluate the consistency of motor-nonmotor subtypes across five years of follow-up in a longitudinal cohort.

Materials and methods

Patients were classified into different subtypes (mild-motor–predominant, intermediate, diffuse malignant; or tremor-dominant, indeterminate, postural instability and gait difficulty) according to previously verified motor-nonmotor and motor subtyping methods at baseline and at every year of follow-up. The agreement between subtypes was examined using Cohen’s kappa and total agreement. The determinants of having the diffuse malignant subtype as of the fifth-year visit were explored using logistic regression.

Results

A total of 421 patients were included. There was a fair degree of agreement between the baseline motor-nonmotor subtype and the subtype recorded at the one-year follow-up visit (κ = 0.30 ± 0.09; total agreement, 60.6%) and at following years’ visits. The motor-nonmotor subtype had a lower agreement between baseline and follow-up than did the motor subtype. The baseline motor-nonmotor subtype was the determinant of diffuse malignant subtype at the fifth-year visit.

Conclusion

Many patients experienced a change in their motor-nonmotor subtype during follow-up. Further studies of consistency in PD subtyping methods should be conducted in the future.
Exploring the pathogenesis linking traumatic brain injury and epilepsy via bioinformatic analyses
Authors: Zhao Gengshui , Fu Yongqi , Yang Chao , Yang Xuehui , Hu Xiaoxiao
Published: November 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious disease that could increase the risk of epilepsy. The purpose of this article is to explore the common molecular mechanism in TBI and epilepsy with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Two datasets of TBI and epilepsy in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were downloaded. Functional enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and hub gene identification were performed based on the cross-talk genes of aforementioned two diseases. Another dataset was used to validate these hub genes. Moreover, the abundance of infiltrating immune cells was evaluated through Immune Cell Abundance Identifier (ImmuCellAI). The common microRNAs (miRNAs) between TBI and epilepsy were acquired via the Human microRNA Disease Database (HMDD). The overlapped genes in cross-talk genes and target genes predicted through the TargetScan were obtained to construct the common miRNAs–mRNAs network. A total of 106 cross-talk genes were screened out, including 37 upregulated and 69 downregulated genes. Through the enrichment analyses, we showed that the terms about cytokine and immunity were enriched many times, particularly interferon gamma signaling pathway. Four critical hub genes were screened out for co-expression analysis. The miRNA–mRNA network revealed that three miRNAs may affect the shared interferon-induced genes, which might have essential roles in PTE. Our study showed the potential role of interferon gamma signaling pathway in pathogenesis of PTE, which may provide a promising target for future therapeutic interventions.
HOA2.0-ComPaRe: A next generation Harvard-Oxford Atlas comparative parcellation reasoning method for human and macaque individual brain parcellation and atlases of the cerebral cortex
Authors: Rushmore Richard Jarrett , Bouix Sylvain , Kubicki Marek , Rathi Yogesh , Yeterian Edward , Makris Nikos
Published: November 2022

Comparative structural neuroanatomy is a cornerstone for understanding human brain structure and function. A parcellation framework that relates systematically to fundamental principles of histological organization is an essential step in generating structural comparisons between species. In the present investigation, we developed a comparative parcellation reasoning system (ComPaRe), which is a formal ontological system in human and non-human primate brains based on the cortical cytoarchitectonic mapping used for both species as detailed by Brodmann. ComPaRe provides a theoretical foundation for mapping neural systems in humans and other species using neuroimaging. Based on this approach, we revised the methodology of the original Harvard-Oxford Atlas (HOA) system of brain parcellation to produce a comparative framework for the human (hHOA) and the rhesus monkey (mHOA) brains, which we refer to as HOA2.0-ComPaRe. In addition, we used dedicated segmentation software in the publicly available 3D Slicer platform to parcellate an individual human and rhesus monkey brain. This method produces quantitative morphometric parcellations in the individual brains. Based on these parcellations we created a representative template and 3D brain atlas for the two species, each based on a single subject. Thus, HOA2.0-ComPaRe provides a theoretical foundation for mapping neural systems in humans and other species using neuroimaging, while also representing a significant revision of the original human and macaque monkey HOA parcellation schemas. The methodology and atlases presented here can be used in basic and clinical neuroimaging for morphometric (volumetric) analysis, further generation of atlases, as well as localization of function and structural lesions.
Dopaminergic circuits underlying associative aversive learning
Authors: Zafiri Daphne , Duvarci Sevil
Published: November 2022

Associative aversive learning enables animals to predict and avoid threats and thus is critical for survival and adaptive behavior. Anxiety disorders are characterized with deficits in normal aversive learning mechanisms and hence understanding the neural circuits underlying aversive learning and memory has high clinical relevance. Recent studies have revealed the dopamine system as one of the key modulators of aversive learning. In this review, we highlight recent advances that provide insights into how distinct dopaminergic circuits contribute to aversive learning and memory.
Interleukin-33 regulates the functional state of microglia
Authors: Xiong Tianqing , Wang Xingyi , Zha Yiwen , Wang Yingge
Published: November 2022

Microglia, the most prominent resident immune cells, exhibit multiple functional states beyond their immunomodulatory roles. Non-immune functions such as synaptic reorganization, removal of cellular debris, and deposition of abnormal substances are mediated by phagocytosis of normal or enhanced microglia. Activation or migration of microglia occurs when environmental cues are altered. In response to pathological factors, microglia change into various phenotypes, preventing or exacerbating tissue damage. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is an important cytokine that regulates innate immunity, and microglia are thought to be its target cells. Here, we outline the role of IL-33 in the expression of microglial functions such as phagocytosis, migration, activation, and inflammatory responses. We focus on microglial properties and diverse functional states in health and disease, including the different effects of IL-33 perturbation on microglia in vivo and in vitro. We also highlight several well-established mechanisms of microglial function mediated by IL-33, which may be initiators and regulators of microglial function and require elucidation and expansion of the underlying mechanisms.
The impact of acupuncture on neuroplasticity after ischemic stroke: a literature review and perspectives
Authors: Qin Siru , Zhang Zichen , Zhao Yadan , Liu Jingyi , Qiu Jiwen , Gong Yinan , Fan Wen , Guo Yongming , Guo Yi , Xu Zhifang , Guo Yang
Published: November 2022

Ischemic stroke is common in the elderly, and is one of the main causes of long-term disability worldwide. After ischemic stroke, spontaneous recovery and functional reconstruction take place. These processes are possible thanks to neuroplasticity, which involves neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and angiogenesis. However, the repair of ischemic damage is not complete, and neurological deficits develop eventually. The WHO recommends acupuncture as an alternative and complementary method for the treatment of stroke. Moreover, clinical and experimental evidence has documented the potential of acupuncture to ameliorate ischemic stroke-induced neurological deficits, particularly sequelae such as dyskinesia, spasticity, cognitive impairment, and dysphagia. These effects are related to the ability of acupuncture to promote spontaneous neuroplasticity after ischemic stroke. Specifically, acupuncture can stimulate neurogenesis, activate axonal regeneration and sprouting, and improve the structure and function of synapses. These processes modify the neural network and function of the damaged brain area, producing the improvement of various skills and adaptability. Astrocytes and microglia may be involved in the regulation of neuroplasticity by acupuncture, such as by the production and release of a variety of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Moreover, the evidence presented indicates that acupuncture promotes neuroplasticity by modulating the functional reconstruction of the whole brain after ischemia. Therefore, the promotion of neuroplasticity is expected to become a new target for acupuncture in the treatment of neurological deficits after ischemic stroke, and research into the mechanisms responsible for these actions will be of significant clinical value.
A neurocomputational analysis of visual bias on bimanual tactile spatial perception during a crossmodal exposure
Authors: Cuppini Cristiano , Magosso Elisa , Monti Melissa , Ursino Mauro , Yau Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2022

Vision and touch both support spatial information processing. These sensory systems also exhibit highly specific interactions in spatial perception, which may reflect multisensory representations that are learned through visuo-tactile (VT) experiences. Recently, Wani and colleagues reported that task-irrelevant visual cues bias tactile perception, in a brightness-dependent manner, on a task requiring participants to detect unimanual and bimanual cues. Importantly, tactile performance remained spatially biased after VT exposure, even when no visual cues were presented. These effects on bimanual touch conceivably reflect cross-modal learning, but the neural substrates that are changed by VT experience are unclear. We previously described a neural network capable of simulating VT spatial interactions. Here, we exploited this model to test different hypotheses regarding potential network-level changes that may underlie the VT learning effects. Simulation results indicated that VT learning effects are inconsistent with plasticity restricted to unisensory visual and tactile hand representations. Similarly, VT learning effects were also inconsistent with changes restricted to the strength of inter-hemispheric inhibitory interactions. Instead, we found that both the hand representations and the inter-hemispheric inhibitory interactions need to be plastic to fully recapitulate VT learning effects. Our results imply that crossmodal learning of bimanual spatial perception involves multiple changes distributed over a VT processing cortical network.
The role of type I IFN in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases with CNS involvement
Authors: Raftopoulou Sylvia , Rapti Anna , Karathanasis Dimitris , Evangelopoulos Maria Eleftheria , Mavragani Clio P.
Published: November 2022

Type I interferons (IFNs) are major mediators of innate immunity, with well-known antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties. A growing body of evidence suggests the involvement of type I IFNs in the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) manifestations in the setting of chronic autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders, while IFN-β has been for years, a well-established therapeutic modality for multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present review, we summarize the current evidence on the mechanisms of type I IFN production by CNS cellular populations as well as its local effects on the CNS. Additionally, the beneficial effects of IFN-β in the pathophysiology of MS are discussed, along with the contributory role of type I IFNs in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus and type I interferonopathies.
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 humoral response in MS patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to vaccination
Authors: van Dam Koos P. J. , Hogenboom Laura , Stalman Eileen W. , Kummer Laura Y. L. , Steenhuis Maurice , Keijser Jim B. D. , Brinke Anja ten , van Ham S. Marieke , Kuijpers Taco W. , Rispens Theo , Wieske Luuk , Eftimov Filip , Strijbis Eva M. , Killestein Joep , van Kempen Zoé L. E.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain disease modifying therapies (DMTs) used in multiple sclerosis (MS), such as anti-CD20 therapies, have been associated with decreased humoral responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Hybrid immunity, referring to immunity after both vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection might increase humoral responses.

Methods

This was a substudy of two prospective cohort studies on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. RBD-specific IgG titers of patients with MS and healthy controls who had experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to the first vaccination were compared with those patients and healthy controls without prior infection. Humoral responses were measured at various time points after SARS-CoV-2 infection in convalescent patients and all patients prior to the first vaccination, 28 days after the first vaccination, and 28 days after the second vaccination.

Results

One hundred and two individuals [of which 34 patients with MS and DMTs (natalizumab or ocrelizumab), 30 patients without DMTs, and 38 healthy controls] were included. Fifty one of these individuals were convalescent. Median SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were higher after the first vaccination in convalescent individuals compared with individuals without infection prior to vaccination. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody titers were comparable after the second vaccination in patients with MS with and without prior infection. However, in the convalescent ocrelizumab-treated patients, SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers did not increase after vaccinations.

Conclusion

In patients with MS without anti-CD20 therapies, SARS-CoV-2 infection before vaccination increases humoral responses after the first vaccination, similar to the healthy controls. In patients with MS treated with ocrelizumab (convalescent and non-convalescent), humoral responses remained low.