bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined analysis of plasma metabolome and intestinal microbiome sequencing to explore jiashen prescription and its potential role in changing intestine–heart axis and effect on chronic heart failure
Authors: Cui Xialian , Su Yangyan , Huang Xiaotong , Chen Jiaping , Ma Jiang , Liao Peiran , He Xin
Published: March 2023

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome with global clinical and socioeconomic burden worldwide owing to its poor prognosis. Jiashen Prescription (JSP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, exhibits unambiguous effects on treating HF. Previously, we have reported that underlying mechanisms of JSP by an untargeted metabolomics approach, but the contribution of gut microbiota and metabolic interaction to the cardioprotective efficacy of JSP remains to be elucidated.

Materials and methods

Firstly, the rat model of heart failure was established by the permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The efficacy evaluation of JSP in treating HF rats was per-formed by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Then, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC/MS-based metabolomic analysis were utilized to explore the characteristics of cecal-contents microecology and plasma metabolic profile, respectively. After that, the correlation between intestinal micro-ecological characteristics and plasma metabolic characteristics was analyzed to explore the potential mechanism of the JSP treatment in HF.

Results

JSP could improve the cardiac function of heart failure rats and thus ameliorate heart failure via enhancing rat LVEF. Results of intestinal flora analysis revealed that JSP not only adjusted gut microbiota disturbances by enriching species diversity, reducing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (such as Allobaculum, Brevinema), as well as increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (such as Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group), but also improved metabolic disorders by reversing metabolite plasma levels to normality. Through the conjoint analysis of 8 metabolites and the OTUs relative abundance data in the 16srRNA sequencing results by WGCNA method, 215 floras significantly related to the eight compounds were identified. The results of the correlation analysis demonstrated a significant association between intestinal microbiota and plasma metabolic profile, especially the significant correlation of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and Protoporphyrin IX, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and nicotinamide, dihydrofolic acid.

Conclusion

The present study illustrated the underlying mechanism of JSP to treat heart failure by affecting intestinal flora and plasma metabolites, provide a potential therapeutic strategy against heart failure.
Experimental research on the water precipitation performance of polymer colloid and fly ash colloid and their applications as fire extinguishing materials in mines
Authors: Shang Yuyang
Published: March 2023

In this paper, polymer colloid and fly ash colloid fire extinguishing materials are selected. Through experimental preparation and water precipitation characteristics research, colloid fire extinguishing materials and optimal concentration ratio suitable for Binchang mining area are selected to effectively control the fire area. The results show that, the higher the concentration of polymer colloidal powder mixed with water, the shorter the gelling time. After the fly ash is mixed with the gelling agent and water, when the concentration ratio of fly ash to water remains the same, the greater the concentration of the gelling agent, the shorter the gelling time. After the colloid is left standing for 24 h, the smaller the concentration is, the more water is precipitated, and the higher the water precipitation rate is. Through comparison, it was found that when the polymer colloid was selected as the fire extinguishing material, with the concentration ratio of polymer colloid material to water being 3.5%–4%: 96.5%–96%, effective control could be achieved over the fire zones in the goaf of Binchang mine. The research is of great reference value for the control of mine fires.
Analysis of the generation potential of hybrid solar power plants
Authors: Martins Gleyzer , Mendoza Oscar Saul Hernandez , Amjad Muhammad , Bandarra Filho Enio Pedone
Published: March 2023

Photovoltaic solar energy has emerged in Brazil in distributed generation due to affordable costs and its application in different segments of the market. However, the electric energy storage in the photovoltaic systems is only viable for certain conditions in which the installation does not have access to the electricity network and the thermal portion of the solar energy is lost to the ambient. Heliothermic power plant represents another system available for solar electricity generation, which has higher costs, but takes better advantage of the portion of thermal energy and allows energy storage efficiently to meet the demands during periods without incident solar radiation. Heliothermic and photovoltaic generation have great potential in the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, but the costs of both technologies cannot meet the demands during periods without solar radiation. This work presents a conceptual analysis of compound parabolic solar concentrators along with hybrid of photovoltaic and thermal collector systems to meet both the demand during sunlight hours and without solar radiation. The investigation consisted of implementing an organic Rankine cycle with different heliothermic plant configurations and the analysis of the diode model to examine different commercial photovoltaic cells operated in the Rankine cycle evaporation region. The results showed that the best working fluid for the application is R245fa with Urea-NaCl as molten salt for the thermal energy storage. The expected electrical power for the hydride cycle is 1580W at 2600 rpm and at 80°C of evaporation temperature, enabling a power generation for 1 hour and 20 min without solar radiation.
Comparative study on the performance of the application of clean alternative fuels in SOFC/ICE hybrid power systems on electric aircraft
Authors: Li Chengjie , Wang Zixuan , Liu He , Qin Jiang , Wei Liqiu
Published: March 2023

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have gradually become possible to be used in the aviation field because of their high efficiency and fuel flexibility. The number of internal combustion engines (ICE) that are already in use is large, which makes it difficult to completely abandon them in a short period. Hence, finding low-carbon alternative fuels is significant for the development of cleaner internal combustion engines. In this paper, different hybrid power systems configured with different fuels, i.e., hydrogen, methanol, liquid ammonia, isooctane, natural gas and gasoline, which consist of a solid oxide fuel cell and an internal combustion engine, are constructed to help find the optimal set of fuel and system structure by analyzing the power generation performance and weight of different systems. The results show that the hybrid power system with ammonia or methanol (except gasoline) as fuel presents the lowest actual fuel consumption rate (around 310 g/kWh). The hybrid power system with ammonia as fuel performs the highest power generation efficiency of 61.58%, and the corresponding power density is estimated at 0.556 kW/kg. In conclusion, the proposed system with ammonia as fuel has obvious advantages in fuel consumption rate, power generation efficiency, carbon emission reduction and fuel storage.
Reacting to the entry of green manufacturers: A perspective from ordinary manufacturers
Authors: Zhang Linghong , Yu Wenchao
Published: March 2023

More and more green manufacturers are entering the market, which poses a challenge to ordinary manufacturers as to whether they must produce environmental products. Motivated by competition between green manufacturers and ordinary manufacturers, this study examines how an ordinary manufacturer that produces a traditional product (product 1) adapts its product portfolio to compete with a new-entrant green manufacturer. The sale period is divided into two periods. In period 1, the green manufacturer enters the market and provides one green product (product 2). Subsequently, the ordinary manufacturer decides whether to develop a green product (product 3) in period 2. The products are differentiated in two characteristics: traditional quality and environmental quality. We derive the demand function by comparing the consumer utility obtained from the three products. Then, we investigate the ordinary and green manufacturers’ optimal decisions using game theory. Furthermore, we study how government subsidy of green products affects the two manufacturers’ decisions. Finally, we extend our model to discuss the market position of the two green produc2ts when the green technology level is fixed for two manufacturers. Our study suggests that 1) the ordinary manufacturer may not introduce the green product when the difference in environmental quality between two green products is much larger; 2) government subsidy is effective in stimulating the ordinary manufacturer to introduce green product, especially when the traditional manufacturer could provide high-environmental-quality product; and 3) the manufacturer’s green technology level and green technology maturity, and consumers’ willingness to pay for traditional quality, together affect product position.
Pile covering of waste disposal using technosols made of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and coal combustion residues: A column leaching experiment
Authors: Bilibio Carolina , Hensel Oliver
Published: March 2023

Technosols are characterized by a substantial quantity of artifacts or industrial wastes in the upper 100 cm. They can be used as cover caps in mining rehabilitation, in which vegetation cover is subsequently established. However, prolific vegetation growth can be limited by the chemical and physical properties of technogenic substrates. As further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the suitability of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and coal combustion residues as cover caps, the pH, electrical conductivity, total porosity, and bulk density of these substrates were measured. Furthermore, the seepage pH and electrical conductivity of the covered and uncovered technosols after saturation were determined. The municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash, 4–10 mm in diameter, showed the highest bulk density (1.16 g cm-3) and lowest total porosity by saturation (24.7%). In contrast, the coal combustion residues registered the highest total porosity (57.2%). The coal combustion residues also revealed a higher pH of 12.5 and electrical conductivity values of 7.8 mS cm-1. Furthermore, no differences were observed between the treatments for pH seepage (8.2–8.3) and its electrical conductivity (14.3–16.0 mS cm-1) in the covered and uncovered columns, when using a technosol. This study provides information on the use of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and coal combustion residues as evapotranspiration covers during mining rehabilitation. The management of municipal solid waste residues is a global challenge and the use of this resource is valuable not only for the mining industry but potentially also in other fields, such as construction. The heavy metal content of the bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration and coal combustion residues should be studied before implementing these waste residues on a large scale.
Assessing restoration and degradation of natural and artificial vegetation in the arid zone of Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Jinxia , Li Zhi , Duan Weili , Zhao Hongfang , Hao Haichao , Xiang Yanyun , Zhang Qifei
Published: March 2023

Assessing vegetation restoration and degradation trends is important for regional ecological conservation and sustainable development, yet few studies have examined the characteristics of these trends in natural and artificial vegetation in arid zones. In this study, we develop an assessment framework based on two common ecological indicators, Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and Water Use Efficiency (WUE). We discuss the restoration and degradation trends of natural and artificial vegetation in China’s Northwest Arid Region (NAR) and analyze the similarities and differences between the changes in the two. Our results reveal the following: (1) Both natural vegetation (Nav) NPP and artificial vegetation (Arv) NPP in the NAR are dominated by significant growth, with precipitation being the most influential factor. Arv NPP changes are greater than Nav NPP. (2) WUE and NPP have similar spatial distribution characteristics, with precipitation and temperature dominating WUE changes in the Qilian Mountains and s southern Xinjiang, respectively. In the near future, Nav WUE is expected to be dominated by improvement to degradation, while Arv WUE will continue to improve under human intervention. These two indices respond differently to the environmental factors that cause their changes. (3) Nav and Arv exhibit similar restoration and degradation trends, mainly dominated by early recovery with Nav displaying a slightly more prominent restoration trend than Arv. The NPP-WUE assessment framework will help to rapidly assess vegetation degradation and restoration at large scales, providing new perspectives for research in this field.
Prime editing in hematopoietic stem cells—From ex vivo to in vivo CRISPR-based treatment of blood disorders
Authors: Wolff Jonas Holst , Mikkelsen Jacob Giehm
Published: March 2023

Prime editing of human hematopoietic stem cells has the potential to become a safe and efficient way of treating diseases of the blood directly in patients. By allowing site-targeted gene intervention without homology-directed repair donor templates and DNA double-stranded breaks, the invention of prime editing fuels the exploration of alternatives to conventional recombination-based ex vivo genome editing of hematopoietic stem cells. Prime editing is as close as we get today to a true genome editing drug that does not require a separate DNA donor. However, to adapt the technology to perform in vivo gene correction, key challenges remain to be solved, such as identifying effective prime editing guide RNAs for clinical targets as well as developing efficient vehicles to deliver prime editors to stem cells in vivo. In this review, we summarize the current progress in delivery of prime editors both in vitro and in vivo and discuss future challenges that need to be adressed to allow in vivo prime editing as a cure for blood disorders.
Impaired response of memory Treg to high density lipoproteins is associated with intermediate/high cardiovascular disease risk in persons with HIV
Authors: Atehortua Laura , Baig Mirza , Morris Jamie , Trentman Sarah , Davidson W. Sean , Fichtenbaum Carl J. , Chougnet Claire A.
Published: March 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of enhanced morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (AART). However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Regulatory T cells (Treg), notably the highly suppressive memory subset, have been shown to limit CVD. Importantly, memory Treg cell numbers remain low in many treated PWH. High density lipoproteins (HDL) also protect from CVD, and we previously found that Treg-HDL interactions reduce oxidative stress in these cells. Here, we evaluated Treg-HDL interactions in PWH and whether they were operative in those higher CVD risk. To do that, we recruited a cohort of PWH with intermediate/high CVD risk (median ASCVD risk score of 13.2%, n=15) or low/borderline risk (median ASCVD risk score of 3.6%, n=14), as well as a group of statins treated PWH with intermediate/high CVD risk (median ASCVD risk score of 12.7%, n=14). We evaluated Treg frequency, phenotype and response to HDL. PWH with Int/High CVD risk had a significantly lower number of memory Treg, but memory Treg were more activated and displayed an inflammatory phenotype, versus those with Low/BL CVD risk. In untreated patients, Treg absolute numbers were negatively correlated with ASCVD score. Although HDL decreased oxidative stress in memory Treg in all subjects, memory Treg from PWH with Int/High CVD risk were significantly less responsive to HDL than those from PWH with Low/BL CVD risk. The level of oxidative stress in memory Treg positively correlated with ASCVD scores. In contrast, plasma HDL from PWH, regardless of CVD risk, retained their anti-oxidative properties, suggesting that the defect in memory Treg response to HDL is intrinsic. Statin treatment partially ameliorated the memory Treg defect. In conclusion, the defective HDL-Treg interactions may contribute to the inflammation-induced increased CVD risk observed in many AART-treated PWH.
High serum levels of the C-propetide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) are prognostic for short overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Nissen Neel I. , Johansen Astrid Z. , Chen Inna M. , Jensen Christina , Madsen Emilie A. , Hansen Carsten P. , Thorlacius-Ussing Jeppe , Karsdal Morten , Johansen Julia S. , Diab Hadi M. H. , Jørgensen Lars N. , Willumsen Nicholas
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a pronounced fibrotic tumor microenvironment, which impairs treatment response. Type I and V collagens are responsible for the densely packed fibrils in the tumor fibrosis environment. While the role of the major type I collagen in cancer is well described, less is known about the minor type V collagen. Quantifying collagen propeptides in serum has been shown to have prognostic and predictive value. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of measuring the propeptide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) in serum from a discovery cohort and a validation cohort of patients with PDAC as well as in non-pancreatic solid tumor types to explore the relevance of the PRO-C5 biomarker in cancer.

Methods: Serum PRO-C5 was measured in three cohorts: a discovery cohort (19 healthy controls, 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 33 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), a validation cohort (800 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), and a non-pancreatic solid tumor type cohort of 33 healthy controls and 200 patients with 10 different non-pancreatic solid tumor types. The levels of serum PRO-C5 in patients with cancer were compared to levels in healthy controls. The association between PRO-C5 levels and overall survival (OS) was evaluated in patients with PDAC after adjusting for established prognostic factors.

Results: PRO-C5 was significantly increased in serum from patients with PDAC compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). High PRO-C5 levels were significantly associated with short OS in both the discovery- and the validation cohort, especially in early stages of PDAC (validation cohort stage II, HR = 2.0, 95%CI1.2-3.4). The association was independent of other prognostic parameters including stage, performance status and CA19-9. Furthermore, serum levels of PRO-C5 were significantly increased in serum from patients with other non-pancreatic solid tumor types compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion: High levels of serum PRO-C5 is prognostic for short OS in patients with PDAC and may provide clinical value in many other tumor types beyond PDAC. This underlines the importance of type V collagen in tumor fibrosis. PRO-C5 could have the potential to be used in several aspects within drug discovery, patient stratification and drug efficacy.
The relationship between childhood emotional neglect experience and depressive symptoms and prefrontal resting functional connections in college students: The mediating role of reappraisal strategy
Authors: Xu Bin , Wei Shilin , Yin Xiaojuan , Jin Xiaokang , Yan Shizhen , Jia Lina
Published: March 2023

Childhood emotional neglect (CEN) has a relatively high incidence rate and substantially adverse effects. Many studies have found that CEN is closely related to emotion regulation and depression symptoms. Besides, the functional activity of the prefrontal lobe may also be related to them. However, the relationships between the above variables have not been thoroughly studied. This study recruited two groups of college students, namely, those with primary CEN (neglect group) and those without childhood trauma (control group), to explore the relationships among CEN, adulthood emotion regulation, depressive symptoms, and prefrontal resting functional connections. The methods used in this study included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The results showed that compared with the control group, the neglect group utilized the reappraisal strategy less frequently and displayed more depressive symptoms. The prefrontal functional connections with other brain regions in the neglect group were more robust than those in the control group using less stringent multiple correction standards. Across the two groups, the functional connection strength between the right orbitofrontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus significantly negatively correlated with the ERQ reappraisal score and positively correlated with the BDI-II total score; the ERQ reappraisal score wholly mediated the relationship between the functional connection strength and the BDI-II total score. It suggests that primary CEN may closely correlate with more depressive symptoms in adulthood. Furthermore, the more robust spontaneous activity of the prefrontal lobe may also be closely associated with more depressive symptoms by utilizing a reappraisal strategy less frequently.
Beneficial insights into postbiotics against colorectal cancer
Authors: Song Dingka , Wang Xiuli , Ma Yongjing , Liu Ning-Ning , Wang Hui
Published: March 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening cancer types with limited therapeutic options worldwide. Gut microbiota has been recognized as the pivotal determinant in maintaining gastrointestinal (GI) tract homeostasis, while dysbiosis of gut microbiota contributes to CRC development. Recently, the beneficial role of postbiotics, a new concept in describing microorganism derived substances, in CRC has been uncovered by various studies. However, a comprehensive characterization of the molecular identity, mechanism of action, or routes of administration of postbiotics, particularly their role in CRC, is still lacking. In this review, we outline the current state of research toward the beneficial effects of gut microbiota derived postbiotics against CRC, which will represent the key elements of future precision-medicine approaches in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota to improve treatment outcomes in CRC.
Prognostic value of β-Arrestins in combination with glucocorticoid receptor in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Ryu Ji-Won , Shin Ha-Yeon , Kim Hyo-Sun , Han Gwan Hee , Kim Jeong Won , Lee Hae-Nam , Cho Hanbyoul , Chung Joon-Yong , Kim Jae-Hoon
Published: March 2023

Hormones may be key factors driving cancer development, and epidemiological findings suggest that steroid hormones play a crucial role in ovarian tumorigenesis. We demonstrated that high glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression is associated with a poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Recent studies have shown that the GR affects β-arrestin expression, and vice versa. Hence, we assessed the clinical significance of β-arrestin expression in ovarian cancer and determined whether β-arrestin and the GR synergistically have clinical significance and value as prognostic factors. We evaluated the expression of β-arrestins 1 and 2 and the GR in 169 patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer using immunohistochemistry. The staining intensity was graded on a scale of 0–4 and multiplied by the percentage of positive cells. We divided the samples into two categories based on the expression levels. β-arrestin 1 and GR expression showed a moderate correlation, whereas β-arrestin 2 and GR expression did not demonstrate any correlation. Patients with high β-arrestin 1 and 2 expression exhibited improved survival rates, whereas patients with low GR expression showed a better survival rate. Patients with high β-arrestin 1 and low GR levels had the best prognosis among all groups. β-arrestin is highly expressed in ovarian cancer, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker. The combination of β-arrestin and GR demonstrated greater predictive prognostic power than GR expression alone, implicating another possible role in prognostication.
Clinical and genomic characterization of Chinese patients with functional high-risk multiple myeloma: A real-world validation study
Authors: Wang Yu-tong , Chu Bin , Zhou Tian-guan , Lu Min-qiu , Shi Lei , Gao Shan , Fang Li-juan , Xiang Qiu-qing , Zhao Xin- , Wang Meng-zhen , Sun Kai , Bao Li
Published: March 2023

Objective

Precise risk stratification is increasingly essential in the management of multiple myeloma (MM) as some standard-risk (SR) patients still exhibit similar poor outcomes as genetically high-risk (GHR) patients in the era of novel agents. It has recently been demonstrated that functional high-risk (FHR) patients, those with suboptimal response to first-line induction therapy or early relapse within 12 months, have identifiable molecular characteristics from the SR group in the CoMMpass dataset. However, these findings lack practical validation in the real world.

Methods

MM cells purified by CD138 microbeads from newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients received fluorescence in situ hybridization and sequencing with a 92-gene Panel. Cytogenetic abnormalities defined GHR patients with t(4;14) or t(14;16) or complete loss of functional P53 or 1q21 gain and International Staging System (ISS) stage 3. SR group was patients who did not fulfill any criteria for GHR or FHR.

Results

There were 145 patients with NDMM, 78 in the SR group, 56 in the GHR group, and 11 in the FHR group. In the FHR group, eight patients were suboptimal responses to induction therapy, and three relapsed within 12 months. We found that male patients, patients with extra-medullary plasmacytoma (EMD), circulating clonal plasma cells (CPC) ≥0.05%, and P53 mono-allelic inactivation were significantly higher in the FHR group compared to the SR group. After a median follow-up of 21.0 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.0 months, 19.1 months and 36.6 months in the FHR, GHR, and SR groups, respectively. Compared to the SR group, FHR patients had a higher frequency of mutations in MKI67, ERN1, and EML4. GO analysis showed that mutations in FHR were enriched for oxidative stress, chromosomal segregation, and hypoxia tolerance.

Conclusion

The FHR found in the SR NDMM patient group has unique clinical features, including being male, with EMD and CPC, and genetic characteristics of mutations affecting oxidative stress, chromosome segregation, and hypoxia tolerance. In contrast to previous reports, our data suggested that patients with P53 mono-allelic inactivation should be classified in the GHR group rather than the FHR group.
Pocket ACEs: Discovering new function within an old player
Authors: Leong Matthew , Li Xiaomo , Chaum Manita
Published: March 2023

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is canonically known for its role in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) where its conversion of angiotensin I (Ang I) to the bioactive peptide angiotensin II (Ang II) helps to regulate blood pressure, electrolyte, and volume homeostasis. Further studies on ACE have shown that its enzymatic activity is relatively non-specific and functions outside of the RAS axis. Of the multiple systems it has been implicated in, ACE has been found to play an important role in the development and modulation of hematopoiesis and the immune system, both through the RAS and independently of the RAS axis.
Characteristics of plant trait network and its influencing factors in impounded lakes and channel rivers of South-to-North Water Transfer Project, China
Authors: Zhu Tianshun , Jiang Wanxiang , Shen Henglun , Yuan Juanjuan , Chen Jing , Gong Zheng , Wang Lihong , Zhang Meng , Rao Qingyang
Published: March 2023

Trait-based approaches have been widely used to evaluate the effects of variable environments on submerged macrophytes communities. However, little research focused on the response of submerged macrophytes to variable environmental factors in impounded lakes and channel rivers of water transfer project, especially from a whole plant trait network (PTN) perspective. Here, we conducted a field survey designed to clarify the characteristic of PTN topology among impounded lakes and channel rivers of the East Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project (ERSNWTP) and to unravel the effects of determining factors on the PTN topology structure. Overall, our results showed that leaf-related traits and organ mass allocation traits were the hub traits of PTNs in impounded lakes and channel rivers of the ERSNWTP, which traits with high variability were more likely to be the hub traits. Moreover, PTNs showed different structures among impounded lakes and channel rivers, and PTNs topologies were related to the mean functional variation coefficients of lakes and channel rivers. Specially, higher mean functional variation coefficients represented tight PTN, and lower mean functional variation coefficients indicated loose PTN. The PTN structure was significantly affected by water total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen. Edge density increased, while average path length decreased with increasing total phosphorus. Edge density and average clustering coefficient showed significant decreases with increasing dissolved oxygen, while average path length and modularity exhibited significant increases with increasing dissolved oxygen. This study explores the changing patterns and determinants of trait networks along environmental gradients to improve our understanding of ecological rules regulating trait correlations.
Relationship between air pollution exposure and the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Madrid: Chronic respiratory failure, hospitalizations, and mortality. A retrospective study
Authors: Mariscal-Aguilar Pablo , Gómez-Carrera Luis , Carpio Carlos , Zamarrón Ester , Bonilla Gema , Fernández-Velilla María , Torres Isabel , Esteban Isabel , Regojo Rita , Díaz-Almirón Mariana , Gayá Francisco , Villamañán Elena , Prados Concepción , Álvarez-Sala Rodolfo
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Air pollution has a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of various respiratory diseases. However, this has not been widely studied in diffuse interstitial lung diseases, specifically in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective

In this study we aimed to assess the relationship between four major air pollutants individually [carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and nitrogen oxides (NOx)] and the development of chronic respiratory failure, hospitalization due to respiratory causes and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory retrospective panel study from 2011 to 2020 in 69 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from the pulmonary medicine department of a tertiary hospital. Based on their geocoded residential address, levels of each pollutant were estimated 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months prior to each event (chronic respiratory failure, hospital admission and mortality). Data was collected from the air quality monitoring stations of the Community of Madrid located <3.5 km (2.2 miles) from each patient's home.

Results

The increase in average values of CO [OR 1.62 (1.11–2.36) and OR 1.84 (1.1–3.06)], NO2 [OR 1.64 (1.01–2.66)], and NOx [OR 1.11 (1–1.23) and OR 1.19 (1.03–1.38)] were significantly associated with the probability of developing chronic respiratory failure in different periods. In addition, the averages of NO2, O3, and NOx were significantly associated with the probability of hospital admissions due to respiratory causes and mortality in these patients.

Conclusion

Air pollution is associated with an increase in the probability of developing chronic respiratory failure, hospitalization due to respiratory causes and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Estimation of subjective quality of life in schizophrenic patients using speech features
Authors: Shibata Yuko , Victorino John Noel , Natsuyama Tomoya , Okamoto Naomichi , Yoshimura Reiji , Shibata Tomohiro
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Patients with schizophrenia experience the most prolonged hospital stay in Japan. Also, the high re-hospitalization rate affects their quality of life (QoL). Despite being an effective predictor of treatment, QoL has not been widely utilized due to time constraints and lack of interest. As such, this study aimed to estimate the schizophrenic patients' subjective quality of life using speech features. Specifically, this study uses speech from patients with schizophrenia to estimate the subscale scores, which measure the subjective QoL of the patients. The objectives were to (1) estimate the subscale scores from different patients or cross-sectional measurements, and 2) estimate the subscale scores from the same patient in different periods or longitudinal measurements.

Methods

A conversational agent was built to record the responses of 18 schizophrenic patients on the Japanese Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (JSQLS) with three subscales: “Psychosocial,” “Motivation and Energy,” and “Symptoms and Side-effects.” These three subscales were used as objective variables. On the other hand, the speech features during measurement (Chromagram, Mel spectrogram, Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient) were used as explanatory variables. For the first objective, a trained model estimated the subscale scores for the 18 subjects using the Nested Cross-validation (CV) method. For the second objective, six of the 18 subjects were measured twice. Then, another trained model estimated the subscale scores for the second time using the 18 subjects' data as training data. Ten different machine learning algorithms were used in this study, and the errors of the learned models were compared.

Results and Discussion

The results showed that the mean RMSE of the cross-sectional measurement was 13.433, with k-Nearest Neighbors as the best model. Meanwhile, the mean RMSE of the longitudinal measurement was 13.301, using Random Forest as the best. RMSE of less than 10 suggests that the estimated subscale scores using speech features were close to the actual JSQLS subscale scores. Ten out of 18 subjects were estimated with an RMSE of less than 10 for cross-sectional measurement. Meanwhile, five out of six had the same observation for longitudinal measurement. Future studies using a larger number of subjects and the development of more personalized models based on longitudinal measurements are needed to apply the results to telemedicine for continuous monitoring of QoL.
The safety and efficiency of benzoyl peroxide for reducing Cutibacterium acnes in the shoulder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fan DingYuan , Ma Jia , Liu XiaoHua , Zhang Sheng , Sun Jin , Li Yan , Jiang Bo , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2023

Background

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), a common pathogen, contributes significantly to infections in shoulder surgery. Prevention of shoulder infection is crucial to improve postoperative functional recovery and reduce costs. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficacy of 5% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) application in the shoulder to decrease C. acnes.

Methods

Three electronic databases were searched as follows: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases. Data extraction for this study was performed by two independent reviewers, and only level I and level II studies were included. The outcome data sources of individual studies were pooled. The fixed-effect model was used to determine the meta-analysis.

Results

There were five level I studies and five level II studies. The results showed that the 5% BPO group had a lower risk of C. acnes positivity [OR, 0.21 (0.15, 0.30), I2 = 24, p < 0.00001]. The pooled analysis results showed that there was no significant difference in the ability of 5% BPO and 5% BPO + clindamycin to reduce C. acnes. However, the lower rate of adverse events was significantly in favour of the non-BPO group compared with the 5% BPO group.

Conclusion

BPO can decrease C. acnes in the shoulder to prevent infection. However, the combination of BPO and clindamycin does not enhance this effect further.

Level of evidence

II, Systematic review and meta-analysis.
The Role of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Biofilms on Late-Onset Sepsis: Current Challenges and Emerging Diagnostics and Therapies
Authors: França Angela
Published: March 2023

Infections are one of the most significant complications of neonates, especially those born preterm, with sepsis as one of the principal causes of mortality. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), a group of staphylococcal species that naturally inhabit healthy human skin and mucosa, are the most common cause of late-onset sepsis, especially in preterms. One of the risk factors for the development of CoNS infections is the presence of implanted biomedical devices, which are frequently used for medications and/or nutrient delivery, as they serve as a scaffold for biofilm formation. The major concerns related to CoNS infections have to do with the increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics observed among this bacterial group and biofilm cells’ increased tolerance to antibiotics. As such, the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections with antibiotics is increasingly challenging and considering that antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment, this issue will likely persist in upcoming years. For that reason, the development of innovative and efficient therapeutic measures is of utmost importance. This narrative review assesses the current challenges and emerging diagnostic tools and therapies for the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections, with a special focus on late-onset sepsis.
Rosmarinus officinalis and Skin: Antioxidant Activity and Possible Therapeutical Role in Cutaneous Diseases
Authors: Li Pomi Federica , Papa Vincenzo , Borgia Francesco , Vaccaro Mario , Allegra Alessandro , Cicero Nicola , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: March 2023

The rosemary plant, Rosmarinus officinalis L., one of the main members of the Lamiaceae family, is currently one of the most promising herbal medicines due to its pharmaceutical properties. This research aimed to evaluate the antioxidant role of Rosmarinus officinalis and its bioactive compounds on the skin, with a focus on the newly emerging molecular mechanisms involved, providing extensive scientific evidence of its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound-healing and anticancer activity in dermatological practice. The search was conducted on articles concerning in vitro and in vivo studies in both animals and humans. The results obtained confirm the antioxidant role of R. officinalis. This assumption derives the possibility of using R. officinalis or its bioactive elements for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious skin pathologies. However, although the use of rosemary in the treatment of skin diseases represents a fascinating line of research, future perspectives still require large and controlled clinical trials in order to definitively elucidate the real impact of this plant and its components in clinical practice.
Assessment of Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in Prepubertal Children following Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diets
Authors: Rowicka Grażyna , Klemarczyk Witold , Ambroszkiewicz Jadwiga , Strucińska Małgorzata , Kawiak-Jawor Ewa , Weker Halina , Chełchowska Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Oxidant-antioxidant balance is crucial for maintaining one’s health, and the diet is possibly one of the most important factors affecting this balance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the oxidant-antioxidant balance in children on a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet. The study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2021. The concentrations of total oxidant capacity (TOC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced (GSH), and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin were measured in serum samples of 72 healthy prepubertal children (32 vegetarians and 40 omnivores). The oxidative stress index (OSI) and the GSH/GSSG ratio (R-index) were calculated. Children on a vegetarian diet had significantly lower median values of TOC, GSH, and GSSG, and higher TAC compared with the omnivores. OSI was significantly lower in vegetarians, while R-index, as well as median values of CRP and calprotectin did not differ between both groups of children. Significant negative correlations were observed between TOC and TAC levels in the whole group of children and in vegetarians. GSH and GSSG levels correlated positively in the groups of vegetarians, omnivores, and in all the children. There were significant positive correlations between TOC and GSH, as well as GSSG levels in all the studied groups of children. Our study results suggest that the vegetarian model of nutrition allows to maintain the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the serum of prepubertal children.
The Qualitative Analysis of Host–Parasitoid Model with Inclusion of Spatial Refuge Effect
Authors: Shabbir Muhammad Sajjad , Din Qamar , Alfwzan Wafa F. , De la Sen Manuel
Published: March 2023

The objective of this work was to investigate the dynamics of host–parasitoid model with spatial refuge effect. For this, two discrete host–parasitoid models were considered under spatial refuge effect. Suppose that a constant population of hosts may seek refuge and protection from an attack of parasitoids. We found the parametric factors affecting the existence of the equilibrium points and uniqueness of equilibrium points. A local stability analysis of host–parasitoid models was also carried out. Bifurcation theory was used to observe that the host–parasitoid models undergo Neimark–Sacker bifurcation. The effect of the existence of constant refuge effect on the local stability and bifurcation of models was also explored. Hybrid chaos control methodology was used to control the chaotic behavior of model. In addition, numerical simulations, bifurcation diagrams, and phase portraits of the models are also presented.
Profiling the Hsp70 Chaperone Network in Heat-Induced Proteotoxic Stress Models of Human Neurons
Authors: Alharbi Bothina Mohammed , Albinhassan Tahani H. , Alzahrani Razan Ali , Bouchama Abderrezak , Mohammad Sameer , Alomari Awatif Abdulaziz , Bin-Jumah May Nasser , AlSuhaibani Entissar S. , Malik Shuja Shafi
Published: March 2023

Heat stroke is among the most hazardous hyperthermia-related illnesses and an emerging threat to humans from climate change. Acute brain injury and long-lasting brain damage are the hallmarks of this condition. Hyperthermic neurological manifestations are remarkable for their damage correlation with stress amplitude and long-term persistence. Hyperthermia-induced protein unfolding, and nonspecific aggregation accumulation have neurotoxic effects and contribute to the pathogenesis of brain damage in heat stroke. Therefore, we generated heat-induced, dose-responsive extreme and mild proteotoxic stress models in medulloblastoma [Daoy] and neuroblastoma [SH-SY5Y] and differentiated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. We show that heat-induced protein aggregation is associated with reduced cell proliferation and viability. Higher protein aggregation in differentiated neurons than in neuroblastoma precursors suggests a differential neuronal vulnerability to heat. We characterized the neuronal heat shock response through RT-PCR array analysis of eighty-four genes involved in protein folding and protein quality control (PQC). We identify seventeen significantly expressed genes, five of which are Hsp70 chaperones, and four of their known complementing function proteins. Protein expression analysis determined the individual differential contribution of the five Hsp70 chaperones to the proteotoxic stress response and the significance of only two members under mild conditions. The co-expression analysis reveals significantly high co-expression between the Hsp70 chaperones and their interacting partners. The findings of this study lend support to the hypothesis that hyperthermia-induced proteotoxicity may underlie the brain injury of heat stroke. Additionally, this study presents a comprehensive map of the Hsp70 network in these models with potential clinical and translational implications.
Uncovering the Gene Regulatory Network of Endothelial Cells in Mouse Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Insights from Single-Nuclei RNA Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Shen Yan , Kim Il-man , Hamrick Mark , Tang Yaoliang
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which leads to heart and respiratory failure. Despite the critical impact of DMD on endothelial cells (ECs), there is limited understanding of its effect on the endothelial gene network. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of DMD on the gene regulatory network of ECs. Methods and Results: To gain insights into the role of the dystrophin muscular dystrophy gene (DMD) in ECs from Duchenne muscular dystrophy; the study utilized single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to evaluate the transcriptomic profile of ECs from skeletal muscles in DMD mutant mice (DMDmut) and wild-type control mice. The analysis showed that the DMD mutation resulted in the suppression of several genes, including SPTBN1 and the upregulation of multiple long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). GM48099, GM19951, and GM15564 were consistently upregulated in ECs and skeletal muscle cells from DMDmut, indicating that these dysregulated lncRNAs are conserved across different cell types. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the DMD mutation activated the following four pathways in ECs: fibrillary collagen trimer, banded collagen fibril, complex of collagen trimers, and purine nucleotide metabolism. The study also found that the metabolic pathway activity of ECs was altered. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), fatty acid degradation, glycolysis, and pyruvate metabolism were decreased while purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and one carbon pool by folate were increased. Moreover, the study investigated the impact of the DMD mutation on ECs from skeletal muscles and found a significant decrease in their overall number, but no change in their proliferation. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides new insights into the gene regulatory program in ECs in DMD and highlights the importance of further research in this area.
Structural and Dynamic Differences between Calreticulin Mutants Associated with Essential Thrombocythemia
Authors: Radjasandirane Ragousandirane , de Brevern Alexandre G.
Published: March 2023

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a blood cancer. ET is characterized by an overproduction of platelets that can lead to thrombosis formation. Platelet overproduction occurs in megakaryocytes through a signaling pathway that could involve JAK2, MPL, or CALR proteins. CALR mutations are associated with 25–30% of ET patients; CALR variants must be dimerized to induce ET. We classified these variants into five classes named A to E; classes A and B are the most frequent classes in patients with ET. The dynamic properties of these five classes using structural models of CALR’s C-domain were analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations. Classes A, B, and C are associated with frameshifts in the C-domain. Their dimers can be stable only if a disulfide bond is formed; otherwise, the two monomers repulse each other. Classes D and E cannot be stable as dimers due to the absence of disulfide bonds. Class E and wild-type CALR have similar dynamic properties. These results suggest that the disulfide bond newly formed in classes A, B, and C may be essential for the pathogenicity of these variants. They also underline that class E cannot be directly related to ET but corresponds to human polymorphisms.