bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When COVID-19 Met Families Living in Armed-Conflict Zones: The Importance of Maternal Trauma and Child Self-Regulation
Authors: Levavi Kinneret , Yakov Porat , Pike Alison , Deater-Deckard Kirby , Hadar Amnon , Bar Guy , Froimovici Miron , Atzaba-Poria Naama
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 outbreak began in Israel at the end of February 2020, and on March 17, 2020, a general lockdown was announced. Families were instructed to stay at home and schools and non-essential businesses were closed. Aiming to understand how families who were already living in areas of high exposure to armed conflict would be affected by another external stressful condition, data were collected before and after the outbreak. Mothers and children (aged 10–45 months) were recruited from areas with high (n = 40) and low (n = 78) exposure to armed conflict. Mothers reported on their posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and on their child's effortful control tendencies prior to the outbreak. Toward the end of the first lockdown, mothers were interviewed regarding adverse effects of the outbreak on their family. No group differences were found for maternal perceptions of adverse effects of COVID-19. However, a moderation model was revealed, indicating that maternal PTSS as well as child effortful control predicted adverse effects of COVID-19 only in the high-exposure group. Results are discussed considering cumulative stress and risk factors.
What Is the Optimal Cut-Off Point of the 10-Item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Screening Depression Among Chinese Individuals Aged 45 and Over? An Exploration Using Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Fu Hanlin , Si Lulu , Guo Ruixia
Published: March 2022

Background

The main objective of the current study was to gain insight into the heterogeneity and profiles of depressive symptoms in Chinese individuals aged 45 and over and to determine the optimal cut-off point for the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) to provide a reference for future practical application.

Methods

The participants were 16,997 Chinese community-dwelling adults aged 45 years or older who completed survey interviews for the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The current study utilised latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify distinct profiles based on participants’ responses to CES-D-10 items, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were applied to determine the optimal cut-off point for the CES-D-10 scale.

Results

A three-profile solution was suggested as the optimum and included a “minimal depression” group (63.1%), “mild depression” group (23.4%) and “moderate-severe depression” group (13.5%); 36.9% (95% CI: 36.2 ∼ 37.6%) were considered at risk for probable depression. The “minimal depression” group was viewed as “non-cases,” and the remaining were viewed as “cases” that served as the reference standard for the ROC analysis, which obtained an AUC value of 97.8% (95% CI: 97.7–98.0%) and identified an optimal cut-off point of 10 (sensitivity:91.93%, specificity: 92.76%, and accuracy: 92.45).

Conclusion

The identification of these distinct profiles underscores the heterogeneity in depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. The CES-D-10 scale was demonstrated to have acceptable psychometric properties, with a cut-off point of 10 recommended for future research and practical application.
Behavioral Psychedelics: Integrating Mind and Behavior to Improve Health and Resilience
Authors: Neuhaus Edmund C. , Slavich George M.
Published: March 2022

One of the most recent and potentially promising advancements in the health sciences has involved the attempted use of psychedelics for treating mental and behavioral health problems, such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addiction. Despite surging scientific and public interest in this work, however, we presently have no standard of care or consensus regarding how best to combine psychotherapy and psychedelics or to assess effectiveness. We discuss these timely issues here through the lens of behavioral psychedelics, which we define as the study of psychedelics to foster intentional changes in habits and behaviors to improve health and resilience. Psychedelics may have the potential to reduce chronic disease risk caused by mental and behavioral rigidity. To fully realize this potential, though, we believe the field must establish best practices and guidelines that include how to induce lasting changes in behavior.
A Systematic Review of Interventions That Integrate Perinatal Mental Health Care Into Routine Maternal Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Prom Maria C. , Denduluri Amrutha , Philpotts Lisa L. , Rondon Marta B. , Borba Christina P. C. , Gelaye Bizu , Byatt Nancy
Published: March 2022

Background

Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionally affected by perinatal depression and anxiety and lack access to mental health care. Integrating perinatal mental health care into routine maternal care is recommended to address gaps in access to mental health care in such under-resourced settings. Understanding the effectiveness of interventions that integrate perinatal mental health care into routine maternal care in LMICs is critical to inform ongoing intervention development, implementation, and scale-up. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of interventions that integrate perinatal mental health care into routine maternal care to improve maternal mental health and infant health outcomes in LMICs.

Method

In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, an electronic database search was conducted seeking publications of controlled trials examining interventions that aimed to integrate perinatal mental health care into routine maternal care in LMICs. Abstracts and full text articles were independently reviewed by two authors for inclusion utilizing Covidence Review Software. Data was extracted and narrative synthesis was conducted.

Findings

Twenty studies met eligibility criteria from the initial search results of 2,382 unique citations. There was substantial heterogeneity between the study samples, intervention designs, and outcome assessments. Less than half of the studies focused on women with active depression or anxiety. Most studies (85%) implemented single intervention designs involving psychological, psychosocial, psychoeducational, or adjuvant emotion/stress management. There were few interventions utilizing multicomponent approaches, pharmacotherapy, or referral to mental health specialists. Outcome measures and assessment timing were highly variable. Eighteen studies demonstrated significantly greater improvement on depression and/or anxiety measures in the intervention group(s) as compared to control.

Conclusion

Integrated interventions can be effective in LMICs. The findings provide a critical understanding of current interventions design gaps. This includes the lack of comprehensive intervention designs that incorporate increasing intensity of treatment for more severe illness, pharmacotherapy, mental health specialist referrals, and non-mental health professional training and supervision. The findings also provide strategies to overcome design and implementation barriers in LMICs. Study findings provide a foundation for future evidence-based adaptation, implementation, and scale-up of interventions that integrate perinatal mental health care into routine maternal care in LMICs.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?ID=CRD42021259092], identifier [CRD42021259092].
Developing an Educational Package to Improve Attitude of Medical Students Toward People With Mental Illness: A Delphi Expert Panel, Based on a Scoping Review
Authors: Rezvanifar Farahnaz , Shariat Seyed Vahid , Shalbafan Mohammadreza , Salehian Razieh , Rasoulian Maryam
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The importance of stigma toward patients with mental illness in medical students as future physicians cannot be overemphasized. There is currently no formal training to reduce stigma toward mental illness in medical students in their educational curriculums in Iran like most other low and middle income countries. Therefore, aiming to provide a practical and effective training package focused on reducing stigma toward patients with mental illness in medical students, the current study conducted, as an expert panel with Delphi method, based on a scoping review, to develop an education package to improve attitude of medical students toward patients with mental illness.

Materials and Methods

We surveyed the available international databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, PsycINFO, Tripdatabase, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews as well as Persian databases including Iranmedex, SID, Irandoc and Magiran in February and March 2020. After an extensive review of related resources, 13 articles met our inclusion criteria. Then, we extracted the related data including type and duration of the interventions, sample size, mean and standard deviation of stigma scores before and after interventions. To develop the package among the included interventions, we asked 16 experts in psychology, psychiatry, and social medicine to rate the interventions based on a number of variables such as effectiveness, feasibility and applicability in a Delphi process.

Results

The selected intervention in Delphi method with consensus of experts included a set of four sequential interactive interventions: showing a movie and discussing it, psychiatric training including contact with people who affected psychiatric disorders, social communication with people who affected psychiatric disorders, and group discussion on defining stigma and personal experiences.

Conclusion

In the present study, we recommend a set of interventions to reduce stigma toward patients with mental illness among medical students in the form of a package of combined, interactive and sequential interventions that have been previously been shown to be effective in reducing stigma related to mental illness. We expect that implementation of these interventions would reduce mental illness stigma in medical students; which needs further verification.
Health Policy Development During COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Mixed Methods Analysis
Authors: Alonazi Wadi B. , Altuwaijri Eman A.
Published: March 2022

Healthcare systems are increasingly required to utilize effective approaches, apply evidence-based practice, and consequently sustain successful strategic management. Document analysis provides insights into the effective management tools applied by agencies to respond to crises. This article provides a practical exploration of how the Saudi health authority applied effective measures to eventually reduce the administrative and clinical consequences while managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The conceptual descriptive framework was based on health policy triangle of Walt and Gilson. Official reports and supporting documents issued by the Saudi government toward COVID-19 were operationally analyzed. Moreover, five healthcare professional experts were invited in a semistructured interview to assess the strategic steps that have been utilized to minimize the health risk by conducting a healthcare risk analysis. Various documents showed that two major entities were responsible for managing regulations and medications of COVID-19 in addition to six other entities that were partially involved. Although each entity was approved to work independently, their efforts were cohesively associated with each other. Most documents were well-applied on personal, social, organizational, and national strata. However, it is unclear how lessons identified became affirmative, while the collaboration remains vague, especially under the emergence of a new entity such as the Public Health Authority. Healthcare professional experts also positively supported the effectiveness of such policies to confront COVID-19 through the following three domains: health guidelines, utilizing simulation (telehealth/telecommunication) services, and ensuring continuity of services.
Influence of Different Exercise Types on Health-Related Quality-of-Life in Men With Depressive Disorder in South Korea
Authors: Kim Kyungjin , Koo Kyo-Man
Published: March 2022

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of different exercise types on health-related quality of life (QOL) in men with depressive disorder (DD) in South (S) Korea. The data of 385 men aged 19 with DD were collected in S. Korea. The Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) questionnaires were used to establish the purpose of this study. Furthermore, the complex sampling model was applied to investigate the influence of different exercise types on health-related QOL in participants. When reviewing the outcomes, the strength exercise and walking had significant influences on health-related QOL in men with DD in S. Korea. However, the flexibility exercise did not have a significant influence on them. Based on the results, strength exercise and walking were effective exercise types to increase levels of health-related QOL in men with DD in S. Korea.
A Qualitative Study on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Nursing Students in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Epidemic and Inspiration for Nursing Education in Mainland China
Authors: Zhou Houxiu , Zhao Rongrong , Yang Yanni
Published: March 2022

Background:

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a lack of sufficient nursing experience for pneumonia caused by COVID-19. All nursing decisions had to be innovatively made and measures taken by nurses using their existing knowledge and skills. This required nurses to have a solid theoretical understanding of infectious diseases and epidemiology, evidence-based solid practice skills, and problem-solving skills. The COVID outbreak reminded undergraduates to master relevant knowledge and abilities during school study.

Methods

Qualitative research on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 epidemic was conducted using semi-structured interviews among sophomore nursing students in the university. Based on the characteristics of the KAP of nursing students, we analyzed the deficiencies of the knowledge and ability to deal with large-scale public health emergencies in the second-year nursing education.

Results

A total of 12 subject headings and 41 sublevel headings were identified from three aspects of KAP. The subject headings included knowledge aspect (the origin of the disease, the route of transmission, main symptoms, the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, scientific cognition of information sources), attitude aspect (different emotional experiences, a certain degree of influence, different views on the development trend of the epidemic, support the government's prevention and control strategies), and behavior aspect (do an excellent job in self-protection, help family members to protect, and participate in social anti-epidemic actions). According to this analysis, second-year nursing students have three deficiencies in dealing with large-scale public health emergencies: knowledge of infectious diseases and epidemiology, evidence-based practice skills, and problem- solving ability.

Conclusion

When students start nursing professional courses, the knowledge of infectious diseases and epidemiology, training of evidence-based practice skills, and problem-solving ability should be strengthened to improve the ability of nursing undergraduates to respond to large-scale public health emergencies after entering the workplace.
Progerin-Induced Impairment in Wound Healing and Proliferation in Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Jiang Yizhi , Ji Julie Y.
Published: March 2022

Progerin as a mutated isoform of lamin A protein was first known to induce premature atherosclerosis progression in patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), and its role in provoking an inflammatory response in vascular cells and accelerating cell senescence has been investigated recently. However, how progerin triggers endothelial dysfunction that often occurs at the early stage of atherosclerosis in a mechanical environment has not been studied intensively. Here, we generated a stable endothelial cell line that expressed progerin and examined its effects on endothelial wound repair under laminar flow. We found decreased wound healing rate in progerin-expressing ECs under higher shear stress compared with those under low shear. Furthermore, the decreased wound recovery could be due to reduced number of cells at late mitosis, suggesting potential interference by progerin with endothelial proliferation. These findings provided insights into how progerin affects endothelial mechanotransduction and may contribute to the disruption of endothelial integrity in HGPS vasculature, as we continue to examine the mechanistic effect of progerin in shear-induced endothelial functions.
Long Term Influence of Fertility and Rotation on Soil Nitrification Potential and Nitrifier Communities
Authors: Raglin Sierra S. , Soman Chinmay , Ma Yanjun , Kent Angela D.
Published: March 2022

The agricultural imprints on soil microbial processes manifest at various timescales, leaving many temporal patterns to present slowly. Unfortunately, the lack of long-term continuous agricultural field sites in North America has left gaps in our understanding of agricultural management on biogeochemical processes and their controlling microbiota. Nitrification, ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea, is a critical control point in terrestrial nitrogen fluxes by oxidizing cationic ammonium to anionic nitrate, promoting nitrate leaching. Moreover, nitrous oxide is produced during nitrification, contributing to massive nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized agroecosystems. Nitrification is sensitive to many macro and micro-ecological filters, as nitrifiers are obligate aerobes and are sensitive to numerous non-growth substrates and metal ions. This study sought to understand the long-term implications of various rotation and fertilizer regimes on nitrification potential and nitrifying bacterial communities in the Morrow Plots (Urbana, IL). The Morrow Plots was established in 1876 and are the longest continuous field experiments in North America, making it the only site in America capable of assessing the impact of over 140 years of agricultural management on nitrification. The Morrow Plots contrasts fertilizer (manure, inorganic, unfertilized) and rotation (continuous corn, corn-soy, corn-oat alfalfa), allowing us to explore how conventional vs. regenerative agriculture practices impact nitrifier communities. The results of this study suggest that fertilizer and rotation interact to promote distinct bacterial nitrifier communities. Nitrification potential is highest in manure corn-oat-alfalfa plots, suggesting ammonium availability is not solely responsible for active nitrifier communities. Various soil chemical variables, like CEC, Mg, and Ca, significantly influenced nitrifier community beta-diversity, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, suggesting long-term accumulation of specific cations diverge microbial community assembly. While this study only uses nitrification potential enzyme activity instead of isotope analyses, it sheds light on the importance of various physiochemical drivers on nitrification potential and communities. The results support the need for a more precise exploration of the mechanisms controlling field-scale nitrification rates over large temporal scales. Put together, this study supports the importance of long-term field sites for understanding agricultural manipulations of microbial biogeochemical cycling and sheds light on the micronutrients influencing nitrifier communities and potential activity.
A Self-Gravitating Exoring Around J1407b and Implications for In-Situ Exomoon Formation
Authors: Sutton Phil J , Albery Brayden , Muff Jake
Published: March 2022

We perform simulations of the M⊕ self-gravitating exoring thought to orbit the large exoplanet J1407b. We use a mass of MJ1407b=20MJ (which is close to the revised upper limit) and a semi-major axis of a=5AU, equating to an orbital period of ∼11yrs about the primary. As J1407b is expected to have a high eccentricity, we test eight different models: where e = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 in both the prograde and retrograde configurations. All prograde models show a strongly perturbed ring within the first orbit. As expected, the retrograde rings demonstrate a higher degree of stability, with the lower eccentricity models (e = 0.2 and 0.4) able to survive multiple orbits. However, even the higher eccentricity (e = 0.6 and 0.8) retrograde models quickly result in the loss of the ring after 200 years. Excitation of eccentricities in all retrograde rings are stable to gravitational collapse. When assuming the most recent mass estimate of MJ1407b=20MJ the ring is unfavourable to the accretion of moons when J1407b is on an elliptical orbit. An interesting consequence of the strong perturbation for one model (retrograde and e = 0.6) during the first close passage is a transient gap located at 0.4AU. This is the same location as the inferred gap from the single transit in 2007 and does not require a nearby exomoon.
Recent Applications of Bayesian Methods to the Solar Corona
Authors: Arregui Iñigo
Published: March 2022

Solar coronal seismology is based on the remote diagnostics of physical conditions in the corona of the Sun by comparison between model predictions and observations of magnetohydrodynamic wave activity. Our lack of direct access to the physical systems of interest makes information incomplete and uncertain so our conclusions are at best probabilities. Bayesian inference is increasingly being employed in the area, following a general trend in the space sciences. In this paper, we first justify the use of a Bayesian probabilistic approach to seismology diagnostics of solar coronal plasmas. Then, we report on recent results that demonstrate its feasibility and advantage in applications to coronal loops, prominences and extended regions of the corona.
Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Miniplates for Free Flap Fixation at the Mandible: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Kreutzer Kilian , Steffen Claudius , Koerdt Steffen , Doll Christian , Ebker Tobias , Nahles Susanne , Flügge Tabea , Heiland Max , Beck-Broichsitter Benedicta , Rendenbach Carsten
Published: March 2022

Background

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility, clinical outcomes, and accuracy of patient-specific 3D-printed miniplates for mandible reconstruction with fibula free flaps.

Methods

A feasibility study was conducted with 8 patients. Following virtual planning, patient-specific 1.0 mm titanium non-locking miniplates were produced via laser selective melting. 3D-printed cutting and drilling guides were used for segmental mandible resection and flap harvesting. Flap fixation was performed with two 4-hole miniplates and 2.0 mm non-locking screws (screw length 7 mm) for each intersegmental gap. Clinical follow-up was at least 6 months. Preoperative and postoperative CT/cone beam CT data were used for 3D accuracy analysis and evaluation of bone healing. Plate-related complications were monitored clinically.

Results

Patient-specific miniplate fixation of all flaps was successfully conducted (4 mono-segmental, 4 dual-segmental) with high accuracy (3.64 ± 1.18 mm) between the virtual plan and postoperative result. No technical complications were encountered intraoperatively. Osseous union occurred in all intersegmental gaps (1 partial, 18 complete) after 10 ± 2 months. No material fracture, dislocation, or plate exposure was observed.

Conclusions

Based on this pilot observational study including a limited number of patients, free flap fixation for mandibular reconstruction with patient-specific 3D-printed miniplates is feasible and associated with high accuracy, bone healing, and remote soft tissue complications.
Finite Element Analysis of Spinal Cord Stress in a Single Segment Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Yang Shaofeng , Qu Luqiang , Yuan Lijie , Niu Junjie , Song Dawei , Yang Huilin , Zou Jun
Published: March 2022

Background

Spinal cord ischemia is largely caused by cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), which has a corresponding biomechanical basis. Finite element analysis of spinal cord stress in diseased segments of CSM was performed to provide a biomechanical basis for the pathogenesis of CSM.

Methods

A single segment (C4-5) in a patient with CSM was selected for mechanical simulation of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography scanning, and a 3D finite element model of the cervical vertebra was constructed. Based on the patient's age, sex, height, weight, and other parameters, a finite element analysis model of an individual with healthy cervical vertebrae in our hospital was selected as the control to compare the stress changes between the patient and control groups in the analysis of the cervical vertebrae under anterior flexion, posterior extension, lateral flexion, and rotating load in the diseased spinal cord segment.

Results

In the CSM patient, the diseased segment was C4-5. Under loading conditions of forward flexion, posterior extension, left flexion, right flexion, left rotation, and right rotation, the maximum stress on the spinal cord in the control group was 0.0044, 0.0031, 0.00017, 0.00014, 0.0011, and 0.001 MPa, respectively, whereas those in the spinal cord in the CSM group were 0.039, 0.024, 0.02, 0.02, 0.0194, and 0.0196 MPa, respectively.

Conclusion

The maximum stress on the diseased segments of the spinal cord in the CSM group was higher than that in the control group, which contributed to verifying the imaging parameters associated with spinal cord compression stress.
Legal and Ethical Consideration in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Who Takes Responsibility?
Authors: Naik Nithesh , Hameed B. M. Zeeshan , Shetty Dasharathraj K. , Swain Dishant , Shah Milap , Paul Rahul , Aggarwal Kaivalya , Ibrahim Sufyan , Patil Vathsala , Smriti Komal , Shetty Suyog , Rai Bhavan Prasad , Chlosta Piotr , Somani Bhaskar K.
Published: March 2022

The legal and ethical issues that confront society due to Artificial Intelligence (AI) include privacy and surveillance, bias or discrimination, and potentially the philosophical challenge is the role of human judgment. Concerns about newer digital technologies becoming a new source of inaccuracy and data breaches have arisen as a result of its use. Mistakes in the procedure or protocol in the field of healthcare can have devastating consequences for the patient who is the victim of the error. Because patients come into contact with physicians at moments in their lives when they are most vulnerable, it is crucial to remember this. Currently, there are no well-defined regulations in place to address the legal and ethical issues that may arise due to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings. This review attempts to address these pertinent issues highlighting the need for algorithmic transparency, privacy, and protection of all the beneficiaries involved and cybersecurity of associated vulnerabilities.
Medicine, Value, and Knowledge in the Veterinary Clinic: Questions for and From Medical Anthropology and the Medical Humanities
Authors: Desmond Jane
Published: March 2022

The welcome development of the veterinary humanities, and veterinary anthropology specifically, raises the question of its potential relationship with the now well-established field(s) of the medical humanities, and of medical anthropology. Although there are national variations, the term “medical humanities” generally refers to either the tapping of the humanities to improve medical education by developing, through engagement with the humanities like literature and visual art, skills in empathy, visualization and expressivity, or alternatively, it refers to the application of humanities approaches of cultural critique to the presumptions, practices and institutions of the human medical world to denaturalize the ideologies of knowledge that contemporary human medicine professions depend upon. This article reflects on the potential impact that the development of a veterinary medical humanities could have on the field of (human) medical humanities and vice versa. Could such a development force a re-conception of notions of agency, of consent, and of the position of “patient” when the (human based) medical humanities is expanded to include both human and veterinary medicine? What would the potential usefulness, or limitations, both in conceptual and in applied terms, be of constructing a multi-species notion of “medical humanities?” What can such a comparative approach offer to veterinary medicine, in practice and in terms of the curricula of veterinary training? To reflect on these questions, this article draws on my multiple years of fieldwork in veterinary clinics and classrooms to first lay out the constituent components of the formal practice of contemporary veterinary medicine (at least in the U.S.) in terms of the roles that species specificity and relations to humans play in the delivery of care, and then seeks to center the animal in these practices to ask questions about consent, resistance, veterinary obligation, and the role of finance in comparison with human medicine. These similarities and differences will form the basis for a consideration of the effects of enlarging the medical humanities to encompass more than one species.
Effect of Lycopene on the Growth Performance, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, and Expression of Gene in the Keap1-Nrf2 Signaling Pathway of Arbor Acres Broilers
Authors: Wang Sibo , Wu Hongzhi , Zhu Yunhui , Cui Hongxia , Yang Ji , Lu Mingyuan , Cheng Huangzuo , Gu Lihong , Xu Tieshan , Xu Li
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary lycopene supplementation on the growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activity of serum and liver, and gene expressions associated with Kelch-like ech-associated protein-1 (Keap1)/Nuclear Factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in liver of Arbor Acres broilers. A total of 288 1-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates and 12 chickens for each replicate. The control group was fed with the basal diet, while the treated groups were fed with the basal diet with 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg lycopene in powder. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 42 days. Compared with the control group, (a) the average daily gain increased (p = 0.002 vs. p = 0.001) and the feed conversion ratio decreased (p = 0.017 vs. p = 0.023) in groups treated with lycopene in the grower and whole phases, and the average daily feed intake was quadratically affected (p = 0.043) by lycopene in the grower phase; (b) the serum superoxide dismutase content was linearly affected (p = 0.035) by lycopene at 21 days; (c) the serum glutathione peroxidase content, superoxide dismutase content, and total antioxidant capability were higher (p = 0.014, p = 0.003, and p = 0.016, respectively) in the 30 mg/kg lycopene group at 42 days; (d) the liver glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase contents in groups treated with lycopene were higher (p ≤ 0.001 vs. p ≤ 0.001) at 21 days; (e) the liver glutathione peroxidase content was higher (p ≤ 0.001) in the 20 and 30 mg/kg lycopene groups, at 42 days; (f) the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, superoxide dismutase 2, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, and heme oxygenase 1 genes were higher (21 days: p = 0.042, p = 0.021, p = 0.035, and p = 0.043, respectively; 42 days: p = 0.038, p = 0.025, p = 0.034, and p = 0.043, respectively) in the 20 and 30 mg/kg lycopene groups at 21 and 42 days. The 30 mg/kg lycopene concentration improved the growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activity in serum and liver, and gene expression in the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway of Arbor Acres broilers.
Longitudinal Monitoring Reveals Persistence of Colistin-Resistant Escherichia coli on a Pig Farm Following Cessation of Colistin Use
Authors: Khine Nwai Oo , Lugsomya Kittitat , Niyomtham Waree , Pongpan Tawat , Hampson David J. , Prapasarakul Nuvee
Published: March 2022

Colistin-resistant bacteria harboring plasmid-mediated mcr genes are of concern as they may be a cause of serious nosocomial infections. It is hypothesized that cessation of colistin use as a feed additive for pigs will reduce the occurrence and distribution of mcr genes in farms. The aim of this study was to investigate this hypothesis by longitudinal monitoring and characterizing of mcr positive Escherichia coli (MCRPE) isolates after colistin was withdrawn on a central Thailand pig farm that previously had a high frequency of MCRPE. Colistin use ceased at the beginning of 2017, and subsequently 170 samples were collected from farrowing sows and suckling piglets (n = 70), wastewater (n = 50) and farm workers (n = 50) over a 3.5-year period. Bacteria were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by broth microdilution. The antibiogram of mcr positive E. coli isolates was determined using the Vitek2 automated susceptibility machine, and multiplex and simplex PCRs were performed for mcr-1–8 genes. MCRPE containing either mcr-1 or mcr-3 were isolated from pigs throughout the investigation period, but with a declining trend, whereas MCRPE isolates were recovered from humans only in 2017. MCRPE were still being recovered from wastewater in 2020. Most MCRPE isolates possessed the virulence genes Stap, Stb, or Stx2e, reflecting pathogenic potential in pigs, and showed high rates of resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin and tetracycline. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multi-locus sequence typing showed that diverse MCRPE clones were distributed on the farm. The study identified a decline of pathogenic MCRPE following withdrawal of colistin, with pigs being the primary source, followed by wastewater. However, short-term therapeutic usage of other antibiotics could enhance the re-occurrence of mcr-carrying bacteria. Factors including the environment, management, and gene adaptations that allow maintenance of colistin resistance require further investigation, and longer-term studies are needed.
Sense and Sensibilities of Organ Perfusion as a Kidney and Liver Viability Assessment Platform
Authors: Verstraeten Laurence , Jochmans Ina
Published: March 2022

Predicting organ viability before transplantation remains one of the most challenging and ambitious objectives in transplant surgery. Waitlist mortality is high while transplantable organs are discarded. Currently, around 20% of deceased donor kidneys and livers are discarded because of “poor organ quality”, Decisions to discard are still mainly a subjective judgement since there are only limited reliable tools predictive of outcome available. Organ perfusion technology has been posed as a platform for pre-transplant organ viability assessment. Markers of graft injury and function as well as perfusion parameters have been investigated as possible viability markers during ex-situ hypothermic and normothermic perfusion. We provide an overview of the available evidence for the use of kidney and liver perfusion as a tool to predict posttransplant outcomes. Although evidence shows post-transplant outcomes can be predicted by both injury markers and perfusion parameters during hypothermic kidney perfusion, the predictive accuracy is too low to warrant clinical decision making based upon these parameters alone. In liver, further evidence on the usefulness of hypothermic perfusion as a predictive tool is needed. Normothermic perfusion, during which the organ remains fully metabolically active, seems a more promising platform for true viability assessment. Although we do not yet fully understand “on-pump” organ behaviour at normothermia, initial data in kidney and liver are promising. Besides the need for well-designed (registry) studies to advance the field, the catch-22 of selection bias in clinical studies needs addressing.
Conversion Flight Control for Tiltrotor Aircraft via Active Disturbance Rejection Control
Authors: Lu Ke , Tian Hongyuan , Zhen Pan , Lu Senkui , Chen Renliang
Published: March 2022

The tiltrotor aircraft consists of three primary flight modes, which are helicopter flight mode in low forward speed flight, airplane flight mode in high forward speed flight and conversion flight mode. This paper presents an active disturbance rejection controller for tiltrotor aircraft conversion flight. First, a tiltrotor aircraft flight dynamics model is developed and verified. Then, conversion flight control laws, designed via the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) and sliding mode control (SMC) techniques, are proposed for the tiltrotor aircraft with model uncertainties and external disturbance, which are estimated with an extended state observer. Finally, the simulation of automatic conversion flight is carried out, which shows the effectiveness of the developed controller.
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Neonates and Children Undergoing Dental, Maxillo-Facial or Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study
Authors: Rigotti Erika , Bianchini Sonia , Nicoletti Laura , Monaco Sara , Carrara Elena , Opri Francesca , Opri Roberta , Caminiti Caterina , Donà Daniele , Giuffré Mario , Inserra Alessandro , Lancella Laura , Mugelli Alessandro , Piacentini Giorgio , Principi Nicola , Tesoro Simonetta , Venturini Elisabetta , Staiano Annamaria , Villani Alberto , Sesenna Enrico , Vicini Claudio , Esposito Susanna ,   on behalf of the Peri-Operative Prophylaxis in Neonatal and Paediatric Age (POP-NeoPed) Study Group
Published: March 2022

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a potential complication in surgical procedures, mainly because clean/contaminated surgery involves organs that are normally colonized by bacteria. Dental, maxillo-facial and ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgeries are among those that carry a risk of SSIs because the mouth and the first respiratory tracts are normally colonized by a bacterial flora. The aim of this consensus document was to provide clinicians with recommendations on surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in neonates (<28 days of chronological age) and pediatric patients (within the age range of 29 days–18 years) undergoing dental, maxillo-facial or ENT surgical procedures. These included: (1) dental surgery; (2) maxilla-facial surgery following trauma with fracture; (3) temporo-mandibular surgery; (4) cleft palate and cleft lip repair; (5) ear surgery; (6) endoscopic paranasal cavity surgery and septoplasty; (7) clean head and neck surgery; (8) clean/contaminated head and neck surgery and (9) tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Due to the lack of pediatric data for the majority of dental, maxillo-facial and ENT surgeries and the fact that the recommendations for adults are currently used, there is a need for ad hoc studies to be rapidly planned for the most deficient areas. This seems even more urgent for interventions such as those involving the first airways since the different composition of the respiratory microbiota in children compared to adults implies the possibility that surgical antibiotic prophylaxis schemes that are ideal for adults may not be equally effective in children.
The Involvement of Sirtuin 1 Dysfunction in High-Fat Diet-Induced Vascular Dysfunction in Mice
Authors: Xia Ning , Reifenberg Gisela , Schirra Christian , Li Huige
Published: March 2022

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced vascular impairment in mice is associated with a dysfunction of the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD for 20 weeks to induce obesity. Vascular function was analyzed using a wire myograph system. In obese mice, the vasodilator response of PVAT-containing aortas to acetylcholine was reduced, although the vascular function of PVAT-free aortas remained normal. SIRT1 activity in PVAT of obese mice was reduced despite enhanced SIRT1 expression. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels and the NAD+/NADH ratio in the PVAT of obese mice were decreased, which was likely attributable to a downregulation of the NAD+-producing enzyme NAMPT. The reduced SIRT1 activity was associated with an enhanced acetylation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the PVAT. Ex vivo incubation of PVAT-containing aorta from obese mice with NAD+ led to a complete normalization of vascular function. Thus, reduced SIRT1 activity due to NAD+ deficiency is involved in obesity-induced PVAT dysfunction.
Potential Effects of Anthocyanin-Rich Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Extract on the Growth, Intestinal Histomorphology, Blood Biochemical Parameters, and the Immune Status of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Amer Shimaa A. , Al-Khalaifah Hanan S. , Gouda Ahmed , Osman Ali , Goda Nehal I. A. , Mohammed Haiam A. , Darwish Mahmoud I. M. , Hassan Aziza M. , Mohamed Sherif Kh. A.
Published: March 2022

The potential effects of anthocyanin-rich roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. extract (ARRE) on the growth, carcass traits, intestinal histomorphology, breast muscle composition, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, and immune status of broiler chickens were evaluated. In the present study, Hibiscus acidified ethanolic extract was reported to have a total anthocyanin content of about 359.3 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/100 g DW, total polyphenol concentration (TPC) of about 598 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g DW, and total flavonoids (TFs) of about 100 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g DW. Two-hundred-fifty one-day-old chicks (Ross 308 broiler) (87.85 gm ± 0.32) were randomly allotted to five experimental groups and fed on basal diets supplemented with five levels of ARRE: 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg Kg−1 for 35 days. Dietary ARRE addition did not improve the birds’ growth and carcass traits. Supplemental ARRE increased the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (ω-3) percentage in the breast muscle. Dietary ARRE increased the villous height, and the ARRE100 group raised the villus height to crypt depth ratio. Dietary ARRE increased the immunoexpression of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the spleen. The serum thyroxine hormone (T4) level was higher in the ARRE200 group. The serum growth hormone level was increased by ARRE addition in a level-dependent manner. According to the broken-line regression analysis, the optimum inclusion level of ARRE was 280 mg Kg−1. All levels of supplemental ARRE decreased the serum triglyceride level. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was increased in the ARRE100-ARRE400 groups, the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was increased in the ARRE200 group, and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level was decreased by increasing the ARRE level. Supplemental ARRE significantly increased the serum levels of lysozymes and IL10. The serum complement 3 (C3) level was increased in ARRE200 and ARRE400 groups. It can be concluded that dietary ARRE addition had many beneficial effects represented by the improvements in the bird’s metabolic functions, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, antioxidant activity, immune status, and higher ω-3 content in the breast muscles. However, it had no improving effect on the birds’ growth.
The Reversible Removal of SO2 by Amino Functionalized ZIF8 with 5-Aminotetrazole via Post-Synthesis Modification
Authors: Wang Chiran , Xu Helin , Huang Pengbing , Xu Xiaoqing , Wang Hao , Zhang Yangrui , Deng Renpan
Published: March 2022

The post-synthesis modification is a highly efficient method for the modification of Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, which has been used to synthesize MOF materials purposefully that cannot be prepared by direct synthesis and impregnation method. In this work, amino modified ZIF8 with 5-aminotetrazole was prepared by the post synthesis modification method and was employed to reversibly remove SO2 from flue gas. Based on the characterization and analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Brunner Emmet Teller (BET), it was found that the functionalized ZIF8 (Zn(5-ATZ)1.5) was a microporous material with a two-dimensional nano-layered structure. According to the SO2 adsorption experiments, the adsorption capacity of SO2 at the concentration of 1.6% vol can reach to 122 mg/g under the optimal conditions (25 °C, 2865 h−1). Five successive adsorption-desorption experiments exhibited that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 had excellent regeneration performance. The characterization results of Raman Spectra (Raman) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as the DFT simulation calculations revealed that SO2 mainly interacted with Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 by hydrogen bonds between O of SO2 and amino H in the Zn(5-ATZ)1.5, and the interaction of SO2 with amino N and 5-aminotetrazole N by forming a non-covalent charge transfer complex. This work suggested that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 is an excellent potential sorbent for SO2 removal.
The Pyrazolo[3,4-d]Pyrimidine Derivative Si306 Encapsulated into Anti-GD2-Immunoliposomes as Therapeutic Treatment of Neuroblastoma
Authors: Rango Enrico , Pastorino Fabio , Brignole Chiara , Mancini Arianna , Poggialini Federica , Di Maria Salvatore , Zamperini Claudio , Iovenitti Giulia , Fallacara Anna Lucia , Sabetta Samantha , Clementi Letizia , Valoti Massimo , Schenone Silvia , Angelucci Adriano , Ponzoni Mirco , Dreassi Elena , Botta Maurizio
Published: March 2022

Si306, a pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivative recently identified as promising anticancer agent, has shown favorable in vitro and in vivo activity profile against neuroblastoma (NB) models by acting as a competitive inhibitor of c-Src tyrosine kinase. Nevertheless, Si306 antitumor activity is associated with sub-optimal aqueous solubility, which might hinder its further development. Drug delivery systems were here developed with the aim to overcome this limitation, obtaining suitable formulations for more efficacious in vivo use. Si306 was encapsulated in pegylated stealth liposomes, undecorated or decorated with a monoclonal antibody able to specifically recognize and bind to the disialoganglioside GD2 expressed by NB cells (LP[Si306] and GD2-LP[Si306], respectively). Both liposomes possessed excellent morphological and physio-chemical properties, maintained over a period of two weeks. Compared to LP[Si306], GD2-LP[Si306] showed in vitro specific cellular targeting and increased cytotoxic activity against NB cell lines. After intravenous injection in healthy mice, pharmacokinetic profiles showed increased plasma exposure of Si306 when delivered by both liposomal formulations, compared to that obtained when Si306 was administered as free form. In vivo tumor homing and cytotoxic effectiveness of both liposomal formulations were finally tested in an orthotopic animal model of NB. Si306 tumor uptake resulted significantly higher when encapsulated in GD2-LP, compared to Si306, either free or encapsulated into untargeted LP. This, in turn, led to a significant increase in survival of mice treated with GD2-LP[Si306]. These results demonstrate a promising antitumor efficacy of Si306 encapsulated into GD2-targeted liposomes, supporting further therapeutic developments in pre-clinical trials and in the clinic for NB.