bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple subregions within the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain inhibit fibrosis, microvascular leakage, and monocyte migration
Authors: Reese Charles F. , Chinnakkannu Panneerselvam , Tourkina Elena , Hoffman Stanley , Kuppuswamy Dhandapani
Published: February 2022

The caveolin-1 scaffolding domain (CSD, amino acids 82–101 of caveolin-1) has been shown to suppress bleomycin-induced lung and skin fibrosis and angiotensin II (AngII)-induced myocardial fibrosis. To identify active subregions within CSD, we split its sequence into three slightly overlapping 8-amino acid subregions (82–89, 88–95, and 94–101). Interestingly, all three peptides showed activity. In bleomycin-treated mice, all three subregions suppressed the pathological effects on lung and skin tissue morphology. In addition, while bone marrow monocytes isolated from bleomycin-treated mice showed greatly enhanced migration in vitro toward CXCL12, treatment in vivo with CSD and its subregions almost completely suppressed this enhanced migration. In AngII-induced heart failure, both 82–89 and 88–95 significantly suppressed fibrosis (both Col I and HSP47 levels), microvascular leakage, and heart weight/ body weight ratio (HW/BW) while improving ventricular function. In contrast, while 94–101 suppressed the increase in Col I, it did not improve the other parameters. The idea that all three subregions can be active depending on the assay was further supported by experiments studying the in vitro migration of human monocytes in which all three subregions were extremely active. These studies are very novel in that it has been suggested that there is only one active region within CSD that is centered on amino acids 90–92. In contrast, we demonstrate here the presence of other active regions within CSD.
Alternative pre-analytic sample handling techniques for glucose measurement in the absence of fluoride tubes in low resource settings
Authors: Nakanga Wisdom P. , Balungi Priscilla , Niwaha Anxious J. , Shields Beverly M. , Hughes Peter , Andrews Rob C. , Mc Donald Tim J. , Nyirenda Moffat J. , Hattersley Andrew T.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Sodium fluoride (NaF) tubes are the recommended tubes for glucose measurements, but these are expensive, have limited number of uses, and are not always available in low resource settings. Alternative sample handling techniques are thus needed. We compared glucose stability in samples collected in various tubes exposed to different pre-analytical conditions in Uganda.

Methods

Random (non-fasted) blood samples were drawn from nine healthy participants into NaF, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and plain serum tubes. The samples were kept un-centrifuged or centrifuged with plasma or serum pipetted into aliquots, placed in cool box with ice or at room temperature and were stored in a permanent freezer after 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours post blood draw before glucose analysis.

Results

Rapid decline in glucose concentrations was observed when compared to baseline in serum (declined to 64%) and EDTA-plasma (declined to 77%) after 6 hours when samples were un-centrifuged at room temperature whilst NaF-plasma was stable after 24 hours in the same condition. Un-centrifuged EDTA-plasma kept on ice was stable for up to 6 hours but serum was not stable (degraded to 92%) in the same conditions. Early centrifugation prevented glucose decline even at room temperature regardless of the primary tube used with serum, EDTA-plasma and NaF-plasma after 24 hours.

Conclusion

In low resource settings we recommend use of EDTA tubes placed in cool box with ice and analysed within 6 hours as an alternative to NaF tubes. Alternatively, immediate separation of blood with manual hand centrifuges will allow any tube to be used even in remote settings with no electricity.
Contact tracing indicators for COVID-19: Rapid scoping review and conceptual framework
Authors: Vogt Florian , Kurup Karishma Krishna , Mussleman Paul , Habrun Caroline , Crowe Madeleine , Woodward Alexandra , Jaramillo-Gutierrez Giovanna , Kaldor John , Vong Sirenda , del Rio Vilas Victor
Published: February 2022

Background

Contact tracing is one of the key interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but its implementation varies widely across countries. There is little guidance on how to monitor contact tracing performance, and no systematic overview of indicators to assess contact tracing systems or conceptual framework for such indicators exists to date.

Methods

We conducted a rapid scoping review using a systematic literature search strategy in the peer-reviewed and grey literature as well as open source online documents. We developed a conceptual framework to map indicators by type (input, process, output, outcome, impact) and thematic area (human resources, financial resources, case investigation, contact identification, contact testing, contact follow up, case isolation, contact quarantine, transmission chain interruption, incidence reduction).

Results

We identified a total of 153 contact tracing indicators from 1,555 peer-reviewed studies, 894 studies from grey literature sources, and 15 sources from internet searches. Two-thirds of indicators were process indicators (102; 67%), while 48 (31%) indicators were output indicators. Only three (2%) indicators were input indicators. Indicators covered seven out of ten conceptualized thematic areas, with more than half being related to either case investigation (37; 24%) or contact identification (44; 29%). There were no indicators for the input area “financial resources”, the outcome area “transmission chain interruption”, and the impact area “incidence reduction”.

Conclusions

Almost all identified indicators were either process or output indicators focusing on case investigation, contact identification, case isolation or contact quarantine. We identified important gaps in input, outcome and impact indicators, which constrains evidence-based assessment of contact tracing systems. A universally agreed set of indicators is needed to allow for cross-system comparisons and to improve the performance of contact tracing systems.
Comparison of mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) between psoriasis patients and controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yi Ping , Jiang Jiao , Wang Zheyu , Wang Xing , Zhao Mingming , Wu Haijing , Ding Yan
Published: February 2022

Background

The predictive role of hematological indexes of mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) has been demonstrated in cardiovascular disease concomitant with psoriasis. This meta-analysis is intended to assess whether MPV and RDW can also serve as biomarkers for the early diagnosis and disease severity assessment of psoriasis.

Material and methods

13 studies which enrolled 1331 psoriasis patients and 919 healthy volunteers were included after screening the search results from PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library since inception to Mar 14, 2020. MPV of psoriasis participants and their counterparts was assessed in 10 studies, and RDW was evaluated in 4 studies, while the disease severity was measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) in 11 studies. Random-effect model analysis was applied to calculate pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

Associations of MPV and RDW with the presence of psoriasis were demonstrated (MPV: SMD = 0.503, 95% CI: 0.242–0.765; RDW: SMD = 0.522, 95% CI: 0.228–0.817), but no statistically significant correlation of MPV and disease severity of psoriasis was found in meta-regression analysis (p = 0.208). Subgroup analysis revealed that the diagnosis value of MPV and RDW was consistent regardless of PASI and study type. Heterogeneity analysis between studies was implemented by chi-squared test andI2statistics. Begg’s and Egger’s test were utilized for the evaluation of publication bias. The sensitivity analysis revealed no significant alteration no matter which study was excluded.

Conclusion

MPV and RDW could serve as promising predictive diagnostic biomarkers of psoriasis.
A’uwẽ (Xavante) views of food security in a context of monetarization of an indigenous economy in Central Brazil
Authors: Welch James R. , Coimbra Carlos E. A.
Published: February 2022

Following boom-and-bust economic cycles provoked by Brazilian governmental attempts to integrate Indigenous peoples into national society, it is approximately since the beginning of the 2000s that Brazilian Indigenous peoples came to be viewed officially as “poor” and victims of “hunger.” Consequently, the national indigenist agency and other State entities started to conceive and implement diverse initiatives that ultimately injected money and resources into Indigenous communities. In 2019 we undertook an ethnographic study in three A’uwẽ (Xavante) communities in the Pimentel Barbosa Indigenous Reserve, Central Brazil, with the objective of analyzing how people understand and pursue food security. We propose that in the studied communities the complex network of A’uwẽ food reciprocity is a fundamental strategy for mitigating hunger and acute lack of food. We show that among the A’uwẽ, the hybrid economy that developed since the 1970s has proved resilient to dramatic transformations and uncertainty in the availability and characteristics of external government inputs.
Achievement of European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society lipid targets in very high-risk patients: Influence of depression and sex
Authors: Ellins Elizabeth A. , Harris Daniel E. , Lacey Arron , Akbari Ashley , Torabi Fatemeh , Smith Dave , Jenkins Geraint , Obaid Daniel , Chase Alex , John Ann , Gravenor Michael B. , Halcox Julian P.
Published: February 2022

Aims

To explore differences in the use of lipid lowering therapy and/or achievement of lipid guideline targets in patients with and without prior depression and influence of sex in very high-risk coronary patients.

Methods & findings

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using individual-level linked electronic health record data in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (2012–2017) in Wales. The cohort comprised of 13,781 patients (27.4% female), with 26.1% having prior depression. Lipid levels were recorded in 10,050 patients of whom 25% had depression. History of depression was independently associated with not having lipids checked (OR 0.79 95%CI 0.72–0.87 p<0.001). Patients with prior depression were less likely to achieve targets for low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C <1.8mmol/l), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C <2.6mmol/l) and triglycerides (<2.3mmol/l) than patients without depression (OR 0.86 95%CI 0.78–0.96 p = 0.007, OR 0.80 95%CI 0.69–0.92 p = 0.003 & OR 0.69 95CI% 0.61–0.79 p<0.001 respectively). Females were less likely to achieve targets for LDL-C and non-HDL-C than males (OR 0.55 95%CI 0.50–0.61 p<0.001 & OR 0.63 95%CI 0.55–0.73 p<0.001). There was an additive effect of depression and sex; females with depression were not only least likely to be tested (OR 0.74 95%CI 0.65–0.84 p<0.001) but also (where levels were known) less likely to achieve LDL-C (OR 0.47 95%CI 0.41–0.55 p<0.001) and non-HDL-C targets (OR 0.50 95%CI 0.41–0.60 p<0.001). It was not possible to look at the influence of medication adherence on achievement of lipid targets due to limitations of the use of anonymised routinely-held clinical care data.

Conclusion

Patients with prior depression were less likely to have their lipids monitored and achieve guideline targets within 1-year. Females with depression are the least likely to be tested and achieve lipid targets, suggesting not only a greater risk of future events, but also an opportunity to improve care.
The effect of TNF-α inhibitor treatment on microRNAs and endothelial function in collagen induced arthritis
Authors: Gunter Sulè , Michel Frederic S. , Fourie Serena S. , Singh Mikayra , le Roux Regina , Manilall Ashmeetha , Mokotedi Lebogang P. , Millen Aletta M. E.
Published: February 2022

Chronic inflammation causes dysregulated expression of microRNAs. Aberrant microRNA expression is associated with endothelial dysfunction. In this study we determined whether TNF-α inhibition impacted the expression of miRNA-146a-5p and miRNA-155-5p, and whether changes in the expression of these miRNAs were related to inflammation-induced changes in endothelial function in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (n = 24), CIA (n = 24) and CIA+etanercept (n = 16) groups. CIA and CIA+etanercept groups were immunized with bovine type-II collagen, emulsified in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant. Upon signs of arthritis, the CIA+etanercept group received 10mg/kg of etanercept intraperitoneally, every three days. After six weeks of treatment, mesenteric artery vascular reactivity was assessed using wire-myography. Serum concentrations of TNF-α, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) were measured by ELISA. Relative expression of circulating miRNA-146a-5p and miRNA-155-5p were determined using RT-qPCR. Compared to controls, circulating miRNA-155-5p, VCAM-1 and PTX-3 concentrations were increased, and vessel relaxation was impaired in the CIA (all p<0.05), but not in the CIA+etanercept (all p<0.05) groups. The CIA group had greater miRNA-146a-5p expression compared to the CIA+etanercept group (p = 0.005). Independent of blood pressure, miRNA-146a-5p expression was associated with increased PTX-3 concentrations (p = 0.03), while miRNA-155-5p expression was associated with impaired vessel relaxation (p = 0.01). In conclusion, blocking circulating TNF-α impacted systemic inflammation-induced increased expression of miRNA-146a-5p and miRNA-155-5p, which were associated with endothelial inflammation and impaired endothelial dependent vasorelaxation, respectively.
A novel approach to the Orienteering Problem based on the Harmony Search algorithm
Authors: Szwarc Krzysztof , Boryczka Urszula
Published: February 2022

This article presents a new approach to designing a Harmony Search (HS) algorithm, adapted to solve Orienteering Problem (OP) instances. OP is a significant N P-hard problem that has considerable practical application, requiring the development of an effective method for determining its solutions. The proposed HS has demonstrated its effectiveness through determined optimum results for each task from the six most popular benchmarks; a marginal number approximated the best results, with the average error below 0.01%. The article details the application of this described algorithm, comparing its results with those of state-of-the-art methods, indicating the significant efficiency of the proposed approach.
Hemp biochar impacts on selected biological soil health indicators across different soil types and moisture cycles
Authors: Atoloye Idowu A. , Adesina Ifeoluwa S. , Sharma Harmandeep , Subedi Kiran , Liang Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) , Shahbazi Abolghasem , Bhowmik Arnab
Published: February 2022

Application of crop residues and biochar have been demonstrated to improve soil biological and chemical properties in agroecosystems. However, the integrated effect of organic amendments and hydrological cycles on soil health indicators are not well understood. In this study, we quantified the impact of hemp residue (HR), hemp biochar (HB), and hardwood biochar (HA) on five hydrolytic enzymes, soil microbial phospholipid (PLFA) community structure, pH, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN). We compared two soil types, Piedmont and Coastal Plain soils of North Carolina, under (i) a 30-d moisture cycle maintained at 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) (D-W1), followed by (ii) a 7-day alternate dry-wet cycle for 42 days (D-W2), or (iii) maintained at 60% WFPS for 42 days (D-W3) during an aerobic laboratory incubation. Results showed that HR and HB significantly increased the geometric mean enzyme activity by 1-2-fold in the Piedmont soil under the three moisture cycles and about 1.5-fold under D-W in the Coastal soil. In the presence of HA, the measured soil enzyme activities were significantly lower than control under the moisture cycles in both soil types. The shift in microbial community structure was distinct in the Coastal soil but not in the Piedmont soil. Under D-W2, HR and HB significantly increased POXC (600–700 mg POXC kg-1 soil) in the Coastal soil but not in the Piedmont soil while HA increased nitrate (8 mg kg-1) retention in the Coastal soil. The differences in amendment effect on pH SOC, TN, POXC, and nitrate were less distinct in the fine-textured Piedmont soil than the coarse-textured Coastal soil. Overall, the results indicate that, unlike HA, HR and HB will have beneficial effects on soil health and productivity, therefore potentially improving soil’s resilience to changing climate.
Digital disruption and global businesses’ viability under COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic
Authors: Nyagadza Brighton
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this conceptual article is to explore the drivers behind digital disruption that have taken the whole globe by storm as a result of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Motivation of the researcher in constructing the article was to logically alert the present-day and future-world business leaders on how to respond to the digital disruptive forces attributed to deadly viral pandemics like COVID-19. The current article is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) of secondary data sources, mainly peer-reviewed journal articles, the purpose being to draw conclusions and identify research gaps. It is based on a structural analysis methodology to frame the categories of the major analyses in combination with scientific rigour to a broad and complex problem. Research results proved that the primary forces driving digital disruption in pandemic ravages include technology dynamics, globalization and demographics. They evolve in successive waves. It is these waves that generate novel digital and technological disruptive megatrends. Implications to contemporary business leaders include bringing in present-day digital technologies, incubating survival plans of actions or strategies so as to fully operationalize businesses seamlessly. These may include, but not limited to, establishing technological innovation appetite meant to address, respond and navigate within the associated digital disruptive complexities. The study results underscore the necessity of understanding digital disruption and global businesses’ viability under COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first study to conceptually examine the digital disruption and global businesses’ viability under COVID-19 pandemic. The research contributes to literature and theoretical novel introspections into the depth and breadth of digital disruptive technologies and corporate strategy by an explication of how various corporate metamorphoses can lead to navigation and survival in such COVID-19 pandemic environments.
Assessing the recovery of steroid levels and gonadal histopathology of tilapia exposed to polystyrene particle pollution by supplementary feed
Authors: Hayati Alfiah , Pramudya Manikya , Soepriandono Hari , Astri Aisyah Rizkyning , Kusuma Michael Ronaldi , Maulidah Sasanaqia , Adriansyah Wahyu , Dewi Firli Rahmah Primula
Published: February 2022

Background and Aim: Water pollution caused by industrial waste and human activities has disrupted the reproductive health of aquatic organisms. This study aimed to analyze the effects of water pollution caused by polystyrene particles (PP) on the steroid (estradiol and testosterone) levels and histopathology of male tilapia gonads. In addition, we also analyzed the potential of supplementary feeding to remove and neutralize oxidants.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six tilapia fishes were taken for the study and were divided into 12 groups (n=3), including a control group (fed with commercial pellets only) and groups fed with a mixture of commercial-probiotic pellets (200 mL/kg, 1×108 colony-forming unit [CFU]/mL) and commercial vitamin C pellets (100 mg/kg), respectively. The PP concentrations used for this study were 0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L, and the treatment time was 2 weeks. The testosterone and estradiol concentrations were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histopathological analysis of the gonads.

Results: Laboratory analysis performed using tilapia fishes showed that exposure to a PP concentration of <74 μm, mixed with feed for 14 days, could decrease estradiol and testosterone levels. Exposure to plastic particles could change the structure, shape, and size of male gonads. It can also affect the spermatogenic cell number and alter the diameter inside the cysts. Originally, plastic particles were believed to reduce the permeability of the cyst membrane, and this damages the membrane or ruptures the cyst. Supplementary feed containing probiotics (200 mL/kg, 1×108 CFU/mL) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg) can ameliorate the impact of PP exposure on steroid levels. The steroid levels increase with a concurrent improvement in cysts and seminiferous tubule structures.

Conclusion: Overall, this study indicates that PP concentrations in the aquatic environment negatively affect tilapia reproduction, and this may pose a potential threat to the fish population in freshwater. Provision of supplementary feed containing probiotics and vitamin C may serve as an alternative way to counter the negative impact caused by plastic particles.
Perceived technostress while learning a new mobile technology: Do individual differences and the way technology is presented matter?
Authors: Jurek Paweł , Olech Michał , Brycz Hanna
Published: February 2022

A growing body of research demonstrates that using technology can – despite the obvious benefits – be associated with stress. The aim of this study was to explore how perceived technostress while learning a new pro-healthy technology may be grounded in dispositional anxiety, attitudes towards ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), and the way technology is presented. Verifying the hypotheses, a study was conducted with the participation of N = 1,037 individuals, in which the 'technology presentation' was manipulated and selected individual differences were measured. As expected, it was found that presenting the new technology in the form of a popular science article was associated with the perception of this technology as more threatening and overloading compared to the situation in which the technology was presented in the form of a marketing leaflet with an unequivocally positive message. Moreover, it was shown that people characterized by higher dispositional anxiety perceived the new technology as more stressful in terms of examined categories of techno-stressors. Support was also found for the hypothesis that attitudes towards ICT corelate to selected dimensions of perceived technostress in regard to newly learned technology. However, the small extents of the effect obtained in the study indicated the need to continue searching for substantial factors that would predict technostress at the early stages of learning a new technology.
Added value of motion capture technology for occupational health and safety innovations
Authors: Winiarski Slawomir , Molek-Winiarska Dorota , Chomątowska Barbara , Sipko Tomasz , Dyvak Mykola
Published: February 2022

Ergonomic principles in production assembly and manufacturing operations have become an essential part of comprehensive health and safety innovations. We aim to provide new insights into occupational health and safety innovations and how they utilise biomechanical methods and cutting-edge motion capture technology by assessing movements at a workplace. The practical goal is to quantify a connection between work exposure and ergonomic risk measures to determine biomechanical risk factors of diseases or health-related disorders objectively. The target group consisted of 62 factory employees working in manufacturing (26 participants on 12 devices) or assembly areas (36 participants on 9 devices). Body posture, body parts position, movements, energy cost and workloads were assessed using an inertial motion capture (MC) system. MC technology accurately assesses the operator’s movements. The proposed methodology could complement ergonomic procedures in the design of workstations, which is the added value of the motion capture technology for occupational health and safety innovations.
Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy - Clinical Profile and Outcome Study
Authors: Nair Lakshmi J. , S.N. Ajith , K.C Ajitha , A. Ravikumar Kurup
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy (HE) is a rare neuroendocrine syndrome of encephalopathy and high serum antithyroid antibody titre that is responsive to glucocorticoid therapy. Studies are scarce, particularly in the Indian population. This study was intended to find the clinical profile and assess the clinical outcome and response to steroid treatment. METHODS All patients presenting with encephalopathy and positive for antithyroid antibody were included in this study. Their clinical features, thyroid status and laboratory findings were recorded as per protocol. The outcome measures –Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Modified Ranking Score (MRS) were done at admission and 6th month of follow-up. In addition to descriptive statistics, internal comparisons were made using a t-test or chi-square test. Association between clinical characteristics and outcome variables was measured using logistic regression. RESULTS There were 40 patients (11 men and 29 women; mean age, 62 years) diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy. Among these patients, 37 (92.5 %) had cognitive impairment, 27 (67.5 %) had seizures, 12 (30 %) had speech and language dysfunction, 14 (35.0 %) had myoclonus, and 19 (47.5 %) had psychiatric symptoms. The most common thyroid status was euthyroidism (16 patients, 40 %). 35 (87.5 %) patients had elevated CSF protein and 36 (90.0 %) had abnormal EEG findings. On logistic regression, the clinical predictors for the severity of Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy were age and CSF elevated protein. Out of 40 patients, 33 (82.5 %) patients showed improvement with steroids. CONCLUSIONS HE is an under-diagnosed condition and it should be entertained in any patient with encephalopathy of uncertain aetiology and antithyroid antibodies. A trial of corticosteroids is warranted as it shows a good treatment response to steroids. However, there is no correlation between the neurologic symptoms and signs and the type of antithyroid antibodies or their serum titre. The thyroid status has no bearing on the clinical pattern or the severity of the disease. KEY WORDS Hashimoto Encephalopathy, Autoimmunity, Steroid-Responsive Encephalopathy, Thyroiditis.
Gendering the revolution: Bohemia, power and culture in post-revolutionary Cuba, 1960–85
Authors: Rooney Isabella
Published: February 2022

This article presents a gender analysis of power and culture in post-revolutionary Cuba, using Bohemia magazine as a source. It argues that despite the relative paucity of historical research on the subject, gender was integral to the identity, legitimacy and popularity of the Cuban Revolution. This article examines Bohemia as a communicatory tool and a site of dissemination and contestation to demonstrate how the Cuban Revolution both endorsed and criticised the cultural ideals it inherited. Bohemia elucidates a dynamic between grassroots enthusiasm, institutional mobilisation and popular disenchantment, whereby gender discourse functioned to encourage and regulate behaviour. The article first focuses on the construction of national identity through historical narratives in Bohemia, exploring the uses of José Martí and Mariana Grajales to create an ambiguous discourse framing behaviour, both domestically and internationally. It then shifts to the discursive construction of the individual Cuban woman, analysing the multiple contentious identities that existed in this post-revolutionary cultural framework, using this incongruity to evidence fundamental shortcomings in the revolution’s approach. The final section bridges the national and the individual to understand how these discursive frameworks were used to encourage female participation in the workplace, in political organisations and social campaigns. This analysis also highlights that the central dissonance within the revolutionary project’s cultural framework prevented the realisation of gender equality. This article therefore argues that a gender analysis is integral to understanding the nature, legitimacy and longevity of the Cuban Revolution on both a national and international level.
The effect of Psidium guajava hydroalcoholic extract on reducing the expression of Resistin and TNF-α genes in articular chondrocytes of patients with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Wu Tao
Published: February 2022

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease and the most important cause of disability in elderly patients. Due to the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of osteoarthritis, the use of herbs is recommended as an alternative treatment. The guava fruit can be considered as a natural medicine due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the effect of Psidium guajava hydroalcoholic extract was considered on reducing the expression of the resistin gene and TNF-α gene in articular chondrocytes of patients with knee osteoarthritis. For this purpose, cartilage chondrocytes of 10 Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis, who were indicated for arthroplasty, were used for evaluating the effect of guava fruit on the expression of these genes. Articular chondrocytes were cultured under appropriate conditions and their viability was assessed by MTT assay. To increase the level of cytokines, cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). They were kept in an incubator with 90% humidity at 37°C for the next steps. Then, the expression of the resistin gene and TNF-α gene was investigated by RNA isolation and cDNA preparation. The results showed that the expression of the resistin gene and TNF-α gene were reduced to 56.59% and 51.86%, respectively, by hydroalcoholic extract of guava fruit. Therefore, according to the results of this study and previous researches, the hydroalcoholic extract of guava fruit (Psidium guajava) can be considered as an effective complementary and alternative treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Chemical and morphological characteristics of common bean seed and evaluating genetic advance in commercial classes
Authors: Aziziaram Zahra , Cheghamirza Kianoosh , Zarei Leila , Beheshti-Alagha Ali
Published: February 2022

Common bean (Phaseolus vulagris L.) is a nutritionally important food crop with prospective health benefits in the world. The current study was evaluated the chemical components, morphological characteristics, and genetic advance of 22 common bean cultivars/lines seeds from three commercial classes (white, red, pinto beans) adapted to different climates of Iran. The results showed significant variations among 22 common bean cultivars/lines for all studied seed traits. The commercial group comparisons showed that pinto beans were the best in terms of seed morphological characteristics but red beans were superior for seed protein percentage and zinc content. White beans had high amounts of iron, calcium and magnesium, and also presented high amounts of starch and uronic acid as anti-nutritional factors. Among the chemical components, crude fat had the highest genetic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, whereas starch percentage showed the lowest values. The genetic advance over the mean ranged from 6.73% (starch percentage) to 66.31% (100-seed weight), and high heritability was estimated for calcium content (0.99). AND1007 Line demonstrated the high seed protein, iron and zinc contents. To confirm the results, a genotype-by-trait biplot was done. These results could help to achieve a common bean cultivar with a high amount of nutritional value of seeds and appropriate seed characteristics with a low amount of anti-nutritional factors.
Experimental Study on Streptococcus agalactiae Genotype and Erythromycin Resistance in Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Shen Lijuan , Huang Manqian , Xie Nanli
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to evaluate Streptococcus agalactiae genotype and erythromycin resistance in neonatal sepsis. After obtaining the mothers’ informed consent, trained nurses sampled 430 neonatal specimens of sepsis from the ear canal, oral cavity and umbilical cord immediately after childbirth and implemented a cross-sectional study. By Gram staining, morphology, hemolysis mode, catalase and CAMP tests, the isolate was identified as S. agalactiae. All 455 isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disc diffusion method. Multilocus sequence typing was used to serotype S. agalactiae involving sequencing of 7 housekeeping genes. The erythromycin resistance genes-erm (B), erm (A) and mef (A) were detected by PCR. Results showed that there were 286 cases (66.51%) of neonates delivered naturally, and 144 cases (33.49%) of neonates delivered by cesarean section. A total of 455 strains were tested, including 253 strains (55.60%) of Gram-positive bacteria with 100 strains (21.98%) of S. agalactiae and 52 strains (11.43%) of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 178 strains (39.12%) of Gram-negative bacteria with 45 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.89%), 36 strains of Escherichia coli (7.91%), 36 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.91%), and 323 strains of Citrobacter freundii (7.03%). S. agalactiae had the highest resistance of 87 (87.00%) to erythromycin, followed by resistance to azithromycin 83 (83.00%) and clindamycin 78 (78.00%). In children with neonatal sepsis, S. agalactiae serotypes were mainly Ia, Ib, and III, accounting for 29.00%, 35.00%, and 19.00% respectively. The main genotypes were ST651, ST103 and ST176, which account for 19.00%, 17.00% and 15.00% respectively. The ST19 type 13.00%, ST27 type 8.00%, ST17 Type 11.00%, ST10 type 12.00%, ST485 type 5.00%. The ST103 and ST485 isolates were classified as serotype Ia, the ST10 and ST176 isolates were classified as serotype Ib, and ST17 and ST19 isolates were classified as serotype III. Among the strains of S. agalactiae, 40.23% (35/87) carry erm (A) gene, 35.63% (31/87) carry erm (B) gene, and 24.14% (21/87) carry mef (A) gene. erm (A) gene was the most common gene in ST19 strain (7/11, 63.64%), and erm (B) gene was the most common gene in ST176 and ST651 strains (6/12, 50.00%; 8/18, 44.44%), while mef (A) gene was the most common gene in ST17 strain (5/11, 45.45%). In general, S. agalactiae genotypes in neonatal sepsis were mainly ST651, ST103 and ST176, and the main serotypes are Ia, Ib, and III. There was good consistency between ST and serotype, and a significant difference was shown in erythromycin resistance and ST distribution, which highlights the value of new epidemiological trend detection by monitoring multiple characteristics and provides inspiration for the development of multivalent S. agalactiae vaccines.
Experimental study on anti angiogenesis of recombinant mouse angiostatin gene in mice with gallbladder carcinoma
Authors: Wang Chunlin , Jiang Tao , Zhu Yunxie
Published: February 2022

Gallbladder cancer is one of the gastrointestinal tumors with an extremely poor prognosis. Its incidence rate is gradually increasing worldwide, and the rate of radical resection surgery is extremely low. Not sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with a very poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate whether the recombinant mouse angiostatin gene transfected anti-angiogenic gallbladder cancer cells can express angiostatin protein with the activity of inhibiting the growth of vascular endothelial cells and the inhibitory effect on the growth of gallbladder cancer. The recombinant mouse angiostatin gene eukaryotic expression plasmid was transfected into the gallbladder cancer cell line by applying liposome LIPOFECTAMINE 2000, and its activity was detected by vascular endothelial cell proliferation analysis. The results show that angiostatin can inhibit the growth of transplanted gallbladder cancer, and as the number of injections increases, the inhibition rate of gallbladder cancer growth also increases. At the end of the experiment, the total inhibition rate of gallbladder cancer growth reached 95% 5%, 20%, 30%, 40% gradually increase. Therefore, angiostatin has potential clinical application value in gene therapy of gallbladder cancer.
Study of non-pollution cultivation techniques of organic ecotype of melon crops considering population characteristics
Authors: Chen Gang
Published: February 2022

Due to the requirement of melon yield, the cultivated seeds are overused with pesticides during the melon planting process, and the population characteristics are not considered, resulting in serious soil pesticide pollution during the melon planting process. Therefore, this study proposes an organic ecological pollution-free cultivation technology of melon considering population characteristics. The population characteristics of melon crops were determined by DNA molecular marker technology. On this basis, the organic ecotype pollution-free matrix of melon crops was formulated, and the bulk density, total porosity and aeration porosity of the matrix were determined. The MNL model method was used to control the spraying amount of melon cultivation, and the light condition of the melon growing environment was determined by the leaf fluorescence of melon crops. There were significant differences in plant height, stem diameter and leaf area between melons grown in the studied substrate and common soil. With the change of planting days, the height of the melon grown in this technology was always higher than that of the melon grown in common soil, and the maximum value was about 20 cm. As planting days changed, the stem thickness of melon crops grown with the substrate was initially lower than that of common soil, but quickly exceeded the thickness of common soil over time. The surface areas of the third and fourth leaves of the melon crops grown according to this technology varied with the days of planting. Early differences between the two substrates were not significant. However, in later stages, melons grow faster. In the early stage of melon production, the chlorophyll content of pollution-free cultivation was higher than that of common cultivation methods. The flowering period was the period with the highest chlorophyll content in both cultivation techniques. However, the highest content of melon chlorophyll under this technology was about 2.0 mg, and the highest content of melon chlorophyll under common cultivation technology was about 1.4 mg, which verifies the effectiveness of the method. It has been verified that pollution-free cultivation technology can effectively improve the growth efficiency of melon crops and ensure the quality of melon cultivation.
Leukocyte telomere length and lipid parameters in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries
Authors: Inandiklioglu Nihal , Demir Vahit , Celik Yunus , Demirtas Mustafa
Published: February 2022

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is defined as stenosis of less than 50% or no stenosis on coronary angiography in a patient diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Telomere length is expressed by studies that it acts as a biomarker, especially for biological aging and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between circulating leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and serum lipid values in MINOCA patients. Forty-five newly diagnosed patients with MINOCA were included in the study, along with 45 healthy controls who matched the patients in terms of age and gender. We determined the LTL value using the RT-PCR method. As a result of the study, we found LTL (p< 0.001) and serum lipid values (HDL-cholesterol (p< 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (p< 0.001), triglycerides (p< 0.05), and total cholesterol (p< 0.05)) to be significantly higher in the MINOCA group than in the control group. When the correlation relationship between LTL and lipid values in the MINOCA group was evaluated, a negative correlation was determined only between LTL and HDL (p=0.014, r=-0.362). This is the first study to evaluate telomere length in MINOCA patients in Turkey. Our results support the existence of short telomere length in MINOCA patients.
Mechanism of dact2 gene inhibiting the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis
Authors: Huang Shen'an , Qian Xia , Jiang Ting , Xiao Jing , Yin Min , Xiong Ming , Wen Zhili
Published: February 2022

There are few reports about the relationship between dact2 and liver fibrosis. The inhibitory mechanism of dact2 in liver fibrosis is not clear, we need to further explore it. In this study has been shown that the dact2 gene can inhibit liver fibrosis. In this experiment, we used lentivirus as a vector to construct a lentivirus vector carrying the dact2 gene and packaged dact2 recombinant lentivirus and its control vector. HSC-T6 infected cells were observed. The effect of dact2 gene expression was activated by Wnt3a HSC-T6 cells. Immunoblot was used to detect α - SMA expression, TGF - β 1, Smad3, Smad7, β - Catenin and CyclinD1. The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 was detected by real-time PCR. At the same time, dact2 recombinant lentivirus was injected into the tail vein. Carbon tetrachloride was used to establish the liver fibrosis model. After 7 weeks of modeling, the staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue, hydroxyproline was used to analyze the changes of collagen content in liver tissue, the expression of the protein was observed by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of fibrosis-related genes was detected by real-time PCR. Results showed that the dact2 gene expression could inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells and reduce the expression of TGF - β 1. The percentage of Smad3, β - Catenin and cyclinD1 protein was 50.02%, 46.73%, 47.58% and 37.50% respectively (P < 0.05).
Curcumin reduces inflammation in mice with the psoriasis model by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory bodies
Authors: Zhang Jiancheng , Ma Yu , Li Wen
Published: February 2022

As a chronic skin disease, psoriasis is a relatively common disease among various types of skin diseases. Because this disease is often distributed throughout the patient's body and is prone to develop, it is difficult to guarantee the quality of life and physical and mental health of patients with this disease. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether curcumin can effectively inhibit the NLRP3 inflammatory body and thereby reduce the inflammation in the mouse psoriasis model. Through the use of the curcumin gel prepared and the mouse psoriasis model, the percutaneous administration was used to investigate the mechanism and mechanism of curcumin's effect on reducing inflammation in the mouse psoriasis model. In addition, in order to better explore the curative effect of curcumin on psoriasis, related experiments were conducted by setting up a control group and an experimental group. The results show that curcumin has a good inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammatory bodies. Curcumin can not only reduce the NLRP3 expression and inhibit the inflammation caused by IL-22 and IL-18 but also reduce the damage of psoriasis. 22 Induced phosphorylation of STAT3 almost completely inhibits phosphorylation in normal cells. Among them, curcumin inhibited IL-22-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 up to 95.6%, and inhibited IL-22 and IL-18 by about 47%.
STIM2 promotes the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells through the NFAT1/TGF-β1 pathway
Authors: Cheng Hongbing , Chen Liangji , Fang Zhenyu , Wan Qian , Du Zhuo , Ma Nanshan , Guo Genxin , Lu Wenjing
Published: February 2022

A large amount of evidence indicates that the abnormal activation of multiple signal transduction pathways in cells is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. TGF-β and NFAT1 signaling pathways can inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis in the early stage of breast cancer, but with the increase of tumor malignancy, the two appear to promote tumor progression and deterioration. Therefore, the study of the relationship between STIM2 and NFAT1/TGF-β1 is helpful for the discovery and treatment of breast cancer, which is of great significance for improving the survival rate of breast cancer patients. This article focuses on the effect of STIM2 molecules on breast cancer cell migration through the NFAT1/ TGF-β1 pathway and discusses the regulatory mechanism of STIM2 affecting breast cancer cell migration. Experimental data shows that the positive rate of breast cancer NFAT1 is 54%, which is significantly lower than that of benign breast Tissue 85%; the positive expression rate of TGF-β1 in benign breast tissue is 85%, and the positive expression rate in breast cancer tissue is 49%. The results show that STIM2 protein can promote the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells through the NFAT1 / TGF-β1 pathway.
Revisiting Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica, 12 years later: new observations of marine benthic diatoms
Authors: Al-Handal Adil Y. , Torstensson Anders , Wulff Angela
Published: February 2022

Continuous observations of Antarctic benthic diatoms are necessary to detect changes in species composition and biodiversity that may result from environmental changes. The present work provides a systematic list of benthic diatoms from Potter Cove (62.03°S 58.35°W) collected during summer 2015. The new findings are compared with observations made 12 years ago (summer 2003). In total, 80 taxa were found, similar to that encountered earlier, but 17 species (21% of the total species number) were not observed in 2003, and 26 species (31%) of those reported in 2003 did not appear in 2015. The dominant species in 2003 and 2015 was the large epipelic and cosmopolitan Gyrosigma fasciola. Most of the species either newly observed in the present study, or absent in the present study but observed previously, occurred either rarely or very rarely. Gyrosigma arcuatum and Pleurosigma diversestriatum were newly observed in 2015 and not previously reported from polar regions. This study provides systematic and ecological information on all taxa encountered and is illustrated with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. We emphasize that ice-inhabiting and other benthic diatoms should be included when considering the biodiversity of polar diatoms. Thus, we hope that the present study will add a piece to the puzzle of climate change effects on the benthic diatoms in this vulnerable region and will complement earlier published species records in the area.
Preparation and properties of natural rubber composite with CoFe2O4-immobilized biomass carbon
Authors: Cui Haipeng , Zhao Pengfei , Liao Lusheng , Zhao Yanfang , Long Aichun , Liao Jianhe
Published: February 2022

Designing versatile rubber as a multifunctional elastomer is of great importance, incorporating it with biomass-derived nanoblocks will mitigate environmental challenges. Here biosynthesized natural rubber (NR) composites with CoFe2O4-immobilized biomass carbon (BC) derived from macadamia nutshells were fabricated by facile mechanical mixing. Morphological analysis indicates that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on the surface of BC, forming intact electromagnetic loss networks in NR matrix. As a consequence, the as-fabricated NR/CoFe2O4@BC composites demonstrate enhanced mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic performance. Particularly, NR/CoFe2O4@BC composite shows the best microwave attenuation capacity when CoFe2O4@BC loading is 40 phr, with the minimum reflection loss (RL) of −35.00 dB and effective absorption bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) of 1.60 GHz. All results indicate that this work open new paradigm for multiple applications based on biosynthetic elastomer with the sustainable biomass derived nanoblocks.