bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[18F]FDG dose de-escalation and shortened acquisition duration using total-body PET/CT in pediatric tumor imaging: a prospective pilot study
Authors: Hu Ying-Ying , Liu Lei , Chen Wanqi , Tang Si , Li Zhijian , Zhang Weiguang , Zhang Xu , Feng Jiatai , Sun Hongyan , Wu Runze , Wei Fan , Zhao Yumo
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To characterize the diagnostic performance of [18F]FDG dose de-escalation with shortened acquisition times using total-body PET/CT in pediatric tumor imaging in terms of the subjective image quality and quantification of tracer uptake.

Methods

In this single-center prospective study, 31 pediatric oncology patients under 14 years old were enrolled and underwent total-body PET/CT using the uEXPLORER PET/CT scanner. All patients were randomly assigned to one of four [18F]FDG dose groups: full-dose (3.7 MBq/kg), 1/2-dose (1.9 MBq/kg), 1/3-dose (1.2 MBq/kg), and 1/4-dose (0.9 MBq/kg). Images with a shortened acquisition time frame (20 min, 12 min, 10 min, 8 min, 6 min, 5 min, 4 min, 3 min, 2 min, 1.5 min, 1 min, and 0.5 min) were reconstructed for each study, with the 20-min images as controls for each dose group. Semiquantitative uptake metrics were assessed using region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of healthy liver and suspected lesions. The subjective analysis was performed using 5-point Likert scales. Suspected major lesions and microlesions were recorded, while 3-point Likert scales were used for diagnostic confidence.

Results

With shortened acquisition times, the liver maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) and standard deviation (SD) increased in each dose group. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was significantly reduced with shortened acquisition time, while the lesion SUVmax and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) showed no significant deviation. A decent subjective image quality score could be achieved in the full-, 1/2-, 1/3-, and 1/4-dose groups with at least 2-min, 4-min, 6-min, and 8-min acquisitions, respectively, where great overall image quality and brain delineation (scored 5.0) and superior organ boundaries and image noise (scored over 4.0) could be achieved, and all suspicious lesions found in 20-min images were detectable with high diagnostic confidence.

Conclusions

The regimen of full-dose [18F] FDG with a 2-min scan, 1/2-dose with a 4-min scan, 1/3-dose with a 6-min scan, and 1/4-dose with an 8-min scan using total-body PET/CT can provide great image qualities, can maintain a desired diagnostic performance and is feasible for pediatric oncological clinical applications.
Trial registration: ChiCTR2000036334. Registered 22 August 2020.
Gender difference in the burden of urogenital congenital anomalies at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Huang Xiaoyu , Tang Jianming , Chen Mao , Xiao Ya , Zhu Fangyi , Chen Liying , Tian Xiaoyu , Hong Li
Published: November 2022

Aims. Urogenital congenital anomalies(UCAs) involve both urinary tract and/or genital tract congenital malformations, which may cause severe neonatal death. This research aimed to reveal the latest magnitudes and temporal trends of geographical distribution for UCA burden and their gender difference to help develop more detailed prevention and intervention policies.
Methods. The data for the disease burden of UCAs from 1990 to 2019 was exacted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The average annual percentage change was calculated to quantify the secular trends in age-standardized rates (ASRs) of UCA burden. Meanwhile, a cross-sectional comparison of the disease burden was made at the time points of 1990 and 2019.
Results. In 2019, there were an estimated 1.13×106 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 0.795-1.62] incident cases of UCA, 6.28×106 [95% UI 4.98-7.72] prevalent cases and 1.09×106 [95% UI 0.832-1.41] disabilityadjusted life years(DALYs) globally. For female UCAs, there were an estimated 0.559×106 [95% UI 0.392-0.790] incident cases, 3.17×106 [95% UI 2.53-3.88] prevalent cases and 0.438×106 [95% UI 0.302-0.604] DALYs. For male UCAs, there were an estimated 0.576×106 [95% UI 0.405-0.833] incident cases, 3.11×106 [95% UI 2.45-3.83] prevalent cases and 0.657×106 [95% UI 0.435- 0.925] DALYs.
Conclusions. Our analysis confirms that UCAs are an underestimated public children's health concern. There was a slight upward trend of prevalence and incidence rates for UCAs, whereas the deaths rate and DALYs rates both showed relatively decreasing trends over the past 30 years globally. These substantial heterogeneities in the UCA burden worldwide and giant differences in the female and male cases highlight the need to detect the potentially influential factors for the UCA and devise suitable policies and provide specific clinical research.
Reparative Calcified Barrier Characterization after Mixing Injectable-Platelet Rich Fibrin with Bioactive Direct Pulp Capping Agents; An Exp. Study.
Authors: mansour nirvana
Published: November 2022

Aim: This study investigated the morphology and localization of hard tissue barriers formed after direct pulp capping using i-PRF mixed with bioactive agents (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Bioactive Bone Graft (BBG)) in dogs' teeth using Scanning Electron Microscope.Materials and methods:A total of 64 teeth were used out of 8 healthy male mongrel dogs. The teeth were randomly assigned into four groups according to capping agents used, they were exposed and capped as follow, Group A; capped with MTA, Group B; capped with MTA+ i-PRF, Group C; capped with BBG, Group D; capped with BBG + i-PRF. Finally the access cavity was restored with Intermediate Restorative Material (IRM). The dogs were euthanized after 1 month; and samples were then prepared for scanning electron microscopic study. SEM was used to assess the morphology, localization and extension of the reparative hard tissue barriers and using an image-processing and analysis software to delimit the perimeters of the root canal area and the hard tissue barrier to determine the percentage of root canal obliteration. Chi-square test was used for intragroup comparisons. Results showed that all groups were statistically different (P < 0.05), regarding tissue barrier morphology.Conclusion: Addition of i-PRF to pulp capping agents allows production of peripheral hard tissue barriers with more dentinal tubules.
The effect of widespread use of EVAR on aneurysm-related mortality in the last decade: A nationwide big data platform-based analysis
Authors: Cho Sungsin , Kim Hyangkyoung , Joh Jin Hyun
Published: November 2022

The introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has led to a dramatic decline in open aneurysm repair (OAR). However, there was no report on the trend of AAA-related mortality after the introduction of EVAR. The aim of this study is to evaluate the trends of annual AAA treatment and AAA-related morality including ruptured AAA (rAAA) and intact AAA (iAAA) last decade. We conducted a serial, cross-sectional study with a time trend of patients who were managed with AAA and underwent aneurysm repair including EVAR and OAR between 2010 and 2020. Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) were used to evaluate AAA management and repair trends. Data on the annual mortality due to rAAA and iAAA were obtained from Statistics Korea. We evaluated the annual mortality due to AAA and morality rate after the management of rAAA. A linear-by-linear association was performed to determine the changes in the rate of these aneurysm repair techniques. The annual number of patients with iAAA and rAAA increased from 3,686 to 10,630 and 462 to 750 patients, respectively. The number of patients with AAA repair increased from 931 in 2010 to 2,050 in 2020 (OAR; 525 in 2010 to 822 in 2020 and EVAR; 406 in 2010 to 1,228 in 2020). The percentage of EVAR for the treatment of AAA increased from 43.6% in 2010 to 59.9% in 2020. The annual number of AAA-related mortal patients increased from 213 in 2010 to 301 in 2020. However, the annual AAA-related mortality rate decreased from 5.1% in 2010 to 2.6% in 2020. The mortality rate after the management of rAAA did not change during this period (mean mortality rate, 35.7%). During the last decade in Korea, the number of patients with AAA and AAA repair increased. In addition, the AAA-related mortal case increased. But, the AAA-related mortality rate decreased after the increasing trend of EVAR procedure. The nationwide mortality rate after the management of rAAA does not change.
Mir-183 functions as an oncogene via decreasing PTEN in breast cancer cells
Authors: Mohammaddoust Samaneh , Sadeghizadeh Majid
Published: November 2022

Regarding the important role of microRNAs in breast cancer, investigating the molecular mechanisms of miRs and their impacts on breast cancer progression is critical. Thus, the present work aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of miR-183 in breast cancer. PTEN was validated by dual luciferase assay as a target gene of miR-183. Through qRT-PCR analysis, miR-183 and PTEN mRNA levels in breast cancer cell lines were measured. To determine the impacts of miR-183 on cell viability, the MTT assay was used. Moreover, flowcytometry was applied to analyze the effects of miR-183 on the cell cycle progression. To detect the effects of miR-183 on the migration of BC cell lines, wound healing was used along with a Trans-well migration assay. Western blot was utilized to assess the effect of miR-183 on PTEN protein expression. MiR-183 can exert an oncogenic effect by promoting cell viability, migration, and cell cycle progression. It was revealed that cellular oncogenicity is positively regulated by miR-183 by inhibiting the expression of PTEN. According to the present data, miR-183 may play a vital role in the progression of breast cancer by reducing PTEN expression. It may be also a potential therapeutic target for this disease.
Disseminated nocardiosis attributable to Nocardia farcinica in a context of influenza A virus coinfection and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Arranz Mario Cárdaba , Rosselló Gabriel Alberto March , Sánchez Gloria Renedo , Peinador Elsa Mucientes , González Francisco Javier Pérez
Published: November 2022

Background
Nocardia species are a rare cause of opportunistic infections that mainly affect immunocompromised patients. Nocardia species have a particular tropism for the brain. We report a fatal case of disseminated nocardiosis associated with influenza A virus coinfection and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) which has never been reported to the best of our knowledge.
Case presentation
A 72-year-old immunosuppressed Caucasian man with influenza A virus infection and a history of MGUS was admitted for probable pneumonia and developed brain space-occupying lesions. Given the timing of disease progression, the response to antibiotics and the brain tropism of the microorganism cultured from an unexpected late-diagnosed primary cutaneous infection, Nocardia farcinica was considered the cause of brain lesions. A delayed diagnosis was given after a circuitous workup. Although combination therapy consisting of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), amikacin and amoxicillin-clavulanate resulted in clinical improvement, patient died several weeks after discharge to a long-term care facility (LTCF). Autopsy was not requested.
Conclusions
When immunosuppressed patients develop an obscure infection, nocardiosis must be promptly considered in differential diagnosis. Influenza-associated disseminated nocardiosis impairs survival prognosis. Influenza can pose severe problems for MGUS patients. Effective patient-physician communication, comprehensive history taking, thorough physical examination, the importance of accounting for comorbidities and interprofessional communication and teamwork cannot be overemphasized. Autopsy is an essential tool to improve diagnostic accuracy and would have determined the causes of death.
Negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery
Authors: Jian Fang Xin , Bao Peng Xiao , Li Wang Fu , Cui Yan Hai , Hong Hang Guan
Published: November 2022

Objective
To investigate how the negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cell lines and prognosis in postoperative breast cancer patients.
Methods
RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays were used to detect the expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and CD44st at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of miR-138-5p in breast cancer cell lines was also evaluated. The binding ability of miR-138-5p to CD44st was determined via a dual-luciferase assay. The CD44 protein expression in breast cancer tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. A Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of tumor cells. The correlation between CD44st and miR-138-5p mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues was evaluated using qRT-PCR, and the relationship between clinicopathological features was statistically analyzed.
Results
CD44s and CD44v6 were highly expressed in MDAMB-231 cell line, while CD44st was highly expressed in MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells. None of the CD44 isoforms were expressed in MCF-7 cells. The miR-138-5p was highly expressed in MCF-7 cells, but not in MCF-7/Adr, Skbr-3, and MDAMB-231 cells. The dual-luciferase assay suggested that miR-138-5p could bind to wild-type CD44st 3'-UTR, miR-138-5p overexpression significantly inhibited the expression level of CD44 protein in MCF-7/Adr cells, and miR-138-5p + CD44st (3'-UTR)-treated MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells were significantly less invasive than those in the control group (P < 0.05). RT-PCR results for 80 postoperative breast cancer patients showed that the mRNA expression rate for CD44st was higher in cancer tissues than in paracancerous tissues, and the expression rate of miR-138-5p was higher in paracancerous tissues than in cancerous tissues (P < 0.01). In cancer tissues, CD44st was negatively correlated with miR-138-5p expression, with correlation coefficient r=-0.76 (Pearson’s correlation), coefficient of determination R2 = 0.573, F = 106.89, and P < 0.001. The median overall survival value for patients in the low miR-138-5p expression group was 40.39 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 35.59–45.18 months] and 56.30 months (95% CI: 54.38–58.21 months) for patients in the high-expression group, with a log rank (Mantel-Cox) of 13.120, one degree of freedom, and P < 0.001.
Conclusion
In breast cancer cell lines, miR-138-5p negatively regulated expression of CD44st and affected the invasive ability of tumor cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery.
Comparative Study of Young-old and Old-old People Using Gait Characteristics and Cardiopulmonary Metabolic Energy Consumption
Authors: Kim Yun-Hee , Chung Eunhye , Lee Su-Hyun , Lee Hwang-Jae
Published: November 2022

Background: Walking is an important factor in daily life. Among elderly people, gait function declines with age. In contrast to the many studies revealing gait differences between young adults and elderly people, few studies have divided elderly people into two groups. The purpose of this study was to subdivide an elderly population by age to identify age-related differences in gait characteristics and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy consumption while walking.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 62 elderly participants who were classified into two age groups of 31 participants each as follows: young-old (70.58 ± 2.41 years) and old-old (77.74 ± 2.07 years). A three-dimensional motion capture system (Kestrel Digital RealTime System®; Motion Analysis Corporation, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) and two force plates (TF-4060-B; Tec Gihan, Kyoto, Japan) were used to investigate spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetic data of gait. A portable cardiopulmonary metabolic system (K5; Cosmed, Rome, Italy) was used to measure cardiopulmonary energy consumption. Physical functions, activities of daily living, mood state, cognitive function, quality of life, and fall efficacy were evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Four-square Step Test (FSST), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT), Korean Version of the Modified Barthel Index, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Korean Mini-mental State Examination, EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and the Korean version of the Fall Efficacy Scale.
Results: The old-old group showed significant decreases in SPPB, FSST, TUG, 10MWT, GDS, and EQ-5D scores (p < 0.05). Among the spatiotemporal gait parameters, gait speed, stride length, and step length were significantly lower in the old-old group than in the young-old group (p < 0.05). Hip extension moment at 52% gait cycle (GC), deviation of hip power at 12%–50% GC, knee extension power at 58% GC, and ankle extension angle at 68% GC were significantly reduced in the old-old group compared to in the young-old group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that participants in the old-old group had less functional gaits than those in the young-old group. As the walking pace of old-old people diminishes, the driving strength to move ahead and the pressure on the knee joint also tend to decrease, together with stride length. These differences in gait characteristics according to age among elderly people could improve the understanding of how aging causes variations in gait that increase the risk of falls. Elderly people of different ages may require customized intervention plans, such as gait training methods, to prevent age-related falls.
Effect of Dataset Size and Auxiliary Data in Bayesian Learning of Advanced Manufacturing: A Composite Autoclave Processing Diagnostic Study
Authors: Crawford Bryn , Ramezankhani Milad , Milani Abbas Sadeghzadeh
Published: November 2022

Recent advances in data-driven predictive modelling have enabled the emergence of intelligent manufacturing enterprises. Nonetheless, most of the present frameworks incorporate non-interpretable black-box machine learning models, often requiring large datasets and yet lacking ‘diagnostic’ modelling capabilities. In the context of advanced composites manufacturing, where the presence of numerous decision factors and uncertainties can rapidly yield failures, training cost/data-efficient, transparent and diagnostic-capable predictive models continue to highly valuable to pertinent industries. This can specifically allow decision-makers on the manufacturing floor to identify the causes or state variables of the process that contribute to the product failure (e.g., due to an excessive exotherm or lag temperature during curing), and thereby saving sizable volume of material scraps due to trial and errors. In this work, a Bayesian learning framework with inverse modelling capabilities for an advanced composites autoclave curing process has been developed and assessed for the first time, while assuming different dataset size availabilities. The advantages of using both a naïve Bayesian network and a highly-connected Bayesian belief network (BBN) are compared and discussed. The results revealed that integration of expert knowledge under highly-connected Bayesian models can offer a favorable predictive performance for root cause analyses, along with apparent tractability for in-situ applications, despite the very limited-volume of training data, when accompanied with carefully selected auxiliary data (e.g. via the use of a proxy thermocouple during the processing based on expert domain).
Comparison of clinical and pathological features between early-stage gastric-type and intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Borui , Chen Tingting , Liang Dingbao , Zhang Yin , Ding Xiwei , Lv Ying
Published: November 2022

Background: The clinicopathological features and endoscopic characteristics under magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (ME-NBI)between early-stage gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma (GDA) and intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma (IDA) remain controversial.
Methods: Early gastric adenocarcinomas that underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between August 2017 and August 2021 were included in the present study. GDA cases and IDA cases were selected based on morphology and immunohistochemistry staining of CD10, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6. Clinicopathological data and endoscopic findings in ME-NBI were compared between GDAs and IDAs.
Results: The mucin phenotypes of 657 gastric cancers were gastric (n= 307), intestinal (n=109), mixed (n=181) and unclassified (n=60). No significant difference was observed in terms of gender, age, tumor size, gross type, tumor location, background mucosa, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion between patients with GDA and IDA. GDA cases were associated with deeper invasion than IDA cases (p=0.007). In ME-NBI, GDAs were more likely to exhibit an intralobular loop patten, whereas IDAs were more likely to exhibit a fine network pattern. In addition, the proportion of none-curative resection in GDAs was significantly higher than that in IDAs (p=0.007).
Conclusion: The mucin phenotype of differentiated early gastric adenocarcinoma has clinical significance. GDA was associated with less endoscopically resectability than IDA.
Preparation and Properties of Smoke Suppressive Silicone Oil Modified by Dicyandiamide
Authors: Shi Xu , Xu Weibing , Zhou Zhengfa , Ma Haihong , Ren Fengmei
Published: November 2022

In order to improve the smoke suppression of silicone oil, relatively high nitrogen content silicone oil was synthesized by the raction of dicyandiamide (DCD) and epoxy-terminated silicone oil (ETSO) and named DCDSO. The molecular structure of DCDSO was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR). The flame ignition and cone calorimetry test (CCT) were used to investigate the smoke suppression effect of DCDSO. The results showed that the introduction of DCD significantly improved the smoke suppression performance of DCDSO. When the molar ratio of the epoxy group in ETSO and the primary amino group in DCD was 1:1.3, the flame height and the total smoke production reduced 77% and 53.73%, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric infrared analysis (TG-IR) and thermal field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to explore the mechanism of smoke suppression. The mechanism of smoke suppression is that the introduction of DCD reduces the rearrangement decomposition, promotes the free radical oxidation decomposition and the formation of condensed phase, and thus reduces the generation and release of smoke.
Submarine optical fiber communication provides an unrealized deep-sea observation network
Authors: Ashry Islam , Guo Yujian , Marin Juan , Trichili Abderrahmen , Havlik Michelle , Ng Tien Khee , Duarte Carlos , Ooi Boon S.
Published: November 2022

The ocean is key to human survival, providing natural resources, most of the global oxygen supply, and economic development through mineral, gas, and oil deposits. Although the sea is primarily considered a silent world, it is abundant with the natural sounds of marine life communication and geological processes. Human activities, especially active sonars, shipping traffic, and underwater vehicles, have significantly affected underwater soundscapes and reduced natural sounds. We report on a joint optical fiber-based communication and sensing technology to minimize noise pollution in the ocean while achieving data transmission and ocean environment monitoring and exploration. The proposed multifunctional communication and sensing fiber system enables two-way data transfer while a) monitoring marine life and ship movement near the deployed fiber at the sea bottom and b) sensing temperature. The same fiber is simultaneously used to transfer energy that can be harvested by devices in the internet of underwater things. The proposed approach dramatically reduces the costs and effects of monitoring marine ecosystems while transferring data, monitoring oceans, and charging submerged devices in the internet of underwater things.
ANXA5 promotes glioma progression through the FAk/PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Zhou Huandi , Han Wei , Zhang Dongdong , Han Xuetao , Hou Liubing , Li Haonan , Sun Guozhu , Xue Xiaoying
Published: November 2022

Objective
Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is a member of the calcium dependent phospholipid binding protein family and participates in the regulation of a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, whether and how ANXA5 affects the growth and progression of glioma remains unclear.
Methods
We analyzed the expression of ANXA5 in multiple public databases, and verified the expression in 50 glioma clinical samples with Western blotting to study the correlation between ANXA5 and prognosis, survival, and clinical characteristics. In vitro experiments, we up-regulated and down-regulated the expression of ANXA5 in glioma cells, then treated glioma cells with up regulated ANXA5 expression with Y397 FAK specific phosphorylation inhibitor Y15, and verified the effect of ANXA5 on proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells through CCK8, clone formation, EDU, mgration and invasion assays, scratching,and Western blotting proved that the expression level of ANXA5 affected the protein level of upstream and downstream factors of FAk/PI3K/AK pathway.
Results
ANXA5 is highly expressed in glioma and is related to clinical features such as grade, age and molecular typing. The higher the expression of ANXA5, the worse the prognosis. The increased expression of ANXA5 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells, activate FAk/PI3K/AK pathway, and Y15 can reverse the promotion of ANXA5 overexpression; When ANXA5 is knocked down, the result is opposite.
Conclusions
ANXA5 is highly expressed in glioma and is an independent prognostic factor of glioma patients. ANXA5 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells through FAk/PI3K/AK pathway, and this promotion can be reversed by Y15.
Transjugular intrahepatic collateral-systemic shunt is effective for cavernous transformation of portal vein with variceal bleeding
Authors: Tie Jun , Gou Xiaoyuan , He Chuangye , Li Kai , Yuan Xulong , Jia Wenyuan , Niu Jing , Han Na , Xu Jiao , Zhu Ying , Wang Wenlan
Published: November 2022

Background: The transjugular intrahepatic portal collateral-systemic shunt (transcollateral TIPS) is used to treat portal hypertension-related complications in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) and whose main portal vein cannot be recanalized. It is still not clear whether transcollateral TIPS can be as effective as portal vein recanalization–transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR–TIPS). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcollateral TIPS in the treatment of refractory variceal bleeding with CTPV.
Methods: Patients with refractory variceal bleeding caused by CTPV were selected from the database of consecutive patients treated with TIPS in Xijing Hospital from January 2015 to May 2021. They were divided into the transcollateral TIPS group and the PVR–TIPS group. The rebleeding rate, overall survival, shunt dysfunction, overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) and operation-related complications were analyzed.
Results: A total of 192 patients were enrolled, including 21 patients with transcollateral TIPS and 171 patients with PVR-TIPS. Compared with the patients with PVR-TIPS, the patients with transcollateral TIPS had more noncirrhosis (52.4% vs. 19.9%, p = 0.002), fewer splenectomies (14.3% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.018), and more extensive thrombosis (38.1% vs. 15.2%, p = 0.026). There were no differences in rebleeding, survival, shunt dysfunction, or operation-related complications between the transcollateral TIPS and PVR-TIPS groups. However, OHE was significantly lower in the transcollateral TIPS group (9.5% vs. 35.1%, p = 0.018).
Conclusion: Transcollateral TIPS is an effective treatment for CTPV with refractory variceal bleeding.
The PBL teaching method in Neurology Education in the Traditional Chinese Medicine undergraduate students: An Observational Study
Authors: Kim Yun Jin
Published: November 2022

Background and Objective: To study the effect of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) method in Neurology education for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) undergraduate students.
Methods: In this observational study was conducted 2020/02 and 2020/04 intake the year three TCM undergraduate students of the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen University Malaysia. A total of 86 were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into conventional learning groups and PBL groups. Students who missed more than one session of the course and those who did not complete the questionnaires in the evaluation periods were excluded from the study (n=0). An independent sample t-test was used to compare the results between the two groups. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The PBL group was significantly effective for the students’ theoretical and clinical practical examination scores, the satisfaction of teaching level, students’ perspectives, and self-learning skills, as well as significantly higher Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) scores than students who participated with the conventional group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The PBL teaching method in Neurology education for TCM undergraduate students can involve an interesting learning method, significantly improve their learning performance, and the ability to analyze the problem-solving skills in the neurology disease and its management knowledge.
Long-term intensive endurance exercise training is associated to reduced senescence markers in the colon mucosa of older adults
Authors: Demaria Marco , Bertozzi Beatrice , Veronese Nicola , Spelta Francesco , Cava Edda , Tosti Valeria , Piccio Laura , Early Dayna , Fontana Luigi
Published: November 2022

Regular endurance exercise training is an effective intervention for the maintenance of metabolic health and the prevention of many age-associated chronic diseases. Several metabolic and inflammatory factors are involved in the health-promoting effects of exercise training, but regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Cellular senescence—a cellular state of irreversible growth arrest—is considered a basic mechanism of aging. Senescent cells accumulate over time and promote a variety of age-related pathologies from neurodegenerative disorders to cancer. Whether long-term intensive exercise training affect the accumulation of age-associated cellular senescence is still unclear. Here, we show that the classical senescence markers p16 and IL-6 were markedly higher in the colon mucosa of middle-aged and older overweight adults than in young sedentary individuals, but that this upregulation was significantly blunted in age-matched endurance runners. Interestingly, we observe a linear correlation between the level of p16 and the triglycerides to HDL ratio, a well-accepted marker of colon adenoma risk and cardiometabolic dysfunctions. Our data suggest that chronic high-volume high-intensity endurance exercise can play a major role in preventing the accumulation of senescent cells in cancer prone tissues like colon mucosa with age. Future studies are warranted to elucidate which tissues are most affected, and what are the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate the senomorphic effects of different forms of exercise training.
Cytokine profiles and virological markers highlight distinctive immune statuses, and effectivenesses and limitations of antiviral therapies across different courses of chronic HBV infection
Authors: Xiao Lixin , Tang Kang , Fu Ting , Yuan Xiaojie , Seery Samuel , Zhang Weilu , Ji Zhaohua , He Zhen , Yang Yan , Zhang Wenhua , Jia Wenling , Liang Chunhui , Tang Haitao , Wang Fengmei , Ye Yancheng , Chen Lihua , Shao Zhongjun
Published: November 2022

Background
The characteristics of cytokine/chemokine (CK) profiles across different courses of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the effects of antiviral therapies on cytokine profiles remain unclear.
Methods
This report provides evidence from 427 patients with chronic HBV infection. The Luminex multiple cytokine detection technology was used to detect CK profiles. The predictive power of CKs across different courses of chronic HBV infection was assessed using univariate analyses and with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Results
Compared to chronic HBV carriers (CHC), expression levels of IL-21, IL-23, IL-33 and CXCL10 increased while IFN-γ did not change significantly in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). IL-8 increased in those with liver cirrhosis (LC). Whereas, myeloid-related markers decreased dramatically in those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The predictive results suggest that combining IL-6, IL-8, CXCL9 and CXCL11 into a nomogram could generate an accurate HCC risk based on LC status. In addition, the Spearman correlation coefficient suggested that CKs negatively correlate with serological and virological indicators, although they did positively correlate with one another. Antiviral treatments are capable of recovering normal liver functions and significantly reducing the viral load, however, they seem to have a limited effect in changing CKs, especially specific antiviral factors.
Conclusions
Variations in CKs and in virological markers might be used to determined distinct immune statuses. They might also highlight different levels of effectiveness and the limitations of antiviral treatments. This next step would to break new ground in the optimization of current anti-HBV treatment programs although this requires further research.
Comparison of the efficacy of anterior combined with posterior approach and posterior- only approach in the treatment of basilar invagination with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation: minimum 5-year follow-up outcomes
Authors: Xu Tao , Cai Xiaoyu , Yasheng Paierhati , Yusufu Aierpati , Maimaiti Fulati , Maimaiti Maierdan , Guo Hailong , Sheng Jun , Deng Qiang , Sheng Weibin , Wang Ting
Published: November 2022

Background: To compare the clinical efficacy of anterior combined with posterior (A-P) approach and posterior-only (P-O) approach release, reduction, and internal fixation in the treatment of basilar invagination (BI) with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD).
Methods: The clinical records of 49 patients diagnosed with BI with irreducible AAD from July 2000 to June 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into the A-P group (n = 24) and P-O group (n = 25) according to the operation modes. The primary outcome measures included Chamberlain line (CL), Wackenheim line (WL), McRae line (ML), atlanto-dens interval (ADI), cervicomedullary angle (CMA), clivus-canal angle (CCA), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and Ranawat grade.
Results: The follow-up periods were 68.7 ± 11.2 months in the A-P group and 64.4 ± 13.2 months in the P-O group. The JOA score of the A-P group was 8.25 ± 2.74 before operation and 14.96 ± 1.09 at the last follow-up. The improvement rate was 77.32 ± 11.31%. The JOA score of the P-O group was 8.10 ± 2.48 before operation and 14.69 ± 0.60 at the last follow-up. The improvement rate was 74.32 ± 10.42%. The preoperative CL, WL, ML, ADI, CMA, and CCA of the A-P group were 13.14 ± 5.72 mm, 6.91 ± 3.52 mm, 7.12 ± 4.51 mm, 9.78 ± 2.10 mm, 110.79°± 13.2°, 95.28° ± 18.1°. At the last follow-up, the CL, WL, ML, ADI, CMA, and CCA were 1.69 ± 2.51 mm, -2.71 ± 2.19 mm, -1.50 ± 2.41 mm, 1.13 ± 1.52 mm, 149.16° ± 12.5°, 141.38° ± 13.6° with significant difference compared with the preoperative results. The preoperative CL, WL, ML, ADI, CMA, and CCA of the P-O group were 12.50 ± 5.09 mm, 6.54 ± 3.12 mm, 6.88 ± 4.28 mm, 9.81 ± 1.89 mm, 115.29° ± 12.3°, 97.21° ± 16.6°. At the last follow-up, the CL, WL, ML, ADI, CMA, and CCA were 2.04 ± 3.61 mm, -3.12 ±1.81 mm, -1.72 ± 2.79 mm, 1.15 ± 1.20 mm, 146.69 °± 11.2 °, 137.49° ± 10.3°, which were statistically significant compared with the preoperative results. The bone graft fusion time was 9.1 ± 5.0 months in the A-P group and 9.4 ± 4.8 months in the P-O group. A total of 8 patients presented postoperative complications, including 6 patients in the A-P group (25.0%) and 2 patients in the P-O group (8.0%). The incidence of postoperative complications in the P-O was significantly lower than that in the A-P group.
Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of the P-O approach release, reduction, and internal fixation in the treatment of BI with irreducible AAD is basically the same as that of the A-P approach. However, the incidence of complications of the P-O approach is significantly lower than that of the A-P approach.
Risk factors for perioperative hidden blood loss after one-segment posterior circumferential decompression surgery on thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: a finding of the double-layer sign on CT
Authors: Liang Huiqiang , Zhao Xuan , Wang Linfeng , Li Jia , Shen Yong
Published: November 2022

Background: Hidden blood loss (HBL) is of increasing interest to spine surgeons. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate perioperative HBL and its risk factors in patients undergoing one-segment posterior circumferential decompression surgery on thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL).
Method: We retrospectively studied 112 patients diagnosed with T-OPLL following posterior circumferential decompression surgery from August 2015 to June 2020. Patient demographics, blood loss-related parameters, surgery-related data and imaging parameters were extracted. Postoperative complications were also recorded. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between patient demographics and HBL. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors associated with HBL.
Results: Forty-five men and 67 women were involved in this research, with an average age of 56.4 ± 10.2 years. The mean HBL was 459.6±275.4 ml, accounting for 56.5% of the total blood loss. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that double-layer sign (P＝0.000), ossification occupancy ratio (OOR) >60%(P=0.030), age (P=0.010), hematocrit (Hct) loss (P=0.034), and postoperative Hct (P = 0.016) were independent risk factors for HBL. However, OPLL morphology (P=0.319), operation time (P=0.587), hemoglobin (Hb) loss (P=0.644), and postoperative Hb (P=0.952) were not significantly different from HBL.
Conclusion: A high proportion of HBL was found after posterior circumferential decompression surgery on T-OPLL during the perioperative period,which should not be overlooked. Double-layer sign, OOR> 60%, age, Hct loss and postoperative Hct are independent risk factors for HBL.
Pregnancy-induced differential expression of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A viral entry factors in the lower respiratory tract
Authors: Giri Tusar , Panda Santosh , Palanisamy Arvind
Published: November 2022

Despite differences in the clinical presentation of coronavirus disease-19 and pandemic influenza in pregnancy, fundamental mechanistic insights are currently lacking because of the difficulty in recruiting critically ill pregnant subjects for research studies. Therefore, to better understand host-pathogen interaction during pregnancy, we performed a series of foundational experiments in pregnant rats at term gestation to assess the expression of host entry factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus (IAV) and genes associated with innate immune response in the lower respiratory tract. We report that pregnancy is characterized by a decrease in host factors mediating SARS-CoV-2 entry and an increase in host factors mediating IAV entry. Furthermore, using flow cytometric assessment of immune cell populations and immune provocation studies, we show an increased prevalence of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and a Type I interferon-biased environment in the lower respiratory tract of pregnancy, contrary to the expected immunological indolence. Our findings, therefore, suggest that the dissimilar clinical presentation of COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A in pregnancy could partly be due to differences in the extent of innate immune activation from altered viral tropism and indicate the need for comparative mechanistic investigations with live virus studies.
Quorum-quenching potential of recombinant PvdQ engineered bacteria for biofilm formation
Authors: Li Junlin , Li Zhifei , Xie Jun , Xia Yun , Gong Wangbao , Tian Jingjing , Zhang Kai , Yu Ermeng , Wang Guangjun
Published: November 2022

Quorum sensing (QS) is a core mechanism for bacteria to regulate biofilm formation, and therefore, QS inhibition or quorum quenching (QQ) is used as an effective and economically feasible strategy against biofilms. In this study, the PvdQ gene encoding AHL acylase was introduced into Escherichia coli (DE3), and a PvdQ-engineered bacterium with highly efficient QQ activity was obtained and used to inhibit biofilm formation. Gene sequencing and western blot analysis showed that the recombinant pET-PvdQ strain was successfully constructed. The color reaction of Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 indicated that PvdQ engineering bacteria had shown strong AHL signal molecule quenching activity, and significantly inhibited the adhesion (motility) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and biofilm formation of activated sludge bacteria in Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR; inhibition rate 51–85%, p < 0.05). In addition, qRT-PCR testing revealed that recombinant PvdQ acylase significantly reduced the transcription level of QS biofilm formation related genes (cdrA, pqsA, and lasR; p < 0.05). In this study, QQ genetically engineered bacteria enhanced by genetic engineering could effectively inhibit the QS signal transduction mechanism and have the potential to control biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria in the aquaculture environment, providing an environmentally friendly and alternative antibiotic strategy to suppress biofilm contamination.
Temporal changes of the oral and fecal microbiota after mild traumatic brain injury in rats by 16s rRNA sequencing
Authors: Wang Shujuan , Shang Yanjie , Pi Zhiyun , Zhou Ziqi , Zhang Xiangyan , Ren Lipin , Liang Weibo , Guo Yadong , Cai Jifeng , Zhang Changquan
Published: November 2022

Background
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) could increase the risk of neurodegenerative-related diseases, and the serious long-term outcomes were often overlooked. The accurate identification of mTBI became fully urgent for the diagnosis and prevention of the long-term outcomes. In forensic science, the accurate identification of mTBI will directly affect the application of evidences in practice case. Recent researches have revealed that oral cavity and fecal microbiota played a fundamental role in deeply interconnecting gut and brain injury prevention and recovery by regulating immune homeostasis and neuroinflammation. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the temporal changes of oral cavity and fecal bacterial communities and damage identification and post-injury time estimation after mTBI.
Results
In this study, we analyzed the oral cavity and fecal bacterial communities in mTBI rats under the 12 different post-injury times (sham, 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 2 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d post-injury) using 16s rRNA sequencing technology. The sequence results revealed bacteria belonging to 36 phyla, 82 classes, 211 orders, 360 families, 751 genera, and 1398 species. Compared to the sham group, the relative abundance of the bacterial communities varied markedly in the post-injury groups.
Conclusions
Importantly, our data demonstrated that Fusobacteria, Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae might be the potential candidates for mTBI identification and the 2 h post-injury was a critical time point to explore the temporal changes of mTBI injury-time estimation. And the results could also provide new ideas for mTBI treatment in the clinic.
The supplementation of aquatic animal by-products hydrolysates can effectively improve the nutritional value of low fish meal feed for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
Authors: Han Zhihao , Su Jilun , Xie Ruitao , Li Mingkong , Wang Zhenjie , Zhang Nihe , Chen Naisong , Li Songlin
Published: November 2022

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of aquatic animal by-products hydrolysates (AH) inclusion on the nutritive value of low-fishmeal diet for largemouth bass. The diet with 45% and 25% fishmeal was regarded as positive control (PC) and negative control (NC), respectively, and another three diets were prepared by the supplementation of shrimp hydrolysate powder (SHP) or by top-coating 1.5% of tuna visceral hydrolysate (TH) and shrimp by-product hydrolysate (SH) in the low fishmeal diet. Triplicate group of fish with initial body weight of 10.12 ± 0.02 g were fed one of the experimental diet twice daily for 62 days. The results of feeding trial revealed that the inclusion of AH, especially SHP, significantly alleviate the negative effects on growth performance caused by the low fishmeal diet. The beneficial role of AH supplementation partly related to the improved feed utilization, including FI, FER and PER. Although no significant difference was observed in the crude protein content of whole fish body, the inclusion of AH significantly decreased the low fishmeal diet caused the elevated moisture content. Meanwhile, the low fishmeal diet significantly decreased the crude lipid content of whole fish body, which was reversed by AH inclusion. The activity of serum lysozyme was significantly decreased by low fishmeal diet, but elevated with the inclusion of AH inclusion. Meanwhile, the inclusion of AH alleviated the low fishmeal diet induced the increased activity of AST. Additionally, the low fishmeal diet resulted in the decrease of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and SOD activity, while the AH supplementation improved the negative effects on antioxidant capacity. No significant difference was observed in the expression of IGF-1 among treatments. The expression of TOR was significantly reduced by low fishmeal diet, and the AH inclusion elevated its expression. In conclusion, the inclusion of AH benefits for improving the nutritive value of low fishmeal diet for largemouth bass.
The influence of pH and H2O2 on surface quality and material removal rate during W-CMP
Authors: Wang Lin , Peng Feng , Chen Hongyu , Hang Wei , Yu Cuiping , Chen Shunhua , Zhao Shijun , Wu Zhenggang , Ma Yi , Lyu Binghai , Yuan Julong
Published: November 2022

In chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, chemical action is generally determined by pH regulator and oxidant in the polishing slurry. In this paper, tungsten was polished by CMP, and the material removal mechanism was discussed. The influence of pH values and H2O2 concentrations on surface quality and material removal rate (MRR) were studied deeply. The oxidation and dissolution kinetics of tungsten/tungsten oxide (W/WOx) during CMP process were investigated by electrochemical analysis and XPS. In addition, the microstructure of tungsten surface and its elemental composition and electronic state were also analyzed by SEM, white light interference and other characterization methods. Results reveal that tungsten has the best passivation effect at acidic pH, and the surface roughness increases with the increase of pH value, while the addition of H2O2 will deteriorate the surface quality of tungsten and improve the MRR. Besides, the different morphologies (corrosion pits, grain boundaries, etc.) formed after W-CMP indicate that the material removal mechanism is related to the composition of slurry.