bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal vulnerability of the Levantine endemic and endangered habitat-forming macroalga, Gongolaria rayssiae: implications for reef carbon
Authors: Mulas Martina , Silverman Jacob , Guy-Haim Tamar , Noè Simona , Rilov Gil
Published: August 2022

Ocean warming is a major threat to marine ecosystems, especially to species with a narrow thermal niche width and narrow biogeographic distribution, like some habitat-forming seaweeds. Declines of marine forests have been reported for several canopy-forming species in temperate regions, including the Mediterranean Sea, where they are dominated by species from the order Fucales, but most of the information on their ecology and status comes from the western basin. Here, we studied the thermal vulnerability and metabolic functioning of the endemic Gongolaria rayssiae located in fast-warming waters of the Israeli Mediterranean coast. We followed seasonal changes in phenology and ecology of G. rayssiae and its associated community during 2018-2020. Its highest biomass, density and thallus length were documented in spring-early summer (March-mid June). When seawater temperature exceeded 25°C, it shed its branches until February, when re-growth normally occurred. The thermal performance curve of G. rayssiae was determined by exposing it to 11 temperature levels in the range 15-35°C. The thermal optimum temperature for gross oxygen production, determined from the fitted curve, was 24.5°C. This relatively low thermal optimum suggests marked sensitivity to warming and supports the notion that G. rayssiae is a temperate relict species in the area. Additionally, we conducted seasonal ex-situ incubations during daytime and nighttime and recorded the highest primary productivity in spring, when it is at its peak of growth. In this season, its net inorganic carbon uptake was 42 ± 11 µmol C g dw-1 h-1 ( ± SD), while in its branchless form during late summer, it decreased six-fold. Due to the fast ocean warming conditions of the area, we hypothesize that the growth season of the species will shrink, and the species may eventually disappear. Finally, when exposed to high temperatures in natural and manipulative conditions, G. rayssiae exhibited a dramatic decline in its carbon sequestration rates with important implication for the carbon budget of the reef. This study highlights the importance of establishing a species phenology and environmental sensitivity (and especially that of endemic ones) in rapidly warming ecosystems, to estimate its potential fate due to climate change.
The protist community traces seasonality and mesoscale hydrographic features in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea
Authors: Blanco-Bercial Leocadio , Parsons Rachel , Bolaños Luis M. , Johnson Rod , Giovannoni Stephen J. , Curry Ruth
Published: August 2022

Protists represent the majority of the eukaryotic diversity in the oceans. They have different functions in the marine food web, playing essential roles in the biogeochemical cycles. While the available data is rich in horizontal and temporal coverage, little is known on their vertical structuring, particularly below the photic zone. The present study applies V4 18S rDNA metabarcoding to samples collected over three years in conjunction with the BATS time-series to assess marine protist communities in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones (0-1000 m). The protist community showed a dynamic seasonality in the epipelagic, responding to hydrographic yearly cycles. Mixotrophic lineages dominated throughout the year. However, autotrophs bloomed during the rapid transition between the winter mixing and the stratified summer, and heterotrophs had their peak at the end of summer, when the base of the thermocline reaches its deepest depth. Below the photic zone, the community, dominated by Rhizaria, is depth-stratified and relatively constant throughout the year, although they followed local hydrographic and biological features such as the oxygen minimum zone. The results suggest a dynamic partitioning of the water column, where the niche vertical position for each community changes throughout the year in the epipelagic, likely depending on nutrient availability, the mixed layer depth, and other hydrographic features. At depth, the protist community closely tracked mesoscale events (eddies), where the communities followed the hydrographic uplift, raising the deeper communities for hundreds of meters, and compressing the communities above.
Ovary transcriptomic analysis reveals regulation effects of dietary fish oil on hormone, lipid, and glucose metabolism in female adult spotted scat (Scatophagus argus)
Authors: Wang Tuo , Liu Zhi-Long , Li Guang-Li , Mustapha Umar Farouk , Ndandala Charles Brighton , Shi Hong-Juan , Zhu Chun-Hua , Chen Hua-Pu , Huang Yang , Jiang Dong-Neng
Published: August 2022

In the aquaculture industry, fish oil is widely used as a nutritional supplement to promote the gonadal maturation of broodstocks, while the mechanism of fish oil on ovary development remain unclear. Herein, female adult spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) with most ovaries at phase II were fed with diets containing 8% soybean oil (SO) or 8% fish oil (FO) for 60 days. The final average fish body weight was similar between FO and SO groups. The average gonadosomatic index (GSI) of FO group was higher (non-significant) than that of SO group. Finally, the phase IV ovary of the FO and SO groups were 7 and 5 out of 10, respectively. The serum estradiol (E2) level of the FO group was significantly higher than that of the SO group. The proportions of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) in the ovaries were much higher in the FO group than in the SO group. These results suggest that the maturity level of the FO group is relatively higher than that of the SO group. Transcriptome sequencing was used to detect the ovary gene expression. Comparatively, the ovary transcriptome analysis showed 68 up-regulated and 193 down-regulated genes in the FO group. The expression levels of Jund and Jun necessary for the ovary maturation were up-regulated in the FO group, while Pparγ and Cxcl12, which could inhibit the ovary development, were down-regulated in the FO group. Cyp3a27 coding the enzyme for degrading the estrogen was significantly down-regulated in the FO group and coincided with the increase of its serum E2. Kif5b which could regulate the glucose metabolism was up-regulated in the FO group. Serum insulin level was also increased in the FO group. Additionally, Aldh3a2 and Plin2 related to lipid metabolism were significantly down-regulated in the FO group. Briefly, dietary fish oil can influence the expression of genes related to steroid hormone, glucose and lipid metabolism. This study will clarify the mechanism of dietary fish oil in promoting ovary development in teleost fish.
Native Production of Prodigiosin in the Estuarine Bacterium, Vibrio gazogenes PB1, and Identification of the Associated pig Genes
Authors: Vijay Dhanya , Baby Bincy , Alhayer Maryam S. , Vijayan Ranjit , Akhtar M. Kalim
Published: August 2022

Vibrio gazogenes PB1 is an estuarine bacterium that was first isolated from saltwater mud. This bacterial species possesses the metabolic capacity to produce prodigiosin which has potential uses as an anticancer agent, antibiotic, and a fungicide. We evaluated the feasibility of employing V. gazogenes PB1 as a bacterial host for the production of prodigiosin. V. gazogenes PB1 could be grown and maintained using the well-known lysogeny broth medium when supplemented with NaCl, and revived after storage at -80°C. Under batch conditions, growth of V. gazogenes PB1 in minimal media and production of prodigiosin was observed over a wide range of NaCl concentrations from 1 to 5% (w/v). The production of prodigiosin was significantly influenced by the concentration of glucose (as the carbon source), ammonium chloride (as the nitrogen source), inorganic phosphate ions, as well as pH. The greatest titer (231 mg/L) was observed in minimal media that contained 1% (w/v) glucose, 100 mM ammonium chloride and 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer. The sequences and chromosomal locations of the pig genes associated with prodigiosin biosynthesis are revealed for the first time. PigA is an isolated gene on chromosome 2, while the remaining pig genes, from pigB to pigN, exist as a 20 kb gene cluster on chromosome 1. Given its excellent growth in a range of NaCl concentrations, wide availability from culture collections and low-risk status for experimental work, we would conclude that V. gazogenes PB1 is a promising bacterial host for the production of prodigiosin.
Assessing the conjugacy of the marine economy-ecology-society composite system: China’s Case
Authors: Zhang Cai , Wang Miao
Published: August 2022

As of now, the development and utilization of marine resources have entered a new stage of “refinement, orderliness, and high quality”. It has become a top priority to coordinate the relationship among marine economy, ecology, and society. At the same time, the comprehensive evaluation of the conjugacy of the marine composite system has replaced the single evaluation that only relies on economic indicators to measure the operation effect of the marine system. The operational effect of the marine system needs to be comprehensively measured from three aspects: the profitability of the marine economic subsystem, the sustainability of the marine ecological subsystem and the effectiveness of the marine social subsystem. The combination of composite ecosystem theory and conjugate ecosystem theory was applied to the marine economic-ecological-social composite system, the concept of “conjugate degree of marine composite system” was proposed, the conjugate mechanism of marine composite system subsystem was discussed, the conjugate degree measurement model and prediction model of marine composite system were constructed, the conjugate degree measurement index system of marine composite system was constructed, and the cases of China’s coastal areas were empirically analyzed. The empirical results show that 1) the conjugation degree of the marine composite system in Shandong Province is in a steady growth and “moderate conjugation” state. 2)The conjugation degree of marine composite systems in China’s coastal areas is mostly in the state of “low conjugation”. 3)The balance development of the three subsystems of marine economy, ecology and society is the basic premise of the high conjugate degree of the marine composite system.4) It is unscientific and unreasonable to measure the development of the marine system by the gross marine product. Finally, the policy recommendations for the conjugate development of the marine composite system were proposed. The multi-objective comprehensive evaluation of ocean system operation was explored to provide decision support and policy basis for promoting the balanced, sustainable and high-quality development of ocean system.
Modelling the influence of submesoscale processes on phytoplankton dynamics in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Xiu Peng , Guo Lin , Ma Wentao
Published: August 2022

Submesoscale processes in the ocean vary rapidly in both space and time, and are often difficult to capture by field observations. Their dynamical connection with marine biology remains largely unknown because of the intrinsic link between temporal and spatial variations. In May 2015, satellite chlorophyll data demonstrated high concentration patches in the edge region between mesoscale eddies, which were higher than those in the cyclonic eddy core region in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). The underlying mechanisms were examined with a high-resolution physical-biological model. By tracking Lagrangian particles in the model, this study shows that the edge region between eddies is a submesoscale frontal region that is prone to intense upwelling and downwelling motions. We identified two key submesoscale mechanisms that affect nutrient transport flux significantly, submesoscale fontal dynamics and submesoscale coherent eddies. The dynamics associated with these two mechanisms were shown to be able to inject subsurface nutrients into the upper layer, generate the high chlorophyll patch, and alter phytoplankton community structure in the NSCS. This study shows the importance of submesoscale processes on phytoplankton dynamics in the NSCS and highlights the need for high-resolution observations.
The hemodynamic stability of remimazolam compared with propofol in patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection: A randomized trial
Authors: Qiu Yuwei , Gu Wei , Zhao Mingye , Zhang Yunyun , Wu Jingxiang
Published: August 2022

Objective

Hypotension is common in propofol anesthesia. Whether remimazolam could reduce intraoperative hypotension remains unknown. We therefore tested the primary hypothesis that remimazolam reduces the incidence of intraoperative hypotension compared with propofol in adult patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) surgery.

Materials and methods

We conducted a prospective trial to compare patients who received either remimazolam or propofol bolus induction and thereafter intravenous infusion. The hemodynamic parameters were measured using CNAP® Monitor 500 system. Our primary analysis was to compare the incidence of hypotension defined as systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg between remimazolam and propofol during the whole anesthesia period.

Results

The incidence of hypotension decreased by 50%, from 67.9% in propofol group to 32.1% in remimazolam group (p < 0.01). Patients received less amount of intraoperative phenylephrine in the remimazolam group than the propofol group (0 [0–40] μg vs. 80 [0–200] μg, p < 0.01). Time-weighted average and cumulative time of hypotension was lower in remimazolam group compared with propofol group (p < 0.05). Cardiac output continuously measured by CNAP was preserved much better in remimazolam group compared with propofol group (p = 0.01), while systemic vascular resistance did not differ between the groups. The median time from discontinuation until full alertness was 4 [3–11.8] min in the remimazolam group compared with 15 [12.0–19.8] min in the propofol group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Remimazolam has better hemodynamic stability than propofol in adult patients undergoing ESD surgery. The benefits of remimazolam on hemodynamic stability and hypotension prevention may be partly contributed to its better preservation of cardiac output.

Clinical Trial Registration

[http://www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/showproj.aspx?proj=61104], identifier [ChiCTR2000037975].
Comparison of the Performance of 24 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Assays in the Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients
Authors: Wu Shiji , Hou Hongyan , Li Huijun , Wang Ting , Wei Wei , Zhang Minxia , Yin Botao , Huang Min , Sun Ziyong , Wang Feng
Published: August 2022

Background

The accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the key to control Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). The performance of different antibody detection methods for diagnosis of COVID-19 is inconclusive.

Methods

Between 16 February and 28 February 2020, 384 confirmed COVID-19 patients and 142 healthy controls were recruited. 24 different serological tests, including 4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIAs), 10 chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIAs), and 10 lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), were simultaneously performed.

Results

The sensitivities of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies with different reagents ranged from 75 to 95.83% and 46.09 to 92.45%, respectively. The specificities of both anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM were relatively high and comparable among different reagents, ranged from 88.03 to 100%. The area under the curves (AUCs) of different tests ranged from 0.733 to 0.984, and the AUCs of EIAs or CLIAs were significantly higher than those of LFIAs. The sensitivities of both IgG and IgM gradually increased with increase of onset time. After 3–4 weeks, the sensitivities of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG were maintained at a certain level but the sensitivities of IgM were gradually decreased. Six COVID-19 patients who displayed negative anti-SARS-CoV-2 results were associated with the factors such as older age, having underlying diseases, and using immunosuppressant.

Conclusion

Besides the purpose of assessing the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the population, SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays may have an adjunct role in the diagnosis and exclusion of COVID-19, especially by using high-throughput technologies (EIAs or CLIAs).
Changes to bacterial communities and soil metabolites in an apple orchard as a legacy effect of different intercropping plants and soil management practices
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Chu Yannan , Jia Yonghua , Yue Haiying , Han Zhenhai , Wang Yi
Published: August 2022

Intercropping is an important soil management practice for increasing orchard productivity and land-use efficiency because it has beneficial effects on soil microbial communities and soil properties. However, there is relatively little information available regarding the effects of different crops/grasses on soil microbial communities and soil metabolic products in apple orchards in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, we showed the microbial communities of apple, intercropping plants, and sandy waste soil, using the third-generation PacBio SMRT long-read sequencing technology. Our results also revealed that the microbial communities and soil metabolic properties differed significantly between apple and the sandy waste soil and the intercropping plants. Intercropping could significantly enrich diverse microbial species, microbial nitrogen, and microbial carbon of soil. Moreover, intercropping with licorice showed better effects in recruiting beneficial microbes, compared to grass and pepper, significantly enriching species belonging to some well-known taxa with beneficial effects, including Bacillus, Ensifer, Paenibacillus, Rhizobium, and Sphingomonas. Thus, intercropping with licorice may improve apple tree growth and disease resistance. Furthermore, Bradyrhizobium and Rubrobacter were included among the keystone taxa of apple, whereas Bacillus, Chitinophaga, Stenotrophobacter, Rubrobacter, and Luteimonas were the keystone taxa of the intercropping plants. The results of our study suggest that intercropping with licorice is a viable option for increasing apple orchard productivity.
Automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antimicrobial resistance genotyping using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing data among Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Conzemius Rick , Bergman Yehudit , Májek Peter , Beisken Stephan , Lewis Shawna , Jacobs Emily B. , Tamma Pranita D. , Simner Patricia J.
Published: August 2022

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) enables the molecular characterization of bacterial pathogens. We compared the accuracy of the Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing platforms for the determination of AMR classes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) among 181 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Sequencing reads for each isolate were uploaded to AREScloud (Ares Genetics) to determine the presence of AMR markers and the predicted WGS-AST profile. The profiles of both sequencing platforms were compared to broth microdilution (BMD) AST. Isolates were delineated by resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems as well as the presence of AMR markers to determine clinically relevant AMR classes. The overall categorical agreement (CA) was 90% (Illumina) and 88% (ONT) across all antimicrobials, 96% for the prediction of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins for both platforms, and 94% (Illumina) and 91% (ONT) for the prediction of resistance to carbapenems. Carbapenem resistance was overestimated on ONT with a major error of 16%. Sensitivity for the detection of carbapenemases, extended-spectrum β-lactamases, and plasmid-mediated ampC genes was 98, 95, and 70% by ONT compared to the Illumina dataset as the reference. Our results highlight the potential of the ONT platform’s use in clinical microbiology laboratories. When combined with robust bioinformatics methods, WGS-AST predictions may be a future approach to guide effective antimicrobial decision-making.
Effects of cadmium exposure on intestinal microflora of Cipangopaludina cathayensis
Authors: Jiang Jiao-yun , Li Wen-hong , Wu Yang-yang , Cheng Chun-xing , Ye Quan-qing , Feng Jia-xun , Xie Zhi-xun
Published: August 2022

As one of the most environmentally toxic heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) has attracted the attention of researchers globally. In particular, Guangxi, a province in southwestern China, has been subjected to severe Cd pollution due to geogenic processes and anthropogenic activities. Cd can be accumulated in aquatic animals and transferred to the human body through the food chain, with potential health risks. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of waterborne Cd exposure (0.5 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L) on the intestinal microbiota of mudsnail, Cipangopaludina cathayensis, which is favored by farmers and consumers in Guangxi. Gut bacterial community composition was investigated using high-throughput sequencing of the V3–V4 segment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Our results indicated that C. cathayensis could tolerate low Cd (0.5 mg/L) stress, while Cd exposure at high doses (1.5 mg/L) exerted considerable effects on microbiota composition. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in the mudsnail gut microbiota. The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes increased significantly under high Cd exposure (H14) (p < 0.01), with no significant change in the low Cd exposure (L14) treatment. The dominant genera with significant differences in relative abundance were Pseudomonas, Cloacibacterium, Acinetobacter, Dechloromonas, and Rhodobacter. In addition, Cd exposure could significantly alter the pathways associated with metabolism, cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, human diseases, and organismal systems. Notably, compared to the L14 treatment, some disease-related pathways were enriched, while some xenobiotic and organic compound biodegradation and metabolism pathways were significantly inhibited in the H14 group. Overall, Cd exposure profoundly influenced community structure and function of gut microbiota, which may in turn influence C. cathayensis gut homeostasis and health.
Analysis of Brain Lipids in the Early-Onset Tay–Sachs Disease Mouse Model With the Combined Deficiency of β-Hexosaminidase A and Neuraminidase 3
Authors: Can Melike , Sengül Tugce , Demir Secil Akyildiz , İnci Orhan K. , Basırlı Hande , Seyrantepe Volkan
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Tay–Sachs disease is an autosomal recessively inherited lysosomal storage disease that results from loss-of-function mutations in the HEXA gene coding β-hexosaminidase A. HEXA gene deficiency affects the central nervous system owing to GM2 ganglioside accumulation in lysosomes resulting in progressive neurodegeneration in patients. We recently generated a novel mice model with a combined deficiency of β-hexosaminidase A and neuraminidase 3 (Hexa−/−Neu3−/−) that mimics both the neuropathological and clinical abnormalities of early-onset Tay–Sachs disease. Here, we aimed to explore the secondary accumulation of lipids in the brain of Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice.

Materials and Methods: In the cortex and hippocampus of five-month-old WT, Hexa−/−, Neu3−/−, and Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice, lipid levels belonging to glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, and sterol lipids were evaluated using a shotgun lipidomics approach. The levels of myelin were also assessed by luxol fast blue staining and immunohistochemistry using antibodies against myelin basic protein. We further examined glycoconjugate and cholesterol levels by periodic acid–Schiff and filipin staining, respectively. Toluidine blue staining was also performed to display axonal degeneration.

Results: Among glycerophospholipids, we demonstrated elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine-ether and lysophosphatidylcholine while decreased levels of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine in both cortex and hippocampus of Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice. In the glycerolipid class, we showed an alleviated level of sphingomyelin in both cortex and hippocampus, but the higher levels of diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol were detected in only the hippocampus of Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice. The lower level of sterol was also detected in the cortex of Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice but not in the hippocampus.

Histochemical studies showed a decrease in the myelin level and axonal degeneration indicating neuronal pathology in the brain of Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice. Although glycoconjugate accumulation was evident both in the cortex and hippocampus, we did not detect any changes in the level of cholesterol.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that alterations in lipid metabolism and neuropathology, such as demyelination and axonal degeneration, might be related to the dysfunctionality of lipid-related cellular pathways like autophagy. Understanding of brain-specific lipid alterations contributes to evaluating the effectiveness of treatments in Hexa−/−Neu3−/− mice in future studies.
Rotenone aggravates PD-like pathology in A53T mutant human α-synuclein transgenic mice in an age-dependent manner
Authors: Chen An-Di , Cao Jia-Xin , Chen Hai-Chao , Du Hong-Li , Xi Xiao-Xia , Sun Jing , Yin Jie , Jing Yu-Hong , Gao Li-Ping
Published: August 2022

Multiple factors such as genes, environment, and age are involved in developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology. However, how various factors interact to cause PD remains unclear. Here, 3-month and 9-month-old hα-syn+⁣/− mice were treated with low-dose rotenone for 2 months to explore the mechanisms that underline the environment–gene–age interaction in the occurrence of PD. We have examined the behavior of mice and the PD-like pathologies of the brain and gut. The present results showed that impairments of the motor function and olfactory function were more serious in old hα-syn+/– mice with rotenone than that in young mice. The dopaminergic neuron loss in the SNc is more in old hα-syn+/– mice with rotenone than in young mice. Expression of hα-syn+/– is increased in the SNc of hα-syn+/– mice following rotenone treatment for 2 months. Furthermore, the number of activated microglia cells increased in SNc and accompanied the high expression of inflammatory cytokines, namely, TNF-α and IL-18 in the midbrain of old hα-syn+/– mice treated with rotenone. Meanwhile, we found that after treatment with rotenone, hα-syn positive particles deposited in the intestinal wall, intestinal microflora, and T lymphocyte subtypes of Peyer’s patches changed, and intestinal mucosal permeability increased. Moreover, these phenomena were age-dependent. These findings suggested that rotenone aggravated the PD-like pathologies and affected the brain and gut of human α-syn+/– transgenic mice in an age-dependent manner.
The discriminant validity of single-question assessments of subjective cognitive complaints in an Asian older adult population
Authors: Pang Ting , Zhao Xuhao , He Xindi , Kan Cheuk Ni , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Cheng Ching-Yu , Yuan Changzheng , Chen Christopher , Xu Xin
Published: August 2022

Objective

To compare the discriminant validity of three different single-question assessments of subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) for dementia in a community-based older adult population in Singapore.

Methods

Eligible older adults aged ≥60 were recruited into phase I for identifying those who require further assessment using the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and progressive forgetfulness question (PFQ). Participants who failed either tests entered phase II and were administered various single-question assessments of SCC, such as the 8th question on the patient Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8-8pt), informant AD8 (AD8-8info), and the 10th item on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10), followed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a formal neuropsychological battery to identify the participant’s cognitive status by a research diagnosis and DSM-IV criteria. Differences in characteristics among diagnostic groups were compared. All discriminatory indices (sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values, overall accuracy) for these single-question assessments and their combinations with the MoCA were calculated and reported to confirm their discriminant validity in identifying the existence of subjective complaints and objective impairment.

Results

A total of 3,780 participants were assessed at phase I, of which 957 entered and completed phase II. Of whom, 911 were dementia-free and 46 had dementia. The MoCA (13/14) displayed good sensitivity (95.6%), specificity (81.5%), and overall accuracy (82.1%) for dementia detection. The GDS-10 and AD8-8pt showed poor discriminant validity, while the AD8-8info had the highest specificity (83.2%) and the greatest overall accuracy (82.5%) for dementia. Compensatory combination of the AD8-8info with MoCA, the sensitivity and positive predictive values were optimized (100%), while the conjunctive combination of two tools achieved excellent specificity (96.3%) and overall accuracy (94.8%) in discriminating dementia patients.

Conclusion and implications

Combining a reliable single-question SCC assessment with an objective tool can efficiently discriminate dementia patients from healthy older adults in the community.
Serine ether glycerophospholipids: Decrements in the frontal cortex associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wood Paul L. , Woltjer Randall L.
Published: August 2022

Ether glycerophospholipids (GPL) are involved in membrane fluidity and fusion. Vinyl-ether GPL are also conjectured to provide antioxidant capacity in the brain. The roles of these lipids in the processes involved in the development of dementia are not understood but choline and ethanolamine vinyl-ether GPL (i.e., plasmalogens) are decreased in the brains of subjects with dementia. In contrast, serine ether and vinyl-ether GPL have not been investigated in human brain. We therefore undertook an evaluation of these lipids, utilizing high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), in tissues from control and dementia subjects that we had previously characterized in-depth. We can report for the first time that a number of serine ether GPL and a more limited number of serine plasmalogens are present in human frontal cortex. In addition, we found that some of these frontal cortex lipids are decreased in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), and late-onset AD (LOAD). In contrast no alterations in serine ether GPL were monitored in the frontal cortex of donors with schizophrenia, demonstrating disease specificity. These data suggest that further studies of the roles of ether GPL, including serine ether GPL, in brain function are worthy of undertaking.
Altered resting state brain metabolic connectivity in dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Choi Euna , Han Ji Won , Suh Seung Wan , Bae Jong Bin , Han Ji Hyun , Lee Subin , Kim Sang Eun , Kim Ki Woong
Published: August 2022

Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) have Parkinsonism in common with Parkinson's disease (PD) or PD dementia (PDD), they have different neuropathologies that underlie Parkinsonism. Altered brain functional connectivity that may correspond to neuropathology has been reported in PD while never been studied in DLB. To identify the characteristic brain connectivity of Parkinsonism in DLB, we compared the resting state metabolic connectivity in striato-thalamo-cortical (STC) circuit, nigrostriatal pathway, and cerebello-thalamo-cortical motor (CTC) circuit in 27 patients with drug-naïve DLB and 27 age- and sex-matched normal controls using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET. We derived 118 regions of interest using the Automated Anatomical Labeling templates and the Wake Forest University Pick-Atlas. We applied the sparse inverse covariance estimation method to construct the metabolic connectivity matrix. Patients with DLB, with or without Parkinsonism, showed lower inter-regional connectivity between the areas included in the STC circuit (motor cortex–striatum, midbrain–striatum, striatum–globus pallidus, and globus pallidus–thalamus) than the controls. DLB patients with Parkinsonism showed less reduced inter-regional connectivity between the midbrain and the striatum than those without Parkinsonism, and higher inter-regional connectivity between the areas included in the CTC circuit (motor cortex–pons, pons–cerebellum, and cerebellum–thalamus) than those without Parkinsonism and the controls. The resting state metabolic connectivity in the STC circuit may be reduced in DLB. In DLB with Parkinsonism, the CTC circuit and the nigrostriatal pathway may be activated to mitigate Parkinsonism. This difference in the brain connectivity may be a candidate biomarker for differentiating DLB from PD or PDD.
Motor, epileptic, and developmental phenotypes in genetic disorders affecting G protein coupled receptors-cAMP signaling
Authors: Galosi Serena , Pollini Luca , Novelli Maria , Bernardi Katerina , Di Rocco Martina , Martinelli Simone , Leuzzi Vincenzo
Published: August 2022

Over the last years, a constantly increasing number of genetic diseases associated with epilepsy and movement disorders have been recognized. An emerging group of conditions in this field is represented by genetic disorders affecting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)–cAMP signaling. This group of postsynaptic disorders includes genes encoding for proteins highly expressed in the central nervous system and involved in GPCR signal transduction and cAMP production (e.g., GNAO1, GNB1, ADCY5, GNAL, PDE2A, PDE10A, and HPCA genes). While the clinical phenotype associated with ADCY5 and GNAL is characterized by movement disorder in the absence of epilepsy, GNAO1, GNB1, PDE2A, PDE10A, and HPCA have a broader clinical phenotype, encompassing movement disorder, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental disorders. We aimed to provide a comprehensive phenotypical characterization of genetic disorders affecting the cAMP signaling pathway, presenting with both movement disorders and epilepsy. Thus, we reviewed clinical features and genetic data of 203 patients from the literature with GNAO1, GNB1, PDE2A, PDE10A, and HPCA deficiencies. Furthermore, we delineated genotype–phenotype correlation in GNAO1 and GNB1 deficiency. This group of disorders presents with a highly recognizable clinical phenotype combining distinctive motor, epileptic, and neurodevelopmental features. A severe hyperkinetic movement disorder with potential life-threatening exacerbations and high susceptibility to a wide range of triggers is the clinical signature of the whole group of disorders. The existence of a distinctive clinical phenotype prompting diagnostic suspicion and early detection has relevant implications for clinical and therapeutic management. Studies are ongoing to clarify the pathophysiology of these rare postsynaptic disorders and start to design disease-specific treatments.
Glymphatic system dysfunction in patients with early chronic kidney disease
Authors: Heo Chang Min , Lee Dong Ah , Park Kang Min , Lee Yoo Jin , Park Sihyung , Kim Yang Wook , Ko Junghae , Yoo Byeong Cheol , Park Bong Soo
Published: August 2022

Introduction

It is a recent finding that glymphatic system dysfunction contributes to various neurological problems. The purpose of this research was to assess the function of the glymphatic system in neurologically asymptomatic early chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and healthy controls, using diffusion tensor image analysis along perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index.

Methods

In a prospective study, we included patients with early CKD who were asymptomatic for neurological issues and obtained clinical and laboratory data. In all participants, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was conducted. We used DSI program for DTI preprocessing and DTI-ALPS index estimation. The DTI-ALPS index was compared between patients with early CKD and healthy controls, and the association between clinical characteristics and the DTI-ALPS index was investigated.

Results

Eighteen patients with early CKD and 18 healthy controls were included in this study. Patients with early CKD had lower DTI-ALPS index than healthy controls (1.259 ± 0.199 vs. 1.477 ± 0.232, p = 0.004). In the correlation analysis, the DTI-ALPS index had no significant relationship with other clinical factors.

Conclusion

We suggest dysfunction of glymphatic system in patients with early chronic kidney disease using the DTI-ALPS index. This may be related to the pathophysiology of neurological problems including impairment of cognition in patients with early CKD.
Iron deposition in the precuneus is correlated with mild cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral microbleeds: A quantitative susceptibility mapping study
Authors: Tu Jing , Yan Jin , Liu Juan , Liu Dandan , Wang Xiaomeng , Gao Fei
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to define whether mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with iron deposition in rich-club nodes distant from cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

Methods

A total of 64 participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and were separated into three groups, namely, CMB(+), CMB(–), and healthy controls (HCs). We compared their characteristics and susceptibility values of rich-club nodes [e.g., superior frontal gyrus (SFG), precuneus, superior occipital gyrus (SOG), thalamus, and putamen]. We then divided the CMB(+) and CMB(–) groups into subgroups of patients with or without MCI. Then, we analyzed the relationship between iron deposition and MCI by comparing the susceptibility values of rich-club nodes. We assessed cognitive functions using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and quantified iron content using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Results

In the putamen, the CMB(+) and CMB(–) groups had significantly different susceptibility values. Compared with the HCs, the CMB(+) and CMB(–) groups had significantly different susceptibility values for the SFG and SOG. In addition, we found significant differences in the putamen susceptibility values of the CMB(+)MCI(+) group and the two CMB(–) groups. The CMB(+)MCI(+) and CMB(+)MCI(–) groups had significantly different precuneus susceptibility values. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that only higher susceptibility values of precuneus were associated with a cognitive decline in patients with CMBs, and it indicated statistical significance.

Conclusion

Iron deposition in the precuneus is an independent risk factor for MCI in patients with CMBs. CMBs might influence iron content in remote rich-club nodes and be relevant to MCI.
Lower Energy-Adjusted Nutrient Intakes Occur Among Food Energy Under-Reporters With Poor Mental Health
Authors: Davison Karen M. , Araujo Almeida Vanessa , Gondara Lovedeep
Published: August 2022

Background

Food energy under-reporting is differentially distributed among populations. Currently, little is known about how mental health state may affect energy-adjusted nutrient intakes among food energy under-reporters.

Methods

Stratified analysis of energy-adjusted nutrient intake by mental health (poor vs. good) and age/sex was conducted using data from Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) respondents (14–70 years; n = 8,233) who were deemed as under-reporters based on Goldberg's cutoffs.

Results

Most were experiencing good mental health (95.2%). Among those reporting poor mental health, significantly lower energy-adjusted nutrient intakes tended to be found for fiber, protein, vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, and D, and calcium, potassium, and zinc (probability measures (p) < 0.05). For women (51–70 years), all micronutrient intakes, except iron, were significantly lower among those reporting poor mental health (p < 0.05). For men (31–50 years), B vitamin and most mineral intakes, except sodium, were significantly lower among those reporting poor mental health (p < 0.05). Among women (31–50 years) who reported poor mental health, higher energy-adjusted intakes were reported for vitamin B9 and phosphorus (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Among food energy under-reporters, poor mental health tends to lower the report of specific energy-adjusted nutrient intakes that include ones critical for mental health. Future research is needed to discern if these differences may be attributed to deviations in the accurate reports of food intakes, measurement errors, or mental health states.
Comparison of hook-wire and medical glue for CT-guided preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules
Authors: Zhang Huijun , Li Ying , Chen Xiaofeng , He Zelai
Published: August 2022

Background

Preoperative localization is challenging due to the small diameter of pulmonary nodules or their deep location in the lung parenchyma during VATS surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of both hook-wire and medical glue for pre-operative localization of pulmonary nodules.

Methods

In the current study, 158 patients were retrospectively analyzed (January 2019 and January 2020). The patients underwent hook-wire or medical glue for pre-operative localization of pulmonary nodules. Among them, 74 patients in the hook-wire group and 84 patients in the medical glue group underwent VATS anatomic segmentectomy or wedge resection after localization of pulmonary nodules. Pre-operative localization data from all patients were compiled. Moreover, the efficacy and safety of the two methods were evaluated according to localization success rates and localization-related complications.

Results

The success rate of localization in the medical glue group was 100% while 97.3% in the hook-wire group. After localization of the pulmonary nodules, the incidence of minor pneumothorax in the medical glue group (11.9%) was lower than that in the hook-wire group (37.8%) (p=0.01). The incidence of mild pulmonary parenchymal hemorrhage in the medical glue group (13.1%) was also lower than that in the hook-wire group (24.3%) (p=0.000). The mean time from the completion of localization to the start of surgery was also longer in the medical glue group than in the hook-wire group (p=0.000). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores after localization were higher in the hook-wire group than in the medical glue group (p=0.02). In both groups, parenchymal hemorrhage was significantly associated with the needle length in hook-wire localization and the depth of the medical glue in the lung parenchyma (p = 0.009 and 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

These two localization methods are safe and effective in pre-operative pulmonary nodule localization. The medical glue localization method had a lower risk of complications, a higher localization success rate, less pain after localization and more flexibility in the arrangement of operation time.
Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the duodenal papilla with hepatic metastases: A case report and literature review
Authors: Han Lu , Ding Naiqing , Li Li , Wei Xiao , Hu Jing , Liu Baorui , Qian Xiaoping
Published: August 2022

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is a rare special type of adenocarcinoma, featured by hepatocyte components in primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. It has the characteristics of high malignancy, invasiveness, rapid progress, and poor prognosis. An abnormal elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) may occur in most cases. The diagnosis is mainly based on pathological morphology. Here, we reported a case of hepatic adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. The middle-aged female patient had an ampulla mass at diagnosis and received radical pancreaticoduodenectomy. The postoperative pathology was stage IIIA duodenal adenocarcinoma. At 1 month after surgery, she had multiple intrahepatic metastases and retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis; the AFP level was 300 ng/ml at that time. As she refused target therapy, two cycles of capecitabine-oxaliplatin (XELOX) chemotherapy were performed. However, the AFP elevated from 300 to 1,931.90 ng/ml, and the disease progressed rapidly. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of tissue samples from presurgical endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), surgery, and liver biopsy showed positive AFP staining. Combining the abnormal elevation of serum AFP and microscopic pathological morphology, this case is diagnosed as hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the duodenum with liver metastasis. The physical condition of this patient was too poor to receive follow-up treatment. She died of the rapid disease progression with an overall survival time of 161 days. Considering that in most patients with hepatoid adenocarcinoma the abnormal elevation of serum AFP occurs preoperatively and returns to normal postoperatively rather than normal before surgery and increased after surgery, the primary lesion is located in the stomach rather than the intestine, and the patients are more often older men rather than middle-aged women; this case is rare particularly. Therefore, reporting this case with complete case data may be helpful to further study, so as to improve the understanding of this special type of malignant tumor.
Review: Precise sarcoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models enable identification of novel effective combination therapies with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor palbociclib: A strategy for clinical application
Authors: Higuchi Takashi , Igarashi Kentaro , Yamamoto Norio , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Kimura Hiroaki , Miwa Shinji , Bouvet Michael , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki , Hoffman Robert M.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Sarcomas are rare heterogeneous malignant tumors that originate and develop in soft tissue or bone. Effective treatment for sarcomas is still limited to traditional chemotherapy and surgery that are often ineffective for recurrent disease. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) promote abnormal cell cycling and cell division in many cancers including sarcomas. Therefore, our hypothesis was that CDK inhibitors may be useful candidates for sarcoma treatment. Patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models mimic the clinical disease for all major cancer types and have identified effective treatments that hold much clinical promise. The present report reviews sarcoma PDOX models that we have established for their potential to discover effective combination treatments based on CDK inhibitors for recalcitrant sarcoma.

Methods

We have previously reported six sarcoma PDOX studies evaluating the CDK inhibitor palbociclib on sarcoma, including osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, de-differentiated liposarcoma, and peritoneal metastatic leiomyosarcoma.

Results

Palbociclib monotherapy significantly inhibited, but not regressed, the PDOX growth of osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, de-differentiated liposarcoma, and peritoneal metastatic leiomyosarcoma. A combination of palbociclib and a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, everolimus, significantly inhibited, but did not regress, the PDOX growth of osteosarcoma. Combinations of palbociclib with a multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib, and palbociclib combined with recombinant methioninase were effective and regressed the osteosarcoma and de-differentiated liposarcoma PDOX models, respectively.

Conclusions

Novel effective drug combinations using the CDK inhibitor palbociclib were identified in PDOX models of the major types of sarcomas. Methionine restriction effected by methioninase increased the efficacy of palbociclib. Combination therapy with palbociclib is a promising future strategy for improved sarcoma therapy in the clinic.