bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of Macrophage Scavenger Receptor (MSR1) in Peripheral Blood Cells from Patients with Different Respiratory Diseases: Beyond Monocytes
Authors: Baos Selene , Cremades-Jimeno Lucía , López-Ramos María , de Pedro María Ángeles , Uriarte Silvia A. , Sastre Joaquín , González-Mangado Nicolás , Rodríguez-Nieto María Jesús , Peces-Barba Germán , Cárdaba Blanca
Published: March 2022

Background: Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) has mostly been described in macrophages, but we previously found a significant gene expression increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of asthmatic patients. Objective: To confirm those results and to define its cellular origin in PBMCs. Methods: Four groups of subjects were studied: healthy controls (C), nonallergic asthmatic (NA), allergic asthmatic (AA), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. RNA was extracted from PBMCs. MSR1 gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The presence of MSR1 on the cellular surface of PBMC cellular subtypes was analyzed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Results: MSR1 gene expression was significantly increased in the three clinical conditions compared to the healthy control group, with substantial variations according to disease type and severity. MSR1 expression on T cells (CD4+ and CD8+), B cells, and monocytes was confirmed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. In all clinical groups, the four immune cell subtypes studied expressed MSR1, with a greater expression on B lymphocytes and monocytes, exhibiting differences according to disease and severity. Conclusions: This is the first description of MSR1’s presence on lymphocytes’ surfaces and reinforces the potential role of MSR1 as a player in asthma and COPD.
How Is Spinal Cord Function Measured in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy? A Systematic Review
Authors: Soufi Khadija H. , Perez Tess M. , Umoye Alexis O. , Yang Jamie , Burgos Maria , Martin Allan R.
Published: March 2022

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a prevalent condition in which spinal degeneration causes cord compression and neurological dysfunction. The spinal cord is anatomically complex and operates in conjunction with the brain, the musculoskeletal system, and numerous organs to control numerous functions, including simple and coordinated movement, sensation, and autonomic functions. As a result, accurate and comprehensive measurement of spinal cord function in patients with DCM and other spinal pathologies is challenging. This project aimed to summarize the neurological, functional, and quality of life (QoL) outcome measures currently in use to quantify impairment in DCM. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify prospective studies with at least 100 DCM subjects that utilized one or more quantitative neurological, functional, or QoL outcome measures. A total of 148 studies were identified. The most commonly used instruments were subjective functional scales including the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) (71 studies), modified JOA (mJOA) (66 studies), Neck Disability Index (NDI) (54 studies), and Nurick (39 studies), in addition to the QoL measure Short-Form-36 (SF-36, 52 studies). A total of 92% (320/349) of all outcome measures were questionnaires, whereas objective physical testing of neurological function (strength, gait, balance, dexterity, or sensation) made up 8% (29/349). Studies utilized an average of 2.36 outcomes measures, while 58 studies (39%) utilized only a single outcome measure. No studies were identified that specifically assessed the dorsal column sensory pathway or respiratory, bowel, or sexual function. In the past five years, there were no significant differences in the number of total, functional, or QoL outcome measures used, but physical testing of neurological function has increased (p = 0.005). Prior to 2017, cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) was the most frequently used term to describe the study population, whereas in the last five years, DCM has become the preferred terminology. In conclusion, clinical studies of DCM typically utilize limited data to characterize impairment, often relying on subjective, simplistic, and non-specific measures that do not reflect the complexity of the spinal cord. Although accurate measurement of impairment in DCM is challenging, it is necessary for early diagnosis, monitoring for deterioration, and quantifying recovery after therapeutic interventions. Clinical decision-making and future clinical studies in DCM should employ a combination of subjective and objective assessments to capture the multitude of spinal cord functions to improve clinical management and inform practice guidelines.
OCT Angiography Fractal Analysis of Choroidal Neovessels Secondary to Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, in a Caucasian Cohort
Authors: Serra Rita , Pinna Antonio , Behar-Cohen Francine , Coscas Florence
Published: March 2022

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) can be complicated by different types of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) features of CSCR-related CNVs. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study including 102 eyes of 102 Caucasian patients with acute or complex CSCR. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Quantitative OCT-A parameters, including vascular perfusion density (VPD), fractal dimension (FD), and lacunarity (LAC), were measured in CNV eyes. Results: Forty eyes (39.2%) had acute CSCR, whereas the remaining sixty-two (60.8%) had complex CSCR. CNV was observed in 37 (36.27%) eyes, all of which had the complex form. CNVs were classified as type 1 CNV in 11/37 (29.73%) cases and as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in the remaining 26/37 (70.27%). Overall, the mean VPD, FD, and LAC of CSCR-related CNVs were 0.52 ± 0.20%, 1.44 ± 0.12, and 2.40 ± 1.1, respectively. No significant difference between type 1 CNV and PCV was found. Conclusion: Complex CSCR is often complicated by type 1 CNV and PCV with similar neovascular architecture and branching complexity, a finding supporting the idea that they might be different stages of the same neovascular process. Future OCT-A fractal analysis-based studies that also include other relevant parameters, such as demographics, presentation, morphology on multimodal imaging, and response to treatment, are necessary before drawing any definitive conclusions.
Comparing the Occurrence of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Patients with and without COVID-19 Hospitalized during the Pandemic: A 16-Month Retrospective Cohort Study in a Hospital Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Isonne Claudia , Baccolini Valentina , Migliara Giuseppe , Ceparano Mariateresa , Alessandri Francesco , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Tellan Guglielmo , Pugliese Francesco , De Giusti Maria , De Vito Corrado , Marzuillo Carolina , Villari Paolo , Barone Lavinia Camilla , Giannini Dara , Marotta Daniela , Marte Mattia , Mazzalai Elena , Germani Irma , Bellini Arianna , Bongiovanni Andrea , Castellani Marta , D’Agostino Ludovica , De Giorgi Andrea , De Marchi Chiara , Mazzeo Elisa , Orlandi Shadi , Piattoli Matteo , Ricci Eleonora , Siena Leonardo Maria , Territo Alessandro , Zanni Stefano
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risk in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, a comparison between patients with and without COVID-19 in terms of HAI incidence has been rarely explored. In this study, we characterized the occurrence of HAI among patients with and without COVID-19 admitted to the ICU of the Umberto I hospital of Rome during the first 16 months of the pandemic and also identified risk factors for HAI acquisition. Patients were divided into four groups according to their ICU admission date. A multivariable conditional risk set regression model for multiple events was constructed for each admission period. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Overall, 352 COVID-19 and 130 non-COVID-19 patients were included, and a total of 361 HAIs were recorded. We found small differences between patients with and without COVID-19 in the occurrence and type of HAI, but the infections in the two cohorts mostly involved different microorganisms. The results indicate that patient management was likely an important factor influencing the HAI occurrence during the pandemic. Effective prevention and control strategies to reduce HAI rates should be implemented.
HIV-Associated Lymphomas: Progress and New Challenges
Authors: Pongas Georgios N. , Ramos Juan C.
Published: March 2022

The association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and aggressive lymphomas was first reported in 1982. Before the development of effective HIV antiviral therapy, the incidence and the mortality of these lymphomas was high, with patients frequently succumbing to the disease. More lately, the combination of cART with chemoimmunotherapy significantly improved the survival outcome of the HIV-lymphomas. In this review, we discuss on describing the incidence of HIV-associated lymphomas, their clinical features, and the latest advances in the management of the various lymphoma subtypes.
Low Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Hemophilia
Authors: Kim In Jung , Yoo Sung Hwan , Kim Sora , Cho Young Youn , Yoo Ki Young , Kim Hyung Joon , Lee Hyun Woong
Published: March 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely develops in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who achieve sustained virological response (SVR). We assessed the incidence of HCC in CHC patients with hemophilia after treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Methods: Patients (n = 202) were enrolled between March 2007 and July 2019. A total of 139 patients were treated with PegIFN/RBV (genotype 1, n = 98; genotype 2, n = 41). Sixty-three patients were treated with DAAs (genotype 1, n = 44; genotype 2, n = 19). The cumulative incidence rates of HCC were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Results: For genotype 1, SVR was achieved in 78.6% (77/98) and 90.9% (40/44) of patients in the PegIFN/RBV and DAAs groups, respectively. For genotype 2, SVR was achieved in 95.1% (39/41) and 94.7% (18/19) of patients in the PegIFN/RBV and DAAs groups, respectively. Six HCC cases were identified. The cumulative incidence of HCC was 4.1% at 14 years in PegIFN/RBV and 1.7% at 5 years in DAAs. The 14-year cumulative incidence of HCC was 1.9% in the SVR group and 21.7% in the no-SVR group in the PegIFN/RBV group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Treatment with PegIFN/RBV led to stable SVR and a low incidence of HCC. Although the follow-up period was short, DAAs led to more stable SVR than PegIFN/RBV and a low incidence of HCC in CHC patients with hemophilia.
Formulations of Topical Steroids in Eosinophilic Esophagitis—Current Treatment and Emerging Possibilities
Authors: Główczewski Adam , Krogulska Aneta
Published: March 2022

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder characterised by eosinophilic inflammation and esophageal dysfunction symptoms. The recommended first-line treatment options are proton pump inhibitors and swallowed topical steroids (STS). However, current recommendations regarding STS are based on relatively few studies employing various doses and formulations. Our aim was to review the STS formulations currently used in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis, to demonstrate in a practical way the variety of exiting application methods, and to present emerging options for STS delivery to the esophagus. After the literature review, we established that the three most commonly used STS formulations include mist from an inhaler, viscous suspensions compounded with vehicles for oral use, and a recently introduced proprietary medication in the form of orodispersible tablets. Several drug delivery technologies with potential use in EoE are under investigation. To ensure optimal adherence, the choice of formulation should be based on efficacy, patient preferences and experience of the clinician, as well as current recommendations. Further studies are needed to compare the efficacy and acceptability of existing STS types, and to develop new, well-tolerated and effective drug formulations.
HIPEC in Peritoneal Metastasis of Gastric Origin: A Systematic Review of Regimens and Techniques
Authors: Gronau Felix , Feldbruegge Linda , Oberwittler Frauke , Gonzalez-Moreno Santiago , Villeneuve Laurent , Eveno Clarisse , Glehen Olivier , Kusamura Shigeki , Rau Beate
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: Peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Complete cytoreductive surgery including gastrectomy and complete removal of all peritoneal lesions followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) achieves promising results. There exists an immersive variety of approaches for HIPEC that makes it difficult to weigh different results obtained in the literature. In order to enable standardization and development of HIPEC, we here present a systematic review of different drug regimens and technical approaches. (2) Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched on 26 May 2021 using the mesh terms “intraperitoneal chemotherapy AND gastric cancer”. Under consideration of systematic review guidelines, articles reporting on HIPEC in combination with CRS were selected. Data on duration, drugs, dosage, and other application parameters as well as morbidity and long term survival data were extracted for subsequent statistical analysis, tabulation, and descriptive synthesis. We assessed the risk of bias due to inhomogeneity of the patient cohort and incompleteness of report of HIPEC parameters. (3) Results: Out of 1421 screened publications, 42 publications presenting data from 1325 patients met the criteria. Most of the publications were single institutional retrospective cohort studies. The most common HIPEC regimen is performed after gastrointestinal anastomosis and consists of 50–200 mg/m2 cisplatinum and 30–40 mg/m2 mytomycin C at 42–43 °C for 60–90 min in a closed abdomen HIPEC system with three tubes. Almost every study reported incompletely on HIPEC parameters. Lower rates of anastomotic leakage were reported in studies that performed HIPEC after gastrointestinal anastomosis. Studies that performed open HIPEC and integrated a two-drug regimen indicated better overall survival rates. (4) Discussion: This is an exhaustive overview of the use of drug regimens and techniques for HIPEC after CRS for gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis. Other indications and application modes of intraperitoneal chemotherapy such as prophylactic or palliative HIPEC apart from CRS were not addressed. (5) Conclusion: Complete report of HIPEC parameters should be included in every publication. A consensus for dose expression either per BSA or as flat dose is desirable for comparison of the drug regimens. Despite numerous variations, we identified the most common regimens and techniques and their advantages and disadvantages according to the data in the literature. More phase I/II studies are needed to identify the best approach for HIPEC. (6) Other: This review was not supported by third parties.
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal Chronic Diseases in the Future: A Cross-Sectional Study Using KoGES-HEXA Data
Authors: Cho Geum Joon , Kim Jiae , Kim Ji Young , Han Sung Won , Lee Soo Bin , Oh Min-Jeong , Kim Sa Jin , Shin Jae Eun
Published: March 2022

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MS), in the future. We designed a large-scale cohort study to evaluate the influence of APOs (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), stillbirth, macrosomia, and low birth weight) on the incidence of chronic diseases, body measurements, and serum biochemistry in the future and investigate whether combinations of APOs had additive effects on chronic diseases. We used health examinee data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES-HEXA) and extracted data of parous women (n = 30,174; mean age, 53.02 years) for the analysis. Women with APOs were more frequently diagnosed with chronic diseases and had a family history of chronic diseases compared with women without APOs. Composite APOs were associated with an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, angina pectoris, stroke, and MS (adjusted odds ratio: 1.093, 1.379, 1.269, 1.351, 1.414, and 1.104, respectively) after adjustment for family history and social behaviors. Preeclampsia and GDM were associated with an increased risk of some chronic diseases; however, the combination of preeclampsia and GDM did not have an additive effect on the risk. APOs moderately influenced the future development of maternal CVD and metabolic derangements, independent of family history and social behaviors.
Safety of Obtaining an Extra Biobank Kidney Biopsy Core
Authors: Bermejo Sheila , García-Carro Clara , Mast Richard , Vergara Ander , Agraz Irene , León Juan Carlos , Bolufer Monica , Gabaldon Maria-Alejandra , Serón Daniel , Bestard Oriol , Soler Maria Jose
Published: March 2022

Background and objectives: Kidney biopsy (KB) is the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of nephropathies and it is a diagnostic tool that presents a low rate of complications. Nowadays, biobank collections of renal tissue of patients with proven renal pathology are essential for research in nephrology. To provide enough tissue for the biobank collection, it is usually needed to obtain an extra kidney core at the time of kidney biopsy. The objective of our study is to evaluate the complications after KB and to analyze whether obtaining an extra core increases the risk of complications. Material and methods: Prospective observational study of KBs performed at Vall d’Hebron Hospital between 2019 and 2020. All patients who accepted to participate to our research biobank of native kidney biopsies were included to the study. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed and we studied risk factors associated with complications. Results: A total of 221 patients were included, mean age 56.6 (±16.8) years, 130 (58.8%) were men, creatinine was 2.24 (±1.94) mg/dL, proteinuria 1.56 (0.506–3.590) g/24 h, hemoglobin 12.03 (±2.3) g/dL, INR 0.99 (±0.1), and prothrombin time (PT) 11.86 (±1.2) s. A total of 38 patients (17.2%) presented complications associated with the procedure: 13.1% were minor complications, 11.3% (n = 25) required blood transfusion, 1.4% (n = 3) had severe hematomas, 2.3% (n = 5) required embolization, and 0.5% (n = 1) presented arterio-venous fistula. An increased risk for complication was independently associated with obtaining a single kidney core (vs. 2 and 3 cores) (p = 0.021). Conclusions: KB is an invasive and safe procedure with a low percentage of complications. Obtaining an extra kidney core for research does not increase the risk of complications during the intervention, which remains low in concordance with previously published reports.
Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung: Current Understanding and Challenges
Authors: Andrini Elisa , Marchese Paola Valeria , De Biase Dario , Mosconi Cristina , Siepe Giambattista , Panzuto Francesco , Ardizzoni Andrea , Campana Davide , Lamberti Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC) is a rare and highly aggressive type of lung cancer, with a complex biology that shares similarities with both small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The prognosis of LCNEC is poor, with a median overall survival of 8–12 months. The diagnosis of LCNEC requires the identification of neuroendocrine morphology and the expression of at least one of the neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin A, synaptophysin or CD56). In the last few years, the introduction of next-generation sequencing allowed the identification of molecular subtypes of LCNEC, with prognostic and potential therapeutic implications: one subtype is similar to SCLC (SCLC-like), while the other is similar to NSCLC (NSCLC-like). Because of LCNEC rarity, most evidence comes from small retrospective studies and treatment strategies that are extrapolated from those adopted in patients with SCLC and NSCLC. Nevertheless, limited but promising data about targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with LCNEC are emerging. LCNEC clinical management is still controversial and standardized treatment strategies are currently lacking. The aim of this manuscript is to review clinical and molecular data about LCNEC to better understand the optimal management and the potential prognostic and therapeutic implications of molecular subtypes.
Comparison of Deepfake Detection Techniques through Deep Learning
Authors: Taeb Maryam , Chi Hongmei
Published: March 2022

Deepfakes are realistic-looking fake media generated by deep-learning algorithms that iterate through large datasets until they have learned how to solve the given problem (i.e., swap faces or objects in video and digital content). The massive generation of such content and modification technologies is rapidly affecting the quality of public discourse and the safeguarding of human rights. Deepfakes are being widely used as a malicious source of misinformation in court that seek to sway a court’s decision. Because digital evidence is critical to the outcome of many legal cases, detecting deepfake media is extremely important and in high demand in digital forensics. As such, it is important to identify and build a classifier that can accurately distinguish between authentic and disguised media, especially in facial-recognition systems as it can be used in identity protection too. In this work, we compare the most common, state-of-the-art face-detection classifiers such as Custom CNN, VGG19, and DenseNet-121 using an augmented real and fake face-detection dataset. Data augmentation is used to boost performance and reduce computational resources. Our preliminary results indicate that VGG19 has the best performance and highest accuracy of 95% when compared with other analyzed models.
Perceptually Optimal Color Representation of Fully Polarimetric SAR Imagery
Authors: Koukiou Georgia
Published: March 2022

The four bands of fully polarimetric SAR data convey scattering characteristics of the Earth’s background, but perceptually are not very easy for an observer to use. In this work, the four different channels of fully polarimetric SAR images, namely HH, HV, VH, and VV, are combined so that a color image of the Earth’s background is derived that is perceptually excellent for the human eye and at the same time provides accurate information regarding the scattering mechanisms in each pixel. Most of the elementary scattering mechanisms are related to specific color and land cover types. The innovative nature of the proposed approach is due to the two different consecutive coloring procedures. The first one is a fusion procedure that moves all the information contained in the four polarimetric channels into three derived RGB bands. This is achieved by means of Cholesky decomposition and brings to the RGB output the correlation properties of a natural color image. The second procedure moves the color information of the RGB image to the CIELab color space, which is perceptually uniform. The color information is then evenly distributed by means of color equalization in the CIELab color space. After that, the inverse procedure to obtain the final RGB image is performed. These two procedures bring the PolSAR information regarding the scattering mechanisms on the Earth’s surface onto a meaningful color image, the appearance of which is close to Google Earth maps. Simultaneously, they give better color correspondence to various land cover types compared with existing SAR color representation methods.
A Response Guide for Sunken Oil Mats (SOMs): Formation, Behavior, Detection, and Recovery
Authors: Michel Jacqueline , Bambach Philip
Published: March 2022

Based on past spills, the conditions under which floating oil mixes with enough sand to form sunken oil mats (SOMs) are identified. SOMs form mostly during spills of heavy crudes or heavy fuel oils, but also highly weathered and viscous crude oils. They usually form when oil and sand are both suspended in the water column by breaking waves or by the erosion of heavily oiled sand from the beach. The oil–sand mixture needs an area in the nearshore where it can accumulate into mats, such as in troughs or inside lagoons, where wave energy is reduced. SOMs can be oily (>40% oil) or sandy (<<40% oil), with oily SOMs posing risks of the oil separating from the sand and refloating. Methods are described for SOMs detection and recovery based on their location, in either the surf zone or the open-water environment seaward of the surf zone. A matrix provides guidance on methods based on effectiveness and environmental impacts for different site conditions.
Myco-Synthesized Molluscicidal and Larvicidal Selenium Nanoparticles: A New Strategy to Control Biomphalaria alexandrina Snails and Larvae of Schistosoma mansoni with an In Silico Study on Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: Morad Mostafa Y. , El-Sayed Heba , Elhenawy Ahmed A. , Korany Shereen M. , Aloufi Abeer S. , Ibrahim Amina M.
Published: March 2022

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease with socioeconomic problems. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of myco-synthesized nano-selenium (SeNPs) as a molluscicide on Biomphlaria alexandrina snails, with the goal of reducing disease spread via non-toxic routes. In this study, Penicillium chrysogenum culture filtrate metabolites were used as a reductant for selenium ions to form nano-selenium. The SeNPs were characterized via UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Myco-synthesized SeNPs had a significant molluscicidal effect on B. alexandrina snails after 96 h of exposure at a concentration of 5.96 mg/L. SeNPs also had miracidicidal and cercaricidal properties against S. mansoni. Some alterations were observed in the hemocytes of snails exposed to SeNPs, including the formation of pseudopodia and an increasing number of granules. Furthermore, lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione s-transferase (GST) increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased. The comet assay revealed that myco-synthesized SeNPs could cause breaks in the DNA levels. In silico study revealed that SeNPs had promising antioxidant properties. In conclusion, myco-synthesized SeNPs have the potential to be used as molluscicides and larvicides.
Novel Insights into Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenesis and Host Response from State-of-the-Art Imaging of Host–Pathogen Interactions during Infection
Authors: Ortiz Sébastien C. , Pennington Katie , Thomson Darren D. , Bertuzzi Margherita
Published: March 2022

Aspergillus fumigatus spores initiate more than 3,000,000 chronic and 300,000 invasive diseases annually, worldwide. Depending on the immune status of the host, inhalation of these spores can lead to a broad spectrum of disease, including invasive aspergillosis, which carries a 50% mortality rate overall; however, this mortality rate increases substantially if the infection is caused by azole-resistant strains or diagnosis is delayed or missed. Increasing resistance to existing antifungal treatments is becoming a major concern; for example, resistance to azoles (the first-line available oral drug against Aspergillus species) has risen by 40% since 2006. Despite high morbidity and mortality, the lack of an in-depth understanding of A. fumigatus pathogenesis and host response has hampered the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of fungal infections. Recent advances in sample preparation, infection models and imaging techniques applied in vivo have addressed important gaps in fungal research, whilst questioning existing paradigms. This review highlights the successes and further potential of these recent technologies in understanding the host–pathogen interactions that lead to aspergillosis.
Role of Cytosolic Malic Enzyme in Oleaginicity of High-Lipid-Producing Fungal Strain Mucor circinelloides WJ11
Authors: Fazili Abu Bakr Ahmad , Shah Aabid Manzoor , Naz Tahira , Nosheen Shaista , Yang Wu , Garre Victoriano , Majeed Younis , Al-Sadoon Mohammed Khalid , Song Yuanda
Published: March 2022

Mucor circinelloides, an oleaginous filamentous fungus, is gaining popularity due to its ability to synthesize significant amounts of lipids containing γ-linolenic acid (GLA) that have important health benefits. Malic enzyme (ME), which serves as the main source of NADPH in some fungi, has been found to regulate lipid accumulation in oleaginous fungi. In the present study, the role of two cytosolic ME genes, cmalA and cmalB, in the lipid accumulation of the M. circinelloides high-lipid-producing strain WJ11, was evaluated. Strains overexpressing cmalA and cmalB showed a 9.8- and 6.4-fold rise in specific ME activity, respectively, and an elevation of the lipid content by 23.2% and 5.8%, respectively, suggesting that these genes are involved in lipid biosynthesis. Due to increased lipid accumulation, overall GLA content in biomass was observed to be elevated by 11.42% and 16.85% in cmalA and cmalB overexpressing strains, respectively. Our study gives an important insight into different studies exploring the role of the cmalA gene, while we have for the first time investigated the role of the cmalB gene in the M. circinelloides WJ11 strain.
Ascophyllum nodosum Extract and Mycorrhizal Colonization Synergistically Trigger Immune Responses in Pea Plants against Rhizoctonia Root Rot, and Enhance Plant Growth and Productivity
Authors: Rashad Younes M. , El-Sharkawy Hany H. A. , Elazab Nahla T.
Published: March 2022

Rhizoctonia root rot is one of the most destructive diseases affecting pea crops, resulting in up to 75% loss. In this study, the biocontrol activity of seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) extract at 1, 2, and 3% and/or mycorrhization of pea roots was investigated against Rhizoctonia root rot under greenhouse conditions. In addition, their effects on the transcriptional, physiological, ultrastructural, and growth status of pea plants were also studied. The results showed that the mycorrhizal colonization of pea roots and the application of the seaweed extract at 3% synergistically overexpressed the responsive factor (JERF3) recording 18.2-fold, and the defense-related genes peroxidase (23.2-fold) and chitinase II (31.8-fold). In addition, this treatment improved the activity of the antioxidant enzymes POD and PPO, increased the phenolic content in pea roots, and triggered multiple hypersensitivity reactions at the ultrastructural level of the cell, leading to a 73.1% reduction in disease severity. Moreover, a synergistic growth-promoting effect on pea plants was also observed. The photosynthetic pigments in pea leaves were enhanced in response to this dual treatment, which significantly improved their yield (24 g/plant). The inducing effect of mycorrhizal colonization on plant resistance and growth has been extensively studied. However, developing improved and synergistically acting biological agents for plant disease control and growth promotion as alternatives to the chemical fungicides is crucial for safety and food security. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the mycorrhizal colonization of pea roots and soaking their seeds in the A. nodosum extract at 3% have a promising and improved biocontrol activity against R. solani, and a growth-promoting effect on pea plants. However, field applications should be evaluated prior to any use recommendations.
CDK1 and HSP90AA1 Appear as the Novel Regulatory Genes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Bioinformatics Approach
Authors: Bhattacharyya Nirjhar , Gupta Samriddhi , Sharma Shubham , Soni Aman , Bagabir Sali Abubaker , Bhattacharyya Malini , Mukherjee Atreyee , Almalki Atiah H. , Alkhanani Mustfa F. , Haque Shafiul , Ray Ashwini Kumar , Malik Md. Zubbair
Published: March 2022

Lung cancer is one of the most invasive cancers affecting over a million of the population. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes up to 85% of all lung cancer cases, and therefore, it is essential to identify predictive biomarkers of NSCLC for therapeutic purposes. Here we use a network theoretical approach to investigate the complex behavior of the NSCLC gene-regulatory interactions. We have used eight NSCLC microarray datasets GSE19188, GSE118370, GSE10072, GSE101929, GSE7670, GSE33532, GSE31547, and GSE31210 and meta-analyzed them to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and further constructed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. We analyzed its topological properties and identified significant modules of the PPI network using cytoscape network analyzer and MCODE plug-in. From the PPI network, top ten genes of each of the six topological properties like closeness centrality, maximal clique centrality (MCC), Maximum Neighborhood Component (MNC), radiality, EPC (Edge Percolated Component) and bottleneck were considered for key regulator identification. We further compared them with top ten hub genes (those with the highest degrees) to find key regulator (KR) genes. We found that two genes, CDK1 and HSP90AA1, were common in the analysis suggesting a significant regulatory role of CDK1 and HSP90AA1 in non-small cell lung cancer. Our study using a network theoretical approach, as a summary, suggests CDK1 and HSP90AA1 as key regulator genes in complex NSCLC network.
Radiogenomic Predictors of Recurrence in Glioblastoma—A Systematic Review
Authors: Corr Felix , Grimm Dustin , Saß Benjamin , Pojskić Mirza , Bartsch Jörg W. , Carl Barbara , Nimsky Christopher , Bopp Miriam H. A.
Published: March 2022

Glioblastoma, as the most aggressive brain tumor, is associated with a poor prognosis and outcome. To optimize prognosis and clinical therapy decisions, there is an urgent need to stratify patients with increased risk for recurrent tumors and low therapeutic success to optimize individual treatment. Radiogenomics establishes a link between radiological and pathological information. This review provides a state-of-the-art picture illustrating the latest developments in the use of radiogenomic markers regarding prognosis and their potential for monitoring recurrence. Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were searched. Inclusion criteria were defined as diagnosis of glioblastoma with histopathological and radiological follow-up. Out of 321 reviewed articles, 43 articles met these inclusion criteria. Included studies were analyzed for the frequency of radiological and molecular tumor markers whereby radiogenomic associations were analyzed. Six main associations were described: radiogenomic prognosis, MGMT status, IDH, EGFR status, molecular subgroups, and tumor location. Prospective studies analyzing prognostic features of glioblastoma together with radiological features are lacking. By reviewing the progress in the development of radiogenomic markers, we provide insights into the potential efficacy of such an approach for clinical routine use eventually enabling early identification of glioblastoma recurrence and therefore supporting a further personalized monitoring and treatment strategy.
Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block versus Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block for Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Choi Yong Seon , Park Kwan Kyu , Lee Bora , Nam Won Seok , Kim Do-Hyeong
Published: March 2022

This study compared the effects of the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block and supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) on postoperative analgesia and quadriceps strength following total hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia. A total of 58 patients were randomized to receive either PENG block (PENG group) or supra-inguinal FICB (FICB group) following anesthetic induction. The primary outcomes were the postoperative pain scores. Patients were randomized to receive either PENG block or supra-inguinal FICB following anesthetic induction. Pain scores at rest and with movement were assessed preoperatively, at the postanesthesia care unit (only at rest), and at 6, 24, 36, and 48 h postoperatively. Opioid consumption was also assessed for 48 h postoperatively. Quadriceps strength measurements were performed preoperatively, at 6, 24, and 36 h postoperatively. In total, 54 patients completed the study: 27 in the PENG group and 27 in the FICB group. Despite lower pain scores at rest in the PENG group at postoperative 6 and 24 h, there were no significant differences in the pain scores at rest and during movement between the two groups during postoperative 48 h in the linear mixed model analysis (p = 0.079 and p = 0.323, respectively). Cumulative opioid consumption up to postoperative 48 h was also similar in the two groups (p = 0.265). The changes in quadriceps strength measurements in the operative leg and the nonoperative leg were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.513 and p = 0.523, respectively). The PENG block may have similar analgesic efficacy to the supra-inguinal FICB. No difference was detected in the quadriceps strength between the patients receiving these two blocks.
Multi-Omics Characterization of Early- and Adult-Onset Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Grant Caroline W. , Barreto Erin F. , Kumar Rakesh , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima , Skime Michelle , Mayes Taryn , Carmody Thomas , Biernacka Joanna , Wang Liewei , Weinshilboum Richard , Trivedi Madhukar H. , Bobo William V. , Croarkin Paul E. , Athreya Arjun P.
Published: March 2022

Age at depressive onset (AAO) corresponds to unique symptomatology and clinical outcomes. Integration of genome-wide association study (GWAS) results with additional “omic” measures to evaluate AAO has not been reported and may reveal novel markers of susceptibility and/or resistance to major depressive disorder (MDD). To address this gap, we integrated genomics with metabolomics using data-driven network analysis to characterize and differentiate MDD based on AAO. This study first performed two GWAS for AAO as a continuous trait in (a) 486 adults from the Pharmacogenomic Research Network-Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomic Study (PGRN-AMPS), and (b) 295 adults from the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) study. Variants from top signals were integrated with 153 p180-assayed metabolites to establish multi-omics network characterizations of early (<age 18) and adult-onset depression. The most significant variant (p = 8.77 × 10−8) localized to an intron of SAMD3. In silico functional annotation of top signals (p < 1 × 10−5) demonstrated gene expression enrichment in the brain and during embryonic development. Network analysis identified differential associations between four variants (in/near INTU, FAT1, CNTN6, and TM9SF2) and plasma metabolites (phosphatidylcholines, carnitines, biogenic amines, and amino acids) in early- compared with adult-onset MDD. Multi-omics integration identified differential biosignatures of early- and adult-onset MDD. These biosignatures call for future studies to follow participants from childhood through adulthood and collect repeated -omics and neuroimaging measures to validate and deeply characterize the biomarkers of susceptibility and/or resistance to MDD development.
The Sequential Change in Left Ventricular Function among Various Cardiovascular Diseases: A 12-Year Study
Authors: Chang Sheng-Nan , Lin Jou-Wei , Wang Yi-Chih , Wu Cho-Kai , Cheng Jun-Jack , Hwang Juey-Jen , Lin Jiunn-Lee , Chiang Fu-Tien , Chen Yih-Sharng , Hsu Ron-Bin , Chen William , Chen Jin-Jer , Lien Wen-Pin
Published: March 2022

Background: This 12-year study aimed to compare the longitudinal change in left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) between healthy elderly, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension (HTN) patients. Methods: From 2008 to 2020, 1476 patients were included, and 3181 echocardiography examinations were conducted. Finally, 130 participants (36 healthy elderly (79.39 ± 9.51 years old), 51 with CAD (68.31 ± 12.09 years old), and 43 with HTN (68.31 ± 12.09 years old)) with more than a 10-year follow-up period were included in the final analysis. Results: The change in diastolic function was different among these subjects according to the integrated score index (elderly vs. HTN, p = 0.01; CAD vs. HTN, p = 0.01), septal E/e′ ratio (elderly vs. HTN, p < 0.001; CAD vs. HTN, p = 0.01), lateral E/e′ ratio (elderly vs. HTN, p < 0.001; CAD vs. HTN, p < 0.001), and NYHA functional class (elderly vs. HTN, p = 0.03; CAD vs. HTN, p < 0.001). Additionally, per one-year increase in age, the integrated score index increased 0.2 in the healthy elderly, 0.15 in the CAD, and 0.06 in the HTN patients (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Under aggressive treatment, diastolic function was relatively preserved in HTN subjects with aging in comparison with elderly and CAD subjects.
The Elephant in the Dark: A New Framework for Cryptocurrency Taxation and Exchange Platform Regulation in the US
Authors: Caliskan Koray
Published: March 2022

The proliferation of cryptocurrencies and the remarkable expansion of novel economic practices associated with them pose an unprecedented challenge to established norms of taxation and market regulation. Drawing on two years of fieldwork, surveys, as well as big data analysis of the most valuable 100 cryptocurrencies’ white papers and the terms of service agreements of all cryptocurrency exchange platforms, this paper proposes an evidence-based framework to design a novel regulation and taxation approach to cryptocurrencies and their markets by using the US as case study. This new framework calls for approaching cryptocurrencies as data money. Drawing on the material political economy of new digital financial practices, the paper locates the universe of taxable events and invisible/vague regulation areas by approaching exchange platforms as stacked economization processes. We need to make sense of these new economic spaces in order to imagine more effective regulative instruments addressing questions of economic actor protection and efficiency. The paper concludes by proposing a new instrument of taxation (Data Money Tax) and a dynamic regulative approach to cryptocurrency exchange platforms (Stack Regulation).
Day Time Activity Budgets, Height Utilization and Husbandry of Two Zoo-Housed Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroos (Dendrolagus goodfellowi buergersi)
Authors: Finch Katherine , Humphreys Amy
Published: March 2022

Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) are an endangered, arboreal macropod native to the lower, mid-montane rainforests of Papua New Guinea. Despite a number of holders keeping D. goodfellowi in zoos across the world, there is a lack of recent published work on this species. Here, we present daytime activity budgets, document height use and provide husbandry information for two Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus goodfellowi buergersi) housed at Chester Zoo, UK. Throughout the observation period, both individuals spent the majority of their time resting within the environment but also spent time engaging in vigilance, travel and feeding behaviour. Additionally, despite the age and sex differences of the study individuals, both animals used the highest height level in the indoor habitat most frequently. We aim to share our information and encourage knowledge transfer with other holders, to both increase understanding and promote evidence-based management of this species.
Obesity, Weight Loss, Lifestyle Interventions, and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Steele Cortney , Nowak Kristen
Published: March 2022

Obesity remains a growing public health concern in industrialized countries around the world. The prevalence of obesity has also continued to rise in those with chronic kidney disease. Epidemiological data suggests those with overweight and obesity, measured by body mass index, have an increased risk for rapid kidney disease progression. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease causes growth and proliferation of kidney cysts resulting in a reduction in kidney function in the majority of adults. An accumulation of adipose tissue may further exacerbate the metabolic defects that have been associated with ADPKD by affecting various cell signaling pathways. Lifestyle interventions inducing weight loss might help delay disease progression by reducing adipose tissue and systematic inflammation. Further research is needed to determine the mechanistic influence of adipose tissue on disease progression.
Environmental Impacts of Construction in Building Industry—A Review of Knowledge Advances, Gaps and Future Directions
Authors: Sandanayake Malindu Sasanka
Published: March 2022

The building-and-construction industry has been researched extensively over its life cycle regarding green and sustainable processes and techniques due to its major contributions towards energy consumption and its environmental impacts. Over the past decade, the construction stage of a building is often criticized for overlooking or approximating the environmental impacts as compared to other life-cycle stages of a building. This is evident through strong research findings regarding other building life-cycle stages in building-emission-assessment studies. With the drive towards digitization, the construction industry is receiving significant research attention in order to minimize environmental impacts at the construction stage. Despite these research initiatives, only a handful of recent review studies have systematically furnished current advances, gaps and future directions in environmentally sustainable building-construction techniques. The current study represents a systematic literature review of the environmental impacts at the building-construction stage with the objective of identifying the current findings, gaps and future research scopes. A bibliometric assessment revealed key author contributions, key research areas and collaboration aspects of research works related to environmental impacts of construction in building projects. Four major barriers and knowledge gaps in conducting a comprehensive assessment at the construction stage of a building were identified, including the lack of definition of a generic system boundary, difficulties in data collection, complex modeling issues and complications in the classification and analysis of emissions. The findings would provide key knowledge for passionate construction-industry stakeholders who are keen to benchmark green and sustainable construction practices in the building industry.