bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Th17 Cells in Periodontitis and Its Regulation by A20
Authors: Huang Ning , Dong Hao , Luo Yuqi , Shao Bin
Published: September 2021

Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic disease that results in loss of periodontal ligament and bone resorption. Triggered by pathogens and prolonged inflammation, periodontitis is modulated by the immune system, especially pro-inflammatory cells, such as T helper (Th) 17 cells. Originated from CD4+ Th cells, Th17 cells play a central role for they drive and regulate periodontal inflammation. Cytokines secreted by Th17 cells are also major players in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Given the importance of Th17 cells, modulators of Th17 cells are of great clinical potential and worth of discussion. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of the effect of Th17 cells on periodontitis, as well as a brief discussion of current and potential therapies targeting Th17 cells. Lastly, we highlight this article by summarizing the causal relationship between A20 (encoded by TNFAIP3), an anti-inflammatory molecule, and Th17 cell differentiation.
Biomarkers in Ringed Seals Reveal Recent Onset of Borealization in the High- Compared to the Mid-Latitude Canadian Arctic
Authors: de la Vega Camille , Mahaffey Claire , Yurkowski David J. , Norman Louisa , Simpson Elysia , Smout Sophie , Ferguson Steven H. , Jeffreys Rachel M.
Published: September 2021

Warming of the Arctic has resulted in environmental and ecological changes, termed borealization, leading to the northward shift of temperate species. Borealization has occurred across all trophic levels, altering the structure of the food web. The onset and rate of borealization likely varies with latitude, depending on local warming and advection of warmer water into the Arctic. In order to assess latitudinal trends in food web structure in the Arctic, we analyzed stable nitrogen isotopes of specific amino acids alongside bulk stable carbon isotopes in ringed seal muscle tissue from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (high-Arctic) and Southern Baffin Bay (mid-Arctic) from 1990 to 2016. Our results indicate a shift in food web structure in the high-Arctic that has occurred more recently when compared with the mid-Arctic. Specifically, over the past 25 years, the trophic position of ringed seals from the mid-Arctic was largely constant, whereas the trophic position of ringed seals decreased in the high-Arctic, reaching similar values observed in the mid-Arctic in 2015–2016. This suggests a potential shortening of the food chain length in the high-Arctic, possibly driven by changes in zooplankton communities feeding complexity in association with sea ice decline. This study identifies a temporal offset in the timing of borealization in the Canadian Arctic, resulting in different response of food webs to ecological changes, depending on latitude.
Corrosion Behavior and Passive Film Composition of Alloy 825 in High Temperature and High H2S-CO2 Containing Environment
Authors: Feng Zhe , Fan Xuehua , Wang Zhu , Yu Yong , Chen Lijuan , Du Yanxia , Dong Lei
Published: September 2021

The effect of high temperature on corrosion behavior and passive film composition of Ni-based alloy 825 in H2S-containing environment was investigated by Confocal Laser Microscope (CLM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The experiment was carried out at 150 and 230°C in NaCl solution. The partial pressure of H2S was set to 1.2 MPa and CO2 was set to 3.2 MPa. The results showed that Ni-based alloy 825 presented good general corrosion resistance. Pitting corrosion was likely to occur at 230°C because of Cr depleted in the passive film. NiS appeared at high temperature and is damaging to protectiveness of passive film.
Unraveling Risk Genes of COVID-19 by Multi-Omics Integrative Analyses
Authors: Baranova Ancha , Cao Hongbao , Zhang Fuquan
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Uncovering the genetic basis of COVID-19 may shed insight into its pathogenesis and help to improve treatment measures. We aimed to investigate the host genetic variants associated with COVID-19.

Methods: The summary result of a COVID-19 GWAS (9,373 hospitalized COVID-19 cases and 1,197,256 controls) was obtained from the COVID-19 Host Genetic Initiative GWAS meta-analyses. We tested colocalization of the GWAS signals of COVID-19 with expression and methylation quantitative traits loci (eQTL and mQTL, respectively) using the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis. Four eQTL and two mQTL datasets were utilized in the SMR analysis, including CAGE blood eQTL data (n = 2,765), GTEx v7 blood (n = 338) and lung (n = 278) eQTL data, Geuvadis lymphoblastoid cells eQTL data, LBC-BSGS blood mQTL data (n = 1,980), and Hannon blood mQTL summary data (n = 1,175). We conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) on COVID-19 with precomputed prediction models of GTEx v8 eQTL in lung and blood using S-PrediXcan.

Results: Our SMR analyses identified seven protein-coding genes (TYK2, IFNAR2, OAS1, OAS3, XCR1, CCR5, and MAPT) associated with COVID-19, including two novel risk genes, CCR5 and tau-encoding MAPT. The TWAS revealed four genes for COVID-19 (CXCR6, CCR5, CCR9, and PIGN), including two novel risk genes, CCR5 and PIGN.

Conclusion: Our study highlighted the functional relevance of some known genome-wide risk genes of COVID-19 and revealed novel genes contributing to differential outcomes of COVID-19 disease.
Short-Chain Inulin Modulates the Cecal Microbiota Structure of Leptin Knockout Mice in High-Fat Diet
Authors: Feng Yan , Feng Jianghao , Wang Lei , Meng Ai , Wei Siang , Cui Jie , Hu Xiongbing , Yan Lihuan
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of short-chain inulin on cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-fed leptin knockout mice and the different influences of cecal microbiota on wild-type and leptin knockout mice. A total of 18 specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6J wild-type mice and 18 C57BL/6J leptin knockout mice (OB/OB mice) were selected. Mice were divided into six groups according to their genotype: wild-type mice have three groups, including the normal diet group (CT), 60% high-fat diet group (CH), and 60% high fat with 10% short-chain inulin group (CHI); OB/OB mice were also divided into three groups, including the normal diet group (OT), 60% high-fat diet group (OH), and 60% high fat with 10% short-inulin group (OHI). The mice were fed for 8 weeks to analyze the diversity of cecal microbiota. The results show that compared with CH and OH, the variety of cecal microbiota was significantly reduced in CH and OH and further reduced in CHI and OHI. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the biomarkers in genus level. Dietary short-chain inulin significantly enhanced Bifidobacterium in OHI compared with OH (p < 0.01) and significantly reduced in CHI and compared with CH (p < 0.01). Lactobacillus was significantly enhanced in CHI and OHI compared with CH and OH, respectively (p < 0.01). Blautia was significantly enhanced in CH and OH compared with other groups (p < 0.01). Both Escherichia-Shigella and Enterococcus were significantly reduced in CHI and OHI, compared with CH and OH, respectively (p < 0.05). Escherichia-Shigella was even lower than CT and OT in CHI and OHI. Functional prediction of microbial communities showed that the abundance of amino acid sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathways were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) in CH and OH, and OH was significantly higher than CH (p < 0.05). Among the leptin knockout groups, PICRUSt2 function prediction showed that the fatty acid metabolism pathway significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in OHI and OT compared with OH. In conclusion, short-chain inulin modulated the dysbiosis induced by high-fat diet, improved probiotics growth and inhibited conditioned pathogenic bacteria, and the influences were significantly different in wild-type and leptin knockout mice.
Multidrug-Resistant Lineage of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ST182 With Serotype O169:H41 in Airline Waste
Authors: Jarocki Veronica M. , Heß Stefanie , Anantanawat Kay , Berendonk Thomas U. , Djordjevic Steven P.
Published: September 2021

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the primary aetiologic agent of traveller’s diarrhoea and a significant cause of diarrhoeal disease and death in developing countries. ETEC O169:H41 strains are known to cause both traveller’s diarrhoea and foodborne outbreaks in developed countries and are cause for concern. Here, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to assemble 46 O169:H41 (ST182) E. coli draft genomes derived from two airplane waste samples sourced from a German international airport. The ST182 genomes were compared with all 84 publicly available, geographically diverse ST182 genomes to construct a core genome-based phylogenetic tree. ST182 isolates were all phylogroup E, the majority serotype O169:H41 (n = 121, 93%) and formed five major clades. The airplane waste isolates differed by an average of 15 core SNPs (range 0–45) but their accessory genome content was diverse. While uncommon in other ST182 genomes, all airplane-derived ST182 isolates carried: (i) extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaCTX–M–15 notably lacking the typical adjacent ISEcp1; (ii) qnrS1 and the S83L mutation in gyrA, both conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones; and (iii) a class 1 integron structure (IS26-intI1Δ648-dfrA17-aadA5-qacEΔ1-sul1-ORF-srpC-padR-IS6100-mphR-mrx-mphA-IS26) identified previously in major extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli STs but not in ETEC. ST182 isolates carried ETEC-specific virulence factors STp + CS6. Adhesin/invasin tia was identified in 89% of aircraft ST182 isolates (vs 23%) and was located on a putative genomic island within a hotspot region for various insertions including PAI I536 and plasmid-associated transposons. The most common plasmid replicons in this collection were IncFII (100%; F2:A-:B-) and IncB/O/K/Z (89%). Our data suggest that potentially through travel, E. coli ST182 are evolving a multidrug-resistant profile through the acquisition of class 1 integrons and different plasmids.
Effect of Direct Viral–Bacterial Interactions on the Removal of Norovirus From Lettuce
Authors: Xu Zhangkai , Liu Zishu , Chen Jiang , Zou Songyan , Jin Yan , Zhang Ronghua , Sheng Yaqi , Liao Ningbo , Hu Baolan , Cheng Dongqing
Published: September 2021

Norovirus (NoV) is the main non-bacterial pathogen causing outbreaks of gastroenteritis and is considered to be the leading cause of foodborne illness. This study aims to determine whether lettuce-encapsulated bacteria can express histo-blood group antigen (HBGA)–like substances to bind to NoV and, if so, to explore its role in protecting NoV from disinfection practices. Fifteen bacterial strains (HBGA-SEBs) were isolated from the lettuce microbiome and studied as they were proved to have the ability to express HBGA-like substances through indirect ELISA detection. By using attachment assay, HBGA-SEBs showed great abilities in carrying NoVs regarding the evaluation of binding capacity, especially for the top four strains from genera Wautersiella, Sphingobacterium, and Brachybacterium, which could absorb more than 60% of free-flowing NoVs. Meanwhile, the direct viral–bacterial binding between HBGA-like substance-expressing bacteria (HBGA-SEB) and NoVs was observed by TEM. Subsequently, results of simulated environmental experiments showed that the binding of NoVs with HBGA-SEBs did have detrimental effects on NoV reduction, which were evident in short-time high-temperature treatment (90°C) and UV exposure. Finally, by considering the relative abundance of homologous microorganisms of HBGA-SEBs in the lettuce microbiome (ca. 36.49%) and the reduction of NoVs in the simulated environments, we suggested putting extra attention on the daily disinfection of foodborne-pathogen carriers to overcome the detrimental effects of direct viral–bacterial interactions on the reduction of NoVs.
Electromagnetic Field as a Treatment for Cerebral Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Moya Gómez Amanda , Font Lena Pérez , Brône Bert , Bronckaers Annelies
Published: September 2021

Cerebral stroke is a leading cause of death and adult-acquired disability worldwide. To this date, treatment options are limited; hence, the search for new therapeutic approaches continues. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) affect a wide variety of biological processes and accumulating evidence shows their potential as a treatment for ischemic stroke. Based on their characteristics, they can be divided into stationary, pulsed, and sinusoidal EMF. The aim of this review is to provide an extensive literature overview ranging from in vitro to even clinical studies within the field of ischemic stroke of all EMF types. A thorough comparison between EMF types and their effects is provided, as well as an overview of the signal pathways activated in cell types relevant for ischemic stroke such as neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. We also discuss which steps have to be taken to improve their therapeutic efficacy in the frame of the clinical translation of this promising therapy.
Operational Determination of Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia Using Sum of Boxes of the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale
Authors: Yang Yu-Wan , Hsu Kai-Cheng , Wei Cheng-Yu , Tzeng Ray-Chang , Chiu Pai-Yi
Published: September 2021

Objectives: The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale is the gold standard for the staging of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the application of CDR for the staging of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in AD remains controversial. This study aimed to use the sum of boxes of the CDR (CDR-SB) plus an SCD single questionnaire to operationally determine the different stages of cognitive impairment (CI) due to AD and non-AD.

Methods: This was a two-phase study, and we retrospectively analyzed the Show Chwan Dementia registry database using the data selected from 2015 to 2020. Individuals with normal cognition (NC), SCD, MCI, and mild dementia (MD) due to AD or non-AD with a CDR < 2 were included in the analysis.

Results: A total of 6,946 individuals were studied, including 875, 1,009, 1,585, and 3,447 with NC, SCD, MCI, and MD, respectively. The cutoff scores of CDR-SB for NC/SCD, SCD/MCI, and MCI/dementia were 0/0.5, 0.5/1.0, and 2.5/3.0, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of the test groups were 0.85, 0.90, and 0.92 for discriminating NC from SCD, SCD from MCI, and MCI from dementia, respectively. Compared with the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the use of CDR-SB is less influenced by age and education.

Conclusion: Our study showed that the operational determination of SCD, MCI, and dementia using the CDR-SB is practical and can be applied in clinical settings and research on CI or dementia.
Connected Speech Characteristics of Bengali Speakers With Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence for Language-Specific Diagnostic Markers
Authors: Bose Arpita , Dash Niladri S. , Ahmed Samrah , Dutta Manaswita , Dutt Aparna , Nandi Ranita , Cheng Yesi , D. Mello Tina M.
Published: September 2021

Background and aim: Speech and language characteristics of connected speech provide a valuable tool for identifying, diagnosing and monitoring progression in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Our knowledge of linguistic features of connected speech in AD is primarily derived from English speakers; very little is known regarding patterns of linguistic deficits in speakers of other languages, such as Bengali. Bengali is a highly inflected pro-drop language from the Indo-Aryan language family. It is the seventh most spoken language in the world, yet to date, no studies have investigated the profile of linguistic impairments in Bengali speakers with AD. The aim of this study was to characterize connected speech production and identify the linguistic features affected in Bengali speakers with AD.

Methods: Participants were six Bengali speaking AD patients and eight matched controls from the urban metropolis, Kolkata, India. Narrative samples were elicited in Bengali using the Frog Story. Samples were analyzed using the Quantitative Production Analysis and the Correct Information Unit analyses to quantify six different aspects of speech production: speech rate, structural and syntactic measures, lexical measures, morphological and inflectional measures, semantic measures and measure of spontaneity and fluency disruptions.

Results and conclusions: In line with the extant literature from English speakers, the Bengali AD participants demonstrated decreased speech rate, simplicity of sentence forms and structures, and reduced semantic content. Critically, differences with English speakers' literature emerged in the domains of Bengali specific linguistic features, such as the pro-drop nature of Bengali and its inflectional properties of nominal and verbal systems. Bengali AD participants produced fewer pronouns, which is in direct contrast with the overuse of pronouns by English AD participants. No obvious difficulty in producing nominal and verbal inflections was evident. However, differences in the type of noun inflections were evident; these were characterized by simpler inflectional features used by AD speakers. This study represents the first of its kind to characterize connected speech production in Bengali AD participants and is a significant step forward toward the development of language-specific clinical markers in AD. It also provides a framework for cross-linguistic comparisons across structurally distinct and under-explored languages.
How Negative Is Negative Information
Authors: Simoes Elisabeth , Sokolov Alexander N. , Hahn Markus , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Brucker Sara Y. , Wallwiener Diethelm , Pavlova Marina A.
Published: September 2021

Daily, we face a plenty of negative information that can profoundly affect our perception and behavior. During devastating events such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, negative messages may hinder reasoning at individual level and social decisions in the society at large. These effects vary across genders in neurotypical populations (being more evident in women) and may be even more pronounced in individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Here, we examine how negative information impacts reasoning on a social perception task in females with breast cancer, a life-threatening disease. Two groups of patients and two groups of matched controls (NTOTAL = 80; median age, 50 years) accomplished a psychometrically standardized social cognition and reasoning task receiving either the standard instruction solely or additional negative information. Performance substantially dropped in patients and matched controls who received negative information compared to those who did not. Moreover, patients with negative information scored much lower not only compared with controls but also with patients without negative information. We suggest the effects of negative information are mediated by the distributed brain networks involved in affective processing and emotional memory. The findings offer novel insights on the impact of negative information on social perception and decision making during life-threatening events, fostering better understanding of its neurobiological underpinnings.
Spatiotemporal Trends in the Incidence of Gastrointestinal Neoplasms in Wuwei City of Northwestern China From 1995 to 2016: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Liu Kun , Song Shuxuan , Fu Ting , Liu Yiwen , Zhang Hui , Yan Min , He Zhen , Zhang Weilu , Su Haixia , Li Zhao , Ji Zhaohua , Shao Zhongjun
Published: September 2021

Objective

To determine the characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of major gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms in inpatients from 1995 to 2016 in Wuwei city, northwestern China.

Method

Data from all paper and electronic medical records entered between 1995 and 2016 at 12 major public hospitals in Wuwei city were retrospectively collected. Patients with GI neoplasms were identified and classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10. Trends in the incidence of major GI neoplasms were expressed as an annual percentage change (APC), and the Z test was used to assess the time fluctuation trends. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) were also calculated and the corresponding APC was estimated by the Joinpoint software for long-term trend analysis. Thematic maps of annual incidence at the township level were produced.

Results

Among the 19,137 new inpatients identified with GI neoplasms in Wuwei, gastric cancer was the leading cause of morbidity, followed by cancers of the esophagus, colorectum, gastric cardia, liver, and pancreas with ASIRs of 21.8, 11.0, 5.8, 5.7, 4.4, and 1.7 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Overall, there was a steady increase in the ASIR for all GI neoplasms, and male cases were 2.1 times more frequent than female cases. The ASIR significantly increased by 12.2% per year from 1995 to 2009 for all GI neoplasms, and the increase rates ranged 9.4%-16.7% per year for the individual GI neoplasm. Despite an increase by 1.4% per year from 2009 to 2016, the ASIR decreased for esophageal and gastric cardia cancers by 4.6% and 17.3% per year, respectively. The annual incidence of all GI neoplasms showed significantly differential geographic distributions among different townships of the city during the study period.
Patterns of Failure in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Chai Rong , Yin Yipengchen , Cai Xuwei , Fu Xiaolong , Zhang Qin
Published: September 2021

Objective

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has rapidly transformed the treatment paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite the durability of response to ICIs, the vast majority of patients will later develop progression. However, the failure patterns of ICI treatment are unknown. Here, our study explored the failure patterns in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.

Methods

A cohort of 156 IIIB or IV NSCLC patients treated with first-/second-line ICIs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who experienced clinical benefit and then developed progression were identified. The disease progression patterns were divided into three categories: progression in new sites, progression in existing sites, and combined progression. The number of progression sites was also recorded.

Results

Before the cutoff date, 91 (77.1%) patients had experienced disease progression; 34% of patients had progressed in the last 9 months of the first year. Fifty-three (58.2%) patients had developed progression at existing lesions, and 56 (61.5%) patients had shown ≤2 progression sites (oligo-progression). In patients with oligo-progression, the median time of disease progression was 8.23 months and the counterpart (systemic progression) was 5.97 months. The oligo-progression patients showed prolonged median overall survival (27.23 months) compared with patients with systemic progression (18.87 months).

Conclusions

Failure patterns of ICI therapy were predominantly “existing” sites, and the most common lesions of progression were the lung and lymph nodes. Most patients experienced oligo-progression which occurred later than systemic progression and showed prolonged overall survival. The control of the local lesions might be beneficial to improve ICI treatment efficacy.
Imaging of Tumor Hypoxia With Radionuclide-Labeled Tracers for PET
Authors: Huang Yuan , Fan Junying , Li Yi , Fu Shaozhi , Chen Yue , Wu Jingbo
Published: September 2021

The hypoxic state in a solid tumor refers to the internal hypoxic environment that appears as the tumor volume increases (the maximum radius exceeds 180-200 microns). This state can promote angiogenesis, destroy the balance of the cell’s internal environment, and lead to resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as poor prognostic factors such as metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, accurate quantification, mapping, and monitoring of hypoxia, targeted therapy, and improvement of tumor hypoxia are of great significance for tumor treatment and improving patient survival. Despite many years of development, PET-based hypoxia imaging is still the most widely used evaluation method. This article provides a comprehensive overview of tumor hypoxia imaging using radionuclide-labeled PET tracers. We introduced the mechanism of tumor hypoxia and the reasons leading to the poor prognosis, and more comprehensively included the past, recent and ongoing studies of PET radiotracers for tumor hypoxia imaging. At the same time, the advantages and disadvantages of mainstream methods for detecting tumor hypoxia are summarized.
Little Hearts Are Affected by COVID19: Importance of the Myocardial Systolic Evaluation
Authors: Mamishi Setareh , Zeinaloo Aliakbar , Haji Esmaeil Memar Elmira , Khodabandeh Mahmoud , Mirzaaghayan Mohammad Reza , Abdolsalehi Mohammad Reza , Eshaghi Hamid , Gorji Mojtaba , Ghamari Azin , Aghaei Moghadam Ehsan
Published: September 2021

Background: Identifying the cardiac changes could help design measures to recover the cardiovascular system and lessen the mortality and morbidity rate. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the echocardiography indices which are indicators of the cardiac alterations of the children with COVID19 infection.

Methods: This study was performed as a cross-sectional study evaluating echocardiography indices in children infected with COVID19. Fifteen children, known cases of the COVID19, and 14 healthy children were enrolled. Evaluated parameters include left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVED), mitral valve Sa (MV Sa), Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and laboratory parameters.

Results: The participants' mean age and weight were 62.8 (±48.0) months and 19.95 (±15.67) kg, respectively. None of the laboratory and echocardiography parameters differed between males and females, between patients with and without positive past medical history, between the patients with and without respiratory tract symptoms, and between patients with and without GI tract symptoms (P.0.05). Patients had significantly higher TAPSE (p = 0.027), although MV Sa (p = 0.01) was significantly higher among healthy children. LV EF (p = 0.425) and LVED diameter (p = 0.603) were not different significantly. None of the patients had pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, and cardiac tamponade.

Conclusion: The heart can be involved during the disease course in children, even at the level of echocardiography indices. This could contribute to a worse prognosis, higher morbidity, and mortality rate, especially in patients with overt myocardial involvement. Non-classic indicators, including LVEF, may not be conclusive for cardiac involvement in non-symptomatic patients.
Xiaoyaosan Exerts Antidepressant Effect by Downregulating RAGE Expression in Cingulate Gyrus of Depressive-Like Mice
Authors: Yan Weixin , Dong Zhaoyang , Zhao Di , Li Jun , Zeng Ting , Mo Chan , Gao Lei , Lv Zhiping
Published: September 2021

Xiaoyaosan (XYS), as a classic Chinese medicine compound, has been proven to have antidepressant effect in many studies, but its mechanism has not been clarified. In our previous studies, we found that chronic stress can induce depressive-like behavior and lead to emotion-related cingulate gyrus (Cg) dysfunction, as well as the decrease of neurotrophic factors and the increase of inflammatory-related proteins. Therefore, we speculated that XYS may play an antidepressant role by regulating the inflammation-related receptor of advanced glycation protein end product (RAGE) to affect the functional connectivity (FC) signal of the Cg and improve the depressive-like behavior. In order to verify this hypothesis, we analyzed the FC and RAGE expression in the Cg of depressive-like mice induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and verified it with RAGE knockout mice. At the same time, we detected the effect of XYS on the depressive-like behavior, expression of RAGE, and the FC of the Cg of mice. The results showed that the FC of the Cg of depressive-like mice induced by CUMS was weakened, and the expression of RAGE was upregulated. The antidepressant effect of XYS is similar to that of fluoxetine hydrochloride, which can significantly reduce the depressive-like behavior of mice and inhibit the expression of the RAGE protein and mRNA in the Cg, and increase the FC of the Cg in mice. In conclusion, XYS may play an antidepressant role by downregulating the expression of RAGE in the Cg of depressive-like mice induced by CUMS, thereby affecting the functional signal and improving the depressive-like behavior.
Renal ROCK Activation and Its Pharmacological Inhibition in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Matoba Keiichiro , Sekiguchi Kensuke , Nagai Yosuke , Takeda Yusuke , Takahashi Hiroshi , Yokota Tamotsu , Utsunomiya Kazunori , Nishimura Rimei
Published: September 2021

Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) is a serine/threonine kinase with essential roles in cytoskeletal functions. Substantial evidence implicates ROCK as a critical regulator in the inception and progression of diabetic nephropathy through a mechanism involving mesangial fibrosis, podocyte apoptosis, and endothelial inflammation. Despite these experimental observations, human data is lacking. Here we show that the phosphorylated form of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1), a ROCK substrate, was increased in both the glomerular and tubulointerstitial areas in patients with histologically confirmed diabetic nephropathy. We also conducted a retrospective pilot analysis of data from patients with diabetes to assess the renoprotective effects of fasudil, an ATP-competitive ROCK inhibitor licensed in Japan for the prevention of vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Fifteen subjects (male, n = 8; female, n = 7; age 65.7 ± 14.7 years; body height, 161.1 ± 12.6 cm; body weight, 57.6 ± 13.7 kg; body mass index, 22.4 ± 3.7 kg/m2) were enrolled to evaluate blood pressure and the renal outcome after fasudil treatment. Of note, proteinuria was significantly reduced at the end of the fasudil treatment without affecting the blood pressure or estimated glomerular filtration rate. Taken together, these findings suggest that the administration of fasudil could be associated with a better renal outcome by inhibiting the ROCK activity in patients with diabetes.
Sub-Acute Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Entada abyssinica on Biochemical, Haematological and Histopathological Parameters in Wistar Albino Rats
Authors: Obakiro Samuel Baker , Kiprop Ambrose , Kigondu Elizabeth , K’owino Isaac , Kiyimba Kenedy , Drago Kato Charles , Gavamukulya Yahaya
Published: September 2021

Background: Whereas the efficacy of Entada abyssinica (fabaceae) extracts against various ailments has been scientifically validated, its safety has not been established. This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity effects of methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica on biochemical, haematological and histological parameters of Wistar albino rats following repeated oral administration.

Methods: Wistar albino rats of both sexes were randomized into groups and orally administered daily with determined doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) of E. abyssinica methanolic extract using 1% tween 80 in distilled water as a control for 28 days. On the 29th day, all the animals were sacrificed and dissected to collect blood and selected organs. The serum and whole blood were assayed for biochemical and haematological parameters respectively while selected organs were examined for histopathological lesions. Numerical data was analyzed using graph pad prism and expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. The differences between the treatment and control groups were tested for statistical significance using one-way analysis of variance and/or Student’s t-test.

Results: In repeated daily oral doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg), the methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica did not cause significant alteration in majority of the biochemical and hematological indices. However, the extract significantly elevated the level of uric acid (all doses), aspartate aminotransferase (300 and 600 mg/kg), low density lipoproteins (150 mg/kg) and mean corpuscular heamoglobin concentration (all doses). On the other hand, the extracts reduced high density lipoproteins (150 and 300 mg/kg), mean corpuscular volume (all doses), haematocrit (150 and 600 mg/kg), mean platelet volume (150 and 600 mg/kg) and procalcitonin (150 mg/kg). In the vital organs, there were no significant lesions observed except at the highest dose (600 mg/kg) where there was mild evidence of lymphocyte infiltration in the liver and focal interstitial nephritis.

Conclusion: The methanolic stem bark extract of E. abyssinica is relatively safe in Wistar albino rats when repetitively administered orally in small doses for a prolonged period of time. We recommend more chronic toxicity studies and clinical trials on herbal remedies containing this plant to ensure that its use is free of potential toxicity to humans.
Multicomponent Mechanical Characterization of Atherosclerotic Human Coronary Arteries: An Experimental and Computational Hybrid Approach
Authors: Guvenir Torun Su , Torun Hakki M. , Hansen Hendrik H. G. , Gandini Giulia , Berselli Irene , Codazzi Veronica , de Korte Chris L. , van der Steen Antonius F. W. , Migliavacca Francesco , Chiastra Claudio , Akyildiz Ali C.
Published: September 2021

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture in coronary arteries, an important trigger of myocardial infarction, is shown to correlate with high levels of pressure-induced mechanical stresses in plaques. Finite element (FE) analyses are commonly used for plaque stress assessment. However, the required information of heterogenous material properties of atherosclerotic coronaries remains to be scarce. In this work, we characterized the component-wise mechanical properties of atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. To achieve this, we performed ex vivo inflation tests on post-mortem human coronary arteries and developed an inverse FE modeling (iFEM) pipeline, which combined high-frequency ultrasound deformation measurements, a high-field magnetic resonance-based artery composition characterization, and a machine learning-based Bayesian optimization (BO) with uniqueness assessment. By using the developed pipeline, 10 cross-sections from five atherosclerotic human coronary arteries were analyzed, and the Yeoh material model constants of the fibrous intima and arterial wall components were determined. This work outlines the developed pipeline and provides the knowledge of non-linear, multicomponent mechanical properties of atherosclerotic human coronary arteries.
Stoichiometry of Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Shrub Organs Linked Closely With Mycorrhizal Strategy in Northern China
Authors: Yang Shuang , Shi Zhaoyong , Zhang Menghan , Li Yang , Gao Jiakai , Wang Xugang , Liu Dehong
Published: September 2021

Mycorrhizal strategies include mycorrhizal statuses and mycorrhizal types, which are important reflections of the functional characteristics of ecosystems. The stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in plant organs is an important part of ecosystem functions, which has an important impact on the nutrient cycle of the ecosystem. The concentration of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus played a crucial role in ecosystem functioning and dynamics. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical basis and data support for improving the properties of global terrestrial ecosystems by exploring the impact of mycorrhizal strategies on the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in different shrub organs. In this study, stoichiometric patterns of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in different shrub organs under different mycorrhizal status or types were analyzed at 725 samples across Northern China. Results showed that in different mycorrhizal status, the highest carbon concentration in shrub organs appeared in the facultatively mycorrhizal (FM) mycorrhizal status, and the highest nitrogen concentration appeared in the Non-mycorrhizal (NM) mycorrhizal status. Under different mycorrhizal types, the nitrogen concentration in the shrub organs under the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) mycorrhizal type was the highest, and the phosphorus concentration under the ecto-mycorrhiza (ECM) mycorrhizal type was the highest. In the OM or FM mycorrhizal status, the concentrations of C, N, and P in the stems and leaves increase with the increase of the concentrations of C, N, and P in the roots. In the NM mycorrhizal status, the N concentration in the stems and leaves increases with the increase of the N concentration in the roots. Under AM, AM+ECM, and ECM mycorrhizal type, the concentrations of C, N, and P are closely related in roots, stems and leaves. The content of plant nutrients in different organs is closely related. It turned out that mycorrhizal statuses or types are able to alter the allocation of C, N, and P in different organs, and the relationships of C, N, and P among different organs are able to present different trend with the varying of mycorrhizal statuses or types.
The Formation of Bivalents and the Control of Plant Meiotic Recombination
Authors: Gutiérrez Pinzón Yared , González Kise José Kenyi , Rueda Patricia , Ronceret Arnaud
Published: September 2021

During the first meiotic division, the segregation of homologous chromosomes depends on the physical association of the recombined homologous DNA molecules. The physical tension due to the sites of crossing-overs (COs) is essential for the meiotic spindle to segregate the connected homologous chromosomes to the opposite poles of the cell. This equilibrated partition of homologous chromosomes allows the first meiotic reductional division. Thus, the segregation of homologous chromosomes is dependent on their recombination. In this review, we will detail the recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms of recombination and bivalent formation in plants. In plants, the absence of meiotic checkpoints allows observation of subsequent meiotic events in absence of meiotic recombination or defective meiotic chromosomal axis formation such as univalent formation instead of bivalents. Recent discoveries, mainly made in Arabidopsis, rice, and maize, have highlighted the link between the machinery of double-strand break (DSB) formation and elements of the chromosomal axis. We will also discuss the implications of what we know about the mechanisms regulating the number and spacing of COs (obligate CO, CO homeostasis, and interference) in model and crop plants.
Influence of Higenamine on Exercise Performance of Recreational Female Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Rasic Jelena S. , Ivanovic Nevena DJ. , Andjelkovic Marija S. , Nedeljkovic Ivana P. , Nikolic Ivan R. , Stojanovic Sava D. , Ristic-Medic Danijela K. , Takic Marija M. , Djordjevic Brizita I. , Dikic Nenad V.
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the ergogenic effects and the safety profile of a one-component higenamine supplement in female recreational athletes. Twelve recreational female basketball players (age 29–41 years, oxygen consumption (VO2max) > 30 ml⋅kg–1⋅min–1, with training > 5 h wk–1) were randomized either to the higenamine group, or to the placebo group for 3 weeks. In order to determine ergogenic effects and safety profile of higenamine administration, we assessed the following variables before and after 3 weeks of supplementation: anthropometric parameters, resting metabolic rate (RMR), exercise testing variables, serum free fatty acids (FFAs), blood pressure, enzyme activity, urea, lipid profile, and complete blood count. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric parameters, including basal metabolic rate (BMR), RMR and body fat [p = 0.706 (Cohen’s d 0.223), p = 0.169 (Cohen’s d 0.857), and p = 0.223 (Cohen’s d 0.750), respectively], FFAs [0.43 ± 0.03 vs. 0.54 ± 0.23, p = 0.206 (Cohen’s d 0.540)], neither significant differences in cardiopulmonary parameters after the intervention period. Furthermore, all measured outcome variables in the safety assessment were not significant, with values remaining stable during the intervention period for participants in both groups. This is the first study to document the effects and the safety profile of higenamine-based dietary supplements at a specified dose in female recreational athletes. Our data indicate that 21-day of supplementation with 75 mg higenamine would not result in improving cardiopulmonary exercise fitness and weight loss in female recreational athletes. Moreover, supplementation with 75 mg higenamine is safe and well-tolerated in younger recreational female athletes.
Sustainability Reporting in the Antwerp Port Ecosystem, Belgium: Understanding the Relationship Between Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals and Integrated Thinking
Authors: Beyne Jan , Visser Wayne , Allam Imane
Published: September 2021

This paper is aimed at elucidating the interrelations between reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and integrated thinking. A review of online information on sustainability by port community companies in Antwerp, Belgium was applied. The research made use of a database from Port Plus investigating 769 companies. The data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive and inferential analyses. The research shows that reporting on the SDGs and integrated thinking have reciprocal reinforcing relationships, where the SDGs are a good starting point for planning integrated strategies for sustainability. The article reinforces that using the SDGs in communication and reporting can help companies better and more holistically integrate their efforts for sustainability into their strategies and processes.
Optical Ortho-Rectification for Image-Based Stream Surface Flow Observations Using a Ground Camera
Authors: Tsubaki Ryota , Zhu Runye
Published: September 2021

Image-based stream flow observation consists of three components: (i) image acquisition, (ii) ortho-rectification, and (iii) an image-based velocity estimation. Ortho-rectification is a type of coordinate transformation. When ortho-rectifying a raster image, pixel interpolation is needed and causes the degradation of image resolution, especially in areas located far from the camera and in the direction parallel to the viewing angle. When measuring the water surface flow of rivers with a wide channel width, reduced and distorted image resolution limits the applicability of image-based flow observations using terrestrial image acquisition. Here, we propose a new approach for ortho-rectification using an optical system. We employed an optical system embedded in an ultra-short throw projector. In the proposed approach, ortho-rectified images were obtained during the image acquisition phase, and the image resolution of recorded images was almost uniform in terms of physical coordinates. By conducting field measurements, characteristics of the proposed approach were validated and compared to a conventional approach.
Quasi-Crystal, Not Quasi-Scientist
Authors: Shechtman Dan
Published: September 2021

Materials science investigates the structure and properties of different materials. One of these materials is the crystal. Crystals are solid materials with building blocks (atoms, ions, or molecules) that are arranged in a highly organized manner. Salt, quartz, and diamonds are examples of crystals. In ordinary crystals, these building blocks are organized in a repeating pattern in all directions. In contrast, in special crystals called quasi-crystals, the building blocks are organized in a non-repeating manner. The discovery of quasi-crystals created a revolution in the science of crystallography and changed our most basic definition of a crystal. Since their discovery, many hundreds of quasi-crystals have been found. Some of these quasi-crystals have unique physical properties and are useful for a variety of different applications.
How Do We Find Our Way? Grid Cells in the Brain
Authors: Moser May-Britt
Published: September 2021

Navigation in the environment, getting from one place to another, is one of the most fundamental and vital skills in the animal kingdom, and for humans, too. To navigate successfully, an animal needs to create an internal “cognitive map” of the outside environment. This is performed by a specific system in the brain, containing several brain regions and various cell types, each with its unique role in navigation. In this article, I will outline some of the main components of this internal navigation system, focusing on the grid cells, an amazing and surprising group of nerve cells that we discovered, which create a coordinate system in the brain. I will end with a few general recommendations for you, based on my own life experiences.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Seven Measures to Reduce Tail Biting Lesions in Fattening Pigs
Authors: Niemi Jarkko K. , Edwards Sandra A. , Papanastasiou Dimitris K. , Piette Deborah , Stygar Anna H. , Wallenbeck Anna , Valros Anna
Published: September 2021

Tail biting is an important animal welfare issue in the pig sector. Studies have identified various risk factors which can lead to biting incidents and proposed mitigation measures. This study focused on the following seven key measures which have been identified to affect the risk of tail biting lesions: improvements in straw provision, housing ventilation, genetics, stocking density, herd health, provision of point-source enrichment objects, and adoption of early warning systems. The aim of this study was to examine whether these selected measures to reduce the risk of tail biting lesions in pig fattening are cost-effective. The problem was analyzed by first summarizing the most prospective interventions, their costs and expected impacts on the prevalence of tail biting lesions, second, by using a stochastic bio-economic model to simulate the financial return per pig space unit and per pig at different levels of prevalence of tail biting lesions, and third by looking at how large a reduction in tail biting lesions would be needed at different levels of initial prevalence of lesions to cover the costs of interventions. Tail biting lesions of a severity which would require an action (medication, hospitalization of the pig or other care, or taking preventive measures) by the pig producer were considered in the model. The results provide guidance on the expected benefits and costs of the studied interventions. According to the results, if the average prevalence of tail biting lesions is at a level of 10%, the costs of this damaging behavior can be as high as €2.3 per slaughtered pig (~1.6% of carcass value). Measures which were considered the least expensive to apply, such as provision of point-source enrichment objects, or provided wider production benefits, such as improvements in ventilation and herd health, became profitable at a lower level of efficacy than measures which were considered the most expensive to apply (e.g., straw provision, increased space allowance, automated early warning systems). Measures which were considered most efficient in reducing the risk of tail biting lesions, such as straw provision, can be cost-effective in preventing tail biting, especially when the risk of tail biting is high. At lower risk levels, the provision of point-source objects and other less costly but relatively effective measures can play an important role. However, selection of measures appropriate to the individual farm problem is essential. For instance, if poor health or barren pens are causing the elevated risk of tail biting lesions, then improving health management or enriching the pens may resolve the tail biting problem cost-effectively.