bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of text messages intervention on pregnancy healthcare practices: A three group non-randomized controlled trial
Authors: SEZER Ayşe , KADIOĞLU Hasibe
Published: November 2021

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of text messaging and group training on health care behaviors of pregnant women. Methods: A three group non-randomized controlled design was used in this study. The study was conducted with pregnant women who applied to four family health centers in different regions of Istanbul between November and June 2018. The Health Practices in Pregnancy Scale was used to evaluate the health behaviors of pregnant. In total, 150 pregnant women were included in the study, which contained text messages group, education group, control group. The text message group received 105 messages in total, 4 text messages per week for 6 months. The education group attended three weeks of group sessions held for pregnant women. The control group received routine prenatal care in the family health center. Results: The health practice of the text message and education group were significantly higher than that of the control group. In addition, the text message group health practice scores significantly increased posttest (p0.05). Conclusion: Text messages could be an effective education method for improving the health practices of pregnant women.
Predictors of 30-Day Re-hospitalization After Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Orthopedic Ward Perspective
Authors: GELİŞGEN Ebru , ÖZYÜREK Pakize
Published: November 2021

Objective: The study was aimed to elucidate risk factors identifiable from ward-derived data of thirty-day re-hospitalization among patients undergoing total hip and total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional and prospective study. The data of the study were collected through the Patient Sociodemographic Form, the Nurse Physical Assessment and Observation Form, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale.

Results: Patients were scored using this CCI system and grouped as high (high CCI group >2, n = 49) and low CCI (low CCI group ≤2, n = 78) with a cut-off score of 2. The 30-day re-hospitalization rate was 14.2%, and the most common reason for re-hospitalization was a surgical infection.

Surgical risk, Activities of daily living dependency, and comorbidities index scores of the patients were not significantly additive effects on rehospitalization (p> 0.05). The results indicate that surgical infection was often the cause of higher rates of re-hospitalization among patients with total knee and total hip arthroplasty.

Conclusions: Conclusions: Orthopedic nurses should close observation of surgical site infection and design an effective discharge following-up order to the prevention of re-hospitalization in patients with“high risk”.
Evaluating the Styles of Coping with Stress of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis During the Covid – 19 Pandemic
Authors: EROĞLU Nermin , TOSUN Anil
Published: November 2021

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS)is among the most influential environmental factors. Quarantine days during Covid-19 outbreak can cause conditions such as anxiety, isolation stress, financial and long-term economic stress, including health concerns.The descriptive study was planned and applied with the aim of examining the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the styles of coping with stress of individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Methods: The study was carried out on 246 volunteer individuals during April2020-May2020 following the approval of the Turkey MS Association and the briefing provided to the individuals.The data were acquired via Personal Information Form and The Styles of Coping with Stress Scale.

Results: The mean age of individuals with MS was 39.41±9.06 years. Statistically significant increase was found in the sub-dimensions of optimistic and helpless approach with gender, submissive approach with marital status, helpless and submissive approach with education status, helpless, submissive and seeking social support sub-dimensions with working status (p
Robust Weighted Averaging Accounts for Recruitment Into Collective Motion in Human Crowds
Authors: Wirth Trenton D. , Warren William H.
Published: November 2021

Agent-based models of “flocking” and “schooling” have shown that a weighted average of neighbor velocities, with weights that decay gradually with distance, yields emergent collective motion. Weighted averaging thus offers a potential mechanism of self-organization that recruits an increasing, but self-limiting, number of individuals into collective motion. Previously, we identified and modeled such a ‘soft metric’ neighborhood of interaction in human crowds that decays exponentially to zero at a distance of 4–5 m. Here we investigate the limits of weighted averaging in humans and find that it is surprisingly robust: pedestrians align with the mean heading direction in their neighborhood, despite high levels of noise and diverging motions in the crowd, as predicted by the model. In three Virtual Reality experiments, participants were immersed in a crowd of virtual humans in a mobile head-mounted display and were instructed to walk with the crowd. By perturbing the heading (walking direction) of virtual neighbors and measuring the participant’s trajectory, we probed the limits of weighted averaging. 1) In the “Noisy Neighbors” experiment, the neighbor headings were randomized (range 0–90°) about the crowd’s mean direction (±10° or ±20°, left or right); 2) in the “Splitting Crowd” experiment, the crowd split into two groups (heading difference = 10–40°) and the proportion of the crowd in one group was varied (50–84%); 3) in the “Coherent Subgroup” experiment, a perturbed subgroup varied in its coherence (heading SD = 0–20°) about a mean direction (±10° or ±20°) within a noisy crowd (heading range = 180°), and the proportion of the crowd in the subgroup was varied. In each scenario, the results were predicted by the weighted averaging model, and attraction strength (turning rate) increased with the participant’s deviation from the mean heading direction, not with group coherence. However, the results indicate that humans ignore highly discrepant headings (45–90°). These findings reveal that weighted averaging in humans is highly robust and generates a common heading direction that acts as a positive feedback to recruit more individuals into collective motion, in a self-reinforcing cascade. Therefore, this “soft” metric neighborhood serves as a mechanism of self-organization in human crowds.
Viral Haplotypes in COVID-19 Patients Associated With Prolonged Viral Shedding
Authors: Wu Yingping , Zheng Shufa , Liu Tian , Liu Xueke , Tang Huina , He Yutong , Xu Wei , Li Lele , Yu Wenxu , Xing Ke , Xia Xiaoping
Published: November 2021

Background

Recently, more patients who recovered from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may later test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) again using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Even though it is still controversial about the possible explanation for clinical cases of long-term viral shedding, it remains unclear whether the persistent viral shedding means re-infection or recurrence.

Methods

Specimens were collected from three COVID-19-confirmed patients, and whole-genome sequencing was performed on these clinical specimens during their first hospital admission with a high viral load of SARS-CoV-2. Laboratory tests were examined and analyzed throughout the whole course of the disease. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out for SARS-CoV-2 haplotypes.

Results

We found haplotypes of SARS-CoV-2 co-infection in two COVID-19 patients (YW01 and YW03) with a long period of hospitalization. However, only one haplotype was observed in the other patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (YW02), which was verified as one kind of viral haplotype. Patients YW01 and YW02 were admitted to the hospital after being infected with COVID-19 as members of a family cluster, but they had different haplotype characteristics in the early stage of infection; YW01 and YW03 were from different infection sources; however, similar haplotypes were found together.

Conclusion

These findings show that haplotype diversity of SARS-CoV-2 may result in viral adaptation for persistent shedding in multiple recurrences of COVID-19 patients, who met the discharge requirement. However, the correlation between haplotype diversity of SARS-CoV-2 virus and immune status is not absolute. It showed important implications for the clinical management strategies for COVID-19 patients with long-term hospitalization or cases of recurrence.
The Grammar of Obviousness: The Palm-Up Gesture in Argument Sequences
Authors: Marrese Olivia H. , Raymond Chase Wesley , Fox Barbara A. , Ford Cecilia E. , Pielke Megan
Published: November 2021

This paper investigates the body’s role in grammar in argument sequences. Drawing from a database of public disputes on language use, we document the work of the palm-up gesture in action formation. Using conversation analysis and interactional linguistics, we show how this gesture is an interactional resource that indexes a particular epistemic stance—namely to cast the proposition being advanced as obvious. In this report, we focus on instances in which participants reach what we refer to as an ‘impasse’, at which point the palm up gesture becomes a resource for reasserting and pursuing a prior position, now laminated with an embodied claim of ‘obviousness’ that is grounded in the sequentiality of the interaction. As we show, the palm up gesture appears with and in response to a variety of syntactic and grammatical structures, and moreover can also function with no accompanying verbal utterance at all. This empirical observation challenges the assumption that a focus on grammar-in-interaction should begin with, or otherwise be examined in relation to, ‘standard’ verbal-only grammatical categories (e.g., imperative, declarative). We conclude by considering the gestural practice we focus on alongside verbal grammatical resources (specifically, particles) from typologically distinct languages, which we offer as a contribution to ongoing discussions regarding an embodied conceptualization of grammar—in this case, epistemicity.
Existence of High Temperature Geothermal Resources in the Igneous Rock Regions of South China
Authors: Li Yiman , Tian Jiao , Cheng Yuanzhi , Jiang Guangzheng , Zhang Ying , Chen Kai , Pang Zhonghe
Published: November 2021

Large areas of Yanshan period granites with high heat production values (3–10 μW/m3) and mantle plume around Hainan province co-exist in Igneous Rocks Regions of South China (IRRSC). Surface manifestations are mainly warm/hot springs with temperatures below 90 °C and no typical phenomenon of high temperature resources have been observed. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the existence of high temperature geothermal resources and their possible locations under this kind of geothermal and tectonic background by analysis of high temperature heat sources, borehole temperature measurement, and reservoir temperature estimation. Two possible partial melts of the magma chamber were detected as high temperature heat sources in the Southern Leizhou Peninsular and North Hainan Island at a depth of 8–15 km. Other low resistivity zones in the upper crust are more likely caused by fluid in the formations or faults but not high temperature heat sources. This was also verified by borehole temperature measurement in these two areas, with maximum formation temperatures of 211°C and 185°C found, respectively. Reservoir temperatures from fluid geothermometers show lower temperatures of between 110–160°C for typical geothermal fields over the IRRSC but not in the Southern Leizhou Peninsular and Northern Hainan Island. In all, high temperature geothermal resources may be found in the Southern Leizhou Peninsular and on Northern Hainan Island.
Effects of Dispositional and Instructional Time Perspective on Academic Performance and Motivations Among Primary School Students: A Concordance Hypothesis
Authors: Li Kin-Kit , Yip Hiu Yan Vincy , Wong Yuen Shan Noel
Published: November 2021

Background:Dispositional future time perspective (FTP) has been acknowledged for its benefits on academic outcomes. Lacking in the literature are 1) understanding of FTP in children, 2) experimental studies, and 3) evidence for time perspective concordance (i.e., matching between dispositional and instructional FTP yield favorable outcomes).

Aims:Therefore, this study examined whether dispositional FTP, instructional FTP, and their interaction were associated with academic outcomes including reading performance and academic motivations among primary school students.

Sample:The participants were grade-2 or grade-3 Hong Kong students (N= 92; Age:M= 8.05,SD= 0.72; 45% girls).

Methods:The participants rated their dispositional FTP and were randomly assigned to draw a picture of their future or present self with the assumption that they study hard. The students then completed a reading task and rated their intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation.

Results:Better reading scores were found in future-oriented students who drew a future self and those less future-oriented who drew a present self. No concordance effects were found on motivations. Nevertheless, the future-drawing task led to a greater extrinsic motivation than the present-drawing task.

Conclusions:Some children may have developed FTP in their middle childhood. Academic motivations may be more malleable at a younger age. When facing incongruent instructional context, more cognitive resources may be drained to resolve the dissonance and, thus, compromise the cognitive performance. Rather than a predominant focus on future achievements, a balanced emphasis on present and future or a temporally tailored instructional context for individuals may be considered in primary education.
Estimation of Onsite Factors on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Particulate Buildup in Urban Road Networks
Authors: Adak Prasenjit , Elumalai Suresh Pandian
Published: November 2021

Soil samples from the urban road and roadside often exhibit a high concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This contamination is attributed to vehicular exhaust emissions. After their release into the atmosphere, the PAH particulate matter eventually is deposited on the surface of the road and its surrounding areas. In order to develop a theoretical approach to quantify and predict the transport of PAH particulates from the atmosphere to the roadside soil, the estimation of particulate buildup in the atmosphere is a prerequisite. In the present study, empirical and temporal expressions of particulate buildup in the atmosphere have been developed. The developed site-specific expressions, coupled with other non–site-specific expressions can be used for indirect estimation of PAH particulate load in the soil of urban road networks.
Identification of Key Immune-Related Genes in the Progression of Septic Shock
Authors: Niu Jingjing , Qin Bingyu , Wang Cunzhen , Chen Chao , Yang Jianxu , Shao Huanzhang
Published: November 2021

Objective: Septic shock is the severe complication of sepsis, with a high mortality. The inflammatory response regulates the immune status and mediates the progression of septic shock. In this study, we aim to identify the key immune-related genes (IRGs) of septic shock and explore their potential mechanism.

Methods: Gene expression profiles of septic shock blood samples and normal whole blood samples were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Genotype-Tissue Expression Portal (GTEx). The differential expression genes (DEGs) and septic shock-specific immune-related genes (SSSIRGs) were evaluated and identified, along with the immune components by “cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT, version x)” algorithm. Additionally, in order to explore the key regulatory network, the relationship among SSSIRGs, upstream transcription factors (TFs), and downstream signaling pathways were also identified by Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and co-expression analysis. Moreover, the Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis was applied to find bioactive small molecules against the members of regulation network while Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and Assay for Targeting Accessible-Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) data were used to validate the regulation mechanism of the network.

Results: A total of 14,843 DEGs were found between 63 septic shock blood samples and 337 normal whole blood samples. Then, we identified septic shock-specific 839 IRGs as the intersection of DEGs and IRGs. Moreover, we uncovered the regulatory networks based on co-expression analysis and found 28 co-expression interaction pairs. In the regulation network, protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, alpha isozyme (PPP3CA) may regulate late estrogen response, glycolysis and TNFα signaling via NFκB and HLA; Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) may be related to late estrogen response and HLA; and Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) may be associated with TNFα signaling via NFκB. And the regulation mechanisms between TFs and IRGs (TLR8, PPP3CA, and KRAS) were validated by ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq.

Conclusion: Our data identify three SSSIRGs (TLR8, PPP3CA, and KRAS) as candidate therapeutic targets for septic shock and provide constructed regulatory networks in septic shock to explore its potential mechanism.
Siglecs Modulate Activities of Immune Cells Through Positive and Negative Regulation of ROS Generation
Authors: Karmakar Joyshree , Mukherjee Kaustuv , Mandal Chitra
Published: November 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a group of oxygen-containing highly-reactive molecules produced from oxidative metabolic processes or in response to intracellular signals like cytokines and external stimuli like pathogen attack. They regulate a range of physiological processes and are involved in innate immune responses against infectious agents. Deregulation of ROS contributes to a plethora of disease conditions. Sialic acids are carbohydrates, present on cell surfaces or soluble proteins. Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) recognize and bind to sialic acids. These are widely expressed on various types of immune cells. Siglecs modulate immune activation and can promote or inhibit ROS generation under different contexts. Siglecs promote ROS-dependent cell death in neutrophils and eosinophils while limiting oxidative stress associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sickle cell disease (SCD), coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), etc. This review distinguishes itself in summarizing the current understanding of the role of Siglecs in moderating ROS production and their distinct effect on different immune cells; that ultimately determine the cellular response and the disease outcome. This is an important field of investigation having scope for both expansion and medical importance.
Looking for Crumbs in the Obesity Forest: Anti-obesity Interventions and Obesity-Associated Cardiometabolic Traits in the Mexican Population. History and Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses
Authors: Garcia-Oropesa Esperanza M. , Martinez-Lopez Yoscelina E. , Ruiz-Cejudo Sonia María , Martínez-Ezquerro José Darío , Diaz-Badillo Alvaro , Ramirez-Pfeiffer Carlos , Bustamante-Fuentes Alejandra , Lopez-Sosa Elena B. , Moctezuma-Chavez Oscar O. , Nava-Gonzalez Edna J. , Perales-Torres Adriana L. , Perez-Navarro Lucia M. , Rosas-Diaz Marisol , Carter Kathleen , Tapia Beatriz , Lopez-Alvarenga Juan C.
Published: November 2021

Mexicans and Mexican Americans share culture, genetic background, and predisposition for chronic complications associated with obesity and diabetes making imperative efficacious treatments and prevention. Obesity has been treated for centuries focused-on weight loss while other treatments on associated conditions like gout, diabetes (T2D), and hypertriglyceridemia. To date, there is no systematic review that synthesizes the origin of obesity clinics in Mexico and the efforts to investigate treatments for obesity tested by randomized clinical trials (RCT). We conducted systematic searches in Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science to retrieve anti-obesity RCT through 2019 and without an inferior temporal limit. The systematic review included RCT of anti-obesity treatments in the Mexican adult population, covering alternative medicine, pharmacological, nutritional, behavioral, and surgical interventions reporting metabolism-associated traits such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, triglycerides, glucose, among others. Only the studies with at least 3 months of treatment were included in the meta-analyses in order to reduce placebo effects. We found 634 entries, after removal of duplicates and screening the studies based on eligibility criteria, we analyzed 43 national, and 2 multinational-collaborative studies. Most of the national studies had small sample sizes, and the implemented strategies do not have replications in the population. The nutrition/behavioral interventions were difficult to blind, and most studies have medium-to-high risk of bias. Nutritional/behavioral interventions and medications showed effects on BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Simple measures like pure water instead of sweet beverages decrease triglycerides and systolic blood pressure. Dark chocolate showed the highest effect for BMI and high blood pressure, and treatment with insulin increased weight in those with T2D. The study of obesity in Mexico has been on-going for more than four decades, the interest on RCT just increased until this millennium, but with small sample sizes and lack of replication. The interventions affect different cardiometabolic associated traits, which should be analyzed in detail in the population living near the Mexico-U.S. border; therefore, bi-national collaboration is desirable to disentangle the cultural effects on this population's treatment response.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020221436, identifier: CRD42020221436.
Phosphatidylserine Exposing Extracellular Vesicles in Pre-eclamptic Patients
Authors: Lalic-Cosic Sanja , Dopsaj Violeta , Kovac Mirjana , Mandic-Markovic Vesna , Mikovic Zeljko , Mobarrez Fariborz , Antovic Aleksandra
Published: November 2021

Background: Pre-eclampsia (P-EC) is associated with systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulability. The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in coagulation disturbances affecting the development and severity of P-EC remains elusive. We aimed to evaluate the concentration of EVs expressing phosphatidylserine (PS) and specific markers in relation to the thrombin and fibrin formation as well as fibrin clot properties, in pregnant women with P-EC in comparison to healthy pregnant women of similar gestational age.

Methods: Blood samples of 30 pregnant women diagnosed with P-EC were collected on the morning following admission to hospital and after delivery (mean duration 5 days). The concentration of the PS-exposing EVs (PS+ EVs) from platelets (CD42a+, endothelial cells (CD62E+), and PS+ EVs expressing tissue factor (TF) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) were measured by flow cytometry. Further phenotyping of EVs also included expression of PlGF. Markers of maternal haemostasis were correlated with EVs concentration in plasma.

Results: Preeclamptic pregnancy was associated with significantly higher plasma levels of PS+ CD42a+ EVs and PS+ VCAM-1+ EVs in comparison with normotensive pregnancy. P-EC patients after delivery had markedly elevated concentration of PS+ CD42a+ EVs, CD62E+ EVs, TF+ EVs, and VCAM-1+ EVs compared to those before delivery. Inverse correlation was observed between EVs concentrations (PS+, PS+ TF+, and PlGF+) and parameters of overall haemostatic potential (OHP) and fibrin formation, while PS+ VCAM-1+ EVs directly correlated with FVIII activity in plasma.

Conclusion: Increased levels of PS+ EVs subpopulations in P-EC and their association with global haemostatic parameters, as well as with fibrin clot properties may suggest EVs involvement in intravascular fibrin deposition leading to subsequent microcirculation disorders.
Chemerin-Derived Peptide Val66-Pro85 Is Effective in Limiting Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Skin Infection
Authors: Zegar Aneta , Godlewska Urszula , Kozłowska-Chmielewska Dorota , Majewski Pawel , Zabel Brian A. , Cichy Joanna
Published: November 2021

Chemerin-derived peptide Val66-Pro85 (p4) restricts the growth of a variety of skin-associated bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To better understand the antimicrobial potential of chemerin peptide, we compared p4 activity against MRSA in vitro to cathelicidin LL-37, one of the key endogenous peptides implicated in controlling the growth of S. aureus. The efficacy of p4 was also validated in relevant experimental models of skin pathology, such as topical skin infection with community-acquired MRSA, and in the context of skin inflammatory diseases commonly associated with colonization with S. aureus, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). We showed that p4 collaborates additively with LL-37 in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus, including MRSA, and that p4 was effective in vivo in reducing MRSA burden. p4 was also effective in reducing levels of skin-infiltrating leukocytes in S. aureus-infected AD-like skin. Taken together, our data suggest that p4 is effective in limiting S. aureus and, in particular, MRSA skin infection.
Environmental Factors Influencing Phyllosphere Bacterial Communities in Giant Pandas’ Staple Food Bamboos
Authors: Long Juejie , Luo Wei , Xie Jianmei , Yuan Yuan , Wang Jia , Kang Liwen , Li Yi , Zhang Zejun , Hong Mingsheng
Published: November 2021

The giant panda has developed a series of evolutionary strategies to adapt to a bamboo diet. The abundance and diversity of the phyllosphere microbiome change dramatically depending on the season, host species, location, etc., which may, in turn, affect the growth and health of host plants. However, few studies have investigated the factors that influence phyllosphere bacteria in bamboo, a staple food source of the giant panda. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to explore the abundance and diversity of phyllosphere bacteria in three bamboo species (Arundinaria spanostachya, Yushania lineolate, and Fargesia ferax) over different seasons (spring vs. autumn), elevation, distance from water, etc., in Liziping National Nature Reserve (Liziping NR), China. And whole-genome shotgun sequencing uncovered the differences in biological functions (KEGG and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes functions) of A. spanostachya phyllosphere bacteria between spring and autumn. The results showed that the abundance and diversity of F. ferax phyllosphere bacteria were greater than that of the other two bamboo species in both seasons. And three kinds of bamboo phyllosphere bacteria in autumn were significantly higher than in spring. The season was a more important factor than host bamboo species in determining the community structure of phyllosphere bacteria based on the (un)weighted UniFrac distance matrix. The composition, diversity, and community structure of phyllosphere bacteria in bamboo were primarily affected by the season, species, altitude, tree layer, and shrub layer. Different bacterial communities perform different functions in different bamboo species, and long-term low temperatures may shape more varied and complex KEGG and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes functions in spring. Our study presented a deeper understanding of factors influencing the bacterial community in the bamboo phyllosphere. These integrated results offer an original insight into bamboo, which can provide a reference for the restoration and management of giant panda bamboo food resources in the Xiaoxiangling mountains.
Associations Between Injury of the Parieto-Insular Vestibular Cortex and Changes in Motor Function According to the Recovery Process: Use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Authors: Park Seo Yoon , Yeo Sang Seok , Jang Sung Ho , Cho In Hee , Oh Seunghue
Published: November 2021

Background and Purpose: Parieto-insular vestibular cortex (PIVC) injury can cause symptoms such as abnormal gait and affects the integration and processing of sensory inputs contributing to self-motion perception. Therefore, this study investigated the association of the vestibular pathway in the gait and motor function recovery process in patients with PIVC injury using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Methods: We recruited 28 patients with stroke with only PIVC injury and reconstructed the PIVC using a 1.5-T scanner for DTI. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and tract volume were measured. The functional ambulatory category (FAC) test was conducted, and motricity index (MI) score was determined. These were conducted and determined at the start (phase 1), end of rehabilitation (phase 2), and during the follow-up 6 months after onset.

Results: Although the tract volume of PIVC showed a decrease in subgroup A, all of DTI parameters were not different between two subgroups in affected side (p > 0.05). The results of MI and FAC were significantly different according to the recovery process (p < 0.05). In addition, FA of the PIVC showed a positive correlation with FAC in phase 2 of the recovery process on the affected side. On the unaffected side, FA of the PIVC showed a significant negative correlation with MI in all processes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The degree of projection pathways to PIVC injury at onset time seems to be related to early restoration of gait function. Moreover, we believe that early detection of the projection pathway for PIVC injury using DTI would be helpful in the clinical evaluation and prediction of the prognosis of patients with PIVC injury.
Sho-Based Kampo Medicine Combined With Assisted Reproductive Technology Is Effective for Refractory Infertility and Early Recurrent Miscarriage: A Case Report
Authors: Yoshida-Komiya Hiromi , Ami Masafumi , Suganuma Ryota , Mitsuma Tadamichi
Published: November 2021

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is an effective treatment developed for infertile couples in the world. As a result, women suffering from infertility benefit from ART treatment. However, even when ART treatment is successfully performed, there are cases where conception is not achieved or maintained. Kampo medicine was originally developed in Japan, and Sho is the central part of Kampo concept. Although it is thought that Kampo medicine is useful for various women-specific symptoms in modern Japan, evidence is still lacking regarding the effectiveness of combination of Sho-based Kampo and Western medicine such as ART. In this article, we report a case of a patient with refractory infertility and early recurrent miscarriage (ERM) of unknown cause who successfully became pregnant with combination therapy of Kampo based on Sho and ART. The patient was a 34 year-old Japanese woman and had been treated with ART in a nearby clinic. In a 3 year period, she had undergone oocyte retrieval twice, frozen embryo transfer (FET) seven times and conceived twice. Since both conceptions ended in miscarriages and pregnancy could not be established thereafter, her clinic referred her to our hospital for Kampo treatment. As result of the diagnosis of her Sho-pattern, we chose Kampo medicine. Finally, she succeeded in conception 1.5 years after beginning treatment and was able to carry the fetus to term successfully. The current case showed that although our patient had been unable to give a birth after undergoing various western medical treatments for infertility, pregnancy was established and kept to term after addition of Sho-based Kampo treatment. Kampo medicine chosen by the Sho-patterns is useful for refractory infertility and ERM. It is important to note that examinations for evaluting the Sho-patterns are essential for selecting appropriate Kampo medicine. Sho-based Kampo leads to an increase in the effectiveness of ART treatment, and accumulation of evidence that clarifies Sho-pattern is required.
Sequential Extraction, Characterization, and Analysis of Pumpkin Polysaccharides for Their Hypoglycemic Activities and Effects on Gut Microbiota in Mice
Authors: Wu Hui-qing , Ma Zhi-li , Zhang De-xin , Wu Ping , Guo Yuan-hua , Yang Fang , Li De-yuan
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to extract polysaccharides from pumpkin, characterize the structures of four of them, and evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Additionally, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was established and used to determine their hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms related to the regulation of gut microbiota. Water-extracted crude pumpkin polysaccharides (W-CPPs), water extraction and alcohol precipitation crude pumpkin polysaccharides (WA-CPPs), deproteinized pumpkin polysaccharides (DPPs), and refined pumpkin polysaccharides (RPPs) were sequentially extracted and purified from pumpkin powder by hot water extraction, water extraction, and alcohol precipitation, deproteinization and DEAE-52 cellulose gel column, respectively. The extraction and purification methods had significant influence on the extraction yield, physicochemical properties, and in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. W-CCP and RPPs had a significant positive free radical-scavenging capacities and inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. RPP-3 not only inhibited the uptake of glucose in Caco-2 monolayer but also promoted the excretion of glucose, while RPP-2 had no inhibitory effect. Animal experiment results showed that W-CPP treatment significantly improved the T2DM symptoms in mice, which included lowering of fasting blood glucose (FBG), reducing insulin resistance (IR), and lowering of blood lipid levels. It increased the diversity of intestinal flora and reduced the harmful flora of model mice, which included Clostridium, Thermoanaerobe, Symbiotic bacteria, Deinococcus, Vibrio haematococcus, Proteus gamma, and Corio. At the family level, W-CPP (1,200 mg/kg) treatment significantly reduced the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae, and the Akkermanaceae of Verrucobacterium became a biomarker. Pumpkin polysaccharides reshaped the intestinal flora by reducing Erysipelotrichaceae and increasing Akkermansia abundance, thereby improving blood glucose and lipid metabolism in the T2DM mice. Our results suggest that W-CCP and RPP-3 possess strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, and are potential candidates for food additives or natural medicines.
miR-33b-3p Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting DOCK4 in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Mei Yu , Li Kai , Zhang Zhicheng , Li Mengmeng , Yang Hong , Wang Hui , Huang Xuemei , Li Xinyuan , Shi Shuhua , Yang Huanjie
Published: November 2021

Despite that androgen-deprivation therapy results in long-lasting responses, the disease inevitably progresses to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In this study, we identified miR-33b-3p as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. miR-33b-3p was significantly reduced in prostate cancer tissues, and the low expression of miR-33b-3p was correlated with poor overall survival of prostate cancer patients. Overexpression of miR-33b-3p inhibited both migration and invasion of highly metastatic prostate cancer cells whereas inhibition of miR-33b-3p promoted those processes in lowly metastatic cells. The in vivo results demonstrate that miR-33b-3p suppresses metastasis of tail vein inoculated prostate cancer cells to lung and lymph nodes in mice. DOCK4 was validated as the direct target of miR-33b-3p. miR-33b-3p decreased the expression of DOCK4 and restoration of DOCK4 could rescue miR-33b-3p inhibition on cell migration and invasion. Moreover, downregulation of miR-33b-3p was induced by bortezomib, the clinically used proteasome inhibitor, and overexpression of miR-33b-3p enhanced the insufficient inhibition of bortezomib on migration and invasion as well as metastasis of prostate cancer cells. In summary, our findings demonstrate that miR-33b-3p suppresses metastasis by targeting DOCK4 in prostate cancer. Our results suggest that enhancing miR-33b-3p expression may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming that proteasome inhibitor’s poor efficacy against metastatic prostate cancer.
Development and Validation of a Novel Prognostic Nomogram for CD5-Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Retrospective Multicenter Study in China
Authors: Shen Ziyuan , Wang Ling , Zhang Bingpei , Li Tianci , Li Dashan , He Chenlu , Xue Yuhao , Wang Ying , Li Bingzong , Liu Qinhua , Zhang Hao , Gu Weiying , Wang Fei , Wang Chunling , Shi Yuye , Ye Jingjing , Zhu Taigang , Miao Yuqing , Huang Shuiping , Sang Wei
Published: November 2021

Background

CD5-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (CD5+ DLBCL) is a rare subtype of DLBCL with invasive clinical features and poor prognosis. Current clinical variables based on prognostic systems for DLBCL are inadequate to accurately stratify the prognosis of CD5+ DLBCL.

Methods

A total of 195 CD5+ DLBCL patients were retrospectively recruited from nine centers in Huaihai Lymphoma Working Group. MaxStat analysis was used to identify optimal cutoff points for continuous variables; univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were used for variable selection; Kaplan–Meier curve was used to analyze the value of variables on prognosis; and C-index, Brier score, and decision curve analysis were measured for predicting model performance.

Results

The derivation and validation cohorts consisted of 131 and 64 patients. Of the whole cohort, median age at diagnosis was 61 years, of whom 100 (51.28%) were males and the 5‐year overall survival rate was 42.1%. MYC, BCL-2, and the coexpression of MYC/BCL-2 could distinguish the survival of CD5+ DLBCL. Multivariable analysis showed that age, IPI, red blood cell count, neutrophil count, MYC expression, and hepatosplenomegaly were independent predictors, and the prognostic nomogram was developed. The C‐index of the nomogram was 0.809 in the derivation and 0.770 in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis proved that compared with IPI, the specific nomogram showed a better identification in CD5+ DLBCL.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram provided a valuable tool for prognosis prediction in patients with CD5+ DLBCL.
MDM2 as a Rational Target for Intervention in CDK4/6 Inhibitor Resistant, Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Portman Neil , Chen Julia , Lim Elgene
Published: November 2021

With the adoption of inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6i) in combination with endocrine therapy as standard of care for the treatment of advanced and metastatic estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, the search is now on for novel therapeutic options to manage the disease after the inevitable development of resistance to CDK4/6i. In this review we will consider the integral role that the p53/MDM2 axis plays in the interactions between CDK4/6, ERα, and inhibitors of these molecules, the current preclinical evidence for the efficacy of MDM2 inhibitors in ER+ breast cancer, and discuss the possibility of targeting the p53/MDM2 via inhibition of MDM2 in the CDK4/6i resistance setting.
Maternal-Fetal Pharmacology of Drugs: A Review of Current Status of the Application of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models
Authors: Chaphekar Nupur , Dodeja Prerna , Shaik Imam H. , Caritis Steve , Venkataramanan Raman
Published: November 2021

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with several physiological changes that can alter the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of drugs. For certain drugs, dosing changes may be required during pregnancy and postpartum to achieve drug exposures comparable to what is observed in non-pregnant subjects. There is very limited data on fetal exposure of drugs during pregnancy, and neonatal exposure through transfer of drugs via human milk during breastfeeding. Very few systematic clinical pharmacology studies have been conducted in pregnant and postpartum women due to ethical issues, concern for the fetus safety as well as potential legal ramifications. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in the application of modeling and simulation approaches such as population PK (PopPK) and physiologically based PK (PBPK) modeling to provide guidance on drug dosing in those special patient populations. Population PK models rely on measured PK data, whereas physiologically based PK models incorporate physiological, preclinical, and clinical data into the model to predict drug exposure during pregnancy. These modeling strategies offer a promising approach to identify the drugs with PK changes during pregnancy to guide dose optimization in pregnancy, when there is lack of clinical data. PBPK modeling is also utilized to predict the fetal exposure of drugs and drug transfer via human milk following maternal exposure. This review focuses on the current status of the application of PBPK modeling to predict maternal and fetal exposure of drugs and thereby guide drug therapy during pregnancy.
MIS-C Treatment: Is IVIG Always Necessary?
Authors: Licciardi Francesco , Baldini Letizia , Dellepiane Marta , Covizzi Carlotta , Mogni Roberta , Pruccoli Giulia , Orsi Cecilia , Rabbone Ivana , Parodi Emilia , Mignone Federica , Montin Davide
Published: November 2021

Background: MIS-C is a potentially severe inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is considered the first-tier therapy, but it implies infusion of large fluid volumes that may worsen cardiac function.

Patients and Methods: Since April 2020, we have developed a treatment protocol that avoids the infusion of IVIG as first-line therapy in the early phase of MIS-C. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of consecutive patients treated according to this protocol between 01/04/2020 and 01/04/2021.

Results: In the last year, 31 patients have been treated according to the protocol: 25 with high-dose pulse MP (10 mg/kg) and 6 with 2 mg/kg. 67.7% of the patients responded to the initial treatment, while the others needed a step-up, either with Anakinra (25.8%) or with MP dose increase (6.5%). IVIG was administered in four patients. Overall, only one patient (3.2%) needed ICU admission and inotropic support; one patient developed a small coronary artery aneurysm.

Conclusions: Timely start of MP therapy and careful fluid management might improve the outcomes of MIS-C patients.
A Novel Method for the Enhancement of Composite Materials’ Terahertz Image Using Unsharp Masking and Guided Filtering Technology
Authors: Li Zhilong , Zuo Jian , Zhao Yuanmeng , Han Zhongde , Xu Zhihao , Zhao Yunzhang , Yang Chao , Hu Weidong , Zhang Cunlin
Published: November 2021

When terahertz imaging technology is used for the nondestructive testing of composite materials, the signal is often affected by the experimental environment and internal noise of the system, as well as the absorption and scattering effect of the tested materials. The obtained image has degradation phenomena such as low contrast, poor resolution of small targets and blurred details. In order to improve the image quality, this paper proposes a novel method for the enhancement of composite materials’ terahertz image by using unsharp masking and guided filtering technology. The method includes the processing steps of hard threshold shrinkage denoising based on discrete wavelet transform, amplitude imaging, unsharp masking, guided filtering, contrast stretching, and pseudo-color mapping. In this paper, these steps are reasonably combined and optimized to obtain the final resulting image. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a 150–220 GHz high frequency terahertz frequency modulated radar imaging system was used to image three commonly used sandwich structure composites, and the enhancement processing were carried out. The resulting images with significantly enhanced contrast, detail resolution and edge information were obtained, and the prefabricated defects were all detected; Five objective evaluation indexes including standard deviation, mean gradient, information entropy, energy gradient and local contrast were used to compare and analyze the processing results of different image enhancement methods. The subjective and objective evaluation results showed that the proposed method can effectively suppress the noise in terahertz detection signals, enhance the ability of defect detection and positioning, and improve the accuracy of detection. The proposed method in this paper is expected to play a positive role in improving the practicability of terahertz imaging detection technology and expanding its application fields.
Suppression of Skyrmion Hall Motion in Antiferromagnets Driven by Circularly Polarized Spin Waves
Authors: Guan S. H. , Yang Y. , Jin Z. , Liu T. T. , Liu Y. , Qin M. H.
Published: November 2021

An investigation of spin waves interacting with antiferromagnetic spin textures is meaningful for future spintronic and magnonic-based memory and logic applications. In this work, we numerically study the skyrmion dynamics driven by circularly polarized spin waves in antiferromagnets and propose a method of suppressing the Hall motion. It is demonstrated that the application of two circularly polarized spin waves with opposite chirality allows the skyrmion motion straightly along the intersection line of the two spin wave sources. The skyrmion speed depending on these parameters of the spin waves and system is estimated, and a comparison with other methods is provided. Furthermore, two depinning behaviors of the skyrmion related to the strengths of the defect are also observed in the simulations. Thus, the proposed method could be used in precisely modulating the skyrmion dynamics, contributing to skyrmion-based memory device design.