bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Two siblings with very late onset of holocarboxylase synthase deficiency and a mini-review
Authors: Gaschignard Margaux , Domenach Louis , Lamireau Delphine , Guibet Claire , Roche Sandrine , Richard Emmanuel , Redonnet-Vernhet Isabelle , Mesli Samir , Lebreton Louis
Published: September 2024

Holocarboxylase synthase (HCS) deficiency is an extremely rare metabolic disorder typically presenting as severe neonatal metabolic acidosis, lethargy, hypotonia, vomiting, and seizures. This report describes two siblings in a family with late-onset forms of HCS deficiency. The younger sister presented at the age of 11 years and manifested as acute metabolic acidosis, which promptly resolved following rehydration and biotin administration. The results of the organic urine profile confirmed multiple carboxylase deficiency, and genetic testing revealed a novel pathogenic variant in the HLCS gene (NM_000411.8) in the homozygous state: c.995A>G; p. (Gln332Arg). No further decompensation was observed for her during the 3-year follow-up period. His older brother was diagnosed at the age of 23 years-old through biochemical tests, without any history of acidotic decompensation. A mini-review of HCS deficiency with late onset (>1 year) or early onset (<1 month) revealed that splice variants are associated with late onset, while both variants p. (Leu216Arg) and p. (Leu237Pro) are associated with early onset. However, the majority of genotypes do not show a clear correlation with the timing of HCS deficiency onset. The most significant point here is the description of extremely late-onset cases of HCS deficiency. This can prompt metabolic investigations and raise suspicion of this rare disease in cases of unexplained metabolic acidosis, even beyond early childhood.
Genetically predicted Caspase 8 levels mediates the causal association between CD4+ T cell and breast cancer
Authors: Chen Yanbin , Zheng Zequn , Wang Jinhong , Huang Xifeng , Xie Lei
Published: September 2024

Background

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant contributor to female mortality globally, with inflammation and the immune system implicated in its pathogenesis. To elucidate potential causal relationships, we evaluated the relationship among 731 immune cell phenotypes and BC be at risk by using Mendelian randomization (MR), while also exploring inflammatory proteins as mediators in this association.

Methods

We obtained immune cell genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data and 91 inflammatory factors from the GWAS Catalog. BC GWAS data was obtained from the IEU Open GWAS project (ukb-b-16890 for discovery and GCST004988 for validation). We investigated the causal link between immune cells and BC risk by employing a two-sample MR method. Furthermore, we use a two-step MR to quantify the percentage of mediation of immune cell-BC causal effects mediated by inflammatory proteins. To make sure the causal findings were robust, a sensitivity analysis was done.

Results

In both discovery and validation GWAS, a critical inverse correlation between CD4+ T cells and BC risk was found using MR analysis (Discovery: OR, 0.996; P = 0.030. Validation: OR, 0.843; P = 4.09E-07) with Caspase 8 levels mediating 18.9% of the reduced BC risk associated with immune cells(Mediation proportion=a×b/c, Discovery:0.151×-0.005/-0.004 = 18.9%; Validation:0.151×-0.214/-0.171 = 18.9%)

Conclusion

Our study establishes a causal connection linking CD4+ T cells and BC, with Caspase 8 levels partially mediating this relationship. These findings enhance our genetic and molecular comprehension of BC, suggesting potential pathways for future BC immunotherapy drug development.
Safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a modern adjuvant therapy in various diseases and disorders: a comprehensive literature review
Authors: Karimi Mehdi , Shirsalimi Niyousha , Hashempour Zahra , Salehi Omran Hossein , Sedighi Eshagh , Beigi Farzan , Mortezazadeh Masoud
Published: September 2024

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiome is a complex and all-encompassing ecological system of trillions of microorganisms. It plays a vital role in digestion, disease prevention, and overall health. When this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapeutic intervention used as an adjuvant therapy for many diseases, particularly those with dysbiosis as their underlying cause. Its goal is to restore this balance by transferring fecal material from healthy donors to the recipients. FMT has an impressive reported cure rate between 80% and 90% and has become a favored treatment for many diseases. While FMT may have generally mild to moderate transient adverse effects, rare severe complications underscore the importance of rigorous donor screening and standardized administration. FMT has enormous potential as a practical therapeutic approach; however, additional research is required to further determine its potential for clinical utilization, as well as its safety and efficiency in different patient populations. This comprehensive literature review offers increased confidence in the safety and effectiveness of FMT for several diseases affecting the intestines and other systems, including diabetes, obesity, inflammatory and autoimmune illness, and other conditions.
Low-dose aspirin in systemic lupus erythematosus pregnancy: impact on pregnancy outcomes and optimal management
Authors: Abe Saori , Tsuboi Hiroto , Yagishita Mizuki , Ohyama Ayako , Kitada Ayako , Miki Haruka , Asashima Hiromitsu , Kondo Yuya , Matsumoto Isao
Published: September 2024

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents unique challenges in pregnancy management due to the increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and potential for disease flare during pregnancy. In all SLE pregnancies, low-dose aspirin (LDA) is recommended to reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a significant pregnancy complication, despite limited evidence specifically targeting this population. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LDA in improving pregnancy outcomes among patients with SLE and to explore the optimal dosage and timing of LDA administration. We conducted a retrospective single-center study including 75 pregnancies, the majority of which were planned except for three unplanned cases. Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) were observed in 32 pregnancies (42.6%), with low birth weight being the most frequent (n = 25, 33.3%), followed by preeclampsia (n = 16, 21.3%). In our study with a limited sample size, no significant differences in APOs were found between the LDA-prescribed and non-prescribed groups. However, within the LDA prescribed group, earlier initiation before 6 weeks of gestation, was associated with significantly higher birth weights (p = 0.01) and lower rates of early onset preeclampsia (p = 0.04) compared to later administration. Additionally, a daily 100 mg dose was more beneficial than an 80 mg dose in improving birth weight (p = 0.002) and reducing the frequency of APOs (p = 0.01). Our study highlights the necessity of assessing individual risk when prescribing LDA in lupus pregnancies and the potential benefits of early initiation and optimal dosing of LDA in improving pregnancy outcomes.
Rhizobiumacaciae and R. anhuiense are the dominant rhizobial symbionts of Pisum sativum L. from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Zhao Zeyang , Feng Yufeng , Wang Jingqi , Zong Xuxiao , Wang Entao
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The aim of this study is to investigate the diversity and geographic distribution of pea-nodulating rhizobia in the subtropical region of Yunnan Province from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Methods and results

A total of 615 rhizobial isolates were obtained from root nodules of the trapping plants and characterized genetically and symbiotically. The isolates discriminated into 43 genotypes by PCR-RFLP of IGS DNA. Multiple locus sequence analysis based on 16S rRNA, recA, atpD, dnaK, and rpoB genes placed them into eight clusters corresponding to species R. acaciae, R. anhuiense, R. binae, R. bangladeshense, R. hidalgonense, and three suspected novel populations of Rhizobium genosp. I–III. R. acaciae was the dominant group (52.5%) followed by R. anhuiense (30.7%). The other species were minor groups. Based on nodC phylogeny, all of them were the symbiovar viciae. All the tested strains showed efficient symbiotic N2 fixation on pea plants, in which WLB27, WCB18, and WNY29 presented the best PGP effects. Some of the tested strains had better IAA production, with WCB18 as the best producer (64.556 mg/L). Their distribution was mainly affected by soil available phosphorus, available potassium, and effective nitrogen. According to the results of symbiotic effect and resistance tests, strains of WLB27, WCB18, and WNY29 were selected as candidates for creating inoculants.

Discussion

This suggests that the pea-nodulating rhizobia in Yunnan Province form a unique community. The results gave some novel information about the diversity, diversification, and biogeography of pea-nodulating rhizobia.
Development and characterization of a recombinant Senecavirus A expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein
Authors: Huang Weihong , Chen Yongjie , Xu Ting , Xiong Ting , Lv Yadi , Liu Dingxiang , Chen Ruiai
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Senecavirus A (SVA), belonging to the genus Senecavirus in the family Picornaviridae, is an emerging pathogen causing vesicular disease in pigs. The main clinical manifestations of SVA infection include high mortality in neonatal piglets, skin ulceration, and vesicular lesions. So far, there is no commercially available vaccines or drugs against SVA. Construction of SVA infectious clones carrying reporter genes will help understand the characteristics of SVA and promote vaccine development.

Methods

In this study, we established a reverse genetics system for a local SVA isolate and used it to rescue a recombinant SVA, rSVA-eGFP, expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) by inserting eGFP, GSG linker and the P2A sequence between 2A and 2B genes.

Results

We found that rSVA-eGFP exhibited a high replication efficiency comparable to the parental virus, was able to express the eGFP reporter efficiently and stable in maintaining the reporter gene up to six rounds of serial passages in BHK-21 cells. In mice, rSVA-eGFP also showed similar replication kinetics and pathogenicity to the parental virus, both causing mild lung lesions. In addition, a high-throughput viral neutralization assay was developed using eGFP as a surrogate readout in a fluorescence-based direct titration (FBT) assay based on rSVA-eGFP, facilitating rapid and accurate determination of the neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers.

Discussion

The successful establishment of an SVA reverse genetics system and the rescue of rSVA-eGFP would create a powerful tool for future studies of SVA replication mechanisms and pathogenicity as well as for antiviral development.
Selective logging impacts on soil microbial communities and functioning in Bornean tropical forest
Authors: Robinson Samuel J. B. , Elias Dafydd M. O. , Goodall Tim , Nottingham Andrew T. , McNamara Niall P. , Griffiths Robert , Majalap Noreen , Ostle Nicholas J.
Published: September 2024

Rainforests provide vital ecosystem services that are underpinned by plant–soil interactions. The forests of Borneo are globally important reservoirs of biodiversity and carbon, but a significant proportion of the forest that remains after large-scale agricultural conversion has been extensively modified due to timber harvest. We have limited understanding of how selective logging affects ecosystem functions including biogeochemical cycles driven by soil microbes. In this study, we sampled soil from logging gaps and co-located intact lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Borneo. We characterised soil bacterial and fungal communities and physicochemical properties and determined soil functioning in terms of enzyme activity, nutrient supply rates, and microbial heterotrophic respiration. Soil microbial biomass, alpha diversity, and most soil properties and functions were resistant to logging. However, we found logging significantly shifted soil bacterial and fungal community composition, reduced the abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi, increased the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and reduced soil inorganic phosphorous concentration and nitrate supply rate, suggesting some downregulation of nutrient cycling. Within gaps, canopy openness was negatively related to ectomycorrhizal abundance and phosphomonoesterase activity and positively related to ammonium supply rate, suggesting control on soil phosphorus and nitrogen cycles via functional shifts in fungal communities. We found some evidence for reduced soil heterotrophic respiration with greater logging disturbance. Overall, our results demonstrate that while many soil microbial community attributes, soil properties, and functions may be resistant to selective logging, logging can significantly impact the composition and abundance of key soil microbial groups linked to the regulation of vital nutrient and carbon cycles in tropical forests.
Whole genome sequencing of Lacticaseibacillus casei KACC92338 strain with strong antioxidant activity, reveals genes and gene clusters of probiotic and antimicrobial potential
Authors: Kandasamy Sujatha , Lee Kil-Ho , Yoo Jayeon , Yun Jeonghee , Kang Han Byul , Kim Ji Eun , Oh Mi-Hwa , Ham Jun-Sang
Published: September 2024

Lacticaseibacillus casei KACC92338 was originally isolated from Korean raw milk. The antioxidant activities and protective effect in vitro of this strain were evaluated extensively. The results showed that KACC92338 can tolerate hydrogen peroxide up to 2 mM and cell-free supernatant (CFS) had higher scavenging rates for DPPH, hydroxyl radical, reducing power, and iron chelating activities with 95.61 ± 1.59%, 34.10 ± 1.93%, 2.220 ± 0.82 and 81.06 ± 1.06%, respectively. Meanwhile, the CFS showed a protective effect on yeast cells against 10 mM hydrogen peroxide with a survival rate of 76.05 ± 5.65%. To explore the probiotic potential of KACC92338, whole genome assembly and gene clusters with probiotic properties were further analyzed. The genome size was 3,050,901 bp with a 47.96% GC ratio, and 63 contigs. The genome contains 3,048 genes composed of 2,981 coding sequences and 67 RNAs (including 57 tRNAs +9 rRNAs +1 tmRNA). Average Nucleotide Identity and genome-based taxonomy showed that the KACC92338 genome had close similarity with L. casei strains with 96% ANI. Functional annotation by EggNOG and KEGG revealed the presence of numerous genes putatively involved in carbohydrate- and amino acid-transport and metabolism, genetic information processing, and signaling and cellular processes. Additionally, several genes conferring probiotic characteristics such as tolerance to stress, heat, cold, acid, bile salts, oxidative stress, immunomodulation, and adhesion to intestinal epithelium were identified. Notably absent were acquired antibiotic resistance genes, virulence, and pathogenic factors, that prove KACC92338 is a safe strain. Besides, the defense mechanisms of KACC92338 include six prophage regions and three clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) arrays as acquired immune systems against mobile elements. Further, the BAGEL4 database determined antimicrobial bacteriocin clusters of class IIb: sakacin-P, Enterolysin_A, sactipeptides, and Enterocin X, which suggests the strain could exhibit a wide range of antimicrobial functions. Together, these findings show that the L. casei KACC92338 strain can be a potential probiotic candidate in producing functional fermented foods-, health care- and skin care products- with antioxidant properties. However, a few more mechanistic studies are necessary on the safety assurance and potential application of the strain as a probiotic agent.
Sustainable synthesis of bakuchiol-mediated gold nanoparticles for drug delivery against bacterial strains and tumor microenvironments, and its in silico target proteins identification
Authors: Mishra Pooja , Faruqui Tabrez , Khanam Sheeba , Khubaib Mohd , Ahmad Irfan , Saeed Mohd , Khan Salman
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The sustained synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has gained significant attention in biomedical applications. In this study, we explored the antibacterial and anticancer potential of bakuchiol-mediated gold nanoparticles (Bak-GNPs). Bakuchiol, a natural compound found in Psoralea corylifolia seeds, serves as both a reducing and stabilizing agent for green synthesis of GNPs. Our objectives include network analysis, molecular docking, synthesis of GNPs, characterization, and antipathogenic and anticancer efficacy of Bak-GNPs against lung and liver cancers.

Methods

Protein-protein interaction networks were analyzed to identify effective protein targets for bakuchiol in lung and liver cancers. A molecular docking study was performed to validate the efficacy of the target protein against lung and liver cancer. Furthermore, Bak-GNPs were synthesized using bakuchiol and characterized by various techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and their potential against pathogens and lung and liver cancers.

Results

GNAI3 emerged as the most promising target, with a binding energy of −7.5 kcal/mol compared to PTGER3’s −6.9 kcal/mol, different characterization techniques revealed the successful synthesis of Bak-GNPs. Bak-GNPs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Bak-GNPs demonstrated significant anticancer effects on A549 (lung cancer) and HepG2 (liver cancer) cells, with IC50 values of 11.19 μg/mL and 6.6 μg/mL, respectively. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation were observed in both the cell lines. The increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to its anticancer effects.

Discussion

This study highlights promising biomedical applications of bakuchiol-mediated GNPs. This green synthesis approach using bakuchiol provides a sustainable method for producing nanoparticles with enhanced biological activities. Further exploration of the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of Bak-GNPs is required to optimize their therapeutic efficacy for clinical use.
Changes of brain structure and structural covariance networks in Parkinson’s disease associated cognitive impairment
Authors: Liu Rong-Pei , Lin Guo-Liang , Ma Lu-Lu , Huang Shi-Shi , Yuan Cheng-Xiang , Zhu Shi-Guo , Sheng Mei-Ling , Zou Ming , Zhu Jian-Hong , Zhang Xiong , Wang Jian-Yong
Published: September 2024

Background

Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Multiple brain regions and their interactions are involved in PD associated CI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology is a non-invasive method in investigating brain structure and inter-regional connections. In this study, by comparing cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and brain network topology properties in PD patients with and without CI, we aimed to understand the changes of brain structure and structural covariance network properties in PD associated CI.

Methods

A total of 18 PD patients with CI and 33 PD patients without CI were recruited. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr stage, Mini Mental State Examination Scale, Non-motor Symptom Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale were assessed. All participants underwent structural 3T MRI. Cortical thickness, subcortical volume, global and nodal network topology properties were measured.

Results

Compared with PD patients without CI, the volumes of white matter, thalamus and hippocampus were lower in PD patients with CI. And decreased whole-brain local efficiency is associated with CI in PD patients. While the cortical thickness and nodal network topology properties were comparable between PD patients with and without CI.

Conclusion

Our findings support the alterations of brain structure and disruption of structural covariance network are involved in PD associated CI, providing a new insight into the association between graph properties and PD associated CI.
Rate of motor progression in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pauwels Ayla , Phan Albert L. G. , Ding Catherine , Phan Thanh G. , Kempster Peter A.
Published: September 2024

Background

The search for neuroprotective treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD) still relies largely on motor disability scales. A limitation of these tools is the strong influence of symptomatic dopaminergic treatment effects. Drawing on a wealth of published information, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of motor progression in PD and its relationships with dopaminergic therapy.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, and Central to identify 84 publications with adequate serial motor scores to calculate progression, expressed as an increase in the percentage of maximum disability.

Results

A random-effects model showed motor progression at 2.0% p.a. (95% CI 1.7–2.4%). There were no significant differences by baseline age, sample size, or observation period. However, untreated patients, in 8 publications, progressed at 4.5% p.a. compared to 1.6% p.a. in 76 studies containing individuals on dopaminergic drugs (p = 0.0004, q = 0.003). This was supported by research on phenoconversion in prodromal PD, where motor progression exceeded 5% p.a. in the 2 years before diagnosis. Starting levodopa improved pre-treatment disability by 40.3 ± 15.2%. Practically defined off state measurements increase faster than on scores by a modest degree (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

This survey suggests that accurate long-term measurements of motor progression to assess disease-modifying therapies can be conducted despite the sequential commencement of dopaminergic drugs and sample attrition over time. While study designs involving prodromal or untreated PD avoid confounding effects of symptomatic treatment, different assumptions about motor progression may be needed. A defined off state with the levodopa test dose method maximizes information about the medication cycle once dopaminergic therapy has begun.
Is there any association between type of dietary fat and quality of life in hemodialysis patients? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Navab Fatemeh , Foshati Sahar , Vajdi Mahdi , Askari Gholamreza , Moeinzadeh Firouzeh , Heshamtipour Houri , Mirzaeian Soheila , Rouhani Mohammad Hossein
Published: September 2024

Background

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have a low quality of life (QOL), and dietary intakes may impact both somatic and psychosocial aspects of QOL. Nevertheless, the relationship between QOL and different dietary fats has not yet been evaluated.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between QOL and the types/quantities of dietary fats intake in HD patients.

Methods

In this multi-center cross-sectional study, 251 adult patients under dialysis for at least 3 months were included. Participants’ dietary intakes were collected using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative FFQ during the past year. Moreover, to assess QOL, Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1/3) was used. The linear regression between QOL and different types of dietary fats was conducted. p < 0.05 was statistically significant.

Results

Overall, 66 women and 185 men participated in our study. Regression analysis adjusted for total calorie intake showed that there was a negative association between QOL and total fat (95% CI: −0.187, −0.043), SFA (95% CI: −0.688, −0.143), MUFA (95% CI: −0.389, −0.065) and PUFA (95% CI: −0.401, −0.056) when types of dietary fats were individually included to the regression analysis. When all types of dietary fats were simultaneously entered into the analysis, the association between QOL and MUFA (95% CI: −0.243, 1.031) and PUFA (95% CI: −1.159, 0.084) were attenuated. The regression coefficient for SFA remained significant (95% CI: −0.968, −0.138). Also, there was a marginally significant association between SFA and the risk of low QOL was observed when all types of dietary fats were simultaneously entered into the analysis (OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 0.998–1.104).

Conclusion

Our investigation found a negative association between SFA consumption and QOL among different types of dietary fats. Furthermore, SFA mediated the relationship between QOL, MUFA, PUFA, and total fat. So, modification of dietary fat intake could enhance QOL in HD patients.
Platelet HLA gene bank digital matching technology for platelet transfusion refractory patients with malignant tumors: a case report
Authors: Gao Xiang , Li Jianhua , Ni Xiuwen , Wang Lijun , Hu Peilin , Zhu Xiaowei
Published: September 2024

The platelet human leucocyte antigen (HLA) gene bank contains the genetic information of HLA loci in a large number of blood donors. Currently, the most effective treatment for platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is to evaluate the probability of antigenic mismatch by HLA genotyping of patients and to select HLA-matched donors in the gene bank through an information system. This case report describes the treatment of PTR in patients with malignant tumors using the platelet HLA gene bank digital matching technique. The analysis of individual cases will help guide transfusion strategies for such patients.
Effects of intratumoral microbiota on tumorigenesis, anti-tumor immunity, and microbe-based cancer therapy
Authors: Zheng Jingwei , Chen Hao
Published: September 2024

Intratumoral microbiota (IM) has emerged as a significant component of the previously thought sterile tumor microenvironment (TME), exerting diverse functions in tumorigenesis and immune modulation. This review outlines the historical background, classification, and diversity of IM, elucidating its pivotal roles in oncogenicity, cancer development, and progression, alongside its influence on anti-tumor immunity. The signaling pathways through which IM impacts tumorigenesis and immunity, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), β-catenin, stimulator of interferon genes (STING), and other pathways [NF-κB, Toll-like receptor (TLR), complement, RhoA/ROCK, PKR-like ER kinase (PERK)], are discussed comprehensively. Furthermore, we briefly introduce the clinical implications of IM, emphasizing its potential as a target for novel cancer therapies, diagnostic biomarkers, and prognostic indicators. Notably, microbe-based therapeutic strategies such as fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT), probiotics regulation, bacteriotherapy, bacteriophage therapy, and oncolytic virotherapy are highlighted. These strategies hold promise for enhancing the efficacy of current cancer treatments and warrant further exploration in clinical settings.
Case report: Tenosynovial giant cell tumor
Authors: Fähnrich Anke , Gasimova Zhala , Maluje Yamil , Ott Fabian , Sievert Helen , Fliedner Stephanie , Reimer Niklas , Künstner Axel , Gebauer Niklas , Kebenko Maxim , von Bubnoff Nikolas , Kirfel Jutta , Sailer Verena-Wilbeth , Röcken Christoph , Konukiewitz Bjoern , Klapper Wolfram , Frydrychowicz Alex , Mogadas Sam , Huebner Gerdt , Busch Hauke , Khandanpour Cyrus
Published: September 2024

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare type of tumor that originates from the synovium of joints and tendon sheaths. It is characterized by recurring genetic abnormalities, often involving the CSF1 gene. Common symptoms include pain and swelling, which are not specific to TGCT, so MRI and a pathological biopsy are needed for an accurate diagnosis. We report the case of a 45-year-old man who experienced painful swelling in his right hip for six months. Initially, this was diagnosed as Erdheim-Chester disease. However, whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-Sequencing revealed a CSF1::GAPDHP64 fusion, leading to a revised diagnosis of TGCT. The patient was treated with pegylated interferon and imatinib, which resulted in stable disease after three months. Single-cell transcriptome analysis identified seven distinct cell clusters, revealing that neoplastic cells expressing CSF1 attract macrophages. Analysis of ligand-receptor interactions showed significant communication between neoplastic cells and macrophages mediated by CSF1 and CSF1R. Our findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive molecular analysis in diagnosing and treating rare malignancies like TGCT.
Updated evidence of the Naoshuantong capsule against ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Que Cuilin , Wei Yupeng , Yin Guanxiang , Zhou Congren , Liu Zhenhong , Lai Xinxing , Qin Mingzhen , Xiong Xuejiao , Zheng Xiangyi , Dong Xinglu , Gao Ying
Published: September 2024

Background

Stroke is a serious health issue that can result in death or disability, leading to a significant economic strain on society and families. A growing number of studies have shown that the Naoshuantong capsule (NSTC) is beneficial as a treatment for ischemic stroke (IS) in recent years. Our study aims to provide an update on the safety and efficacy of the NSTC in IS patients.

Methods

We thoroughly searched eight databases to identify suitable randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of the NSTC in the treatment of IS. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for an acute period and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months for a non-acute period were considered the primary outcome, and secondary outcomes included the NIHSS for a non-acute period, mRS, Barthel Index (BI), modified Barthel Index (MBI), Stroke-specific Quality of life (SS-QOL), and the recurrence rate of cerebrovascular events. Subsequently, its quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk assessment scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0.

Results

A total of 27 RCTs were included, which involved 3,139 patients. The results showed that the NSTC improved neurological function not only in the acute period (MD = −2.53; 95% CI: −2.91, −2.15; p < 0.00001) but also in the non-acute period (MD = −3.70; 95% CI: −5.82, −1.58; p = 0.0006) and improved the long-term functional outcomes with lower mRS scores (MD = −0.68; 95% CI: −1.09, −0.26; p = 0.001). At the same time, the NSTC decreased the risk of cerebrovascular disease recurrence (RR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.70; p = 0.0006) and increased the quality of life in the acute period (MD = 23.88; 95% CI: 16.63, 31.13; p < 0.00001). Significant disparities in the incidence of adverse events between the NSTC and control groups were not observed. The certainty of evidence was estimated as moderate to very low.

Conclusion

The NSTC emerges as a potentially efficacious and safe treatment option for IS. NSTC could improve neurological function in different period of IS, and it has certain clinical value in secondary prevention. As a result of the poor quality and heterogeneity of the included trials, larger and standardized RCTs are needed to validate NSTC in IS treatment.

Systematic Review Registration:

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=482981, identifier CRD42023482981.
Therapeutic potential of resveratrol through ferroptosis modulation: insights and future directions in disease therapeutics
Authors: Peng Liu , Hu Xi-Zhuo , Liu Zhi-Qiang , Liu Wen-Kai , Huang Qun , Wen Yue
Published: September 2024

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, has captivated the scientific community with its promising therapeutic potential across a spectrum of diseases. This review explores the complex role of resveratrol in modulating ferroptosis, a newly identified form of programmed cell death, and its potential implications for managing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, cancer, and other conditions. Ferroptosis is intricately linked to the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, with resveratrol exerting multifaceted effects on this process. It mitigates ferroptosis by modulating lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, and engaging with specific cellular receptors, thereby manifesting profound therapeutic benefits in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions, as well as oncological settings. Moreover, resveratrol’s capacity to either suppress or induce ferroptosis through the modulation of signaling pathways, including Sirt1 and Nrf2, unveils novel therapeutic avenues. Despite resveratrol’s limited bioavailability, advancements in molecular modification and drug delivery optimization have amplified its clinical utility. Future investigations are poised to unravel the comprehensive mechanisms underpinning resveratrol’s action and expand its therapeutic repertoire. We hope this review could furnish a detailed and novel insight into the exploration of resveratrol in the regulation of ferroptosis and its therapeutic prospects.
An improved YOLOv7 model based on Swin Transformer and Trident Pyramid Networks for accurate tomato detection
Authors: Liu Guoxu , Zhang Yonghui , Liu Jun , Liu Deyong , Chen Chunlei , Li Yujie , Zhang Xiujie , Touko Mbouembe Philippe Lyonel
Published: September 2024

Accurate fruit detection is crucial for automated fruit picking. However, real-world scenarios, influenced by complex environmental factors such as illumination variations, occlusion, and overlap, pose significant challenges to accurate fruit detection. These challenges subsequently impact the commercialization of fruit harvesting robots. A tomato detection model named YOLO-SwinTF, based on YOLOv7, is proposed to address these challenges. Integrating Swin Transformer (ST) blocks into the backbone network enables the model to capture global information by modeling long-range visual dependencies. Trident Pyramid Networks (TPN) are introduced to overcome the limitations of PANet’s focus on communication-based processing. TPN incorporates multiple self-processing (SP) modules within existing top-down and bottom-up architectures, allowing feature maps to generate new findings for communication. In addition, Focaler-IoU is introduced to reconstruct the original intersection-over-union (IoU) loss to allow the loss function to adjust its focus based on the distribution of difficult and easy samples. The proposed model is evaluated on a tomato dataset, and the experimental results demonstrated that the proposed model’s detection recall, precision, F1 score, and AP reach 96.27%, 96.17%, 96.22%, and 98.67%, respectively. These represent improvements of 1.64%, 0.92%, 1.28%, and 0.88% compared to the original YOLOv7 model. When compared to other state-of-the-art detection methods, this approach achieves superior performance in terms of accuracy while maintaining comparable detection speed. In addition, the proposed model exhibits strong robustness under various lighting and occlusion conditions, demonstrating its significant potential in tomato detection.
Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of AP2/ERFs in Osmanthus fragrans reveals the role of OfERF017-mediated organic acid metabolism pathway in flower senescence
Authors: Zou Jing-Jing , Zhang Jun , Wang Xiaoqian , Xia Hui , Zeng Xiangling , Cai Xuan , Yang Jie , Zeng Jin , Li Zeqing , Zhang Guifu , Chen Hongguo
Published: September 2024

Osmanthus fragrans is an ethylene-sensitive flower, and flower senescence was mediated by ethylene-responsive transcription factors (OfERFs). A total of 227 OfERFs were identified from O. fragrans, which were classified into five subfamilies: AP2 (35), DREB (57), ERF (125), RAV (6), and Soloist (4). Gene composition and structural analysis indicate that members of different subfamilies have different gene structures and conserved domains. Their gene promoter contains various functional responsive elements, including auxin, jasmonic acid, and other responsive elements. Among them, 124 OfAP2/ERF genes have expressed at any stage of flowering, and 10 of them may play roles in flowering or senescence. By comparative transcriptome analysis, OfAP2/ERFs affected by ethephon (ETH) and 5′-azacytidine (Aza) treatment were divided into three categories, which have various target gene sets. Importantly, these target gene sets participate in similar or different biological processes and metabolic pathways, suggesting that ethylene and DNA hypomethylation have crosstalk and a unique mechanism in regulating the flower senescence of O. fragrans. Co-expression analysis revealed that several key OfAP2/ERFs played a central role in organic acid metabolism and biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (BcAAs), among which OfERF017 was selected for further functional analysis. Overexpression of OfERF017 leads to significant enrichment of genes in organic acid metabolism pathways, which leads to a decrease in organic acid levels and promoting the flower senescence of O. fragrans. Together, these results give insights into the characteristics and functional analysis of OfAP2/ERF genes in O. fragrans.
Research trends on parasocial interactions and relationships with media characters. A review of 281 English and German-language studies from 2016 to 2020
Authors: Schramm Holger , Liebers Nicole , Biniak Laurenz , Dettmar Franca
Published: September 2024

Parasocial phenomena are among the most popular and best-researched topics in media reception and effects research. The research can now look back on a history of over 65 years and has experienced another significant boom in recent years. Between 2016 and 2020, more studies were published than in the entire previous 60 years. This descriptive review builds directly on the seminal review by Liebers and Schramm for the years 1956 to 2015 and is based on 281 English-and German-language studies published from 2016 to 2020. The following three research questions guided the review: How are the studies from 2016 to 2020 positioned in terms of the media contexts examined, the parasocial phenomena investigated, the methods and measurements used and the samples? (RQ1) What has changed in the studies from 2016 to 2020 compared to the studies from 1956 to 2015 in terms of the media contexts investigated, the parasocial phenomena studied, the methods and measurements used and the samples? (RQ2) What substantive perspectives and key insights can be gained from the studies conducted between 2016 and 2020 and what gaps in research can still be observed? (RQ3). The results show, for instance, that the largest proportion of studies from 2016 to 2020 focused on the area of social and new media, on non-fictional characters and amicable forms of parasocial relationships, using surveys and existing measurement instruments or adapted versions of them (RQ1). Compared to the studies from 1956 to 2015, parasocial phenomena are increasingly being researched experimentally, as mediating and moderating factors and using established scales, with a slight increase in the proportion of studies specifically investigating parasocial relationships or relationship breakups (RQ2). The research focus has evolved from film and television to social media and cross-media settings. Most empirical studies of parasocial phenomena still rely on young and predominantly female samples (RQ2). The neglect of negatively valenced parasocial phenomena, comparative cultural perspectives, comparative media perspectives, long-term effects and less educated and older people as samples can still be identified as major research gaps (RQ3) and opens up numerous opportunities for future research.
The influence of negative life events on college students’ suicidal ideation: the mediating role of entity theory and the moderating role of meaning in life
Authors: Liu Dan , Geng Xiaowei , Zhang Fuwei , Zhang Yuan , Li Xueli
Published: September 2024

Suicidal ideation is a desire, thought, or conception that is closely associated with suicide, which is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior. Negative life events may impact college students’ suicidal ideation. According to the suicide susceptibility-stress model, the interaction between susceptibility factors and stressors may influence college students’ suicidal ideation. The present study investigated the role of entity theory and meaning in life in the influence of negative life events on suicidal ideation among college students. A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted among 938 college students. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Implicit Personality Theory Questionnaire, the Adolescent Life Events Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used. The results showed that negative life events were positively correlated with suicidal ideation, entity theory played a mediating role, and meaning in life moderated the mediation of entity theory. Finally, meaning in life and entity theory may bring some benefits to college students; that is, when faced with negative life events, meaning in life and entity theory may attenuate students’ suicidal ideation.
Predictive factors regarding bullying behavior in Romanian schools
Authors: Rus Mihaela , Călin Mariana Floricica , Sandu Mihaela Luminița , Tasențe Tănase
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The present study investigates the phenomenon of bullying in schools in the city of Constanta, Romania.

Method

From the age point of view, we have had n = 210 12-year-old subjects and 193 13-year-old subjects, and from the biological gender point of view, there were 234 girls and 169 boys. The study’s main objective was to investigate aggressive behavior in adolescents in a school context. The study is cross-sectional and aims to analyze behaviors and interpersonal relationships having as dependent variable “Conflicts in the school environment” and two independent variables, respectively “Aggressive Manifestations” and “Aggressive Behaviors,” used in proving the first hypothesis, dependent variable “Verbal attacks as an aggressor” and the predictive variables “Social exclusion” and “Conflicts within the school environment” used to demonstrate the second hypothesis and the dependent variable “Bullying behavior” and the predictor variables “Acceptance of unethical behaviors,” “Violation of privacy as an aggressor” and “Dissemination of information without authorization” used to demonstrate the third hypotheses.

Result

The results indicate significant correlations between aggressive behaviors and conflicts in the school environment (r = 0.596, p < 0.001), suggesting that interventions must be integrated and address the underlying causes of aggressive behaviors and associated manifestations. The association between “Conflicts in the school environment” and “Aggressive behaviors” revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.387, p < 0.001) and a moderate correlation between “Perception of conflicts” and “Aggressive manifestations” (r = 0.423, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The conclusions emphasize the importance of understanding the complexity of aggressive behavior dynamics and predictive factors for developing effective strategies for prevention and intervention in the educational environment. As a limitation of the study, it is advisable to follow the group of subjects from a longitudinal point of view to identify changes in the behavioral manifestations of these adolescents, in a school context.
Assessing the health risks of chemicals in a company supplying chemicals to drilling rigs in Southern Iran using COSHH, SHEM-SAM, and SQRA methods
Authors: Astani Sajad , Lorestani Bahareh , Cheraghi Mehrdad , Kiani Sadr Maryam
Published: September 2024

Chemical industries are among the process industries and cause many risks. The present research aimed to analyze the health risks of a chemical warehouse of drilling rigs chemical Supply Company based on COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), CHEM-SAM (Chemical Risk Management Self-Assessment Model), and SQRA (Subjective Quantified Risk Assessment) methods in 2021. The information was collected based on document review, MSDS of chemicals, processes, employees, and chemical exposure. Flammability, toxicity, allergy-causing, corrosivity, reactivity, LD50, and permissible thresholds of chemicals were also collected. The present research results showed that out of 59 main chemicals in the operational processes of the chemical warehouse of drilling rigs, 14 chemicals are flammable, 22 cause allergy responses, and three can cause death if inhaled. According to the results of the CHEM-SAM method, the employees and people outside the organization are at medium and low chemical risk based on the current management of the chemical warehouse, respectively. The results of the COSHH health assessment showed that chemicals had low, medium, high, and very high risk in 31, 13, 12, and 3 cases, respectively. The high-risk cases consisted of Ammonium Nitrate، Caustic Soda, and Poly.Aluminum.Chloride. Health risk assessment was also performed using the SQRA method, and results showed that chemicals have a very low, low, medium, high, and very high risk in 27, 12, 8, 9, and 3 cases, respectively. The results showed that the adverse health effects of chemical exposure in the drilling industry are alarming. Employees of different sectors of oil and gas industries are exposed to chemicals.
An Improved Iterated Greedy Algorithm for Solving Collaborative Helicopter Rescue Routing Problem with Time Window and Limited Survival Time
Authors: Cui Xining , Yang Kaidong , Wang Xiaoqing , Duan Peng
Published: September 2024

Research on helicopter dispatching has received considerable attention, particularly in relation to post-disaster rescue operations. The survival chances of individuals trapped in emergency situations decrease as time passes, making timely helicopter dispatch crucial for successful rescue missions. Therefore, this study investigates a collaborative helicopter rescue routing problem with time window and limited survival time constraints, solving it using an improved iterative greedy (IIG) algorithm. In the proposed algorithm, a heuristic initialization strategy is designed to generate an efficient and feasible initial solution. Then, a feasible-first destruction-construction strategy is applied to enhance the algorithm’s exploration ability. Next, a problem-specific local search strategy is developed to improve the algorithm’s local search effectiveness. In addition, the simulated annealing (SA) method is integrated as an acceptance criterion to avoid the algorithm from getting trapped in local optima. Finally, to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed IIG, 56 instances were generated based on Solomon instances and used for simulation tests. A comparative analysis was conducted against six efficient algorithms from the existing studies. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs well in solving the post-disaster rescue helicopter routing problem.
Prevalence of Early Sexual Debut among Young Adolescents in Ten States of the United States
Authors: Muheriwa-Matemba Sadandaula R. , Anson Elizabeth , McGregor Holly A. , Zhang Chen , Crooks Natasha , LeBlanc Natalie M.
Published: September 2024

Sexual debut among young adolescents is under-investigated. In this quantitative descriptive study, we examined the 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data of 66,366 young adolescents aged 10–14 from 10 states to determine the prevalence of early sexual debut among young adolescents. Data analyses used state-level sampling weights as described in the CDC’s 2019 Middle School YRBS user guide. Nearly 8% of the sample reported having had sexual intercourse. Of those who reported age of first sex, 4% had their first sexual intercourse before 13 years of age. Compared to Whites, young Black/African American (13.2% vs. 5.1%, OR = 4.51, 95% CI: 2.78–7.31) and Hispanic adolescents (8.3 % vs. 5.1 %, OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.13–1.84) were more likely to report having early sexual intercourse. Males were more likely to report having multiple sexual partners than females (48.1% vs. 36.5%, OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.22–2.29) and were more likely to report using condoms during their last sexual intercourse compared to their female counterparts (59.7% vs. 50.8%, OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.06–1.94). This study suggests the need for more research on young adolescents’ sexual behaviors and for the development of sexual health interventions that target young adolescents.