bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soy protein concentrate replacing animal protein supplements and its impacts on intestinal immune status, intestinal oxidative stress status, nutrient digestibility, mucosa-associated microbiota, and growth performance of nursery pigs
Authors: Deng Zixiao , Duarte Marcos Elias , Jang Ki Beom , Kim Sung Woo
Published: August 2022

This study was to evaluate the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) supplementation replacing animal protein supplements on intestinal immune status, intestinal oxidative stress status, nutrient digestibility, mucosa-associated microbiota, and growth performance of nursery pigs. Thirty-two newly weaned pigs at 21 d of age with 6.4 ± 0.4 kg body weight (BW) were allotted to four treatments in a randomized complete block design with initial BW and sex as blocks. Pigs were fed for 35 d in three phases. Dietary treatments were SPC 0% (diets with fish meal 4/2/1%, poultry meal 10/8/4%, blood plasma 4/2/1%, and crude protein 24.6/22.6/20.9% for phase 1/2/3, respectively), SPC 33%, SPC 66%, and SPC 100% (SPC 0% diets with SPC replacing 33/66/100% of animal protein supplements, respectively). Pigs were euthanized on day 35 to collect jejunal mucosa and tissues to evaluate intestinal immune status, intestinal oxidative stress status, intestinal morphology, and mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum. Titanium dioxide was added in phase three diets as an indigestible marker. Ileal digesta was collected to measure apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. Data were analyzed using MIXED and NLMIXED procedures of SAS. Increasing SPC supplementation by replacing animal protein supplements linearly decreased (P < 0.05) the BW, ADG, and ADFI of pigs during the overall period, and linearly increased (P < 0.05) peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) in jejunum. Increasing SPC supplementation linearly decreased (P < 0.05) feed cost per weight gain. In the exponential model, SPC can replace animal protein supplements up to 10.5% and 16.5% without reducing the ADG and ADFI of pigs, respectively. The SPC 100% decreased (P < 0.05) Helicobacteraceae, Campylobacteraceae, alpha diversity, and changed beta diversity of microbiota in the jejunal mucosa. In conclusion, SPC supplementation replacing animal protein supplements reduced growth performance by reducing feed intake, which might be related to increased PYY. However, 10.5% and 16.8% of animal protein supplements can be replaced by SPC without affecting BW gain and feed intake of nursery pigs, respectively. Complete removal of animal protein supplements by SPC supplementation modulated the composition of jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota by reducing Helicobacteraceae and Campylobacteraceae, whereas without affecting the intestinal immune status, intestinal oxidative stress status, intestinal morphology, and AID of nutrients in nursery pigs.
Alteration of Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein-Binding Protein B in α-Synuclein Aggregates in Lewy Body Disease
Authors: Mori Fumiaki , Nakamura Yukino , Miki Yasuo , Tanji Kunikazu , Kon Tomoya , Tomiyama Masahiko , Kakita Akiyoshi , Wakabayashi Koichi
Published: August 2022

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) binds to vesicle-associated membrane protein-binding protein B (VAPB) in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Recent studies have shown that α-Syn-immunoreactive Lewy pathology is characterized by membrane crowding, including vesicular structures. To elucidate the role of VAPB and vesicular structures in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), the relationships among VAPB, vesicular structures, and Lewy pathology were investigated by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy in 8 PD and 4 DLB autopsy cases. The proportions of VAPB-negative neurons in the substantia nigra in PD and in the temporal cortex in DLB were significantly higher than those in 5 controls. In PD, the incidence of α-Syn inclusions in VAPB-negative neurons was significantly higher (77.4%) than in VAPB-positive neurons (1.6%) in the substantia nigra. In DLB, the incidence of α-Syn inclusions in VAPB-negative neurons was also significantly higher (65.3%) than in VAPB-positive neurons (2.8%) in the temporal cortex. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that α-Syn and VAPB were localized to filamentous structures of Lewy bodies (LBs). However, only a few vesicular structures labeled with anti-α-Syn were observed within LBs. These findings suggest that reduction of VAPB is involved in the disease processes of PD and DLB, although vesicular structures may not directly contribute to the formation of LBs.
Different evolutionary pathways to generate plant fructan exohydrolases
Authors: Van den Ende Wim
Published: August 2022

This article comments on:

Oku S, Ueno K, Sawazaki Y, Maeda T, Jitsuyama Y, Suzuki T, Onodera S, Fujino K, Shimura H. 2022. Functional characterization and vacuolar localization of fructan exohydrolase derived from onion (Allium cepa). Journal of Experimental Botany 73,4908–4922.
Effects of probiotic supplementation on performance of resistance and aerobic exercises: a systematic review
Authors: de Paiva Anne K F , de Oliveira Erick P , Mancini Laura , Paoli Antonio , Mota João F
Published: August 2022

Context

Strenuous exercise may lead to negative acute physiological effects that can impair athletic performance. Some recent studies suggest that probiotic supplementation can curtail these effects by reducing the permeability of the intestinal barrier, yet results are inconsistent.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review is to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on athletic performance.

Data Sources

The PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched for articles that assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation on athletic performance.

Data Extraction This systematic review is reported according to

PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed through the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Seventeen randomized clinical trials assessing athletic performance as the primary outcome were included. In total, 496 individuals (73% male) comprising athletes, recreationally trained individuals, and untrained healthy individuals aged 18 to 40 years were investigated.

Data Analysis

Three studies showed an increase or an attenuation of aerobic performance (decline in time to exhaustion on the treadmill) after supplementation with probiotics, while 3 found an increase in strength. However, most studies (n = 11) showed no effect of probiotic consumption on aerobic performance (n = 9) or muscular strength (n = 2). The most frequently used strain was Lactobacillus acidophilus, used in 2 studies that observed positive results on performance. Studies that used Lactobacillus plantarum TK10 and Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 also demonstrated positive effects on aerobic performance and strength, but they had high risk of bias, which implies low confidence about the actual effect of treatment.

Conclusion

There is not enough evidence to support the hypothesis that probiotics can improve performance in resistance and aerobic exercises. Further well-controlled studies are warranted.
Social investment as a conceptual framework for analysing well-being returns and reforms in 21st century welfare states
Authors: Hemerijck Anton , Ronchi Stefano , Plavgo Ilze
Published: August 2022

Welfare provision is often conceived through the lens of decommodification and analysed in (re)distributive terms. This article argues that a distributive approach does not sufficiently capture the complexity of 21st century welfare state dynamics. It proposes re-conceptualizing provision as a mix of three policy functions: raising and maintaining human capital stock; easing the flow of gendered life-course and labour-market transitions; guaranteeing social safety-net buffers. This analytical perspective allows theorizing life-course multiplier effects and policy (non-)complementarities, both at the level of individual objective and subjective well-being and in terms of aggregate employment, poverty and fiscal sustainability. This perspective also enables us to extend the temporal horizon of welfare politics beyond short-term electoral logics for explaining welfare reform. The article underscores how methodological pluralism remains key for understanding contemporary welfare states, and for grasping welfare outcomes and institutional change in a research endeavour that involves both generalization and contextualization.
Sedation versus General Anesthesia for Tracheal Intubation in Children with Difficult Airways: A Cohort Study from the Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry
Authors: Sequera-Ramos Luis , Laverriere Elizabeth K. , Garcia-Marcinkiewicz Annery G. , Zhang Bingqing , Kovatsis Pete G. , Fiadjoe John E. ,   for the PeDI Collaborative
Published: August 2022

Background

Sedated and awake tracheal intubation approaches are considered safest in adults with difficult airways, but little is known about the outcomes of sedated intubations in children. The primary aim of this study was to compare the first-attempt success rate of tracheal intubation during sedated tracheal intubation versus tracheal intubation under general anesthesia. The hypothesis was that sedated intubation would be associated with a lower first-attempt success rate and more complications than general anesthesia.

Methods

This study used data from an international observational registry, the Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry, which prospectively collects data about tracheal intubation in children with difficult airways. The use of sedation versus general anesthesia for tracheal intubation were compared. The primary outcome was the first-attempt success of tracheal intubation. Secondary outcomes included the number of intubation attempts and nonsevere and severe complications. Propensity score matching was used with a matching ratio up to 1:15 to reduce bias due to measured confounders.

Results

Between 2017 and 2020, 34 hospitals submitted 1,839 anticipated difficult airway cases that met inclusion criteria for the study. Of these, 75 patients received sedation, and 1,764 patients received general anesthesia. Propensity score matching resulted in 58 patients in the sedation group and 522 patients in the general anesthesia group. The rate of first-attempt success of tracheal intubation was 28 of 58 (48.3%) in the sedation group and 250 of 522 (47.9%) in the general anesthesia group (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.87; P = 0.846). The median number of intubations attempts was 2 (interquartile range, 1 to 3) in the sedation group and 2 (interquartile range, 1, 2) in the general anesthesia group. The general anesthesia group had 6 of 522 (1.1%) intubation failures versus 0 of 58 in the sedation group. However, 16 of 58 (27.6%) sedation cases had to be converted to general anesthesia for successful tracheal intubation. Complications were similar between the groups, and the rate of severe complications was low.

Conclusions

Sedation and general anesthesia had a similar rate of first-attempt success of tracheal intubation in children with difficult airways; however, 27.6% of the sedation cases needed to be converted to general anesthesia to complete tracheal intubation. Complications overall were similar between the groups, and the rate of severe complications was low.

Editor’s Perspective

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Article Tells Us That Is New
PROMIS Utilization in Pediatric Orthopaedics: A Scoping Review
Authors: Eisenberg Matthew T. , Block Andrew M. , Ganapathy Aravinda K. , Huckleby Jeremy M. , Nepple Jeffrey J.
Published: August 2022

Background:

The lack of a common patient-reported outcome metric used among the orthopaedic population is a problem that has been previously identified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was developed by the National Institute of Health with the goal of creating a precise and efficient measurement tool for patient-reported symptoms, functioning, and health-related quality of life to be used in clinical research. A study summarizing its use in the pediatric orthopaedic population has not been previously performed.

Methods:

We performed a literature search of Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 2010 to August 2021. There were 1961 unique citations included after the removal of 1756 duplicates. After initial screening, 183 studies were screened under full-text review leaving a final number of 51 studies included in this scoping review.

Results:

Pediatric PROMIS studies were grouped by body part or sub-speciality: “Hand and Upper Extremity” (25.5%, n=13), “Sports” (23.5%, n=12), “Spine” (13.7%, n=7), “Trauma” (13.7%, n=7), “General Pediatric Orthopaedics” (11.8%, n=6), “Lower Extremity” (9.8%, n=5), and “Orthopaedic Oncology” (2%, n=1). An increase in studies utilizing PROMIS was seen throughout the study period with only 3 studies published from 2013 to 2016 to 39 in 2020 and 2021 alone. The 3 most frequently used pediatric PROMIS domains were Pain Interference (76.5%, n=39/51), Mobility (60.8%, n=31/51), and Upper Extremity (54.9%, n=28/51). 64.3% (n=9/14) of the included studies which reported on the floor effects of Pain Interference exhibited a significant floor effect. In all, 77.8% (n=7/9) of the included studies which reported on ceiling effects of Upper Extremity exhibited a significant ceiling effect.

Conclusion:

The use of PROMIS increased significantly since the first publication in 2013 suggesting orthopaedic providers have increasingly utilized PROMIS in their day-to-day practice as an outcome measure. Ceiling and floor effects were prominent in several of the included domains (Pain Interference and Upper Extremity). Overall, PROMIS measures are efficient, reliable, and effective to use.

Level of Evidence:

IV.
Association between the reflection magnitude and blood pressure in a multiethnic cohort: the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study
Authors: Bouwmeester Thomas A. , van de Velde Lennart , Galenkamp Henrike , Postema Pieter G. , Westerhof Berend E. , van den Born Bert-Jan H. , Collard Didier
Published: August 2022

Aims:

Reflection magnitude (RM), the ratio of the amplitudes of the backward and forward central arterial pressure waves, has been shown to predict cardiovascular events. However, the association with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension is unclear.

Methods:

We assessed RM in 10 195 individuals of Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan origin aged between 18 and 70 years (54.2% female) participating in the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study. To determine RM, central arterial pressure and flow were reconstructed from finger BP. Hypertension was defined based on office-BP and medication. Associations with BP, hypertension, and hypertensive organ damage were assessed using linear regression models with correction for relevant covariates.

Results:

Mean RM was 62.5% (standard deviation [SD] 8.0) in men and 63.8% (SD 8.1) in women. RM was lowest in Dutch and highest in South-Asian and African participants. RM increased linearly with 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–1.46) for every 10 mmHg increase in systolic BP from 120 mmHg onwards, while the relation with diastolic BP was nonlinear. RM was 2.40 (95% CI 2.04–2.76) higher in hypertensive men and 3.82 (95% CI 3.46–4.19) higher in hypertensive women compared to normotensive men and women. In hypertensive men and women with ECG-based left ventricular hypertrophy or albuminuria RM was 1.64 (95% CI 1.09–2.20) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.37–1.52) higher compared to hypertensive participants without hypertensive organ damage.

Conclusion:

RM is associated with BP, hypertension and hypertensive organ damage, and may in part explain disparities in hypertension associated cardiovascular risk.
Exploring Meaning of Life in Women With Breast Cancer in Taiwan: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: SUN Fan-Ko , LONG Ann , TSENG Yun Shan , YAO YuChun
Published: August 2022

Background

Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer type in terms of incidence for women. Women with breast cancer endure higher levels of psychological distress than other types of cancer because many lose their identity as a woman, which is an additional characteristic of their psychological distress. Research using phenomenology to explore “the meaning of life” is rare among women with breast cancer.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of women with breast cancer on “the meaning of life.”

Methods

A phenomenological approach was used. Twenty-six women living with breast cancer drawn from a cancer treatment hospital in Taiwan participated in this study. A semistructured interview was utilized to collect the data, and Colaizzi's seven steps were used to analyze the data.

Results

Four themes emerged: (a) value of overcoming suffering, (b) value of reciprocal love, (c) value of self-transcendence, and (d) value of spiritual comfort. This means that the participants defined “the meaning of life” through the lens of suffering from cancer, reciprocal love from their families and friends, uncovering and discovering creative pathways that transformed their pain while searching for the value of their existence, and seeking spiritual guidance from religion.

Conclusions

The participants identified the most pivotal aspect of healing as transforming their pain and accepting value for their suffering. They acknowledged they could not change the fact that they had cancer, but they could learn to accept it as part of their lived experience. Healthcare professionals may use these four themes at a clinically appropriate time on women's journeys toward healing to inspire women with breast cancer to process their own unique “meaning of life.”
Role of dynamic and parametric whole-body FDG PET/CT imaging in molecular characterization of primary breast cancer: a single institution experience
Authors: Sundaraiya Sumati , T Raja , Nangia Sapna , Sirohi Bhawna , Patil Sushama
Published: August 2022

Aim

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the role of dynamic whole-body PET and parametric imaging in the biological characterization of primary breast cancer.

Materials and method

In total 24 histologically proven primary breast cancer lesions in 21 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient underwent 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose whole-body dynamic PET-CT before any treatment. Dynamic PET images were acquired in the list mode for a total duration of 70 min. The reconstructed parametric imaging generated Patlak plot-based ‘Slope’ and ‘Intercept’ images, from which parametric indices ki and DV were obtained. The standard uptake value (SUV) metric was also obtained by summing the last few frames of the dynamic study. ki, distribution volume (DV) and SUV were correlated with the histological tumor grade, biomarkers [hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) neu expression] and molecular subtypes (A, B and C) as well as with tumor size, regional nodal metastases and distant metastases.

Results

The mean ki was found to be significantly higher in grade III than II lesions (P = 0.005), HER-2 neu positive status (P = 0.04) and molecular subtype B (P = 0.04) as well as in greater than T1 lesions(P = 0.0003 and P = 0.04, respectively) and node-positive lesions (P = 0.009). Though mean ki was not found to be significant for the hormone receptors status (P = 0.08), it showed the best correlation compared to the other parameters (P = 0.8 for DV and P = 0.1 for SUV). Spearman’s correlation test, area under the curve (AUC) and mismatch percentage also revealed ki to predict tumor grade (AUC, 0.95; r = 0.7; P = 0.0001), HER-2 neu status and molecular subtypes (AUC, 0.81; r = 0.49 and P = 0.01) along with the hormone receptors status (AUC, 0.83; r = 0.32; P = 0.1). The mean DV failed to show any association with any of the biological or anatomical staging parameters. Though ki was found to be comparable to that of SUV in almost all the assessed parameters, it appeared to be better for predicting hormone receptors status even though both parameters were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Our initial observation in a small cohort of breast cancer patients suggests that ki is promising in stratifying primary breast cancer lesions according to the tumor grade and biological characteristics.
Effect of vitamin E and supragingival scaling on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with 131I
Authors: Cheng Yan , Tong Huimin , Li Xiaoqian , Zhang Xiaomin , Fang Ju , Yue Rongli , Huang Nan , Tian Jing , Yu Feiyan , Gao Ying
Published: August 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E and supragingival scaling with vitamin C on the salivary glands of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after 131I treatment.

Methods

A total of 89 prospective patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled and randomly divided into the following groups: vitamin E group (n = 30, group A), vitamin C group (n = 30, group B) and supragingival scaling with vitamin C group (n = 29, group C). Using functional indices (e.g. maximum uptake fraction, uptake index, excretion fraction, secretion time and excretion rate), changes in the salivary gland functions before and a month after 131I treatment were assessed by dynamic imaging of salivary gland.

Results

We compared the before and after 131I therapy results of the three groups. In group A (P  < 0.05), the excretion fraction and excretion rate of the left parotid gland were significantly higher, and the uptake index of the bilateral submandibular glands was significantly lower. No significant changes in salivary gland functional parameters were observed in group B (P > 0.05). The uptake index of the bilateral parotid glands and the excretion rate of the left parotid gland were significantly higher in group C (P < 0.05). The degree of serum amylase level reduction decreased significantly in group C (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Vitamin E showed a protective effect on parotid excretion function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent 131I treatment. Supragingival scaling may be a promising radiation protector because it is associated with a protective effect on the salivary gland functions.
Durable mechanical circulatory support as bridge to heart transplantation
Authors: Badiwala Mitesh , Dvirnik Nazari , Rao Vivek
Published: August 2022

Purpose of review

Durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) technology has changed over time as devices have evolved from pulsatile to continuous flow support. In this review, we discuss recent data and substantial changes to current practice as it pertains to the subject of current era durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as a bridge to heart transplantation.

Recent findings

The results of heart transplantation in patients bridged with durable LVAD support are satisfactory even after prolonged duration of support. Reports of recent experience with LVAD related infection suggest that this complication has limited impact on post-transplant outcomes. Important sex-related disparities continue to exist following durable LVAD implantation. Recent changes in the United Network for Organ Sharing donor heart allocation policy have resulted in a drastic decline in the use of durable LVAD support for Bridge to Transplant in the United States.

Durable MCS in the form of LVAD as a BTT strategy continues to evolve over time. Optimization of its role in the treatment of end-stage heart failure, particularly in females will need to be the focus of future research.
Doris Howes Calloway
Authors: Murphy Suzanne P. , Pennington Jean A. T. , Kretsch Molly J. , Kuhnlein Harriet V. , King Janet C. , Butte Nancy F. , Blackburn Mary L. , Yates Allison A.
Published: August 2022

Food composition tables (FCTs) provide the levels of nutrients and other components in foods. Researchers, dietitians, educators, the food industry, and consumers use these tables to convert food intakes into nutrient intakes to evaluate foods, meals, and diets or to plan feeding programs. Doris Howes Calloway, along with her graduate students, made many contributions to the development of accurate FCTs, including one of the first tables to have complete values for every food: the UC Berkeley Mini-List, which was later extended into tables for use in the classroom and by the public, and a table that could be used globally. Other advances include the development of tables for dietetics, Indigenous Peoples' food composition data, dietary supplement composition tables, and food composition data for use in government surveys and food labeling. Overall, this work significantly advanced the quality and quantity of FCTs available today.
Buccal Fat Pad Flap in Orthognathic Surgery: Facial Soft Tissue Volume’s Redistribution Strategy to Improve the Esthetic Outcomes
Authors: Consorti Giuseppe , Betti Enrico , Catarzi Lisa
Published: August 2022

Traditional osteotomic procedures can fail to restore the natural appearance of the face and can sometimes highlight the intrinsic decrease in the volume of soft tissues; in these cases, soft-tissue-improving procedures should be considered. The authors describe a new strategy that can help redistribute facial soft tissues and enhance facial esthetics in orthognathic surgery using a pedicled buccal fat flap to increase the volume of the malar soft tissue envelope. Between January 2017 and January 2021, 47 patients with dentoskeletal deformity who needed to increase the projection of the cheekbone contour underwent orthognathic surgery with simultaneous pedicled buccal fat pad flap for malar augmentation. Preoperative and postoperative facial appearance was evaluated by clinical examination and analysis of photographs to assess the occlusal and esthetic outcomes. A patient questionnaire was used to assess self-evaluation satisfaction scores. A good projection of the cheekbone contour was obtained, and noticeable postoperative facial esthetic improvement was observed in all patients. The overall esthetic improvement was considered “excellent” by 89.36% of patients, and facial esthetic improvement was assessed as “very much improved” or “much improved” by the clinicians in 95.7% of cases. The buccal fat pad flap is a promising and easy technique in orthognathic surgery that helps harmonize the malar region; improve esthetic outcomes with predictable and lasting long-term stability; and ensure very low morbidity and great esthetic satisfaction.
Small fiber neuropathies: expanding their etiologies
Authors: Hoeijmakers Janneke G.J. , Merkies Ingemar S.J. , Faber Catharina G.
Published: August 2022

Purpose of review

Several conditions have been associated with the development of small fiber neuropathy (SFN). The list of metabolic, immune-mediated, infectious, toxic, drugs-related, and hereditary conditions is still growing and various hypotheses are made about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Understanding these processes is important to provide new targets for treatment. In addition, the specific SFN phenotype can provide direction for the underlying etiology. This review discusses the latest developments concerning the expanding etiologies in SFN.

Recent findings

In the past 18 months, special attention has been paid to immunological etiologies, partly due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, but also new auto-antibodies in SFN have been demonstrated. Identifying patients with immune-mediated SFN can be challenging, since contrary to the classical distal sensory phenotype, a nonlength-dependent pattern is more common.

Besides the etiologies of classical SFN, small fiber pathology is increasingly described in diseases without the typical neuropathic pain features of SFN, sometimes called syndromic SFN. However, the clinical relevance is not yet fully understood.

The expansion of the etiologies of SFN continues and brings more insight in possible targets for treatment. The clinical presentation may vary as a result of the underlying condition.
Sensory neuronopathies, diagnostic criteria and causes
Authors: Antoine Jean-Christophe
Published: August 2022

Purpose of review

To stress on the diagnostic strategy of sensory neuronopathies (SNN), including new genes and antibodies.

Recent finding

SNN involve paraneoplastic, dysimmune, toxic, viral and genetic mechanisms. About one-third remains idiopathic. Recently, new antibodies and genes have reduced this proportion. Anti-FGFR3 and anti-AGO antibodies are not specific of SNN, although SNN is predominant and may occur with systemic autoimmune diseases. These antibodies are the only marker of an underlying dysimmune context in two-thirds (anti-FGFR3 antibodies) and one-third of the cases (anti-AGO antibodies), respectively. Patients with anti-AGO antibodies may improve with treatment, which is less clear with anti-FGFR3 antibodies. A biallelic expansion in the RFC1 gene is responsible for the cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) in which SNN is a predominant manifestation. Most of the patients have an adult onset and are sporadic. The RFC1 mutation may represent one-third of idiopathic sensory neuropathies. Finally, the criteria for the diagnosis of paraneoplastic SNN have recently been updated.

The diagnostic of SNN relies on criteria distinguishing SNN from other neuropathies. The strategy in search of their cause now needs to include these recent findings.
Stygiolobus caldivivus sp. nov., a facultatively anaerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon isolated from the Unzen hot spring in Japan
Authors: Sakai Hiroyuki D. , Nakamura Koichi , Kurosawa Norio
Published: August 2022

A novel hyperthermophilic, acidophilic and facultatively anaerobic archaeon, strain KN-1T, was isolated from Unzen hot spring in Japan and characterized. The cells of KN-1T were irregular cocci with a diameter of 1.0–3.0 µm that grew at 55–87.5 °C (optimum: 75 °C) and pH 1.0–5.5 (optimum: 3.0). Chemolithoautotrophic growth of KN-1T occurred in the presence of S0 or H2 under oxic conditions. Under anoxic conditions, KN-1T grew with S0, ferric citrate and FeCl3 as electron acceptors. A phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the species most closely related to KN-1T was

Stygiolobus azoricus

JCM 9 021T, with 98.9 % sequence identity, indicating that strain KN-1T belongs to the genus

Stygiolobus

. This genus has been considered to consist of obligate anaerobes since its description in 1991. However, KN-1T grew under oxic, microoxic and anoxic conditions. Moreover, KN-1Tutilized various complex substrates and some sugars as carbon or energy sources, which is also different from

S. azoricus

JCM 9 021T. The average nucleotide identity and amino acid identity values between KN-1T and

S. azoricus

JCM 9 021T were 79.4 and 76.1 %, respectively, indicating that KN-1T represents a novel species. Its main polar lipids were calditoglycerocaldarchaeol and caldarchaeol, and its DNA G+C content was 40.1 mol%. We also found that

S. azoricus

JCM 9021T grew under microoxic conditions in the presence of H2 as an electron donor, indicating that this genus does not comprise obligate anaerobes. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, we propose the novel species, Stygiolobus caldivivus sp. nov., whose type strain is KN-1T (=JCM 34 622T=KCTC 4 293T).
Identification of subgroups and development of prognostic risk models along the glycolysis-cholesterol synthesis axis in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Qian Bao , Guo Yangjie , Jiang Jiuzhou
Published: August 2022

Background

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous malignant tumors affecting human health. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Both glycolytic and cholesterogenic pathways play critical roles in metabolic adaptation to cancer.

Methods

A dataset of 585 LUAD samples was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We obtained co-expressed glycolysis and cholesterogenesis genes by selecting and clustering genes from Molecular Signatures Database v7.5. Compared the prognosis of different subtypes and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between subtypes. Predictive outcome events were modeled using machine learning, and the top 9 most important prognostic genes were selected by Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) analysis. A risk score model was built based on multivariate Cox analysis.

Results

LUAD patients were categorized into four metabolic subgroups: cholesterogenic, glycolytic, quiescent, and mixed. The worst prognosis was the mixed subtype. The prognostic model had great predictive performance in the test set.

Conclusions

Patients with LUAD were effectively typed by glycolytic and cholesterogenic genes and were identified as having the worst prognosis in the glycolytic and cholesterogenic enriched gene groups. The prognostic model can provide an essential basis for clinicians to predict clinical outcomes for patients.
Meiotic drive adaptive testes enlargement during early development in the stalk-eyed fly
Authors: Bradshaw Sasha L , Meade Lara , Tarlton-Weatherall Jessica , Pomiankowski Andrew
Published: August 2022

The sex-ratio ‘SR’ X-linked meiotic drive system in stalk-eyed flies destroys all Y-bearing sperm. Unlike other SR systems, drive males do not suffer fertility loss. They have greatly enlarged testes, which compensate for gamete killing. We predicted that enlarged testes arise from extended development with resources re-allocated from the accessory glands, as these tend to be smaller in drive males. To test this, we tracked the growth of the testes and accessory glands of wildtype and drive males over 5–6 weeks post-eclosion before males attained sexual maturity. Neither of the original predictions are supported by this data. Instead, we found that the drive-male testes were enlarged at eclosion, reflecting a greater allocation of resources to the testes during pupation. In addition, there was no evidence that the greater allocation of resources to the testes during adult development retarded accessory gland growth. There was evidence of a general trade-off with eyespan, as males with larger relative eyespan had larger accessory glands but smaller testes. These findings support the idea that enlarged testes in drive males arise as an adaptive allocation of resources to traits that enhance male reproductive success.

One sentence summary

Adaptive testes enlargement in early development ensures maintenance of fertility in stalk-eyed flies that lose half of their sperm due to meiotic drive
The Chromosome-based Genome of Paspalum vaginatum Provides New Insights into Salt-stress Adaptation
Authors: Liao Li , Hu Xu , Hao Jiangshan , Tang Minqiang , Ren Longzhou , Pan Ling , Xie Shangqian , Raymer Paul , Qi Peng , Chen Zhenbang , Wang Zhiyong , Luo Jie
Published: August 2022

Salinization is increasingly a major factor limiting production worldwide. Revealing the mechanism of salt tolerance could help to create salt-tolerant crops and improve their yields. We reported a chromosome-scale genome sequence of the halophyte turfgrass Paspalum vaginatum, and provided structural evidence that it shared a common ancestor with Z. mays and S. bicolor. A total of 107 P. vaginatum germplasms were divided into two groups (China and foreign group) based on the re-sequenced data, and the grouping findings were consistent with the geographical origin. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of visually scored wilting degree and withering rates identified highly significant QTL on chromosome 6. Combination with RNA-seq, we identified a significantly up-regulated gene under salt stress, which encodes ‘High-affinity K+ Transporter 7’ (PvHKT7), as strong candidates underlying the QTL. Overexpression of this gene in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced salt tolerance by increasing K+ absorption. This study adds new insights into salt-stress adaptation of P. vaginatum and serve as a resource for salt-tolerant improvement of grain crops.
Decoding the underlying neural activity of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Li Haolin , Guo Hong
Published: August 2022

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most prevalent chronic neurodegenerative disease, affecting more than 55 million people worldwide. AD is clinically characterized by a progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions, which implicate the cholinergic system. Activity-induced neuroprotection based on gamma oscillation–audiovisual stimuli–is shown to be possible. Bulk RNA-seq data from treatment involving sensory stimuli were obtained, and bioinformatics analyses were performed. Activity-induced neuroprotection was found to be strongly associated with the downregulation of synaptic calcium signaling and cholinergic transmission. Candidate genes were screened in consultation with the Allen Brain Atlas Transcriptomics Explorer. We propose that Chrnb4 and Plcb4 are potential therapeutic targets for AD treatment. Chrnb4 has already been identified as a potential immune-relevant drug target gene using ontology inference, network analysis, and methylation signal, while multiple studies suggest that primary phospholipase C proteins play an integral role in inducing cell death in AD. Hence, both Chrnb4 and Plcb4 should be considered for future in vitro and in vivo studies as candidate genes.
Efficacy and feasibility of the minimal therapist-guided four-week online audio-based mindfulness program ‘Mindful Senses’ for burnout and stress reduction in medical personnel: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Luangapichart Pavinee , Saisavoey Nattha , Viravan Natee
Published: August 2022

Background

Previous online mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) for burnout and stress reduction in medical personnel suffered from limited effect size and high dropout rate. The results were equivocal across studies with several limitations in their study designs. Therefore, we developed an online MBI entitled “Mindful Senses (MS)”, a minimally therapist-guided online audio-based mindfulness program, with aims to increase the effect size and lower dropout rate and tested its efficacy and feasibility with randomized active-controlled study design.

Methods

We recruited online 90 medical personnel who had moderate or high levels of burnout and stress from across Thailand. Participants were randomly allocated into Group A and B equally. Group A read four weekly Psychological Self-Help Articles (PSA) and attended the MS program during weeks 1-4. Group B read PSA during weeks 1-4 and attended MS program during week 9-12. Outcomes including burnout, stress, depression, anxiety, mindfulness, and quality of life (QOL) were measured at baseline (T0), week 4 (T1), and week 8 (T2) for both groups. Group X time interaction was analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results

MS + PSA had significantly better improvement than PSA only in burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and QOL, with medium-to-very large effect sizes (d = 1.33, 1.42, 1.04, 1.14, 0.70, and 1.03, respectively) at T1. The outcome differences remained at T2 with medium-to-large effect sizes (d = 0.84, 0.98, 0.73, 0.73, 0.66, and 0.94, respectively). The dropout rate was 4.4%.

Conclusions

MS program is an online MBI that reduced burnout and stress in medical personnel with a large effect size and low dropout rate. Its effects remained at one-month follow-up. The MS program is feasible and has a potential to be an alternative intervention for medical personnel suffering from burnout and stress.

Trial registration

thaiclinicaltrials.org TCTR20210416001
CRIC-seq reveals positional rule of PTBP1-mediated long-range RNA looping in splicing regulation
Authors: Ye Rong , Hu Naijing , Cao Changchang , Su Ruibao , Yang Chen , Xu Shihan , Xue Yuanchao
Published: August 2022

RNA-binding proteins bind at different positions of pre-mRNA molecules to promote or reduce the usage of a particular exon. Seeking to understand the working principle of these positional effects, we develop a CRIC-seq method to enrich single RBP-mediated in situ RNA-RNA spatial interacting fragments for deep sequencing. We determine hnRNPA1- and PTBP1-mediated RNA-RNA interactions and regulatory mechanisms in HeLa cells. Unexpectedly, 3D RNA map analysis shows that PTBP1-mediated loops in introns preferably promote cassette exon splicing by accelerating asymmetric intron removal, whereas the loops spanning across cassette exon primarily repress splicing. This “positional rule” can faithfully predict PTBP1-regulated splicing outcomes. We further demonstrate that cancer-related splicing quantitative trait loci can disrupt RNA loops by reducing PTBP1 binding on pre-mRNAs to cause aberrant splicing in tumors. Our study presents a powerful method for exploring the functions of RBP-mediated RNA-RNA interactions in gene regulation and disease.
Chill injury in human kidney tubule cells after subzero storage is not mitigated by antifreeze protein addition
Authors: Tomalty Heather E. , Graham Laurie A. , Walker Virginia K. , Davies Peter L.
Published: August 2022

By preventing freezing, antifreeze proteins (AFPs) can permit cells and organs to be stored at subzero temperatures. As metabolic rates decrease with decreasing temperature, subzero static cold storage (SCS) could provide more time for tissue matching and potentially lead to fewer discarded organs. Human kidneys are generally stored for under 24 h and the tubule epithelium is known to be particularly sensitive to SCS. Here, telomerase-immortalized proximal-tubule epithelial cells from humans, which closely resemble their progenitors, were used as a proxy to assess the potential benefit of subzero SCS for kidneys. The effects of hyperactive AFPs from a beetle and Cryostasis Storage Solution were compared to University of Wisconsin Solution at standard SCS temperatures (4 °C) and at −6 °C for up to six days. Although the AFPs helped guard against freezing, lower storage temperatures under these conditions were not beneficial. Compared to cells at 4 °C, those stored at −6 °C showed decreased viability as well as increased lactate dehydrogenase release and apoptosis. This suggests that this kidney cell type might be prone to chilling injury and that the addition of AFPs to enable subzero storage may not be effective for increasing storage times.
Nuclear genetic diversity of head lice sheds light on human dispersal around the world
Authors: Ascunce Marina S. , Toloza Ariel C. , González-Oliver Angélica , Reed David L.
Published: August 2022

The human louse,Pediculus humanus, is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that has coevolved with humans for millennia. Given the intimate relationship between this parasite and the human host, the study of human lice has the potential to shed light on aspects of human evolution that are difficult to interpret using other biological evidence. In this study, we analyzed the genetic variation in 274 human lice from 25 geographic sites around the world by using nuclear microsatellite loci and female-inherited mitochondrial DNA sequences. Nuclear genetic diversity analysis revealed the presence of two distinct genetic clusters I and II, which are subdivided into subclusters: Ia-Ib and IIa-IIb, respectively. Among these samples, we observed the presence of the two most common louse mitochondrial haplogroups: A and B that were found in both nuclear Clusters I and II. Evidence of nuclear admixture was uncommon (12%) and was predominate in the New World potentially mirroring the history of colonization in the Americas. These findings were supported by novel DIYABC simulations that were built using both host and parasite data to define parameters and models suggesting that admixture between cI and cII was very recent. This pattern could also be the result of a reproductive barrier between these two nuclear genetic clusters. In addition to providing new evolutionary knowledge about this human parasite, our study could guide the development of new analyses in other host-parasite systems.
Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain transportation environments and the efficacy of disinfection measures
Authors: Peng Shuyi , Li Guojie , Pathak Janak L. , Guo Xiaolan , Lin Yuyin , Xu Hao , Qiu Wenxi , Zheng Jiaying , Sun Wei , Hu Xiaodong , Zhang Guohua , Li Bing , Bi Xinhui , Dai Jianwei
Published: August 2022

Cold-chain environment could extend the survival duration of SARS-CoV-2 and increases the risk of transmission. However, the effect of clod-chain environmental factors and packaging materials on SARS-CoV-2 stability and the efficacy of intervention measures to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 under cold-chain environment remains uncertain. This study aimed to unravel cold-chain environmental factors that preserved the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and disinfection measures against SARS-CoV-2 under the cold-chain environment. The spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from Wuhan hu-1 was used to construct the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and used as model of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The decay rate of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in the cold-chain environment, various types of packaging material surfaces i.e., PE plastic, stainless steel, Teflon and cardboard, and in frozen seawater was investigated. The influence of LED visible light(wavelength 450 nm-780 nm) and airflow movement on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus at -18° C were subsequently assessed. The results show that SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus decayed more rapidly on porous cardboard surface compared with the non-porous surfaces including PE plastic, stainless steel and Teflon. Compared with 25° C, the decay rate of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus was significantly lower at low temperature. Seawater preserved viral stability both at -18° C and repeated freeze-thawing cycles compared with deionized water. LED visible light illumination and airflow movement environment at -18° C reduced the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus stability. In conclusion, our results indicate cold-chain temperature and seawater as risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and LED visible light illumination and airflow movement as possible disinfection measures of SARS-CoV-2 under the cold-chain environment.

Importance

It is widely recognized that low temperature is a condition for maintaining virus vitality, and cold-chain transportation spreads the events of the SARS-CoV-2 were reported. This study provides that the decay rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus at low temperatures varies on different packaging materials, and salt ions present in frozen foods such as seafood may protect virus survival. These results provide evidence for the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through cold-chain transport and also suggest the importance for disinfection of items. However, the commonly used disinfection methods of ultraviolet radiation and chemical reagents are generally not suitable for the disinfection of frozen food. Our study shows LED visible light illumination and airflow movement as possible disinfection measures of SARS-CoV-2 under the cold-chain environment. This has implications for reducing the long-distance transmission of the virus through cold-chain transportation.