bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food Insecurity across Age Groups in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fan Zhongqi , Yang Amy M. , Lehr Marcus , Ronan Ana B. , Simpson Ryan B. , Nguyen Kimberly H. , Naumova Elena N. , El-Abbadi Naglaa H.
Published: August 2024

Food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impact varied across different age groups during the prolonged public health emergency. This study sought to describe national food insecurity prevalence by adult age group at multiple stages of the pandemic and explore differences by demographic characteristics. Data were from the nationally representative US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey from April 2020 to May 2023 (N = 4,153,462). Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) regression analysis identified change points in food insecurity trends, segmenting the timeline into three periods: (1) April 2020–March 2021, (2) April 2021–May 2022, and (3) June 2022–May 2023. Logistic regression models examined associations between age, time period, and self-reported household food insecurity; covariates included demographics, socioeconomic status, household structure, and food support program usage. Overall, 9.3% of respondents experienced food insecurity, ranging from 3.5% among those aged ≥75 to 12.2% for ages 35–44 years. Significant interaction between age group and time period indicated inconsistency in the age-food insecurity association during the pandemic (p < 0.001). From Period 1 to 3, the proportion of food-insecure adults aged ≥65 rose from 9.2% to 13.9%. Across all age groups, higher odds of food insecurity were found among Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Other/Multiracial respondents; those with less than a Bachelor’s degree; those with incomes below USD 35,000; those unemployed for reasons other than retirement; and non-homeowners (p < 0.001). The results show that trends and characteristics associated with food insecurity varied across age groups and time periods. Continuous monitoring of food insecurity during emergencies is critical to identify vulnerable populations and timely interventions.
Perceived Risk of Binge Drinking among Older Alcohol Users: Associations with Alcohol Use Frequency, Binge Drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Alcohol Treatment Use
Authors: Choi Namkee G. , Marti C. Nathan , Choi Bryan Y.
Published: August 2024

Despite the high prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking among older adults, little research has been conducted on the association between their alcohol risk perception and alcohol use patterns. Using data on past-year alcohol users aged 50 and older (N = 6693) in the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we examined the (1) associations between risk perception of binge alcohol use 1–2 times a week and alcohol use frequency, binge use frequency, and alcohol use disorder (AUD), and (2) the association between alcohol treatment use and risk perception. About 40% of past-year alcohol users perceived great risk of binge alcohol use 1–2 times a week, and 27% of past-year users had binge drinking in the past month. Multivariable analyses showed the negative association between great risk perception and alcohol use frequency (IRR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.48–0.74 for daily use) and past-month binge alcohol use (IRR = 0.33, 95%CI = 0.19–0.57 for 6–19 days of binge use). The odds of great risk perception were also lower among those with mild AUD. Risk perception was not significantly associated with alcohol treatment. The lower likelihood of risk perception among problematic alcohol users and low treatment use is concerning. Education and interventions to reduce harm from alcohol are needed.
An Examination of Perceptions among Black Women on Their Awareness of and Access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Authors: Hill Mandy J. , Sapp Sarah , McCants Shadawn , Campbell Jeffrey , Taylor Akeria , Stockman Jamila K. , Santa Maria Diane
Published: August 2024

Cisgender Black women (CBW) experience 67% of new HIV diagnoses among women in the South. Progress toward ending the HIV epidemic requires researchers to explore perceptions of factors related to the decision to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among CBW. Qualitative methods were used to explore how social and structural constructs influence individual decisions to use PrEP among 20 CBW through focus groups. The thematic data analysis identified how facilitators and barriers to PrEP uptake aligned with an external locus of control (LOC) [e.g., media influences on understanding of PrEP] or an internal LOC (e.g., awareness of personal vulnerability to HIV). Several participants highlighted that their PrEP knowledge was rooted in an external LOC, such as media campaigns. A participant stated, ‘But even with the commercial, it wasn’t representation for me.’ Another participant described her personal HIV vulnerability in her sexual relationship as an internal LOC, stating, ‘Not ignorance, it’s maybe just not accepting the true reality of this can be contracted even from someone that you believe that you trust.’ Due to gaps in media marketing, healthcare providers should be aware that some female patients may perceive that PrEP is not for them. Provider-led sexual health discussions are urgently needed to bridge the gap between PrEP eligibility and initiation.
R2R3-MYB Gene Family in Coptis teeta Wall.: Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, Evolutionary Expansion, and Expression Analyses during Floral Development
Authors: Yu Jichen , Duan Shaofeng , Shua Zhenyang , Li Kecheng , Xiang Guisheng , Baldwin Timothy Charles , Lu Yingchun , Liang Yanli
Published: August 2024

The R2R3-MYB gene family represents a widely distributed class of plant transcription factors. This gene family plays an important role in many aspects of plant growth and development. However, the characterization of R2R3-MYB genes present in the genome of Coptis teeta has not been reported. Here, we describe the bioinformatic identification and characterization of 88 R2R3-MYB genes in this species, and the identification of members of the R2R3-MYB gene family in species within the order Ranales most closely related to Coptis teeta. The CteR2R3-MYB genes were shown to exhibit a higher degree of conservation compared to those of A. thaliana, as evidenced by phylogeny, conserved motifs, gene structure, and replication event analyses. Cis-acting element analysis confirmed the involvement of CteR2R3-MYB genes in a variety of developmental processes, including growth, cell differentiation, and reproduction mediated by hormone synthesis. In addition, through homology comparisons with the equivalent gene family in A. thaliana, protein regulatory network prediction and transcriptome data analysis of floral organs across three time periods of flower development, 17 candidate genes were shown to exhibit biased expression in two floral phenotypes of C. teeta. This suggests their potential involvement in floral development (anther development) in this species.
Specific Monoclonal Antibodies against African Swine Fever Virus Protease pS273R Revealed a Novel and Conserved Antigenic Epitope
Authors: Zhang Jiajia , Zhang Kaili , Sun Shaohua , He Ping , Deng Dafu , Zhang Pingping , Zheng Wanglong , Chen Nanhua , Zhu Jianzhong
Published: August 2024

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large enveloped DNA virus that causes a highly pathogenic hemorrhagic disease in both domestic pigs and wild boars. The ASFV genome contains a double-stranded DNA encoding more than 150 proteins. The ASFV possesses only one protease, pS273R, which is important for virion assembly and host immune evasion. Therefore, the specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) against pS273R is useful for ASFV research. Here, we generated two specific anti-pS273R mAbs named 2F3 and 3C2, both of which were successfully applied for ELISA, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays. Further, we showed that both 2F3 and 3C2 mAbs recognize a new epitope of N terminal 1–25 amino acids of pS273R protein, which is highly conserved across different ASFV strains including all genotype I and II strains. Based on the recognized epitope, an indirect ELISA was established and was effective in detecting antibodies during ASFV infection. To conclude, the specific pS273R mAbs and corresponding epitope identified will strongly promote ASFV serological diagnosis and vaccine research.
Molecular Alterations Associated with Histologically Overt Stromal Response in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Sayan Mutlay , Tuac Yetkin , Akgul Mahmut , Kucukcolak Samet , Tjio Elza , Akbulut Dilara , Chen Luke W. , Yang David D. , Moningi Shalini , Leeman Jonathan E. , Orio Peter F. , Nguyen Paul L. , D’Amico Anthony V. , Aktan Cagdas
Published: August 2024

Prostate cancer has substantial heterogeneity in clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses, posing challenges in predicting disease progression and tailoring treatment strategies. Recent studies have highlighted the potential prognostic value of evaluating the tumor microenvironment, including the presence of a histologically overt stromal response (HOST-response) characterized by peri-glandular stromal changes and architectural distortions. This retrospective study examined patient records from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify genomic alterations associated with the HOST-response in prostate cancer. Among 348 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, 160 (45.98%) were identified as having a HOST-response. A gene expression analysis revealed 1263 genes with significantly higher expression in patients with a HOST-response. A protein–protein interaction network analysis identified seven hub genes (KIF2C, CENPA, CDC20, UBE2C, ESPL1, KIF23, and PLK1) highly interconnected in the network. A functional enrichment analysis revealed alterations in the cell division, cytoskeletal organization, cytokinesis, and interleukin-16 signaling pathways in patients with a HOST-response, suggesting dysregulated proliferation and inflammation. The distinct molecular signature associated with the HOST-response provides insights into the tumor–stroma interactions driving adverse outcomes and potential targets for tailored therapeutic interventions in this subset of patients with prostate cancer.
Influence of Anticoagulants on the Dissociation of Cardiac Troponin Complex in Blood Samples
Authors: Riabkova Natalia S. , Kogan Alexander E. , Katrukha Ivan A. , Vylegzhanina Alexandra V. , Bogomolova Agnessa P. , Alieva Amina K. , Pevzner Dmitry V. , Bereznikova Anastasia V. , Katrukha Alexey G.
Published: August 2024

Immunodetection of cardiac isoforms of troponin I (cTnI) and troponin T (cTnT) in blood samples is widely used for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The cardiac troponin complex (ITC-complex), comprising cTnI, cTnT, and troponin C (TnC), makes up a large portion of troponins released into the bloodstream after the necrosis of cardiomyocytes. However, the stability of the ITC-complex has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to investigate the stability of the ITC-complex in blood samples. A native ITC-complex was incubated in buffer solutions, serum, and citrate, heparin, or EDTA plasma at various temperatures. Western blotting and gel filtration were performed, and troponins were detected using specific monoclonal antibodies. The ITC-complex dissociated at 37 °C in buffers with or without anticoagulants, in citrate, heparin, and EDTA plasmas, and in serum, into a binary cTnI-TnC complex (IC-complex) and free cTnT. In plasma containing heparin and EDTA, the IC-complex further dissociated into free TnC and cTnI. No dissociation was found at 4 °C or at room temperature (RT) in all matrices within 24 h except for EDTA plasma. After incubation at 37 °C in EDTA plasma and serum, dissociation was accompanied by proteolytic degradation of both cTnI and cTnT. The presence of anti-troponin autoantibodies in the sample impeded dissociation of the ITC-complex. The ITC-complex dissociates in vitro to form the IC-complex and free cTnT at 37 °C but is mostly stable at 4 °C or RT. Further dissociation of the IC-complex occurs at 37 °C in plasmas containing heparin and EDTA.
High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Paired Clinical Liver Tissue Samples from Hepatocellular Cancer and Surrounding Region
Authors: Fernandes Wendy M. , Harris Nicola , Zamalloa Ane , Adofina Lissette , Srinivasan Parthi , Menon Krishna , Heaton Nigel , Miquel Rosa , Zen Yoh , Kelly Geoff , Jarvis James A. , Oregioni Alain , Chokshi Shilpa , Riva Antonio , Cox I. Jane
Published: August 2024

The global burden of liver cancer is increasing. Timely diagnosis is important for optimising the limited available treatment options. Understanding the metabolic consequences of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may lead to more effective treatment options. We aimed to document metabolite differences between HCC and matched surrounding tissues of varying aetiology, obtained at the time of liver resection, and to interpret metabolite changes with clinical findings. High-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS-NMR) spectroscopy analyses of N = 10 paired HCC and surrounding non-tumour liver tissue samples were undertaken. There were marked HRMAS-NMR differences in lipid levels in HCC tissue compared to matched surrounding tissue and more subtle changes in low-molecular-weight metabolites, particularly when adjusting for patient-specific variability. Differences in lipid-CH3, lipid-CH2, formate, and acetate levels were of particular interest. The obvious differences in lipid content highlight the intricate interplay between metabolic adaptations and cancer cell survival in the complex microenvironment of liver cancer. Differences in formate and acetate might relate to bacterial metabolites. Therefore, documentation of metabolites in HCC tissue according to histology findings in patients is of interest for personalised medicine approaches and for tailoring targeted treatment strategies.
Exosomes from Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids Enhance Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing
Authors: Lee Si Hyung , Han Jung Woo , Yang Jin Young , Lyu Jungmook , Park Hyo Song , Bang Ji Hong , Kim Yeji , Chang Hun Soo , Park Tae Kwann
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of exosomes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) on corneal epithelial wound healing. Exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of the hiPSC-derived ROs (Exo-ROs) using ultracentrifugation, and then they were characterized by a nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. In a murine model of corneal epithelial wounds, these exosomes were topically applied to evaluate their healing efficacy. The results demonstrated that the exosome-treated eyes showed significantly enhanced wound closures compared with the controls at 24 h post-injury. The 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine assay and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed a substantial increase in cell proliferation and a decrease in inflammatory marker contents in the exosome-treated group. The RNA sequencing and exosomal microRNA analysis revealed that the Exo-RO treatment targeted various pathways related to inflammation and cell proliferation, including the PI3K-Akt, TNF, MAPK, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Moreover, the upregulation of genes related to retinoic acid and eicosanoid metabolism may have enhanced corneal epithelial healing in the eyes treated with the Exo-ROs. These findings suggest that hiPSC-derived RO exosomes could be novel therapeutic agents for promoting corneal epithelial wound healing.
The Comparison of Immunomodulatory Properties of Canine and Human Wharton Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Burdzinska Anna , Szopa Iwona Monika , Majchrzak-Kuligowska Kinga , Roszczyk Aleksander , Zielniok Katarzyna , Zep Paweł , Dąbrowski Filip Andrzej , Bhale Tanushree , Galanty Marek , Paczek Leszek
Published: August 2024

Although therapies based on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being implemented in clinical settings, many aspects regarding these procedures require further optimization. Domestic dogs suffer from numerous immune-mediated diseases similar to those found in humans. This study aimed to assess the immunomodulatory activity of canine (c) Wharton jelly (WJ)-derived MSCs and refer them to human (h) MSCs isolated from the same tissue. Canine MSC(WJ)s appeared to be more prone to in vitro aging than their human counterparts. Both canine and human MSC(WJ)s significantly inhibited the activation as well as proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The treatment with IFNγ significantly upregulated indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) synthesis in human and canine MSC(WJ)s, and the addition of poly(I:C), TLR3 ligand, synergized this effect in cells from both species. Unstimulated human and canine MSC(WJ)s released TGFβ at the same level (p > 0.05). IFNγ significantly increased the secretion of TGFβ in cells from both species (p < 0.05); however, this response was significantly stronger in human cells than in canine cells. Although the properties of canine and human MSC(WJ)s differ in detail, cells from both species inhibit the proliferation of activated T cells to a very similar degree and respond to pro-inflammatory stimulation by enhancing their anti-inflammatory activity. These results suggest that testing MSC transplantation in naturally occurring immune-mediated diseases in dogs may have high translational value for human clinical trials.
Role of miR-9 in Modulating NF-κB Signaling and Cytokine Expression in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Prezioso Carla , Limongi Dolores , Checconi Paola , Ciotti Marco , Legramante Jacopo M. , Petrangeli Carlo M. , Leonardis Francesca , Giovannelli Alfredo , Terrinoni Alessandro , Bernardini Sergio , Minieri Marilena , D’Agostini Cartesio
Published: August 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a significant impact on global health, with severe cases often characterized by a worsening cytokine storm. Since it has been described that the NF-κB signaling pathway, regulated by microRNAs, could play a pivotal role in the inflammatory response, in this study, the role of miR-9 in modulating NF-κB signaling and inflammatory cytokine expression in COVID-19 patients was investigated. This observational retrospective single-center study included 41 COVID-19 patients and 20 healthy controls. Serum samples were analyzed for miR-9, NF-κB, and IκBα expression levels using RT-PCR. The expression levels and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured using RT-PCR and ELISA. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were conducted to explore relationships between these variables. COVID-19 patients, particularly non-survivors, exhibited significantly higher miR-9 and NF-κB levels compared to controls. A strong positive correlation was found between miR-9 and NF-κB expression (r = 0.813, p < 0.001). NF-κB levels were significantly correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.971, p < 0.001), IL-1β (r = 0.968, p < 0.001), and TNF-α (r = 0.968, p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that miR-9 regulates NF-κB signaling and inflammation in COVID-19. Elevated miR-9 levels in non-survivors suggest its potential as a severity biomarker. While COVID-19 cases have decreased, targeting miR-9 and NF-κB could improve outcomes for other inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune diseases, highlighting the need for continued research in this area.
Photosynthesis: Genetic Strategies Adopted to Gain Higher Efficiency
Authors: Khan Naveed , Choi Seok-Hyun , Lee Choon-Hwan , Qu Mingnan , Jeon Jong-Seong
Published: August 2024

The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population to maintain food security requires novel approaches to increase crop yields. Photosynthesis, the fundamental energy and material basis for plant life on Earth, is highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evaluating the operational status of the photosynthetic mechanism provides insights into plants’ capacity to adapt to their surroundings. Despite immense effort, photosynthesis still falls short of its theoretical maximum efficiency, indicating significant potential for improvement. In this review, we provide background information on the various genetic aspects of photosynthesis, explain its complexity, and survey relevant genetic engineering approaches employed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. We discuss the latest success stories of gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and synthetic biology in achieving precise refinements in targeted photosynthesis pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson cycle, electron transport chain, and photorespiration. We also discuss the genetic markers crucial for mitigating the impact of rapidly changing environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or drought, on photosynthesis and growth. This review aims to pinpoint optimization opportunities for photosynthesis, discuss recent advancements, and address the challenges in improving this critical process, fostering a globally food-secure future through sustainable food crop production.
Different Prostatic Tissue Microbiomes between High- and Low-Grade Prostate Cancer Pathogenesis
Authors: Kim Jae Heon , Seo Hoonhee , Kim Sukyung , Rahim Md Abdur , Jo Sujin , Barman Indrajeet , Tajdozian Hanieh , Sarafraz Faezeh , Song Ho-Yeon , Song Yun Seob
Published: August 2024

Numerous human pathologies, such as neoplasia, are related to particular bacteria and changes in microbiome constituents. To investigate the association between an imbalance of bacteria and prostate carcinoma, the microbiome and gene functionality from tissues of patients with high-grade prostate tumor (HGT) and low-grade prostate tumor (LGT) were compared utilizing next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The results showed abnormalities in the bacterial profiles between the HGT and LGT specimens, indicating alterations in the make-up of bacterial populations and gene functionalities. The HGT specimens showed higher frequencies of Cutibacterium, Pelomonas, and Corynebacterium genera than the LGT specimens. Cell proliferation and cytokine assays also showed a significant proliferation of prostate cancer cells and elevated cytokine levels in the cells treated with Cutibacterium, respectively, supporting earlier findings. In summary, the HGT and LGT specimens showed differences in bacterial populations, suggesting that different bacterial populations might characterize high-grade and low-grade prostate malignancies.
Gliomagenesis, Epileptogenesis, and Remodeling of Neural Circuits: Relevance for Novel Treatment Strategies in Low- and High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Grimi Alessandro , Bono Beatrice C. , Lazzarin Serena M. , Marcheselli Simona , Pessina Federico , Riva Marco
Published: August 2024

Gliomas present a complex challenge in neuro-oncology, often accompanied by the debilitating complication of epilepsy. Understanding the biological interaction and common pathways between gliomagenesis and epileptogenesis is crucial for improving the current understanding of tumorigenesis and also for developing effective management strategies. Shared genetic and molecular mechanisms, such as IDH mutations and dysregulated glutamate signaling, contribute to both tumor progression and seizure development. Targeting these pathways, such as through direct inhibition of mutant IDH enzymes or modulation of glutamate receptors, holds promise for improving patient outcomes. Additionally, advancements in surgical techniques, like supratotal resection guided by connectomics, offer opportunities for maximally safe tumor resection and enhanced seizure control. Advanced imaging modalities further aid in identifying epileptogenic foci and tailoring treatment approaches based on the tumor’s metabolic characteristics. This review aims to explore the complex interplay between gliomagenesis, epileptogenesis, and neural circuit remodeling, offering insights into shared molecular pathways and innovative treatment strategies to improve outcomes for patients with gliomas and associated epilepsy.
Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Variations in Practice and Early Management of Infants with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the United States
Authors: Zaidman Craig M. , Crockett Cameron D. , Wedge Ethan , Tabatabai Grace , Goedeker Natalie
Published: August 2024

In the United States (U.S.), newborn screening (NBS) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is implemented by individual states. There is likely variation in the practice patterns of state NBS programs and among the providers caring for newborns with SMA. This is a prospective, descriptive, observational study that seeks to quantify and describe practice patterns and heterogeneities in state NBS programs and provider practices in the U.S. We surveyed U.S. state NBS programs and care providers of newborns with SMA. Thirty states and 41 practitioners responded. NBS program practices vary by state. Most (74%) state programs provide results to both primary care and specialist providers and also defer confirmatory SMA testing to those providers. Two states had relatively high rates of false-positive or inclusive results. The total birth prevalence of SMA was 1:13,862. Most providers were in tertiary care centers (90%) and were child neurologists (81%) and/or had fellowship training in Neuromuscular Medicine or Electromyography (76%). All providers see new referrals in less than a week, but many do not initiate treatment until >3 weeks of age (39%), with most commonly reported delays related to insurance processes. Most (81%) prefer onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (OA) as the treatment of choice, mainly due to perceived efficacy and the route/frequency of administration. NBS practice patterns in the U.S. vary by state but overall yielded the predicted birth prevalence of positive results. Providers evaluate these newborns urgently, but many do not initiate therapy until after 3 weeks of age. Treatment delays are mainly related to insurance processes.
Transforming a Psychiatry Curriculum: Narrative Review of Essential Elements
Authors: Ng Lillian , Vara Alisha , Datt Ashwini , Menkes David B. , Hoeh Nicholas R. , Prentice Kiri , Sundram Frederick
Published: August 2024

Introduction: In this narrative review, we identified concepts related to the process of transforming a psychiatry curriculum for New Zealand medical students. Method: A literature search was performed on four databases (Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus) for articles related to curriculum development in psychiatry, including relevant aspects of culture and technology. Results: Ninety-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes were identified: the needs of learners; curriculum frameworks that optimise learning; and the role of technology. The key features of an effective psychiatry curriculum are the extent to which it integrates with other disciplines, develops key competencies, supports authentic learning, and promotes cultural safety. Conclusions: Transforming curricula is an iterative process that prioritises learners’ needs, establishes psychiatry within the teaching context, integrates learning evidence, and responds to the changing demands of society. The findings from this review apply to medical curricula more generally: a well-integrated specialist curriculum, in this case psychiatry, enables medical students to build essential competencies and depends upon effective collaboration with stakeholders, attention to cultural safety, and incorporating technology into the teaching context.
Beyond Supervised: The Rise of Self-Supervised Learning in Autonomous Systems
Authors: Taherdoost Hamed
Published: August 2024

Supervised learning has been the cornerstone of many successful medical imaging applications. However, its reliance on large labeled datasets poses significant challenges, especially in the medical domain, where data annotation is time-consuming and expensive. In response, self-supervised learning (SSL) has emerged as a promising alternative, leveraging unlabeled data to learn meaningful representations without explicit supervision. This paper provides a detailed overview of supervised learning and its limitations in medical imaging, underscoring the need for more efficient and scalable approaches. The study emphasizes the importance of the area under the curve (AUC) as a key evaluation metric in assessing SSL performance. The AUC offers a comprehensive measure of model performance across different operating points, which is crucial in medical applications, where false positives and negatives have significant consequences. Evaluating SSL methods based on the AUC allows for robust comparisons and ensures that models generalize well to real-world scenarios. This paper reviews recent advances in SSL for medical imaging, demonstrating their potential to revolutionize the field by mitigating challenges associated with supervised learning. Key results show that SSL techniques, by leveraging unlabeled data and optimizing performance metrics like the AUC, can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy, scalability, and efficiency in medical image analysis. The findings highlight SSL’s capability to reduce the dependency on labeled datasets and present a path forward for more scalable and effective medical imaging solutions.
Optimization of Experimental Infection of the Animal Model Galleria mellonella Linnaeus 1758 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) with the Gram-Positive Bacterium Micrococcus luteus
Authors: Banfi Davide , Bianchi Tommaso , Mastore Maristella , Brivio Maurizio Francesco
Published: August 2024

The aim of this work was to develop an experimental protocol for the infection of Galleria mellonella with Gram-positive bacteria. Some physiological characteristics of these insects are comparable to those of vertebrates, therefore allowing the replacement of mammals in the preclinical phases of drug development. G. mellonella Linnaeus 1758 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is accepted as an alternative model for the study of infectious diseases. Since data on infection procedures with different bacterial strains are scarce and sometimes conflicting, also due to different and non-uniform protocols, we developed an experimental protocol that would allow for controlled and repeatable infections, using the Gram-positive bacterium GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) Micrococcus luteus. After analyzing the morphology and defining the growth rate of M. luteus, doses of between 101 and 106 CFU/larvae were administered to late-stage larvae. The survival rate of the larvae was monitored up to 7 days and the LD50 determined. The bacterial clearance capacity of the larvae after injection with 103 and 105 CFU/larvae was assessed by hemolymph bacterial load analysis. The results made it possible to define the growth curve of M. luteus correlated with the CFU count; based on the LD50 (103.8 CFU/larvae) calculated on the survival of G. mellonella, infections were carried out to evaluate the immune efficiency of the larvae in bacterial clearance. This protocol, standardized on G. mellonella larvae, could provide a functional tool to study the course of bacterial infections.
Nutritional Value of the Larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) and the House Fly (Musca domestica) as a Food Alternative for Farm Animals—A Systematic Review
Authors: da-Silva Welligton Conceição , Silva Éder Bruno Rebelo da , Silva Jamile Andréa Rodrigues da , Martorano Lucieta Guerreiro , Belo Tatiane Silva , Sousa Carlos Eduardo Lima , Camargo-Júnior Raimundo Nonato Colares , Andrade Rubens Lima , Santos Ana Gizela de Souza , Carvalho Katarina Cardoso de , Lobato Adriny dos Santos Miranda , Rodrigues Thomaz Cyro Guimarães de Carvalho , Araújo Cláudio Vieira de , Lima Jucelane Salvino de , Neves Kedson Alessandri Lobo , Silva Lilian Kátia Ximenes , Lourenço-Júnior José de Brito
Published: August 2024

Dietary alternatives using insect-based products as an alternative for farm animal nutrition have been the object of study due to the high nutritional value of these feeds and the costs related to both their production and consequently their commercialization. Thus, the use of flies, especially larvae, has a high content of proteins and lipids (fat), as well as minerals and essential nutrients for development and growth, directly impacting the production of these animals, whether meat or milk. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compile data from the literature on the nutritional value of adults and larvae of Black soldier (Hermetia illucens) and housefly (Musca domestica) as a dietary alternative for animal feed. The Prisma checklist was used. After reviewing the data found in the literature, following the systematic review, it was noted that studies emerge that larvae of black soldier flies and domestic flies of the order Diptera obtain essential sources in the nutrition of ruminants, in addition to obtaining rapid digestibility, thus adhering to reproduction with high nutritional content, due to incident levels of protein, lipids, and minerals in M. domestica and Lucilia sericata, making it a target for inclusion in the diet of farm animals. In addition, it is concluded that both species are studied for their sustainable potential as well as for offering greater economic and nutritional viability when compared to ingredients present in production animal feed.
Bile Duct Injuries after Cholecystectomy: An Individual Patient Data Systematic Review
Authors: Vincenzi Paolo , Mocchegiani Federico , Nicolini Daniele , Benedetti Cacciaguerra Andrea , Gaudenzi Diletta , Vivarelli Marco
Published: August 2024

Background: Post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries (BDIs) represent a challenging complication, with negative impacts on clinical outcomes. Several surgical and endoscopic/interventional radiologist (IR) approaches have been proposed to manage these damages, though with high failure rates. This individual patient data (IPD) systematic review analyzes the potential risk factors for failure after treatment interventions for BDIs, both surgical and endoscopic/IR. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted on MEDLINE and Scopus for relevant articles published in English on the management of BDIs after cholecystectomy, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2023. Our series of BDIs was included. BDIs were always categorized according to the Strasberg’s classification. The composite primary endpoints evaluated were the failure of treatment interventions, defined as patient death or the requirement of any other procedure, whatever surgical and/or endoscopic/IR, after the primary treatment. Results: A total of 342 cases were retrieved from our literature analysis, including our series of 19 patients. Among these, three groups were identified: “upfront surgery”, “upfront endoscopy and/or IR” and “no upfront treatment”, consisting of 224, 109 and 9 patients, respectively. After eliminating the third group, treatment intervention failure was observed overall in 34.2% (114/333) of patients, of whom 80.7% (92/114) and 19.3% (22/114) in the “upfront surgery” and in the “upfront endoscopy/IR” groups, respectively. At multivariable analysis, injury type D and E, and repair in a non-specialized center represented independent predictors of treatment failure in both groups, whereas laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) converted to open and immediate attempt of surgical repair exclusively in the first group. Conclusions: Significant treatment failure rates are responsible for remarkable negative effects on immediate and longer-term clinical outcomes of post-cholecystectomy BDIs. Understanding the important risk factors for this outcome may better guide the most appropriate therapeutical approach and improve clinical decisions in case this serious complication occurs.
Gait Performance and Brain Activity Are Improved by Gait Automatization during Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Patients with Burns: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded Study
Authors: Lee Seung Yeol , Seo Jisu , Seo Cheong Hoon , Cho Yoon Soo , Joo So Young
Published: August 2024

Background: Patients with lower extremity burn injuries have decreased gait function. Gait dysfunctions are compensated by activation of executive areas such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Although robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) can improve gait function, the training mechanisms of RAGT are unknown. We aimed to determine the clinical effects of RAGT in patients with burns and investigate their underlying mechanisms. Methods: This single-blind, randomized controlled trial involved 54 patients with lower extremity burns. The RAGT group underwent RAGT using SUBAR® and conventional training. The control (CON) group underwent only conventional training. The primary outcome was cortical activity measured using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy device before and after 8 weeks of training to confirm the compensatory effect of gait dysfunction. The secondary outcomes were the functional ambulation category (FAC) to evaluate gait performance, 6-min walking test (6 MWT) distance to measure gait speed, isometric force and range of motion (ROM) of lower extremities to evaluate physical function, and the visual analog scale (VAS) score to evaluate subjective pain during gait. Results: PFC activation during the gait phase in the RAGT group decreased significantly compared with that of the CON. The VAS score decreased and FAC score improved after 8 weeks of training in both groups. The 6 MWT scores, isometric strengths (the left knee flexor and bilateral ankle plantar flexors), and the ROMs (the extensions of bilateral hip and bilateral knee) of the RAGT group were significantly improved compared with those of the CON. RAGT improved gait speed, lower extremity ROMs, and lower extremity muscles strengths in patients with burns. Conclusions: The improvement in gait speed and cerebral blood flow evaluation results suggests that the automatization of gait is related to the treatment mechanism during RAGT.
Endoscopic Management of Strictures in Crohn’s Disease: An Unsolved Case
Authors: Coppola Gaetano , Principessa Chiara , Di Vincenzo Federica , Puca Pierluigi , Del Gaudio Angelo , Capobianco Ivan , Bartocci Bianca , Papa Alfredo , Cammarota Giovanni , Lopetuso Loris Riccardo , Scaldaferri Franco
Published: August 2024

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with a significant burden in terms of quality of life and health care costs. It is frequently associated with several complications, including the development of intestinal strictures. Stricturing CD requires a careful multidisciplinary approach involving medical therapy and surgery, still posing a continuous management challenge; in this context, endoscopic treatment represents a valuable, in-between opportunity as a minimally invasive strategy endorsed by extensive yet heterogeneous evidence and evolving research and techniques. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of therapeutic endoscopy in stricturing CD, focusing on evidence gaps, recent updates, and novel techniques intended for optimizing efficacy, safety, and tailoring of this approach in the view of precision endoscopy.
Bacteria, Fungi, and Scalp Psoriasis: Understanding the Role of the Microbiome in Disease Severity
Authors: Choi Jin-Young , Kim Hyunseong , Min Kyung-Hyun , Song Woo-Hyun , Yu Dong-Soo , Lee Minho , Lee Young-Bok
Published: August 2024

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affected by genetic and environmental factors. Changes in the skin microbiome may affect the immune system and skin barrier functions, thereby contributing to the development and progression of psoriasis. The scalp, which is a common site for psoriasis, is often resistant to therapy. Although several studies have investigated the scalp microbiome, analyses focusing on both bacteria and fungi remain scarce. Methods: We examined the scalp microbiomes of 11 patients with psoriasis complicated with scalp lesions and categorized them according to their Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores. The bacterial and fungal data were analyzed using QIIME2 pipeline version 2021.04 and the UNITE database version 8.3, respectively. Results: The Shannon indices for mild (2 patients), moderate (4 patients), and severe (5 patients) groups were 0.97, 1.38, and 1.88, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between increased mycobiome diversity and disease severity (p = 4.07 × 10−5, Spearman’s correlation: 0.9269). Compared with the mild and moderate groups, the severe group exhibited a higher abundance of Malassezia globosa. Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus were, respectively, more prevalent in the moderate and severe groups than in the mild group. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential role of increased fungal diversity and specific microbial compositions in the severity of scalp psoriasis, suggesting a possible avenue for targeted therapeutic interventions.
Celiac Disease Deep Learning Image Classification Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Carreras Joaquim
Published: August 2024

Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-sensitive immune-mediated enteropathy. This proof-of-concept study used a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) CD histological images, normal small intestine control, and non-specified duodenal inflammation (7294, 11,642, and 5966 images, respectively). The trained network classified CD with high performance (accuracy 99.7%, precision 99.6%, recall 99.3%, F1-score 99.5%, and specificity 99.8%). Interestingly, when the same network (already trained for the 3 class images), analyzed duodenal adenocarcinoma (3723 images), the new images were classified as duodenal inflammation in 63.65%, small intestine control in 34.73%, and CD in 1.61% of the cases; and when the network was retrained using the 4 histological subtypes, the performance was above 99% for CD and 97% for adenocarcinoma. Finally, the model added 13,043 images of Crohn’s disease to include other inflammatory bowel diseases; a comparison between different CNN architectures was performed, and the gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) technique was used to understand why the deep learning network made its classification decisions. In conclusion, the CNN-based deep neural system classified 5 diagnoses with high performance. Narrow artificial intelligence (AI) is designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, but it operates within limited constraints and is task-specific.
What Can Physiology Tell Us about State of Interest?
Authors: Babanova Ksenia , Anisimov Victor , Latanov Alexander
Published: August 2024

The state of interest as a positive emotion is associated with the ability to comprehend new information and/or to better consolidate already perceived information, to increase the attention level to the object, to increase informational processing, and also to influence such processes as learning and motivation. The aim of this study was to reveal oculomotor correlates that can predict the locus of interest in cases of people perceiving educational information from different areas of knowledge presented as text or multimedia content. Sixty (60) volunteers participated in the study (50% males, mean age 22.20 ± 0.51). The stimuli consisted of 16 texts covering a wide range of topics, each accompanied by a comprehension question and an interest assessment questionnaire. It was found that the multimedia content type triggered more visual attention and gave an advantage in the early stages of information processing. The first fixation duration metric for the multimedia stimuli allowed u to characterize the subjective interest assessment. Overall, the results suggest the potential role of eye-tracking in evaluating educational content and it emphasizes the importance of developing solutions based on this method to enhance the effectiveness of the educational process.
Concise Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Formation Scaling Control for Autonomous Vehicles with Bearing Measurements
Authors: Lu Yu , Sun Ruisheng
Published: August 2024

In the bearing-based formation control of autonomous surface vehicles, the scaling maneuver capability is greatly limited when faced with actuator faults and uncertainties. Under these circumstances, to better realize the formation scaling maneuver, a concise adaptive fault-tolerant formation scaling control scheme is proposed for autonomous vehicles with bearing measurements. By means of dynamic surface control, parameter integration and the adaptive technique, the tedious derivative calculation of virtual control signals is avoided and the prescribed formation scaling maneuver is achieved without knowing specific information about the faults and models. It is shown that both yaw angle tracking errors and bearing errors are able, ultimately, to be made uniformly bounded using this scheme. Meanwhile, only one control parameter and one adaptive parameter need to be updated during the formation scaling process. Stability analysis and comparative results are provided to verify the validity of the developed scheme.
Attention-Enhanced Bi-LSTM with Gated CNN for Ship Heave Multi-Step Forecasting
Authors: Shi Wenzhuo , Guo Zimeng , Dai Zixiang , Li Shizhen , Chen Meng
Published: August 2024

This study addresses the challenges of predicting ship heave motion in real time, which is essential for mitigating sensor–actuator delays in high-performance active compensation control. Traditional methods often fall short due to training on specific sea conditions, and they lack real-time prediction capabilities. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a multi-step prediction model based on a Seq2Seq framework, training with heave data taken from various sea conditions. The model features a long-term encoder with attention-enhanced Bi-LSTM, a short-term encoder with Gated CNN, and a decoder composed of multiple fully connected layers. The long-term encoder and short-term encoder are designed to maximize the extraction of global characteristics and multi-scale short-term features of heave data, respectively. An optimized Huber loss function is used to improve the fitting performance in peak and valley regions. The experimental results demonstrate that this model outperforms baseline methods across all metrics, providing precise predictions for high-sampling-rate real-time applications. Trained on simulated sea conditions and fine-tuned through transfer learning on actual ship data, the proposed model shows strong generalization with prediction errors smaller than 0.02 m. Based on both results from the regular test and the generalization test, the model’s predictive performance is shown to meet the necessary criteria for active heave compensation control.