bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of cervical and global spine sagittal alignment on cervical curvature changes after posterior cervical laminoplasty
Authors: Li Xiang-Yu , Wang Yu , Zhu Wei-Guo , Kong Chao , Lu Shi-Bao
Published: December 2022

Objective

To analyze the correlation between the changes in cervical curvature and the sagittal parameters of spino-pelvic and clinical efficacy after posterior laminoplasty (LP).

Methods

The patients with cervical spondylosis treated with LP from June 2018 to December 2020 were reviewed. The preoperative and follow-up spine full-length films were measured. The measured data included C2–C7 Cobb angle, C2–7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 slope (T1S), pelvic incidence, sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and C7-SVA. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and neck disability index (NDI) score were recorded before surgery and follow-up.

Results

There were 56 patients in this study. There were no significant differences in spino-pelvic sagittal parameters before and after surgery; however, the JOA score significantly improved. The changes in postoperative cervical lordosis correlated with SS, PT, LL, T1S, and C7-SVA (P < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that T1S and C7-SVA were associated with reducing cervical lordosis (P = 0.021 and P = 0.001, respectively). Patients with larger T1S combined with larger C7-SVA had more cervical lordosis loss, poor JOA improvement, and high postoperative NDI scores (P < 0.001, P = 0.018, and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients should be examined with full-length spine film before surgery to evaluate the cervical and spino-pelvic sagittal balance. T1S and C7-SVA correlated with changes in cervical sagittal alignment after LP.

Level of evidence

III.
Low-level colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs is maintained by slowly evolving, closely related strains in Finnish pig farms
Authors: Verkola Marie , Takala Milla , Nykäsenoja Suvi , Olkkola Satu , Kurittu Paula , Kiljunen Saija , Tuomala Henni , Järvinen Asko , Heikinheimo Annamari
Published: December 2022

Background

Over the past two decades, livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has become widely prevalent in pig production in Europe. The carriage status of LA-MRSA is known to vary among individual pigs, but bacterial load in pigs has rarely been studied. We assessed the quantity of LA-MRSA in nasal and skin samples of pigs and investigated the genetic diversity of the strains together with sequenced strains from national surveillance and pathology samples from the Finnish Food Authority. On two farms with assumed MRSA-positive status, farm 1 and farm 2, 10 healthy pigs were sampled three times during 2 weeks from the nares and skin (study A). On farm 1, 54 additional pigs were sampled and from confirmed MRSA-positive animals, 10 were randomly selected and transported to a clean, controlled environment for further sampling (study B). From the samples taken on farms 1 and 2 and in the controlled environment, MRSA was isolated both by direct plating and enrichment on selective media. spa types, multilocus sequence types, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types, resistance and virulence genes were determined. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) analysis was performed, including the sequences deriving from the surveillance/pathology samples from the Finnish Food Authority.

Results

All pigs on farm 1 carried LA-MRSA in the nares at all three time points and five pigs on farm 2 at one time point. Nasal quantity varied between 10 and 103 CFU/swab and quantity on the skin between 10 and 102 CFU/swab. In the controlled environment, MRSA was detected in at least one of the nasal samples from each animal. spa type t034 was predominant. cgMLST showed one cluster with minimum allele differences between 0 and 11.

Conclusions

The study shows predominantly low-level carriage (< 103 CFU/swab) of LA-MRSA on farms. In the controlled environment we observed a decline in nasal carriage but constant skin carriage. cgMLST showed that strains of spa type t034 are closely related at the national level.
Percutaneous bone adhesive application for Jones fracture “at-risk” of nonunion or delayed union: a hypothesis
Authors: Ahankoob Niaz , Stahel Vincent P.
Published: December 2022

Background

Bone adhesives have been on the forefront of orthopedic surgery research for decades due to the potential benefit they may have in fracture management. Current publications and research being conducted on bone adhesive could be applied to our current hypothesis for the benefit of a novel minimally invasive treatment option for a select cohort of fractures, Jones fractures. The select fracture’s gold standard of treatment would be nonoperative, but with risk of complications including nonunion and delayed union.

Presentation of hypothesis

We hypothesize that percutaneous application of bone adhesive will provide an additional treatment option for fracture patterns that do not require operative fixation, but would benefit from additional stability. The primary outcome measures would be (1) duration of time required for bony consolidation (defined as 3 of 4 bridging cortices) and (2) duration of absenteeism (inability to work), and pain levels within the first week after the procedure. Secondary outcome measures would be the incidence of nonunion or delayed union. We hypothesize that the select bone adhesive would accelerate bony consolidation, decrease absenteeism, decrease pain levels within the first week after procedure, and decrease the incidence of delayed union and/or nonunion.

Testing of hypothesis

We propose a prospective multicenter, randomized, and open label trial clinical trial to test the bone adhesive via percutaneous injection into acute non-displaced or minimally displaced Jones fractures.

Implications of hypothesis

Bone adhesives are a new frontier in treatment of fractures, currently in laboratory and animal testing phases. The appropriate bone adhesive formula has not been approved for clinical trial use, but the implications of the bone adhesive may go beyond decreased complications and ease of stabilizing a select cohort of closed fractures. With the injectable compound illustrated (Fig. 1), the adhesive could be applied percutaneously in hopes of achieving improved outcomes compared to non-operative treatment. The overall goal of the clinical trial is to provide patients a safe treatment option for improved bone union rates of nonoperative fractures compared to the current gold standard management of the same fracture with earlier pain control, early bony consolidation and lower risk of delayed union/nonunion. The ideal patient population for use of a percutaneous bone adhesive in future studies would be for those with multiple medical comorbidities for whom surgical risks outweigh the benefits, in addition to patients at high risk for nonunion based on fracture pattern or systemic biology.
Hypertension crisis as the first symptom of renovascular hypertension in children
Authors: Xu Lingling , Ba Hongjun , Jiang Xiaoyun , Qin Youzhen
Published: December 2022

Background

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is one of the main causes of hypertensive crisis (HTN-C). It is characterized by acute onset and severe disease, and early diagnosis and treatment are difficult. The objective was to describe the characteristics of RVH and factors associated with RVH leading to HTN-C in children. At present, there are few clinical studies on RVH in children with large cases in China.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of inpatient children with RVH. Patients were divided into non-hypertensive crisis (non-HTN-C) group, and HTN-C group according to the first symptoms and blood pressure. Further, HTN-C were classified as hypertensive urgency (HTN-U) or hypertensive emergency (HTN-E).

Results

Fifty-four pediatric cases (41 boys and 13 girls) were included. 83.3% of the RVH cases were ≥ 6 years old. Three cases were classified into the non-HTN-C group. Of the 51 HTN-C cases, 18 cases were grouped as HTN-U and 33 as HTN-E. The HTN-U group were mainly asymptomatic (50.0%, 9/18) while the HTN-E group mainly presented with neurological symptoms (72.7%, 24/33). The number of unknown etiology children was 32 (59.2%). The top three known etiologies were Takayasu’s arteritis (50.0%, 11/22), congenital renal dysplasia (27.3%, 6/22) and fibromuscular dysplasia (13.6%, 3/22). As for the target organ damage of RVH, patients had a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (71.4%, 35/49) and retinopathy (77.8%, 21/27).

Conclusions

Most RVH patients with HTN-C as the first symptoms, especially for males over 6 years old, should be assessed for RVH even if they were asymptomatic. Most asymptomatic patients with RVH already had target organ damage, and symptomatic patients even developed life-threatening complications. As preventive measures, routine monitoring of BP during children’s physical examinations is advised.
Sensitivity of three commercial tests for SARS-CoV-2 serology in children: an Italian multicentre prospective study
Authors: Venturini Elisabetta , Giometto Sabrina , Tamborino Agnese , Becciolini Laura , Bosis Samantha , Corsello Giovanni , Del Barba Paolo , Garazzino Silvia , Lo Vecchio Andrea , Pugi Alessandra , Signa Sara , Stera Giacomo , Trapani Sandra , Castelli Gattinara Guido , Lucenteforte Ersilia , Galli Luisa
Published: December 2022

Background

US Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorizations for hundreds of serological assays to support Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate, for the first time in children, the performance of three widely utilized SARS-CoV-2 serology commercial assays, Diesse Diagnostics (IgG, IgA, IgM) and Roche Diagnostics, both Roche Nucleocapsid (N) IgG and Roche Spike (S) IgG assays.

Methods

Sensitivity and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for each of the three different serological tests and mixed and direct comparison were performed.

Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models were fitted to calculate incidence rate ratios and 95% CIs as estimate of the effects of age, gender, time on the serology title. A p-value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results

Overall, 149 children were enrolled in the study. A low sensitivity was found for Diesse IgA, IgM and IgG. Compare to Diesse, Roche S had a higher sensitivity at 15–28 days from infection (0.94, 95%CI: 0.73–1.0) and Roche N at 28–84 days (0.78, 95%CI: 0.58–0.91). When a direct comparison of IgG tests sensitivity was feasible for patients with pairwise information, Roche S and Roche N showed a statistically significant higher sensitivity compared to Diesse in all the study periods, whereas there was no difference between the two Roche tests.

Conclusion

Roche S and Roche N serology tests seem to better perform in children. Large prospective studies are needed to better define the characteristics of those tests.
METTL4-mediated nuclear N6-deoxyadenosine methylation promotes metastasis through activating multiple metastasis-inducing targets
Authors: Hsu Kai-Wen , Lai Joseph Chieh-Yu , Chang Jeng-Shou , Peng Pei-Hua , Huang Ching-Hui , Lee Der-Yen , Tsai Yu-Cheng , Chung Chi-Jung , Chang Han , Chang Chao-Hsiang , Chen Ji-Lin , Pang See-Tong , Hao Ziyang , Cui Xiao-Long , He Chuan , Wu Kou-Juey
Published: December 2022

Background

DNA N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) is rarely present in mammalian cells and its nuclear role remains elusive.

Results

Here we show that hypoxia induces nuclear 6mA modification through a DNA methyltransferase, METTL4, in hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis. Co-expression of METTL4 and 6mA represents a prognosis marker for upper tract urothelial cancer patients. By RNA sequencing and 6mA chromatin immunoprecipitation-exonuclease digestion followed by sequencing, we identify lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 and one novel HIF-1α co-activator, ZMIZ1, that are co-regulated by hypoxia and METTL4. Other genes involved in hypoxia-mediated phenotypes are also regulated by 6mA modification. Quantitative chromatin isolation by RNA purification assay shows the occupancy of lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 on the promoters of multiple EMT regulators, indicating lncRNA-chromatin interaction. Knockdown of lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 abolishes METTL4-mediated tumor metastasis. We demonstrate that ZMIZ1 is an essential co-activator of HIF-1α.

Conclusions

We show that hypoxia results in enriched 6mA levels in mammalian tumor cells through METTL4. This METTL4-mediated nuclear 6mA deposition induces tumor metastasis through activating multiple metastasis-inducing genes. METTL4 is characterized as a potential therapeutic target in hypoxic tumors.
Human microbiota drives hospital-associated antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the urban environment and mirrors patient case rates
Authors: Salazar Cecilia , Giménez Matias , Riera Nadia , Parada Andrés , Puig Josefina , Galiana Antonio , Grill Fabio , Vieytes Mariela , Mason Christopher E. , Antelo Verónica , D’Alessandro Bruno , Risso Jimena , Iraola Gregorio
Published: December 2022

Background

The microbial community composition of urban environments is primarily determined by human activity. The use of metagenomics to explore how microbial communities are shaped in a city provides a novel input that can improve decisions on public health measures, architectural design, and urban resilience. Of note, the sewage system in a city acts as a complex reservoir of bacteria, pharmaceuticals, and antimicrobial resistant (AMR) genes that can be an important source of epidemiological information. Hospital effluents are rich in patient-derived bacteria and can thus readily become a birthplace and hotspot reservoir for antibiotic resistant pathogens which are eventually incorporated into the environment. Yet, the scope to which nosocomial outbreaks impact the urban environment is still poorly understood.

Results

In this work, we extensively show that different urban waters from creeks, beaches, sewage spillways and collector pipes enclose discrete microbial communities that are characterized by a differential degree of contamination and admixture with human-derived bacteria. The abundance of human bacteria correlates with the abundance of AMR genes in the environment, with beta-lactamases being the top-contributing class to distinguish low vs. highly-impacted urban environments. Indeed, the abundance of beta-lactamase resistance and carbapenem resistance determinants in the urban environment significantly increased in a 1-year period. This was in line with a pronounced increase of nosocomial carbapenem-resistant infections reported during the same period that was mainly driven by an outbreak-causing, carbapenemase-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(KPC) ST-11 strain. Genome-resolved metagenomics of urban waters before and after this outbreak, coupled with high-resolution whole-genome sequencing, confirmed the dissemination of the ST-11 strain and a novel KPC megaplasmid from the hospital to the urban environment. City-wide analysis showed that geospatial dissemination of the KPC megaplasmid in the urban environment inversely depended on the sewage system infrastructure.

Conclusions

We show how urban metagenomics and outbreak genomic surveillance can be coupled to generate relevant information for infection control, antibiotic stewardship, and pathogen epidemiology. Our results highlight the need to better characterize and understand how human-derived bacteria and antimicrobial resistance disseminate in the urban environment to incorporate this information in the development of effluent treatment infrastructure and public health policies.
A behavioural activation intervention to increase engagement with life and wellbeing in older adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Scott Julia E. T. , Mazzucchelli Trevor G. , Luszcz Mary A. , Walker Ruth , Windsor Tim D.
Published: December 2022

Background

Meaningful activity engagement is a critical element of ageing well. Interventions designed to increase activity engagement tend to be activity-specific and do not always meet the needs of older adults with diverse interests and capacities. Behavioural activation (BA) provides a promising person-centred framework for promoting engagement in valued activities. This study will examine the effectiveness of a behavioural activation-based intervention for promoting engagement with life and wellbeing among older adults.

Method

Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two conditions (BA intervention, Active Control) and take part in a six-week intervention that consists of one-on-one weekly sessions of up to one hour to be administered either via telephone or online video conferencing with a trained facilitator. This study will recruit 120 + participants aged 65 + who score at or below the median on a test of life engagement. Participants will complete questionnaires of primary and secondary measures both pre-program, one-week and three months post-program. Participants will also complete a daily diary questionnaire during the fourth and fifth weeks of the intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Life Engagement Test, and secondary outcome measures include assessments of subjective wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, mental health, self-reported health, social engagement, loneliness and life satisfaction.

Discussion

The outcomes from this study will provide evidence as to whether a BA based approach represents an effective method for promoting engagement with life and wellbeing among older community-dwelling adults.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Reg no. ACTRN 12621001192875). Trial retrospectively registered 6th September, 2021.
Protein biomarkers in cervicovaginal lavages for detection of endometrial cancer
Authors: Łaniewski Paweł , Cui Haiyan , Mahnert Nichole D. , Mourad Jamal , Borst Matthew P. , Willmott Lyndsay , Chase Dana M. , Roe Denise J. , Herbst-Kralovetz Melissa M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Rates of endometrial cancer (EC) are increasing. For a definitive diagnosis, women undergo various time-consuming and painful medical procedures, such as endometrial biopsy with or without hysteroscopy, and dilation and curettage, which may create a barrier to early detection and treatment, particularly for women with inadequate healthcare access. Thus, there is a need to develop robust EC diagnostics based on non- or minimally-invasive sampling. The objective of this study was to quantify a broad range of immuno-oncology proteins in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples and investigate these proteins as predictive diagnostic biomarkers for EC.

Methods

One hundred ninety-two women undergoing hysterectomy for benign or malignant indications were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Classification of women to four disease groups: benign conditions (n = 108), endometrial hyperplasia (n = 18), low-grade endometrioid carcinoma (n = 53) and other EC subtypes (n = 13) was based on histopathology of biopsy samples collected after the surgery. CVL samples were collected in the operating room during the standard-of-care hysterectomy procedure. Concentrations of 72 proteins in CVL samples were evaluated using multiplex immunoassays. Global protein profiles were assessed using principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses. The relationships between protein levels and disease groups and disease severity were determined using Spearman correlation, univariate and multivariate receiver operating characteristics, and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Women with EC and benign conditions exhibited distinctive cervicovaginal protein profiles. Several proteins in CVL samples (e.g., an immune checkpoint protein, TIM-3, growth factors, VEGF, TGF-α, and an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10) discriminated EC from benign conditions, particularly, when tested in combinations with CA19–9, CA125, eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-6, MCP-1, MDC, MCP-3 and TRAIL (sensitivity of 86.1% and specificity of 87.9%). Furthermore, specific biomarkers (e.g., TIM-3, VEGF, TGF-α, TRAIL, MCP-3, IL-15, PD-L2, SCF) associated with histopathological tumor characteristics, including histological type and grade, tumor size, presence and depth of myometrial invasion or mismatch repair protein status, implying their potential utility for disease prognosis or monitoring therapies.

Conclusions

This proof-of-principle study demonstrated that cervicovaginal sampling coupled with multiplex immunoassay technology can offer a minimally to non-invasive method for EC detection.
Personalised exercise therapy and self-management support for people with multimorbidity: Development of the MOBILIZE intervention
Authors: Bricca Alessio , Jäger Madalina , Dideriksen Mette , Rasmussen Hanne , Nyberg Mette , Pedersen Julie Rønne , Zangger Graziella , Andreasson Karen Hjerrild , Skou Søren T.
Published: December 2022

Background

To our knowledge, there is no intervention which includes personalised exercise therapy and self-management support for people with multimorbidity, although these interventions may be as effective as for people with single chronic conditions. Therefore, we developed a novel intervention, including personalised exercise therapy and self-management support for people with multimorbidity.

Methods

We followed the Medical Research Council framework and conducted one scoping review, five systematic reviews, two registry-based studies, one qualitative interview study and a mixed-methods feasibility study. Following an iterative approach, together with feedback from people with multimorbidity and relevant stakeholders, we developed the MOBILIZE intervention.

Results

The intervention included 24 (60 minutes) sessions of personalised exercise therapy and 24 (30 minutes) sessions of self-management support twice a week for 12 weeks, delivered in small groups by specifically trained physiotherapists. The intervention targets physiological, psychosocial, behavioural, and contextual factors to improve health-related quality of life and physical function in people living with multimorbidity.

Conclusions

We developed a personalised exercise therapy and self-management support programme for people with multimorbidity. The intervention will be tested for its safety and effectiveness in a randomised controlled trial.
Improving outpatient care for heart failure through digital innovation: a feasibility study
Authors: Arnar David O. , Oddsson Saemundur J. , Gunnarsdottir Thrudur , Gudlaugsdottir Gudbjorg Jona , Gudmundsson Elias Freyr , Ketilsdóttir Audur , Halldorsdottir Hulda , Hrafnkelsdottir Thordis Jona , Hallsson Hallur , Amundadottir Maria L. , Thorgeirsson Tryggvi
Published: December 2022

Background

Heart failure (HF) affects over 26 million people worldwide. Multidisciplinary management strategies that include symptom monitoring and patient self-care support reduce HF hospitalization and mortality rates. Ideally, HF follow-up and self-care support includes lifestyle-change recommendations and remote monitoring of weight and HF symptoms. Providing these via a digital solution may be ideal for improving HF disease outcomes and reducing the burden on providers and healthcare systems. This study’s main objective was to assess the feasibility of a digital solution including remote monitoring, lifestyle-change, and self-care support for HF outpatients in Iceland.

Methods

Twenty HF patients (mean age 57.5 years, 80% males) participated in an 8-week study. They were provided with a digital solution (SK-141), including lifestyle-change and disease self-care support, a remote symptom monitoring system, and a secure messaging platform between healthcare providers and patients. This feasibility study aimed to assess patient acceptability of this new intervention, retention rate, and to evaluate trends in clinical outcomes. To assess the acceptability of SK-141, participants completed a questionnaire about their experience after the 8-week study. Participants performed daily assigned activities (missions), including self-reporting symptoms. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at the study's beginning and end with an online survey.

Results

Of the 24 patients invited, 20 were elected to participate. The retention rate of participants throughout the 8-week period was high (80%). At the end of the 8 weeks, thirteen participants completed a questionnaire about their experience and acceptability of the SK-141. They rated their experience positively including on questions whether they would recommend the solution to others (6.8 on a scale of 1–7), whether the solution had improved their life and well-being (5.7 on a scale of 1–7), and whether it was user friendly (5.5 on a scale of 1–7). Many of the clinical parameters studied exhibited a promising trend towards improvement over the 8-week period.

Conclusion

The digital solution, SK-141, was very acceptable to patients and also showed promising clinical results in this small feasibility study. These results encourage us to conduct a longer, more extensive, adequately powered, randomized-controlled study to assess whether this digital solution can improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes among HF patients.
Antidiabetic properties of an Ethanolic leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae) in SD rats
Authors: Adjei De-Graft Gyamfi , Mireku-Gyimah Nana Ama , Sarkodie Joseph Adusei , Nguessan Benoit Banga , Kodua Emmanuel , Amedior Jonathan Komla , Lartey Irene Asare , Adi-Dako Ofosua , Asiedu-Gyekye Isaac Julius , Nyarko Alexander Kwadwo
Published: December 2022

Background

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health problem, with a global prevalence of 9.3%, 4.7% in Africa, and 2.5% in Ghana. Despite the availability of the classic anti-diabetic medications, many patients have not benefited from them due to their poor glycemic controls, high costs, inability to halt disease progression, and untoward side effects. Some patients thus resort to plant-based medicines such as those obtained fromL. taraxacifoliaetc., which have little empirical evidence of efficacy. Therefore, this study investigated the possible antidiabetic effects of the leaf extracts ofL. taraxacifoliaand some potential mechanistic targets involved.

Methodology

Ethanolic extract ofL. taraxacifolialeaves (LTE) was screened for phytoconstituents and tested for blood glucose-lowering properties in both non-diabetic and streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced (STZ-NAD) type-2 model diabetic rats for 4 weeks at doses of 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg. Metformin (200 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. Effects of LTE on blood glucose, serum lipids, hepatic gluconeogenesis, intestinal glucose absorption, liver enzymes, oral glucose tolerance, and rat organ weights were all studied. Pancreatic Islet histology was also conducted.

Results

The ethanolic extract ofL. taraxacifolialeaves reduced fasting blood glucose levels and suppressed hyperglycemia during the oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, hepatic gluconeogenesis and intestinal glucose absorption were inhibited. The extract lowered levels of liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Again, it reversed STZ-induced weight changes to the liver, kidneys, and pancreas as well as restored the morphology of the pancreatic Islet of Langerhans.

Conclusion

Launaea taraxacifolialeaves extract (LTE) possesses anti-diabetic constituents and has the potential to repair diabetes-induced damages to the liver, kidney, and pancreatic Islets in SD rats.
Advances in the development of tubular structures using extrusion-based 3D cell-printing technology for vascular tissue regenerative applications
Authors: Yang Gi Hoon , Kang Donggu , An SangHyun , Ryu Jeong Yeop , Lee KyoungHo , Kim Jun Sik , Song Moon-Yong , Kim Young-Sik , Kwon Sang-Mo , Jung Won-Kyo , Jeong Woonhyeok , Jeon Hojun
Published: December 2022

Until recent, there are no ideal small diameter vascular grafts available on the market. Most of the commercialized vascular grafts are used for medium to large-sized blood vessels. As a solution, vascular tissue engineering has been introduced and shown promising outcomes. Despite these optimistic results, there are limitations to commercialization. This review will cover the need for extrusion-based 3D cell-printing technique capable of mimicking the natural structure of the blood vessel. First, we will highlight the physiological structure of the blood vessel as well as the requirements for an ideal vascular graft. Then, the essential factors of 3D cell-printing including bioink, and cell-printing system will be discussed. Afterwards, we will mention their applications in the fabrication of tissue engineered vascular grafts. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives will be discussed.
Immunomodulatory biomaterials for implant-associated infections: from conventional to advanced therapeutic strategies
Authors: Dong Jiale , Wang Wenzhi , Zhou Wei , Zhang Siming , Li Meng , Li Ning , Pan Guoqing , Zhang Xianzuo , Bai Jiaxiang , Zhu Chen
Published: December 2022

Implant-associated infection (IAI) is increasingly emerging as a serious threat with the massive application of biomaterials. Bacteria attached to the surface of implants are often difficult to remove and exhibit high resistance to bactericides. In the quest for novel antimicrobial strategies, conventional antimicrobial materials often fail to exert their function because they tend to focus on direct bactericidal activity while neglecting the modulation of immune systems. The inflammatory response induced by host immune cells was thought to be a detrimental force impeding wound healing. However, the immune system has recently received increasing attention as a vital player in the host’s defense against infection. Anti-infective strategies based on the modulation of host immune defenses are emerging as a field of interest. This review explains the importance of the immune system in combating infections and describes current advanced immune-enhanced anti-infection strategies. First, the characteristics of traditional/conventional implant biomaterials and the reasons for the difficulty of bacterial clearance in IAI were reviewed. Second, the importance of immune cells in the battle against bacteria is elucidated. Then, we discuss how to design biomaterials that activate the defense function of immune cells to enhance the antimicrobial potential. Based on the key premise of restoring proper host-protective immunity, varying advanced immune-enhanced antimicrobial strategies were discussed. Finally, current issues and perspectives in this field were offered. This review will provide scientific guidance to enhance the development of advanced anti-infective biomaterials.
Drag reducing nose fairings for existing freight train locomotives
Authors: Stucki Chad L. , Maynes Daniel
Published: December 2022

At cruising speed, one of the most significant contributing factors to train fuel consumption is aerodynamic drag, and the leading locomotive experiences much more drag than any other car in the train. This work reports on the drag reduction that can be realized by the use of add-on nose fairings that are deployed on leading locomotives in a train set. Two types of fairing shapes were considered and all fairing walls are flat. It is anticipated that the fairing shapes would result from the deployment of easily stowed panels in an origami inspired manner. One of the fairing shapes has the appearance of a wedge and the other fairing is also wedge shaped, but with flow directing side wall features. For each general fairing shape, the important dimensions were parametrically varied in a systematic manner to identify the dimensions that yield maximum drag reduction. For the first shape, 45 different scenarios were considered; for the second shape, 15 were considered. A steady commercial computational fluid dynamic solver was employed to solve the flow field and locomotive drag for each of the scenarios. The best performing wedge-shaped fairing reduced the leading locomotive drag by nominally 14% and the best performing fairing shape with the side walls reduced the drag by 17%.
Modified homotopy perturbation method and its application to analytical solitons of fractional-order Korteweg–de Vries equation
Authors: Alaje Adedapo Ismaila , Olayiwola Morufu Oyedunsi , Adedokun Kamilu Adewale , Adedeji Joseph Adeleke , Oladapo Asimiyu Olamilekan
Published: December 2022

Background

Experimentally brought to light by Russell and hypothetically explained by Korteweg–de Vries, the KDV equation has drawn the attention of several mathematicians and physicists because of its extreme substantial structure in describing nonlinear evolution equations governing the propagation of weakly dispersive and nonlinear waves. Due to the prevalent nature and application of solitary waves in nonlinear dynamics, we discuss the soliton solution and application of the fractional-order Korteweg–de Vries (KDV) equation using a new analytical approach named the “Modified initial guess homotopy perturbation.”

Results

We established the proposed technique by coupling a power series function of arbitrary order with the renown homotopy perturbation method. The convergence of the method is proved using the Banach fixed point theorem. The methodology was demonstrated with a generalized KDV equation, and we applied it to solve linear and nonlinear fractional-order Korteweg–de Vries equations, which are in Caputo sense. The method’s applicability and effectiveness were established as a feasible series of arbitrary orders that accelerate quickly to the exact solution at an integer order and are obtained as solutions. Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effect of Caputo fractional-order derivatives in the dispersion and propagation of water waves by varying the order $$\alpha$$
α
on the $$[0,1]$$

[
0
,
1
]

interval. Comparative analysis of the simulation results, which were presented graphically and discussed, reveals that the degree of freedom of the Caputo fractional-order derivative is vital to controlling the magnitude of environmental hazards associated with water waves when adjusted.

Conclusion

The proposed method is recommended for obtaining convergent series solutions to fractional-order partial differential equations. We suggested that applied mathematicians and physicists investigate this work to better understand the impact of the degree of freedom posed by Caputo fractional-order derivatives in wave dispersion and propagation, as physical applications can help divert wave-related environmental hazards.
Distribution and characterization of extrachromosomal circular DNA in colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Zhehang , Qi Yadong , He Jiamin , Xu Chaochao , Ge Qiwei , Zhuo Wei , Si Jianmin , Chen Shujie
Published: December 2022

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) has been shown to play an important role in the amplification of tumor genes and the maintenance of intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity, although its complex functional mechanism still remains to be elucidated. As the top three common malignancies in the world, colorectal cancer (CRC) has been threatening human life and health, whose tumorigenesis and development may have elusive connection with eccDNAs. Here, we described the extensive distribution of eccDNAs in the CRC tissues using Circle-seq, which range in size from hundreds to thousands of base pairs (bp). The distribution in tumor tissues had aggregation and tendency compared with random in tumor-adjacent tissues, accompanied with smaller and more regular circle lengths. After sequencing and restoring, we found that the shedding sites of eccDNAs in CRC had similar tendency in chromosome distribution, and focused on tumor-associated genes. Meanwhile, we combined RNA sequencing to explore the correlation of eccDNA differential expression in the gene transcription and signaling pathways, confirming a connection between eccDNA and RNA somewhere. Subsequently, we validated eccDNAs in CRC cell lines and the potential consistency of the junction sites of eccDNAs in CRC tissues and cell lines. Using fragments of the cationic amino acid transporter SLC7A1 to synthesize eccDNAs, we discovered the role of eccDNAs in different regions within the gene.
Charlotte Mew: melancholy poet
Authors: Callender John
Published: December 2022

The main purpose of this article is to draw the attention of its readers to Charlotte Mew, a poet who is not well-known but whose work should be of great interest to mental health clinicians. She lived most of her life in the shadow of mental illness. Her poetry provides penetrating insights into her experiences of this in herself and in members of her family.
Psychological consequences of long COVID: comparing trajectories of depressive and anxiety symptoms before and after contracting SARS-CoV-2 between matched long- and short-COVID groups
Authors: Fancourt Daisy , Steptoe Andrew , Bu Feifei
Published: December 2022

Background

There is a growing global awareness of the psychological consequences of long COVID, supported by emerging empirical evidence. However, the emergence and long-term trajectories of psychological symptoms following the infection are still unclear.

Aims

To examine when psychological symptoms first emerge following infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the long-term trajectories of psychological symptoms comparing long- and short-COVID groups.

Method

We analysed longitudinal data from the UCL COVID-19 Social Study (March 2020 to November 2021). We included data from adults living in England who reported contracting SARS-CoV-2 by November 2021 (n = 3115). Of these, 15.9% reported having had long COVID (n = 495). They were matched to participants who had short COVID using propensity score matching on a variety of demographic, socioeconomic and health covariates (n = 962 individuals with 13 325 observations) and data were further analysed using growth curve modelling.

Results

Depressive and anxiety symptoms increased immediately following the onset of infection in both long- and short-COVID groups. But the long-COVID group had substantially greater initial increases in depressive symptoms and heightened levels over 22 months follow-up. Initial increases in anxiety were not significantly different between groups, but only the short-COVID group experienced an improvement in anxiety over follow-up, leading to widening differences between groups.

Conclusions

The findings support work on the psychobiological pathways involved in the development of psychological symptoms relating to long COVID. The results highlight the need for monitoring of mental health and provision of adequate support to be interwoven with diagnosis and treatment of the physical consequences of long COVID.
Punishment and reputation based partners-switching promotes cooperation in social networks
Authors: Pei Huayan , Yan Guanghui
Published: December 2022

To investigate the cooperation dynamics caused by coevolution of game strategy and social contacts, we propose a behavioral punishment and reputation based partners-switching mechanism, in which individuals are allowed to sever unwanted partnerships and establish new ones with next-nearest neighbors having high reputations. Simulation results show that cooperation is significantly promoted under the proposed mechanism. Under greater temptation to defect or in denser networks, social partners changing needs to be adequately frequent to support the spread of cooperative behavior. For a given average degree

or temptation to defect b, a critical value for time scale ratio W can be observed, above which cooperators occupy the whole population. Our results show that the structural dynamics facilitates the emergence of an underlying heterogeneous network, which provides a favorable network topology for cooperation to prevail under strategy dynamics.
River Life and the Upspring of Nature
Authors: Khan Naveeda
Published: December 2022

In River Life and the Upspring of Nature Naveeda Khan examines the relationship between nature and culture through the study of the everyday existence of chauras, the people who live on the chars (sandbars) within the Jamuna River in Bangladesh. Nature is a primary force at play within this existence as chauras live itinerantly and in flux with the ever-changing river flows; where land is here today and gone tomorrow, the quality of life itself is intertwined with this mutability. Given this centrality of nature to chaura life, Khan contends that we must think of nature not simply as the physical landscape and the plants and animals that live within it but as that which exists within the social and at the level of cognition, the unconscious, intuition, memory, embodiment, and symbolization. By showing how the alluvial flood plains configure chaura life, Khan shows how nature can both give rise to and inhabit social, political, and spiritual forms of life.
Necl2/3-mediated mechanism for tripartite synapse formation
Authors: Nozawa Osamu , Miyata Muneaki , Shiotani Hajime , Kameyama Takeshi , Komaki Ryouhei , Shimizu Tatsuhiro , Kuriu Toshihiko , Kashiwagi Yutaro , Sato Yuka , Koebisu Michinori , Aiba Atsu , Okabe Shigeo , Mizutani Kiyohito , Takai Yoshimi
Published: December 2022

Ramified, polarized protoplasmic astrocytes interact with synapses via perisynaptic astrocyte processes (PAPs) to form tripartite synapses. These astrocyte-synapse interactions mutually regulate their structures and functions. However, molecular mechanisms for tripartite synapse formation remain elusive. We developed an in vitro co-culture system for mouse astrocytes and neurons that induced astrocyte ramifications and PAP formation. Co-cultured neurons were required for astrocyte ramifications in a neuronal activity-dependent manner, and synaptically-released glutamate and activation of astrocytic mGluR5 metabotropic glutamate receptor were likely involved in astrocyte ramifications. Astrocytic Necl2 trans-interacted with axonal Necl3, inducing astrocyte-synapse interactions and astrocyte functional polarization by recruiting EAAT1/2 glutamate transporters and Kir4.1 K+ channel to the PAPs, without affecting astrocyte ramifications. This Necl2/3 trans-interaction increased functional synapse number. Thus, astrocytic Necl2, synaptically-released glutamate and axonal Necl3 cooperatively formed tripartite glutamatergic synapses in vitro. Studies on hippocampal mossy fiber synapses in Necl3 knockout and Necl2/3 double knockout mice confirmed these previously unreported mechanisms for astrocyte-synapse interactions and astrocyte functional polarization in vivo.
Adar1 deletion causes degeneration of the exocrine pancreas via Mavs-dependent interferon signaling
Authors: Rupani Dhwani N. , Thege Fredrik I. , Chandra Vidhi , Rajaei Hajar , Cowan Robert W. , Wörmann Sonja M. , Le Roux Olivereen , Malaney Prerna , Manning Sara L. , Hashem Jack , Bailey-Lundberg Jennifer , Rhim Andrew D. , McAllister Florencia
Published: December 2022

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an RNA-binding protein that deaminates adenosine (A) to inosine (I). A-to-I editing alters post-transcriptional RNA processing, making ADAR1 a crucial regulator of gene expression. Consequently, Adar1 has been implicated in organogenesis. To determine the role of Adar1 in pancreatic development and homeostasis, we conditionally deleted Adar1 from the murine pancreas (Ptf1aCre/+; Adar1Fl/Fl). The resulting mice had stunted growth, likely due to malabsorption associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Analyses of pancreata revealed ductal cell expansion, heightened interferon-stimulated gene expression and an increased influx of immune cells. Concurrent deletion of Adar1 and Mavs, a signaling protein implicated in the innate immune pathway, rescued the degenerative phenotype and resulted in normal pancreatic development. Taken together, our work suggests that the primary function of Adar1 in the pancreas is to prevent aberrant activation of the Mavs-mediated innate immune pathway, thereby maintaining pancreatic homeostasis.
Physiological Responses to Exercise in Hypoxia in Preterm Adults: Convective and Diffusive Limitations in the O2 Transport
Authors: MANFERDELLI GIORGIO , NARANG BENJAMIN J. , BOURDILLON NICOLAS , DEBEVEC TADEJ , MILLET GRÉGOIRE P.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Premature birth induces long-term sequelae on the cardiopulmonary system, leading to reduced exercise capacity. However, the mechanisms of this functional impairment during incremental exercise remain unclear. Also, a blunted hypoxic ventilatory response was found in preterm adults, suggesting an increased risk for adverse effects of hypoxia in this population. This study aimed to investigate the oxygen cascade during incremental exercise to exhaustion in both normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia in prematurely born adults with normal lung function and their term born counterparts.

Methods

Noninvasive measures of gas exchange, cardiac hemodynamics, and both muscle and cerebral oxygenation were continuously performed using metabolic cart, transthoracic impedance, and near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively, during an incremental exercise test to exhaustion performed at sea level and after 3 d of high-altitude exposure in healthy preterm (n = 17; gestational age, 29 ± 1 wk; normal lung function) and term born (n = 17) adults.

Results

At peak, power output, oxygen uptake, stroke volume indexed for body surface area, and cardiac output were lower in preterm compared with term born in normoxia (P = 0.042, P = 0.027, P = 0.030, and P = 0.018, respectively) but not in hypoxia, whereas pulmonary ventilation, peripheral oxygen saturation, and muscle and cerebral oxygenation were similar between groups. These later parameters were modified by hypoxia (P < 0.001). Hypoxia increased muscle oxygen extraction at submaximal and maximal intensity in term born (P < 0.05) but not in preterm participants. Hypoxia decreased cerebral oxygen saturation in term born but not in preterm adults at rest and during exercise (P < 0.05). Convective oxygen delivery was decreased by hypoxia in term born (P < 0.001) but not preterm adults, whereas diffusive oxygen transport decreased similarly in both groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

These results suggest that exercise capacity in preterm is primarily reduced by impaired convective, rather than diffusive, oxygen transport. Moreover, healthy preterm adults may experience blunted hypoxia-induced impairments during maximal exercise compared with their term counterparts.
Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida) from soft-sediment shelf habitats off the Mediterranean coast of Israel (Levant Sea) –taxonomy, faunistics and ecological aspects
Authors: LUBINEVSKY HADAS , TOM MOSHE , BIRD GRAHAM
Published: December 2022

A 74-year zoogeographic and faunistic description of the shelf soft substrate peracaridan Tanaidacea along the Israeli coast, the eastern-most part of the Mediterranean, is provided here. The presence of three apseudomorphan and ten tanaidomorphanfamilies, with 28 species, is recorded, of which four are reported from the region for the first time, and five are new species in the genera Araphura, Nippognathiopsis, Paratyphlotanais, and Typhlotanais. In addition, a new genus is established for Akanthophoreus nanopsenos, Leptochelia tanykeraia is redescribed, and the presence of Chondrochelia savignyi is demonstrated. The tanaid shelf community essentially belongs to the Mediterranean zoogeographic province but has several Mediterranean-Atlantic species. Lessepsian (Erythrean) migration is currently indicated by the presence of one species, the Indo-Pacific kalliapseudid Cristapseudes omercooperi, which has established a population in the studied area. Its settlement strategy is demonstrated and discussed. The poor Indo-Pacific representation is possibly due to the lack of planktonic larvae in this peracarid group, reducing the chance of dispersion or transport from the Indo-Pacific realm via the Suez Canal.