bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: CMV Infection and Same Mechanism-Originated Intestinal Inflammation Compatible With Bowel/Crohn's Disease Is Suggested in ATP4A Mutated-Driven Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Calvete Oriol , Reyes José , Benítez Javier
Published: April 2021

Mutations in the ATP4A proton pump prevent gastric acidification and explain the chronic autoimmune gastritis scenario that conducts the gastric neuroendocrine tumor (gNET) formation. Here, we wanted to investigate the co-occurrence cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and intestinal inflammation that presented all members of a family affected with gNET and carrying an ATP4A mutation. Intestinal inflammation persisted after CMV eradication and anemia treatment. The inflammation was compatible with a ileitis/Crohn's disease and was originated by the same autoimmune mechanism described in the tumorigenesis of gNETS. The same secondary disease but no the CMV infection was observed in all members affected with gNET and carrying the ATP4A mutation. Our results suggest that the ATP4A malfunction not only explained gNETs but also the co-occurring disease and opportunistic infections, which allowed to link autoimmune pathologies and gNETs in a unique mechanism. Our results open a new window to better understand not only gastric neoplasms formation but the co-occurring autoimmune disorders and the inflammatory mechanism that compose a premalignant scenario for other tumor formation. Our findings are important since contribute to describe the genetic landscape of the Inflammatory Bowel/Crohn's disease and alert clinicians to monitor patients with gastric neoplasms mediated by achlorhydria mechanisms for concomitant secondary pathologies.
First Report on the Latvian SARS-CoV-2 Isolate Genetic Diversity
Authors: Zrelovs Nikita , Ustinova Monta , Silamikelis Ivars , Birzniece Liga , Megnis Kaspars , Rovite Vita , Freimane Lauma , Silamikele Laila , Ansone Laura , Pjalkovskis Janis , Fridmanis Davids , Vilne Baiba , Priedite Marta , Caica Anastasija , Gavars Mikus , Perminov Dmitry , Storozenko Jelena , Savicka Oksana , Dimina Elina , Dumpis Uga , Klovins Janis
Published: April 2021

Remaining a major healthcare concern with nearly 29 million confirmed cases worldwide at the time of writing, novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 920 thousand deaths since its outbreak in China, December 2019. First case of a person testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within the territory of the Republic of Latvia was registered on 2nd of March 2020, 9 days prior to the pandemic declaration by WHO. Since then, more than 277,000 tests were carried out confirming a total of 1,464 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country as of 12th of September 2020. Rapidly reacting to the spread of the infection, an ongoing sequencing campaign was started mid-March in collaboration with the local testing laboratories, with an ultimate goal in sequencing as much local viral isolates as possible, resulting in first full-length SARS-CoV-2 isolate genome sequences from the Baltics region being made publicly available in early April. With 133 viral isolates representing ~9.1% of the total COVID-19 cases during the “first coronavirus wave” in the country (early March, 2020—mid-September, 2020) being completely sequenced as of today, here, we provide a first report on the genetic diversity of Latvian SARS-CoV-2 isolates.
Frequency of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Was Decreasing Among Hospitalized Patients From 2013 to 2017 in a National Database in China
Authors: Tan Ying , Yu Feng , Long Jianyan , Gan Lanxia , Wang Haibo , Zhang Luxia , Zhao Minghui
Published: April 2021

Backgrounds: Limited data was reported for the frequency of SLE in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, geographical, and ethnic distributions of hospitalized SLE patients with data from the Hospital Quality Monitoring System (HQMS) in China.

Methods: Hospitalized patients were investigated from a national inpatient database covering 46.0% of tertiary hospitals in China from 2013 to 2017. Data regarding the diagnosis of SLE were extracted based on ICD-10 codes. We collected and analyzed data from the front page of the records of inpatients, including frequency, demographic characteristics, and geographic distributions of SLE.

Results: Among 158.3 million inpatients attended during the study period, 0.31% (491, 225) were diagnosed with SLE. The frequency of SLE decreased during the study period (from 0.30% in 2013 to 0.27% in 2017). The frequency of SLE increased with latitude (0.21% in northern China and 0.39% in southern China in 2017). Hospitalizations mostly occurred in winter (31.24%). The Li population had the highest frequency of patients with SLE (0.76%). The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate of SLE decreased from 0.74% (255/34,746) in 2013 to 0.54% (295/54,168) in 2017. The percentage of SLE patients with infections increased from 3.14% in 2013 to 4.72% in 2017. The percentage of SLE patients with tumors and thrombosis also increased slightly from 0.85 and 1.43% in 2013 to 1.27 and 2.45% in 2017, respectively.

Conclusion: This study provided epidemiological information of SLE in hospitalized patients in China for the first time. An ethnic and spatial clustering trend of SLE was observed.
Composition of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities Associated With Healthy and Verticillium Wilt Diseased Cotton Plants
Authors: Wei Feng , Feng Hongjie , Zhang Dezheng , Feng Zili , Zhao Lihong , Zhang Yalin , Deakin Greg , Peng Jun , Zhu Heqin , Xu Xiangming
Published: April 2021

Rhizosphere microbial communities are known to be related to plant health; using such an association for crop management requires a better understanding of this relationship. We investigated rhizosphere microbiomes associated with Verticillium wilt symptoms in two cotton cultivars. Microbial communities were profiled by amplicon sequencing, with the total bacterial and fungal DNA quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction based on the respective 16S and internal transcribed spacer primers. Although the level of V. dahliae inoculum was higher in the rhizosphere of diseased plants than in the healthy plants, such a difference explained only a small proportion of variation in wilt severities. Compared to healthy plants, the diseased plants had much higher total fungal/bacterial biomass ratio, as represented by quantified total fungal or bacterial DNA. The variability in the fungal/bacterial biomass ratio was much smaller than variability in either fungal or bacterial total biomass among samples within diseased or healthy plants. Diseased plants generally had lower bacterial alpha diversity in their rhizosphere, but such differences in the fungal alpha diversity depended on cultivars. There were large differences in both fungal and bacterial communities between diseased and healthy plants. Many rhizosphere microbial groups differed in their abundance between healthy and diseased plants. There was a decrease in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and an increase in several plant pathogen and saprophyte guilds in diseased plants. These findings suggested that V. dahliae infection of roots led to considerable changes in rhizosphere microbial communities, with large increases in saprophytic fungi and reduction in bacterial community.
Stability Assessment of the Rumen Bacterial and Archaeal Communities in Dairy Cows Within a Single Lactation and Its Association With Host Phenotype
Authors: Zhu Zhigang , Difford Gareth Frank , Noel Samantha Joan , Lassen Jan , Løvendahl Peter , Højberg Ole
Published: April 2021

Better characterization of changes in the rumen microbiota in dairy cows over the lactation period is crucial for understanding how microbial factors may potentially be interacting with host phenotypes. In the present study, we characterized the rumen bacterial and archaeal community composition of 60 lactating Holstein dairy cows (33 multiparous and 27 primiparous), sampled twice within the same lactation with a 122 days interval. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the rumen bacterial community and showed no difference in relative abundance between samplings. Two less abundant bacterial phyla (SR1 and Proteobacteria) and an archaeal order (Methanosarcinales), on the other hand, decreased significantly from the mid-lactation to the late-lactation period. Moreover, between-sampling stability assessment of individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs), evaluated by concordance correlation coefficient (C-value) analysis, revealed the majority of the bacterial OTUs (6,187 out of 6,363) and all the 79 archaeal OTUs to be unstable over the investigated lactation period. The remaining 176 stable bacterial OTUs were mainly assigned to Prevotella, unclassified Prevotellaceae, and unclassified Bacteroidales. Milk phenotype-based screening analysis detected 32 bacterial OTUs, mainly assigned to unclassified Bacteroidetes and Lachnospiraceae, associated with milk fat percentage, and 6 OTUs, assigned to Ruminococcus and unclassified Ruminococcaceae, associated with milk protein percentage. These OTUs were only observed in the multiparous cows. None of the archaeal OTUs was observed to be associated with the investigated phenotypic parameters, including methane production. Co-occurrence analysis of the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities revealed Fibrobacter to be positively correlated with the archaeal genus vadinCA11 (Pearson r = 0.76) and unclassified Methanomassiliicoccaceae (Pearson r = 0.64); vadinCA11, on the other hand, was negatively correlated with Methanobrevibacter (Pearson r = –0.56). In conclusion, the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities of dairy cows displayed distinct stability at different taxonomic levels. Moreover, specific members of the rumen bacterial community were observed to be associated with milk phenotype parameters, however, only in multiparous cows, indicating that dairy cow parity could be one of the driving factors for host–microbe interactions.
Metaproteogenomic Profiling of Chemosynthetic Microbial Biofilms Reveals Metabolic Flexibility During Colonization of a Shallow-Water Gas Vent
Authors: Patwardhan Sushmita , Smedile Francesco , Giovannelli Donato , Vetriani Costantino
Published: April 2021

Tor Caldara is a shallow-water gas vent located in the Mediterranean Sea, with active venting of CO2 and H2S. At Tor Caldara, filamentous microbial biofilms, mainly composed of Epsilon- and Gammaproteobacteria, grow on substrates exposed to the gas venting. In this study, we took a metaproteogenomic approach to identify the metabolic potential and in situ expression of central metabolic pathways at two stages of biofilm maturation. Our findings indicate that inorganic reduced sulfur species are the main electron donors and CO2 the main carbon source for the filamentous biofilms, which conserve energy by oxygen and nitrate respiration, fix dinitrogen gas and detoxify heavy metals. Three metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), representative of key members in the biofilm community, were also recovered. Metaproteomic data show that metabolically active chemoautotrophic sulfide-oxidizing members of the Epsilonproteobacteria dominated the young microbial biofilms, while Gammaproteobacteria become prevalent in the established community. The co-expression of different pathways for sulfide oxidation by these two classes of bacteria suggests exposure to different sulfide concentrations within the biofilms, as well as fine-tuned adaptations of the enzymatic complexes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a shift in the taxonomic composition and associated metabolic activity of these biofilms in the course of the colonization process.
RETRACTED: LacI-Family Transcriptional Regulator DagR Acts as a Repressor of the Agarolytic Pathway Genes in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
Authors: Tsevelkhoroloo Maral , Shim So Heon , Lee Chang-Ro , Hong Soon-Kwang , Hong Young-Soo
Published: April 2021

Actinobacteria utilize various polysaccharides in the soil as carbon source by degrading them via extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Agarose, a marine algal polysaccharide composed of D-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose (AHG), is one of the carbon sources used by S. coelicolor A3(2). However, little is known about agar hydrolysis in S. coelicolor A3(2), except that the regulation of agar hydrolysis metabolism is strongly inhibited by glucose as in the catabolic pathways of other polysaccharides. In this study, we elucidated the role of DagR in regulating the expression of three agarase genes (dagA, dagB, and dagC) in S. coelicolor A3(2) by developing a dagR-deletion mutant (Δsco3485). We observed that the Δsco3485 mutant had increased mRNA level of the agarolytic pathway genes and 1.3-folds higher agarase production than the wild type strain, indicating that the dagR gene encodes a cluster-suited repressor. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that DagR bound to the upstream regions of the three agarase genes. DNase 1 footprinting analysis demonstrated that a palindromic sequence present in the upstream region of the three agarase genes was essential for DagR-binding. Uniquely, the DNA-binding activity of DagR was inhibited by AHG, one of the final degradation products of agarose. AHG-induced agarase production was not observed in the Δsco3485 mutant, as opposed to that in the wild type strain. Therefore, DagR acts as a repressor that binds to the promoter region of the agarase genes, inhibits gene expression at the transcriptional level, and is derepressed by AHG. This is the first report on the regulation of gene expression regarding agar metabolism in S. coelicolor A3(2).
Biology of Polyomavirus miRNA
Authors: Zou Wei , Imperiale Michael J.
Published: April 2021

Polyomaviruses are a family of non-enveloped DNA viruses with wide host ranges. Human polyomaviruses typically cause asymptomatic infection and establish persistence but can be reactivated under certain conditions and cause severe diseases. Most well studied polyomaviruses encode a viral miRNA that regulates viral replication and pathogenesis by targeting both viral early genes and host genes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of polyomavirus miRNAs involved in virus infection. We review in detail the regulation of polyomavirus miRNA expression, as well as the role polyomavirus miRNAs play in viral pathogenesis by controlling both host and viral gene expression. An overview of the potential application of polyomavirus miRNA as a marker for the progression of polyomaviruses associated diseases and polyomaviruses reactivation is also included.
The Other Side of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Neurological Sequelae in Patients
Authors: Alonso-Bellido Isabel M. , Bachiller Sara , Vázquez Guillermo , Cruz-Hernández Luis , Martínez Emilio , Ruiz-Mateos Ezequiel , Deierborg Tomas , Venero José L. , Real Luis M. , Ruiz Rocío
Published: April 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread around the globe causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because it affects the respiratory system, common symptoms are cough and breathing difficulties with fever and fatigue. Also, some cases progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The acute phase of COVID-19 has been also related to nervous system symptoms, including loss of taste and smell as well as encephalitis and cerebrovascular disorders. However, it remains unclear if neurological complications are due to the direct viral infection of the nervous system, or they appear as a consequence of the immune reaction against the virus in patients who presented pre-existing deficits or had a certain detrimental immune response. Importantly, the medium and long-term consequences of the infection by SARS-CoV-2 in the nervous system remain at present unknown. This review article aims to give an overview of the current neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, as well as attempting to provide an insight beyond the acute affectation.
Inhibition of Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long-Chain Family Member 4 Facilitates Neurological Recovery After Stroke by Regulation Ferroptosis
Authors: Chen Junmin , Yang Lan , Geng Lianxia , He Junna , Chen Lei , Sun Qian , Zhao Jing , Wang Xiaopeng
Published: April 2021

Background

Ischemic stroke is the main cause of disability worldwide, leading to a serious socioeconomic burden. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of programmed cell death and is related to various diseases. Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is considered a target of ferroptosis, but its specific role in ischemic stroke remains unclear. In this study, we investigate whether the inhibition of ACSL4 promotes the recovery of neurological function in a way that prevents ferroptosis.

Methods

A transient cerebral ischemia model was established for mice by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO); glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), ACSL4 and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) were detected by Western blot, and changes to mitochondria were observed by a transmission electron microscope. A kit was used to determine iron levels and lipid peroxide indicators, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, superoxide and malonaldehyde. Following MCAO, a ferroptosis inhibitor, liproxstatin-1, was administered intranasally immediately at a concentration of 10 mg/kg. Rosiglitazone was used to inhibit ACSL4 and was administered intravenously 1 h before MCAO at a concentration of 0.4 mg/kg. Brain injury was determined by neurological deficit scores, neuroscore (28-point), corner test and gait analyses, at 24 and 72 h after stroke. Brain infarct volume was determined by 2, 3, 5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining at 72 h after stroke.

Results

After MCAO, GPx4 protein expression decreased, ACSL4 and COX2 protein expression increased, GPx activity decreased and iron accumulation. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the outer mitochondrial membrane of neurons had ruptured and mitochondrial cristae had decreased or disappeared. Liproxstatin-1 could significantly attenuate the decrease of GPx4 and the increase of COX2 after MCAO, dramatically reducing iron accumulation and decreasing GPx activity, accompanied by a marked reduction in changes in lipid peroxidation indicators. The use of rosiglitazone to inhibit ACSL4 could significantly improve neurological function and reduce the brain infarct volume at 72 h after stroke. Importantly, inhibiting ACSL4 could significantly attenuate the decline of GPx4 after MCAO and markedly attenuate iron accumulation and a decrease in GPx activity. Additionally, changes in lipid peroxidation indicators were also significantly inhibited.

Conclusion

This study indicates that inhibiting ACSL4 can promote the recovery of neurological function after stroke by suppression of ferroptosis.
Inflammatory Cytokine Profile and Plasticity of Brain and Spinal Microglia in Response to ATP and Glutamate
Authors: Jesudasan Sam Joshva Baskar , Gupta Somnath J. , Churchward Matthew A. , Todd Kathryn G. , Winship Ian R.
Published: April 2021

Microglia are the primary cells in the central nervous system that identify and respond to injury or damage. Such a perturbation in the nervous system induces the release of molecules including ATP and glutamate that act as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). DAMPs are detected by microglia, which then regulate the inflammatory response in a manner sensitive to their surrounding environment. The available data indicates that ATP and glutamate can induce the release of pro inflammatory factors TNF (tumor necrosis factor), IL-1β (interleukin 1 beta), and NO (nitric oxide) from microglia. However, non-physiological concentrations of ATP and glutamate were often used to derive these insights. Here, we have compared the response of spinal cord microglia (SM) relative to brain microglia (BM) using physiologically relevant concentrations of glutamate and ATP that mimic injured conditions in the central nervous system. The data show that ATP and glutamate are not significant modulators of the release of cytokines from either BM or SM. Consistent with previous studies, spinal microglia exhibited a general trend toward reduced release of inflammatory cytokines relative to brain-derived microglia. Moreover, we demonstrate that the responses of microglia to these DAMPs can be altered by modifying the biochemical milieu in their surrounding environment. Preconditioning brain derived microglia with media from spinal cord derived mixed glial cultures shifted their release of IL-1ß and IL-6 to a less inflammatory phenotype consistent with spinal microglia.
Protective Effects of N1-Methylnicotinamide Against High-Fat Diet- and Age-Induced Hearing Loss via Moderate Overexpression of Sirtuin 1 Protein
Authors: Miwa Toru
Published: April 2021

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common form of hearing loss and the predominant neurodegenerative disease associated with aging. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is associated with the most complex physiological processes, including metabolism, cancer onset, and aging. SIRT1 protein levels are enhanced by the conversion of nicotinamide to N1-methylnicotinamide (MNAM), independent of its mRNA levels. Moreover, MNAM has implications in increased longevity achieved through its mitohormetic effects. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (Nnmt) is an enzyme involved in MNAM metabolism, and its level increases under caloric restriction (CR) conditions. The CR condition has implications in delaying ARHL onset. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between diet, hearing function, SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression levels in the inner ear, and cochlear morphology. Mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + 1% MNAM, and low-fat diet (LFD) were monitored for age-related auditory-evoked brainstem responses, and changes in cochlear histology, metabolism, and protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed. Our results revealed that the HFD- and aging-mediated downregulated expression of SIRT1 and SIRT3 promoted hearing loss that was obfuscated by MNAM supplementation-induced upregulated expression of cochlear SIRT1 and SIRT3. Thus, our results suggest that MNAM can be used as a therapeutic agent for preventing ARHL.
Cerebral Microbleeds, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Neuroimaging Markers in Clinical Subtypes of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Ikeda Masaki , Kodaira Sayaka , Kasahara Hiroo , Takai Eriko , Nagashima Kazuaki , Fujita Yukio , Makioka Kouki , Hirayanagi Kimitoshi , Furuta Natsumi , Furuta Minori , Sanada Etsuko , Kobayashi Ayumi , Harigaya Yasuo , Nagamine Shun , Hattori Noriaki , Tashiro Yuichi , Kishi Kazuhiro , Shimada Hirotaka , Suto Takayuki , Tanaka Hisashi , Sakai Yasujiro , Yamazaki Tsuneo , Tanaka Yukiko , Aihara Yuko , Amari Masakuni , Yamaguchi Haruyasu , Okamoto Koichi , Takatama Masamitsu , Ishii Kenji , Higuchi Tetsuya , Tsushima Yoshito , Ikeda Yoshio
Published: April 2021

Lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) due to vascular amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits. However, the relationship between lobar CMBs and clinical subtypes of AD remains unknown. Here, we enrolled patients with early- and late-onset amnestic dominant AD, logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) who were compatible with the AD criteria. We then examined the levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers [Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, Aβ1-38, phosphorylated tau 181 (P-Tau), total tau (T-Tau), neurofilament light chain (NFL), and chitinase 3-like 1 protein (YKL-40)], analyzed the number and localization of CMBs, and measured the cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume by 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computerized tomography (99mTc ECD-SPECT), as well as the mean cortical standard uptake value ratio by 11C-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B-positron emission tomography (11C PiB-PET). Lobar CMBs in lvPPA were distributed in the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes with the left side predominance, while the CBF volume in lvPPA significantly decreased in the left temporal area, where the number of lobar CMBs and the CBF volumes showed a significant inversely correlation. The CSF levels of NFL in lvPPA were significantly higher compared to the other AD subtypes and non-demented subjects. The numbers of lobar CMBs significantly increased the CSF levels of NFL in the total AD patients, additionally, among AD subtypes, the CSF levels of NFL in lvPPA predominantly were higher by increasing number of lobar CMBs. On the other hand, the CSF levels of Aβ1-38, Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, P-Tau, and T-Tau were lower by increasing number of lobar CMBs in the total AD patients. These findings may suggest that aberrant brain hypoperfusion in lvPPA was derived from the brain atrophy due to neurodegeneration, and possibly may involve the aberrant microcirculation causing by lobar CMBs and cerebrovascular injuries, with the left side dominance, consequently leading to a clinical phenotype of logopenic variant.
Association Between Kawasaki Disease and Childhood Epilepsy: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Chien-Heng , Lai Jung-Nien , Lee Inn-Chi , Chou I-Ching , Lin Wei-De , Lin Mei-Chen , Hong Syuan-Yu
Published: April 2021

Background: Kawasaki disease is a common vasculitis of childhood in East Asia. The complications following Kawasaki disease mostly included cardiovascular sequelae; non-cardiac complications have been reported but less studied. This study investigated potential epilepsy following Kawasaki disease in Taiwanese children.

Objectives: Through National Health Insurance Research Database, we retrospectively analyzed the data of children aged <18 years with clinically diagnosed Kawasaki disease from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2012 in Taiwan. These patients were followed up to estimate the incidence of epilepsy in the Kawasaki cohort in comparison with that in the non-Kawasaki cohort in Taiwan.

Results: A total of 8,463 and 33,872 patients in the Kawasaki and non-Kawasaki cohorts were included in the study, respectively. Of the total eligible study subjects, 61.1% were boys and 38.9% were girls; most patients with newly diagnosed Kawasaki disease were aged <5 years [88.1%]. Patients with Kawasaki disease showed a higher incidence rate [47.98 vs. 27.45 every 100,000 person years] and significantly higher risk [adjusted hazard ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval = 1.13–2.44] of epilepsy than those without the disease. Additionally, female sex [adjusted hazard ratio = 2.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.31–4.04] and age <5 years [adjusted hazard ratio = 1.82, 95% confidence interval = 1.22–2.72] showed a significantly higher risk of epilepsy in the Kawasaki cohort.

Conclusion: Results revealed a higher incidence rate and significant risk of epilepsy in Taiwanese children with Kawasaki disease than in those without the disease. Therefore, children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease are recommended follow-up as they have a high risk of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Attention-Demanding Cognitive Tasks Worsen Postural Control in Patients With Cervical Dystonia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Baione Viola , Ferrazzano Gina , Celletti Claudia , De Rosa Matteo , Belvisi Daniele , Fabbrini Giovanni , Galli Manuela , Camerota Filippo , Conte Antonella
Published: April 2021

Background: Patients with cervical dystonia (CD) show impaired postural control, balance, and gait, likely due to abnormal head postures and sensorimotor disturbances. However, until now no study has investigated whether attention-demanding activity worsens postural control and balance in CD patients.

Objective: To investigate whether patients with CD show cognitive-motor interference (CMI), a specific kind of dual-task interference that occurs during the simultaneous execution of a cognitive and motor task. This information may be useful to determine whether performing activities of daily living worsens postural control and balance in CD patients.

Methods: We performed a pilot case-control study. Twenty-two patients affected by CD and 19 healthy controls were enrolled in order to test CMI. Each subject was evaluated during the execution of a cognitive task while postural stability was assessed through a stabilometric platform.

Results: CD patients showed impaired postural control compared to healthy controls, with instability increasing with increasing cognitive task complexity. No relationships were found between stabilometric parameters and clinical characteristics of CD.

Conclusions: Our hypothesis is that CMI in CD patients derives from deranged network connectivity when activated simultaneously during the performance of two tasks that interfere with each other and “compete” for the same resources within the cognitive system.
Vividness of Visual Imagery and Personality Impact Motor-Imagery Brain Computer Interfaces
Authors: Leeuwis Nikki , Paas Alissa , Alimardani Maryam
Published: April 2021

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are communication bridges between a human brain and external world, enabling humans to interact with their environment without muscle intervention. Their functionality, therefore, depends on both the BCI system and the cognitive capacities of the user. Motor-imagery BCIs (MI-BCI) rely on the users’ mental imagination of body movements. However, not all users have the ability to sufficiently modulate their brain activity for control of a MI-BCI; a problem known as BCI illiteracy or inefficiency. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon and the cause of such difference among users is yet not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of several cognitive and psychological measures on MI-BCI performance. Fifty-five novice BCI-users participated in a left- versus right-hand motor imagery task. In addition to their BCI classification error rate and demographics, psychological measures including personality factors, affinity for technology, and motivation during the experiment, as well as cognitive measures including visuospatial memory and spatial ability and Vividness of Visual Imagery were collected. Factors that were found to have a significant impact on MI-BCI performance were Vividness of Visual Imagery, and the personality factors of orderliness and autonomy. These findings shed light on individual traits that lead to difficulty in BCI operation and hence can help with early prediction of inefficiency among users to optimize training for them.
Constructing Compact Signatures for Individual Fingerprinting of Brain Connectomes
Authors: Ravindra Vikram , Drineas Petros , Grama Ananth
Published: April 2021

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that functional connectomes are unique to individuals, i.e., two distinct fMRIs taken over different sessions of the same subject are more similar in terms of their connectomes than those from two different subjects. In this study, we present new results that identify specific parts of resting state and task-specific connectomes that are responsible for the unique signatures. We show that a very small part of the connectome can be used to derive features for discriminating between individuals. A network of these features is shown to achieve excellent training and test accuracy in matching imaging datasets. We show that these features are statistically significant, robust to perturbations, invariant across populations, and are localized to a small number of structural regions of the brain. Furthermore, we show that for task-specific connectomes, the regions identified by our method are consistent with their known functional characterization. We present a new matrix sampling technique to derive computationally efficient and accurate methods for identifying the discriminating sub-connectome and support all of our claims using state-of-the-art statistical tests and computational techniques.
Circulating Angiotensin-(1–7) Is Reduced in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Correlates With White Matter Abnormalities: Results From a Pilot Study
Authors: Ribeiro Victor Teatini , Cordeiro Thiago Macedo e , Filha Roberta da Silva , Perez Lucas Giandoni , Caramelli Paulo , Teixeira Antônio Lúcio , de Souza Leonardo Cruz , Simões e Silva Ana Cristina
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Despite the extensive research, its pathophysiology remains largely unelucidated. Currently, more attention is being given to the disease’s vascular and inflammatory aspects. In this context, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) emerges as a credible player in AD pathogenesis. The RAS has multiple physiological functions, conducted by its two opposing axes: the classical, led by Angiotensin II (Ang II), and the alternative, driven by Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)]. These peptides were shown to interact with AD pathology in animal studies, but evidence from humans is scarce. Only 20 studies dosed RAS molecules in AD patients’ bloodstream, none of which assessed both axes simultaneously. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional, case-control exploratory study to compare plasma levels of Ang II and Ang-(1–7) in AD patients vs. age-matched controls. Within each group, we searched for correlations between RAS biomarkers and measures from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

We evaluated patients with AD (n = 14) and aged-matched controls (n = 14). Plasma Ang II and Ang-(1–7) were dosed using ELISA. Brain MRI was performed in a 3 Tesla scan, and a three-dimensional T1-weighted volumetric sequence was obtained. Images were then processed by FreeSurfer to calculate: (1) white matter hypointensities (WMH) volume; (2) volumes of hippocampus, medial temporal cortex, and precuneus. Statistical analyses used non-parametrical tests (Mann-Whitney and Spearman).

Results

Ang-(1–7) levels in plasma were significantly lower in the AD patients than in controls [median (25th–75th percentiles)]: AD [101.5 (62.43–126.4)] vs. controls [209.3 (72–419.1)], p = 0.014. There was no significant difference in circulating Ang II. In the AD patients, but not in controls, there was a positive and significant correlation between Ang-(1–7) values and WMH volumes (Spearman’s rho = 0.56, p = 0.038). Ang-(1–7) did not correlate with cortical volumes in AD or in controls. Ang II did not correlate with any MRI variable in none of the groups.

Conclusion

If confirmed, our results strengthen the hypothesis that RAS alternative axis is downregulated in AD, and points to a possible interaction between Ang-(1–7) and cerebrovascular lesions in AD.
Sos1 Modulates Extracellular Matrix Synthesis, Proliferation, and Migration in Fibroblasts
Authors: Fuentes-Calvo Isabel , Martinez-Salgado Carlos
Published: April 2021

Non-reversible fibrosis is common in various diseases such as chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, pulmonary fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is involved in virtually all types of fibrosis. We previously described the involvement of Ras GTPase isoforms in the regulation of TGF-β1-induced fibrosis. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Son of Sevenless (Sos) is the main Ras activator, but the role of the ubiquitously expressed Sos1 in the development of fibrosis has not been studied. For this purpose, we isolated and cultured Sos1 knock-out (KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, the main extracellular matrix proteins (ECM)-producing cells, and we analyzed ECM synthesis, cell proliferation and migration in the absence of Sos1, as well as the role of the main Sos1-Ras effectors, Erk1/2 and Akt, in these processes. The absence of Sos1 increases collagen I expression (through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway), total collagen proteins, and slightly increases fibronectin expression; Sos1 regulates fibroblast proliferation through both PI3K-Akt and Raf-Erk pathways, and Sos1-PI3K-Akt signaling regulates fibroblast migration. These study shows that Sos1 regulates ECM synthesis and migration (through Ras-PI3K-Akt) and proliferation (through Ras-PI3K-Akt and Ras-Raf-Erk) in fibroblasts, and describe for the first time the role of the Sos1-Ras signaling axis in the regulation of cellular processes involved in the development of fibrosis.
Seasonal Efficiency of Supplemental LED Lighting on Growth and Photomorphogenesis of Sweet Basil
Authors: Solbach Jan Andreas , Fricke Andreas , Stützel Hartmut
Published: April 2021

For decisions on supplemental lighting a quantitative knowledge of the plants' responses to light under varying conditions is fundamental. In this study, we developed light dose-response curves of growth and morphological traits forOcimum basilicumL. and examined the effects of light color (blue, red, and white plus far-red) and natural environment (season) on these curves. Four greenhouse experiments were conducted throughout the year to determine the efficiencies of the light regimes on growth and their effects on plant morphology. A special aspect was the photosynthetic efficiency of far-red light. Linear and monomolecular relationships were found for the relationships between plant traits and supplemental light dose. Traits related to biomass productivity increased linearly with light dose whereas some morphological characters showed a saturation behavior. Red light and white plus far-red light were more efficient in plant dry weight production than blue light, and the plants adapted differently to the light qualities: higher biomass under red light was related to a plant architecture more favorable for light capture, i.e., taller plants and bigger leaves. White plus far-red light, on the other hand, increased leaf mass per area (LMA) and light use efficiency (LUE). Blue light resulted in lowest plant light interception and LUE. Considering photosynthetic effects of near-infrared light (PPFD800, 400–800 nm) instead of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD700, 400–700 nm) led to strongly reduced efficiencies. Traits related to photosynthesis such as dry weight, LMA and LUE were particularly affected by PPFD800. There were no interactions between the efficiencies of the different light colors and the seasons. Efficiencies of all light regimes were significantly lower during summer compared to spring and winter. Higher dry weight production during summer compared to winter and spring were a consequence of increased light interception rather than changes in LUE. The observed differences in seasonal efficiencies were directly linked to the amount of natural light present as indicated by changes in the ratio of supplemental to natural light.
The Punished Self, the Unknown Self, and the Harmed Self – Toward a More Nuanced Understanding of Self-Harm Among Adolescent Girls
Authors: Stänicke Line Indrevoll
Published: April 2021

Self-harm among adolescents, mostly girls, has increased in the last years. Self-harm is associated with mental illness and the risk of suicide. This qualitative study aims to explore the lived experience of self-harm as it is related to everyday life and challenges among adolescents. Nineteen girls (13–18 years of age) in a clinical population (strategic selection) participated in personal interviews analyzed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to capture how they made meaning of self-harm and essential features of experiencing self-harm. Adult persons with the first-hand experience of self-harm were included in the research analysis. Data-analysis resulted in three superordinate themes which all speak about ways to handle inner pain and vulnerability: 1. “I deserve pain,” 2. “I don't want to feel anything,” and 3. “I'm harmed, and no one cares.” Each superordinate theme included four main themes characterizing essential features of difficult experiences during self-harm, the purpose of the action, self-descriptions, and the role of others during self-harm. The three superordinate themes are discussed as emerging self-representations – “the punished self,” “the unknown self,” and “the harmed self” – during the transitional age of adolescence. This article argues that subjective personal data on self-harm related to adolescents' everyday lives may indicate diversity in the capacity to integrate difficult needs, feelings, and traumatic experiences as part of the self. This knowledge may bring a nuanced understanding of self-harm in adolescence, enhance self-understanding and treatment motivation, and inform clinical adjustment.
Supporting Acquisition of Spelling Skills in Different Orthographies Using an Empirically Validated Digital Learning Environment
Authors: Juhani Lyytinen Heikki , Semrud-Clikeman Margaret , Li Hong , Pugh Kenneth , Richardson Ulla
Published: April 2021

This paper discusses how the association learning principle works for supporting acquisition of basic spelling and reading skills using digital game-based learning environment with the Finland-based GraphoLearn (GL) technology. This program has been designed and validated to work with early readers of different alphabetic writing systems using repetition and reinforcing connections between spoken and written units. Initially GL was developed and found effective in training children at risk of reading disorders in Finland. Today GL training has been shown to support learning decoding skills among children independent of whether they face difficulties resulting from educational, social, or biological reasons.
Art Teachers' Attitudes Toward Online Learning: An Empirical Study Using Self Determination Theory
Authors: Wang Mo , Wang Minjuan , Cui Yulu , Zhang Hai
Published: April 2021

The pandemic in 2020 made online learning the widely used modality of teaching in several countries and it has also entered the spotlight of educational research. However, online learning has always been a challenge for disciplines (engineering, biology, and art) that require hands-on practice. For art teaching or training, online learning has many advantages and disadvantages. How art teachers embrace and adapt their teaching for online delivery remains an unanswered question. This research examines 892 art teachers' attitudes toward online learning, using learning environment, need satisfaction, mental engagement, and behavior as predictors. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between these four dimensions during these teachers' participation in an online learning program. The results reveal significant correlations between the learning environment, need satisfaction, mental engagement, and behavior. Moreover, this study reveals the group characteristics of art teachers, which can actually be supported by online learning programs. These findings provide insights into how art teachers view and use online learning, and thus can shed lights on their professional development.
“Time Slows Down Whenever You Are Around” for Women but Not for Men
Authors: Arantes Joana , Pinho Margarida , Wearden John , Albuquerque Pedro Barbas
Published: April 2021

What happens when we unexpectedly see an attractive potential partner? Previous studies in laboratory settings suggest that the visualization of attractive and unattractive photographs influences the perception of time. The major aim of this research is to study time perception and attraction in a realistic social scenario, by investigating if changes in subjective time measured during a speed dating are associated with attraction. The duration of the dates was variable and participants had to estimate the time that passed. Among other measures, participants also rated the potential partners in terms of their physical attractiveness before and after the dates and reported if they would like to exchange contact with them. Results showed that, in a real speed dating situation, when there is a perception of the partner as being physically more attractive, women tend to overestimate the duration of that meeting, whereas men tend to underestimate its duration. Such changes may reflect evolutionary adaptations which make the human cognitive system more responsive in situations related to reproductive fitness.
Integration of the ICD-11 and DSM-5 Dimensional Systems for Personality Disorders Into a Unified Taxonomy With Non-overlapping Traits
Authors: Gutiérrez Fernando , Peri Josep M. , Gárriz Miguel , Vall Gemma , Arqué Estela , Ruiz Laura , Condomines Jaume , Calvo Natalia , Ferrer Marc , Sureda Bárbara
Published: April 2021

The promise of replacing the diagnostic categories of personality disorder with a better-grounded system has been only partially met. We still need to understand whether our main dimensional taxonomies, those of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), are the same or different, and elucidate whether a unified structure is possible. We also need truly independent pathological domains, as they have shown unacceptable overlap so far. To inquire into these points, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD) were administered to 677 outpatients. Disattenuated correlation coefficients between 0.84 and 0.93 revealed that both systems share four analogous traits: negative affectivity, detachment, dissociality/antagonism, and disinhibition. These traits proved scalar equivalence too, such that scores in the two questionnaires are roughly interchangeable. These four domains plus psychoticism formed a theoretically consistent and well-fitted five-factor structure, but they overlapped considerably, thereby reducing discriminant validity. Only after the extraction of a general personality disorder factor (g-PD) through bifactor analysis, we could attain a comprehensive model bearing mutually independent traits.
More Depression-Related Public Concern After the Suicide of a Pop Star in China: Evidence From the Online Big Data Platform
Authors: Yu Hong-Zhang , Fu Tian , Zhou Jia-Nan , Ke Ping , Wang Yun-Xia
Published: April 2021

Background: In China, we have seen dramatic increases in public concern over depression and mental health after the suicide of some famous persons. The objective of this study is to investigate the changes of search-engine query patterns to monitor this phenomenon based on the tragic suicide of a young Chinese pop star, Kimi Qiao.

Methods: The daily search volume for depression was retrieved from both the Baidu Index (BDI) and the Sina MicroBlog Index (SMI). Besides, the daily BDI for suicide, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, common cold, stomach cancer, and liver cancer were collected for comparison. According to the time of Qiao's suicide, all data were divided into two periods (i.e., Period One from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016 while Period Two ranged from 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017). The paired t-test was used to compare the differences in search volumes between two periods. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to estimate correlations between the BDI and SMI for depression.

Results: The average BDI for depression, BDI for suicide, and SMI for depression in Period Two were significantly higher than in Period One (p < 0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between the BDI and SMI for depression (r = 0.97, p < 0.001). And no significant difference in BDI for other diseases between the two periods was found.

Conclusions: The changes of search-engine query patterns indicated that the celebrity's suicide might be able to improve the netizens' concern about depression in China. The study suggests publishing more practical knowledge and advice on depression through the Internet and social media, to improve the public's mental health literacy and help people to cope with their depressive symptoms appropriately.