bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sujeitos em privação de liberdade pela ótica da Ciência da Informação
Authors: Sousa Francisca Liliana Martins de , Pinto Virgínia Bentes , Farias Maria Giovanna Guedes
Published: January 2022

Apresenta resultados de pesquisa cujo objetivo foi identificar, por meio da revisão integrativa, como a temática dos sujeitos em privação de liberdade está inserida nos estudos da Ciência da Informação, considerando a complexidade da realidade carcerária, e a importância da ciência para a compreensão dos fenômenos sociais desta natureza. A metodologia de análise foi a revisão integrativa, seguindo seis etapas estabelecidas: identificação do tema e seleção da questão de pesquisa; estabelecimento de critérios de inclusão e exclusão; identificação dos estudos pré-selecionados e selecionados; categorização dos estudos selecionados; análise e interpretação dos resultados; e apresentação da revisão/síntese do conhecimento. Realizou-se ainda um levantamento bibliográfico em duas bases de dados: Base de Dados Referenciais de Artigos de Periódicos em Ciência da Informação (Brapci) e Library & Information Science Abstracts (Lisa). A análise foi definida a partir de duas categorias, questões de aspectos gerais e questões de aspectos temáticos - essa última foi analisada por meio do software livre de análise qualitativa Iramuteq. Os resultados demonstram que na Brapci não há praticamente literatura referente à temática, a maior parte dos artigos foram recuperados na Lisa. Concluímos que a temática a nível internacional já é discutida a longo prazo e que a biblioteca prisional é uma abordagem recorrente. Desse tema, derivam outros como: análise dos serviços de referência nas prisões, estudo das necessidades de informação, estudo do comportamento informacional e implementação de projetos no cárcere, revelando a diversidade de abordagens.
Big Data na Base de Dados Referencial de Artigos de Periódicos em Ciência da Informação (Brapci): um enfoque situacional
Authors: Nascimento Lucileide Andrade de Lima do , Miguel Marcelo Calderari , Costa Rosa da Penha Ferreira da
Published: January 2022

Introdução: o gerenciamento de Big Data é considerado uma chave essencial no negócio de tecnologia e nessa via, o presente estudo evidencia a natureza interativa e a perspectiva bibliográfica sobre o tema Big Data, dando destaque ao cenário que situa múltiplos fenômenos informacionais contemporâneos. Objetivo: analisar a temática Big Data, no período de 2010 a 2019, em periódicos indexados na Base de Dados Referencial de Artigos de Periódicos em Ciência da Informação (Brapci). Metodologia: trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, quali-quantitativa que utiliza a pesquisa bibliográfica sistemática para levantamento de dados e indicadores bibliométricos da produção científica como forma de mapeamento. Identifica e quantifica a inserção da temática no campo científico brasileiro, representando graficamente as relações existentes. Resultado e Discussão: o diagnóstico levantou 152 artigos indexados, dos quais 118 se enquadram nos parâmetros estabelecidos no recorte amostral junto à base de dados Brapci. Assinala como principais veículos de publicação da temática os periódicos Ciência da Informação com nove artigos e Informação & informação com oito artigos sobre o tema. Conclusão: o desenvolvimento do Big Data acompanha o ritmo da expansão dos dados socialmente produzidos e da tecnologia gerada na ambiência da web.
Resenha de O Itinerário de Benjamin de Tudela
Authors: Wasserman Júlia
Published: January 2022

Em meados do século XII, Benjamin de Tudela deixou a Península Ibérica para empreender, durante um espaço de catorze anos, uma viagem através da Europa, da África e da Ásia. Tudo o que se sabe a respeito de sua jornada foi documentado por ele próprio, em hebraico, em seu livro de viagens intitulado posteriormente como O itinerário de Benjamin de Tudela. Os seus registros, significativos enquanto documento histórico e geográfico de boa parte da terra conhecida até então, destacam-se não apenas por refletir a mentalidade do medievo, como também por oferecer a mais completa descrição da comunidade judaica existente naquela época.
Harnessing Whole Genome Polygenic Risk Scores to Stratify Individuals Based on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Biomarkers at Age 10 in the Lifecourse—Brief Report
Authors: Richardson Tom G. , O’Nunain Katie , Relton Caroline L. , Davey Smith George
Published: January 2022

Background:

In this study, we investigated the capability of polygenic risk scores to stratify a cohort of young individuals into risk deciles based on 10 different cardiovascular traits and circulating biomarkers.

Methods:

We first conducted large-scale genome-wide association studies using data on adults (mean age 56.5 years) enrolled in the UK Biobank study (n=393 193 to n=461 460). Traits and biomarkers analyzed were body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, C-reactive protein and vitamin D. Findings were then leveraged to build whole genome polygenic risk scores in participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (mean age, 9.9 years) which were used to stratify this cohort into deciles in turn and analyzed against their respective traits.

Results:

For each of the 10 different traits assessed, we found strong evidence of an incremental trend across deciles (all
P
<0.0001). Large differences were identified when comparing top and bottom deciles; for example, using the apolipoprotein B polygenic risk scores there was a mean difference of 13.2 mg/dL for this established risk factor of coronary heart disease in later life.

Conclusions:

Although the use of polygenic prediction in a clinical setting may currently be premature, our findings suggest they are becoming increasingly powerful as a means of predicting complex trait variation at an early stage in the lifecourse.
Comparison of Different Dosages of Alteplase in Atrial Fibrillation–Related Acute Ischemic Stroke After Intravenous Thrombolysis: A Nationwide, Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Sheng‐Feng , Chen Chien‐Fu , Hu Han‐Hwa , Ho Bo‐Lin , Chen Chih‐Hung , Chan Lung , Lin Huey‐Juan , Sun Yu , Lin Yung‐Yang , Chen Po‐Lin , Lin Shinn‐Kuang , Wei Cheng‐Yu , Lin Yu‐Te , Lee Jiunn‐Tay , Chao A‐Ching , Lin Sheng‐Feng , Chen Chien‐Fu , Hu Han‐Hwa , Ho Bo‐Lin , Chen Chih‐Hung , Chan Lung , Lin Huey‐Juan , Sun Yu , Lin Yung‐Yang , Chen Po‐Lin , Lin Shinn‐Kuang , Wei Cheng‐Yu , Lin Yu‐Te , Lee Jiunn‐Tay , Chao A‐Ching
Published: January 2022

Background

Insufficient evidence is available for patients with acute ischemic stroke with atrial fibrillation (AF) to determine the efficacy and safety of different dosages of intravenous thrombolysis treatment. This study examined clinical outcomes in Chinese patients with stroke with and without AF after intravenous thrombolysis treatment with different intravenous thrombolysis doses.

Methods and Results

This multicenter, prospective cohort study recruited 2351 patients with acute ischemic stroke (1371 with AF and 980 without AF) treated with intravenous thrombolysis using alteplase. The Totaled Health Risks in Vascular Events score is a validated risk‐scoring tool used for assessing patients with acute ischemic stroke with and without AF. We evaluated favorable functional outcome at day 90 and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 24 to 36 hours and outcomes of the patients receiving different doses of alteplase. Compared with the non‐AF group, the AF group exhibited a 2‐ to 3‐fold increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke standard (relative risk [RR], 2.10 [95% CI, 1.35–3.26]). Favorable functional outcome at 90 days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rates according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study II and the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke‐Monitoring Study standards did not significantly differ between the AF and non‐AF groups. In addition, the low‐dose alteplase subgroup exhibited an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke standard (RR, 2.84 [95% CI, 1.63–4.96]). A validation study confirmed these findings after adjustment for scores determined using different stroke risk‐scoring tools.

Conclusions

Different alteplase dosages did not affect functional status at 90 days in the AF and non‐AF groups. Thus, the adoption of low‐dose alteplase simply because of AF is not recommended.
Doing Drag in Blackface
Authors: Colvin Sarah
Published: January 2022

This article acknowledges racism and sexism as ethical problems in Grimmelshausen’s novel Courasche. Its charismatic protagonist is not only old and a woman (and therefore arguably a witch), but adds racialised exclusion to her portfolio when she narrates her autobiography in blackface. Here the author interrogates Grimmelshausen’s narratorial masks using Medina’s conception of the infelicitous subject, who has a paradoxical double function: infelicitous subjects simultaneously demonstrate how things should not be done and sow seeds of doubt about the practices and beliefs of the normative economy. Recognising the problem racism and sexism represent in Courasche raises the question whether Grimmelshausen’s engagement with knowledge is conventional or innovative; whether Courasche merely reproduces, or also destabilises, epistemic injustice. Courasche as a protagonist is an exemplar of transgression. But is her transgressive infelicity epistemically constitutive – does it contribute to the creation of new discursive contexts?
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are important in typical type 2 immune-mediated diseases and an essential therapeutic target
Authors: Jin Jie , Sunusi Sadik , Lu Hongyan
Published: January 2022

The prevalence rate of allergic diseases, such as asthma, atopic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis (AD), has been significantly increasing over the years because of environmental changes. Type 2 immunity is mediated by allergic inflammation initiated by an innate immune response. This response is orchestrated by type 2 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13) together with other cells. The dendritic cell [DC]-T helper 2 (Th2) cell axis is the conventional type 2 immune pathway, and is currently known as the group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2)-DC-Th2 axis that mediates type 2 inflammation. ILC2s strongly mediate type 2 inflammation in allergic diseases. ILC2s are activated by epithelial cell-derived cytokines, such as IL-25 and IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Additionally, ILC2s are activated by mast cell lipid inflammatory mediators, such as cysteinyl leukotrienes and prostaglandin D2. ILC2s produce a large amount of type 2 cytokines. The important role of ILC2s in the pathogenesis of type 2-mediated disease has resulted in ILC2-derived cytokines being a target for therapeutic development. In this review, we discuss type 2 immunity, mainly the ILC2-DC-Th2 axis, and other immune cells, the dominant role of ILC2s in asthma, AR, and AD, and therapeutic targets against type 2 cytokines.
Prognostic value of the immune target CEACAM6 in cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Burgos Miguel , Cavero-Redondo Iván , Álvarez-Bueno Celia , Galán-Moya Eva María , Pandiella Atanasio , Amir Eitan , Ocaña Alberto
Published: January 2022

Background:

Identification of membrane proteins differentially expressed on tumor cells is a key step in drug development. The carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is a cell adhesion protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Here, we explore the prognostic role CEACAM6 expression on patient outcome in cancer.

Methods:

A systematic search for studies evaluating the association between tumor expression of CEACAM6 and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was performed. Hazard ratios (HR) were pooled in a meta-analysis using generic inverse variance and random effect modeling. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on tumor type and method of HR extraction.

Results:

Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. CEACAM6 expression was associated with worse OS [HR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.51–2.53], and DFS (HR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.01–3.07) with subgroup analysis showing no significant differences between disease site subgroups.

Conclusions:

High expression of CEACAM6 is associated with worse OS and DFS in different malignancies. CEACAM6 is a target for the future development of novel therapeutics.
Risk-standardized sepsis mortality map of the United States
Authors: Hu Jiun-Ruey , Yo Chia-Hung , Lee Hsin-Ying , Su Chin-Hua , Su Ming-Yang , Huang Amy Huaishiuan , Liu Ye , Hsu Wan-Ting , Lee Matthew , Chen Yee-Chun , Lee Chien-Chang
Published: January 2022

Objective

Sepsis is the leading cause of in-hospital mortality in the United States (US). Quality improvement initiatives for improving sepsis care depend on accurate estimates of sepsis mortality. While hospital 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates have been published for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia, risk-standardized mortality rates for sepsis have not been well characterized. We aimed to construct a sepsis risk-standardized mortality rate map for the United States, to illustrate disparities in sepsis care across the country.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included adults from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample who were hospitalized with sepsis between 1 January 2010 and 30 December 2011. Hospital-level risk-standardized mortality rates were calculated using hierarchical logistic modelling, and were risk-adjusted with predicted mortality derived from (1) the Sepsis Risk Prediction Score, a logistic regression model, and (2) gradient-boosted decision trees, a supervised machine learning (ML) algorithm.

Results

Among 1,739,033 adults hospitalized with sepsis, 50% were female, and the median age was 71 years (interquartile range: 58–81). The national median risk-standardized mortality rate for sepsis was 18.4% (interquartile range: 17.0, 21.0) by the boosted tree model, which had better discrimination than the Sepsis Risk Prediction Score model (C-statistic 0.87 and 0.78, respectively). The highest risk-standardized mortality rates were found in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Mississippi, while the lowest were found in Arizona, Colorado, and Michigan.

Conclusions

Wide variation exists in sepsis risk-standardized mortality rates across states, representing opportunities for improvement in sepsis care. This represents the first map of state-level variation of risk-standardized mortality rates in sepsis.
Eculizumab for refractory thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Hussain Habiba , Tarantino Michael D. , Chaturvedi Shruti , McCrae Keith R. , Roberts Jonathan C.
Published: January 2022

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis with antiphospholipid antibodies. Dysregulation of the complement pathway has been implicated in APS pathophysiology. We report the successful use of eculizumab, an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody, in controlling and preventing recurrent thrombosis in a refractory case of APS. An 18-year-old female was diagnosed with APS after developing extensive, unprovoked deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of axillary, inferior vena cava, and brachiocephalic veins. Thrombophilia evaluation revealed triple-positive lupus anticoagulant, β-2 glycoprotein IgM, IgA, and anticardiolipin antibodies (each >40 U/mL) with persistently positive titers after 12 weeks. She was refractory to multiple anticoagulants alone (enoxaparin, fondaparinux, apixaban, rivaroxaban, and warfarin) with antiplatelet (aspirin and clopidogrel) and adjunctive therapies (hydroxychloroquine, immunosuppression with steroids and rituximab, and plasmapheresis). Despite these, she continued to develop recurrent thrombosis and additionally developed hepatic infarction and pulmonary embolism with failure to decrease titers after 6 weeks of plasma exchange. Following this event, eculizumab (600 mg weekly × 4 weeks followed by 900 mg every 2 weeks) was initiated in combination with fondaparinux, aspirin, clopidogrel, and hydroxychloroquine. She has remained on this regimen without recurrence of thrombosis. Our case suggests that eculizumab may have a role as a therapeutic option in refractory thrombosis in APS.
Practical recommendations for implementing a Bayesian adaptive phase I design during a pandemic
Authors: Ewings Sean , Saunders Geoff , Jaki Thomas , Mozgunov Pavel
Published: January 2022

Background

Modern designs for dose-finding studies (e.g., model-based designs such as continual reassessment method) have been shown to substantially improve the ability to determine a suitable dose for efficacy testing when compared to traditional designs such as the 3 + 3 design. However, implementing such designs requires time and specialist knowledge.

Methods

We present a practical approach to developing a model-based design to help support uptake of these methods; in particular, we lay out how to derive the necessary parameters and who should input, and when, to these decisions. Designing a model-based, dose-finding trial is demonstrated using a treatment within the AGILE platform trial, a phase I/II adaptive design for novel COVID-19 treatments.

Results

We present discussion of the practical delivery of AGILE, covering what information was found to support principled decision making by the Safety Review Committee, and what could be contained within a statistical analysis plan. We also discuss additional challenges we encountered in the study and discuss more generally what (unplanned) adaptations may be acceptable (or not) in studies using model-based designs.

Conclusions

This example demonstrates both how to design and deliver an adaptive dose-finding trial in order to support uptake of these methods.
Paraspinal muscle characteristics on MRI in degenerative lumbar spine with normal bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis: a case-control study
Authors: Han Gengyu , Zou Da , Liu Zexiang , Zhou Siyu , Li Wei , Gong Chunjie , Sun Zhuoran , Li Weishi
Published: January 2022

Background

To investigate the difference of paraspinal muscles in patients with normal bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Methods

Patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis were included. Thirty-eight patients with osteoporosis were matched to patients with osteopenia and patients with normal bone density in a 1:1 manner according to WHO criteria. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and lumbar CT were performed preoperatively to measure the BMD of lumbar, femur and hip and HU values of L1-L4 respectively. The relative total cross-sectional area (rTCSA) and fat infiltration (FI) of multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES), and the relative functional CSA (rFCSA) of psoas major (PS) were measured at L4–5 and L5-S level on preoperative MRI.

Results

Osteoporotic patients showed lower BMI, higher MF FI and higher ES FI when compared with normal bone density group (25.57 ± 3.71 vs 27.46 ± 3.11; 0.38 ± 0.1 vs 0.32 ± 0.08; 0.33 ± 0.1 vs 0.28 ± 0.08; all adjusted p < 0.05). Both the MF FI and ES FI were significantly correlated with lumbar T-score (r = − 0.223, p < 0.05; r = − 0.208, p < 0.05) and the averaged lumbar HU value (r = − 0.305, p < 0.01; r = − 0.239, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Osteoporosis and paraspinal muscle degeneration might interact with each other and coexist in patients with degenerative lumbar diseases. It is recommended that the paraspinal muscle degeneration should be considered simultaneously when finding a patient with low bone mass before surgery.
The use of exhaled air analysis in discriminating interstitial lung diseases: a pilot study
Authors: Plantier L. , Smolinska A. , Fijten R. , Flamant M. , Dallinga J. , Mercadier J. J. , Pachen D. , d’Ortho M. P. , van Schooten F. J. , Crestani B. , Boots A. W.
Published: January 2022

Background

Fibrotic Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a heterogeneous group of chronic lung diseases characterized by diverse degrees of lung inflammation and remodeling. They include idiopathic ILD such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and ILD secondary to chronic inflammatory diseases such as connective tissue disease (CTD). Precise differential diagnosis of ILD is critical since anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, which are beneficial in inflammatory ILD, are detrimental in IPF. However, differential diagnosis of ILD is still difficult and often requires an invasive lung biopsy. The primary aim of this study is to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) patterns in exhaled air to non-invasively discriminate IPF and CTD-ILD. As secondary aim, the association between the IPF and CTD-ILD discriminating VOC patterns and functional impairment is investigated.

Methods

Fifty-three IPF patients, 53 CTD-ILD patients and 51 controls donated exhaled air, which was analyzed for its VOC content using gas chromatograph-time of flight- mass spectrometry.

Results

By applying multivariate analysis, a discriminative profile of 34 VOCs was observed to discriminate between IPF patients and healthy controls whereas 11 VOCs were able to distinguish between CTD-ILD patients and healthy controls. The separation between IPF and CTD-ILD could be made using 16 discriminating VOCs, that also displayed a significant correlation with total lung capacity and the 6 min’ walk distance.

Conclusions

This study reports for the first time that specific VOC profiles can be found to differentiate IPF and CTD-ILD from both healthy controls and each other. Moreover, an ILD-specific VOC profile was strongly correlated with functional parameters. Future research applying larger cohorts of patients suffering from a larger variety of ILDs should confirm the potential use of breathomics to facilitate fast, non-invasive and proper differential diagnosis of specific ILDs in the future as first step towards personalized medicine for these complex diseases.
Liquid biopsy in lung cancer: significance in diagnostics, prediction, and treatment monitoring
Authors: Li Wen , Liu Ji-Bin , Hou Li-Kun , Yu Fei , Zhang Jie , Wu Wei , Tang Xiao-Mei , Sun Feng , Lu Hai-Min , Deng Jing , Bai Jie , Li Juan , Wu Chun-Yan , Lin Qin-Lu , Lv Zhong-Wei , Wang Gao-Ren , Jiang Geng-Xi , Ma Yu-Shui , Fu Da
Published: January 2022

Primary lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Approximately 60% of lung cancer patients have distant metastasis at the initial diagnosis, so it is necessary to find new tumor markers for early diagnosis and individualized treatment. Tumor markers contribute to the early diagnosis of lung cancer and play important roles in early detection and treatment, as well as in precision medicine, efficacy monitoring, and prognosis prediction. The pathological diagnosis of lung cancer in small biopsy specimens determines whether there are tumor cells in the biopsy and tumor type. Because biopsy is traumatic and the compliance of patients with multiple biopsies is poor, liquid biopsy has become a hot research direction. Liquid biopsies are advantageous because they are nontraumatic, easy to obtain, reflect the overall state of the tumor, and allow for real-time monitoring. At present, liquid biopsies mainly include circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, exosomes, microRNA, circulating RNA, tumor platelets, and tumor endothelial cells. This review introduces the research progress and clinical application prospect of liquid biopsy technology for lung cancer.
Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of the extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on osteoarthritis via M2 macrophages
Authors: Li Kanglu , Yan Guohua , Huang Hanji , Zheng Mingjun , Ma Ke , Cui Xiaofei , Lu Dejie , Zheng Li , Zhu Bo , Cheng Jianwen , Zhao Jinmin
Published: January 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative illness that greatly impacts the life quality of patients. Currently, the therapeutic approaches for OA are very limited in clinical. The extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from different mesenchymal stem cells displayed a prominent therapeutic effect on OA. But most EVs have limited resources and the risks of host rejection, immunological response, and etc. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) hold the advantages of easy availability, minimal immune rejection, and excellent immunomodulatory effects, although hUCMSCs-EVs have seldom been applied in OA. Herein, we investigated the potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of hUCMSCs-EVs on the treatment of OA. In our results, the treatment of hUCMSCs-EVs promoted the polarization of M2-type macrophages and the expression of anti-inflammation-related cytokines (IL-10). Notably, the supernate of M2 macrophages induced by hUCMSCs-EVs inhibited the level of inflammation-associated factors in OA chondrocytes caused by IL-1β. Further, injection of hUCMSCs-EVs in the articular lumen ameliorated progression of OA and exerted chondroprotective potential based on the OA joint model created by the surgical transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACLT). In addition, we found five highly enriched miRNAs in hUCMSCs-EVs, including has-miR-122-5p, has-miR-148a-3p, has-miR-486-5p, has-miR-let-7a-5p, and has-miR-100-5p by High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs, with targeted genes mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, we also detected the protein abundance of hUCMSCs-EVs using liquidation chromatography with tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. Thus, our study indicates that hUCMSCs-EVs can alleviate cartilage degradation during the OA progression, mechanically may through delivering key proteins and modulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway mediated by miRNAs to promote polarization of M2 macrophage, exhibiting potent immunomodulatory potential. The current findings suggest that hUCMSCs-EVs might serve as a new reagent for the therapy of OA.

Graphical Abstract
Mechanism of MyD88S mediated signal termination
Authors: Pustelny Katarzyna , Kuska Katarzyna , Gorecki Andrzej , Musielak Bogdan , Dobosz Ewelina , Wladyka Benedykt , Koziel Joanna , Czarna Anna , Holak Tad , Dubin Grzegorz
Published: January 2022

Background

A universal adaptor protein, MyD88, orchestrates the innate immune response by propagating signals from toll-like receptors (TLRs) and interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R). Receptor activation seeds MyD88 dependent formation of a signal amplifying supramolecular organizing center (SMOC)—the myddosome. Alternatively spliced variant MyD88S, lacking the intermediate domain (ID), exhibits a dominant negative effect silencing the immune response, but the mechanistic understanding is limited.

Methods

Luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate functionality of MyD88 variants and mutants. The dimerization potential of MyD88 variants and myddosome nucleation process were monitored by co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. The ID secondary structure was characterized in silico employing I-TASSER server and in vitro using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD).

Results

We show that MyD88S is recruited to the nucleating SMOC and inhibits its maturation by interfering with incorporation of additional components. Biophysical analysis suggests that important functional role of ID is not supported by a well-defined secondary structure. Mutagenesis identifies Tyr116 as the only essential residue within ID required for myddosome nucleation and signal propagation (NF-κB activation).

Conclusions

Our results argue that the largely unstructured ID of MyD88 is not only a linker separating toll-interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) homology domain and death domain (DD), but contributes intermolecular interactions pivotal in MyD88-dependent signaling. The dominant negative effect of MyD88S relies on quenching the myddosome nucleation and associated signal transduction.
Three-dimensional printing models increase inter-rater agreement for classification and treatment of proximal humerus fractures
Authors: Cocco Luiz Fernando , Aihara André Yui , Lopes Flávia Paiva Proença Lobo , Werner Heron , Franciozi Carlos Eduardo , dos Reis Fernando Baldy , Luzo Marcus Vinicius Malheiros
Published: January 2022

Background

Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are frequent, however, several studies show low inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries. Differences are usually related to the experience of the evaluators and/or the diagnostic methods used. This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that shoulder surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists using 3D printing models and shoulder CT scans in assessing proximal humerus fractures.

Methods

We obtained 75 tomographic exams of PHF to print three-dimensional models. After, two shoulder surgeons and two specialists in musculoskeletal imaging diagnostics analyzed CT scans and 3D models according to the Neer and AO/OTA group classification and suggested a treatment recommendation for each fracture based on the two diagnostic methods.

Results

The classification agreement for PHF using 3D printing models among the 4 specialists was moderate (global k = 0.470 and 0.544, respectively for AO/OTA and Neer classification) and higher than the CT classification agreement (global k = 0.436 and 0.464, respectively for AO/OTA and Neer). The inter-rater agreement between thetwo shoulder surgeonswere substantial. For the AO/OTA classification, the inter-rater agreement using 3D printing models was higher (k = 0.700) than observed for CT (k = 0.631). For Neer classification,  inter-rater agreement with 3D models was similarly higher (k = 0.784) than CT images (k = 0.620). On the other hand, the inter-rater agreement between thetwo specialistsin diagnostic imaging was moderate. In the AO/OTA classification, the agreement using CT was higher (k = 0.532) than using 3D printing models (k = 0.443), while for Neer classification, the agreement was similar for both 3D models (k = 0.478) and CT images (k = 0.421). Finally, the inter-rater agreement in the treatment of PHF by the 2 surgeons was higher for both classifications using 3D printing models (AO/OTA—k = 0.818 for 3D models and k = 0.537 for CT images). For Neer classification, we saw k = 0.727 for 3D printing models and k = 0.651 for CT images.

Conclusion

The insights from this diagnostic pilot study imply that for shoulder surgeons, 3D printing models improved the diagnostic agreement, especially the treatment indication for PHF compared to CT for both AO/OTA and Neer classifications On the other hand, for specialists in diagnostic imaging, the use of 3D printing models was similar to CT scans for diagnostic agreement using both classifications.

Trial registration

Brazil Platform under no. CAAE 12273519.7.0000.5505.
Recommended daily allowance-based contribution of household’s own agricultural production to food and nutrition security in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda
Authors: Muggaga Christopher , Basil Mugonola , Okello-Uma Ipolto , Kaaya Archileo Natigo , Taylor David , Ongeng Duncan
Published: January 2022

Background

In Uganda, agriculture is the main pathway for dietary intake among the households. Karamoja sub-region, located in Northeastern part of Uganda is the most food insecure in the country. Although agriculture contributes greatly to Uganda’s food systems, there is inadequate evidence for household energy and nutrient intake from agricultural production in the sub-region. Karamoja sub-region is typical because crop production has increasingly become part of the agricultural system in a largely semi-arid environment, predominantly occupied in pastoralism. Therefore, a cross-sectional study of 520 participants investigated the contribution of household’s own agricultural production to dietary intake, seeking to answer whether or not own agricultural production translates into adequate energy and nutrient intake.

Results

Own food production did not meet energy and nutrient requirements, contributed disproportionately among the districts to household cumulated annual RDAs. This was reflected in the higher proportion of households in Moroto not attaining the cumulative annual RDA (energy: 100.0; protein 100.0; iron 86.5; and zinc 100.0%) than in Abim (energy: 81.6; protein 53.3; iron 23.7; and zinc 59.9%). Overall in Karamoja sub-region, the total energy and nutrients required by the household and supplied from their agricultural production were 15,589.7 ± 10,230.6 and 4226.0 ± 3980.1 kcal/day for energy, 317.6 ± 202.6 and 154.4 ± 153.7 g/day for proteins, 49.5 ± 30.8 and 50.2 ± 47.6 mg/day for iron, and 52.7 ± 32.6 and 25.4 ± 24.5 mg/day for zinc. Inter-household distribution of the absolute difference between energy and selected nutrients required by the household and that derived from own agricultural production showed deficits in household energy and nutrients needs. Further, polygamy, subsistence farming by spouse, lack of formal education by spouse positively predicted energy and nutrient supplied from own agricultural produce while lack of formal education negatively predicted energy nutrients supplied from agricultural produce. Increase in household size increased energy and nutrient required from agricultural production.

Conclusion

Own agricultural production contributes limitedly to household energy and nutrient needs in the sub-region. There are great variations in the households’ capacity to derive energy and nutrients from own agricultural produce in Karamoja sub-region. Polygamy, subsistence farming, education and household size predicted energy and nutrients required from and supplied by agricultural production.
A review of diversity of bees, the attractiveness of host plants and the effects of landscape variables on bees in urban gardens
Authors: Rahimi Ehsan , Barghjelveh Shahindokht , Dong Pinliang
Published: January 2022

Background

The world's growing population and growing need for food have increased attention to urban agriculture around the world. Most crops grown in urban environments need bees for pollination. However, little is known about bee populations in urban areas and little attention has been paid to the function of these pollinators in cities. Therefore, studying the ecology of pollinating bees in urban gardens and green roofs contributes greatly to urban agriculture. In this study, the results of 87 articles related to the presence of bees in gardens and urban farms were summarized in three general sections. The first part deals with issues, such as the diversity of bees in urban gardens, dominant species in these areas, their nesting type, origin, specialty, and sociality. The second part examines the attractiveness of host plants in urban gardens and farms and their origin for bees. The third section examines the effects of landscape and local variables effects on the presence of bees in urban farms and gardens.

Results

Our data showed that urban environments, especially urban gardens, contain a high diversity of bees, which honeybees and bumblebees are the most dominant species in these environments. The results of the second part showed that native plants were more attractive to bees than non-native plants. In the third section, most studies have shown the negative role of urbanization on the presence of bees. On the other hand, many studies have shown that the presence of green spaces or other farms and gardens around the studied gardens have a positive effect on the presence of pollinators.

Conclusion

Urban environments have a high diversity of plants and bees that provides a good opportunity to increase agricultural production in these environments. Planting native plants and creating artificial nests for solitary bees and bumblebees can help attract more bees to urban environments. Converting lawns into floral resources or carrying out agricultural activities around green spaces can also effectively help to increase agricultural production in the city.
Novel dihydroartemisinin derivative Mito-DHA5 induces apoptosis associated with mitochondrial pathway in bladder cancer cells
Authors: Xiao Linfan , Xu Cangcang , Lin Peiyu , Mu Lingli , Yang Xiaoping
Published: January 2022

Background

Bladder cancer is the second most common genitourinary malignancy and the eleventh most common cancer worldwide. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a first-line antimalarial drug, has been found to have potent antitumor activity. In our previous study, a novel dihydroartemisinin derivative Mito-DHA5 synthesized in our laboratory has a stronger anti-tumor activity than DHA. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effect of Mito-DHA5 on bladder cancer T24 cells and molecular mechanisms underlying.

Methods

Antitumor activity in vitro was evaluated by MTT, wound healing and cloning formation assays. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by JC-1 probe and ROS levels were measured by specific kit. The expression of caspase-3, cleaved-caspase3, mitochondrial Cyt-C, Bcl-2, Bax and PARP in T24 cells was evaluated by Western blotting.

Results

The results showed that Mito-DHA5 reduced cell viability with an IC50 value of 3.2 µM and induced T24 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, increased the production of ROS and decreased MMP. Mito-DHA5 could down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, mitochondrial Cyt-C, Caspase-3, PARP and up-regulate the expression of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3.

Conclusions

These data suggested that Mito-DHA5 had a potent inhibitory effect on T24 bladder cancer cell growth and induced these cells apoptosis associated with mitochondrial pathway.
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity using fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus isolated from Taxus baccata Linn.
Authors: Sharma Ankush , Sagar Anand , Rana Jagriti , Rani Reena
Published: January 2022

The present study is focused on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing endophytic fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus, isolated from Taxus baccata Linn. Extracellular extract of Talaromyces purpureogenus has shown occurrence of secondary metabolites viz. terpenoids and phenols. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis showed the presence of 16 compounds. Techniques like Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to characterize the synthesized AgNPs. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed sharp peaks at 380–470 nm which indicates the presence of metallic silver. FTIR analysis showed the presence of various functional groups like phenols, hydroxyl groups, and primary amines. In DLS, Z-average size and PdI of synthesized AgNPs were 240.2 r.nm and 0.720 respectively, with zeta potential − 19.6 mV. In FEG-SEM and HRTEM the spherical AgNPs showed diameter in the range of 30–60 nm. In EDS analysis the weight percent of Ag is 67.26% and atomic percent is 43.13%. From XRD analysis the size of AgNPs was found to be 49.3 nm with face-centered cubic crystalline nature of fungal synthesized AgNPs. These nanoparticles have shown significant antibacterial activity against tested strains viz. Listeria monocytogenes (13 ± 0.29 mm), Escherichia coli (17 ± 0.14 mm), Shigella dysenteriae (18 ± 0.21 mm) and Salmonella typhi (14 ± 0.13 mm). These synthesized AgNPs have shown effective free radical scavenging activity against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The present study showed that the endophytic fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus can be used as a prominent source to synthesize AgNPs by using biological, ecofriendly, and in a non-toxic way accompanied by antibacterial and antioxidant properties which further can reduce the harvesting pressure faced by Taxus baccata.

Graphical Abstract
Potential roles of vitamin D binding protein in attenuating liver injury in sepsis
Authors: Xiao Kun , Zhang Du-Chao , Hu Ye , Song Li-Cheng , Xu Jian-Qiao , He Wan-Xue , Pan Pan , Wang Yu-Wei , Xie Li-Xin
Published: January 2022

Background

In sepsis, vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has been shown to be low-expressed. The current study examined the relationship between serum VDBP level and liver injury in sepsis patients, as well as in a mouse model for sepsis and in cultured liver epithelial cell line exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods

The human study included 78 sepsis patients and 50 healthy volunteers. Sepsis patients were categorized into sepsis survivor group (n = 43) and sepsis non-survivor group (n = 35) based on 28-day mortality for data analysis. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Serum samples were collected on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 to determine the levels of VDBP, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Potential protective effects of VDBP overexpression against LPS-induced liver damage were examined in cultured THLE2 cells.

Results

Serum levels of VDBP, 25(OH)D3, and 1,25(OH)2D3 were significantly lower in sepsis patients vs. the healthy control (P < 0.001), as well as in the sepsis non-survivor group vs. the sepsis survivor group (P < 0.001, P = 0.0338, or P = 0.0013, respectively). Lower serum VDBP level was associated with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (r = − 0.2565, P = 0.0234) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r = − 0.3522, P = 0.0016), but lower serum albumin (ALB, r = 0.4628, P < 0.001) and total protein (TP, r = 0.263, P = 0.02). In CLP mice, there was a 5-day period of serum VDBP reduction, followed by return towards the baseline on day 7. VDBP was also decreased in LPS-treated THLE2 cells (P < 0.001). VDBP overexpression reduced LPS-induced THLE2 damage. Reduced damage was associated with decreased oxidative stress and inactivation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway.

Conclusion

VDBP may be protective against sepsis-induced liver injury.
Transcrystalline growth of PLLA on carbon fiber grafted with nano-SiO
2
towards boosting interfacial bonding in bone scaffold
Authors: Feng Pei , Jia Jiye , Peng Shuping , Shuai Yang , Pan Hao , Bai Xinna , Shuai Cijun
Published: January 2022

Background

The reinforcement effect of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is usually limited because of the poor interfacial interaction between fiber and polymer, though fiber reinforcement is regarded as an effective method to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer.

Methods

In this study, nano-SiO
2
particles grafted by 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560) were introduced onto the surface of 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) modified carbon fiber (CF) by a self-assembly strategy to improve the interfacial bonding between CF and biopolymer poly (lactic acid) (PLLA).

Results

The results indicated that PLLA chains preferred to anchor at the surface of nano-SiO
2
particles and then formed high order crystalline structures. Subsequently, PLLA spherulites could epitaxially grow on the surface of functionalized CF, forming a transcrystalline structure at the CF/PLLA interface. Meanwhile, the nano-SiO
2
particles were fixed in the transcrystalline structure, which induced a stronger mechanical locking effect between CF and PLLA matrix. The results of tensile experiments indicated that the PLLA/CF-SiO
2
scaffold with a ratio of CF to SiO
2
of 9:3 possessed the optimal strength and modulus of 10.11 MPa and 1.18 GPa, respectively. In addition, in vitro tests including cell adhesion and fluorescence indicated that the scaffold had no toxicity and could provide a suitable microenvironment for the growth and proliferation of cell.

Conclusion

In short, the PLLA/CF-SiO
2
scaffold with good mechanical properties and cytocompatibility had great potential in the application of bone tissue engineering.
Emotions in simulation-based education: friends or foes of learning?
Authors: LeBlanc Vicki R. , Posner Glenn D.
Published: January 2022

In simulation-based education, there is growing interest in the effects of emotions on learning from simulation sessions. The perception that emotions have an important impact on performance and learning is supported by the literature. Emotions are pervasive: at any given moment, individuals are in one emotional state or another. Emotions are also powerful: they guide ongoing cognitive processes in order to direct attention, memory and judgment towards addressing the stimulus that triggers the emotion. This occurs in a predictable way. The purpose of this paper is to present a narrative overview of the research on emotions, cognitive processes and learning, in order to inform the simulation community of the potential role of emotions during simulation-based education.
Quality of life of cardiac outpatients with and without psychiatric disorders: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alzahrani Ahmad , Alqahtani Abdullah , Saleh Abeer , Aloqalaa Maryam , Abdulmajeed Abdulaziz , Nadhrah Asrar , Alhazmi Nada
Published: January 2022

Background

The study aims to measure the quality of life (QOL) for cardiac outpatients with psychiatric disorders (CPP) in comparison to cardiac outpatients without psychiatric disorders (CPOP). A semi-structured interview was performed for consecutive cardiac outpatients. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed using the mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI). The QOL was measured by the World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF).

Results

Out of the 343 enrolled patients, 93 (27.1%) patients were found to have psychiatric disorders. The WHO-BREF score of QOL was 4.25 ± 0.85. The CPP were found to have statistically significant lower scores in QOL than CPOP in all the WHOQOL-BREF domains. Particularly, the domain of psychological health showed the highest difference between the two groups (76.9 vs. 87.8, P < 0.001), whereas the environment domain showed the lowest difference between them (80.2 vs. 87.9, P < 0.001). Within each QOL domain, patients with congestive heart failure and psychiatric disorders showed the lowest QOL in both the physical domain (51.4 vs. 71.3, P < 0.02) and the social domain (64.7 vs. 81.9, P < 0.05), while patients with vulvular heart disease and psychiatric disorders showed the lowest QOL in the psychological domain (74.6 vs. 85.7, P < 0.001) and patients with arrhythmias and psychiatric disorders in the environment domain (80 vs. 86.2, P < 0.02).

Conclusions

The QOL of CPP were found to have poorer QOL than CPOP. The magnitude of difference in QOL was the highest in the psychological health domain and the lowest in the environment domain.
Metal-free SERS: Where we are now, where we are heading
Authors: Martinez Pancorbo Pablo , Zhang Huanhuan , Yu Xingxing , Xiao Ting-Hui , Goda Keisuke
Published: January 2022

In the recent years, the emergence of metal-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates has provided promising alternatives for reliable, high-sensitivity Raman spectroscopy due to their potential to realize highly tuneable, biocompatible, and reproducible Raman enhancement. In this perspective article, we discuss recent developments and anticipate new opportunities for metal-free SERS. Specifically, we review the theory of metal-free SERS, including electromagnetic enhancement and chemical enhancement, and introduce promising substrates developed recently, including MXenes, transition metal dichalcogenides, and carbon-based substrates. Moreover, we clarify challenges, provide potential solutions, and discuss unexploited applications. This perspective provides not only a broad and detailed view of metal-free SERS at the current stage, but also a roadmap for its future advancement.