bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shifting to an app-based method of preoperative templating in orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Samarita Chloe Marie C. , Coruña Juan Agustin D. , Coruña Jose Maria R.
Published: June 2024

Background:

Preoperative templating plays an important part in attaining successful surgical outcomes after fracture fixation. Traditionally, surgeons have performed this task with printed radiographs, tracing paper, and colored markers. Now that digital radiography is ubiquitous, and digital templating platforms are needed but are expensive and may not be available to all surgeons, especially those in low-income and middle-income countries. In this study, we evaluate an innovative and user-friendly method using a mobile app that may facilitate the use of digital templating for all surgeons worldwide.

Methods:

A study involving 2 groups of residents (N = 12) was conducted. Group A (n = 6) was assigned to do conventional templating; Group B (n = 6) was assigned to perform digital templating. Each group then switched to the other templating method and the process was repeated. Conventional templates were evaluated using the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen-Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO-ASIF) guidelines of template completeness. Digital templates were assessed using Image-Based Surgery Planning. Each subject in both groups completed templates for 3 injury patterns: AO 2R2A3/2U2C2, 32B2, and 43C2. Wilcoxon signed-rank and binomial tests (5% level of significance) were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

Template processing, fracture classification, and plan elaboration were comparable between the traditional and digital template groups, with good interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test (all |z values| below 1.96, all P-values > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the evaluation scores for either exercise, whether doing a traditional standard template or the digital template (P value > 0.05).

Conclusions:

This study shows that digital templating can achieve the same goals as conventional preoperative templating for fracture fixation. With the ubiquity of digital radiography, digital templating provides an opportunity to visualize fracture configurations and create an optimum preoperative plan for fracture reconstruction using an innovative and user-friendly platform.
Responsiveness and clinically important differences of the PROMIS short form—depression 8a, anxiety 8a, and PASS-20 in individuals with chronic low back pain
Authors: Phongsaphakjarukorn Nuttapong , Kanlayanaphotporn Rotsalai , Jensen Mark P. , Janwantanakul Prawit
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

Depression and anxiety are the most commonly reported mental health conditions. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form v1.0—Depression 8a (PROMIS-D-8a), Anxiety 8a (PROMIS-Anx8a), and Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 (PASS-20) measures were designed to assess depression, general anxiety, and pain-related anxiety, respectively.

Objectives:

To examine the responsiveness and estimate the clinically important differences (CIDs) of the Thai version of these measures in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods:

The study sample comprised 144 participants with CLBP. Responsiveness was evaluated by calculating the change scores, effect sizes (ESs), standardized response means (SRMs), area under the curve (AUC), and correlations between the change scores and associated Global Perceived Effect (GPE). We also estimated CIDs by the difference in mean change score between improved and unchanged groups and standard error of measurement (SEM) for each measure.

Results:

Statistically significant differences in the mean change scores, ESs, and SRMs supported the responsiveness of all measures. The AUCs achieved acceptable discriminatory ability (0.71–0.72) for moderate improvement but not for any improvement (0.65–0.68). The correlations between GPE and change scores on all measures were low (r ranging 0.28–0.33). The estimated CIDs for the PROMIS-D-8a, PROMIS-Anx8a, and PASS-20 were 3.64, 4.20, and 8.80, respectively.

Conclusion:

The PROMIS-D-8a, PROMIS-Anx8a, and PASS-20 measures were sensitive for detecting clinical changes over time in individuals with CLBP. The CID values can be used as reference points for assessing meaningful improvements in the domains assessed by these scales in clinical and research practice.
Impact of Implant Exchange Timing after Postmastectomy Radiation in Immediate Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Chang Ashley E. , Niu Ellen F. , Honig Stephanie E. , Broach Robyn B. , Serletti Joseph M. , Azoury Saïd C.
Published: June 2024

Background:

The use of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in the setting of immediate 2-stage breast reconstruction is becoming increasingly widespread. However, the timeframe of tissue expander exchange for permanent implant placement following PMRT is not well defined, and it remains unclear what time interval optimizes surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Methods:

A systematic review conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 was completed. The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched under keywords pertaining to concepts of tissue expander breast reconstruction and PMRT. Inclusion criteria encompassed primary articles on tissue expander breast reconstruction with adjuvant radiation therapy reporting timing of exchange to permanent implant following radiation therapy and surgical outcomes.

Results:

Of the initial 1259 publications, 15 studies met our inclusion criteria, and 11 studies had granular enough data to use for pooled analysis. Implant exchange less than 6 months after PMRT was found to be associated with increased incidence of wound dehiscence (17.12% versus 3.64%; P < 0.001) and hematoma (25% versus 2.59%; P < 0.001) compared with exchange after 6 months. There was no significant difference in incidence of surgical-site infection, seroma, capsular contracture, or reconstructive failure.

Conclusions:

Expander-to-implant exchange at less than 6 months is associated with a higher incidence of wound dehiscence and hematoma formation but does not increase the risk of reconstruction failure. The limited research on ideal timing prompts further investigation to optimize surgical outcomes for the increasing patient population undergoing PMRT and immediate 2-stage breast reconstruction.
Flare Phenomenon After 177Lu-DOTA-IBA Therapy in Bone Metastases of Lung Cancer
Authors: Hua Qingchu , Wang Wei , Qu Gengcuo , Pei Wenjie , Chen Yue
Published: June 2024

The flare phenomenon is a transient increase in the number or intensity of lesions on bone scans after treatment, signifying curative effect. DOTA-ibandronic acid (DOTA-IBA) is a new prodrug that targets bone metastases and can be labeled with 177Lu. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old woman with bone metastasis, in whom the flare phenomenon was observed after 4 cycles of 177Lu-DOTA-IBA treatment. No adverse effects were observed during the treatment and follow-up periods.
Revisiting the Hepatorenal Index in the Quantification of Hepatic Steatosis: How it is done and the utility
Authors: Duncan Kevin , Vealé Beth L.
Published: June 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health concern identified initially in 1980 by Ludwig, Viggiano, McGill, and Oh (Clin Liver Dis. 2018;22:11–21) and, as of 2019, accounted for 25%–30% of the global population. NAFLD is associated with several metabolic health conditions and is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver, otherwise known as hepatic steatosis. Fat in the liver can be quantified using noninvasive imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound. Hepatorenal index (HRI) is an ultrasound-based technique that compares the ratio of the echogenicity of the liver and the kidney. This literature review aimed to determine the utility of the HRI measurement in quantifying hepatic steatosis.

Methods

Twenty-three peer-reviewed articles on HRI measurements published between 2018 through 2023 were reviewed, and 11 were selected based on common subjects. The search terms included “hepatorenal index,” “HRI,” “HRI ultrasound,” “hepatorenal ultrasound index,” and “HRI ultrasound measurement.”

Three common subject areas were identified in the literature and synthesized down to 11 articles. The common subjects identified were HRI technique, HRI limitations, and HRI diagnostic accuracy. The matrix provided a quick overview of the general information in each piece, aiding in the paper's overall organization. Thirteen articles were rejected as not relevant or out of date. The research question leading this review was, “What does the literature say about the value of HRI in determining moderate to severe hepatic steatosis?”

Results

The literature revealed that HRI could be valuable in determining moderate to severe hepatic steatosis. HRI could not accurately determine normal or mild steatosis and has several limitations.

Conclusions

HRI is a more objective method for determining the degree of hepatic steatosis compared with traditional B-mode ultrasound scoring and does not require additional or specialized equipment. Many studies excluded patients with various liver diseases, which may not make HRI a practical tool for clinical usefulness. Further studies should be conducted with larger patient cohorts, a greater degree of hepatic steatosis, and determine specific standardized cutoff values.
MECHANISM OF MICRORNA-218-5P IN MITOCHONDRIAL BIOGENESIS OF SEPSIS-INDUCED ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY BY THE REGULATION OF PGC-1Α
Authors: Kuang Jing , Fang Jun , Hu Shuli , Yang Xiuhong , Fan Xuepeng
Published: June 2024

Background: Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SI-AKI) is a kind of kidney dysfunction, which brings a lot of suffering. This study aimed to figure out the role of the miR-218-5p/PGC-1α axis in SI-AKI. Methods: AKI mouse model was established through cecal ligation and puncture. PGC-1α expression was activated using an activator ZLN005 before the serum and tissue samples were collected. Next, pathological structure and apoptosis of kidney tissues were observed. Levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. Moreover, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential levels, adenosine 5′-triphosphate content, and mitochondrial ultrastructure of kidney tissues were observed. HK2 cells were treated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic sepsis in vitro, followed by evaluation of cell survival and apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Subsequently, the binding relation between PGC-1α and miR-218-5p was predicted and validated. Then expression of PGC-1α and miR-218-5p was detected. PGC-1α and miR-218-5p expression were intervened to detect their influences in mitochondrial biogenesis. At last, miR-218-5p was overexpressed in ZLN005 (PGC-1α activating agent) pretreated SI-AKI mice to validate the mechanism. Results: PGC-1α is poorly expressed in SI-AKI, but overexpression of PGC-1α using ZLN005 alleviated SI-AKI injury and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis in AKI mice, and relieved LPS-induced cell injury. PGC-1α is a target of miR-218-5p. Downregulation of miR-218-5p expression in HK2 cells attenuated mitochondrial biogenesis disorder. Inhibition of PGC-1α annulled the role of miR-218-5p silencing in cells. In vivo, miR-218-5p overexpression partly reversed the protective role of ZLN005 in SI-AKI mice. Conclusion: miR-218-5p targeted PGC-1α to disrupt mitochondrial biogenesis, thereby exacerbating SI-AKI.
Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of Alismatis Rhizoma with and without salt processing in ameliorating edema due to kidney Yin deficiency based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and transcriptomics
Authors: Yan Lin , Ou Zemin , Cheng Yi , Tong Yan , Iqbal Javed , Wang Jinyu , Liu Dewen
Published: June 2024

Salt-processed Alismatis Rhizoma (SAR) is extensively used in clinical practice and exhibits a more robust urination-promoting effect than Alismatis Rhizoma (AR). This study employed ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and pattern analysis to compare the terpenoids between AR and SAR. Additionally, this study compared the effects of AR and SAR on the gene expression in the kidneys of the rat model of edema (syndrome of kidney Yin deficiency) by transcriptomics to decipher the mechanism of salt processing.

Materials and methods

AR and SAR were extracted by ultrasonication, and data were collected by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS in the positive ion mode. Transcriptome sequencing was employed to determine the gene expression levels of the rat model treated with AR and SAR, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment was performed for the DEGs. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built, on the basis of which the core targets were screened out. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to verify the core targets.

Results

A total of 63 terpenoids were detected in AR and SAR, and salt processing had a significant effect on the content of terpenoids. AR and SAR mainly participated in the regulation of inflammation and immune responses, and SAR regulated more DEGs than AR. Additionally, SAR exerted more extensive regulatory effects on the targets than AR.

Conclusion

Salt processing mainly changes the content of chemical compounds in AR, which may indirectly optimize the proportion of the main compounds to enhance the therapeutic effect while reducing the toxicity. AR and SAR mainly ameliorate the edema due to kidney Yin deficiency by reducing inflammation and improving immunity. Finally, SAR regulates more genes and signaling pathways and exerts more extensive regulatory effects than AR.
Review of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation and related devices
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Xinjiang , Feng Bowen , Zhang Shuai , Zheng Yanfeng , Xin Chen , Su Chong , Wang Fang , Wu Mozheng , Zhang Jinling , Liu Yuqi , Li Liang , Zaslawski Chris , Rong Peijing
Published: June 2024

A review was undertaken of the operation process and development of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and related devices for TEAS, with the aim to offer a reference for developing an international standard for the basic safety and essential performance of the devices. The articles related to TEAS and instruction of devices for TEAS were searched using the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases with the time period from inception to July 18, 2023. In the absence of a parameter description of the stimulators, a multimeter was used to measure the output voltage, resistance, and current. Thirty-two related devices for TEAS were obtained. The safety parameters of most devices were neither clearly defined, nor standardized, and in some cases were missing. There was a noticeable disparity in the upper safety limits of the output current among the devices. The sizes of the skin electrode pads as well as the lengths of the electrode connecting wires of most devices were not clearly indicated. Acupoints on different parts of the human body, including the upper limbs, head, auricle, chest, abdomen, trunk, and lower limbs, required different maximum tolerable current intensities and current densities. It is important to indicate comprehensive output/safety parameters and essential performance for devices for TEAS to meet the need of global distribution, achieve precise stimulation parameters at different acupoints across the human body, and allay any safety concern of national therapeutic device authorities, the regulators, manufacturers, and end users.
Living Kidney Donation: A Narrative Review of Mid- and Long-term Psychosocial Outcomes
Authors: Massey Emma K. , Rule Andrew D. , Matas Arthur J.
Published: June 2024

Living kidney donors make a significant contribution to alleviating the organ shortage. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of mid- and long-term (≥12 mo) living donor psychosocial outcomes and highlight areas that have been understudied and should be immediately addressed in both research and clinical practice. We conducted a narrative review by searching 3 databases. A total of 206 articles were included. Living donors can be divided into those who donate to an emotionally or genetically related person, the so-called directed donors, or to an emotionally or genetically unrelated recipient, the so-called nondirected donors. The most commonly investigated (bio)psychosocial outcome after living donation was health-related quality of life. Other generic (bio)psychological outcomes include specific aspects of mental health such as depression, and fatigue and pain. Social outcomes include financial and employment burdens and problems with insurance. Donation-specific psychosocial outcomes include regret, satisfaction, feelings of abandonment and unmet needs, and benefits of living kidney donation. The experience of living donation is complex and multifaceted, reflected in the co-occurrence of both benefits and burden after donation. Noticeably, no interventions have been developed to improve mid- or long-term psychosocial outcomes among living donors. We highlight areas for methodological improvement and identified 3 areas requiring immediate attention from the transplant community in both research and clinical care: (1) recognizing and providing care for the minority of donors who have poorer long-term psychosocial outcomes after donation, (2) minimizing donation-related financial burden, and (3) studying interventions to minimize long-term psychosocial problems.
Regulation of pupil size in natural vision across the human lifespan
Authors: Lazar Rafael , Degen Josefine , Fiechter Ann-Sophie , Monticelli Aurora , Spitschan Manuel
Published: June 2024

Vision is mediated by light passing through the pupil, which changes in diameter from approximately 2 to 8 mm between bright and dark illumination. With age, mean pupil size declines. In laboratory experiments, factors affecting pupil size can be experimentally controlled. How the pupil reflects the change in retinal input from the visual environment under natural viewing conditions is unclear. We address this question in a field experiment (
N
= 83, 43 female, 18–87 years) using a custom-made wearable video-based eye tracker with a spectroradiometer measuring near-corneal spectral irradiance. Participants moved in and between indoor and outdoor environments varying in spectrum and engaged in a range of everyday tasks. Our data confirm that light-adapted pupil size is determined by light level, with a better model fit of melanopic over photopic units, and that it decreased with increasing age, yielding steeper slopes at lower light levels. We found no indication that sex, iris colour or reported caffeine consumption affects pupil size. Our exploratory results point to a role of photoreceptor integration in controlling steady-state pupil size. The data provide evidence for considering age in personalized lighting solutions and against the use of photopic illuminance alone to assess the impact of real-world lighting conditions.
Social identification and paranoia
Authors: Greenburgh A. , Zamperetti L. , Bell V. , Raihani N.
Published: June 2024

Paranoia is associated with variation in social behaviour, such as lower inclination to trust others or to behave generously in economic game settings. Such variation may stem, in part, from a reduced tendency to socially identify with others, although previous studies have reported mixed results. We tested whether paranoia involves altered social identification in a pre-registered online study investigating the relationship between a measure of social identification, paranoia, and social behaviours in economic games. We successfully manipulated social identification, but paranoia was associated with slightly increased social identification overall. Neither paranoia nor social identification predicted behaviour in the economic games, and there was no interaction between paranoia and social identification regarding trusting and cooperative behaviours. Our results converge with recent work suggesting that more paranoid individuals may harbour a higher tendency to perceive themselves as having similar beliefs to others. We discuss some key areas for future research to progress understanding in this area.
How many specimens make a sufficient training set for automated three-dimensional feature extraction?
Authors: Mulqueeney James M. , Searle-Barnes Alex , Brombacher Anieke , Sweeney Marisa , Goswami Anjali , Ezard Thomas H. G.
Published: June 2024

Deep learning has emerged as a robust tool for automating feature extraction from three-dimensional images, offering an efficient alternative to labour-intensive and potentially biased manual image segmentation methods. However, there has been limited exploration into the optimal training set sizes, including assessing whether artficial expansion by data augmentation can achieve consistent results in less time and how consistent these benefits are across different types of traits. In this study, we manually segmented 50 planktonic foraminifera specimens from the genus
Menardella
to determine the minimum number of training images required to produce accurate volumetric and shape data from internal and external structures. The results reveal unsurprisingly that deep learning models improve with a larger number of training images with eight specimens being required to achieve 95% accuracy. Furthermore, data augmentation can enhance network accuracy by up to 8.0%. Notably, predicting both volumetric and shape measurements for the internal structure poses a greater challenge compared with the external structure, owing to low contrast differences between different materials and increased geometric complexity. These results provide novel insight into optimal training set sizes for precise image segmentation of diverse traits and highlight the potential of data augmentation for enhancing multivariate feature extraction from three-dimensional images.
A social learning primacy trend in mate-copying: an experiment in
Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Santiago Araújo Ricardo , Nöbel Sabine , Antunes Diogo F. , Danchin Etienne , Isabel Guillaume
Published: June 2024

Social learning is learning from the observation of how others interact with the environment. However, in nature, individuals often need to process serial social information and may favour either the most recent information (recency bias), constantly updating knowledge to match the environment, or the information that appeared first in the series (primacy bias), which may slow down adjustment to environmental change. Mate-copying is a widespread form of social learning in a mate choice context related to conformity in mate choice, and where a naive individual develops a preference for a given mate (or mate phenotype) seen being chosen by conspecifics. Mate-copying is documented in most vertebrate taxa and in the fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
. Here, we tested experimentally whether female fruit flies show a primacy or a recency bias by presenting pictures of a female copulating with one of two contrastingly coloured male phenotypes. We found that after two sequential contradictory demonstrations, females show a tendency to prefer males of the phenotype preferred in the first demonstration, suggesting that mate-copying in
D. melanogaster
is not based on the most recently observed mating and may be influenced by a form of primacy bias.
Rising Clindamycin Resistance in Group A Streptococcus in an Irish Healthcare Institution
Authors: Lapthorne Susan , McWade Robert , Scanlon Nuala , Ní Bhaoill Saoirse , Page Aoife , O'Donnell Clare , Dornikova Gabriela , Hannan Margaret , Lynch Breda , Lynch Maureen , Brady Deirdre
Published: June 2024

Group A streptococcus (GAS) can cause serious invasive disease in humans with a high mortality rate. An increase in GAS infections was reported in Ireland in 2022, and this increase has been sustained in 2023 and is paralleled by similar trends in Europe. Rising antimicrobial resistance is a global problem and presents significant challenges to clinicians treating GAS infection. There was a reported increase in clindamycin resistance in GAS isolates in Ireland in 2022.
We examined antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of GAS isolates in our institution in 2022. Although all GAS isolates included in our study were susceptible to penicillin, we noted a high clindamycin resistance rate of 28% in our invasive GAS isolates. We also noted high tetracycline and erythromycin resistance, 43% and 30%, respectively.
Our results could have implications for empiric antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for skin and soft tissue infections, which often include clindamycin as it inhibits the production of many virulence factors associated with GAS. In addition, macrolides are often the first line recommended antibiotic for patients with anaphylaxis to penicillin.
This study emphasises the importance of continuous surveillance and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of invasive and non-invasive isolates in order to monitor trends in increasing antimicrobial resistance.
EzBioCloud: a genome-driven database and platform for microbiome identification and discovery
Authors: Chalita Mauricio , Kim Yeong Ouk , Park Sein , Oh Hyun-Seok , Cho Jae Hyoung , Moon Jeongsup , Baek Nuga , Moon Changsik , Lee Kihyun , Yang Junwon , Nam Gi Gyun , Jung Yeonjae , Na Seong-In , Bailey Michael James , Chun Jongsik
Published: June 2024

With the continued evolution of DNA sequencing technologies, the role of genome sequence data has become more integral in the classification and identification of Bacteria and Archaea. Six years after introducing EzBioCloud, an integrated platform representing the taxonomic hierarchy of Bacteria and Archaea through quality-controlled 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences, we present an updated version, that further refines and expands its capabilities. The current update recognizes the growing need for accurate taxonomic information as defining a species increasingly relies on genome sequence comparisons. We also incorporated an advanced strategy for addressing underrepresented or less studied lineages, bolstering the comprehensiveness and accuracy of our database. Our rigorous quality control protocols remain, where whole-genome assemblies from the NCBI Assembly Database undergo stringent screening to remove low-quality sequence data. These are then passed through our enhanced identification bioinformatics pipeline which initiates a 16S rRNA gene similarity search and then calculates the average nucleotide identity (ANI). For genome sequences lacking a 16S rRNA sequence and without a closely related genomic representative for ANI calculation, we apply a different ANI approach using bacterial core genes for improved taxonomic placement (core gene ANI, cgANI). Because of the increase in genome sequences available in NCBI and our newly introduced cgANI method, EzBioCloud now encompasses a total of 109 835 species, of which 21 964 have validly published names. 47 896 are candidate species identified either through 16S rRNA sequence similarity (phylotypes) or through whole genome ANI (genomospecies), and the remaining 39 975 were positioned in the taxonomic tree by cgANI (species clusters). Our EzBioCloud database is accessible at www.ezbiocloud.net/db.
Impact of life origins on metabolism
Authors: Vazquez Alexei
Published: June 2024

Living organisms are defined by self-replication and self-confinement. We expect these two properties to shape the metabolic capabilities of cells. Here I demonstrate that the maximum growth rate of cells is, in a first approximation, the geometric mean between the maximum rate of ribosome self-replication and the maximum rate of macromolecular synthesis allowed by the interior volume defined by the cell membrane. I also show how these constraints are buried into the biomass compositions of flux balance models.
Disruption of sustained attention and orbitofrontal cortex engagement by incoming social media messages vary as a function of problematic social media use
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Liu Huafang , Kendrick Keith M. , Montag Christian , Becker Benjamin
Published: June 2024

Background

Smartphones and social media have become ubiquitous in our lives, and while debates about their negative impact on mental health, addictive potential, and disruptive effects on daily activities have surged, neurobiological evidence remains scarce. Here, we investigated whether the behavioral and neural effects of interference of continuous attention by incoming social media messages on WeChat varies according to its problematic use as assessed via an addiction framework.

Methods

N = 60 healthy individuals were stratified based on their level of problematic WeChat usage as measured by the WeChat Addiction Scale (WAS): LOW (15 males and 15 females) and HIGH (15 males and 15 females) addictive tendencies. Participants underwent an AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) with WeChat-associated (incoming message) and neutral auditory distractors as well as a no distractor condition. Concurrent functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) assessments of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were implemented to determine the underlying neurofunctional mechanisms.

Results

On the behavioral level the HIGH group demonstrated faster reaction times during the WeChat and no distractor condition compared to the LOW group. Exploratory analyses indicated that the WeChat distraction decreased left lateral OFC activity in the LOW but enhanced activity in this region in the HIGH group.

Conclusion

Against our hypotheses WeChat distraction enhanced behavioral performance specially in individual with a tendency for problematic WeChat use, with the neural data pointing to less suppression of the OFC in individuals with a tendency for problematic usage. Findings underscore the complexity of the potential effects of new technology on daily live and indicate that addiction models might not be simply extendable to problematic social media usage.
Phase separated liquid vimentin droplets stabilize actin fibers through wetting
Authors: Basu Arkaprabha , Krug Tommy , du Pont Benjamin , Huang Qiaoling , Sun Sijie , Adam Stephen A. , Goldman Robert , Weitz David A.
Published: June 2024

The cytoskeleton is composed of F-actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments (IFs). Vimentin is the most ubiquitous IF. It is involved in wound healing, tissue fibrosis and cancer metastasis, all of which require rapid vimentin filaments assembly. In this paper, we report that un-polymerized vimentin forms liquid condensates that appear to enable rapid filament growth. Given the transient nature of these droplets, we focus on properties of vimentin-Y117L, a mutant which does not form filaments, enabling us to study these droplets in detail. They dissolve under 1,6-Hexanediol treatment and under decreasing concentration, confirming that they are liquid, and phase separated. These condensates extensively wet actin fibers, rendering them resistant to actin-depolymerizing drugs. We show similar behavior occurs in wild type vimentin during its assembly into filaments.
Interpretation of murine models of cardiac disease is enhanced by consideration of divergently expressed human-mouse orthologous genes
Authors: Cappa Oisín , Watson Chris , Simpson David
Published: June 2024

Humans and mice share remarkably similar cardiac anatomy and physiology and have many orthologous genes with high sequence similarity. Together with their small size and short lifespan, these factors are major contributors to the popularity of mice as research models. Nonetheless, findings in mice often fail to translate into humans. We propose that this may be due in part to differences in gene expression. Advances in molecular genomics have enabled profiling of gene expression at the level of individual cells through single-cell RNA-sequencing. Large repositories of human and murine data across many organs and tissues, including the heart, are now available. However, there is currently a lack of comparative research which directly quantifies similarities and differences in expression of orthologous genes between human and mouse.

This study is the first, to our knowledge, to directly compare celltype-specific expression conservation and divergence between orthologous genes in human and mouse heart. Cardiac data from 7 human and mouse scRNA-seq publications was retrieved, with mouse data converted to equivalent human gene orthologues. The datasets were integrated and subjected to comparative transcriptomic analysis in R using Seurat.

Classical celltype markers did not perform equally across species. We have identified species-conserved celltype marker genes, providing a useful resource to identify cardiac cell populations in both species. Further, we have identified and ranked divergence between species for each cardiac celltype, highlighting genes which vary considerably in expression between human and mouse heart. Many of these have been genetically modified to create mouse models or encode proteins targeted by pharmaceutical drugs. Researchers should carefully consider these highly divergent genes when planning, or interpreting data from, mouse models of human biology.
Synchronization and metachronal waves of elastic cilia caused by transient viscous flow
Authors: von Kenne Albert , Schmelter Sonja , Stark Holger , Bär Markus
Published: June 2024

Hydrodynamic coordination of cilia is ubiquitous in biology. It is commonly modeled using the steady Stokes equations. The flow around ciliated cells, however, exhibits finite time vorticity diffusion, requiring a dynamical description. We present a model of elastic cilia coupled by transient viscous flow in the bulk fluid. Therein, vorticity diffusion impacts cilia coordination qualitatively and quantitatively. In particular, pairs of cilia synchronize in antiphase for long diffusion times. Moreover, metachronal waves occur in cilia chains larger than the viscous penetration depth, whereas global synchronization occurs in Stokes flow.
Developing a Health Score and Predicting Disease Risks Using DKAbio-Clusters
Authors: Cheng Kuang-Fu , Yang Ya-Hui , Su Chih-Hsiung , Tsai Men-Chun
Published: June 2024

Accurately estimating the morbidity of individuals with specific conditions is crucial for healthcare systems to enhance healthcare delivery. In this study, we introduce DKABio-clusters and elucidate their characteristics, demonstrating their significant implications for healthcare management. The key applications of DKABio-clusters include the development of a health score (DKABio-HS) and risk prediction. The health score enables the calculation of a comprehensive "disease-related" score that summarizes an individual's health status into a single value. Our findings reveal that the health score exhibits high consistency, as indicated by minimal differences in health scores between the training and validation samples (mean absolute percentage errors within 0 to 10 years were less than 0.1%, with all mean absolute percentage errors ranging between 1.2-1.6%). A higher health score signifies better health or lower disease risk, with the health score decreasing with age or the presence of multiple diseases. By utilizing the health score, we can establish a classification rule known as the "disease map," enabling quantitative differentiation of individuals at various non-diseased or diseased levels. Consequently, non-disease individuals can be categorized as healthy or sub-healthy, allowing tailored health management approaches for preventive measures. Our results indicate that individuals classified as sub-healthy exhibit significantly higher disease risks compared to healthy individuals (Female (male) 5-year risks of developing at least one disease are 29% vs. 15% (29% vs. 16.5%)). Additionally, by employing a selected set of health variables, we can estimate the distribution of DKABio-clusters and simultaneously predict the 10-year risks of 15 diseases/conditions. We validate the predictive power of our model by comparing the predicted risks with true risks derived from the training and validation samples. In the majority of cases, the differences between the true and predicted risks were not statistically significant. All study findings were based on data from the National Health Insurance Research Database released by the National Health Research Institute, Taiwan, and the Mei Jau Health Management Institution database, collected between 2000 and 2016 in Taiwan.
Risk Factors of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis among Tuberculosis Patients in Province 3, Nepal: A case-control study
Authors: Acharya Puspa , Bhattarai Niraj , Kunwar Bhuban Raj , Sharma Khem Raj , Khanal Vijay Kumar , Yadav Birendra Kumar
Published: June 2024

Background

Drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a significant threat to global TB control efforts, potentially reversing progress made in reducing TB-related morbidity and mortality. This study aims to identify risk factors for multidrug-resistant TB [MDR-TB] in Province 3, Nepal.

Methodology

A case-control study was conducted by matching TB-infected patients undergoing MDR-TB treatment and DS-TB treatment by gender. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using binary logistic regression.

Results

Significant risk factors for MDR-TB included Pulmonary Tuberculosis [PTB], previous TB treatment history, close contact with DR-TB patients, and subjective feelings of sadness.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of prevention measures to break transmission chains and infection control in health facilities. Additionally, it underscores the need for mental health support for TB patients.
KHDRBS3 facilitates self-renewal and temozolomide resistance of glioblastoma cell lines
Authors: Somrit Kanokkuan , Krobthong Sucheewin , Yingchutrakul Yodying , Phueakphud Nut , Wongtrakoongate Patompon , Komyod Waraporn
Published: June 2024

Glioblastoma is a deadly tumor which possesses glioblastoma stem cell populations involved in temozolomide resistance. To gain insight into the mechanisms of self-renewing and therapy-resistant cancer stem cells, subcellular proteomics was utilized to identify proteins whose expression is enriched in U251-derived glioblastoma stem-like cells. The RNA binding protein KHDRBS3 was successfully identified as a gene up-regulated in the cancer stem cell population compared with its differentiated derivatives. Depletion of KHDRBS3 by RNA silencing led to a decrease in cell proliferation, neurosphere formation, migration, and expression of genes involved in glioblastoma stemness. Importantly, temozolomide sensitivity can be induced by the gene knockdown. Collectively, our results highlight KHDRBS3 as a novel factor associated with self-renewal of glioblastoma stem-like cells and temozolomide resistance. As a consequence, targeting KHDRBS3 may help eradicate glioblastoma stem-like cells.
Comparison of three tiled amplicon sequencing approaches for SARS-CoV-2 variant detection from wastewater
Authors: Lott Megan E. J. , Sullivan Amanda H. , Lariscy Leah M. , Norfolk William A. , Dillon Katie C. , Beaudry Megan S. , Glenn Travis C. , Lipp Erin K.
Published: June 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the detection and sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater proved to be a valuable tool in assessing trends at the community level. Several whole genome enrichment methods have been proposed for sequencing SARS-CoV-2 from the mixed wastewater community, but there is little consensus on the most appropriate sequencing methods for variant detection or abundance estimations. Few studies have elucidated the errors associated with these methods or have established minimum sequencing requirements for correct interpretation of the results. To address these needs, we systematically assessed the efficacy of three tiled amplicon enrichment methods (Freed/Midnight, ARTIC V4, NEB VarSkip) for whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 variants using mock wastewater communities with variants at known proportions. We found the ARTIC V4 approach yielded the most accurate results for variant identification and variant abundance estimation, followed by the NEB VarSkip approach. Conversely, the NEB VarSkip method obtained the highest genomic coverage, with the ARTIC V4 method achieving the second highest coverage. Finally, we determined that the Freed/Midnight library preparation methods are not well-suited for use with short read sequencing. Based on the present results, the ARTIC V4 workflow appears to be the most robust and cost-effective approach for monitoring circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants with wastewater surveillance.

IMPORTANCE

This work is informative for practitioners of wastewater-based epidemiology. Here, we detail a systematic comparison of three tiled amplicon sequencing approaches for enrichment of SARS-CoV-2 variants from wastewater. Using mock communities of known variant composition, we validate the analysis methods previously published by Baaijens et al. in Genome Biology (2022) for estimating variant abundance from wastewater using an RNAseq pipeline, kallisto. We provide recommendations for minimum sequencing requirements for accurate abundance estimates of SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater. The sequences generated from the mock communities have been uploaded to NCBI’s Sequence Read Archive and will be useful to other practitioners seeking to validate their sequencing methods or bioinformatic pipelines.
Increasing certainty in systems biology models using Bayesian multimodel inference
Authors: Linden-Santangeli Nathaniel , Zhang Jin , Kramer Boris , Rangamani Padmini
Published: June 2024

Mathematical models are indispensable to the system biology toolkit for studying the structure and behavior of intracellular signaling networks. A common approach to modeling is to develop a system of equations that encode the known biology using approximations and simplifying assumptions. As a result, the same signaling pathway can be represented by multiple models, each with its set of underlying assumptions, which opens up challenges for model selection and decreases certainty in model predictions. Here, we use Bayesian multimodel inference to develop a framework to increase certainty in systems biology models. Using models of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, we first show that multimodel inference increases predictive certainty and yields predictors that are robust to changes in the set of available models. We then show that predictions made with multimodel inference are robust to data uncertainties introduced by decreasing the measurement duration and reducing the sample size. Finally, we use multimodel inference to identify a new model to explain experimentally measured sub-cellular location-specific ERK activity dynamics. In summary, our framework highlights multimodel inference as a disciplined approach to increasing the certainty of intracellular signaling activity predictions.
The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator Controls Tolerogenic Responses to Food Allergens in Mice and Humans
Authors: Emmenegger Marc , Zografou Chryssa , Dai Yile , Hoyt Laura R. , Gudneppanavar Ravindra , Chincisan Andra , Rehrauer Hubert , Noé Falko J. , Zajac Natalia , Meisl Georg , Schneider Matthias M. , Nguyen Hang , Höpker Katja , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Sospedra Mireia , Martin Roland , Ring Aaron M. , Leeds Stephanie , Eisenbarth Stephanie C. , Egan Marie E. , Bruscia Emanuela M. , Aguzzi Adriano
Published: June 2024

IgE antibodies against the allergen Ara-h2 can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis upon exposure to peanuts. Desensitization strategies aim at inducing IgG responses against Ara-h2 which may compete with anaphylactogenic IgE. Here we assessed anti-Ara-h2 titers in an unselected cohort of 24,536 adult patients admitted to a general hospital for disparate medical reasons. Surprisingly, adult (n=177) and pediatric (n=76) patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) had IgG4, but not IgE, against several peanut and soybean allergens, yet did not suffer from peanut allergy. Antibody repertoires were not globally perturbed in pwCF, and heterozygous Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) mutation carriers had the same prevalence of food allergies as pwCF. Peanut sensitisation ofCftr-/-mice failed to induce IgE and was associated with elevated IFN-γ. We conclude that CFTR is a key regulator of anaphylactogenic and tolerogenic responses to food allergens. CFTR-controlled cytokine responses including IFN-γ, in combination with a compromised epithelial barrier, may trigger a preferential IgG4 response resulting in tolerance to food allergens.

Highlights

We investigated serum IgG against Ara-h2 in 24,536 patients and identified 133 seropositives.

Seropositivity was associated with cystic fibrosis, and these patients had IgG4 but not IgE.

We reproduced these results in a paediatric validation cohort and in aCftr-/-mouse model.

A compromised epithelial barrier and the cytokine milieu might explain this phenotype.
Eccentric Vessel Wall Enhancement and hs-CRP as Prognostic Markers in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Na Seunghee , Kim Taewon , Lee Jung-hwi , Koo Jaseong , Hong Yun Jeong , Kim Seong-Hoon
Published: June 2024

Background and Purpose

Eccentric vessel wall enhancement (EVWE) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are inflammatory biomarkers associated with atherosclerotic disease. We investigated their prognostic value in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving guideline-adherent medical treatment.

Methods

In this prospective observational cohort study, patients with acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke underwent vessel wall MRI and hs-CRP testing. The primary outcome was subsequent ischemic stroke during the follow-up period. The median follow-up duration was 21 months. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analysis was used to determine the associations between EVWE, hs-CRP levels, and subsequent ischemic stroke.

Results

Among 191 patients, 81 (42.4%) had EVWE. EVWE positivity showed a trend towards a lower risk of subsequent ischemic stroke compared to EVWE negativity (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12-0.87; P=0.061). Hs-CRP levels were not significantly associated with recurrent stroke risk. The combination of EVWE positivity and low hs-CRP levels (<1.25 mg/L) was associated with the most favorable outcome, while EVWE negativity and high hs-CRP levels (≥1.25 mg/L) were associated with the worst outcome (HR 0.143, 95% CI 0.04-0.50; P=0.031).

Conclusions

In patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving optimal medical therapy, EVWE positivity may paradoxically indicate a lower risk of recurrent stroke. The combination of EVWE and hs-CRP status provides prognostic information, with EVWE positivity and low hs-CRP levels associated with the most favorable outcome. These findings highlight the potential role of integrating imaging and serum inflammatory biomarkers in risk stratification and management of acute ischemic stroke patients.