bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malignant mesothelioma tumours: molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapies accompanying clinical studies
Authors: Sahu Ram Kumar , Ruhi Sakina , Jeppu Ashok Kumar , Al-Goshae Husni Ahmed , Syed Ayesha , Nagdev Sanjay , Widyowati Retno , Ekasari Wiwied , Khan Jiyauddin , Bhattacharjee Bedanta , Goyal Manoj , Bhattacharya Sankha , Jangde Rajendra K.
Published: July 2023

The pathetic malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a extremely uncommon and confrontational tumor that evolves in the mesothelium layer of the pleural cavities (inner lining- visceral pleura and outer lining- parietal pleura), peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis and is highly resistant to standard treatments. In mesothelioma, the predominant pattern of lesions is a loss of genes that limit tumour growth. Despite the worldwide ban on the manufacture and supply of asbestos, the prevalence of mesothelioma continues to increase. Mesothelioma presents and behaves in a variety of ways, making diagnosis challenging. Most treatments available today for MM are ineffective, and the median life expectancy is between 10 and 12 months. However, in recent years, considerable progress has already been made in understanding the genetics and molecular pathophysiology of mesothelioma by addressing hippo signaling pathway. The development and progression of MM are related to many important genetic alterations. This is related to NF2 and/or LATS2 mutations that activate the transcriptional coactivator YAP. The X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans are used to diagnose the MM. The MM are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, first-line combination chemotherapy, second-line treatment, radiation therapy, adoptive T-cell treatment, targeted therapy, and cancer vaccines. Recent clinical trials investigating the function of surgery have led to the development of innovative approaches to the treatment of associated pleural effusions as well as the introduction of targeted medications. An interdisciplinary collaborative approach is needed for the effective care of persons who have mesothelioma because of the rising intricacy of mesothelioma treatment. This article highlights the key findings in the molecular pathogenesis of mesothelioma, diagnosis with special emphasis on the management of mesothelioma.
Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: could durvalumab be safe and effective in real-life clinical scenarios? Results of a single-center experience
Authors: Borghetti Paolo , Volpi Giulia , Facheris Giorgio , Cossali Gianluca , Mataj Eneida , La Mattina Salvatore , Singh Navdeep , Imbrescia Jessica , Bonù Marco Lorenzo , Tomasini Davide , Vitali Paola , Greco Diana , Bezzi Michela , Melotti Flavia , Benvenuti Mauro , Borghesi Andrea , Grisanti Salvatore , Buglione di Monale e Bastia Michela
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The standard of care for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by consolidation durvalumab as shown in the PACIFIC trial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes and toxicities regarding the use of durvalumab in a real clinical scenario.

Methods

A single-center retrospective study was conducted on patients with a diagnosis of unresectable stage III NSCLC who underwent radical CRT followed or not by durvalumab. Tumor response after CRT, pattern of relapse, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity profile were investigated.

Results

Eighty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 67 years (range 45–82 years). Fifty-two patients (61.2%) started sequential therapy with durvalumab. The main reason for excluding patients from the durvalumab treatment was the expression of PD-L1 < 1%. Only two patients presented a grade 4 or 5 pneumonitis. A median follow-up (FU) of 20 months has been reached. Forty-five patients (52.9%) had disease progression, and 21 (24.7%) had a distant progression. The addition of maintenance immunotherapy confirmed a clinical benefit in terms of OS and PFS. Two-year OS and PFS were respectively 69.4% and 54.4% in the durvalumab group and 47.9% and 24.2% in the no-durvalumab group (p = 0.015, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

In this real-world study, patients treated with CRT plus durvalumab showed clinical outcomes and toxicities similar to the PACIFIC results. Maintenance immunotherapy after CRT has been shown to be safe and has increased the survival of patients in clinical practice.
A radiomics nomogram based on contrast-enhanced CT for preoperative prediction of Lymphovascular invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Yating , Bai Genji , Huang Wei , Zhang Hui , Chen Wei
Published: July 2023

Background and purpose

To develop a radiomics nomogram based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for preoperative prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Materials and methods

The clinical and imaging data of 258 patients with ESCC who underwent surgical resection and were confirmed by pathology from June 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical imaging features and radiomic features were extracted from arterial-phase CECT. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used for radiomics feature selection and signature construction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a radiomics nomogram prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance and clinical effectiveness of the model in preoperative prediction of LVI status.

Results

We constructed a radiomics signature based on eight radiomics features after dimensionality reduction. In the training cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) of radiomics signature was 0.805 (95% CI: 0.740-0.860), and in the validation cohort it was 0.836 (95% CI: 0.735-0.911). There were four predictive factors that made up the individualized nomogram prediction model: radiomic signatures, TNRs, tumor lengths, and tumor thicknesses.The accuracy of the nomogram for LVI prediction in the training and validation cohorts was 0.790 and 0.768, respectively, the specificity was 0.800 and 0.618, and the sensitivity was 0.786 and 0.917, respectively. The Delong test results showed that the AUC value of the nomogram model was significantly higher than that of the clinical model and radiomics model in the training and validation cohort(P<0.05). DCA results showed that the radiomics nomogram model had higher overall benefits than the clinical model and the radiomics model.

Conclusions

This study proposes a radiomics nomogram based on CECT radiomics signature and clinical image features, which is helpful for preoperative individualized prediction of LVI status in ESCC.
Effectiveness of topical gabapentin in the treatment of vulvodynia: a narrative synthesis
Authors: Ergisi Mehmet , Law Alexander , Chaudhari Nishant , Tsatsari Stefania , Lawson Kim , Jenner Christopher
Published: July 2023

Vulvodynia is a leading cause of dyspareunia in premenopausal women, causing considerable morbidity and sexual dysfunction. A multimodal approach is used to treat vulvodynia. Alongside psychosocial interventions and physiotherapy, pharmacological treatment such as oral gabapentin are used in the treatment of vulvodynia. Topical formulations of gabapentin have shown promise in animal models and case reports investigating its use in other pain conditions. The topical route also avoids the systemic complications of gabapentin such as somnolence, dizziness, and peripheral edema. This study aimed to perform a narrative synthesis of studies investigating the use of topical gabapentin in the treatment of vulvodynia. The primary outcome was a change in pain score following treatment with topical gabapentin. A broad literature search was performed, which identified four studies for inclusion. The included studies reported improved pain measures following treatment; however, conclusions cannot be made due to methodological heterogeneity and inherent limitations. These include lack of control arms, small sample sizes, lack of patient randomization, and use of combination treatments. Due to the paucity of evidence, this review supports the future implementation of double-blind randomized controlled trials to further investigate the efficacy of topical gabapentin in the treatment of vulvodynia.
Mesenchymal stem cells and pulmonary fibrosis: a bibliometric and visualization analysis of literature published between 2002 and 2021
Authors: Yang Yanli , Chen Yu , Liu Yang , Ning Zongdi , Zhang Zhaoliang , Zhang Yan , Xu Ke , Zhang Liyun
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a severe disease that can lead to respiratory failure and even death. However, currently there is no effective treatment available for patients with PF. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recently shown to have therapeutic potential for PF. We analyzed the literature focused of MSCs and PF to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between MSCs and PF.

Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection database for literature from 2002 through 2021 that involved MSCs and PF. The included studies were then analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewers software.

Results: A total of 1,457 studies were included for analysis. Our findings demonstrated the following: 1) an increasing trend of MSC and PF research; 2) among the 54 countries/regions of author affiliations, the United States was the most frequent, and the University of Michigan (n = 64, 2.8%) was the top institution; 3) Rojas Mauricio published the most articles and PLOS ONE had the most related studies; and 4) keywords, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, mesenchymal stem cells, and systemic sclerosis, were listed more than 100 times, indicating the research trend. Other common keywords, such as inflammation, myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, aging, telomerase or telomere, and extracellular matrix demonstrate research interests in the corresponding mechanisms.1) The number of publications focused on MSCs and PF research increased during the study period; 2) Among the 54 countries/regions of author affiliations, most articles were published in the United States of America, and the University of Michigan (n = 64, 2.8%) had the largest number of publications; 3) Rojas Mauricio published the most articles and PLOS ONE had the most related studies; 4) Keywords, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, MSCs, and systemic sclerosis, were listed more than 100 times, representing a research trend. Other common keywords included inflammation, myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, aging, telomerase or telomere, and extracellular matrix.

Discussion: During the past 2 decades, MSCs have been proposed to play an important role in PF treatment. An increasing amount of literature focused on MSCs and PF research has been published. Our findings provide insight into the current status and research trends in the field of MSCs and PF research during the past 2 decades, which could help researchers understand necessary research directions. In the future, more preclinical and clinical studies should be conducted in this field to support the application of MSCs in the treatment of PF.
Effect of Chinese herbal medicine injections for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Ziqing , Lu Jie , Ou Jiaxin , Yu Jingjie , Lu Chuanjian
Published: July 2023

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a longstanding, inflammatory, immune-responsive skin condition. Chinese herbal medicine injections (CHMIs) have been utilized for treating PV in Asian countries. This study aims to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis to comprehensively appraise the efficacy of CHMIs in treating PV.

Methods: Seven databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of CHMIs in treating PV, ranging from 2004 to June 2022. The meta-analysis was undertaken based on outcome measures, treatment options, and treatment durations using Review Manager 5.4. The primary outcome measure of this study was a 60% or higher reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 60). A descriptive analysis was performed for the assessment of adverse events.

Results: This systematic review incorporated 33 studies, comprising 3,059 participants. The main findings indicated significant differences based on the PASI 60 (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.37, Z = 10.72, p < 0.00001), PASI 30 (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.38, Z = 4.48, p < 0.00001), and PASI 20 (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.45, Z = 3.82, p = 0.0001) outcome measures. Evaluating the treatment options, CHMIs in combination with monotherapies like narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) and the acitretin capsule (AC) showed a greater reduction in PASI 60 (RR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.43, Z = 8.32, p < 0.00001). In terms of treatment duration, no significant difference was observed when the duration extended beyond 56 days. Furthermore, the results suggested that CHMIs might reduce the incidence of adverse events in the treatment of PV.

Conclusion: This systematic review revealed preliminary clinical evidence supporting the use of CHMIs for treating PV, considering outcome measures, treatment options, and treatment durations. However, due to the low methodological quality and limited sample size of the included studies, there is an urgent need for high-quality, multi-center and larger-scale studies of CHMIs for PV to provide robust evidence for their clinical application.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=326531], identifier [CRD42022326531].
Bibliometric and visual analysis in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer from 2002 to 2022
Authors: Bai Facheng , Huang Zhenguang , Luo Jun , Qiu Yue , Huang Shuwen , Huang Chenglong , Liu Taotao , Zhang Hongliang , Wang Dandan
Published: July 2023

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used as a complementary treatment for cancer patients, but there has been no quantitative comprehensive analysis of TCM’s efficacy. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current status and hotspots of TCM in cancer research from 2002 to 2022 and to provide a reference for future research.

Methods: We retrieved articles published between 2002 and 2022 from the Web of Science database and analyzed them using R software, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software.

Results: A total of 7,129 articles were included in this study. The publication rate of TCM cancer research increased steadily from 2002 to 2022, with a rapid increase from 2010 to 2021. China was the country with the most published articles, followed by the United States, Republic of Korea, Germany, and Japan. China was also the country with the most international collaborations, and China Medical University and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were the most representative cooperation centers. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology was the most published and cited journal. Apoptosis, expression, in vitro, activation, and other related keywords were commonly used in these articles. Breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer were the most studied cancer types in TCM research. Pathway-related apoptosis, anti-inflammation, and oxidative stress were the hotspots and trends of TCM’s anti-cancer mechanism. Metabolomics combined with network pharmacology was the main research method.

Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine as an anti-cancer drug has received increasing attention from researchers worldwide, and it is expected to be a hotspot for developing new anti-cancer drugs in the future. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and hotspots of TCM cancer research, which could serve as a valuable reference for future studies.
Drug like HSP27 cross linkers with chromenone structure ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Yoo Young Jo , Jeon Seulgi , Jin Hee , Won Hee Yeon , Jeong Mi Gyeong , Cho Yeseul , Hwang Eun Sook , Na Younghwa , Cho Jaeho , Lee Yun-Sil
Published: July 2023

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive lung disease characterized by fibroblast accumulation and collagen deposition, resulting in lung scarring and impaired gas exchange. Current treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have limited efficacy and significant side effects. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for PF due to its involvement in fibrotic processes. However, effective HSP27 inhibitors for PF treatment are still lacking.

Methods: To assess the anti-fibrotic effects of NA49, we utilized murine PF models induced by radiation (IR) or bleomycin (BLM). We administered NA49 to the PF mice and evaluated its impact on lung fibrosis progression. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying NA49's effects, focusing on its inhibition of EMT-related signaling pathways.

Results: In our study, we evaluated the potential of a novel HSP27 inhibitor, NA49, in preclinical models of PF. NA49 effectively suppressed PF development in radiation and bleomycin-induced PF models. It reduced fibrosis, inhibited NFkB signaling, and downregulated EMT-related molecules. Importantly, we evaluated the safety profile of NA49 by assessing its impact on DNA strand breakage. Compared to previous HSP27 inhibitors, NA49 showed lower levels of DNA damage in human lung epithelial cells, and suggests that NA49 may have reduced toxicity compared to other HSP27 inhibitors. Overall, our results demonstrate that NA49 effectively inhibits PF development in preclinical models. It reduces lung fibrosis, inhibits EMT-related signaling pathways, and exhibits improved safety profiles. These findings highlight the potential of NA49 as a promising candidate for the treatment of PF.

Conclusion: NA49 exhibited significant anti-fibrotic effects, inhibiting fibrosis development and EMT-related signaling pathways. Moreover, NA49 showed improved safety profiles compared to previous HSP27 inhibitors.
A hyperspectral plant health monitoring system for space crop production
Authors: Qin Jianwei , Monje Oscar , Nugent Matthew R. , Finn Joshua R. , O’Rourke Aubrie E. , Wilson Kristine D. , Fritsche Ralph F. , Baek Insuck , Chan Diane E. , Kim Moon S.
Published: July 2023

Compact and automated sensing systems are needed to monitor plant health for NASA’s controlled-environment space crop production. A new hyperspectral system was designed for early detection of plant stresses using both reflectance and fluorescence imaging in visible and near-infrared (VNIR) wavelength range (400–1000 nm). The prototype system mainly includes two LED line lights providing VNIR broadband and UV-A (365 nm) light for reflectance and fluorescence measurement, respectively, a line-scan hyperspectral camera, and a linear motorized stage with a travel range of 80 cm. In an overhead sensor-to-sample arrangement, the stage translates the lights and camera over the plants to acquire reflectance and fluorescence images in sequence during one cycle of line-scan imaging. System software was developed using LabVIEW to realize hardware parameterization, data transfer, and automated imaging functions. The imaging unit was installed in a plant growth chamber at NASA Kennedy Space Center for health monitoring studies for pick-and-eat salad crops. A preliminary experiment was conducted to detect plant drought stress for twelve Dragoon lettuce samples, of which half were well-watered and half were under-watered while growing. A machine learning method using an optimized discriminant classifier based on VNIR reflectance spectra generated classification accuracies over 90% for the first four days of the stress treatment, showing great potential for early detection of the drought stress on lettuce leaves before any visible symptoms and size differences were evident. The system is promising to provide useful information for optimization of growth environment and early mitigation of stresses in space crop production.
Improving the monitoring of root zone soil salinity under vegetation cover conditions by combining canopy spectral information and crop growth parameters
Authors: Shi Xiaoyan , Song Jianghui , Wang Haijiang , Lv Xin , Tian Tian , Wang Jingang , Li Weidi , Zhong Mingtao , Jiang Menghao
Published: July 2023

Soil salinization is one of the main causes of land degradation in arid and semi-arid areas. Timely and accurate monitoring of soil salinity in different areas is a prerequisite for amelioration. Hyperspectral technology has been widely used in soil salinity monitoring due to its high efficiency and rapidity. However, vegetation cover is an inevitable interference in the direct acquisition of soil spectra during crop growth period, which greatly limits the monitoring of soil salinity by remote sensing. Due to high soil salinity could lead to difficulty in plants’ water absorption, and inhibit plant dry matter accumulation, a method for monitoring root zone soil salinity by combining vegetation canopy spectral information and crop aboveground growth parameters was proposed in this study. The canopy spectral information was acquired by a spectroradiometer, and then variable importance in projection (VIP), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and random frog algorithm (RFA) were used to extract the salinity spectral features in cotton canopy spectrum. The extracted features were then used to estimate root zone soil salinity in cotton field by combining with cotton plant height, aboveground biomass, and shoot water content. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between plant height/aboveground biomass/shoot water content and soil salinity in 0-20, 0-40, and 0-60 cm soil layers at different growth stages of cotton. Spectral feature selection by the three methods all improved the prediction accuracy of soil salinity, especially CARS. The prediction accuracy based on the combination of spectral features and cotton growth parameters was significantly higher than that based on only spectral features, with R2 increasing by 10.01%, 18.35%, and 29.90% for the 0-20, 0-40, and 0-60 cm soil layer, respectively. The model constructed based on the first derivative spectral preprocessing, spectral feature selection by CARS, cotton plant height, and shoot water content had the highest accuracy for each soil layer, with R2 of 0.715,0.769, and 0.742 for the 0-20, 0-40, 0-60 cm soil layer, respectively. Therefore, the method by combining cotton canopy hyperspectral data and plant growth parameters could significantly improve the prediction accuracy of root zone soil salinity under vegetation cover conditions. This is of great significance for the amelioration of saline soil in salinized farmlands arid areas.
Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of Schisandra repanda and Kadsura japonica
Authors: Lee Hyo Ju , Lee Yi , Lee Sang-Choon , Kim Chang-Kug , Kang Ji-Nam , Kwon Soo-Jin , Kang Sang-Ho
Published: July 2023

The family Schisandraceae is a basal angiosperm plant group distributed in East and Southeast Asia and includes many medicinal plant species such as Schisandra chinensis. In this study, mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two species, Schisandra repanda and Kadsura japonica, in the family were characterized through de novo assembly using sequencing data obtained with Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing technologies. The mitogenomes of S. repanda were assembled into one circular contig (571,107 bp) and four linear contigs (10,898–607,430 bp), with a total of 60 genes: 38 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 19 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. The mitogenomes of K. japonica were assembled into five circular contigs (211,474–973,503 bp) and three linear contigs (8,010–72,712 bp), with a total of 66 genes: 44 PCGs, 19 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. The mitogenomes of the two species had complex structural features with high repeat numbers and chloroplast-derived sequences, as observed in other plant mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis based on PCGs revealed the taxonomical relationships of S. repanda and K. japonica with other species from Schisandraceae. Finally, molecular markers were developed to distinguish between S. repanda, K. japonica, and S. chinensis on the basis of InDel polymorphisms present in the mitogenomes. The mitogenomes of S. repanda and K. japonica will be valuable resources for molecular and taxonomic studies of plant species that belong to the family Schisandraceae.
Genome-wide analysis of genetic diversity in a germplasm collection including wild relatives and interspecific clones of garden asparagus
Authors: Sala Tea , Puglisi Damiano , Ferrari Luisa , Salamone Filippo , Tassone Maria Rosaria , Rotino Giuseppe Leonardo , Fricano Agostino , Losa Alessia
Published: July 2023

The Asparagus genus includes approximately 240 species, the most important of which is garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), as this is a vegetable crop cultivated worldwide for its edible spear. Along with garden asparagus, other species are also cultivated (e.g., Asparagus maritimus L.) or have been proposed as untapped sources of variability in breeding programs (e.g., Asparagus acutifolius L.). In the present work, we applied reduced-representation sequencing to examine a panel of 378 diverse asparagus genotypes, including commercial hybrids, interspecific lines, wild relatives of garden asparagus, and doubled haploids currently used in breeding programs, which enabled the identification of more than 200K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs were used to assess the extent of linkage disequilibrium in the diploid gene pool of asparagus and combined with preliminary phenotypic information to conduct genome-wide association studies for sex and traits tied to spear quality and production. Moreover, using the same phenotypic and genotypic information, we fitted and cross-validated genome-enabled prediction models for the same set of traits. Overall, our analyses demonstrated that, unlike the diversity detected in wild species related to garden asparagus and in interspecific crosses, cultivated and wild genotypes of A. officinalis L. show a narrow genetic basis, which is a contributing factor hampering the genetic improvement of this crop. Estimating the extent of linkage disequilibrium and providing the first example of genome-wide association study and genome-enabled prediction in this species, we concluded that the asparagus panel examined in the present study can lay the foundation for determination of the genetic bases of agronomically important traits and for the implementation of predictive breeding tools to sustain breeding.
Pathogenesis-related protein 10 in resistance to biotic stress: progress in elucidating functions, regulation and modes of action
Authors: Lopes Natasha dos Santos , Santos Ariana Silva , de Novais Diogo Pereira Silva , Pirovani Carlos Priminho , Micheli Fabienne
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The Family of pathogenesis-related proteins 10 (PR-10) is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. PR-10 are multifunctional proteins, constitutively expressed in all plant tissues, playing a role in growth and development or being induced in stress situations. Several studies have investigated the preponderant role of PR-10 in plant defense against biotic stresses; however, little is known about the mechanisms of action of these proteins. This is the first systematic review conducted to gather information on the subject and to reveal the possible mechanisms of action that PR-10 perform.

Methods

Therefore, three databases were used for the article search: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. To avoid bias, a protocol with inclusion and exclusion criteria was prepared. In total, 216 articles related to the proposed objective of this study were selected.

Results

The participation of PR-10 was revealed in the plant’s defense against several stressor agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes and insects, and studies involving fungi and bacteria were predominant in the selected articles. Studies with combined techniques showed a compilation of relevant information about PR-10 in biotic stress that collaborate with the understanding of the mechanisms of action of these molecules. The up-regulation of PR-10 was predominant under different conditions of biotic stress, in addition to being more expressive in resistant varieties both at the transcriptional and translational level.

Discussion

Biological models that have been proposed reveal an intrinsic network of molecular interactions involving the modes of action of PR-10. These include hormonal pathways, transcription factors, physical interactions with effector proteins or pattern recognition receptors and other molecules involved with the plant’s defense system.

Conclusion

The molecular networks involving PR-10 reveal how the plant’s defense response is mediated, either to trigger susceptibility or, based on data systematized in this review, more frequently, to have plant resistance to the disease.
The impact of migrants' knowledge about their social rights on their subjective wellbeing
Authors: Seibel Verena
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In this contribution I examine the role of migrants' knowledge about their social rights (system knowledge) for their subjective well-being. Based on the Social Production Function Theory, I expect system knowledge to be positively associated with migrants' well-being. Migrants who are well informed about their social rights are likely to have better access to resources that are crucial for their well-being such as healthcare or financial security. Moreover, I expect that knowledge in certain domains which affect daily life, such as healthcare, matter more than knowledge in other domains, which are life-course specific, such as childcare.

Methods

I make use of the Migrants' Welfare State Attitudes (MIFARE) data which includes the perspective on the welfare state of migrants from nine different origin countries across three receiving countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany. Linear regression analyses were applied.

Results

Results indicate that migrants differ extensively in their social rights knowledge. Moreover, migrants' knowledge about their social rights is indeed positively associated with subjective well-being, though the effect is not equally strong in all three receiving countries and differs by welfare domain (healthcare, childcare, unemployment benefits, social assistance, and state pensions).

Discussion

Knowledge about social rights matters for migrants' well-being. Policy advisors should therefore pay special attention to migrants' access to information about social right policies in order to increase their well-being.
Increased 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in depressed patients with coexisting subclinical hypothyroidism
Authors: Zhao Shuai , Zhang Boyu , Han Yuqin , Guan Jianjun , Fang Wenmei , Zhang Hongqin , Wang Anzhen
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The prevalence of depressive disorder (DD) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) was almost twofold higher in women compared with men, both of which are confirmed to be related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The current study aimed to identify the prevalence of CVD risk factors and evaluate the 10-year CVD risk in female depressed patients with and without comorbid SH.

Methods

We recruited 1744 female inpatients with a diagnosis of DD. Venous blood samples were taken from all patients for lipid and thyroid hormones. Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to estimate the 10-year CVD risk.

Results

Female depressed patients with SH had increased BMI, higher Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores, higher LDL-C, TC, UA, and a higher 10-year CVD risk than euthyroid DD groups. Serum TSH levels and HAMA scores were critical predictive variables for 10-year CVD risk in female depressed patients with comorbid SH.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that female depressed patients with SH have a high 10-year CVD risk. Serum TSH levels and HAMA scores may be helpful to predict cardiovascular risk in female patients with SH. The increased CVD risk in female depressed patients with comorbid SH requires more attention from researchers and clinicians.
Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: Milaković Marina , Koren Helena , Bradvica-Kelava Karmen , Bubaš Marija , Nakić Josipa , Jeličić Pavle , Bucić Lovro , Bekavac Barbara , Čvrljak Jelena , Capak Magdalena
Published: July 2023

Telework has become considerably more common during the ongoing pandemic. Although working remotely may have numerous advantages, negative impacts on workers’ health and safety should also be considered. Telework is a major contributor to the development or aggravation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders where unsuited workstation ergonomics, sedentary behavior, as well as psychosocial and organizational factors play a role. This paper aims to identify telework-related risks and their impact on musculoskeletal health as well as provide recommendations that may be useful in constructing future preventive measures. A comprehensive literature search regarding the topic has been performed. Teleworkers experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort mostly in low back area, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Poor ergonomic solutions when it comes to workstation design resulting in prolonged sitting in non-neutral positions contribute to the development and aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders in teleworkers. Working with inadequately placed screens and laptops and sitting in maladjusted seats without usual functionalities and ergonomic support is associated with musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Extended working hours with fewer rest periods to meet increased work demands, social isolation, and lack of support from work colleagues and superiors as well as blurred work-home boundaries and omnipresence of work are commonly stated psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Environmental factors such as poor lighting and glare, inadequate room temperature, and ventilation or noise, are frequently overlooked remote workstation risk factors. For a certain part of workers, telework will remain a common way of work in the post-pandemic period. Therefore, it is essential to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely preventive measures tailored to each remote workstation’s risks and individual workers’ needs.
Gender as a determinant of physical activity levels and mental health of medical students from Poland and Belarus in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Baj-Korpak Joanna , Zaworski Kamil , Szymczuk Ewa , Shpakou Andrei
Published: July 2023

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unfavourable changes regarding both physical activity (PA) levels and patterns of behaviour associated with mental health. The study sought to assess PA levels and kinesiophobia in medical students from Poland and Belarus taking account of gender.

Methods

A total of 779 students (405 students from University of Grodno (UG), Belarus, and 374 students from John Paul II University of Applied Sciences (ABNS) in Biala Podlaska, Poland) took part in the study. Women constituted 74.2% of the study population. A diagnostic survey as well as two research tools, i.e., the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)—short form, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TAMPA) were employed in the study.

Results

Students from ABNS manifested significantly higher levels of PA. Taking into account gender, male respondents displayed significantly higher levels of MET-min/week (MET—metabolic equivalent of task). As for kinesiophobia, significantly higher levels were demonstrated by students from UG. Its higher levels were also noted among women.

Conclusion

The findings of the study did not reveal strong correlations between kinesiophobia and PA levels in students from Poland and Belarus in the context of different approaches to the pandemic that both countries adopted. Students from ABNS proved to be more physically active. In turn, participants from UG exhibited significantly higher levels of kinesiophobia. Gender was the factor that significantly differentiated levels of kinesiophobia, with women displaying its higher levels.
How Might Climate Change Affect American Lobsters?
Authors: Watson Winsor H. , Jury Steven H. , Gutzler Benjamin C. , Lippmann Thomas C. , Choi Jang-Geun , Carloni Joshua T. , Goldstein Jason S.
Published: July 2023

Climate change is likely to have a dramatic impact on many animals, including American lobsters (Homarus americanus). Lobsters are very sensitive to water temperature, and they will move to avoid water that is too warm or too cold. While this behavior has served them well for 1,000’s of years, as the oceans warm up, they might seek new habitats, which might disrupt aspects of their life cycle and lead to a decline in their numbers. In this article, we aim to explain some facts about American lobsters and tell you about several ways that climate change might have an impact on these fascinating and valuable creatures.
The effects of feed moisture and dried coconut meal content on the physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties of gluten-free Riceberry rice flour-based extruded snacks
Authors: Piayura Sumeth , Itthivadhanapong Pimchada
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study was to develop an expanded snack from Riceberry rice flour (RBF) and dried coconut meal (DCM), a by-product of coconut milk production, using a twin-screw extruder. A 3 x 3 factorial design was employed to investigate the effects of feed moisture contents (18, 21, and 24%) and DCM levels (0, 5, and 10%) on the physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties of the products. The results showed that increasing feed moisture content significantly reduced the cold peak viscosity but had no significant effect on the hot peak viscosity. DCM was the dominant factor affecting the hot peak viscosity. The substitution of DCM led to a decrease in the expansion of the extrudates while increasing the L* and b* values. The texture parameters were affected by both feed moisture and DCM, where increased feed moisture resulted in more rigid structures with higher density and hardness but lower crispiness. Antioxidant levels in the final product decreased by approximately 64 to 70% and 10 to 25%, as determined by DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively, compared to the initial RBF. However, the antioxidant levels remained high in the final product. Feed moisture content had no effect on the antioxidant activity as measured by the DPPH and FRAP assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extrudates decreased as feed moisture and DCM content increased. Furthermore, the anthocyanin content (ATC) decreased when RBF was substituted with DCM. The sensory evaluation revealed that the product with 18% feed moisture content and 10% DCM had the highest overall liking score. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential use of a twin-screw extruder for developing expanded snacks from RBF and DCM and could be useful for further research in this area.
First Report of Tripartite Symbiosis Potential among Soybean, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Dark Septate Endophytes
Authors: Innosensia Ni Luh Putu Citra , Suputra I Putu Wirya , Wirya Gusti Ngurah Alit Susanta , Narisawa Kazuhiko
Published: July 2023

Successful soybean and rhizobium interaction is characterized by the formation of root nodules. This symbiosis significantly affects the growth and yield of soybeans and has long been recognized as a key factor in sustainable agricultural systems. Naturally, soybeans could form a tripartite symbiotic relationship with rhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, there is no information regarding the symbiotic potential of soybean, nodulating bacteria, and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi. This study aims to delve into new tripartite symbiosis potential, shedding light on its efficacy in improving soybean growth while reducing environmental impacts. We examined the effect of incorporating two DSEs: Cladophialophora chaetospira SK51 (Cc) and Veronaeopsis simplex Y34 (Vs), into the classic soybean-rhizobium symbiosis. Under sterile conditions, the co-inoculation of DSEs with Bradyrhizobium japonicum IncB6 (Bj) significantly increased the nodule number and dry weight, leading to the acceleration of soybean vegetative growth. Soybean nodule numbers under co-inoculation treatments-CcBj and VsBj-were significantly increased by 77.6 and 43.6%, respectively, compared to the Bj treatment. Furthermore, under the CcBj and VsBj treatments, the soybean nodule dry mass was significantly increased by 455 and 363%, respectively, compared to Bj. This finding represents the first report of new beneficial tripartite symbiosis potential for soybean nodulation and vegetative growth.
Appropriate Sodium Bicarbonate Concentration Enhances the Intracellular Water Metabolism, Nutrient Transport and Photosynthesis Capacities of Coix lacryma-jobi L.
Authors: Li Haitao , Lv Jiamei , Su Yue , Wu Yanyou
Published: July 2023

Karst ecological stresses are harmful to plant growth, especially high bicarbonate concentrations, drought, high pH, etc. In this study, the effects of 0, 2.0, 7.0 and 12.0 mmol L−1 sodium bicarbonate concentrations on the biomass, electrophysiological properties, intracellular water metabolism, nutrient transport, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of Coix lacryma-jobi L. were investigated. The results show that 2.0 mmol L−1 sodium bicarbonate effectively improved the biomass formation of Coix lacryma-jobi L., notably increased its intrinsic capacitance (IC) and decreased its intrinsic resistance (IR), intrinsic impedance (IZ), intrinsic capacitive reactance (IXc) and intrinsic inductive reactance (IXL) as well as reliably enhanced its intracellular water metabolism, nutrient transport and photosynthetic capacities. However, 7.0 and 12.0 mmol L−1 sodium bicarbonate concentrations exhibited marked inhibitory effects on the plants’ photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and dry weight, whereas they did not significantly change the intracellular water metabolism or the nutrient transport capacity of Coix lacryma-jobi L. This study highlights that appropriate bicarbonate levels could enhance the intracellular water metabolism, nutrient transport, photosynthesis and growth of Coix lacryma-jobi L., which can be rapidly monitored by the plant’s electrophysiological properties. Importantly, plant electrophysiological measurement is significantly superior to photosynthesis measurement. In the future, plant electrophysiological measurement can be used as a means to quickly and effectively evaluate the physiological response of plants to the external environment.
Is UK Puppy Purchasing Suffering a Long COVID Effect? Ongoing Negative Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Puppy Purchase Motivations and Behaviours in 2021
Authors: Packer Rowena M. A. , Brand Claire L. , Belshaw Zoe , Pegram Camilla L. , Dale Fiona , Stevens Kim B. , O'Neill Dan G.
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in acquisitions of puppies in the UK, dubbed the “Pandemic Puppy” phenomenon. In addition to an increased demand for puppies, widespread changes to both why and how puppies were purchased during this period compared to pre-pandemic 2019 purchases were documented, many of which threatened canine welfare (e.g., puppies being collected away from their place of birth, without seeing their mother). This study aimed to explore which changes to the pre-purchase and purchase motivations and behaviours of UK owners who purchased a puppy aged <16 weeks in the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic had persisted into 2021 or had returned to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. An online survey was conducted during February to April 2022 from which 2080 valid responses were analysed (“2021 puppies”) and compared with previously collected data from comparable cohorts in 2019 (n = 1148, “2019 puppies”) and 2020 (n = 4369, “Pandemic Puppies”). While the majority of the peak pandemic changes documented in 2020 had returned to their 2019 pre-pandemic baseline, others persisted into 2021. Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that the shifts during 2020 towards owners viewing their puppy pre-purchase over video calls or via video recordings/photos rather than in-person and towards collecting their puppy from outside of their breeders’ property rather than inside had persisted into 2021 and had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Year-on-year significant rises in the number of puppies sold with a passport were documented between 2019 and 2021, with over 1 in 10 2021 puppies having been sold with a passport, the figure more than doubling since 2019. An increasing number of these puppies sold with a passport were under the minimum legal age for import at sale. Going forward, these concerning changes require further monitoring and human behaviour change interventions to tackle, including increased buyer awareness but also legislative approaches to prevent the greatest harm.
Current Insights in the Repeat Breeder Cow Syndrome
Authors: Pérez-Marín Carlos Carmelo , Quintela Luis Angel
Published: July 2023

Cows can have difficulties becoming pregnant, and in certain cases, these reproductive failures do not have an evident cause. Furthermore, when these failures are repeated three or more times with estrous cycles of normal duration and in the absence of evident clinical signs, it is considered repeat breeder cow (RBC) syndrome. A substantive incidence of RBC syndrome has been reported all over the world, which severely affects the farm economy. This paper reviews those studies particularly focused on RBC syndrome from 2000 to 2023 but also includes consolidated information until this date. Hormonal imbalances, undetectable oviductal or uterine defects, or poor oocyte or embryo quality have been reported as causes of RBC syndrome, while subclinical endometritis has been considered a relevant causal agent. However, it is unresolved why this condition is recurrent in certain animals, despite the implementation of corrective management actions or treatments. Recent studies evaluate the putative role of certain genes, factors, hormones, or proteins in the pathogenesis of RBC syndrome. Numerous risk factors contribute to the appearance of this syndrome, and some of them could be mitigated to partially prevent this infertility, while others cannot be changed. Due to the complexity of this syndrome, it is important to increase knowledge about the mechanisms involved, develop new diagnostic tools to differentiate causal agents, and implement new treatments to restore fertility. There is consensus about the huge repercussions of this syndrome on farm profitability, but further studies are now needed to describe its economic impact.