bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myodystonic pain syndromes in pathogenesis neurological diseases
Authors: Staroseltseva N. G. , Agasarov L. G.
Published: October 2023

Myodistonic pain syndrome is a common cause of algia in the neck, back, limbs, emanating from skeletal muscles and adjacent fascia. Pathophysiologically, in this condition, myogenic trigger points are formed, which, increasing muscle tone, cause their spasm. The resulting discomfort can be both local and causing reflected signs in other areas. The article presents the main mechanisms of implementation and clinical classification of neurological manifestations of myodistonic pain phenomena from the position of pathomorphology of muscular and tendon-ligament localization. Separately, the possibility of a pathogenetic approach to preventive and therapeutic measures in the clinical manifestations of myodistonic pain syndromes is considered. In general, the article contains historical bibliographic material on the study of the development and formation of an autonomous scientific direction of myogenic pain pathology.
Clinical characteristics of vertigo in elderly patients with chronic brain ischemia after SARS‑CoV‑2 coronavirus infection
Authors: Chichanovskaya L. V. , Slyusar T. A. , Abramenko Yu. V. , Nekrasova T. M.
Published: October 2023

Objective. To study the structure and clinical features of vertigo in elderly patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) who underwent a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection.

Materials and methods. Clinical characteristics of vertigo were determined in 98 patients (48 men and 50 women aged 60–75 years) with CCI caused by arterial hypertension and its combination with atherosclerosis. The type and main characteristics of dizziness were determined using diagnostic criteria and an algorithm for examining patients. The level of anxiety was determined using the scale of Spielberger, depression – the Beck questionnaire.

Results. Dizziness in elderly patients with CCI was characterized by clinical heterogeneity with a predominance of non-systemic vertigo and systemic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the structure of vertigo. Elderly patients with CCI who underwent a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection were more likely to have psychogenic and systemic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, increased levels of anxiety and depression.
Pseudoischemic ECG abnormalities (clinical case and literature review)
Authors: Tolstikhina A. A. , Khimchenko Yu. V. , Bryklya E. V.
Published: October 2023

Electrocardiographic repolarization abnormalities do not always indicate cardiovascular disease and life-threatening conditions. Therefore, an integrated approach, case follow-up and cooperation of functional medicine practitioners, cardiologists and general practitioners are needed. The spectrum of conditions leading to non-ischemic ST elevation or depression can be associated with both electrolyte disturbances and various extracardiac disorders. Modern electrocardiographic diagnosis and differential approach are necessary to reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions in this patient population.
Analysis of C-reactive protein and lactoferrin levels in patients with myocardial infarction with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depending on presence of complications
Authors: Prokofieva T. V.
Published: October 2023

Purpose. To analyze the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactoferrin (LF) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) depending on the presence of acute MI complications.Materials and methods. In total were examined 325 patients with MI: 195 patients with acute MI + COPD and 130 MI patients without COPD and 110 healthy somatic subjects. Complications of acute MI were observed in 84 (43.1 %) MI + COPD patients and in 32 (24.6 %) MI patients without COPD.Results of the study. The level of inflammatory markers we studied was elevated in all observation groups relative to controls. In MI + COPD patients and in MI patients without COPD the level of highly sensitive CRP was statistically significantly higher in the presence of acute period complications. LF levels did not depend on the presence of complications in any of the observation groups.Conclusions. Increased inflammatory markers in MI patients without COPD and in MI + COPD groups indicate the significance of the inflammatory component in the pathogenesis of MI. In patients with MI + COPD the severity of systemic inflammation is maximal. CRP is informative as an indicator of inflammatory response in MI. The highest CRP level was observed in patients with complicated MI.
Study of indicators of arterial stiffness in young people depending on ‘classical’ and ‘modern’ risk factors
Authors: Pushkina Ya. A. , Goncharova L. N. , Sergutova N. P. , Antipova V. N. , Levashova O. A. , Belkin Yu. A.
Published: October 2023

Objective. To identify ‘classical’ and ‘modern’ risk factors (RFs) in young people aged 18–25 years in a student environment and evaluate their impact on arterial wall stiffness using non-invasive examination methods.Materials and methods. 171 students of a humanitarian university aged 18–25 years old were examined, of which 52.1 % were girls and 47.9 % were boys. An anonymous survey was conducted to identify the main risk factors. The method of volumetric sphygmography and highly sensitive compression oscillometry was used to assess the state of the vascular wall.Results. Against the background of ‘classic’ risk factors (low physical activity – 61.9 %, essential arterial hypertension [AH] – 29.8 %, aggravated heredity for hypertension – 18.3 %, overweight – 14.0 %, obesity – 8.5 %, cigarette smoking – 3.0 %), ‘modern’ RFs were identified: a combination of hookah and cigarette smoking – 31.0 %, use of electronic cigarettes – 17.0 %, use of energy drinks – 25.3 %. In students with the presence of ‘modern’ PR, the values of pulse wave velocity (PWV) were obtained – 8.4 ± 2.7 m/s, relative to the PWV of students without PR 5.1 ± 0.6 m/s (p = 0.002). It was found that the relative risk of an increase in PWV with the combined use of hookah and cigarettes increases by 52.1 times (95 % CI: 11.2–242.1 at χ2 = 37.987; p = 0.001), with the use of energy drinks by 27.4 times (95 % CI: 6.8–111.0 at χ2 = 29.328; p = 0.001), when using electronic cigarettes by 2.6 times (95 % CI: 1.3–5.2 at χ2 = 6.496; p = 0.011).Conclusions. Students aged 18–25 years showed a high adherence to modern risk factors (a combination of hookah and cigarette smoking, energy drinks, use of electronic cigarettes) that lead to a violation of the elastic properties of the vascular wall, which indicates endothelial dysfunction.
Choice of p-fox inhibitor as actual therapeutic strategy in correction of cardiometabolic disorders
Authors: Shishkova V. N.
Published: October 2023

In the modern world, there is a steady increase in the number of patients with diseases pathogenetically associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which represent a springboard for the development of not only cardiovascular, but also other socially significant chronic non-communicable diseases. The study of the pathogenetic interaction of numerous humoral and physical factors in the development and progression of vascular-metabolic disorders is the most relevant area of modern clinical research. Over the past decades, there has been a surge of interest in the scientific literature and a detailed discussion of current trends in the development of diseases and conditions associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, as well as their associated complications in various fields of medicine. Models of the interaction of neurohumoral, metabolic, vascular and other factors proposed by experts are important for understanding the processes leading to an increase in the prevalence of conditions associated with insulin resistance. Carrying out reciprocal interaction with the developing vascular and metabolic complications of diabetes mellitus and obesity, cellular metabolic disorders should become a new therapeutic target for improving the condition and prognosis of patients. A promising direction in the correction of intracellular metabolic disorders is the use of drugs that block the partial oxidation of free fatty acids in mitochondria (partial fatty and oxidation inhibitors) – p-fox inhibitors, which include the most commonly used in modern clinical practice trimetazidine and meldonium. A wide range of comorbid conditions and various chronic diseases in most patients dictates the need for a detailed study of the mechanisms and features of action, as well as drug-drug interactions of these drugs. There is also a need to discuss the possible risks of side effects that may limit the use of some p-fox inhibitors. This review provides a discussion of these issues in relation to trimetazidine and meldonium, as well as an assessment of various options for their safe clinical use.
Patient’s metabolic status in ICU and choice of its assessment methods
Authors: Slastnikov E. D. , Vlasenko A. V. , Evdokimov E. A. , Rodionov E. P. , Koryakin A. G. , Klyuev I. S. , Makoveу V. I. , Erofeev V. V.
Published: October 2023

Adequate nutritional support for a critically ill patient has been and remains one of the main, complex and not fully resolved problems of modern resuscitation, which, unfortunately, often remains without due attention. In everyday practice, in order to adequately correct nutritional deficiency, the resuscitator must, first of all, correctly assess the trophological status of the patient. Currently, there is a large selection of nutrients and different methods for assessing metabolic status. The paper presents a critical analysis of existing methods for assessing the nutritional status and algorithms for the personalized choice of each of them in a specific clinical situation in critically ill patients.
Role of speckle-tracking echocardiography in diagnosis and further prognosis of coronary heart disease
Authors: Tyurina L. G. , Khamidova L. T. , Ryubalko N. V. , Gazaryan G. A. , Popugaev K. A.
Published: October 2023

Echocardiography is one of the first-line methods of detection and evaluation of coronary artery disease, which helps clinicians in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of this disease. However, visual assessment of abnormal left ventricular myocardial wall motion is not always appropriate in detecting less severe or transient myocardial ischemia and in making an accurate differential diagnosis. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a widely available non-invasive tool that can easily and quickly provide clarifying information and significantly extend the standard echocardiographic study, as the method allows you to identify subtle myocardial damage and local areas of ischemia that correspond to the pattern of coronary disease, and obtain an objective report in the form of simple visual scheme, very easy to use for differential diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, this method, which is increasingly used in various manifestations of coronary insufficiency and is convenient to use both at rest and with stress echocardiography, has proved efficient results in terms of predicting coronary heart disease, quantitative interpretation of emerging or persistent ischemia, assessment of the clinical course and outcome, and left ventricular remodeling. In this review, we have attempted to reflect the currently available findings that demonstrate the significance of speckle-tracking echocardiography for the evaluation and follow-up of coronary heart disease, including some congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, and to touch on the main achievements and discoveries in the use of two-dimensional and three-dimensional deformation parameters and their potential application for a wider introduction into clinical practice.
Örgütsel Muhalefet ve Sonuçları Üzerine Bir İnceleme
Authors: KORKMAZ Caner , BEKTAŞ Çetin
Published: October 2023

Örgütler, insanlardan oluşan sosyal yapılardır. Örgütlerin, önceden belirlenen amaçlara ulaşabilmeleri, rakipleri karşısında rekabet üstünlüğü elde edebilmeleri ve devamlılıklarını sağlayabilmeleri açısından sahip oldukları insan kaynağı önemli bir yere sahiptir. Çalışanlar, örgütte yer alan politikalar, uygulamalar, süreçler vb. ile ilgili olarak örgütünden ayrı fikir ve görüşlere sahip olabilirler. Bu durumda, örgütsel muhalefet davranışı gündeme gelmektedir. Çalışanlar, sahip olduğu muhalif görüşlerini, örgüt içerisindeki veya örgüt dışındaki taraflara ifade edebilirler. Örgütsel davranış çalışmaları, örgütlerdeki çalışan davranışlarını anlamak ve yönetim ve organizasyon alanındaki bilgi birikimine katkı sağlamak açısından önemlidir. Örgütsel davranış alanında, üzerine çalışmalar yapılan konulardan biri de örgütsel muhalefettir ve örgütsel muhalefet davranışı bazı olumlu ve olumsuz sonuçlara yol açabilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, örgütlerde ortaya çıkan muhalefet davranışını ve bu davranışın sonuçlarını literatür çerçevesinde açıklamaktır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda öncelikle, örgüt, muhalefet ve örgütsel muhalefet kavramları üzerinde durulmuştur. Ardından, örgütsel muhalefeti tetikleyen olaylar ve örgütsel muhalefet stratejileri açıklanmıştır. Bu açıklamalardan sonra, literatürde örgütsel muhalefet ile ilgili yapılan çalışmalara ve örgütsel muhalefetin sonuçlarına yer verilmiştir. Son olarak, örgütsel muhalefet hakkında genel bir değerlendirme yapılmış ve önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
Yönetim Alanında Duygusal Zekâ: Bibliyometrik Analiz
Authors: ERER Beyza
Published: October 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı, 1999-2022 yılları arasında yönetim alanında “duygusal zekâ” konusunda yapılmış bilimsel yayınların bibliyometrik analizini yapmaktır. Bu kapsamda, öncelikle araştırmada kullanılacak veriler Web of Science (WoS) veri tabanından alınmış olup ardından VOSviewer yazılım programı kullanılarak analize tabi tutulmuştur. Yapılan tarama sonucunda duygusal zekâ kavramına yönelik 12895 yayının olduğu belirlenmiş ve bu yayınların 1570’inin yönetim kategorisinde yer aldığı tespit edilmiştir. Analiz bulguları, duygusal zekâ konusunda en çok makale türünde yayının yapıldığını ve yine en çok yayın yapılan indeksin SSCI olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu konuda; en çok atıf alan yazarın Mayer, en sık alıntılanan çalışmanın Salovey ve Mayer’e (1990) ait “Emotional Intelligence”, en sık kullanılan anahtar kelimenin ise liderlik olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca ülkeler açısından değerlendirildiğinde, en üretken ülkenin Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin olduğu Türkiye’nin ise on dokuzuncu sırada yer aldığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Duygusal zekâ konusunun genel olarak önemi dikkate alındığında, kavramın araştırılmaya açık olduğu düşünülmektedir.
Evaluation of the Self-Perceptions of the People Working in Disaster Organizations on Leadership Behaviors
Authors: USTA Galip
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of the leadership behaviors of individuals participating in disaster organizations during the disaster management process and to gain a better understanding of the role of leadership in disaster management. The data were collected between November 2022 and April 2023. While examining the differences between the groups, t and ANOVA tests were used. It is seen that there is a significant difference between the genders in terms of principled leadership. It has been determined that women exhibit a higher principled leadership characteristic compared to men. It is seen that there is a significant relationship between education level and leadership characteristics. It has been determined that there is a negative relationship between age and participatory leadership. In conclusion, leadership characteristics and their relationship with different variables may be important factors to be considered for the design of leadership development programs and evaluating leadership potential. It is thought that organising training modules for effective leadership in disaster and supporting individuals with leadership potential will contribute significantly to the disaster management process.
The Contributions of Metaverse Technology on Management Information Systems in Strategic Planning and Decision-Making Processes of Businesses
Authors: BAYRAM Vildan , KAYA Mustafa
Published: October 2023

In the age of the digital revolution, the developments that are taking place are rapidly transforming daily life as well. In terms of digital platform users, the spread of personal computers, internet infrastructure, mobile devices and sensor technologies has affected working life and daily life. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Metaverse technology on management information systems and to reveal how it will affect strategic planning and decision-making processes in businesses. Additionally, the aim is to provide examples of the use of Metaverse technologies in work life and to identify the changes they will bring to business operations. The descriptive method was used in the study. It has been revealed that the use of Metaverse technology in the management, strategic planning and decision-making processes of businesses will provide cost, time savings and competitive advantage to businesses and cause these processes to work realistically and healthily. It is one of the most important factors that will enable businesses to follow these technological developments and make use of these technologies.
Kamu Personelinin Örgütsel Bağlılığını Pekiştirecek Yasal Kurallar ve Uygulamalar: 657 Sayılı Devlet Memurları Kanunu’na Genel Bir Bakış
Authors: TAHTALIOĞLU Hava
Published: October 2023

Yönetim anlayışındaki dönüşümler kamuda personel yönetiminin seyrini değiştirmektedir. Bu süreçte kamu hizmetinde etkinliğin ve verimliliğin sağlanmasında istihdam edilen personel için işletme kökenli insan kaynakları yönetimindeki kavramlar önem kazanmıştır. Bu kavramlardan biri de örgütsel bağlılıktır. Örgütsel bağlılık duygusal, devam ve normatif bağlılık bileşenlerinden oluşmaktadır. Örgütsel bağlılığı pekişen personel, kendini örgüte daha fazla ait hissedecek ve sadakat düzeyi artacaktır. Personelin örgütsel bağlılık düzeyinin artması örgütün amaç ve hedeflerine ulaşması açısından pozitif yönlü etki doğuracaktır. Bu yüzden kamu kurum ve kuruluşlarında da personelin bağlılığının sağlanması önem arz etmekte, konuya ilişkin yasal düzenlemeler ve uygulamalar önerilmektedir. Çalışmada örgütsel bağlılık bileşenlerinin kamuda personel yönetimine yön veren temel kanunda ele alınış biçimleri ve uygulamaya yansıyan sorunların irdelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada öncelikle örgütsel bağlılık ve bileşenleri tanımlanmaktadır. Akabinde Türkiye’de kamu personel yönetimine yön veren 657 sayılı Devlet Memurları Kanunu’ndaki (DMK) örgütsel bağlılık ve bileşenlerine ilişkin normlar derlenmekte, kamuda istihdam edilen personelin örgütsel bağlılığını irdeleyen örneklere yer verilmekte ve uygulamadaki aksaklıklar dile getirilmektedir. Elde edilen bilgiler ilgili kanunda duygusal ve devam bağlılığı bileşenlerinin dikkate alındığını göstermektedir, ancak kamu personel yönetiminde yaşanan sorunların birçoğunun bu bileşenleri zedeleyebilecek düzeyde olduğu kanısına ulaşılmıştır.
PENINGKATAN PRODUKTIVITAS PABRIK KERTAS DENGAN MEMPERTIMBANGKAN POWER FAKTOR DAN MENGGUNAKAN KAPASITOR BANK DI PT DAYASA ARIA PRIMA
Authors: Fahlevi Rezza Agung , Prihono Prihono
Published: October 2023

This study aims to determine the increase in paper mill productivity with the ETAP 12.6 simulation method. The progress of the company as a business organization has increased activity, increased performance and increased productivity in the electrical system at PT Dayasa Aria Prima to take strategic steps in minimizing expenditure costs on the electrical system and developing an electrical system based on ETAP 12.6 analysis and simulation at PT Dayasa Aria Prima. Changes in the value of the power factor will have an impact on decreasing the value of cos φ. Based on the analysis and simulation of ETAP 12.6 it is known that the power factor of PT. Dayasa Aria Prima is around 0.70% where the company has to pay a fine to PLN. To eliminate or eliminate fines, an increase is made to meet the standard requirements for power factor which must be more than 0.85%. Installing a capacitor bank with a power factor is an effective and efficient way to increase productivity so that companies can control and measure the productivity and cost efficiency of the company
Japanese encephalitis virus perturbs PML-nuclear bodies by engaging in interactions with distinct porcine PML isoforms
Authors: Yang Songbai , Liu Huaijin , Chen Zhenyu , Wang Han , Li Xiangchen , Zhou Xiaolong , Zhao Ayong
Published: October 2023

Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein constitutes an indispensable element within PML-nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), playing a pivotal role in the regulation of multiple cellular functions while coordinating the innate immune response against viral invasions. Simultaneously, numerous viruses elude immune detection by targeting PML-NBs. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus that causes Japanese encephalitis, a severe neurological disease that affects humans and animals. However, the mechanism through which JEV evades immunity via PML-NBs has been scarcely investigated. In the present study, PK15 cells were infected with JEV, and the quantity of intracellular PML-NBs was enumerated. The immunofluorescence results indicated that the number of PML-NBs was significantly reduced in JEV antigen-positive cells compared to viral antigen-negative cells. Subsequently, ten JEV proteins were cloned and transfected into PK15 cells. The results revealed that JEV non-structural proteins, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5, significantly diminished the quantity of PML-NBs. Co-transfection was performed with the five JEV proteins and various porcine PML isoforms. The results demonstrated that NS2B colocalized with PML4 and PML5, NS4A colocalized with PML1 and PML4, NS4B colocalized with PML1, PML3, PML4, and PML5, while NS3 and NS5 interacted with all five PML isoforms. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PML isoforms confirmed that PML1, PML3, PML4, and PML5 inhibited JEV replication. These findings suggest that JEV disrupts the structure of PML-NBs through interaction with PML isoforms, potentially leading to the attenuation of the host’s antiviral immune response.
Association of mean arterial pressure with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: results from the NAGALA study
Authors: Li Xinghui , Yang Huijian , Xie Guobo , Kuang Maobin , Sheng Guotai , Zou Yang
Published: October 2023

Objective

Several recent reports have suggested the use of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) to assess/predict the risk of developing atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and poor prognosis in a variety of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The current study aimed to investigate the association of MAP with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to explore the differences in this association across populations.

Methods

This study used data from the NAGALA study from 1994 to 2016. MAP was calculated as 1/3 systolic blood pressure (SBP) + 2/3 diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) and logistic regression models were used to examine the correlation of MAP with NAFLD.

Results

The study population was 14,251 general people undergoing health screening, with a median (interquartile range) age of 42 (36–50) years; among them, 48% were women, and 2,507 (17.59%) were diagnosed with NAFLD. After fully controlling for confounders in the current dataset, MAP was positively and non-linearly associated with NAFLD [(odds ratios (ORs): 1.39, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.15, 1.68); P for non-linearity = 0.024]; the dose-response curve showed that there was a transient saturation effect interval when MAP was between 85 and 95 mmHg, where the risk of NAFLD was neither increased nor decreased. The results of the stratified analysis showed that the risk of NAFLD associated with MAP appeared to be influenced only by age (P-interaction = 0.002), but not by sex, body mass index (BMI), habits of exercise, drinking status, or smoking status (P-interaction > 0.05); further age-stratified RCS analysis showed that the non-linear association between MAP and NAFLD in the young and middle-aged and the middle-aged and elderly populations was consistent with the results of the whole population, whereas, in the elderly population, a U-shaped curve association between MAP and NAFLD was observed, with both low and high MAP increasing the risk of NAFLD.

Conclusion

In the general population, MAP was positively and non-linearly associated with NAFLD, and this association only differed significantly by age, but not by sex, BMI, habits of exercise, drinking status, and smoking status.
Association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and risk of in-hospital heart failure and arrhythmia in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhang Jia-li , Yang Rui , Zhu Yi , Shao Yan , Ji Yuan , Wang Fang-fang
Published: October 2023

Background

This study was to probe into the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and both in-hospital and long-term heart failure risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

990 patients with AMI, including 386 with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 604 with segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were recruited between January 2019 and March 2022. The in-hospital acute heart failure (AHF) and arrhythmia events were recorded.

Results

The NLR was significantly greater in the AHF group in STEMI and NSTEMI patients, with a higher frequency of arrhythmia in comparison to the non-AHF group. A high NLR was related to a high level of myocardial injury markers, accompanied with more AHF and arrhythmia events. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that high NLR is independently linked with increased in-hospital AHF and arrhythmia risk. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the prognostic value of NLR for in-hospital AHF was 0.704 in STEMI patients and 0.766 in NSTEMI patients. However, during a median follow-up of 28 months with 32 heart failure patients, there was no significant difference between the low NLR group (n = 18) and the high NLR group (n = 14). Further analysis showed that the two groups did not significantly differ in the occurrence of heart failure within 12 months of discharge.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that NLR is an independent risk factor of in-hospital AHF in AMI patients. However, NLR has no value in predicting long-term heart failure.
Depletion of gut microbiota influents glucose metabolism and hyperandrogenism traits of mice with PCOS induced by letrozole
Authors: Li Yushan , Zhu Yuchen , Li Dan , Liu Wen , Zhang Yi , Liu Wei , Zhang Chenhong , Tao Tao
Published: October 2023

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted disorder that impacts metabolism, reproduction, as well as endocrine function, characterized by excessive levels of androgen and insulin resistance. The gut microbiota has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, the precise mechanisms through which the gut microbiota influences PCOS still require further elucidation.

Methods

The PCOS mouse model was established through the administration of letrozole to both conventional and antibiotics-treated mice. The evaluation of glucose metabolism, sex hormone levels, and ovarian morphology was conducted. Furthermore, the fecal samples from each group of mice were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and functional prediction of gut microbiota was proceeded using PICRUSt2 to explore potential mechanisms.

Results

By using letrozole-induced PCOS mice model, we manifested that antibiotic intervention significantly reduced the serum total testosterone level and ameliorated glucose intolerance. Antibiotic treatment reduced the number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), as well as the Shannon and Simpson index. Meanwhile, letrozole induced a significant increase in the Shannon and Simpson index instead of ASVs. Through random forest model analysis, the results revealed significant alterations in three distinct groups of microbiota, namely Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, Enterorhabdus, and Muribaculaceae after letrozole treatment. Further correlation analysis revealed a positive association between alterations in these microbiota and both serum total testosterone levels and the area under the curve (AUC) of blood glucose in IPGTT. The administration of antibiotics led to a decrease in the absolute abundance of 5 ASVs belonging to unclassified Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, unclassified Enterorhabdus, and unclassified Muribaculaceae, which exhibited a positive correlation with the levels of total testosterone in mice serum, as well as the area under the curve of blood glucose in IPGTT. Moreover, 25 functional pathways of gut microbiome were significantly discrepant between the letrozole-treated mice with and without antibiotics.

Conclusion

These results suggest that disturbance of the gut microbiota may take participate in the progression of PCOS and manipulating the composition of the gut microbiota may be a therapeutic approach for managing PCOS.
Understanding the role of youth in Indigenous territorial governance
Authors: Sarigumba Maria Paula , Soriano Marlene , Robson James P. , Quiviquivi Ignacio , Cabrera Olga Lidia
Published: October 2023

Indigenous territories cover more than one-fourth of the world’s land surface, overlap with distinct ecological areas, and harbour significant cultural and biological diversity; their stewardship provides critical contributions to livelihood, food security, conservation, and climate action. How these territories are accessed, used, and managed is an important question for owner communities, state governments, development agencies, and researchers alike. This extends to how broad community memberships remain invested in territorial use and management, with young people comprising one sub-group often underrepresented in decision-making spaces. We know that internal community norms and structures–often dominated by older, adult males–can limit opportunities for youth to contribute their energy and ideas. We also know that youth can and do leave their home communities to pursue life, work, or education goals and aspirations. Drawing on insights from 5 years of collaborative research with the Indigenous Territory of Lomerío (ITL), Bolivia, we explore the roles that youth play in territorial governance, their perceptions of current structures and novel engagement strategies, and consider what lessons from this case could be applied more broadly. Our findings point to the ITL as an instructive example of how Indigenous (and other rural and remote) communities might enable young people to participate more fully in territorial governance, highlighting the importance of an enabling, underlying socio-cultural context. Based on our work in Bolivia, and lessons from other places, we discuss ways to enhance youth-community-territory linkages to support Indigenous land sovereignty and stewardship and reflect on how research co-design and knowledge co-production can help deliver more robust, inclusive, and useful (in an applied sense) empirical insights in support of such efforts.
Using enhanced vegetation index and land surface temperature to reconstruct the solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence of forests and grasslands across latitude and phenology
Authors: Zhang Peipei , Liu Haiqiu , Li Hangzhou , Yao Jianen , Chen Xiu , Feng Jinying
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Forest and grassland are the two main carbon-collecting terrestrial ecosystems, and detecting their solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) enables evaluation of their photosynthetic intensity and carbon-collecting capacity. Since SIF that is retrieved directly from satellite observations suffers from low spatial resolution, discontinuity, or low temporal resolution, some vegetation indexes (VIs) and meteorological factors are used as predictors to reconstruct SIF products. Yet, unlike VIs, certain meteorological factors feature a relatively low space resolution and their observations are not always accessible. This study aimed to explore the potential of reconstructing SIF from fewer predictors whose high-resolution observations are easily accessible.

Methods

A total of six forest and grassland regions across low, mid, and high latitudes were selected, and the commonly used predictors-normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and land surface temperature (LST)—were compared for their correlation with SIF. Results show that the combination of EVI and LST is more strongly correlated with SIF, but each contributed differently to SIF at differing growth stages of forest and grassland. Accordingly, we proposed the idea of a combined sampling approach that considers both location and phenological phase, to explore the extent to which time and space coverage samples' span could enlarge the disparity of EVI data in particular regions at specific growth stages. To do that, three kinds of sample combination methods were proposed: monthly regression at a global scale, seasonal regression at a regional scale, and monthly regression at a regional scale. Following this, Sentinel-3 EVI and MODIS LST data were used to reconstruct 500 m SIF in the six regions by implementing the proposed methodology.

Results and discussion

These results showed that the R2 values were ≥0.90 between the reconstructed SIF and MODIS GPP (gross primary productivity), 0.70 with GOME-2 SIF and 0.77 with GOSIF, thus proving the proposed methodology could produce reliable results for reconstruction of 500 m SIF. This proposed approach, which bypasses dependence of traditional SIF reconstruction model on numerous predictors not easy to obtain, can serve as a better option for more efficient and accurate high-resolution SIF reconstructions in the future.
Transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profiling of Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken ovary revealed regulatory pathways underlying sexual maturation and low egg-laying performance
Authors: Jia Congjun , Zhang Mengling , Liu Xiaoyan , Xu Weilin , Xiong Yanqing , Huang Rihao , Li Meidi , Li Mingna
Published: October 2023

RNA N6-melthyladenosine (m6A) can play an important role in regulation of various biological processes. Chicken ovary development is closely related to egg laying performance, which is a process primarily controlled by complex gene regulations. In this study, transcriptome-wide m6A methylation of the Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken ovaries before and after sexual maturation was profiled to identify the potential molecular mechanisms underlying chicken ovary development. The results indicated that m6A levels of mRNAs were altered dramatically during sexual maturity. A total of 1,476 differential m6A peaks were found between these two stages with 662 significantly upregulated methylation peaks and 814 downregulated methylation peaks after sexual maturation. A positive correlation was observed between the m6A peaks and gene expression levels, indicating that m6A may play an important role in regulation of chicken ovary development. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that apoptosis related pathways could be the key molecular regulatory pathway underlying the poor reproductive performance of Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken. Overall, the various pathways and corresponding candidate genes identified here could be useful to facilitate molecular design breeding for improving egg production performance in Chinese local chicken breed, and it might also contribute to the genetic resource protection of valuable avian species.
Real-world clinical effectiveness of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab and Regdanvimab monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 treatment in Omicron variant-dominant period
Authors: Fomina Daria S. , Lebedkina Marina S. , Iliukhina Anna A. , Kovyrshina Anna V. , Shelkov Artem Y. , Andreev Sergey S. , Chernov Anton A. , Dolzhikova Inna V. , Kruglova Tatyana S. , Andrenova Gerelma V. , Tukhvatulin Amir I. , Shcheblyakov Dmitry V. , Karaulov Alexander V. , Lysenko Maryana A. , Logunov Denis Y. , Gintsburg Alexander L.
Published: October 2023

Several virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become new tools in the treatment of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but their effectiveness against the rapidly mutating virus is questionable. The present study investigated the effectiveness of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab and Regdanvimab for mild and moderate COVID-19 treatment in real-world clinical practice during the Omicron variant-dominant period. Patients with known risk factors for disease progression and increasing disease severity were enrolled in the study within the first 7 days of symptom onset. Seventy-seven patients were divided into four groups: first 15 patients received 300 mg Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab intravenously (IV) and 23 patients got the same drug 300 mg intramuscularly (IM), the next 15 patients was on the same combination in dose of 600 mg IV, and 24 patients were on Regdanvimab at a dose of 40 mg/kg IV. By Day 4, 100% of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab IV patients showed negative polymerase chain reaction results for SARS-CoV-2 Ribonucleic acid (RNA) regardless of the mAbs dose while in the Regdanvimab group 29% of the patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA. The testing for virus neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) to various Omicron sublineages (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5) showed that an increase in nAb levels was detected in blood serum immediately after the drug administration only in Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab 300 mg and 600 mg IV groups. In the group of intravenous Regdanvimab, a significant increase in the level of nAbs to the Wuhan variant was detected immediately after the drug administration, while no increase in nAbs to different Omicron sublineages was observed.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05982704.
Integrated Immunopeptidomic and Proteomic Analysis of COVID-19 lung biopsies
Authors: Yin Shanye , Klaeger Susan , Chea Vipheaviny A. , Carulli Isabel P. , Rachimi Suzanna , Black Katharine E. , Filbin Michael , Hariri Lida P. , Knipe Rachel S. , Padera Robert F. , Stevens Jonathan D. , Lane William J. , Carr Steven A. , Wu Catherine J. , Kim Edy Yong , Keskin Derin B.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Severe respiratory illness is the most prominent manifestation of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, and yet the molecular mechanisms underlying severe lung disease in COVID-19 affected patients still require elucidation. Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) expression is crucial for antigen presentation and the host’s response to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

To gain insights into the immune response and molecular pathways involved in severe lung disease, we performed immunopeptidomic and proteomic analyses of lung tissues recovered at four COVID-19 autopsy and six non-COVID-19 transplants.

Results

We found signals of tissue injury and regeneration in lung fibroblast and alveolar type I/II cells, resulting in the production of highly immunogenic self-antigens within the lungs of COVID-19 patients. We also identified immune activation of the M2c macrophage as the primary source of HLA-I presentation and immunogenicity in this context. Additionally, we identified 28 lung signatures that can serve as early plasma markers for predicting infection and severe COVID-19 disease. These protein signatures were predominantly expressed in macrophages and epithelial cells and were associated with complement and coagulation cascades.

Discussion

Our findings emphasize the significant role of macrophage-mediated immunity in the development of severe lung disease in COVID-19 patients.
γδ T cells as a potential therapeutic agent for glioblastoma
Authors: Kang In , Kim Yumin , Lee Heung Kyu
Published: October 2023

Although γδ T cells comprise a small population of T cells, they perform important roles in protecting against infection and suppressing tumors. With their distinct tissue-localizing properties, combined with their various target recognition mechanisms, γδ T cells have the potential to become an effective solution for tumors that do not respond to current therapeutic procedures. One such tumor, glioblastoma (GBM), is a malignant brain tumor with the highest World Health Organization grade and therefore the worst prognosis. The immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune-evasive glioma stem cells are major factors in GBM immunotherapy failure. Currently, encouraged by the strong anti-tumoral function of γδ T cells revealed at the preclinical and clinical levels, several research groups have shown progression of γδ T cell–based GBM treatment. However, several limitations still exist that block effective GBM treatment using γδ T cells. Therefore, understanding the distinct roles of γδ T cells in anti-tumor immune responses and the suppression mechanism of the GBM TME are critical for successful γδ T cell–mediated GBM therapy. In this review, we summarize the effector functions of γδ T cells in tumor immunity and discuss current advances and limitations of γδ T cell–based GBM immunotherapy. Additionally, we suggest future directions to overcome the limitations of γδ T cell–based GBM immunotherapy to achieve successful treatment of GBM.
Selective reprogramming of regulatory T cells in solid tumors can strongly enhance or inhibit tumor growth
Authors: Alfar Rami , Napoleon John V. , Shahriar Imrul , Finnell Richard , Walchle Cole , Johnson Austin , Low Philip S.
Published: October 2023

Folate receptor delta (FRδ) has been used as a biomarker for regulatory T cells (Tregs), because its expression is limited to Tregs and ovum. Although FRδ is unable to bind folate, we have used molecular docking software to identify a folate congener that binds FRδ with high affinity and have exploited this FRδ-specific ligand to target attached drugs (imaging agents, immune activators, and immune suppressors) specifically to Tregs in murine tumor xenografts. Analysis of treated tumors demonstrates that targeting of a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist inhibits Treg expression of FOXP3, PD-1, CTLA4, and HELIOS, resulting in 40-80% reduction in tumor growth and repolarization of other tumor-infiltrating immune cells to more inflammatory phenotypes. Targeting of the immunosuppressive drug dexamethasone, in contrast, promotes enhanced tumor growth and shifts the tumor-infiltrating immune cells to more anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Since Tregs comprise <1% of cells in the tumor masses examined, and since the targeted drugs are not internalized by cancer cells, these data demonstrate that Tregs exert a disproportionately large effect on tumor growth. Because the targeted drug did not bind to Tregs or other immune cells in healthy tissues, the data demonstrate that the immunosuppressive properties of Tregs in tumors can be manipulated without causing systemic toxicities associated with global reprogramming of the immune system.
Revisiting regulatory T cells as modulators of innate immune response and inflammatory diseases
Authors: Ou Qifeng , Power Rachael , Griffin Matthew D.
Published: October 2023

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are known to be critical for the maintenance of immune homeostasis by suppressing the activation of auto- or allo-reactive effector T cells through a diverse repertoire of molecular mechanisms. Accordingly, therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing Treg numbers or potency in the setting of autoimmunity and allogeneic transplants have been energetically pursued and are beginning to yield some encouraging outcomes in early phase clinical trials. Less well recognized from a translational perspective, however, has been the mounting body of evidence that Treg directly modulate most aspects of innate immune response under a range of different acute and chronic disease conditions. Recognizing this aspect of Treg immune modulatory function provides a bridge for the application of Treg-based therapies to common medical conditions in which organ and tissue damage is mediated primarily by inflammation involving myeloid cells (mononuclear phagocytes, granulocytes) and innate lymphocytes (NK cells, NKT cells, γδ T cells and ILCs). In this review, we comprehensively summarize pre-clinical and human research that has revealed diverse modulatory effects of Treg and specific Treg subpopulations on the range of innate immune cell types. In each case, we emphasize the key mechanistic insights and the evidence that Treg interactions with innate immune effectors can have significant impacts on disease severity or treatment. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges that exist for the application of Treg-based therapeutic interventions to three globally impactful, inflammatory conditions: type 2 diabetes and its end-organ complications, ischemia reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis.
Abundance, diversity and richness of natural enemies of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Zambia
Authors: Chipabika Gilson , Sohati Philemon H. , Khamis Fathiya Mbarak , Chikoti Patrick C. , Copeland Robert , Ombura Levi , Kachapulula Paul W. , Tonga Tamara K. , Niassy Saliou , Sevgan Subramanian
Published: October 2023

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, an invasive pest originating from the Americas is a serious pest threatening cereal production and food security in Zambia. We studied the prevalence and abundance of natural enemies of FAW in three Agroecological regions (AERs I, II, and III) to identify those that could potentially serve as bio-control agents. Sampling of FAW parasitoids and predators was done along trunk roads at intervals of 10 km. Molecular sequence analysis and morphological characterization were used to identify natural enemies. Over 11 species of FAW natural enemies, including egg, egg-larval, and larval parasitoids, and predators, were identified in Zambia. The mean number of natural enemies and species richness was higher in AER I and IIa. Consequently, egg parasitism was highest in those two regions, at 24.5% and 12.2%, respectively. Larvae parasitism was highest in AER I (4.8%) and AER III (1.9), although no significant differences were observed. The most abundant and widely distributed parasitoid was Drino sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae), while Rhynocoris segmentarius (Germar) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and Belanogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) were the most prevalent predators. Our study reveals the presence of two natural enemies belonging to the genus Tiphia and Micromeriella, uncommon to FAW. Significant differences in the number of parasitoids were observed in polycropping, with the highest recovery of 12 ± 10% from maize + cowpeas + pumpkin and watermelon mixed cropping. The higher the rainfall, the lower the number of natural enemies recorded. Variations in rainfall patterns which affect FAW availability, cropping systems and the three AERs may explain natural enemies’ species diversity in Zambia. The information provided in this study can aid the development of a national biological control programme for sustainable management of fall armyworm.