bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A composite cathode of biofuel cell based on cross‐linked Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate and platinum nanoparticles
Authors: Parunova Yulia , Vakhnitskaya Ekaterina , Patsaev Timofey , Tikhomirov Sergey , Kondratev Oleg , Chumakov Ratibor , Gotovtsev Pavel
Published: February 2024

Glucose oxidase based enzymatic biofuel cell is the promising technology for implantable medical devices’ power supply. It can open up opportunities for the long‐term implantation of the medical devices like pacemakers without the necessity for replacement of the batteries. Increasing of the cathode efficiency is one of the issues that should be solved before a practical application of biofuel cells. The high catalytic activity of the cathode provides a significant contribution to the efficiency of biofuel cells operation. The creation of cathodes of implantable biofuel cell with the increased power density could resolve the problem with a slow kinetics of the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. It is especially urgent in the conditions of implantation in physiological fluids, where the oxygen concentration is relatively low. Enzymes application could be an optimal way to increase an efficiency of the cathodic reaction, but enzymes long‐time stability is still in question. Thus, non‐organic and synthetic organic catalysts are considered. In this study, a new type of a cathode for enzymatic biofuel cells is presented. This cathode combines two catalysts: inorganic with platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and organic in the form of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) cross‐linked by poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE). The received electrodes were investigated by several electrochemical methods: cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and linear sweep voltammetry method on a rotating disk electrode. It was shown that the combination of PtNPs and PEDOT:PSS provides the maximum cathodic current, due to the fact that both catalysts contribute to the oxygen reduction reaction. The maximum cathodic current was 7.5 μA for an electrode containing 5 % PEGDE with PtNPs, heat‐treated for one hour at 120 °C. The electrodes without platinum nanoparticles were also investigated. This research showed that PEDOT:PSS provides a significant contribution to the overall catalytic effect demonstrated by the electrode proposed in the study. Scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray fluorescence analysis studies showed that the electrodes with combination of PtNPs and PEDOT:PSS were almost fully covered by catalysts.
Recent Advances in Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and Its Applications in Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Kassem Hassan , Salehi Alireza , Kahrizi Mojtaba
Published: February 2024

2,2',7,7'‐Tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9'‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) is considered the backbone of high performance in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with the highest recorded power conversion efficiency near 26%. Devices with Spiro‐OMeTAD as a hole‐transport material (HTM) inherit very low stability due to the use of ionic‐based and unstable hygroscopic dopants to boost their hole mobility, hindering their stability. Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is considered one of the promising HTM candidates, due to its formidable physical and electronic properties including higher hole mobility and thermal and moisture‐resisting nature. Despite these advantages, pristine P3HT‐based PSCs suffer low photovoltaic performances owing to unmatched perovskite/hole‐transport layer (HTL) interface and low mobility compared to doped HTMs. Today, studies are focusing on how to manage the interface between perovskite and P3HT and improve its hole mobility to achieve significant performance records in n–i–p PSCs. Herein, the advances of P3HT HTL are reviewed and light is shed on its different related approaches. Doping strategies and structural and molecular modifications to boost the hole mobility are reviewed. Interface engineering approaches to enhance the contact between perovskite and P3HT are discussed in detail. Moreover, incorporation in future PSC applications is investigated. Finally, a summary and a short outlook are provided.
Cognitive and psychological dysfunction is present after a first seizure, prior to epilepsy diagnosis and treatment at a First Seizure Clinic
Authors: Pugh Remy , Vaughan David N. , Jackson Graeme D. , Ponsford Jennie , Tailby Chris
Published: February 2024

Objective

Neuropsychological comorbidities found in chronic epilepsy have also been reported earlier in the disease course. However, recurrent seizures, antiseizure medication (ASM), and adjustment to a chronic diagnosis remain potential confounds of this literature. It thus remains unclear whether these comorbidities are primary or secondary attributes of epilepsy. To capture individuals as close to disease onset as possible, we studied the cognitive and psychological functioning in adults after their first seizure, yet prior to epilepsy diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Using a telehealth‐based prospective design, we screened cognition, mood, and anxiety symptoms in adult patients referred to a First Seizure Clinic (FSC), who were over 18 years, English‐speaking and not taking ASM. We screened cognition via telephone, and psychological symptoms via online questionnaires, all prior to the patients' diagnostic evaluation. Data were collected on 32 individuals subsequently diagnosed with epilepsy at the FSC, and 30 healthy controls from the community, who were matched to the epilepsy group for age, gender, and education.

Results

A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the groups differed significantly on combined cognitive measures with a large effect size (F[1,56] = 5.75, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.45). Post‐hoc analyses showed that performances on measures of verbal memory, working memory, and executive functions were significantly worse for the newly diagnosed epilepsy group than controls. The epilepsy group also exhibited higher rates of clinically significant depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Significance

Cognitive and psychological dysfunction is prevalent in people with epilepsy as early as the first seizure event, before the influence of diagnosis, ASM and recurrent seizures. Their neuropsychological profile parallels that seen in chronic epilepsy, showing that this dysfunction is already present at the very onset of the disease. The current study demonstrates the viability of telehealth neuropsychological screening for all new epilepsy cases.

Plain Language Statement

The results of this study show, using telephone‐based cognitive assessment and online questionnaires, that people with newly diagnosed epilepsy can experience problems with their thinking and memory skills, and low mood and anxiety, as early as after their first seizure. These issues are apparent at the very beginning of the disease, before an epilepsy diagnosis is made and before antiseizure medication is commenced, which suggests that they are due to the underlying brain disturbance, rather than the secondary effects of seizures, treatment, or lifestyle changes. Telehealth‐screening of thinking skills and mental health for all new epilepsy cases is recommended to promote early management of such problems.
Study on the influence of injection pressure and frequency on the deformation and damage law of the surrounding rock in the old cavity of salt mine
Authors: Zhang Huabin , Yue Xianru , BA Jinhong , Kang Yanpeng , YU Haoyi
Published: February 2024

The long‐term cyclic gas injection and production mode of the gas storage will lead to accelerated deformation of the surrounding rock of the old cavity, and even the instability and failure of the cavity. Considering the geological conditions and cavity measurement data of the old cavity of the horizontal butted‐well in China, the deformation and failure characteristics of the long‐term cyclic injection‐production process of the surrounding rock of the old cavity under different internal pressure difference and injection‐production frequency are studied. The long‐term stability of the gas storage is predicted by six indexes: the deformation of surrounding rock, dilatancy safety factor, volume shrinkage rate, plastic zone volume, equivalent strain, and no tensile stress. The results show that with the increase of operation duration and cycle times, the deformation, volume shrinkage rate, and plastic zone volume of the surrounding rock gradually increase after the old cavity is reconstructed into the gas storage and the difference of results under different UGS and CAES gradually expands. The stability of the surrounding rock of the old cavity under the cycle action of CAES will be lower. The number of cycles has a limited impact on the stability of the surrounding rock of the old cavity, while the operation duration and injection‐production pressure are the main determinants of the stability of the surrounding rock of the old cavity. If the old cavity of the salt mine is reconstructed into CAES, the parameters such as the number of cycles, the operation duration, and the injection‐production pressure still need to be considered comprehensively. The research results can provide reference value for the reasonable design of the gas storage pressure range of the old cavity and the safety and stability evaluation of the surrounding rock.
An evaluation of animal models for using bioactive compounds in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Tie Shanshan , Chen Yannan , Tan Mingqian
Published: February 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prevalent chronic relapsing‐remitting disease that affects the digestive tract and reduces patients’ quality of life. Food bioactive compounds are a promising approach for nutritional intervention of IBD with minimal side effects. To evaluate their potential, researchers have developed various animal models that simulate human IBD, including chemically induced, spontaneous, genetically engineered, and adoptive transfer models. In this work, the main animal models, pathogenesis, symptoms, strengths, and limitations of IBD were discussed. Although these models could not perfectly replicate human IBD, they provided useful tools to study the disease's progression and therapeutic processes. In addition, taking these IBD animals as models, the specific experimental methods, intervention results, and mechanisms of food bioactive compounds to prevent or treat IBD were described in detail. The continuous improvement of animal models is crucial to gain a better understanding of IBD's etiology and pathogenesis and to evaluate the efficacy of food bioactive compounds for the effective control of IBD.
Early warning system for currency crises using long short‐term memory and gated recurrent unit neural networks
Authors: Barthélémy Sylvain , Gautier Virginie , Rondeau Fabien
Published: February 2024

Currency crises, recurrent events in the economic history of developing, emerging, and developed countries, have disastrous economic consequences. This paper proposes an early warning system for currency crises using sophisticated recurrent neural networks, such as long short‐term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU). These models were initially used in language processing, where they performed well. Such models are increasingly being used in forecasting financial asset prices, including exchange rates, but they have not yet been applied to the prediction of currency crises. As for all recurrent neural networks, they allow for taking into account nonlinear interactions between variables and the influence of past data in a dynamic form. For a set of 68 countries including developed, emerging, and developing economies over the period of 1995–2020, LSTM and GRU outperformed our benchmark models. LSTM and GRU correctly sent continuous signals within a 2‐year warning window to alert for 91% of the crises. For the LSTM, false signals represent only 14% of the emitted signals compared with 23% for logistic regression, making it an efficient early warning system for policymakers.
Neuroimmune mechanisms connecting violence with internalizing symptoms: A high‐dimensional multimodal mediation analysis
Authors: Butler Ellyn R. , Samia Noelle , White Stuart , Gratton Caterina , Nusslock Robin
Published: February 2024

Violence exposure is associated with worsening anxiety and depression symptoms among adolescents. Mechanistically, social defeat stress models in mice indicate that violence increases peripherally derived macrophages in threat appraisal regions of the brain, which have been causally linked to anxious behavior. In the present study, we investigate if there is a path connecting violence exposure with internalizing symptom severity through peripheral inflammation and amygdala connectivity. Two hundred and thirty‐three adolescents, ages 12–15, from the Chicago area completed clinical assessments, immune assays and neuroimaging. A high‐dimensional multimodal mediation model was fit, using violence exposure as the predictor, 12 immune variables as the first set of mediators and 288 amygdala connectivity variables as the second set, and internalizing symptoms as the primary outcome measure. 56.2% of the sample had been exposed to violence in their lifetime. Amygdala–hippocampus connectivity mediated the association between violence exposure and internalizing symptoms (, ). There was no evidence that inflammation or inflammation and amygdala connectivity in tandem mediated the association. Considering the amygdala and the hippocampus work together to encode, consolidate, and retrieve contextual fear memories, violence exposure may be associated with greater connectivity between the amygdala and the hippocampus because it could be adaptive for the amygdala and the hippocampus to be in greater communication following violence exposure to facilitate evaluation of contextual threat cues. Therefore, chronic elevations of amygdala–hippocampal connectivity may indicate persistent vigilance that leads to internalizing symptoms.
Epidemiological study of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad province (Iran) from 2008 to 2021: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Faghihi Sayed H. , Azarbakhsh Habibollah , Piraee Elahe
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims

Viral hepatitis is one of the top five reasons people die from infections all around the world. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiological features of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad province.

Methods

The data were obtained via the census method from the registered hepatitis B and hepatitis C data in the reportable disease care system of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. The collected data are the result of serological tests. The χ2 test was used to evaluate the important risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The joinpoint regression was performed to investigate the trend of HBV and HCV in recent years.

Results

Here, 1270 cases of hepatitis B and C were identified and reported in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad province from 2008 to 2021. The median age of patients was 38 (interquartile range: 31–51), varying significantly according to the type of hepatitis. The most common hepatitis in males was hepatitis C and in females, hepatitis B. Regarding the place of residence, HBV and HCV were both more prevalent in urban areas. The age group of 25–34 years has the highest prevalence of HBV and HCV. According to the joinpoint regression analysis, there is a decrease in the 14‐year trend of incidence rate due to total hepatitis B and C: the annual percent change was −5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: −8.4 to −1.9, p = 0.005) for hepatitis B and −0.2% (95% CI: −10.7 to 11.6, p = 0.976) for hepatitis C.

Conclusion

This study shows the incidence rate of hepatitis B has been decreasing during the years of study but this trend has been stable for hepatitis C. Also, the highest number of cases of hepatitis B and C were reported in the age groups of 25–34 years. Hence, preventive interventions are vital in reducing the burden of these diseases.
Human epidermal growth receptor polymorphisms (HER1–rs11543848 and HER2–rs1136201) exhibited significant association with breast cancer risk in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Sombal Wafa , Khan Najeeb Ullah , Khan Bibi Maryam , Ismail Muhammad , Almutairi Mikhlid H. , Khan Samiullah , Khan Aakif Ullah , Mustafa Adeela , Iftikhar Bushra , Ali Ijaz
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. The genetic polymorphism in HER (HER1–rs11543848 and HER2–rs1136201) were found to be associated with breast cancer risk in different ethnicities worldwide with inconsistent results. The aim of this research study was to evaluate the association of HER1–rs11543848 and HER2–rs1136201 polymorphisms as a risk of breast cancer in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Methods

A total of 314 women including 164 breast cancer patients and 150 age and gender‐matched healthy controls were enrolled from June 2021 to May 2022. All the samples were subjected to DNA extraction followed by Tetra‐ARMS‐PCR for genotyping and gel electrophoresis.

Results

Our results indicated that HER1–rs11543848 risk allele A (p = 0.0001) and heterozygous genotype GA (p = 0.0001) displayed highly significant association with breast cancer, while the homozygous mutant genotype AA indicated association but nonsignificant results (odds ratio [OR] = 2.637, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2258–5.6756, p = 0.0833). Similarly, the HER2–rs1136201 risk allele G (p = 0.0023), the heterozygous genotype AG (p = 0.0530) and homozygous mutant genotype GG showed significant association (OR = 2.5946, 95% CI = 0.9876–6.8165, p = 0.0530) with breast cancer risk. Both the SNPs presented a higher but nonsignificant risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women (OR = 2.242, p = 0.08 and OR = 2.009, p = 0.06). However, both the SNPs showed significant association (p < 0.005) with family history, metastasis, stage, luminal B, and TNBC.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HER1–rs11543848 and HER2–rs1136201 polymorphisms are significantly associated with the higher risk of breast cancer in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. These findings advocate for further exploration with larger datasets, offering promising avenues for personalized approaches in breast cancer research and potentially enhancing clinical practices for better risk assessment and targeted management strategies.
Therapeutic potential of dihydroartemisinin in mitigating radiation‐induced lung injury: Inhibition of ferroptosis through Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways in mice
Authors: Ning Xin , Zhao Weidong , Wu Qiaoyuan , Wang Cailan , Liang Shixiong
Published: February 2024

Background

Radiation‐induced lung injury (RILI) is a common consequence of thoracic radiation therapy that lacks effective preventative and treatment strategies. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, affects oxidative stress, immunomodulation, and inflammation. It is uncertain whether DHA reduces RILI. In this work, we investigated the specific mechanisms of action of DHA in RILI.

Methods

Twenty‐four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups of six mice each: Control group, irradiation (IR) group, IR + DHA group, and IR + DHA + Brusatol group. The IR group received no interventions along with radiation treatment. Mice were killed 30 days after the irradiation. Morphologic and pathologic changes in lung tissue were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Detection of hydroxyproline levels for assessing the extent of pulmonary fibrosis. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), glutathione peroxidase (GPX4), Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) expression in lung tissues were detected. In addition, mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in lung tissues were also observed, and the glutathione (GSH) content in lung tissues was assessed.

Results

DHA attenuated radiation‐induced pathological lung injury and hydroxyproline levels. Additionally, it decreased TNF‐α and TGF‐β after irradiation. DHA may additionally stimulate the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway. DHA upregulated GPX4 and GSH levels and inhibited cellular ferroptosis. Brusatol reversed the inhibitory effect of DHA on ferroptosis and its protective effect on RILI.

Conclusion

DHA modulated the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway to prevent cellular ferroptosis, which reduced RILI. Therefore, DHA could be a potential drug for the treatment of RILI.
The role of the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis as potential inflammatory biomarkers in subjects with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review
Authors: Alarcón‐Sánchez Mario A. , Becerra‐Ruiz Julieta S. , Guerrero‐Velázquez Celia , Mosaddad Seyed A. , Heboyan Artak
Published: February 2024

Objective

This systematic review aimed to investigate the role of the C‐X3‐C motif ligand 1/chemokine receptor 1 C‐X3‐C motif (CX3CL1/CX3CR1) axis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Furthermore, as a secondary objective, we determine whether the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis could be considered complementary to clinical parameters to distinguish between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and/or systemically healthy subjects.

Methods

The protocol used for this review was registered in OSF (10.17605/OSF.IO/KU8FJ). This study was designed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. Records were identified using different search engines (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science) from August 10, 2006, to September 15, 2023. The observational studies on human subjects diagnosed with periodontitis and RA and/or systemically healthy were selected to analyze CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 biomarkers. The methodological validity of the selected articles was assessed using NIH.

Results

Six articles were included. Biological samples (gingival crevicular fluid [GCF], saliva, gingival tissue biopsies, serum) from 379 subjects (n = 275 exposure group and n = 104 control group) were analyzed. Higher CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 chemokine levels were found in subjects with periodontitis and RA compared with periodontal and systemically healthy subjects.

Conclusion

Very few studies highlight the role of the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis; however, increased levels of these chemokines are observed in different biological samples (GCF, gingival tissue, saliva, and serum) from subjects with periodontitis and RA compared with their healthy controls. Future studies should focus on long‐term follow‐up of subjects and monitoring changes in cytokine levels before and after periodontal therapy to deduce an appropriate interval in health and disease conditions.
Acute Phase Proteins in Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Childhood
Authors: Campbell C. A. , Walker‐Smith J. A. , Hindocha P. , Adinolfi M.
Published: February 2024

The serum levels of five acute phase proteins (APP) were measured in 18 children with Crohn's Disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) and in two control groups. The levels of C‐reactive protein, α1‐acid glycoprotein, α1‐antitrypsin, C9, and Factor B were significantly raised in patients with CD and UC with good separation from controls, but they were not entirely reliable used as screening tests unless used in combination. The levels of APP were monitored for periods varying from 18 to 28 months in each patient and found to reflect the disease activity in both CD and UC. On seven occasions the APP levels did not match the clinically assessed disease activity, but when the serum levels were related to outcome of the disease. C‐reactive protein was found to be elevated—whether or not there were symptoms of the disease—in all patients who later had a relapse, while normal values were found in those who had a long remission. These results suggest that the estimation of C‐reactive protein is of prognostic value and that its measurement is particularly useful in children with mild symptoms in whom disease activity and prognosis are difficult to assess.
Malnutrition in Infants with Acute Diarrheal Syndrome
Authors: Jalili Firooz , Fraley J. Kennard , O'Brian Smith E. , Nichols Veda N. , Klein E. Roseland , Mintz A. Aaron , Nichols Buford L.
Published: February 2024

The data from the charts of 109 infants who were younger than 9 months of age and who had been hospitalized with acute diarrheal syndrome in 1978 were compared with data from the charts of 108 healthy infants of the same age range with the same sex and ethnic distributions who were attending well‐child clinics serving the same geographic area during the same year. In a comparison of weight percentiles, 45.3% of the acute diarrheal syndrome patients and 11.3% of the well children were below the 10th percentile. When height percentiles were compared, 41.8% of the acute diarrheal syndrome patients and 15.3% of the well children were below the 10th percentile. The data indicate that malnutrition was a characteristic of infants with acute diarrheal syndrome who required hospitalization.
Lubricant Versus Laxative in the Treatment of Chronic Functional Constipation of Children
Authors: Sondheimer J. M. , Gervaise E. P.
Published: February 2024

The efficacy of two medications commonly used in treatment of chronic functional constipation of children (CFC) was compared. Thirty‐seven children (aged 3–12 years) with typical CFC were assigned at random to treatment with mineral oil or standardized senna concentrate (Senokot). The results of follow‐up evaluations at 1, 3, and greater than 6 months indicate that symptom control (fecal soiling and decreased stool frequency) was significantly better in mineral‐oil‐treated patients. At least one recurrence of symptoms occurred in 66% of mineral‐oil‐treated and 89% of Senokot‐treated patients. However, recurrences appeared later and less frequently in mineral‐oil‐treated patients. After 6 months, 55% of those treated with mineral oil had successfully discontinued regular medication. After 6 months, only 22% of Senokot‐treated patients had successfully discontinued medication, while an additional 33% had stopped taking medication because of poor symptom control.
Studies on the Cause of Hyperuricosuria in Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Niessen K. H. , Wolf A.
Published: February 2024

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the purine contents of 24 pancreatic enzyme preparations currently available in the Federal Republic of Germany were carried out; guanine, adenine, and hypoxanthine were demonstrated in all drugs examined. The contamination level per dosage unit ranged from 2 to 10 mg urate equivalents, which, after purine absorption and metabolism, must be excreted by the kidneys. Although the additional daily urate intake through the ingestion of pancreatic enzyme preparations was less than 70 mg in 16 of 18 cystic fibrosis patients, uric acid excretion was astoundingly high. Compared to the amount of urate excreted in the urine over a 24‐h period, urate intake through pancreatic enzyme preparations was so low that these drugs do not represent an important contributing factor for hyperuricosuria. A clear‐cut relationship could be demonstrated between the urinary urate concentration and the severity of the disease. The increased catabolism of these patients therefore is more likely the real cause of the hyperuricosuria demonstrable in most cases. Increased fluid intake and administration of allopurinol proved to be an extremely effective means of controlling hyperuricosuria; no side effects were observed.
Stimulation of Small Bowel Mucosal Growth by Midgut Infusion of Different Sugars in Rats Maintained by Total Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Weser Elliot , Vandeventer Ann , Tawil Tippy
Published: February 2024

Glucose infused into the gastrointestinal tract has been shown to prevent mucosal atrophy in animals maintained on total parenteral nutrition and to stimulate intestinal adaptation in remaining bowel after small bowel resection. In this study, several sugars absorbed by active and nonactive transport mechanisms were infused into mid‐small bowel and compared for their effects on mucosal mass. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (240 g) were maintained on total parenteral nutrition for 7 days. The mid‐small bowel was cannulated and continuously infused with a solution of either glucose (15%), fructose (15%). mannose (7.5%), mannitol (7.5%), or control (0.9% NaCl) at a rate of 2.4 ml/h. Similar studies were carried out after adding phlorizin (200 mg/100 ml) to the glucose and fructose solutions. After 7 days, rats were killed and the entire small bowel divided into eight equal segments. Segment weight, mucosal weight, DNA. and protein concentration per centimeter gut were measured. All rats gained in weight during the study period. Glucose and fructose midgut infusion significantly increased mucosal mass downstream from the site of infusion and also in remote proximal bowel segments. The addition of phlorizin to the glucose solution shifted the peak mucosal growth effects caudally. but did not have any effect when added to either fructose or control solutions. Despite lower concentrations, midgut infusion of mannose and mannitol also stimulated an increase in mucosal mass in proximal and distal segments. These studies indicate that midgut infusion of sugars absorbed by active transport (glucose), other carrier‐mediated transport (fructose), and nonactive limited transport (mannose. mannitol) stimulates mucosal growth locally and in remotely located proximal intestine. Direct contact, absorption, osmolality, and humoral factors may all be involved in these responses.
Does Breast Feeding Protect Against the Development of Clinical Symptoms of Celiac Disease in Children?
Authors: Auricchio Salvatore , Follo Daniela , de Ritis Giorgio , Giunta Annamaria , Marzorati Donata , Prampolini Luigia , Ansaldi Nicoletta , Levi Patrizia , Dall'Olio Domenico , Bossi Anna , Cortinovis Ivan , Marubini Ettore
Published: February 2024

A retrospective approach has been adopted to investigate the frequency and duration of breast feeding and the time of gluten introduction in the diet in 216 celiac children and their healthy siblings of three different centers—Naples, Milan, and Turin. In this matched case‐control study, the selected controls were healthy siblings of the cases. Children formula‐fed from birth, or breastfed for less than 30 days, were found to have a relative risk of developing symptoms of celiac disease four times higher than children breast‐fed for more than 30 days (p < 0.0001). To investigate more deeply the effect of the duration of breast feeding as a possible protecting factor, the linear trend for different periods of breast feeding was tested and found to be highly significant (G1: 18.3 with 1 df). Therefore, increased duration of breast feeding is associated with decreased risk of developing celiac symptoms. On the contrary, there was no apparent relationship between early introduction of gluten into the diet and frequency of celiac disease. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a wider diffusion of breast feeding is a factor underlying the recently reported decrease of the incidence of celiac disease in children.
Prospective Study of Fatty Acid Supplementation Over 3 Years in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Kusoffsky Eric , Strandvik Birgitta , Troell Staffan
Published: February 2024

Intravenous fatty acid supplementation (10% Intralipid®, 10 ml/kg body weight) was given to 10 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), in intervals for 3 years. One year of intensive treatment with supplementation every fortnight was followed by 1 year of intermission and then 1 year of the same treatment given for 2 days every 2 months. Compared with matched CF patients, the clinical course, evaluated by Shwachmann scoring, showed less deterioration in the treated group, especially during the year of intensive treatment. Single parameters, such as pulmonary function tests, pulmonary X‐ray films, clinical infections, bacterial growth of sputa, and sweat electrolyte concentration, showed no differences. It is concluded that if there is any benefit of this kind of treatment in CF, it has to be very intensive. At present, the psychological stress involved in repeated parenteral administrations over long periods prevents its use in clinical routine.
Effects of Conceptual Age and Dietary Intake on Protein Metabolism in Premature Infants
Authors: Nissim Itzhak , Yudkoff Marc , Pereira Gilberto , Segal Stanton
Published: February 2024

Protein turnover was studied in eight premature infants of conceptual age 26‐37 weeks. A stochastic model based upon [15N]urea or [15N]ammonia excretion following a single injection of [15N]glycine was used to estimate rates of whole body protein synthesis and catabolism. The urinary 3‐methylhistidine/creatinine ratio was determined to differentiate skeletal muscle protein breakdown from total protein catabolism. The rates of whole body protein synthesis ranged from 5.2 to 13.2 g·kg−1·day−1 and protein catabolism ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 g·kg−1·day−1. Linear regression analyses of conceptual age versus (a) whole body nitrogen flux, (b) protein synthesis, and (c) protein catabolism showed significant inverse relationships. A similar relationship obtained between conceptual age and the urine 3‐methylhistidine/creatinine ratio. Muscle protein breakdown did not vary with conceptual age, but the fraction of whole body protein breakdown derived from muscle protein breakdown increased significantly with advancing maturation. The ratio net tissue protein gain/total body protein synthesis increased significantly with increasing body weight. Net tissue protein gain appeared to be directly related to protein and caloric intake. The ratio of the rate of whole body protein synthesis and protein intake was greatest in the youngest infants and declined with maturation. A similar relationship was not found between the ratio of protein synthesis and caloric intake and the degree of maturity. More than 90% of nitrogen entering the metabolic pool was used for protein synthesis and more than 50% of calories administered were similarly utilized. We conclude that: (a) protein turnover in premature infants is far more rapid than in term infants, children, or adults and is inversely related to conceptual age; (b) muscle protein turnover constitutes a greater fraction of overall turnover with advancing maturity; (c) energy and protein intake affect net tissue protein gain significantly in rapidly growing infants; and (d) the efficiency of protein synthesis as a function of protein intake is higher in the most immature infants.
Microvilli‐ and Desmosome‐Associated Bodies in Crohn's Disease and Other Disorders in Childhood
Authors: Lewis D. , Walker‐Smith J. A. , Phillips A. D.
Published: February 2024

Ultrastructural studies of the small and large intestine from children revealed five cases showing abnormal small electron‐dense bodies within enterocytes and goblet cells. The characteristic features of the bodies were: (a) they occurred within microvilli and within the apical part of the cell cytoplasm; (b) they showed an association with the most apically located desmosomes of the epithelial cells; (c) in the microvilli they were present within protrusions of the membrane, suggesting that they may bud out of the cell; and (d) they were not membrane‐bound within the cell but were found outside the cell as luminal, membrane‐bound particles. These bodies occurred in two children with Crohn's disease and in three children having other gastrointestinal disorders. Similar electron‐dense bodies which did not have all of the characteristics listed above were found in a sixth child who had Crohn's disease. These electron‐dense bodies do not resemble any known inclusion of intestinal epithelium, nor do they resemble any previously described microorganism, although their apparent release from the cell by a process of budding is suggestive of a microbial identity. The occurrence of these bodies in childhood Crohn's disease suggests that they may be disease‐related, but their precise nature and relevance to this or other gastrointestinal disorders remain unknown.
Effect of Exogenous Corticosteroid Therapy on Growth in Children with HBSAg‐Negative Chronic Aggressive Hepatitis
Authors: Clark Joseph H. , Fitzgerald Joseph F.
Published: February 2024

The effect of exogenous corticosteroid therapy on growth was studied in 12 patients with HBS Agnegative chronic aggressive hepatitis. All patients were less than 13 years of age at diagnosis and were free of cirrhosis. The patients' growth records were retrospectively reviewed for incremental growth changes while they were receiving daily prednisone and alternate‐day prednisone, as well as for 1 year after the cessation of therapy. These values were compared with age‐matched growth velocities in normal children. Daily steroid therapy was associated with a reduction in growth velocity (p < 0.01). There was an acceleration in growth velocity during the period of alternate‐day therapy, compared with predicted values (p < 0.03), which persisted during the 1st year after therapy was discontinued (p < 0.02). Nine of 12 patients crossed growth percentiles during steroid therapy. We have confirmed that daily steroid administration is associated with a reduction in linear growth, while alternate‐day therapy has an apparent positive effect on growth, presumably through control of the underlying disease. The mechanism of this supranormal growth rate is unclear.
Intestinal and Pulmonary Cryptosporidiosis in an Infant with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency
Authors: Kocoshis Samuel A. , Cibull Michael L. , Davis Thomas E. , Hinton Jeffrey T. , Seip Michael , Banwell John G.
Published: February 2024

Small intestinal biopsy established the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in a 6‐month‐old male infant with severe combined immune deficiency. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the ultrastructural details of Cryptosporidium in several stages of development within the patient's small intestine. The organism was resistant to all antibiotics used, and the patient died in the 5th month of his illness, despite receiving parenteral alimentation and undergoing thymus trans‐plantation. His clinical course was similar to that of other patients with fatal immune deficiencies and cryptosporidiosis. Autopsy demonstrated organisms attacking the epithelium of the small intestine, pancreatic duct, and bronchioles. Multiple organ involvement in this patient negates the view that Cryptosporidium is site‐specific for a given host or is alimentary‐canal‐specific in humans.
Free Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin as an Index of Perinatal Iron Status
Authors: Chong S. K. F. , Thompson M. J. , Shaw J. E. H. , Barltrop D.
Published: February 2024

The relationship between free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and conventional indices of iron status was studied in 49 mothers and their infants. Maternal venous blood samples were collected at 34 weeks gestation and at delivery. The corresponding infant blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord and at age 6 weeks. In each case free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin were determined. Cord free erythrocyte protoporphyrin was negatively correlated with maternal ferritin at 34 weeks gestation (p = 0.016) and at delivery (p = 0.014), and with transferrin saturation at delivery (p = 0.026). The infants' haemoglobin concentrations at 6 weeks were significantly negatively related to maternal free erythrocyte protoporphyrin at 34 weeks (p = 0.026) and at delivery (p = 0.026). Cord free erythrocyte protoporphyrin is an index of maternal iron status in the last trimester. Maternal free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in the last trimester predicts the magnitude of physiological anaemia of the infant at age 6 weeks.
Comparison of Two Feeding Regimens Following Acute Gastroenteritis in Infancy
Authors: Placzek M. , Walker‐Smith J. A.
Published: February 2024

Forty‐eight children below 18 months of age suffering from acute gastroenteritis were given a glucose‐electrolyte mixture (GEM) for the first 24 h following hospital admission. They were then allocated alternately to the study group which immediately went back to full‐strength cow's milk feeds, or to the control group to which milk was reintroduced gradually over a 4‐day period. The majority of infants in both groups had an uncomplicated recovery (70 and 96%, respectively). A complicated recovery, however, occurred more commonly in the study group. Seven patients in this group, compared with only one in the control group, had an immediate recurrence of symptoms of such severity that a return to intravenous fluids or the GEM was necessary. These complications were confined to those less than 9 months of age. It is concluded that children over 9 months of age with acute gastroenteritis may be given full‐strength milk immediately after 24 h of treatment with a glucose‐electrolyte solution, but for children under 9 months the conventional regrading over several days should be retained.
Pneumococcal Meningitis Following Parenteral Alimentation in Infants
Authors: Berant Moshe , Alon Uri
Published: February 2024

Three young infants with protracted diarrhea and malnutrition were successfully treated by means of intravenous nutrition, which included infusions of fat emulsion (Intralipid) and of fresh frozen plasma. Three to five weeks after termination of intravenous feeding, and after full recovery, they developed pneumococcal septicemia and meningitis. One infant died, and postmortem examination showed diffuse deposition of “intravenous fat pigment” in hepatocytes and in reticuloendothelial cells. In the two infants who recovered, follow‐up studies did not disclose any primary derangement of immunologic function. We propose that the infused fat may have caused a temporary depression of immunologic defense mechanisms, predisposing these infants to the pneumococcal infection; the delay in onset of the infection might be attributed to a short‐lasting protective effect of fresh frozen plasma which was included in the intravenous feeding regimen.
Macromolecular Transport in Jejunal Mucosa of Children with Severe Malnutrition
Authors: Heyman Martine , Boudraa Ghazalia , Sarrut Suzanne , Giraud Maud , Evans Lynleigh , Touhami Mahmoud , Desjeux Jehan‐François
Published: February 2024

Small intestinal permeability to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was assessed in jejunal biopsies of malnourished children. Clinical examination, intestinal function (D‐xylose test), and the histological appearance of the mucosa were assessed in 14 children during the malnutrition phase and in eight children after 3 months of nutritional rehabilitation. Macromolecular permeability was evaluated by measuring transepithelial HRP fluxes from mucosa to serosa (J) using Ussing chambers. In‐tact HRP transport, i.e., nondegraded protein transport, was measured by enzyme assay, and tritiated HRP was concomitantly used to measure intact and degraded HRP fluxes (J). Electrical parameters (short‐circuit current, potential difference, and ionic conductance) were also recorded. Transepithelial HRP fluxes were significantly higher during malnutrition (J = 8.85 ± 1.44; J = 77.11 ± 10.66 pmol h−1 ± cm−2) than in the same children after 3 months of nutritional rehabilitation (J = 2.94 ± 1.10; J = 22.93 ± 8.15 pmol ± h−1 ± cm−2). The total ionic conductance, which is an index of paracellular permeability, did not change significantly. Calculated intratissue degradation of the protein did not appear to alter during malnutrition. These results point to a clinical situation in which malnutrition with diarrhea in children is associated with increased intestinal permeability to macromolecules by a mechanism not related to any paracellular leak of the protein, but rather to increased transcellular absorption.
Fatty Liver and Its Fibrous Changes Found in Simple Obesity of Children
Authors: Kinugasa Akihiko , Tsunamoto Kentaro , Furukawa Nobuaki , Sawada Tadashi , Kusunoki Tomoichi , Shimada Nobuo
Published: February 2024

Of 299 obese children who visited our obesity clinics, 36 were found to have elevated levels of serum transaminases by routine laboratory examination. Liver biopsy was carried out in 11 children. Based on the criteria of Adler and Schaffner (1979), the biopsy specimens were studied histologically. As a result, fatty liver (Group I) was observed in three patients, fatty hepatitis (Group II) in two, fatty fibrosis (Group III) in five, and fatty cirrhosis (Group IV) in one. The duration of obesity, but not its degree, was considered to be related to the extent of fibrosis. Accordingly, we concluded that the fatty liver of simple obesity in children may progress to liver cirrhosis and that childhood obesity shoud be treated as early as possible.
Manometric Guidance in Suction Biopsy of the Esophagus in Children
Authors: Whitington Peter F. , Orenstein Susan R.
Published: February 2024

Esophageal histological observation is the most reliable indicator of esophagitis. Biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopic grasp forceps are sometimes inadequate for histologic evaluation, and established methods for determining the location of suction biopsies have been imprecise or inconvenient. A method was developed employing manometric control to locate the site of suction biopsies performed with the Quinton multipurpose suction biopsy instrument. With the use of this technique, biopsies were performed in 40 children without failure and without complication.
Transport of Electrolytes, Water, and Glucose in Zinc Deficiency
Authors: Ghishan Fayez K.
Published: February 2024

Zinc deficiency in humans and animals results in failure to thrive, skin lesions, loss of hair, and diarrhea. The mechanism underlying the diarrhea seen in zinc deficiency is not known. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate net transport of water, electrolytes, and glucose from segments of small and large intestine in zinc‐deficient, pair‐fed control, and ad libitumfed rats. An in vivo single‐pass perfusion study was used. The results indicate that net water and sodium transport from the small and large intestine of zinc‐deficient rats was significantly decreased compared to corresponding mean values for pair‐fed controls and for ad libitum‐fed rats. Net absorption of glucose and net secretion of potassium were not significantly different in the three groups. The results are in agreement with previous investigations showing decreased sodium transport in leukocytes and renal tubules of zinc‐deficient animals and suggest that zinc may have a role in modulating membrane permeability.
Aspirin in Acute Gastroenteritis
Authors: Gracey Michael , Phadke Mrudula A. , Burke Valerie , Raut S. K. , Singh B.
Published: February 2024

Soluble aspirin given by mouth in divided dosage decreased intestinal fluid loss in infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis. The treated group had significantly less diarrhea, which ceased earlier and needed less intravenous therapy, than a randomly selected control group given an indistinguishable placebo. This effect of aspirin occurred with diarrhea caused by Salmonella, Aeromonas, Escherichia coli producing heat‐labile toxin, and rotavirus, but not with diarrhea associated with strains of E. coli producing heat‐stable toxin.
Hepatic Aluminum Accumulation in Children on Total Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Klein Gordon L. , Berquist William E. , Ament Marvin E. , Coburn Jack W. , Miller Nancy L. , Alfrey Allen C.
Published: February 2024

Five children receiving long‐term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) containing casein hydrolysate as the protein source underwent percutaneous liver biopsies because of the development of cholestasis and abnormal liver function tests. All five demonstrated moderate to severe histopathologic changes. In addition, hepatic aluminum content was determined to be markedly elevated in all cases. Although the hepatotoxicity of aluminum is as yet undetermined, deposition of other metals has been associated with liver damage, and aluminum has been associated with pathology in other tissues. Thus, the possibility that aluminum deposition may play a role in the pathogenesis or exacerbate the course of liver dysfunction associated with TPN should be considered.