bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid metabolism in myeloid cell function and chronic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Ito Ayaka , Suganami Takayoshi
Published: January 2025

Immune cells adapt their metabolism in response to their differentiation and activation status to meet the energy demands for an appropriate immune response. Recent studies have elucidated that during immune cell metabolic reprogramming, lipid metabolism, including lipid uptake, de novo lipid synthesis and fatty acid oxidation, undergoes significant alteration, resulting in dynamic changes in the quantity and quality of intracellular lipids. Given that lipids serve as an energy source and structural components of cellular membranes, they have important implications for physiological function. Myeloid cells, which are essential in bridging innate and adaptive immunity, are sensitive to these changes. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in myeloid cells can result in immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation and impaired resolution of inflammation. Understanding the mechanism by which lipids regulate immune cell function might provide novel therapeutic insights into chronic inflammatory diseases, including metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. (143 words)
Humoral and cellular immune durability of different COVID-19 vaccine platforms following homologous/heterologous boosters: one-year post vaccination
Authors: Awadalla Maaweya , AlRawi Halah Z. , Henawi Rahaf A. , Barnawi Fawziya , Alkadi Haitham , Alyami Ahmed , Alsughayir Ammar , Alsaif Alyazeed S. , Mubarak Ayman , Alturaiki Wael , Alosaimi Bandar
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The durability of Hybrid immunity induced by natural infection and/or COVID-19 vaccines and evidence supporting further booster vaccination are crucial factors for pandemic response, yet remain poorly understood.

Methods

We measured the durability of immune response and neutralizing capacity of antibodies following Homologous/Heterologous vaccination by mRNA-based vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2) or (Moderna mRNA-1273) and viral vector-based vaccines (ChAdox1 nCoV-19-Oxford-AstraZeneca) in infected and non-infected patients. We also evaluated the long-lasting specific humoral IgG levels and T-cell immunity of the Memory CD8 cells.

Results

We found that heterologous prime boosters led to significantly higher IgG antibody levels)9.09(than homologous boosters)5.236) one year after vaccination. We measured SARS-CoV-2 anti-S IgG antibodies and then assessed their neutralizing capacity to inhibit the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain and omicron B.1.1.529/BA.2 variants from binding to the ACE2 receptors. The heterologous regiment demonstrated superior ACE2-binding inhibition and consistently had higher mean ACE2-receptor binding inhibition across all dose regimens without the need for further doses. The CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ to various COVID-19 vaccine dose regimens were evaluated. We found that robust T cell mediated immune responses were preserved and largely induced by a heterogeneous vaccination eliciting a significantly higher CD8+ T cells IFN-γ response in 100% of vaccinees regardless of previous natural infection. Indeed, the difference between infected and naïve groups was less pronounced suggesting a reduced infection-related response.

Discussion

Across three layers of evidence, this study showed that heterologous vaccination provides longer-lasting immunity than homologous doses, regardless of prior natural infection.
Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy
Authors: Li Yanjiao , Zhu Jinyu , Yue Congyang , Song Siyuan , Tian Limin , Wang Yi
Published: January 2025

As the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus rises, traditional treatments like insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents often fail to achieve optimal glycemic control, leading to severe complications. Recent research has focused on replenishing pancreatic β-cells through the transdifferentiation of α-cells, offering a promising therapeutic avenue. This review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying α-cell to β-cell transdifferentiation, emphasizing key transcription factors such as Dnmt1, Arx, Pdx1, MafA, and Nkx6.1. The potential clinical applications, especially in type 1 and type 2 diabetes characterized by significant β-cell dysfunction, are addressed. Challenges, including low transdifferentiation efficiency, cell stability, and safety concerns, are also included. Future research directions include optimizing molecular pathways, enhancing transdifferentiation efficiency, and ensuring the long-term stability of β-cell identity. Overall, the ability to convert α-cells into β-cells represents a transformative strategy for diabetes treatment, offering hope for more effective and sustainable therapies for patients with severe β-cell loss.
The impact of stony coral tissue loss disease and amoxicillin treatments on coral gametogenesis
Authors: Mazurek Hannah E. , Neely Karen L. , Renegar D. Abigail
Published: January 2025

The unprecedented mortality of stony corals on Florida’s Coral Reef from stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was mitigated on some priority sites and corals through the use of a topical amoxicillin paste to halt disease lesion progression. One management concern about the use of antibiotics on these corals was the impact it may have on gametogenesis. We used histology to assess gametogenesis within Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa samples from six sites and across three treatment groups. The sites covered the geographic regions of the Florida Keys, including both inshore and offshore habitats. The treatment groups were: healthy corals, samples adjacent to active SCTLD lesions, and samples adjacent to previous SCTLD lesions that were halted by topical amoxicillin. Across both species, colonies from all sites and treatment groups were producing normal oocytes and spermaries. For M. cavernosa, gametogenesis metrics did not differ among treatment groups. Among O. faveolata colonies, healthy corals exhibited higher fecundity and higher oocyte presence than treated corals and larger oocytes than diseased corals. However, of the treated corals, those which had been treated more frequently had higher fecundity than those that were treated less frequently, suggesting that diminished fecundity throughout the group may have been the result of disease occurring earlier in gametogenesis rather than the treatment itself. Fecundity of O. faveolata colonies in the diseased group was highly dependent on whether the corals were from nearshore or offshore environments. The relationship between disease, treatment, and habitat warrants further examination, but we show that amoxicillin treatments do not prevent gametogenesis in corals.
Multi-decade northward shift of loggerhead sea turtle pelagic habitat as the eastern North Pacific Transition Zone becomes more oligotrophic
Authors: Briscoe Dana K. , Crowder Larry B. , Balazs George H. , Seminoff Jeffrey A. , Abreu Alberto , Lee Hing Catherine A. , Kurita Masanori , Mori Masanori , Parker Denise M. , Rice Marc R. , Saito Tomomi , Santos Bianca S. , Turner Tomaszewicz Calandra N. , Yamaguchi Noah , Polovina Jeffrey J.
Published: January 2025

The North Pacific Transition Zone (NPTZ) is known as a global marine hotspot for many endangered and commercially significant highly mobile marine species. In the last few decades, the region has undergone unprecedented physical and biological transformations in response to climate variability and change. Although it is anticipated that many highly mobile species will need to adapt and shift their distributions, current predictions have relied on short-term data sets or modeled simulations. This has left a critical gap in our understanding of long-term (decadal or longer) change and species’ responses within the NPTZ. Here, we integrate nearly 3 decades of satellite tracking data from a climate sentinel, the juvenile North Pacific loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), with concurrent observations of sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a concentrations to examine higher trophic level response to climate-induced changes within the eastern bounds of the NPTZ. Between 1997–2024, the NPTZ has warmed by 1.6°C and experienced an approximately 19% decline in mean surface chlorophyll-a concentration, a proxy for reduced productivity, resulting in a 28% (1.65 million km2) increase in total oligotrophic habitat in the eastern NPTZ. Over the same period, the average latitude of loggerhead sea turtle foraging habitat in the NPTZ has shifted northwards by 450–600 km. This represents a distributional shift rate of 116–200km/decade. In most years both the southern and northern range limits for the loggerhead turtle have shifted northward in tandem, indicating a habitat range shift rather than a range expansion. Our findings reveal significant physical and biological change to the NPTZ over the last quarter century and the first empirical evidence illustrating the substantial spatial response of a highly mobile megafaunal species. As the NPTZ continues to become more oligotrophic, these insights can provide vital information for dynamic conservation and management strategies within this critically important ecosystem.
Case report: A co-existing case of ulcerative colitis and dysferlinopathy in a male patient
Authors: Li Limin , Yan Qiong , Deng Mingming , Lü Muhan , Zhou Tiejun , Zhong Xiaolin
Published: January 2025

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at risk of developing malnutrition, severe dystrophic muscle weakness, and muscle atrophy. We present a case of a 33-year-old male patient who exhibited concurrent muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, diarrhea, and mucopurulent bloody stools. Notably, the patient reported that his household or family members experienced similar symptoms of muscle weakness, without any apparent neurological or psychiatric manifestations. The patient’s intestinal symptoms were most consistent with ulcerative colitis, while the muscle weakness originated from dysferlinopathy following a comprehensive diagnostic work-up. The patient was initiated on vedolizumab therapy and L-carnitine therapy, and his symptoms improved after 1 month of follow-up. This case study underscores the necessity for clinicians to maintain a high level of suspicion for the presence of concomitant diseases when encountering IBD patients with muscle weakness. This approach is essential for achieving an early diagnosis and treatment.
Machine learning prediction models for mortality risk in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury: evaluating early versus late CRRT initiation
Authors: Zhuang Chuanren , Hu Ruomeng , Li Ke , Liu Zhengshuang , Bai Songjie , Zhang Sheng , Wen Xuehuan
Published: January 2025

Background

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) has a significant impact on patient survival, with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) being a crucial intervention. However, the optimal timing for CRRT initiation remains controversial.

Methods

Using the MIMIC-IV database for model development and the eICU database for external validation, we analyzed patients with S-AKI to compare survival rates between early and late CRRT initiation groups. Propensity score matching was performed to address potential selection bias. Subgroup analyses stratified patients by disease severity using SOFA scores (low ≤10, medium 11–15, high >15) and creatinine levels (low ≤3 mg/dL, medium 3–5 mg/dL, high >5 mg/dL). Multiple machine learning models were developed and evaluated to predict patient prognosis, with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identifying key prognostic factors.

Results

After propensity score matching, late CRRT initiation was associated with improved survival probability, but led to increased hospital and ICU stays. Subgroup analyses showed consistent trends favoring late CRRT across all SOFA categories, with the most pronounced effect in high SOFA scores (>15, p = 0.058). The GBM model demonstrated robust predictive performance (average C-index 0.694 in validation and test sets). SHAP analysis identified maximum lactate levels, age, and minimum SpO2 as the strongest predictors of mortality, while CRRT timing showed relatively lower impact on outcome prediction.

Conclusion

While later initiation of CRRT in S-AKI patients was associated with improved survival, this benefit comes with increased healthcare resource utilization. The clinical parameters, rather than CRRT timing, are the primary determinants of patient outcomes, suggesting the need for a more personalized approach to CRRT initiation based on overall illness severity.
Analysis of clinical characteristics and risk factors for patients with heat stroke in western China in 2022: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Zheng Xin , Gao Yuchun , Xie Qinli , Chen Qiulan , Guo Chuan , Dong Qionglan , Tang Jin , Luo Jun , Ge Ying , He Jian , Hou Xiaolin , Zhou Guanghong , Chen Yuan , Cao Haiquan , Xiao Jiujia , Lan An , Chen Qiu , Zeng Yonghong , Huang Jing , Long Huaicong
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment modalities of heat stroke (HS) and to identify risk factors for a poor prognosis of HS and provide reference suggestions for its treatment and prevention.

Measurements and main results

We enrolled a total of 247 patients, with hypertension, diabetes, and psychosis being the top three comorbidities associated with HS. The incidence of HS was higher among males and older individuals. Compared to the control group, the poor prognosis group experienced higher temperatures, a higher incidence of cerebral edema, and gastrointestinal bleeding (all p < 0.05). The poor prognosis group had significantly higher blood pH, HCO3-, Lac, Scr, AST, ALT, DBIL, CKMB, PT, DD, and PLT (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that Lac, Scr, and APACHE II were risk factors for poor prognosis (p < 0.05). The AUC values for the combined diagnostic model were 0.848 (95% CI: 0.781–0.914). Male morbidity, the number of patients with combined hypertension, the prognosis, and the APACHE II score and ALT level were all greater (p < 0.05) in the CHS group. The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the CHS group had a significantly higher mortality rate than the EHS group.

Conclusion

A high incidence of hypertension, diabetes, psychosis, men, and older persons may be associated with HS. HS patients with high blood cell counts, impaired coagulation, liver and kidney diseases, and those with a specific type of CHS may face a poor prognosis. In patients with heart failure, APACHE II, Lac, and Scr were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis.
Impact of hypertension on liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Authors: Gao Zhifeng , Deng Huan , Qin Bowen , Bai Liang , Li Jiangwei , Zhang Jian
Published: January 2025

Background

This study aims to evaluate the association between hypertension and the risk of fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients, as well as to investigate the impact of hypertension on the progression of liver fibrosis within this population.

Methods

We utilized data from the NHANES 2017 to March 2020. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to control for sociodemographic and metabolic factors to determine the associations between hypertension, MASLD, and fibrosis.

Results

Of the total cohort (N = 5,967) 57.92% had hypertension, 38.8% had MASLD, 25.88% had both MASLD and hypertension. Patients with MASLD were more likely to have hypertension (64.24% vs. 44.80%). There was a significant association between stage I (OR1.70, 95% CI: 1.15–2.53) and stage II hypertension (OR1.98, 95% CI: 1.38–2.85) and an increased risk of SF. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, stage I (OR1.59, 95% CI: 1.09–2.24) and stage II hypertension (OR1.48, 95% CI: 1.06–2.06) remained significantly associated with the risk of SF. Patients with both MASLD and hypertension had higher rates of SF at 14.83% and AF at 7.47%. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, those patients still had an 8.02-fold increased risk of SF (OR8.02, 95% CI: 4.47–14.39) and a 15.13-fold increased risk of AF (OR15.13, 95% CI: 7.09–32.3). Further adjustment for metabolic factors, those patients still had a significantly higher risk of SF (OR3.07, 95% CI: 1.83–5.14) and AF (OR4.01, 95% CI: 1.48–10.89).

Conclusion

MASLD and hypertension are at risk for fibrosis, and the coexistence of the two has a more significant impact on the risk of fibrosis.
BANNMDA: a computational model for predicting potential microbe–drug associations based on bilinear attention networks and nuclear norm minimization
Authors: Liang Mingmin , Liu Xianzhi , Li Juncai , Chen Qijia , Zeng Bin , Wang Zhong , Li Jing , Wang Lei
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Predicting potential associations between microbes and drugs is crucial for advancing pharmaceutical research and development. In this manuscript, we introduced an innovative computational model named BANNMDA by integrating Bilinear Attention Networks(BAN) with the Nuclear Norm Minimization (NNM) to uncover hidden connections between microbes and drugs.

Methods

In BANNMDA, we initially constructed a heterogeneous microbe-drug network by combining multiple drug and microbe similarity metrics with known microbe-drug relationships. Subsequently, we applied both BAN and NNM to compute predicted scores of potential microbe-drug associations. Finally, we implemented 5-fold cross-validation frameworks to evaluate the prediction performance of BANNMDA.

Results and discussion

The experimental results indicated that BANNMDA outperformed state-of-the-art competitive methods. We conducted case studies on well-known drugs such as the Amoxicillin and Ceftazidime, as well as on pathogens such as Bacillus cereus and Influenza A virus, to further evaluate the efficacy of BANNMDA, and experimental outcomes showed that there were 9 out of the top 10 predicted drugs, along with 8 and 9 out of the top 10 predicted microbes having been corroborated by relevant literatures. These findings underscored the capability of BANNMDA to achieve commendable predictive accuracy.
Effectiveness of antimicrobial agent combinations against carbapenem-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae with KPC variants in China
Authors: Liu Congcong , Wu Yuchen , Zhang Yanyan , Yan Zelin , Gu Danxia , Zhou Hongwei , Dong Ning , Cai Chang , Chen Gongxiang , Zhang Rong
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) producing carbapenemases poses a global threat to public health. Antimicrobial agent combinations have been promoted as a potential therapeutic strategy for infections. The most effective antimicrobial combinations against CRKP strains producing different carbapenemases are currently unclear, particularly those producing the KPC variant carbapenemases. This study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various antimicrobial agent combinations against CRKP strains with different carbapenemases.

Methods

A checkerboard assay involving 24 antimicrobial agent combinations was conducted on 44 strains of carbapenemase-producing CRKP isolated from patients of which 13 CRKP strains carried single KPC variants. The 24 antimicrobial combinations were based on meropenem, polymyxin, tigecycline, ceftazidime/avibactam, respectively. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indexes were calculated for each combination of antimicrobial agents.

Results

The distribution of carbapenemases in 44 CRKP strains was as follows: KPC variants (n = 13, 29.5%), KPC-2 (n = 10, 22.7%), metallo-β-lactamases (n = 9, 20.5%), OXA-48-like (n = 12, 27.3%). In the checkerboard assay, the combination of polymyxin and aztreonam exhibited the highest synergistic effect against CRKP strains, with a rate of 95.5% (42/44). This was followed by polymyxin-meropenem at 88.6% (39/44) and polymyxin-levofloxacin at 68.2% (30/44). Additionally, polymyxin-aztreonam combination and polymyxin-meropenem showed the highest sum of synergistic and additive rates of 100.0% against KPC variant-producing CRKP strains. Notably, ceftazidime/avibactam-based combinations exhibited better synergistic effects on KPC variant-producing CRKP strains compared to other CRKP strains with adjusted p value <0.05.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the combinations of antimicrobial agent could serve as potential treatment strategies against CRKP infections. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these combinations is influenced by the types of carbapenemases present. Ceftazidime/avibactam-based combinations have showed superior synergistic effects on KPC variant-producing CRKP strains.
The intestinal microbial community and function of Riptortus pedestris at different developmental stages and its effects on development
Authors: Wang Yanbin , Li Rong , Wang Chunjing , Sun Ting , Zhang Hongjuan , Zhao Fang , Liu Jiehui , Hao Yuqiong , Xie Xiansheng
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Riptortus pedestris is a destructive pest that threatens multiple leguminous crops in China. The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the growth and reproduction of host insects. However, the composition and function of the gut microbiota at different developmental stages remain unclear.

Methods

Here, metagenomic sequencing was performed to clarify the gut microbial diversity and function in 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th- instar nymphs (2 N–5 N) and female adults (FAs) of R. pedestris and the effects of vital gut bacteria on development was detected. The gut bacteria have the stage specificity, indicating their function in the development of R. pedestris.

Results

Enterococcus and Caballerronia were the predominant bacteria present during the development of the 2 N–FAs. In addition, the microbial abundances in the 3 N and 4 N guts were significantly greater than those in the others guts. Furthermore, 5 N harbored the abundant microbiota Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia-Caballeronia. The metabolic pathways were significantly enriched from 2 N to FAs. Carbohydrate metabolism, including glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and glycosyl transferases (GTs), occurs throughout the entire developmental stage. Many antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected from 2 N to FAs. The bacteria from Pseudomonadota and Bacillota presented a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance. Excitingly, Burkholderia bacteria eliminated by antibiotic treatment were unable to molt normally, and their lifespan was shortened in nymphs, indicating that the gut microbiota had a significant effect on nymph development.

Conclusion

In summary, our results, for the first time, systematically illustrate the abundance and function across the gut microbiota from the different developmental stages of R. pedestris and demonstrate that the genera Burkholderia are crucial during the development of R. pedestris. This study provides the basis for stinkbug management strategies that focus on the pivotal gut microbiota.
Menthone lowers H3K27ac levels to inhibit Fusarium proliferatum growth
Authors: Zhang Li-Yan , Li Tian-Tian , Liao Hong-Xin , Wen Jin-Rui , Nie Hong-Yan , Xu Fu-Rong , Liu Xiao-Yun , Dong Xian
Published: January 2025

Background

The antifungal properties of essential oils (EOs) and their active constituents have been well documented. Histone acetylation is pivotal in modulating gene expression and influences biological processes in living organisms.

Results

This study demonstrated that menthone, the primary component of Mentha haplocalyx EO, exhibited notable antifungal activity against Fusarium proliferatum (EC50 = 6.099 mmol/L). The treatment significantly inhibited hyphal growth, reduced spore germination rates from 31.49 to 4.95%, decreased spore viability from 46.88 to 20.91%, and reduced spore production by a factor of 17.92 compared with the control group while simultaneously enhancing cell membrane permeability. However, the direct relationship between menthone and histone acetylation in inhibiting F. proliferatum remains nebulous. Our RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 7,332 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control and menthone-treated groups, 3,442 upregulated and 3,880 downregulated, primarily enriched in pathways related to ribosome biogenesis and energy metabolism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis revealed that menthone inhibited the growth of F. proliferatum by decreasing H3K27ac levels and interfering with the transcription of energy metabolism-related genes. By integrating the RNA-seq data with the ChIP-seq results, we identified 110 DEGs associated with reduced H3K27ac modification primarily associated with ribosome biogenesis. Menthone affected the growth of F. proliferatum by reducing the expression of ribosome biogenesis-related genes (FPRO_06392, FPRO_01260, FPRO_10795, and FPRO_01372).

Conclusion

This study elucidated the mechanism by which menthone inhibits F. proliferatum growth from a histone acetylation modification perspective, providing insights into its application as an antifungal agent to prevent root rot in Panax notoginseng.
Diagnostic potential of CDK1 and STAT1 in acute kidney injury associated with gastrointestinal cancers: a bioinformatics-based study
Authors: Wei Qiuwan , Shen Yiqing , Tian Yiren , Ling Yunzhi
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Patients with gastrointestinal cancers are prone to acute kidney injury (AKI) due to treatment or disease progression, and current diagnostic methods exhibit insufficient sensitivity and specificity. This study aims to evaluate the potential value of CDK1 and STAT1 in the diagnosis of AKI in this patient population.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on adjacent tissue, cancerous and the clinical data tissue from 150 gastrointestinal cancer patients treated at our hospital from May 2022 to May 2023. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with gastrointestinal cancer and kidney injury were identified through bioinformatics analysis. The expression of DEGs proteins in cancerous and adjacent tissues was assessed using immunohistochemical scoring (H scores). Patients were classified into AKI (n = 42) and non-AKI groups (n = 108) according to KDIGO AKI criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the influencing factors of AKI occurrence. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between DEGs and AKI biomarkers (Scr, BUN, MAU, and UA). The application value of DEGs in early diagnosis of AKI was evaluated using ROC curves.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis identified CDK1, STAT1, COL1A2, and COL1A1 as DEGs related to AKI in gastrointestinal cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated H scores for CDK1, STAT1, COL1A2, and COL1A1 in tumor tissues. Univariate analysis showed no significant differences in age, sex, marital status, education level, monthly income, disease type, cancer stage, or tumor markers (CEA, CA242, CA50) between AKI and non-AKI groups (P > 0.05). However, the AKI group exhibited significantly higher levels of MAU, UA, and H scores for CDK1, STAT1, COL1A2, and COL1A1 compared to the non-AKI group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that MAU, UA, CDK1, and STAT1 are independent risk factors for AKI in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive association between CDK1, STAT1, and AKI biomarker levels (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that CDK1 and STAT1 possess high diagnostic value for early detection of AKI in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, with enhanced efficacy when used in combination.

Conclusion

CDK1 and STAT1 serve as early diagnostic indicators for the occurrence of AKI in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Lingguizhugan decoction enhances autophagy of Alzheimer’s disease via regulating the mTOR/ p70s6K pathway in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Chen Xiaojing , Tian Qingrong , Gao Min , Zhou Xibin , Zhou Chunxiang
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Lingguizhugan decoction (LGZG) has been reported to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by anti-inflammatory and transporting amyloid-β (Aβ).

Methods

Using APP/PS1 transgenic mice as in vivo model and gave LGZG decoction by oral gavage. Using Aβ25-35-induced SH-SY5Y cells as in vitro model and then added LGZG medicated serum (LMS) to observe the regulatory effect of LGZG on AD autophagy-related pathways. Morris water maze (MWM) was used to evaluate the mice’s learning and memory ability. Mice’s hippocampus tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically to observe hippocampal Aβ deposition. Transmission electron microscopy monitored autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Western blot analysis measured protein expression levels of beclin-1, p62 and light chain 3II (LC3 II) and mTOR signaling. Results: LGZG could greatly improve learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice, and enhance autophagy in vitro and in vivo. LGZG increased the levels of beclin-1 and LC3 II and decreased the levels of p62.

Conclusion

LGZG enhanced autophagy and showed therapeutic potential in AD by inhibiting mTOR/p70s6K signaling.
Lean body mass and stroke volume, a sex issue
Authors: Delsaut Bertil , Abderrakib Anissa , Ligot Noémie , Naeije Gilles
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Large vessel occlusions (LVO) account for over 60% of stroke-related mortality and disability. Lean body mass (LBM) represents metabolically active body tissue and has been associated with reduced mortality. This study aimed to investigate whether body composition influences LVO stroke perfusion volumes and whether this effect is sex-specific.

Methods

Data were retrospectively collected from all patients admitted between January 2017 and January 2022 with LVO ischemic stroke at the Erasmus Hospital (Brussels), for whom anthropometric and perfusion data were available. Body mass index (BMI) and LBM were calculated using, respectively, the Quetelet’s and the James’ formula. Correlations between body composition and stroke volumes were investigated using Spearman correlations.

Results

A total of 152 patients were included in this study. Mean age 72 ± 14y, female ratio 62.5%, core volume 26 ± 38 mL, penumbra volume 104 ± 61 mL. LBM correlated significantly with stroke volumes (penumbra and core) in the entire group (core: p = 0.001; penumbra: p = 0.001). There was a significant sex-effect, with a significant correlation observed only in women (core: p = 0.008; penumbra: p = 0.007). BMI did not correlate with perfusion volumes at the group level nor at the sex-level.

Conclusion

LBM significantly impacts LVO stroke volumes, but this effect is observed only in women. LBM may serve as a superior indicator of body composition compared to BMI.
Thirty years with cervical vestibular myogenic potentials: a critical review on its origin
Authors: Kjærsgaard Jonas Bruun , Hougaard Dan Dupont , Kingma Herman
Published: January 2025

Myogenic potentials generated by acoustic stimulation of the vestibular system have been reported since 1964. This examination became better known as cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) and gained increasing clinical application since the nineties. Since its discovery, the saccule has been conceived as the most likely vestibular end-organ driving these myogenic potentials of the neck. As findings from both animal and human studies for a long time uniformly provided evidence supporting this theory, cVEMP assessment has become synonymous with evaluation of saccular and inferior vestibular nerve function. This review of the basic evidence supporting this conclusion, questions if cVEMP may be considered as being predominantly or even exclusively driven by the activation of any single vestibular end-organ. We conclude that the results of this review show that contributions from the crista ampullaris of all three ipsilateral semicircular canals, as well as the ipsilateral utricle cannot be ruled out in clinically conducted cVEMP assessments.
Predicting prognosis using stroke-heart indicator: brain natriuretic peptide in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Xue Jionghao , Lin Fa , Liu Minghao , Song Wenxiong , Li Runting , Chen Yu , Yang Jun , Han Heze , Jia Yitong , Chen Xiaolin , Wang Rong , Zhao Yuanli
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to explore the correlation between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and prognosis in patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) at Beijing Tiantan Hospital between January 2015 and September 2021. Plasma BNP levels were measured upon admission and log-transformed to reduce skewness. Elevated BNP was defined as lgBNP ≥1.79 (equivalent to BNP ≥62 pg./mL). The primary outcome was poor prognosis, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥ 3 at 90 days. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between BNP levels and prognosis. Additionally, we assessed the potential impact of incorporating BNP into a predictive model for poor prognosis.

Results

The statistical analysis encompassed a total of 932 patients. Among them, 171 individuals experienced unfavorable prognosis (mRS ≥3) during follow-up, and 444 patients had elevated BNP levels, defined as lgBNP ≥1.79. After accounting for confounding factors, elevated BNP levels remained a significant independent risk factor of a poor prognosis (p = 0.047, OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.01–2.20). Nevertheless, BNP’s predictive value alone might not warrant its inclusion in a prognostic model.

Conclusion

Elevated BNP levels independently forecast unfavorable prognosis in patients with aSAH, even though the cutoff value is lower than the cardiology standards. Continuous monitoring and personalized hospitalization plans can be vital for these patients.
A recurrent YOLOv8-based framework for event-based object detection
Authors: Silva Diego A. , Smagulova Kamilya , Elsheikh Ahmed , Fouda Mohammed E. , Eltawil Ahmed M.
Published: January 2025

Object detection plays a crucial role in various cutting-edge applications, such as autonomous vehicles and advanced robotics systems, primarily relying on conventional frame-based RGB sensors. However, these sensors face challenges such as motion blur and poor performance under extreme lighting conditions. Novel event-based cameras, inspired by biological vision systems, offer a promising solution with superior performance in fast-motion and challenging lighting environments while consuming less power. This work explores the integration of event-based cameras with advanced object detection frameworks, introducing Recurrent YOLOv8 (ReYOLOV8), a refined object detection framework that enhances a leading frame-based YOLO detection system with spatiotemporal modeling capabilities by adding recurrency. ReYOLOv8 incorporates a low-latency, memory-efficient method for encoding event data called Volume of Ternary Event Images (VTEI) and introduces a novel data augmentation technique based on Random Polarity Suppression (RPS) optimized for event-based sensors and tailored to leverage the unique attributes of event data. The framework was evaluated using two comprehensive event-based datasets Prophesee's Generation 1 (GEN1) and Person Detection for Robotics (PEDRo). On the GEN1 dataset, ReYOLOv8 achieved mAP improvements of 5%, 2.8%, and 2.5% across nano, small, and medium scales, respectively, while reducing trainable parameters by 4.43% on average and maintaining real-time processing speeds between 9.2 ms and 15.5 ms. For the PEDRo dataset, ReYOLOv8 demonstrated mAP improvements ranging from 9% to 18%, with models reduced in size by factors of 14.5 × and 3.8 × and an average speed improvement of 1.67 × . The results demonstrate the significant potential of bio-inspired event-based vision sensors when combined with advanced object detection frameworks. In particular, the ReYOLOv8 system effectively bridges the gap between biological principles of vision and artificial intelligence, enabling robust and efficient visual processing in dynamic and complex environments. The codes are available on GitHub at the following link https://github.com/silvada95/ReYOLOv8.
Brain network and energy imbalance in Parkinson’s disease: linking ATP reduction and α-synuclein pathology
Authors: Watanabe Hirohisa , Shima Sayuri , Kawabata Kazuya , Mizutani Yasuaki , Ueda Akihiro , Ito Mizuki
Published: January 2025

Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves the disruption of brain energy homeostasis. This encompasses broad-impact factors such as mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired glycolysis, and other metabolic disturbances, like disruptions in the pentose phosphate pathway and purine metabolism. Cortical hubs, which are highly connected regions essential for coordinating multiple brain functions, require significant energy due to their dense synaptic activity and long-range connections. Deficits in ATP production in PD can severely impair these hubs. The energy imbalance also affects subcortical regions, including the massive axonal arbors in the striatum of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons, due to their high metabolic demand. This ATP decline may result in α-synuclein accumulation, autophagy-lysosomal system impairment, neuronal network breakdown and accelerated neurodegeneration. We propose an “ATP Supply–Demand Mismatch Model” to help explain the pathogenesis of PD. This model emphasizes how ATP deficits drive pathological protein aggregation, impaired autophagy, and the degeneration of key brain networks, contributing to both motor and non-motor symptoms.
Association between hyperuricemia and dietary retinol intake in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study based on CHNS database
Authors: Liang Yi , Qiao Tian , Ni Xiaorong , Yang Lihui , Yao Tianhua , Liu Yiya
Published: January 2025

Background

Hyperuricemia is increasingly common in Southwestern China and poses significant health risks, including gout and cardiovascular disease. Retinol intake has been hypothesized to affect uric acid levels, but this relationship remains unclear.

Methods

Data from 4,658 participants in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1991 to 2018 were analyzed. Dietary retinol intake was categorized using quantile-based methods, and hyperuricemia was identified as the primary outcome. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with analyses stratified by gender. Restricted cubic splines were utilized to evaluate the dose–response relationship.

Results

The average age of participants was 40 ± 17.83 years, and 20.29% met the criteria for hyperuricemia. Logistic regression analysis identified a positive association between dietary retinol intake and hyperuricemia, with a more pronounced effect observed in men. The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that the odds of hyperuricemia increased significantly when dietary retinol intake exceeded 3,538 IU/day for men and 4,504 IU/day for women.

Conclusion

High dietary retinol intake is associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, with a stronger association observed in males. These findings suggest that dietary retinol intake under recommendation levels might be necessary to prevent hyperuricemia-related adverse health outcomes.
Zingiber striolatum phytochemicals ameliorated hyperglycemia symptoms by modulating gut microbial communities in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Liu Tingting , Ge Xiaodong , Song Lu , Wu Huanhuan , Qian Xue , Jia Bowen , Zhao Chao , Zhuang Yi
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Prolonged hyperglycemia caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can lead to liver injury and disrupt the community of the gut microbiota that pose significant risks to human health. As a food rich in a variety of active ingredients, Zingiber striolatum (Z. striolatum) exhibits hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. However, the regulatory influence of Z. striolatum ethanol extract (ZSE) on the gut microbiota of T2DM mice or its potential relationship with T2DM pathology remains unexplored.

Methods

After a one-week acclimation period, 12 mice were randomly selected as the normal group. The remaining 48 mice were employed T2DM model, and then randomly assigned to four groups: the model group, a low-dose ZSE group (ZSE-L, 100 mg/kg/day), a high-dose ZSE group (ZSE-H, 300 mg/kg/day), and a positive control group treated with metformin hydrochloride (MET, 100 mg/kg/day).

Results

After a 4-week intervention, the results revealed that ZSE significantly ameliorated fasting blood glucose (FBG), area under the curve of oral glucose tolerance test (AUC of OGTT) and glycated serum protein (GSP) in T2DM mice. Moreover, the high-dose (ZSE-H) treatment increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibaculum, while reducing harmful bacteria such as Bilophila, thereby alleviating insulin resistance. Additionally, ZSE-H demonstrated superior efficacy over low-dose (ZSE-L) in improving FBG, AUC of OGTT, and other hypoglycemic parameters. Predictive analysis of the correlation between gut microbiota and hypoglycemic parameters identified Dubosiella, Bacillus, and Mailhella as potential microbial biomarkers for further investigation into the pathogenesis of T2DM.

Conclusion

ZSE plays a pivotal role in mitigating hyperglycemia in T2DM mice through the modulation of intestinal microbiota communities.
Case report: Gastric langerhans cell histiocytosis with BRAF deletion mutation in a child that was misdiagnosed as lymphoma
Authors: Wan Zhi , Tang Xue , Gao Ju , Sun Jing-jing
Published: January 2025

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a myeloid neoplasm associated with the infiltration of most organs but rarely involves the stomach. Stomach tumors in children are very rare and can be easily misdiagnosed. We report the first case of gastric LCH in a 9-year-old boy who was misdiagnosed with gastric lymphoma. The patient presented to our outpatient department with recurrent abdominal pain that had lasted 1 month. Due to the absence of typical clinical features associated with lymphoma in the boy, the initial diagnosis of lymphoma based on the first gastric pathological biopsy was questioned. The second pathological examination revealed that the tumor cells expressed CD1a, S-100, and Langerin with BRAF (c.1457_1471del) deletion mutations. The patient’s condition rapidly improved after chemotherapy with prednisone and vincristine. This case report focuses on the possibility of gastric LCH in school-aged children and the differential diagnosis of gastric tumors in children.
Trifluridine/tipiracil regimen in combination with bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer in the third line: an expert opinion
Authors: Pinto Carmine , Lonardi Sara , Maiello Evaristo , Martinelli Erika , Prisciandaro Michele , Salvatore Lisa , Sartore-Bianchi Andrea , Scartozzi Mario , Aprile Giuseppe , Cremolini Chiara , Sobrero Alberto
Published: January 2025

The prolongation of survival along with the preservation of quality of life, possibly avoiding harmful cumulative toxicities, is the primary therapeutic aim for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the third-line setting. Several therapeutic options are now available, although some differences across countries in drug approval and the optimal therapeutic sequencing associated with each peculiar patient subgroup represent a clinical challenge for oncologists. Among various options, the SUNLIGHT trial showed how the combination of trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) with bevacizumab is effective with an easily manageable toxicity profile compared to FTD/TPI alone. Of note, the efficacy is confirmed independently from KRAS mutational status and also for patients who had breaks in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Herein, we describe the current state of the art in the landscape of treatments after the second progression in mCRC. Based on a critical review of the literature aimed to guide clinicians in their daily decision-making, we point out that the combination of FTD/TPI with bevacizumab produces a clinical benefit in unselected mCRC patients. Therefore, the FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab regimen can represent a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with refractory mCRC who have progressed after two lines of therapy.
Development and validation of a predictive model for lymph node metastases in peripheral non-small cell lung cancer with a tumor diameter ≤ 2.0 cm and a consolidation-to-tumor ratio > 0.5
Authors: Li Dongyu , Li Shaolei , Zhang Hongbing , Xia Chunqiu , Nan Xiaoyong , Liu Hongyu , Chen Jun
Published: January 2025

Background

Precisely predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) status is critical for the treatment of early non-small5-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we developed a LNM prediction tool for peripheral NSCLC with a tumor diameter ≤ 2.0 cm and consolidation-to-tumor ratio (CTR) > 0.5 to identify patients where segmentectomy could be applied.

Methods

Clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected from 435 patients with NSCLC. Logistic regression analysis of the clinical characteristics of this development cohort was used to estimate independent LNM predictors. A prediction model was then developed and externally validated using a validation cohort at another institution.

Results

Four independent predictors (tumor size, CTR, pleural indentation, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) values) were identified and entered into the model. The model showed good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) P value = 0.680) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.890 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.808–0.972) in the validation cohort.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a novel and effective model that predicted the probability of LNM for individual patients with peripheral NSCLC who had a tumor diameter ≤ 2.0 cm and CTR > 0.5. This model could help clinicians make individualized clinical decisions.
Correlation analysis of recurrent factors in borderline ovarian tumors undergoing fertility preservation surgery
Authors: Xie Yichi , Wang Dandan , Zhang Ningning , Yang Qing
Published: January 2025

Objective

To explore the relapse - related factors of fertility preservation surgery for borderline ovarian tumors.

Methods

Patients of childbearing age who underwent fertility preservation surgery for borderline ovarian tumors in Sheng jing Hospital of China Medical University from April 20 1 8 to April 20 2 3 were selected. Clinical data were collected and their clinical characteristics were statistically analyzed. It is to explore the risk factors of postoperative recurrence.

Results

A total of 30 8 patients were included in this study, of which 1 was lost to follow - up and 47 relapsed (4 7/3 0 7, 15. 3 1%). The results of multivariate analysis showed that the pathological features of micro papillary structure, intra operative as cites, bilateral tumors, and the increased ratio of neu tro phil to lymphocyte before surgery are independent risk factors for the recurrence of borderline ovarian tumors.

Conclusion

The prognosis of women of childbearing age with borderline ovarian tumors undergoing conservation function surgery is good. However, patients with high - risk recurrence factors should be paid special attention and closely followed up after surgery.