bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of women with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Arain Hania , Patel Tina , Mureanu Nicoleta , Efthymiou Athina , Lombardi Giovanna , Tree Timothy , Nicolaides Kypros H. , Shangaris Panicos
Published: December 2023

Background

Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects approximately 14% of pregnancies globally and is associated with short- and long-term complications for both the mother and child. In addition, GDM has been linked to chronic low-grade inflammation with recent research indicating a potential immune dysregulation in pathophysiology and a disparity in regulatory T cells.

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether there is an association between GDM and the level of Tregs in the peripheral blood.

Methods

Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Ovid between the 7th and 14th of February 2022. The inclusion criteria were any original studies published in the English language, measuring differentiated Tregs in women with GDM compared with glucose-tolerant pregnant women. Meta-analysis was performed between comparable Treg markers. Statistical tests were used to quantify heterogeneity: τ2, χ2, and I2. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Results

The search yielded 223 results: eight studies were included in the review and seven in the meta-analysis (GDM = 228, control = 286). Analysis of Tregs across all trimesters showed significantly lower Treg numbers in women with GDM (SMD, −0.76; 95% CI, −1.37, −0.15; I2 = 90%). This was reflected in the analysis by specific Treg markers (SMD −0.55; 95% CI, −1.04, −0.07; I2 = 83%; third trimester, five studies). Non-significant differences were found within subgroups (differentiated by CD4+FoxP3+, CD4+CD127−, and CD4+CD127−FoxP3) of both analyses.

Conclusion

GDM is associated with lower Treg numbers in the peripheral maternal blood. In early pregnancy, there is clinical potential to use Treg levels as a predictive tool for the subsequent development of GDM. There is also a potential therapeutic intervention to prevent the development of GDM by increasing Treg populations. However, the precise mechanism by which Tregs mediate GDM remains unclear.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022309796.
Deciphering the rule of antigen-antibody amino acid interaction
Authors: Jiang Min , Fang Changyin , Ma Yongping
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Antigenic drift is the biggest challenge for mutagenic RNA virus vaccine development. The primary purpose is to determine the IEMM (immune escape mutation map) of 20 amino acids’ replacement to reveal the rule of the viral immune escape.

Methods

To determine the relationship between epitope mutation and immune escape, we use universal protein tags as a linear epitope model. To describe and draw amino acid linkage diagrams, mutations of protein tags are classified into four categories: IEM (immune escape mutation), ADERM (antibody-dependent enhancement risk mutation), EQM (equivalent mutation), and IVM (invalid mutation). To overcome the data limitation, a general antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) interaction map was constructed by analyzing the published three-dimensional (3D) Ag-Ab interaction patterns.

Results

(i) One residue interacts with multiple amino acids in antigen-antibody interaction. (ii) Most amino acid replacements are IVM and EQM. (iii) Once aromatic amino acids replace non-aromatic amino acids, the mutation is often IEM. (iv) Substituting residues with the same physical and chemical properties easily leads to IVM. Therefore, this study has important theoretical significance for future research on antigenic drift, antibody rescue, and vaccine renewal design.

Conclusion

The antigenic epitope mutations were typed into IEM, ADERM, EQM, and IVM types to describe and quantify the results of antigenic mutations. The antigen-antibody interaction rule was summarized as a one-to-many interaction rule. To sum up, the epitope mutation rules were defined as IVM and EQM predomination rules and the aryl mutation escape rule.
Potential of dietary hemp and cannabinoids to modulate immune response to enhance health and performance in animals: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Hassan Faiz-ul , Liu Chunjie , Mehboob Maryam , Bilal Rana Muhammad , Arain Muhammad Asif , Siddique Faisal , Chen Fengming , Li Yuying , Zhang Jingmeng , Shi Pengjun , Lv Biguang , Lin Qian
Published: December 2023

Cannabinoids are a group of bioactive compounds abundantly present in Cannabis sativa plant. The active components of cannabis with therapeutic potential are known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are divided into three groups: plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids), endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), and synthetic cannabinoids. These compounds play a crucial role in the regulation various physiological processes including the immune modulation by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (A complex cell-signaling system). Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) stimulates the binding of orexigenic peptides and inhibits the attachment of anorexigenic proteins to hypothalamic neurons in mammals, increasing food intake. Digestibility is unaffected by the presence of any cannabinoids in hemp stubble. Endogenous cannabinoids are also important for the peripheral control of lipid processing in adipose tissue, in addition to their role in the hypothalamus regulation of food intake. Regardless of the kind of synaptic connection or the length of the transmission, endocannabinoids play a crucial role in inhibiting synaptic transmission through a number of mechanisms. Cannabidiol (CBD) mainly influences redox equilibrium through intrinsic mechanisms. Useful effects of cannabinoids in animals have been mentioned e.g., for disorders of the cardiovascular system, pain treatment, disorders of the respiratory system or metabolic disorders. Dietary supplementation of cannabinoids has shown positive effects on health, growth and production performance of small and large animals. Animal fed diet supplemented with hemp seeds (180 g/day) or hemp seed cake (143 g/kg DM) had achieved batter performance without any detrimental effects. But the higher level of hemp or cannabinoid supplementation suppress immune functions and reduce productive performance. With an emphasis on the poultry and ruminants, this review aims to highlight the properties of cannabinoids and their derivatives as well as their significance as a potential feed additive in their diets to improve the immune status and health performance of animals.
Challenges and opportunities in the islet transplantation microenvironment: a comprehensive summary of inflammatory cytokine, immune cells, and vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Chen Qi-dong , Liu Long , Zhao Xiao-hong , Liang Jun-bo , Li Shao-wei
Published: December 2023

It is now understood that islet transplantation serves as a β-cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes. Many factors impact the survival of transplanted islets, especially those related to the microenvironment. This review explored microenvironmental components, including vascular endothelial cells, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cells, and their profound effects on post-islet transplantation survival rates. Furthermore, it revealed therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting these elements. Current evidence suggests that vascular endothelial cells are pivotal in facilitating vascularization and nutrient supply and establishing a new microcirculation network for transplanted islets. Consequently, preserving the functionality of vascular endothelial cells emerges as a crucial strategy to enhance the survival of islet transplantation. Release of cytokines will lead to activation of immune cells and production and release of further cytokines. While immune cells hold undeniable significance in regulating immune responses, their activation can result in rejection reactions. Thus, establishing immunological tolerance within the recipient’s body is essential for sustaining graft functionality. Indeed, future research endeavors should be directed toward developing precise strategies for modulating the microenvironment to achieve higher survival rates and more sustained transplantation outcomes. While acknowledging certain limitations inherent to this review, it provides valuable insights that can guide further exploration in the field of islet transplantation. In conclusion, the microenvironment plays a paramount role in islet transplantation. Importantly, we discuss novel perspectives that could lead to broader clinical applications and improved patient outcomes in islet transplantation.
Application of multiple binding sites for LAMP primers across P. falciparum genome improves detection of the parasite from whole blood samples
Authors: Mgawe Cavin , Shilluli Clement , Nyanjom Steven , Odari Eddy , Linnes Jacqueline C. , Kanoi Bernard N. , Gitaka Jesse , Ochola Lucy
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Malaria remains a significant health concern, particularly in regions with widespread prevalence. As the transmission rates decrease, there is a rise in low-density infections with the causative parasite, P. falciparum, that often escape detection through standard point-of-care diagnostic tools. In-low transmission areas, even few undetected cases can trigger outbreaks, necessitating rapid and sensitive diagnostics. Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP) stands out as a nucleic acid technique that can easily utilizes un-processed samples such of saliva, urine, and lysed whole blood templates for a sensitive detection. However, most nucleic acid tests detect genes with few copies per parasite making it difficult to detect low-density parasitaemia.

Methods

We selected Pfr364 multi-copy repeats of the P. falciparum genome as a target for amplification due to their higher copy number, ideal for rapid amplification, addressing amplification drawbacks of limited parasites DNA. We used a sequence clustering approach to design a novel set of LAMP primers, capable of binding to multiple sites. Subsequently, we developed a hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) colorimetric LAMP assay, using genomic DNA obtained from the 3D7 strain cultivated in vitro. This assay’s performance was validated using archived clinical samples of both whole blood and matched saliva, ensuring accuracy through comparative analysis against gold standard, nested PCR, targeting the 18S RNA gene.

Results

The HNB-LAMP assay achieved rapid amplification within 15 minutes and exhibited high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 1 parasite. Further, the LAMP assay was robust in whole blood lysed with Triton X-100 and heat-treated saliva clinical samples. Against nested PCR, the assay showed sensitivity of 100% for whole blood and 40% for saliva samples. Moreover, co-analysis with the nested PCR showed a perfect agreement between the two techniques. (K = 0.99 for whole blood, and 0.66 for saliva).

Conclusion

Our study presents a method for detecting P. falciparum using LAMP, which results in increased sensitivity, shorter assay times, and a simpler workflow than nucleic acid tests relying on conventional DNA extraction and additional equipment for result interpretation. These findings hold great promise for improved malaria diagnosis, especially in settings where low-density parasitaemia is prevalent and rapid and accurate malaria detection is crucial.
Key factors for species distribution modeling in benthic marine environments
Authors: Tong Ruiju , Yesson Chris , Yu Jinsongdi , Luo Yuan , Zhang Ling
Published: December 2023

Species distribution modeling is a widely used technique for estimating the potential habitats of target organisms based on their environmental preferences. These methods serve as valuable tools for resource managers and conservationists, and their utilization is increasing, particularly in marine environments where data limitations persist as a challenge. In this study, we employed the global distribution predictions of six cold-water coral species as a case study to investigate various factors influencing predictions, including modeling algorithms, background points sampling strategies and sizes, and the collinearity of environmental datasets, using both discriminative and functional performance metrics. The choice of background sampling method exhibits a stronger influence on model performance compared to the effects of modeling algorithms, background point sampling size, and the collinearity of the environmental dataset. Predictions that utilize kernel density backgrounds, maintain an equal number of presences and background points for algorithms of BRT, RF, and MARS, and employ a substantial number of background points for MAXENT, coupled with a collinearity-filtered environmental dataset in species distribution modeling, yield higher levels of discriminative and functional performance. Overall, BRT and RF outperformed MAXENT, a conclusion that is further substantiated by the analysis of smoothed residuals and the uncertainty associated with the predicted habitat suitability of Madrepora oculata. This study offers valuable insights for enhancing species distribution modeling in marine benthic environments, thereby benefiting resource management and conservation strategies for benthic species.
Organic carbon stocks of Great British saltmarshes
Authors: Smeaton Craig , Ladd Cai J. T. , Miller Lucy C. , McMahon Lucy , Garrett Ed , Barlow Natasha L. M. , Gehrels W. Roland , Skov Martin W. , Austin William E. N.
Published: December 2023

Coastal wetlands, such as saltmarshes, are globally widespread and highly effective at capturing and storing ‘blue carbon’ and have the potential to regulate climate over varying timescales. Yet only Australia and the United States of America have national inventories of organic carbon held within saltmarsh habitats, hindering the development of policies and management strategies to protect and preserve these organic carbon stores. Here we couple a new observational dataset with 4,797 samples from 26 saltmarshes across Great Britain to spatially model organic carbon stored in the soil and the above and belowground biomass of Great British saltmarshes. Using average values derived from the 26 marshes, we deliver first-order estimates of organic carbon stocks across Great Britain’s 448 saltmarshes (451.66 km2). The saltmarshes of Great Britain contain 5.20 ± 0.65 Mt of organic carbon, 93% of which is in the soil. On average, the saltmarshes store 11.55 ± 1.56 kg C m-2 with values ranging between 2.24 kg C m-2 and 40.51 kg C m-2 depending on interlinked factors such as geomorphology, organic carbon source, sediment type (mud vs sand), sediment supply, and relative sea level history. These findings affirm that saltmarshes represent the largest intertidal blue carbon store in Great Britain, yet remain an unaccounted for component of the United Kingdom’s natural carbon stores.
Bacterial diversity and community structure of salt pans from Goa, India
Authors: Gawas Priti , Kerkar Savita
Published: December 2023

In Goa, salt production from the local salt pans is an age-old practice. These salt pans harbor a rich diversity of halophilic microbes with immense biotechnological applications, as they tolerate extremely harsh conditions. Detecting the existence of these microbes by a metabarcoding approach could be a primary step to harness their potential. Three salt pans viz. Agarwado, Curca, and Nerul adjoining prominent estuaries of Goa were selected based on their unique geographical locations. The sediments of these salt pans were examined for their bacterial community and function by 16S rRNA amplicon-sequencing. These salt pans were hypersaline (400–450 PSU) and alkaline (pH 7.6–8.25), with 0.036–0.081 mg/L nitrite, 0.0031–0.016 mg/L nitrate, 6.66–15.81 mg/L sulfate, and 20.8–25.6 mg/L sulfide. The relative abundance revealed that the Pseudomonadota was dominant in salt pans of Nerul (13.9%), Curca (19.6%), and Agarwado (32.4%). The predominant genera in Nerul, Curca, and Agarwado salt pan sediments were Rhodopirellula (1.12%), Sulfurivermis (1.28%), and Psychrobacter (25.5%) respectively. The highest alpha diversity (Shannon-diversity Index) was observed in the Nerul salt pan (4.8) followed by Curca (4.3) and Agarwado (2.03). Beta diversity indicated the highest dissimilarity between Agarwado and the other two salt pans (0.73) viz. Nerul and Curca and the lowest dissimilarity was observed between Nerul and Curca salt pans (0.48). Additionally, in the Agarwado salt pan, 125 unique genera were detected, while in Nerul 119, and in Curca 28 distinct genera were noted. The presence of these exclusive microorganisms in a specific salt pan and its absence in the others indicate that the adjacent estuaries play a critical role in determining salt pan bacterial diversity. Further, the functional prediction of bacterial communities indicated the predominance of stress adaptation genes involved in osmotic balance, membrane modification, and DNA repair mechanisms. This is the first study to report the bacterial community structure and its functional genes in these three salt pans using Next-Generation Sequencing. The data generated could be used as a reference by other researchers across the world for bioprospecting these organisms for novel compounds having biotechnological and biomedical potential.
Rapid discrimination of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies based on MALDI-TOF MS and machine learning
Authors: Liu Kexin , Wang Yajie , Zhao Minlei , Xue Gaogao , Wang Ailan , Wang Weijie , Xu Lida , Chen Jianguo
Published: December 2023

Although MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) is widely known as a rapid and cost-effective reference method for identifying microorganisms, its commercial databases face limitations in accurately distinguishing specific subspecies of Bifidobacterium. This study aimed to explore the potential of MALDI-TOF MS protein profiles, coupled with prediction methods, to differentiate between Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum (B. longum). The investigation involved the analysis of mass spectra of 59 B. longum strains and 41 B. infantis strains, leading to the identification of five distinct biomarker peaks, specifically at m/z 2,929, 4,408, 5,381, 5,394, and 8,817, using Recurrent Feature Elimination (RFE). To facilate classification between B. longum and B. infantis based on the mass spectra, machine learning models were developed, employing algorithms such as logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM). The evaluation of the mass spectrometry data showed that the RF model exhibited the highest performace, boasting an impressive AUC of 0.984. This model outperformed other algorithms in terms of accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, when employing a voting mechanism on multi-mass spectrometry data for strain identificaton, the RF model achieved the highest accuracy of 96.67%. The outcomes of this research hold the significant potential for commercial applications, enabling the rapid and precise discrimination of B. longum and B. infantis using MALDI-TOF MS in conjunction with machine learning. Additionally, the approach proposed in this study carries substantial implications across various industries, such as probiotics and pharmaceuticals, where the precise differentiation of specific subspecies is essential for product development and quality control.
Genome-wide analysis of lipolytic enzymes and characterization of a high-tolerant carboxylesterase from Sorangium cellulosum
Authors: Yuan Shu-Fei , Yue Xin-Jing , Hu Wei-Feng , Wang Ye , Li Yue-Zhong
Published: December 2023

Microorganisms are important sources of lipolytic enzymes with characteristics for wide promising usages in the specific industrial biotechnology. The cellulolytic myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum is rich of lipolytic enzymes in the genome, but little has been investigated. Here, we discerned 406 potential lipolytic enzymes in 13 sequenced S. cellulosum genomes. These lipolytic enzymes belonged to 12 families, and most are novel with low identities (14–37%) to those reported. We characterized a new carboxylesterase, LipB, from the alkaline-adaptive So0157-2. This enzyme, belonging to family VIII, hydrolyzed glyceryl tributyrate and p-nitrophenyl esters with short chain fatty acids (≤C12), and exhibited the highest activity against p-nitrophenyl butyrate. It retained over 50% of the activities in a broad temperature range (from 20°C to 60°C), alkaline conditions (pH 8.0–9.5), and the enzymatic activity was stable with methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, and stimulated significantly in the presence of 5 mM Ni2+. LipB also exhibited β-lactamase activity on nitrocefin, but not ampicillin, cefotaxime and imipenem. The bioinformatic analysis and specific enzymatic characteristics indicate that S. cellulosum is a promising resource to explore lipolytic enzymes for industrial adaptations.
Rats did not show evidence of prospective information-seeking: a pilot study
Authors: Iwasaki Sumie , Taniuchi Tohru
Published: December 2023

Information-seeking behavior often features in research on metacognition in non-human animals; some species seek more information when they do not know the location of a food reward. Rats are known to do this in situations of uncertainty, but it is still unclear if they seek information prospectively for solving a later problem. In this study, we investigated rats’ information-seeking responses in two areas that presented different cognitive challenges (N = 4). In one area, a memory task was presented in which rats could access a cue for a food reward during the information-seeking phase of a trial, but the cue was removed before the subsequent test phase. In the other area, a discrimination task presented a cue that was available in both the information-seeking and the test phases, so that it was not necessary to seek information prospectively. The memory and discrimination test trials were given in quasi-random order (Experiment 1). Rats explored in the memory task area no more than in the discrimination task area during the information-seeking phase, even after extensive training. When they were exposed exclusively to the memory task over multiple sessions (Experiment 2), they developed a strategy of exploring the available object cues. In Experiment 3, rats were found to stay longer in an area, which had an object than in other, less potentially informative areas; they were sensitive to the presence of information. Although these results did not support the existence of prospective information-seeking in rats, they do not necessarily imply that rats lack related abilities. This consideration is due to the constraints of the small sample size and the limited scope of the testing environment. Accumulating not only positive but also negative evidence would further understanding of the factors influencing metacognitive responses in non-human animals.
The involvement of brain regions associated with lower KPS and shorter survival time predicts a poor prognosis in glioma
Authors: Bao Hongbo , Wang Huan , Sun Qian , Wang Yujie , Liu Hui , Liang Peng , Lv Zhonghua
Published: December 2023

Background

Isocitrate dehydrogenase-wildtype glioblastoma (IDH-wildtype GBM) and IDH-mutant astrocytoma have distinct biological behaviors and clinical outcomes. The location of brain tumors is closely associated not only with clinical symptoms and prognosis but also with key molecular alterations such as IDH. Therefore, we hypothesize that the key brain regions influencing the prognosis of glioblastoma and astrocytoma are likely to differ. This study aims to (1) identify specific regions that are associated with the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) or overall survival (OS) in IDH-wildtype GBM and IDH-mutant astrocytoma and (2) test whether the involvement of these regions could act as a prognostic indicator.

Methods

A total of 111 patients with IDH-wildtype GBM and 78 patients with IDH-mutant astrocytoma from the Cancer Imaging Archive database were included in the study. Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) was used to identify key brain areas for lower KPS and shorter OS. Next, we analyzed the structural and cognitive dysfunction associated with these regions. The survival analysis was carried out using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Another 72 GBM patients and 48 astrocytoma patients from Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital were used as a validation cohort.

Results

Tumors located in the insular cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, and middle and superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere tended to lead to lower KPS and shorter OS in IDH-wildtype GBM. The regions that were significantly correlated with lower KPS in IDH-mutant astrocytoma included the subcallosal cortex and cingulate gyrus. These regions were associated with diverse structural and cognitive impairments. The involvement of these regions was an independent predictor for shorter survival in both GBM and astrocytoma.

Conclusion

This study identified the specific regions that were significantly associated with OS or KPS in glioma. The results may help neurosurgeons evaluate patient survival before surgery and understand the pathogenic mechanisms of glioma in depth.
Screening for sleep apnoea risk in testosterone-treated transgender men
Authors: Šnobrová Bára , Burdová Kristina , Weiss Vladimír , Šonka Karel , Weiss Petr
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is more prevalent in men. Several studies suggested that higher testosterone levels were associated with a greater risk of OSA. We aimed to determine whether testosterone administration in transgender men would accentuate symptoms of OSA.

Methods

The study involved 94 adult people undergoing a female-to-male transition with testosterone administration. The participants answered the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and a separate question on snoring before starting testosterone treatment and after at least 1 year of being on testosterone treatment.

Results

A higher proportion of participants at the follow-up answered positively to the first category of BQ devoted to snoring. A lower proportion of participants at follow-up answered positively to the second category of BQ devoted to tiredness. The percentage of subjects with a high risk of sleep apnoea, according to BQ, and of those who answered the question on snoring positively did not change significantly.

Conclusion

An increased number of transgender men who reported snoring in BQ after testosterone administration indicate a higher risk of OSA development.
Experimental demonstration of coupled differential oscillator networks for versatile applications
Authors: Jiménez Manuel , Núñez Juan , Shamsi Jafar , Linares-Barranco Bernabé , Avedillo María J.
Published: December 2023

Oscillatory neural networks (ONNs) exhibit a high potential for energy-efficient computing. In ONNs, neurons are implemented with oscillators and synapses with resistive and/or capacitive coupling between pairs of oscillators. Computing is carried out on the basis of the rich, complex, non-linear synchronization dynamics of a system of coupled oscillators. The exploited synchronization phenomena in ONNs are an example of fully parallel collective computing. A fast system’s convergence to stable states, which correspond to the desired processed information, enables an energy-efficient solution if small area and low-power oscillators are used, specifically when they are built on the basis of the hysteresis exhibited by phase-transition materials such as VO2. In recent years, there have been numerous studies on ONNs using VO2. Most of them report simulation results. Although in some cases experimental results are also shown, they do not implement the design techniques that other works on electrical simulations report that allow to improve the behavior of the ONNs. Experimental validation of these approaches is necessary. Therefore, in this study, we describe an ONN realized in a commercial CMOS technology in which the oscillators are built using a circuit that we have developed to emulate the VO2 device. The purpose is to be able to study in-depth the synchronization dynamics of relaxation oscillators similar to those that can be performed with VO2 devices. The fabricated circuit is very flexible. It allows programming the synapses to implement different ONNs, calibrating the frequency of the oscillators, or controlling their initialization. It uses differential oscillators and resistive synapses, equivalent to the use of memristors. In this article, the designed and fabricated circuits are described in detail, and experimental results are shown. Specifically, its satisfactory operation as an associative memory is demonstrated. The experiments carried out allow us to conclude that the ONN must be operated according to the type of computational task to be solved, and guidelines are extracted in this regard.
Associations of multiple toxic metal exposures with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: NHANES 2011–2018
Authors: Li Yuguang , Liu Zefeng , Chang Yu , Chen Naifei , Zhang Rong , Liu Xiangliang , Song Wei , Lu Jin
Published: December 2023

Background

The occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is driven by multiple factors including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. However, epidemiological research investigating the association between metal exposure and MASLD occurrence remains limited.

Methods

We conducted a large cross-sectional study with 6,520 participants who were involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2018. Using generalized linear regression, we examined the relationship between five heavy metals (mercury, manganese, lead, selenium, cadmium) and MASLD. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline models and weighted quantile sum (WQS) analysis were employed to characterize the exposure-response relationship between the five metals and MASLD.

Results

Higher blood selenium levels were associated with an increased likelihood of MASLD among US adults. Blood lead exposure was also positively correlated with MASLD risk. However, there was no significant association observed between blood cadmium, mercury, manganese levels, and MASLD risk. Among the five metals, blood cadmium exposure accounted for the highest proportion of MASLD risk.

Conclusion

Our study indicated the significant association between blood cadmium and lead exposure levels and the occurrence of MASLD in a representative sample of US adults.
Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in 157 patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: real-world evidence from a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Zheng Yumin , Tan Kexin , Wang Aolin , Lu Xingyu , Dong Huijing , Li Jia , Cui Huijuan
Published: December 2023

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the therapeutic options for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). In this real-world study, we analyzed the treatment patterns in patients with ES-SCLC and evaluated the efficacy of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy as first-line therapy.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with ES-SCLC who received treatment at China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Beijing, China) between August 1, 2020, and April 30, 2023. The treatment patterns appeared in the form of Sunburst Chart and Sankey diagram. The survival analyses were conducted by Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

A total of 157 patients with ES-SCLC were retrospectively included. According to first-line therapy, patients were divided into the chemotherapy (CT) group (n=82) and chemo-immunotherapy (CIT) group (n=75). The median treatment lines were 2[1, 2] and cycles were 8[5, 12], respectively. 82 patients received the second line of therapy, followed by 37 for the third, 15 for the fourth, 11 for the fifth, and 5 for the sixth. Overall, the treatment patterns involved 11 options including 12 chemotherapy regimens, 11 ICIs, and 4 targeted agents. The second-line treatment pattern had the most options (9) and regimens (43). In the first 3 lines, chemotherapy was the largest proportion of treatment options. The addition of ICIs prolonged progression-free survival from 6.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.00-7.87) to 7.33 (95% CI, 6.03-9.80) months (hazard ratio [HR]=0.67, 95% CI, 0.47-0.95; P=0.025), overall survival from 12.97 (10.90-23.3) to 14.33 (12.67-NA) months without statistically significant difference (HR=0.86, 95% CI, 0.55-1.34; P=0.505).

Conclusion

The treatment options of patients with ES-SCLC are more diversified. Combination therapy is the current trend, where chemotherapy is the cornerstone. Meanwhile, ICIs participate in almost all lines of treatment. However, the clinical efficacy remains barely satisfactory. We are urgently expecting more breakthrough therapies except immunology will be applied in the clinic.
Comparison of the blood immune repertoire with clinical features in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy or ibrutinib
Authors: Welch Baustin M. , Manso Bryce A. , Gwin Kimberly A. , Lothert Petra K. , Parikh Sameer A. , Kay Neil E. , Medina Kay L.
Published: December 2023

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of CD19+ CD5+ clonal B lymphocytes in the blood, bone marrow, and peripheral lymphoid organs. Treatment options for patients range from historical chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) to small molecule inhibitors targeting pro-survival pathways in leukemic B cells, such as the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib (IBR). Using biobanked blood samples obtained pre-therapy and at standard response evaluation timepoints, we performed an in-depth evaluation of the blood innate and adaptive immune compartments between pentostatin-based CIT and IBR and looked for correlations with clinical sequelae. CD4+ conventional T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells responded similarly to CIT and IBR, although exhaustion status differed. Both treatments dramatically increased the prevalence and functional status of monocyte, dendritic cell, and natural killer cell subsets. As expected, both regimens reduced clonal B cell levels however, we observed no substantial recovery of normal B cells. Although improvements in most immune subsets were observed with CIT and IBR at response evaluation, both patient groups remained susceptible to infections and secondary malignancies during the study.
Diagnostic utility of lung ultrasound in predicting the need for surfactant therapy in preterm neonates with respiratory distress
Authors: Singh Pari , Patnaik Suprabha , Verma Arjun , Garegrat Reema , Maheshwari Rajesh , Suryawanshi Pradeep
Published: December 2023

Background

Lung ultrasound is an accurate and early predictor for surfactant replacement therapy in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as compared to clinical parameters and chest x-ray. However, lung pathologies for respiratory distress at birth have overlapping symptomatology and low middle-income countries have a higher incidence of congenital pneumonia, in addition to RDS, making the immediate diagnosis difficult. Thus, there is a need for assessing a cutoff for lung ultrasound scores in the given setting.

Objectives

The primary objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the lung ultrasound score (LUS) in predicting the need for surfactant therapy in preterm neonates with respiratory distress. Secondary objectives were to correlate LUS with corresponding oxygen saturation to the fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (SpO2/FiO2), arterial/Alveolar oxygen pressure ratio (a/A), and chest x-ray (CXR) findings.

Methodology

A prospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit in India in 2022 enrolling 100 neonates <34 weeks gestational age with respiratory distress at birth. After initial stabilization of the neonate, LUS was performed and baseline parameters were noted. Surfactant was administered as per the 2019 European Consensus guidelines and LUS was repeated after 6 h of therapy.

Results

The mean gestation of enrolled neonates was 31.06 ± 2.12 weeks and the mean birthweight was 1,412 ± 391 g. Approximately 58% were diagnosed with RDS and 30% had congenital pneumonia. Surfactant was administered to 40% of neonates. The cutoff LUS for surfactant therapy was 7 [area under the curve (AUC) 0.977; 95% CI, 0.947–1; P < 0.001; with sensitivity 92.5%, specificity 96.67%, PPV 94.87%, and NPV 95.08%] and the cutoff LUS for the second dose of surfactant was 10 (AUC 0.964; 95% CI, 0.913–1; P < 0.001). The score decreased by 3.24 (2.44–4.05) after 6 h of the first dose and correlated significantly with SpO2/FiO2 ratio (−0.750), a/A ratio (−0.650), and CXR findings (0.801).

Conclusion

The study predicted an optimal LUS cutoff of 7 and 10 for the need for the first dose of surfactant and re-treatment, respectively, in neonates <34 weeks gestational age with respiratory distress.
Online information and availability of three doping substances (anabolic agents) in sports: role of pharmacies
Authors: Garcia Juan F. , Seco-Calvo Jesús , Arribalzaga Soledad , Díez Raquel , Lopez Cristina , Fernandez M. Nelida , Garcia Juan J. , Diez M. Jose , de la Puente Raul , Sierra Matilde , Sahagún Ana M.
Published: December 2023

Background: The Internet has become an important source for easy access to doping substances, where people and athletes may acquire, outside pharmacies and without a (medical) prescription. These online websites do not always offer quality-assured products, and are outside the regular distribution channels of medicines. The aim of this study was to estimate the availability and accessible information on the Internet about the sale of three doping substances (oxandrolone, DHEA, androstenedione).

Methods: Cross-sectional exploratory study, being an observation at a point in time of the online availability of these three doping substances (WADA S1 category: anabolic agents), purchased from Spain, Puerto Rico, Canada, United States, Ukraine and Russia. The characteristics of the websites, the countries the webs sold to, the pharmaceutical forms offered and the recommendations for its use were analyzed by using a computer tool designed ad hoc.

Results: There were significant differences between countries in the number of webpages that sold the products (Chi-square test, p < 0.05). Oxandrolone was available for purchase mainly when buying from Spain (27.12%) and Ukraine (26.58%), in websites dedicated to sports (77.26%). For DHEA, most of the pages offered it if the search was done from Canada (23.34%) and Russia (21.44%). Products containing androstenedione or DHEA are claimed to enhance sports performance or for sports use without providing details. Compared to the total number of websites checked, the proportion of pharmacies offering these products was low, ranging from 4.86% for DHEA to 15.79% for androstenedione.

Conclusion: The three substances selected are easily available without control through the Internet. Only a small number of websites offering them were online pharmacies, and requested a prescription. Most of the doping substances are purchased from the country where they are requested. Product information described benefits for sports performance, but did not do the same with their side effects. It would be advisable for these products to be sold through pharmacies, to guarantee their quality and provide evidence-based information on their safe use, benefits and risks, and only with a prescription. Athletes should be encouraged to consult health professionals about those supplements suitable for their type of training and sports objectives.
The role of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications in plants exposed to non-essential metals
Authors: Chmielowska-Bąk Jagna , Searle Iain Robert , Wakai Theophilus Nang , Arasimowicz-Jelonek Magdalena
Published: December 2023

Contamination of the soil with non-essential metals and metalloids is a serious problem in many regions of the world. These non-essential metals and metalloids are toxic to all organisms impacting crop yields and human health. Crop plants exposed to high concentrations of these metals leads to perturbed mineral homeostasis, decreased photosynthesis efficiency, inhibited cell division, oxidative stress, genotoxic effects and subsequently hampered growth. Plants can activate epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms to maintain cellular and organism homeostasis. Epigenetic modifications include changes in the patterns of cytosine and adenine DNA base modifications, changes in cellular non-coding RNAs, and remodeling histone variants and covalent histone tail modifications. Some of these epigenetic changes have been shown to be long-lasting and may therefore contribute to stress memory and modulated stress tolerance in the progeny. In the emerging field of epitranscriptomics, defined as chemical, covalent modifications of ribonucleotides in cellular transcripts, epitranscriptomic modifications are postulated as more rapid modulators of gene expression. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the plant’s epigenetic changes in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, a comprehensive review of the plant’s epigenetic responses to metals is lacking. While the role of epitranscriptomics during plant developmental processes and stress responses are emerging, epitranscriptomic modifications in response to metals has not been reviewed. This article describes the impact of non-essential metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, Hg, Al and As) on global and site-specific DNA methylation, histone tail modifications and epitranscriptomic modifications in plants.
Coaching leaders toward favorable trajectories of burnout and engagement
Authors: Brooks Pilar Jasmine , Ripoll Pilar , Sánchez Carmen , Torres Marta
Published: December 2023

Existing literature on executive coaching has shown beneficial outcomes for leaders. Indeed, executive coaching can positively affect an individual’s psychological well-being and quality of work life. However, while burnout among leaders is on the rise, to our knowledge no prior study has investigated the influence of executive coaching on the dimensions of burnout and engagement concurrently. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to examine if an executive coaching intervention has positive effects on managerial burnout and engagement. We implemented a ten-week coaching intervention for leaders, where questionnaire data were collected at two time points. Participants (N = 92; Mage = 42; 64% male) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a wait-list control group. Self-reported levels of engagement and burnout were collected at the start of the study protocol (T1) and at the end (T2). Coaching sessions for the intervention group were one hour once per week. The control group did not receive coaching. Repeated measures ANOVAs examined the extent to which the intervention influences the leader’s engagement and burnout. Analyses revealed that all three dimensions of burnout significantly decreased for the intervention group over time while vigor increased. Findings did not reveal an increase in dedication and absorption. Consistent with prior literature, this study supports that executive coaching can improve a leader’s well-being. Specifically, this study shows that an executive coaching intervention can decrease burnout symptoms and increase vigor in leaders. Adding a follow-up survey to the design would allow for further exploration of the intervention on engagement.
Thyroid function, renal function, and depression: an association study
Authors: Liang Hai , Wang Jin-min , Wei Xiao-qian , Su Xiao-qin , Zhang Bi-xia
Published: December 2023

Objective

To investigate the correlations between thyroid function, renal function, and depression.

Methods

Clinical data of 67 patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) and 36 healthy control subjects between 2018 and 2021 were collected to compare thyroid and renal function. Thyroid and renal functions of depressed patients were then correlated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA).Spearman correlation analysis was used to find the correlation between renal function, thyroid function, and depression. A logistic regression was performed to find significant predictors of depression.

Results

Triiodothyronine protamine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine protamine (FT3), uric acid, sodium, and anion gap were lower in the MDD group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis of thyroid function, renal function, and factor terms of HAMD in the MDD group suggested that diurnal variation, hopelessness, and depression level were positively correlated with thyrotropin (TSH) (p < 0.05). Cognitive disturbance, retardation, and depression level were negatively correlated with creatinine (p < 0.05). Diurnal variation was negatively correlated with sodium ion (p < 0.01); hopelessness and depression level were positively correlated with chloride ion (p < 0.05); diurnal variation, retardation, and depression level were negatively correlated with anion gap (p < 0.05). Diurnal variation (p < 0.01) and retardation (p < 0.05) were negatively correlated with osmolality. Cognitive disturbance and depression level were positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p < 0.05). In the MDD group, correlation analysis of thyroid function, renal function, and HAMA factor terms suggested that the total HAMA score and anxiety level were positively correlated with chloride ion (p < 0.05); psychic anxiety, total HAMA score, and anxiety level were negatively correlated with anion gap (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a low level of anion gap was an independent risk factor for depression and anxiety levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Low thyroid function and reduced waste metabolized by the kidneys in patients with MDD suggest a low intake and low metabolism in depressed patients. In addition, subtle fluctuations in the anion gap in depressed patients were strongly correlated with the degree of depression and anxiety.
Mindfulness to improve the mental health of university students. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: González-Martín Ana María , Aibar-Almazán Agustín , Rivas-Campo Yulieth , Castellote-Caballero Yolanda , Carcelén-Fraile María del Carmen
Published: December 2023

Objectives

This systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the effects of a mindfulness program on mental health in university students.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using the databases Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL. The selected studies had to incorporate a mindfulness intervention in university students. The methodological quality of the collected articles was evaluated using the PEDro scale.

Results

We initially identified 321 studies, of which 21 were included in this review. The interventions focused on mindfulness with durations ranging from 8 weeks to 3 months. The results demonstrated significant effects of a mindfulness intervention on mental health in university students.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that mindfulness is effective for improving the mental health of college students.

Systematic Review Registration

identifier: CRD42023441453.