bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-Destructive 3D Imaging Method Using Muonic X-Rays and a CdTe Double-Sided Strip Detector
Authors: Chiu I-Huan , Takeda Shin’ichiro , Kajino Meito , Shinohara Atsushi , Katsuragawa Miho , Nagasawa Shunsaku , Tomaru Ryota , Yabu Goro , Takahashi Tadayuki , Watanabe Shin , Takeshita Soshi , Miyake Yasuhiro , Ninomiya Kazuhiko
Published: December 2021

Elemental analysis based on muonic X-rays resulting from muon irradiation provides information about bulk material composition without causing damage, which is essential in the case of precious or otherwise unreachable samples, such as in archeology and planetary science. We developed a three-dimensional (3D) elemental analysis technique by combining the elemental analysis method based on negative muons with an imaging cadmium telluride double-sided strip detector (CdTe-DSD) designed for the hard X-ray and soft γ-ray observation. A muon irradiation experiment using spherical plastic samples was conducted at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC); a set of projection images was taken by the CdTe-DSD, equipped with a pinhole collimator, for different sample rotation angles. The projection images measured by the CdTe-DSD were utilized to obtain a 3D volumetric phantom by using the maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm. The reconstructed phantom successfully revealed the 3D distribution of carbon in the bulk samples and the stopping depth of the muons. This result demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed non-destructive 3D elemental analysis method for bulk material analysis based on muonic X-rays.
Is Prophylactic Abdominal Drainage Necessary After Laparoscopic Colectomy For Colon Cancer? A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Luu Le Huy , Hoi Tran Van , Hai Nguyen Van , Dung Nguyen Anh , Cong Do Dinh , Vuong Nguyen Lam
Published: December 2021

Background: In 2018, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommended against routine drainage after colorectal surgery. However, the evidence is relatively old and few studies were performed in low-to-middle income country (LMIC) setting. This study aimed to compare outcomes of laparoscopic colectomy with and without prophylactic drainage for colon cancer.Methods: A retrospective study was performed from 2018 to 2021 with patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy for colon cancer. The use of prophylactic drainage was depended on routine practice of surgeons. Outcomes were postoperative complications and postoperative hospital length of stay. The drain and no-drain groups were compared using propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis.Results: The study included 143 patients (59 in the drain group and 84 in the no-drain group). The PSM resulted in 94 patients (47 in each group). Median age was 62 years. The most frequent was right hemicolectomy (33.6%), followed by left hemicolectomy (32.2%), sigmoid colectomy (21%), extended right hemicolectomy (9.8%), transverse hemicolectomy (2.1%), and total colectomy (1.4%). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the no-drain group (median of 5 versus 6 days). The no-drain group also had lower rate of complications (23.8% versus 30.5% and 23.4% versus 34% before and after matching respectively) and less severe complications based on Clavien-Dindo classification, but the difference was not significant.Conclusions: Laparoscopic colectomy without prophylactic drainage is safe in the treatment of colon cancer. This approach can shorten postoperative hospital stay and should be applied even in the LMIC setting.Main novel aspect: Laparoscopic colectomy without prophylactic drainage for colon cancer can be applied in low-to-middle income settings.
Study on the Release of Muscle Passive Force by Ultrasonic Mechanical Effect and its Related Mechanism
Authors: Yang Xuebing , Zhang Xueqing , Li Pan , Tang Liang , Ta Dean , Guo Jianzhong
Published: December 2021

Background: Excessive muscle force impedes physical movement and relaxing passive muscle force substantially improves movement impairment. Ultrasound is an energy carrier with the characteristics of repetitive mechanical stimulation, which may be a feasible method to relieve muscle tension.Methods: We performed stress relaxation experiments on soleus muscle and combine the obtained results with the standard linear solid model to extract information of viscoelastic effect of ultrasound on muscle, and calculated muscle fibril content by histological analysis.Results: Ultrasound can accelerate muscle stress relaxation; the viscosity and elasticity coefficient of the ultrasound group was higher than that of the control group, and there was no significant difference between the three ultrasound intensities; H&E staining showed that muscle fibrillar content decreased and the matrix substance increased.Conclusion: We considered that ultrasound can change the microstructure of muscle, and the matrix substance plays a significant role in the relaxation process. In this paper, the relationship between muscle viscoelasticity and passive muscle force is obtained. The results provide an important theoretical basis and a feasible method for monitoring muscle functional characteristics by measuring muscle viscoelasticity.
The Influences of Perfluoroalkyl Substances on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic
Authors: Zhao Yun , Jin Hangbiao , Qu Jianli , Zhang Sunzhao , Hu Shilei , Xue Jing , Zhao Meirong
Published: December 2021

Objective. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of synthetic organic fluorine chemicals, which have been mass-produced and widely used in the past 60 years, and also have been shown to be one of the major pollutants affecting human health. The impact of fluoride on the development of RA is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between perfluoroalkyl substances and the clinic of RA. Methods. A cohort of 155 patients with RA in Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were investigated. Demographic and clinical data of these patients were recorded. The concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography system (ACQUITY, UPLC) coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer that operated in negative ionization mode. The correlations between the clinical data and the concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances were analyzed.Results. There were 43 male patients and 112 female patients in the cohort. Some of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFOA, PFNA, PFTrA, PFOS) were correlated negatively with the Body Mass Index (BMI); some of them (PFOA, PFNA, PFTrA, PFOS, 8:2Cl-PFESA) were correlated positively with the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28); two (PFOA, PFOS) of them were correlated positively with the white blood cell count, and one (PFUnA) of them was correlated negatively with the hemoglobin; two (PFDA, PFUnA) of them were correlated negatively with the presence of interstitial lung disease. Conclusion. These data suggest that exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances may promote the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis and the visceral lesions.
Decreased INPP5B Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: deng jun , Lin Xu , Li Qi , Cai Xiao-yu , Wu Lin-wen , Wang Wei , Zhang Bo , Li Yang-ling , Hu Jian , Lin Neng-ming
Published: December 2021

Background Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase B (INPP5B), ainositol 5-phosphatase, plays important roles in many biological processes through phosphorylating PI(4,5)P2 and/or PI(3,4,5)P3 at the 5-position. Nevertheless, little is known about its function and cellular pathways in tumors. This study aims to investigate the potential value of INPP5B as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), as well as its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in LUAD. Methods TCGA, GEO, CTPAC, and HPA datasets were used for differential expression analysis and pathological stratification comparison. The prognostic and diagnostic value of INPP5B was determined by Kaplan-Meier curves, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses.The potential mechanism of INPP5B was explored through GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analysis, as well as GeneMANIA and STRING protein-protein interaction(PPI) network. PicTar, PITA, and miRmap databases were used for exploring miRNA targeting INPP5B. In molecular biology experiments, immunohistochemical analyses and Western blot analyses were used to determine protein expression. CCK8 assays and colony formation assays were used for the measurement of cell proliferation. Cell cycle was assessed by PI staining with flow cytometry. Cell migration was performed by Transwell assays and wound healing assays. Result INPP5B was decreased in LUAD tissues compared with normal adjacent tissues. And low expression of INPP5B was associated with adverse-pathology features. In addition, INPP5B was found to be a significant independent prognostic and diagnostic factor for patients with LUAD. Hsa-miR-582-5p was predicted as a negative regulator of INPP5B mRNA expression. INPP5B was significantly correlated with the expression of PTEN and the acitivity of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, as determined by enrichment analysis and PPI network. In vitro experiments partially confirmed the aforementioned findings. INPP5B overexpression inhibited LUAD cell proliferation and migration while downregulating the Akt pathway. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that INPP5Bcould inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD cells. It could serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with LUAD. Trial registration LUAD tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues were collected from 10 different LUAD patients at Hangzhou First People’s Hospital. The Ethics Committee of Hangzhou First People's Hospital have approved this study. (registration number:ⅡT-20210907-0031-01；registration date:2021.09.13)
Predictors of an Immunogenic Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Treated with Rituximab: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Furer Victoria , Eviatar Tali , Zisman Devy , Peleg Hagit , Braun-Moscovici Yolanda , Balbir-Gurman Alexandra , Paran Daphna , Levartovsky David , Zisapel Michael , Elalouf Ofir , Kaufman Ilana , Broyde Adi , Polachek Ari , Meridor Katya , Nochomovitz Hila , Silberman Adi , Rosenberg Dana , Feld Joy , Haddad Amir , Gazzit Tal , Elias Muna , Higazi Nizar , Kharouf Fadi , Pel Sara , Nevo Sharon , Elkayam Ori
Published: December 2021

BackgroundTreatment with rituximab (RTX) blunts SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-induced humoral response. We sought to identify predictors of a positive immunogenic response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) treated with RTX (AIIRD-RTX).MethodsWe analyzed 108 AIIRD-RTX patients and 122 immunocompetent controls immunized with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine participating in a multicenter vaccination study. Immunogenicity was defined by positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG measured at 2 to 6 weeks after the second vaccine dose. We used a stepwise backward multiple logistic regression to identify predicting factors for a positive immunogenic response to vaccination and develop a predicting calculator, further validated in an independent cohort of AIIRD-RTX patients (n=48) immunized with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine.Results AIIRD-RTX patients who mounted a seropositive immunogenic response significantly differed from non-responders by lower number of RTX courses (median (range) 3 (1-10) vs 5 (1-15), p=0.007; lower cumulative RTX dose 6943.11±5975.74 vs 9780.95±7240.12 mg, p=0.033; higher IgG level prior to last RTX course (mean ± SD), 1189.78±576.28 vs. 884.33±302.31 mg/dL, p=0.002, and extended interval between RTX treatment and vaccination, 469.82±570.39 vs 162.08±160.12 days, p=0.0009, respectively. Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and inflammatory myositis had a low likelihood of a seropositive immunogenic response compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, odds ratio (OR) 0.209, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.046-0.96, p=0.044 and OR 0.189, 95% CI 0.036-0.987, p=0.048, respectively. Based on these findings, we constructed a calculator predicting the probability of a seropositive immunogenic response following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination which performed with 90.5% sensitivity, 59.3% specificity, 63.3% positive and 88.9% negative predictive values.ConclusionsThe predicting calculator might guide clinicians for optimal timing of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in AIIRD-RTX patients.
Association between viral load and positivization time of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test in routine nasopharyngeal specimens
Authors: Salvagno Gian Luca , Henry Brandon Michael , De Nitto Simone , Pighi Laura , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: December 2021

Background: Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests are potentially useful tools for screening carriers with high viral load. This study was aimed to assess the potential association between viral load and positivization time of a manual SARS-CoV-2 commercial antigen test in routine nasopharyngeal specimens. Methods: In a sample of subjects undergoing routine diagnostic testing, SARS-CoV-2 positivity of nasopharyngeal samples was assayed with both molecular (Altona Diagnostics RealStar SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Kit) and antigenic (Roche SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test) tests. Positivization time of rapid antigen test was correlated and compared with viral load expressed as mean of SARS-CoV-2 E/S genes cycle threshold (Ct) values.Results: The study sample consisted of 106 patients (median age 48 years, 55 women) with positive results of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing. A highly significant Spearman’s correlation was found between mean SARS-CoV-2 E/S genes Ct values and positivization time of manual antigen test (r= 0.70; p<0.001). The positivization time of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test displayed an area under the curve of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.74-0.89) for predicting nasopharyngeal samples with high viral load (i.e., mean Ct <20). A positivization time cut-off of 32 sec had 94.9% sensitivity and 58.2% specificity for detecting specimens with high viral load. The overall agreement between mean Ct value <20 and positivization time <32 sec was 70.8%.Conclusions: Positivization time of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests may provide easy and rapid information on viral load, thus making this type of manual assay potentially suitable for quick and reliable detection and isolation of super-carries.
Modelling Target Workforce Estimates For Community-Based Mental Health Services In Lebanon
Authors: Kheir Wissam , Zoghbi Edwina , Bteich Rachel , Rady Alissar , Chammay Rabih El
Published: December 2021

Background: Mental health services in Lebanon are weakly integrated in the health system due to a huge political unrest, cultural and societal stigma, and more importantly, due to the inappropriate planning of human resources. A shift of the mental health services in Lebanon from hospital-based care into community-based care and efficient planning of human resources became a priority given the increasing burden of mental health disorders as a consequence of socio-political and economic crises: the bordering Syrian war, the massive influx of refugees, the huge inflation rate and above all the Beirut explosion. Methods: The WHO-ATLAS was conducted in 2019 as well as the WHO-AIMS in 2015 to map mental health services in Lebanon. Data from those two reports was plugged into the service needs calculator; an economic tool including epidemiology of eight priority mental health packages and target population, outpatient service use/needs and inpatient service use/needs. Total full-time equivalents (FTE) were calculated for psychiatrists, nurses and psychosocial care providers. All formulas were extracted from the WHO “Planning and Budgeting to deliver mental health services” module of the Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package. Results: For an effective community-based mental health system in Lebanon, there is additional need for 182 (+16%) psychiatrists, 762 (+68%) nurses and 184 (+16%) psychosocial care providers; a total increase of 1,128 mental health workforce. Conclusions: A proper workforce skill mix for an optimal utilization of the existing staff is recommended. New models will need to account for task shifting to attempt to close the gap between what is needed and what is available.
Metaproteomic Profiling of Fungal Gut Colonization in Gnotobiotic Mice
Authors: Pettersen Veronika Kuchařová , Dufour Antoine , Arrieta Marie-Claire
Published: December 2021

Background: Eukaryotic microbes can modulate mammalian host health and disease states, yet the molecular contribution of gut fungi remains nascent. We previously showed that mice exclusively colonised with fungi displayed increased sensitivity to allergic airway inflammation and had fecal metabolite profiles similar to germ-free mice. This marginal effect on the host metabolome suggested that fungi do not primarily use metabolites to modulate the host immune system.Methods: To describe functional changes attributed to fungal colonisation, we performed mass spectrometry-based analyses of feces (Label-Free Quantitative; LFQ) and the small intestine (labeling with Tandem Mass Tag; TMT) of gnotobiotic mice colonised with defined consortia of twelve bacterial species, five fungal species, or both. We also evaluated the effect of microbiome perturbances on the metaproteome by analysing feces from mouse pups treated with an antibiotic or antifungal.Results: We detected 6,675 proteins in the mice feces, of which 3,845 had determined LFQ levels. Analysis of variance showed changes in the different gnotobiotic mouse groups; specifically, 46% of 2,860 bacterial, 15% of 580 fungal, and 76% of 405 mouse quantified proteins displayed differential levels. The antimicrobial treatments resulted in lasting changes in the bacterial and fungal proteomes, suggesting that the antimicrobials impacted the entire community. Fungal colonisation resulted in changes in host proteins functional in innate immunity as well as metabolism, predicting specific roles of gut fungi on host systems during early developmental stages. Several of the detected fungal proteins (3% of 1,492) have been previously reported as part of extracellular vesicles and having immunomodulating properties. Using an isobaric labelling TMT approach for profiling low abundant proteins of the jejunal tissue, we confirmed that the five fungal species differentially impacted the host intestinal proteome compared to the bacterial consortium. The detected changes in mouse jejunal proteins (4% of 1,514) were mainly driven by metabolic proteins. Conclusions: We used quantitative proteomic profiling of gnotobiotic conditions to show how colonisation with selected fungal species impacts the host gut proteome. Our results suggest that an increased abundance of certain gut fungal species in early life may affect the developing intracellular attributes of epithelial and immune cells.
The Role of the Angular Gyrus in Semantic Cognition – A Synthesis of Five Functional Neuroimaging Studies
Authors: Kuhnke Philipp , Chapman Curtiss A. , Cheung Vincent K.M. , Turker Sabrina , Graessner Astrid , Martin Sandra , Williams Kathleen A. , Hartwigsen Gesa
Published: December 2021

Semantic knowledge is central to human cognition. The angular gyrus (AG) is widely considered a key brain region for semantic cognition. However, the role of the AG in semantic processing is controversial. Key controversies concern response polarity (activation vs. deactivation) and its relation to task difficulty, lateralization (left vs. right AG), and functional-anatomical subdivision (PGa vs. PGp subregions). Here, we combined the fMRI data of five studies on semantic processing (n = 172) and analyzed the response profiles from the same anatomical regions-of-interest for left and right PGa and PGp. We found that the AG was consistently deactivated during non-semantic conditions, whereas response polarity during semantic conditions was inconsistent. However, the AG consistently showed relative response differences between semantic and non-semantic conditions, and between different semantic conditions. A combined analysis across all studies revealed that AG responses could be best explained by independent effects of both task difficulty and semantic processing demand. Task difficulty effects were stronger in PGa than PGp, regardless of hemisphere. Semantic effects were stronger in left than right AG, regardless of subregion. These results suggest that the AG is independently engaged in both domain-general task-difficulty-related processes and domain-specific semantic processes. In semantic processing, we propose that left AG acts as a “multimodal convergence zone” that binds different semantic features associated with the same concept, enabling efficient access to task-relevant features.
Automating Aircraft Scanning For Inspection With A UAV And Reinforcement Learning Technique
Authors: Sun Yufeng , Ma Ou
Published: December 2021

Visual inspections of aircraft exterior surface are usually required in aircraft maintenance routine. It becomes a trend to use mobile robots equipped with sensors to perform automatic inspections as a replacement of manual inspections which are time-consuming and error-prone. The sensed data such as images and point cloud can be used for further defect characterization leveraging the power of machine learning and data science. In such a robotic inspection procedure, a precise digital model of the aircraft is required for planning the inspection path, however, the original CAD model of the aircraft is often inaccessible to aircraft maintenance shops. Thus, sensors such as 3D Laser scanners and RGB-D (Red, Green, Blue, and Depth) cameras are used because of their capability of generating a 3D model of an interested object in an efficient manner. This paper presents a two-stage approach of automating aircraft scanning with a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) equipped with an RGB-D camera for reconstructing a digital replica of the aircraft when its original CAD model is not available. In the first stage, the UAVcamera system follows a predefined path to quickly scan the aircraft and generate a coarse model of the aircraft. Then, a full-coverage scanning path is computed based on the coarse model of the aircraft. In the second stage, the UAV-Camera system follows the computed path to closely scan the aircraft for generating a dense and precise model of the aircraft. We solved the Coverage Path Planning (CPP) problem for the aircraft scanning using Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) which is a reinforcement learning technique. We also implemented the Max-Min Ant System (MMAS) strategy, a population-based optimization algorithm, to solve the CPP problem and demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Harboring Cnm-Expressing Streptococcus Mutans In The Oral Cavity Relates To Both Deep and Lobar Cerebral Microbleeds
Authors: Ikeda Shuhei , Saito Satoshi , Hosoki Satoshi , Tonomura Shuichi , Yamamoto Yumi , Ikenouchi Hajime , Ishiyama Hiroyuki , Tanaka Tomotaka , Hattori Yorito , Friedland Robert P. , Carare Roxana O. , Kuriyama Nagato , Yakushiji Yusuke , Hara Hideo , Koga Masatoshi , Toyoda Kazunori , Nomura Ryota , Takegami Misa , Nakano Kazuhiko , Ihara Masafumi
Published: December 2021

Streptococcus mutans, a major cariogenic bacterium, expressing the collagen-binding protein Cnm induces cerebrovascular inflammation, resulting in the impairment of blood brain barrier integrity followed by cerebral bleeding. We here examined the association of Cnm-positive S. mutans with cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in acute stroke patients selected from a single-center registry database. Of 428 patients who received oral bacterial examinations among 3154 stroke patients, 326 patients who harbored S. mutans were identified. After excluding four patients without imaging data, we compared 72 patients with Cnm-positive S. mutans and 250 with Cnm-negative S. mutans. Deep, lobar and infratentorial CMBs were observed in 46 (63.9%), 36 (50.0%), 25 (34.7%) patients with Cnm-positive S. mutans and 144 (57.6%), 114 (45.6%), 101 (40.4%) with Cnm-negative S. mutans. Possession of Cnm-positive S. mutans was related to higher numbers of both deep and lobar, but not infratentorial, CMBs (risk ratios 1.57 [1.07‒2.30], deep; 5.44 [2.50‒11.85], lobar). Statistical significance persisted after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, stroke type, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (risk ratios 1.61 [1.14‒2.27], deep; 5.14 [2.78‒9.51], lobar). Our study indicated that reduction of Cnm-positive S. mutans may serve as a therapeutic approach for improving the prognosis of stroke patients.
Analysis of Rhodopsin G Protein-Coupled Receptor Orthologs Reveals Semiochemical Peptides for Parasite (Schistosoma Mansoni) and Host (Biomphalaria Glabrata) Interplay
Authors: Phan Phong , Liang Di , Zhao Min , Wyeth Russell C. , Fogarty Conor , Duke Mary G. , McManus Donald P. , Wang Tianfang , Cummins Scott F.
Published: December 2021

Background: Schistosomiasis is a medically significant disease caused by helminth parasites of the genus Schistosoma. The schistosome life cycle requires chemically mediated interactions with an intermediate (aquatic snail) and definitive (human) host. Blocking parasite development within the snail stage requires improved understanding of the interactions between the snail host and the Schistosoma water-borne free-living form (miracidium). Innovations in snail genomics and aquatic chemical communication provide an ideal opportunity to explore snail-parasite coevolution at the molecular level. Rhodopsin G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of particular interest in studying how trematode parasites navigate towards their snail hosts. The potential role of GPCRs in parasites makes them candidate targets for new antihelminthics that disrupt the intermediate host life-cycle stages, thus preventing subsequent human infections.Results: A genomic-bioinformatic approach was used to identify GPCR orthologs between the snail Biomphalaria glabrata and miracidia of its obligate parasite Schistosoma mansoni. We show that 8 S. mansoni rhodopsin GPCRs expressed within the miracidial stage share overall amino acid similarity with 8 different B. glabrata rhodopsin GPCRs, particularly within transmembrane domains, suggesting conserved structural features. These GPCRs include an orphan peptide receptor as well as several with strong sequence homologies with rhabdomeric opsin receptors, a serotonin receptor, a sulfakinin (SK) receptor, an allatostatin-A (buccalin) receptor and an FMRFamide receptor. Buccalin and FMRFa peptides were identified in water conditioned by B. glabrata, and we show synthetic buccalin and FMRFa can stimulate significant rates of change of direction and turn-back responses in S. mansoni miracidia.Conclusions: Ortholog GPCRs were identified in S. mansoni miracidia and B. glabrata. These GPCRs may detect similar ligands, including snail-derived odorants that could facilitate miracidial host finding. These results lay the foundation for future research elucidating the mechanisms by which GPCRs mediate host finding which can lead to the potential development of novel anti-schistosome interventions.
Fasting Blood Glucose Level Progression And Its Associated Factors Among Diabetic Patients Attending Treatment In North Shewa Hospitals, Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Yohannes Yordanos Berihun , Woldeamanuel Berhanu Teshome , Ayano Buzuneh
Published: December 2021

Background: Diabetes describes a group of metabolic disorders characterized and identified by hyperglycemia without treatment. It includes defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both, and disturbances of carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. The study aimed to assess fasting blood glucose level progression and its associated factors among diabetic patients attending insulin and metformin follow-up in fiche and Chancho hospitals.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to obtain secondary data among diabetic patients attending treatment from September 2016 to August 2018 in the hospital. The linear- mixed effects model for longitudinal data was employed to measure the changes in fasting blood glucose level.Result: The result of the study revealed that age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, marital status, regime, and education level were significantly associated factors for the progression of fasting blood glucose levels among diabetic patients. Conclusion: The study recommended that the progression of blood glucose level was higher among diabetic patients, and the health professionals, health sectors, and government should be paid an intervention on patients who had high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, who had high BMI, and older age patients.
Clinical Observations on Infliximab Treatment of Infantile Onset Takayasu Arteritis
Authors: Kang Min , Lai Jianming , Zhang Dan , Xu Yingjie , Zhu Jia , Li Ming
Published: December 2021

Background: To study short-term clinical effectiveness and safety of infliximab (IFX) treatment of infants with Takayasu arteritis (TA). Methods: We investigated the therapeutic effectiveness of IFX in 10 infantile TA in a retrospective case series. Evaluation included assessment of clinical symptoms, laboratory testing, and vascular imaging. Results: Fever was the presenting symptom for 8 of 10 infants with TA. In the acute episode, leucocyte and inflammatory indices increased significantly. Vascular imaging showed that the most commonly-involved arteries were carotid arteries, abdominal aortas, and coronary arteries (9 cases, 90%). Two weeks after IFX treatment, leukocyte and platelet counts decreased, and hemoglobin levels increased. There were significant clinical differences 6 weeks after treatment compared with before treatment (p<0.05). Inflammatory indices decreased significantly 2 weeks after starting IFX treatment compared with before treatment (p<0.05). Vascular lesions began to recover within 1.5-3 months of initiating IFX therapy, and the involved vessels significantly recovered within 13 months. Some arteries remained stenotic, intimal thickening and uneven lumen wall thickness. Conclusions: TA is rare in infancy. Fever may be the main manifestation of illness, often accompanied by significantly increased inflammatory indices. Early use of IFX appears to be effective, significantly decreasing inflammatory markers and improving clinical features, leading to partial remission of vascular lesions and sustain remissions for some infants. Use of IFX reduced or eliminated need for glucocorticoids. IFX has a reasonable safety profile and does not appear to affect normal growth and development of infants with TA.
Endogenous Small Intestinal Microbiome Determinants of Transient Colonization Efficiency by Bacteria from Fermented Dairy Products; A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zaccaria Edoardo , Klaassen Tim , Alleleyn Annick M.E. , Boekhorst Jos , Smokvina Tamara , Kleerebezem Michiel , Troost Freddy J.
Published: December 2021

BackgroundThe effects of fermented food consumption on the small intestine microbiome and its role on host homeostasis are largely uncharacterized as our knowledge on intestinal microbiota relies mainly on faecal samples analysis. We investigated changes in the small intestinal microbial composition and functionality, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles, and on the gastro-intestinal (GI) permeability in ileostomy subjects upon the consumption of fermented milk products.ResultsWe report the results from a randomized, cross-over, explorative study where 16ileostomy subjects underwent 3, 2-week interventions periodsin which they daily consumed either milk fermented by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690, or milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus CNCM I-1630 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CNCM I-1519, or a chemically acidified milk (placebo). Weperformed metataxonomic, metatranscriptomic analysis and SCFA profiling of ileostomy effluents as well as a sugar permeability test andto investigate the microbiome impact of these interventions and their potential effect on mucosal barrier function. Consumption of the intervention products significantly impacted the small intestinal microbiome composition and functionality but did not affect the SCFA levels in ileostoma effluent, or the gastro-intestinal permeability. Theimpact on microbiome composition was highly personalized,andwe identified the poorly characterized bacterial family, Peptostreptococcaceae, to be positively associated with low abundance of the ingested bacteria. Activity profiling of the microbiota revealed that carbon- versus amino acid-derived energy metabolism of the endogenous microbiome could be responsible for the individual-specific intervention effects on the small intestine microbiome composition and function.ConclusionsThe ingested bacteria are the main drivers of the intervention effect on the small intestinal microbiota composition. Their transient abundance level is highly personalized and influenced by the energy metabolism of the ecosystem that is reflected by its microbial composition (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID NCT NCT02920294).
Extension of The Improved Upper-Bound Pushover Analysis For Seismic Assessment of Steel Moment Resisting Frames With Setbacks
Authors: Rahmani Abdallah Yacine , Badaoui Mohamed , Bourahla Nouredine , Bento Rita
Published: December 2021

Pushover analysis technique is a key tool for the performance-based seismic design that has been largely adopted in the new generation of seismic codes. Therefore, more precise and reliable performance predictions are highly demanded. Improved upper-bound (IUB) pushover analysis is one of the advanced nonlinear static procedures (NSPs) that has been recently developed. This procedure estimates adequately the response of regular and tall buildings. In this study, IUB is extended to assess the seismic response of irregular buildings with setbacks. To this end, an adjustment of the IUB lateral load distribution is implemented by integrating a third mode of vibration to control the response of these complex buildings. Fifteen multi-storey steel frames with different types of setbacks including a reference structure are used to test the accuracy of the proposed procedure by comparing its results to those from other NSPs and the nonlinear time history analysis (NLHA). The findings show the superior capacity of the extended IUB in predicting the seismic response of buildings with different levels and types of setbacks.
Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation, and Prognosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors: Experience of National Center for Children’s Health
Authors: yang wei , Cai Yingjie , Chen Jiashu , Yang Ping , Ying Zesheng , Liang Yuting , Ling Miao , Zhu Kaiyi , Sun Hailang , Ji Yuanqi , Peng XiaoJiao , Kuang Suhui , Zhang Nan , Zhang Tianlei , Ge Ming
Published: December 2021

Objective Brain tumors have become the most common solid tumors in children. The epidemiology is poorly described in China. This retrospective study aimed to describe the epidemiologic characteristics, clinical presentation, and prognosis in national health center for children. Method From January 2015 to December 2020, 484 cases age 0-18 years old diagnosed with brain tumors and receiving neurosurgery treatment were enrolled into the database. Pathology was based on the World Health Organization 2012 nervous system tumor classification, and tumor behavior were classified on International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition. A descriptive and comparative statistic was performed on clinical manifestation, symptom duration, sex, age, tumor location, tumor behavior, and survival time. Results Among the 484 brain tumors, the median age at diagnosis was 4.62 [2.19, 8.17] years old (4.07 [1.64, 7.13] for benign tumors and 5.36 [2.78, 8.84] for malignant tumors). The overall male to female ratios were 1.33:1, with 1.09:1 and 1.62:1 for benign and malignant tumors respectively. Nausea and vomiting, headache were the most frequent initial symptoms. The median symptoms duration was 4[2, 21] weeks. The three most frequent tumor type were embryonal tumors (22.45%), other astrocytic tumors (20.17%), and diffuse astrocytic tumors (11.02%). Supratentorial tumors comprise 57.38% of all brain tumors. And the most common tumor locations were cerebellum and forth ventricles (38.67%), sellar region (22.87%) and ventricles (10.60%). Male were more common among choroid plexus tumors (63.64%), embryonal tumors (61.11%), ependymal tumors (68.57%), and germ cell tumors (78.13%). Patients were followed for 1 to 82 months. The overall 5-year survival was 77.4%, with 90.0% for benign tumor and 65.3% for malignant tumors. log-rank test found significant different at p <0.001 level. Conclusion Brain tumors presented particularly sexual, age dependent, and regional dependent epidemiological characteristic. Our results were consistent with previous reports, and might reflect the real epidemiology status in China.
Early signals of Omicron severity in sentinel UK hospitals
Authors: Ahmad Shazaad , Brown Benjamin , Charlett Andre , Davies Emma , House Thomas , Kirkman Ben , Machin Nicholas , O'Hara Robert , Paton Rob , Pellis Lorenzo , Ward Tom , Overton Christopher E.
Published: December 2021

On 26th November 2021, a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron variant) was designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation. Using data from the Virology laboratory at the Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership (MMMP, a partnership between UKHSA and the Manchester Foundation Trust), we have extracted a real-time feed of Omicron samples from hospitals across Greater Manchester, an area of the United Kingdom with a population size of approximately three million individuals. Omicron hospital samples are growing exponentially across Greater Manchester (doubling time 2.7 days (95% CI: 2.1, 3.7)). The proportion of Omicron in hospital samples follows a similar trajectory to the SGTF proportion in cases, but with a two-day offset. This is consistent with the delay from testing positive to hospital admission, implying a similar proportion of Omicron cases are converting to hospital admissions as for Delta cases. Comparing the Greater Manchester data to national hospitalisation data, similar tends are observed. Therefore, there is no signal of a substantial reduction in hospital admission risk with Omicron, and Omicron epidemics are likely to place a substantial burden on public health infrastructure.
Microbial community composition associated with early developmental stages of the Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus
Authors: TN Vinay , PK Patil , R Aravind , PS Shyne Anand , V Baskaran , CP Balasubramanian
Published: December 2021

Gut microbiota is known to influence the physiology, health, nutrient absorption, reproduction, and other metabolic activities of aquatic organisms. Microbial composition can influence intestinal immunity and are considered as health indicators. Information on gut microbial composition provides potential application possibilities to improve shrimp health and production. In the absence of such information for Penaeus indicus, the present study reports the microbial community structure associated with its early developmental stages. Bacterial community associated with the early developmental stages (egg, nauplii, zoea, mysis, postlarvae-1, postlarvae-6 and postlarvae-12) from two hatchery cycles were analysed employing 16S rRNA high throughput sequencing. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, were the two dominant phyla in P. indicus development stages. Sequential sampling revealed the constant change in the bacterial composition at genus level. Alteromonas was dominant in egg and nauplii stage, whilst Ascidiaceihabitans (formerly Roseobacter) was the dominant genera in both PL6 and PL12. The bacterial composition was highly dynamic in early stages and our study suggests that the mysis stage is the critical phase in transforming the microbial composition and it gets stabalised by early post larval stages. This is the first report on the composition of microbiota in early developmental stages of P. indicus. Based on these results the formation of microbial composition seems to be influenced by feeding at early stages. The study provides valuable information to device intervention strategies for healthy seed production.
Effect of an Exercise Bout Prior to the Booster Dose of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine on Immunogenicity in Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Gualano Bruno , Saad Carla G. S. , Sieczkowska Sofia M. , Lemes Ítalo Ribeiro , Silva Rafael Pires da , Pinto Ana J. , Mazzolani Bruna C. , Smaira Fabiana I. , Gil Saulo , Oliveira-Junior Gersiel , Aikawa Nadia E. , Medeiros-Ribeiro Ana C. , Silva Clovis A. , Yuki Emily F. N. , Pasoto Sandra G , Pereira Rosa M.R. , Shinjo Samuel K. , Andrade Danieli C. O. , Sampaio-Barros Percival D. , Roschel Hamilton , Bonfa Eloisa
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate whether a single bout of exercise prior to the homologous booster dose of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (Sinovac-CoronaVac) could enhance immunogenicity in patients with dysfunctional immune system. This was a randomized controlled trial (1:1) within a single-arm, phase 4 vaccination trial, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients with spondyloarthritis assigned to the intervention group performed an exercise bout comprising three unilateral strength exercises involving eccentric and concentric contractions. After exercising, patients remained at rest for 1 h prior to vaccination, which was applied to the exercised arm. The control group remained at rest before vaccination. Immunogenicity was assessed before (Pre) and one month after (Post) the booster dose using seropositivity rates of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG, geometric mean titers of anti-S1/S2 IgG (GMT), frequency of NAb positivity, and NAb activity. Before the booster dose, 16 patients from the exercise group and 16 patients from the control group exhibited seropositivity for IgG (59% vs. 57.1%), one month after the booster dose, seropositivity occurred in 96% vs. 100% of the cases (p = 0.84, group by time interaction). Only 10 patients from the exercise group and 12 patients from the control group showed positive NAb serology at Pre (37% vs. 42.8%). One month following the booster, NAb positivity was 96% vs. 93% (p = 0.41, group-by-time interaction). GMT was comparable between groups at Pre (p > 0.05). At Post, GMT increased similarly in both groups (exercise: 56.9%; control: 57.9%), with no group-by-time interaction (p = 0.82; estimated mean difference between groups at Post [EMD]: -40.4 UA/mL, 95%CI: -327, 246 UA/mL). Likewise, NAb activity was similar between groups at Pre and increased similarly in both of them as a result of the booster (47.5% vs. 39.9%), with no group-by-time interaction (p = 0.99; EMD: -6.19%, 95%CI: -17; 4.6%). In conclusion, a single bout of exercise did not enhance immunogenicity to a homologous booster dose of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among patients with spondyloarthritis. Studies assessing exercise as an adjuvant to first or second doses remain necessary.
Vital signs of severe COVID-19 patients during inter-hospital helicopter transfer
Authors: Slagt Cornelis , Spoelder Eduard Johannes , Tacken Marijn Cornelia Theresia , Frijlink Maartje , Servaas Sjoerd , Leijte Guus , Eijk Lucas Theodorus , Geffen Geert Jan
Published: December 2021

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands, critically ill ventilated COVID-19 patients were not only transferred between hospitals by ambulance, but also by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). To date, little is known about the impact of helicopter transport on critically ill patients, and COVID-19 patients in particular. This study was conducted to explore the impact of inter-hospital helicopter transfer on vital signs of mechanically ventilated severe COVID-19 intensive care patients, with special focus on take-off, midflight, and landing. Methods: All ventilated critically ill COVID-19 patients who were transported between April 2020 and June 2021 by the Dutch ‘Lifeliner 5’ HEMS team and who were fully monitored including non-invasive cardiac output, were included in this study. Three 10 minute timeframes (take-off, midflight and landing) were defined for analysis. Continuous data of vital parameters heartrate, peripheral oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure, end-tidal CO2 and non-invasive cardiac output using electrical cardiometry were collected and stored at a 1 minute interval. Data were analysed for differences over time within the timeframes using 1-way analysis of variance. Significant differences were checked for clinical relevance. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included in the analysis. During take-off an increase was noticed in cardiac output (from 6.7 to 8.1 Lmin-1; P<0.0001) which was determined by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance (from 1068 to 750 dyne·s·cm−5, P<0.0001) accompanied by an increase in stroke volume (from 92.0 to 110.2 ml, P<0.0001). Other parameters were unchanged during take-off and mid-flight. During the landing cardiac output and stroke volume slightly decreased (from 7.9 to 7.1 Lmin-1, P<0.0001 and from 108.3 to 100.6 ml, P<0.0001 respectively) and total systemic vascular resistance increased (P<0.0001). Though statistically significant, the found changes were small and not clinically relevant to the medical status of the patients as judged by the attending physicians. Conclusions: Interhospital helicopter transfer of ventilated intensive care patients with COVID-19 can be performed safely and does not result in clinically relevant changes in vital signs. This study this has been assessed by the medical ethical committee Arnhem-Nijmegen, the Netherlands (identifier 2021-7313). The committee waived the need for informed consent. The study was registered at www.trialregister.nl (identifier NL9307).
Comparative inhibition analysis of wild type and G671S catalytic site mutant of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
Authors: Khan Faisal , Basharat Zarrin
Published: December 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) has wrecked a global havoc, after its emergence in Wuhan, Hubei province of China. It is known to have a distressing effect on the respiratory tract and has a high mortality rate. Till to date (25 Dec 2021), total number of cases (279,362,428) have been reported across the globe. Variable mutations have been reported on various geographical levels. In this study, we have analyzed G671S mutation of RdRp of the SARS-CoV-2, which has been reported in various strains globally, but importantly delta variant cases of Pakistan and has a serious impact on the protein structure. To study the conformational impact, we screened a Tibetan medicinal compound/Sowa Rigpa library against RdRp and compared the best docked compound (Kaempferol 3-O-gentiobioside) to the wild type and mutant RdRp against Remdesivir. A short simulation was used to validate the findings. Both remdesivir and our screened compound showed better inhibition for mutant, compared to the wild type RdRp.