bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing cholesteatoma in labyrinth fistula
Authors: Aw Min Yi Natalie , Thong Jiun Fong , Tan Barrie , Tan Vanessa
Published: January 2024

Objectives: To evaluate the management of cholesteatomas with
labyrinthine fistulas (LF), as well as the clinical characteristics and
postoperative hearing outcomes in a tertiary general hospital from 2011
to 2018. Design: Retrospective observational cross-sectional study using
hospital electronic medical records. Setting: Mastoidectomies done for
clinically suspected cholesteatomas. Participants: All patients who
underwent primary middle ear mastoidectomy for cholesteatomas. Main
outcome measures: Demographic data: age, gender, race, presenting
complaints. Preoperative HRCT temporal bone and intraoperative findings.
Change in hearing levels preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: 14
of 90 ears (15%) with middle ear cholesteatomas were complicated by LF.
HRCT observed 93% sensitivity and 95% specificity in the
identification of LFs. Intraoperative findings include stapes erosion in
79% ears (p<0.001), malleus erosion in 79% ears, incus
erosion in 93% ears, dehiscence of tegmen tympani in 64% of ears
(p=0.016) and tympanic facial canal dehiscence in 45% of ears. Matrix
was removed completely in 85% (n=12) and matrix was left behind in 13%
(n=2). 21.5% (n=3) had preoperative dead ears. Postoperative hearing
results had a mean follow-up time of 2.1 years (1.5, 0.14-4.84). Matrix
removal group (n=9) had hearing levels with 78% no change, 11.1%
improvement and 11.1% decrease in hearing levels, while matrix
preservation group (n=2) had decreased hearing levels. Conclusions:
Preservation of hearing in labyrinthine fistulas is possible with
cautious matrix removal and immediate repair of the fistula. Longer
follow-up of hearing of LF with matrix preservation may show poorer
hearing outcomes.
How can the monitoring of complement parameters help to treat angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency?
Authors: Pólai Zsófia , Balla Zsuzsanna , Varga Lilian , Benedek Szabolcs , Farkas Henriette
Published: January 2024

Background: Acquired angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency
(C1-INH-AAE) is a rare disease that can be diagnosed by complement
testing. It often accompanies lymphoproliferative underlying diseases.
Methods: In the last 30 years, from the 3938 patients who were sent to
the Angioedema Center with angioedema symptoms, we have diagnosed
C1-INH-AAE in 19 cases, and monitored them regularly. The connections
between the underlying disease, its treatment, the angioedema symptoms
and complement parameters were investigated. Results: The 19 C1-INH-AAE
patients were followed up for 6 years on average. Underlying disease was
diagnosed in case of 15 patients. Most often lymphoma (6/19 patients)
and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (6/19 patients)
were found. There was no difference between the sexes regarding the
complement parameters. Connection was found between the presence and
activity of any underlying disease, the frequency of the angioedema
attacks and the decreased level of proteins of the complement system.
Angioedema specific long-term prophylaxis did not make an improvement in
neither the frequency of the attacks nor in the complement parameters.
Rituximab treatment reduced the number of attacks or completely made
them disappear, and we experienced positive changes in complement
parameters. Conclusion: Complement parameters supported the long-term
efficacy of rituximab treatment for C1-INH-AAE. The change in complement
parameters can predict the relapse of the underlying disease, and it is
a good indicator for the prediction of angioedematous attacks. In case
of C1-INH-AAE, it is significantly important to examine the patients for
underlying disease, and to regularly follow up the patient’s complement
parameters.
Seasonal shifts in isoprenoid emission compositions from three hyperdominant tree species in central Amazonia
Authors: Alves Eliane Gomes , Taylor Tyeen , Robin Michelle , Oliveira Debora Pinheiro de , Schietti Juliana , Júnior Sergio Duvoisin , Zannoni Nora , Hartmann Christoph , Williams Jonathan. , Gonçalves José Francisco , Schöngart Jochen , Wittmann Florian , Piedade Maria
Published: January 2024

Volatile isoprenoids regulate plant performance and atmospheric
processes, and Amazon forests comprise the dominant source to the global
atmosphere. Still, there is a poor understanding of how isoprenoid
emission capacities vary in response to ecophysiological and
environmental controls in Amazonian ecosystems. We measured isoprenoid
emission capacities of Amazonian hyperdominant tree species—Protium
hebetatum, Eschweilera grandiflora, Eschweilera coriacea — across
seasons and along a topographic and edaphic environmental gradient in
the central Amazon. From wet to dry season, both photosynthesis and
isoprene emission capacities strongly declined, while emissions
increased among the heavier isoprenoids—monoterpenes and
sesquiterpenes. Plasticity across habitats was most evident in P.
hebetatum, which emitted sesquiterpenes only in the dry season, at rates
that significantly increased along the hydro-topographic gradient from
white sands (shallow root water access) to upland (deep water table). We
suggest that emission composition shifts are part of a plastic response
to increasing abiotic stress (e.g., heat and drought) and reduced
photosynthetic supply of substrates for isoprenoid synthesis. Our
comprehensive measurements suggest that more emphasis should be placed
on other isoprenoids besides isoprene in the context of abiotic stress
responses. Shifting emission compositions have implications for
atmospheric responses due to the strong variation in reactivity among
isoprenoid compounds.
Portal cavernoma secondary to multiple liver hydatidosis: A rare cause of cataclysme haemorrhage in a young adult
Authors: Zouaghi Alia , Abdallah Khalaf Ben , Bellil Nawel , Hadded Dhafer , Zaafouri Haithem , Cherif Mona , Maamer Anis Ben
Published: January 2024

We report a rare case of a 27-year-old male who died of variceal
bleeding secondary due to portal cavernoma secondary to multiple liver
hydatidosis. Hepatic hydatid cyst should be considered as an indirect
cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in endemic countries.
Life history and phylogeny explain the bias in sensitivity analysis for structured population models
Authors: McElderry Robert , Gaoue Orou G.
Published: January 2024

A primary aim in conservation is to either bolster threatened
populations or eradicate invasive ones. Classical elasticity analysis
suggests the survival of long-lived adults will have the largest impact
on changing population growth, but this result relies on a linear
approximation. In reality, the population growth response to perturbing
a single demographic rate is nonlinear. We applied exact perturbation
analyses to a large database of plant matrix population models in a
meta-analysis to determine when and under what conditions population
growth may be ‘stabilized’. We found this relationship to be strongly
nonlinear, making standard methodology misleading. The vital rate change
required for population replacement (λ = 1) is more biased and more
likely to fail when mitigating decline as opposed to controlling
population expansion. However, these biases and conservation deficits
are structured among vital rates and life history strategies. The
patterns we describe provide guidance not only for when to expect decits
and bias, but also for deciding which vital rates may be most responsive
to conservation interventions.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Top-Cited Journal Articles in malignant brain tumor resection using 5-ALA.
Authors: Manrique-Guzman Salvador , Larocque-Guzmán Caroline , Revilla-Pacheco Francisco , Herrada-Pineda Tenoch , Sanchez-Torres Claudia , Santa-Ana Jorge Sanchez , Loyo-Varela Mauro , Acuña-Macouzet Alejandro , Guerrero-Hernandez Maniana
Published: January 2024

Background Citation data refers to quantitative measures of scientific
impact using published articles and citations to measure their impact.
Glioblastoma is the most frequent primary malignant brain neoplasm.
Novel 5 Aminolevulinic acid, leads to an accumulation of protoporphyrin
IX and fluorescence detection equipment has been adjusted to a standard
surgical microscope. The aim of this manuscript is a bibliometric
analysis of the most influential authors and manuscripts of the
published data on glioblastoma using 5-ALA. Methods Web of Science was
accessed in June of 2021 for citations of articles on glioblastoma and
5-ALA. There was no time limit for the search and all articles found
were included. Our main key word was “glioblastoma” AND “5-ALA” AND
“5-Aminolevulinic acid” were found using the MeSH term. We used
bibliometrix, an R package for quantitative research in bibliometrics.
Results A total of 221 manuscripts were found. The average number of
publications per year is 5.81 and per document is 26.01. Articles (168),
book chapters (2), conference papers (10), editorials (2), erratum (2),
letters (1), review (34) and short survey (2) were the document types.
The top 5 journals are Journal of Neuro-Oncology, Journal of
Neurosurgery and Acta Neurochirurgica, Neurosurgery and World
Neurosurgery. Conclusion This study includes quantitative and
qualitative analysis of the top leading journals, most referenced
published articles, and most significant authors in 5-ALA glioma
resection publications up to June 2021. This will aid in creating
evidence-based reports of glioma surgery with 5-ALA.
Profile of 193 pediatric cancer patients managed with radiation therapy: Challenges and lessons learned
Authors: Madan Renu , Goyal Shikha , Dey Treshita , Kapoor Rakesh , Ballari Nagarjun , Soni Shiv , Radotra Bishan , Bansal Deepak , Trehan Amita , Peters Nitin
Published: January 2024

Background: Series on radiotherapy (RT) practice in pediatric
malignancies are limited in India as only few centers practice pediatric
RT, particularly under anesthesia. We aimed to study the clinical
profile of pediatric cancer patients treated with RT and to assess
various aspects of pediatric RT under anaesthesia. Procedure: The data
was prospectively maintained in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Pediatric
cancer patients aged 0–14 years, registered in the department between
February 1, 2019, and July 30, 2021were analyzed. Results: A total of
193 pediatric cancer patients (non central nervous system) received
radiation during above mentioned period. Median age at presentation was
5.2 years (range, 9 months to 14 years) with a male to female ratio of
1.8:1. Maximum population was in 0-4 years of age group (52.8%)
followed by 5-9 years (29.5%) and ≥ 10 years (17.6%). Most common
sites for RT included bone and soft tissue tumors (BST), retinoblastoma,
wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, and hematological malignancies. Overall, BST
constituted the most common malignancy among all age groups, followed by
renal tumors in the 0-4 years and hematological malignancies in 5-14
years. One hundred and seventy-nine (92.7%) patients received RT with
curative intent, while 14 (7.3%) patients received palliative RT.
Thirty patients needed anaesthesia for RT. Thirty-four patients required
RT interruption due to toxicities with a median gap of 7 days.
Conclusions: RT is an important aspect of multi-disciplinary care in
pediatric cancers. Establishing burden of pediatric cancer patients in
RT department may help in resource development and prioritisation.
An Extended Picard Method to solve non-linear systems of ODE. Some applications to chemical reactions
Authors: Gadella Manuel , Lara Luis Pedro
Published: January 2024

We provide of a method to integrate first order non-linear systems of
differential equations with variable coefficients. It determines
approximate solutions given initial or boundary conditions or even for
Sturm-Liouville problems. This method is a mixture between an iterative
process, a la Picard, plus a segmentary integration, which gives
explicit approximate solutions in terms of trigonometric functions and
polynomials. The segmentary part is particularly important if the
integration interval is large. This procedure provide a new tool so as
to obtain approximate solutions of systems of interest in the analysis
of chemical reactions. We test the method on some classical equations
like Mathieu, Duffing quintic equation or Bratu’s equation and have
applied it on some models of chemical reactions.
Some Properties and Integral representation of Extended Generalized Bessel Matrix Functions
Authors: Patel Farhatbanu , Jana R. , SHUKLA AJAY
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we discuss the Extended Genarlized Bessel Matrix
functions and its Integral representations. Some properties of Extended
Generalized Bessel Matrix function including the connection with
Laguerre Matrix polynomial, Jacobi Matrix Polynomial have also been
obtained
Pharmacological intervention on smoking cessation of drinking smokers: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: E Fenfen , Shang Xue , Guo Kangle , Yang Chaoqun , Chen Nan , Wang Yan , Wang Shizhong , Yang Kehu , Zhang Xiaohui , Li Xiuxia
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim: Some clinical trials have reported on the treatment
of alcohol-drinking smokers with drugs. This network meta-analysis aims
to explore the effect of pharmacological interventions on smoking
cessation in such populations. Methods: Only randomized controlled
trials (RCTs) were included through a system and comprehensive database
search. The risk of bias for the included studies were assessed using
Cochrane tool. A network meta-analysis was performed using STATA
software to evaluate the effect size between different comparisons, and
provide the best smoking cessation intervention based on the SUCRA
value. Results: A total of 15 RCTs involving 1565 participants were
included. The risk of bias was low in five studies and unclear in ten
studies. Network meta-analysis showed that the superiority of quitting
smoking was reflected in Varenicline vs Placebo (OR=4.90, 95%CI
[1.77,13.55]), Varenicline vs Naltrexone (OR=3.50, 95%CI
[1.13,11.06]), and Varenicline vs Bupropion (OR=3.32, 95%CI
[1.03,10.74]). None of the other pairwise comparisons showed
significant difference. Finally, the probability ranking results
indicated that Varenicline was the most effective intervention.
Conclusions: The network meta-analysis showed that compared with
Naltrexone, Bupropion, and Placebo, Varenicline had obvious superiority
in quitting smoking, while there was no difference in effect between
other drugs. Meanwhile, we look forward to more high-quality studies to
investigate the existing evidence.
Ultrasound-guided versus anatomic landmark-guided vascular access in cardiac electrophysiology procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Triantafyllou Konstantinos , Karkos Christos , Fragakis Nikolaos , Antoniadis Antonios , Meletidou Magdalini , Vassilikos Vassilios
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Electrophysiology (EP) procedures are nowadays the
gold-standard method for tachyarrhythmia treatment with impressive
success rates, but also with a considerable risk of complications,
mainly vascular. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to
evaluate the safety of ultrasound (US)-guided femoral vein access in EP
procedures compared to the traditional anatomic landmark-guided method.
Methods: We searched Pubmed (MEDLINE), Embase, Web of Science, and
Cochrane electronic databases for relevant entries, dated from January
1st, 2000 to June 30th, 2021. Only observational studies and randomized
controlled trials were included in this analysis. Data extraction
included study details, patient characteristics, procedure details, and
all types of vascular complications. Complications were classified as
major if any intervention, prolongation of hospitalization, or
readmission was required. Results: 9 studies (1 randomized controlled
trial and 8 observational), with 7,858 participants (3,743 in the
US-guided group, 4,115 in the control group), were included in the
meta-analysis. Overall vascular complication rates were significantly
decreased in the US-guided group compared to the control group (1.2
versus 3.2%, RR = 0.38, 95% CI, 0.27 - 0.53), in all EP procedures.
Sub-group analysis of AF ablation procedures yielded similar results (RR
0.41, 95% CI, 0.29 - 0.58, p < 0.00001). The event reduction
effect was significant for both major and minor vascular complications.
Conclusion: US-guided vascular access in EP procedures is associated
with significantly reduced vascular complications, compared to the
standard anatomic landmark-guided approach, regardless of procedure
complexity.
Is there a Relationship between the COVID-19 Vaccine and Epistaxis?
Authors: Karia Chiraag , Hussain Mohammed , Mair Manish , Uddin Javed , Conboy Peter , Rea Peter
Published: January 2024

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify if there was a change
in the incidence of epistaxis attendances following initiation of the
COVID-19 vaccination programme. Design: A retrospective, cohort study.
Setting: A large university teaching hospital with an emergency
department (ED). Participants: A study group consisting of adults
attending the emergency department for epistaxis over a 2-month period
in 2021 and a control group consisting of adults attending the emergency
for epistaxis over a 2-month period in 2019. Main outcome measures: The
comparison of emergency department admission data with vaccination data
between the control and study groups. Results: 187 (0.8% of total ED
attendances) epistaxis attendances occurred in 2021 compared to 174
(0.6% of total ED attendances) epistaxis attendances in 2019 (p=0.002).
No significant differences in platelet count were observed between the
vaccinated (250.52 x109/L) and unvaccinated patients (214 x109/L) in the
study group (p=0.117). The mean time between vaccination and
presentation with epistaxis was 36 days ± 23.5 (n=102). Conclusion: The
COVID-19 vaccine may be responsible for an increased proportion of
epistaxis attendances to our emergency department. No evidence of
thrombocytopenia was observed amongst patients presenting with epistaxis
after vaccine administration. The mean time between vaccination and
presentation with epistaxis was over five weeks.
Quaternary climatic oscillation promoted speciation of two closely related endangered langurs (François’ langur and White-headed langur)
Authors: Li Xinrui , Ru Dafu , Zhang Zhixin , Garber Paul , Liu Jianquan , Li Ming , Zhao Xumao
Published: January 2024

Climate oscillations may drive the divergence of ancestral species
through habitat isolation, species distribution patterns, and the
cessation of gene flow. However, traditional ecological niche models
lack the consideration for the genetic adaptation of species, thus it’s
difficult to understand how climate oscillations affect species
divergence by changing their climatic suitability and historical
demography. We analyzed the impact of climate change on the divergence
of two langur species, François’ langur and White-headed langur, using
Maxent, Genotype–Environment Association (GEA) models and genomic data.
Our results indicate that 1) Climatic suitability for François’ langur
and White-headed langur has separated from the Last Interglacial (LIG,
120,000-140,000 years ago) to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM); 2)
Although the effective population size for both species decreased
between the LIG and the LGM, the effective population size of François’
langur increased more quickly than that of White-headed langur from the
LGM to the present; 3) Historical patterns of climate change have
resulted in periods of expanded and contracted climatic suitability,
with each species experiencing periods of interspecific genetic
isolation and periods of interspecific genetic exchange; and 4) Human
activities and future climate change have contracted the range of
François’ langur (in China) and White-headed langur. Climate
oscillation, population isolation, and in situ evolution in refugia from
the LIG to the LGM appear to have played a critical role in langur
speciation and adaptive evolution. Overall, our results demonstrate how
climatic oscillations and historical demography drive speciation,
providing a new perspective on species divergence and conservation.
Peridroplet mitochondria regulated by perilipin 5 are involved in the prevention of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by Diethyldithiocarbamate
Authors: Sun Xiangyun , Kang Bilian , Zhao Xinyan , Li Hongyi , Liu Helin , Liu Lin , Wang Ping , Cong Min , Jia Jidong , You Hong , Liu Tianhui
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: Diethyldithiocarbamate(DDC) alleviates hepatic
inflammation and fibrosis of methionine- and choline-deficient(MCD)
diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) in mice. Interestingly,
increased macrovesicular steatosis replace the ballooning of hepatocytes
by DDC. The therapeutic mechanism of DDC on NASH remains unclear.
Experimental Approach: C57BL/6 mice received choline-deficient, L-amino
acid-defined(CDAA) diet to induce NASH with or without DDC
treatment. Lipidomic and microarray analyses were used to find the lipid
metabolites and genes regulated by DDC. RNAscope and immunoblotting were
used to detect perilipin 5(Plin5) in the liver. Peridroplet
mitochondria(PDM) were isolated from liver tissues, stained and observed
by confocal microscope. Mixture of Oleic and palmitic acid were used to
treat C3A cells. The effect of DDC on Plin5, mitochondria-LD contact and
mitochondrial function were analyzed. Key Results: DDC alleviated
hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, whereas steatosis increased in
CDAA-diet induced NASH. Triglyceride content and genes related to
LDs and mitochondrial function increased by DDC. Plin5 which can promote
the expansion of LD and formation of PDM was upregulated in the liver by
DDC. PDM were observed in steatotic liver and have enhanced
mitochondrial function relative to cytoplasm mitochondria. DDC increased
the size of LDs and the number of PDM, and improved mitochondrial
function both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion and Implications: PDM
promote triglyceride synthesis and reduce lipotoxicity-induced liver
injury, inflammation and fibrosis. PDM regulated by Plin5 contribute to
the therapeutic effect of DDC on NASH. The regulation of PDM may
represent an attractive pharmacological target for NAFLD.
Spermidine priming mitigated the Na+ toxicity damage in Leymus chinensis
Authors: na Chen , Tao yuan , Shi mei , Yang juan , Cheng Xianguo
Published: January 2024

Polyamines play important regulatory roles in mitigating salt damage to
the plant in response to salt-alkali stress environment. To explore an
effective pathway alleviating the osmotic damage to the plants,
exogenous signal molecules had largely been applied. Spermidine, as one
component of polyamine, was widely used to improve the plant tolerance
to the abiotic stresses, but the regulatory mechanism of
spermidine-mediated in alleviating ion toxicity still lacks detailed
report. In this study, spermidine priming seeds was performed to unveil
the physiological responsive effects of spermidine-triggered in Leymus
chinensis under salt-alkali stress. Measurements show that spermidine
priming seeds remarkably increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities
and strengthened polyamines synthesis pathway, and simultaneously
beneficially altered the accumulation of proline and soluble sugar, but
reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, thus mitigating the oxidative
damage in Leymus chinensis seedlings. Data also shows that spermidine
priming seeds significantly inhibited the uptake of harmful Na+ but
promoted the accumulation of K+ and Ca2+, thus lowering the osmotic
damage to the plant cell membranes. This study provides novel insights
into the regulatory pathway of exogenous spermidine-mediated in
mitigating the oxidative and ion toxicity damages to Leymus chinensis.
Herb-drug interaction between Zuojin Pill and venlafaxine in healthy volunteers
Authors: Yan Dongming , Wu Ming , Hu Wenjuan , Li Yue , Jin Jingyi , Yan Shaoqing , Zhu Wei , Ye Chaoyang , Liu Jia , Liu Guobin , Tan Bo
Published: January 2024

Aims: To evaluate the interaction between Zuojin Pill (ZJP), a Chinese
herbal formula preparation and antidepressant agent venlafaxine in
healthy volunteers. Methods: Here, the potential pharmacokinetic
interaction between ZJP and VEN was investigated. In eleven healthy male
volunteers with CYP2D6*1/*1 genotypes, the pharmacokinetics of VEN (oral
administration of 25 mg per individual) were compared before and after 7
days of administration with ZJP (3.0 g ZJP, Huanglian Zhixiang®, twice
daily). Results: ZJP dosing resulted in a statistically significant
increase in the mean area under the plasma concentration–time curve
zero to infinity (AUC0-∞) of VEN from 247.8 ± 98.5 to 330.2 ± 125.3
ng×h/mL (P < 0.001). Furthermore, VEN clearance significantly
decreased from 119.4±59.5 to 88.7±41.2 L/h (P = 0.003) after ZJP intake.
However, the AUC0-∞ of VEN active moiety (VEN + ODV) slightly increased
by 8.3% after ZJP administration (P = 0.197). In addition, the
incidence of VEN-related side effects was significantly (P <
0.05) reduced after ZJP administration. Conclusion: These results
suggested that concomitant use of VEN and ZJP could slightly increase
the exposures for both VEN and VEN active moieties, accompanied by a
decrease in VEN-related side effects. Therefore, rational concomitant
use of both drugs would be promising in clinical practice.
The PtrAREB3 of bZIP transcription factor regulates cadmium enrichment and tolerance in poplar
Authors: He Fang , Shi Yu-Jie , Li Jun-Lin , Lin Tiantian , Chen Lianghua , Zhao Kuang-Ji , Hou Gui-Rong , Zhang Fan , Zhong Yu , Zhao Qian , Mi Jia-Xuan , Huang Jin-Liang , Yang Han-Bo , Wan Xue-qin
Published: January 2024

Phytoremediation exerts enormous function on the remediation of heavy
metals. Excavation and authentication of pivotal genes connected with Cd
accumulation and tolerance is prerequisite for gene engineering enhanced
plants for cadmium phytoremediation. In the present study, PtrAREB3, ABA
Responsive Element Binding protein, was identified from the Populus
trichocarpa. PtrAREB3 was principally expressed in the leaves and was
markedly induced during ABA and Cd stress. PtrAREB3 acts in the nucleus
and specifically bind to ABA Responsive Element (ABRE) in the promoters
of target genes. Under cadmium stress, poplar PtrAREB3 will be
activated, and the PtrAREB3 directly regulates target genes (SDI1, CAX3,
ABCG25, ABA2, Peroxidase, and HUP32) expression by combining the CACGT
motif of its promoter. Moreover, activated target genes can increase the
tolerance of plants to cadmium stress by reducing the production of
oxides, reducing chlorophyll degradation, and increasing the synthesis
of proline and activating the antioxidant system. Furthermore, PtrAREB3
may regulate the expression of genes (ZIP2, CCH1.1, NRAMP1, ABCC1 and
MTP1) related to Cd uptake, transport and detoxification, thus
increasing the accumulation of cadmium in plants. Overall,
overexpressing PtrAREB3 in poplar enhanced cadmium accumulation and
cadmium tolerance through direct or indirect regulation of downstream
gene transcription.
Antibiotic use in Greek Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation units
Authors: Mantadakis Elpis , Kopsidas Ioannis , Coffin Susan , Dimitriou Gabriel , Gkentzi Despoina , Hatzipantelis Emmanuel , Kaisari Aikaterini , Kattamis Antonis , Kourkouni Eleni , Papachristidou Smaragda , Papakonstantinou Eugenia , Polychronopoulou Sophia , Roilides Emmanuel , Spyridis Nikos , Tsiodras Sotirios , Tsolia Maria , Tsopela Grammatiki-Christina , Zaoutis Theoklis , Tragiannidis Athanasios
Published: January 2024

Background: Pediatric hematology-oncology (PHO) and bone marrow
transplantation (BMT) units have high use of antimicrobials. Objectives:
To survey antimicrobials used in Greek PHO and BMT units before and
after an intervention involving education on the 2017 clinical practice
guidelines (CPG) for the management of febrile neutropenia in children
with cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Methods:
Antibiotic prescribing practices were prospectively recorded between
June 2016 and November 2017. In December 2017, education for the CPG
took place and antibiotic prescribing practices were followed for one
more year. For antibiotic stewardship, days of therapy and length of
therapy were calculated. Results: Five of six PHO units and the single
pediatric BMT unit covering >92% of children with
hematologic and oncologic diseases in Greece participated.
Administration of ≥ 4 antibiotics simultaneously and of antibiotics with
overlapping activity for ≥ 2 days was significantly more common in PHO
units located in general compared to pediatric hospitals. Use of at
least one antifungal was recorded in approximately 47% of the patients
before and after the intervention. De-escalation and/or discontinuation
of antibiotics on day 6 of initial treatment increased significantly
from 43% to 53.5% (p=0.032). Although the number of patients requiring
support in the intensive care unit for sepsis did not change, a
significant drop was noted in all-cause mortality after the intervention
(p=0.008). Conclusion: Our surveillance was able to accurately document
the antibiotic prescribing practices of Greek PHO and BMT units.
Moreover, it identified areas in immediate need for improvement in
antibiotic stewardship.
Hunting the hidden: Surgical treatment of chronic silent thrombus in the left ventricle
Authors: he fengpu , Jiao Yiping , Jiang Lijun
Published: January 2024

Silent left ventricular thrombus(LVT) in people with normal cardiac
function without any history of cardiac diseases is rare and dangerous.
The current standard treatment strategy for LVT is anticoagulation
therapy. Nevertheless, surgical intervention should be considered if
systemic embolism emerged.
Combustion behavior and kinetics of tackifying resin by TG-FTIR and DFT analysis to assess the waste-to-energy potential
Authors: Zhou Dan , Chen Xiaopeng , Liang Jiezhen , Wei Xiaojie , Wu Chenghong , He Yaoliang , Wang Linlin
Published: January 2024

The combustion behavior and kinetics of tackifying resins (such as
glycerol ester of colophony/hydrogenated colophony and C9/hydrogenated
C9 petroleum resin, namely GEC, GEHC, C9PR and HC9PR, respectively) were
investigated by TG-FTIR and density functional theory (DFT) analyses.
The calorific values of different resins are higher than that of
standard coal, indicating tackifying resins and their wastes are a
promising fuel for generating energy. The average activation energies
obtained by Friedman method for GEC, GEHC, C9PR and HC9PR were 223.51,
162.16, 166.52 and 116.20 kJ/mol, respectively, revealing that (H)C9PR
were more readily combustible than GE(H)C, and their hydrogenated
products burned more easily than their unhydrogenated ones, which were
strongly supported by the TG-FTIR results. DFT calculations also show
that the bond dissociation energy of C-C bond of GEC is higher than
those of C9PR and GEHC. The best appropriate reaction mechanism
evaluated by the master plots method is R3 model.
Study on wave motion of lining structures embedded in modulus inhomogeneous medium via complex function
Authors: Bian Jinlai , sun Menghan , Yang Yong , Yang Zailin
Published: January 2024

The task of this work is to study the scattering of SH waves by
homogeneous lining structures in unbounded inhomogeneous medium. The
shear modulus is assumed to be a function of coordinates (x,y). A
two-dimensional scattering model is established. Based on the complex
function theory, the expressions of wave field in the lining medium are
derived. Meanwhile, a displacement auxiliary function and a pair of
mapping functions are introduced to obtain the wave field expressions in
inhomogeneous media. The unknown coefficients in the expression can be
solved by boundary conditions on the lining structure. The stress
concentration phenomenon on the lining structure is discussed in
numerical examples. The distributions of dynamic stress concentration
factor on the inner and outer boundary are analyzed under different
influencing factors. Finally, it is found that the inhomogeneous
parameters and reference wave numbers of the medium have an obvious
influence on the distribution of dynamic stress concentration factor.
Molecular epidemiology of ovine papillomavirus infections among sheep in Southern Italy
Authors: Falco Francesca De , Cutarelli Anna , D'Alessio Nicola , Cerino Pellegrino , Catoi Cornel , Roperto Sante
Published: January 2024

Ovine papillomaviruses (OaPVs) were detected and quantified, for the
first time, using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and
real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) via liquid biopsy of 165 clinically
healthy sheep. OaPV DNA was detected in 126 blood samples
(~76.4%). DdPCR detected OaPV DNA in 124 samples; in
only two additional samples positive for real-time qPCR, ddPCR failed to
detect the presence of any OaPVs. In 70 of the positive samples
(~55.6%), a single OaPV infection was observed, 12 of
which were caused by OaPV1 (~17.1%) and 14 by OaPV2
(20%). OaPV3 was responsible for 19 single infections
(~27.1%), and OaPV4 for 25 single infections
(~35.7%). Multiple OaPV coinfections were observed in
56 (~44.4%) positive samples. OaPV coinfections caused
by two genotypes were observed in 31 positive samples
(~55.4%), with dual OaPV3/OaPV4 infection being the
most prevalent as seen in 11 blood samples. In addition, five
OaPV1/OaPV4, four OaPV1/OaPV2, four OaPV2/OaPV3, four OaPV1/OaPV3, and
three OaPV2/OaPV4 dual coinfections were also detected. OaPV
coinfections by triple and quadruple genotypes were detected in 24
(~42.8%) and only one (~1.8%) of
coinfected blood samples, respectively. Multiple infections caused by
OaPV1/OaPV3/OaPV4 genotypes were the most prevalent, as observed in 12
(50%) blood samples harboring triple OaPV infections. This study showed
that ddPCR is the most sensitive and accurate assay for OaPV detection
and quantification thus outperforming real-time qPCR in terms of
sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, ddPCR may represent the
molecular diagnostic tool of choice, ultimately providing useful
insights into OaPV molecular epidemiology and field surveillance.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis with primary vaginal involvement and ureteral obstruction: A case report and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Pereira Augusto , Magrina Javier , Magtibay Paul M. , Stamps Beatriz G. , Muñoz-Nuñez Elena , Perez-Medina Tirso
Published: January 2024

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a vasculitis with
multi-organ involvement. Some cases of gynecologic involvement have been
described, but there are no systematic reviews in the literature.
Objectives: to provide a systematic review of the literature of GPA
patients with gynecological involvement. Search Strategy: PubMed and
Embase, were searched from inception to July 2012 for GPA patients with
gynecological involvement Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text
terms. Selection Criteria: Patients with GPA and primary gynecologic
involvement, and/or genital recurrence. Exclusion criteria were other
language, review articles, pregnancy, fertility or male patients. Data
Collection and Analysis: Data were extracted on clinical evolution,
symptoms, examinations findings, diagnosis delay, treatment, outcome,
patient status, and follow-up. The main limitation of the studies was
the high heterogeneity, which resulted in a narrative review and could
lead to publication bias. Main Results: Seventeen studies included data
from patients with GPA and primary or relapsed gynecological
involvement. In GPA patients, the genitourinary system is affected in
<1%. 61% of the authors of this review thought the patient
had cancer. The main gynecological symptom is bleeding, but exclusive
gynecologic symptomatology is rare (ENT: 63%, lungs: 44%,
kidneys-urinary tract: 53%). GPA could affect all areas of the genital
tract, but the most frequent location is the uterine cervix. Medical
treatment for GPA is effective. Conclusions: GPA of the female genital
tract must be considered when biopsies of an ulcerated
malignant-appearing cervical or vaginal mass are negative for malignancy
even when they are unspecific. Rheumatology consultation is indicated.
Cyclic stretching induces maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes through nuclear mechanotransduction
Authors: Jang Yongjun , Song Myeongjin , Kim Seung-Jong , Park Yongdoo
Published: January 2024

During cardiogenesis, cardiac cells receive various stimuli, such as
biomechanical and chemical cues, from the surrounding microenvironment,
and these signals induce the maturation of heart cells. Mechanical
force, especially tensile force in the heart, is one of the key stimuli
that induce cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation through mechanotransduction, a
process through which physical cues are transformed into biological
responses. However, the effects and mechanisms of tensile force on cell
maturation are poorly studied. In this study, we developed a cyclic
stretch system that mimics the mechanical environment of the heart by
loading tensile force to human induced pluripotent stem cell
(hiPSC)-derived CMs. HiPSC-CMs cultured with the cyclic stretch system
showed increased cell alignment, sarcomere length and expression of
maturation markers in mRNA, such as TNNI3, MYL2 and TTN, compared to
static cultures. Especially, the expression of genes related to nuclear
mechanotransduction, such as Yap1, lamin A/C, plectin (PLEC), and desmin
(DES), was increased in the cyclically stretched hiPSC-CMs. Furthermore,
the volume of the nucleus was increased by as much as 120% in the
cyclic stretch group. These results revealed that nuclear
mechanotransduction induced by tensile force is involved in CM
maturation. Together, these findings provide novel evidence suggesting
that nuclear mechanotransduction induced by tensile force is involved in
the regulation of cardiac maturation.
Transcriptomics and metagenomics of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) reveal their differences on detoxification and development
Authors: Tang Ruixiang , Liu Fangyuan , Lan Yue , Wang Jiao , Wang Lei , Li Jing , Liu Xu , Guo Tao , Yue Bisong
Published: January 2024

Spodoptera litura is an important polyphagous pest that causes great
damage to agriculture. We performed RNA-seq from 15 individuals of S.
litura, including different larval (fifth and sixth instar larvae),
chrysalis, and adult developmental stages. We also sequenced the
Spodoptera frugiperda to compared with the S. litura. A total of 101,885
differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified in the S.
litura. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
(KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the S. litura may undergo
active development and basic metabolism, such as xenobiotic and
detoxifying metabolism, during its larvae and adult stages, which
explains the difficulty to control it. We also found that DETs of
single-copy orthologous genes between S. litura and S. frugiperda were
involved in basic metabolism and developmental, but S. litura were
highly enriched in energy and metabolic processes, whereas S. frugiperda
had stronger nervous and olfactory functions. Metagenomics analysis in
larval S. litura and S. frugiperda revealed that microbiota can both
participate in the detoxification and metabolism processes in them, but
the relative abundance of detoxification-related microbiota was more
abundant in S. frugiperda. Transcriptome results also confirmed the
detoxification-related pathway of S. frugiperda was more abundant than
that of S. litura. Therefore, we can conclude that the detoxification
ability of S. frugiperda is stronger than that of in S. litura, which is
related to the wide adaptation and strong resistance of S. frugiperda.
Our study might provide clues to the development of novel pest control
strategies.
Effective optimized decomposition algorithms for solving nonlinear fractional differential equations
Authors: Laoubi Marwa , Odibat Zaid M. , Maayah Banan
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the optimized decomposition method, which was developed
to solve integer-order differential equations, will be modified and
extended to handle nonlinear fractional differential equations.
Fractional derivatives will be considered in terms of Caputo sense. The
suggested modifications design new optimized decompositions for the
series solutions depending on linear approximations of the nonlinear
equations. Two optimized decomposition algorithms have been introduced
to obtain approximate solutions of broad classes of IVPs consisting of
nonlinear fractional ODEs and PDEs. A comparative study of the suggested
algorithms with the Adomian decomposition method was performed by means
of some test illustration problems. The executed numerical simulation
results demonstrated that the proposed algorithms give better accuracy
and convergence compared with Adomian’s approach. This confirms the
belief that the optimized decomposition method will be effectively and
widely used in solving various functional equations.
Inverse problem for viscoelastic system in a vertically layered medium
Authors: Boltaev Asliddin , Durdiev D. K.
Published: January 2024

For the reduced canonical system of integro-differential equations of
viscoelasticity, direct and inverse problems of determining the velocity
field of elastic waves and the relaxation matrix are posed. The problems
are replaced by a closed system of integral equations of the second kind
of Volterra type with respect to the Fourier transform in the variables
$x_1$, $x_2$ for solving the direct problem and unknowns of the
inverse problem. Further, the method of contraction mappings in the
space of continuous functions with a weighted norm is applied to this
system. Thus, we prove global existence and uniqueness theorems for
solutions to the problems posed.
Clinical handover communication at maternity shift changes and women’s safety in Banjul, The Gambia: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Rickard Faith , Lu Fides , Gustafsson Lotta , MacArthur Christine , Cummins Carole , Wilson Amie , Coker Ivan , Mane Kebba , Manneh Kebba , Manaseki-Holland Semira
Published: January 2024

Objective To explore optimal handover processes in maternity care to
address service quality and women’s safety. Design Mixed-methods study.
Setting Maternity hospitals in Banjul, The Gambia. Sample 110
shift-to-shift handovers across maternity wards. Methods Handovers were
observed and compared against a standard, investigating content and
environment alongside semi-structured interviews and focus group
discussions with doctors, midwives and nurses. Main outcome measures
Number of information topics handed-over categorised by SBAR,
description of handover environment, supported by qualitative themes on
barriers and facilitators. Results Only 666 of 845 women (79%) were
handed over. Doctors had no scheduled handover. Shift-leads alone
gave/received handover, delayed [median 35 minutes, IQR 24-45] 82%
of the time; 96% of handovers were not confidential and 29% were
disrupted. Standardised guidelines and training were lacking. A median 6
of 28 topics [IQR 5-9] were communicated per woman. Information
varied significantly by time, high-risk classification and location. For
women in labour, 10 [IQR 8-14] items were handed-over, 8 [IQR
5-11] for women classed ‘high-risk’, 5 [IQR 4-7] for
ante/postnatal women (p<0.001); >50% had no care
management plan communicated. 21 interviews and 2 focus groups were
conducted. Barriers and facilitators surrounding three health service
factors emerged; health systems, organisation culture and individual
clinician factors. Conclusions Maternity handover was inconsistent,
hindered by contextual barriers including delays, lack of team
communication and guidelines, with some women omitted entirely. Findings
alongside clinicians views demonstrate feasible opportunities for
enhancing handover, thereby improving women’s safety globally. Funding
Arthur Thompson Trust and BMedSc student funding.
Takotsubo Syndrome in the Setting of Eclampsia
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Maroo Anjli
Published: January 2024

A 36-year-old female presented with an eclamptic seizure at
36-weeks-gestation. She had an emergent cesarean section, complicated by
cardiogenic shock. Although peripartum cardiomyopathy was the initially
assumed etiology, echocardiography demonstrated that the underlying
cardiac pathology was Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This impacted the
management and expected prognosis for recovery.
Overexpression of Polycystin-2 alleviates acute lung injury in mice by activating autophagy
Authors: Pan Fan , Song Shuang , Wu Kaixuan , Bu Lina , Wang Aizhong , Xu Xiaotao
Published: January 2024

Polycystin-2(PC2) composed of PKD2 gene encoding a transmembrane protein
plays an important role in kidney disease, but the role of which in
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) was unclear. We
overexpressed PC2 in lung epithelial cell in vitro and in vivo and
examined the role of PC2 in inflammatory response induced by LPS in
vitro and in vivo.We demonstrated that overexpression of PC2
significantly decreased the production of inflammatory factors TNF-α,
IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-treated lung epithelial cells. Moreover,
pre-treatment of 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor,
reversed the inhibiting effects of overexpression of PC2 on the
secretion of inflammatory factors in LPS-treated lung epithelial cells.
We further demonstrated overexpression of PC2 can inhibit LPS-induced
downregulating the protein levels of LC3BII/I and upregulating the
protein levels of SQSTM1/P62 in lung epithelial cells. Moreover, we
found that LPS-induced lung wet/dry weight ratio, and inflammatory
cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in lung tissue were significantly
inhibited in mice with overexpression of PC2 in alveolar epithelial
cells. However, the protective role of overexpression of PC2 in
LPS-induced ALI was reversed by 3-MA pretreatment. Our studies suggest
that overexpression of PC2 in the epithelium may alleviated LPS-induced
ALI by activating autophagy.
SVEP1 regulates GPCR-mediated vasoconstriction via integrin α9β1 and α4β1
Authors: Morris Gavin , Karamanavi Elisavet , Denniff Matthew , Andrews Sarah , Kostogrys Renata , Bountziouka Vasiliki , Ghaderi-Najafabadi Maryam , Shamkhi Noor , McConnell George , Kaiser Michael , Carleton Laura , Schofield Christine , Kessler Thorsten , Rainbow Richard , Samani Nilesh , Webb Thomas
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose Vascular tone is regulated by the relative
contractile state of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Several
integrins directly modulate VSMC contraction by regulating calcium
influx through L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). Genetic
variants in ITGA9, which encodes the α9 subunit of integrin α9β1, and
SVEP1, a ligand for integrin α9β1, associate with elevated blood
pressure, however, neither SVEP1 nor integrin α9β1 have reported roles
in vasoregulation. We therefore determined whether SVEP1 and integrin
α9β1 can regulate VSMC contraction. Experimental Approach SVEP1 and
integrin binding were confirmed by immunoprecipitation and cell binding
assays. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived VSMCs were used in
in vitro [Ca2+]i studies, and aortas from a Svep1+/- knockout mouse
model were used in wire myography to measure vessel contraction. Key
Results We confirmed the ligation of SVEP1 to integrin α9β1 and
additionally found SVEP1 to directly bind to integrin α4β1. Inhibition
of SVEP1, integrin α4β1 or α9β1 significantly enhanced [Ca2+]i
release in isolated VSMCs to Gαq/11-vasoconstrictors. This response was
confirmed in whole vessels where a greater contraction to U46619 was
seen in vessels from Svep1+/- mice compared to littermate controls or
when integrin α4β1 or α9β1 were inhibited. Inhibition studies suggested
that this effect was mediated via VGCCs in a PKC dependent mechanism.
Conclusions and Implications Our studies reveal a novel role for SVEP1
and the integrins α4β1 and α9β1 in reducing vascular
hyper-contractility. This could provide an explanation for the genetic
associations with blood pressure risk at the SVEP1 and ITGA9 loci.