bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic appendectomy in an adult patient with situs inversus totalis
Authors: Hoang Trung V , Hoang Huan T , Vo Hoai T , Chansomphou Vichit
Published: March 2023

Left-sided appendicitis is usually caused by situs inversus totalis or midgut malrotation. Clinical and imaging diagnoses have been presented relatively fully in the literature. However, this is a rare condition, and each related case should be further reported to help the day-to-day clinician better investigate and understand. Therefore, in this paper, we present a case of left-sided acute appendicitis in an adult male patient with situs inversus totalis. In addition, we also discuss the laparoscopic technique of the left-sided appendectomy as it is technically more difficult because of the mirror nature of the anatomy.
UK intended parents’ characteristics, experiences, and views on surrogacy law reform
Authors: Horsey Kirsty , Arian-Schad Mimi , Macklon Nicholas , Ahuja Kamal K
Published: March 2023

What are intended parents’ experiences of surrogacy, understandings of the law, and views on legal reform, and how do these compare with those of surrogates? We conducted an online retrospective survey of intended parents who had treatment with a gestational surrogate in two clinics between March 2014 and October 2021. The 61 respondents ranged in age, occupation, and household income. Generally, they reported higher household incomes than surrogates, though this was not universal. Just over half of the respondents were heterosexual, while almost half were in same-sex male couples. Most were White. Over half met the surrogate through a non-profit surrogacy organization or ‘online’. Most successfully established a pregnancy on their first surrogacy journey; in most of these cases, the surrogate delivered a child. Most respondents believed surrogates should not be the legal mother and there was general support for proposed reforms that would recognize intended parents as legal parents from birth. More ambivalence was apparent in relation to finances though expense models were preferred over payment models. There was general support for advertising. The UK anticipates draft new surrogacy legislation in spring 2023. This study could inform public and parliamentary debates in the UK and elsewhere. Moreover, the results from this survey can assist in the development of good practice models for the care of intended parents on the surrogate pathway.
Different Biofluids, Small Extracellular Vesicles or Exosomes: Structural Analysis in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Using Electron Microscopy Techniques
Authors: Sharma Pratibha , Dhamija Rajinder K , Nag Tapas Chandra , Roy Ambuj , Inampudi Krishna Kishore
Published: March 2023

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) or exosomes are secretory vesicles largely involved in cell–cell communications and found to play a role in development as well as diseases including atherosclerosis. They hold a huge potential for translational research by devising better clinical diagnostics, biomarker discovery, drug delivery, and therapeutic strategies. Variations terms of morphology and distribution are crucial to biological function integrity. Moreover, it is dependent on susceptibility to influential factors of the environment like cell stress, inflammation, and secretion by different cells in subsequent biofluids. We have observed the morphological variations in sEVs or exosomes freshly isolated from patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (AsCVD), in blood plasma, saliva, and urine biofluids compared to healthy controls. High-resolution images were obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the characterization of sEVs morphology. Western blotting and immuno-TEM gold labeling confirmed the presence of exosome markers. For the first time, we report size and shape variations, which suggest the existence of different functions of sEVs in the disease state. Morphological variations in sEVs were observed significantly in noninvasive AsCVD saliva and urine samples, important to understand the cell behavior and physiological state. These variations will be useful to investigate their possible role in the disease process.
Development of General-purpose Dielectric Constant Imaging Unit for SEM and Direct Observation of Samples in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ogura Toshihiko , Okada Tomoko , Hatano Michio , Nakamura Mitsuhiro , Agemura Toshihide
Published: March 2023

Electron microscopes can observe samples with a spatial resolution of 10 nm or higher; however, they cannot observe samples in solutions due to the vacuum conditions inside the sample chamber. Recently, we developed a scanning electron-assisted dielectric microscope (SE-ADM), based on scanning electron microscope, which enables the observation of various specimens in solution. Until now, the SE-ADM system used a custom-made SE-ADM stage with a built-in amplifier and could not be linked to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) operation system. Therefore, it was necessary to manually acquire images from the SE-ADM system after setting the EB focus, astigmatism, and observation field-of-view from the SEM operating console. In this study, we developed a general-purpose dielectric constant imaging unit attached to commercially available SEMs. The new SE-ADM unit can be directly attached to the standard stage of an SEM, and the dielectric signal detected from this unit can be input to the external input terminal of the SEM, enabling simultaneous observation yielding SEM and SE-ADM images. Furthermore, 4.5 nm spatial resolution was achieved using a 10 nm thick silicon nitride film in the sample holder in the observation of aggregated PM2.5. We carried out the observation of cultured cells, PM2.5, and clay samples in solution.
Association between poor sleep quality and locomotive syndrome in middle-aged and older women: A community-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Kato Michitaka , Ozaki Etsuko , Omichi Chie , Kurita Yasunari , Nakano Satoko , Takagi Daisuke , Kuriyama Nagato , Koyama Teruhide
Published: March 2023

Objective

Poor sleep quality, such as nocturnal arousal and sleep inefficiency, is associated with frailty and sarcopenia. Herein, we evaluated the relationship between poor sleep quality and locomotive syndrome (LS), a motor organ dysfunction common among community-dwelling middle-aged and older women.

Methods

Participants comprised 2246 Japanese middle-aged and older women. LS was classified into stages LS-1, LS-2, and LS-3 (from least to most severe) according to the results of the stand-up test, two-step test, and 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Results

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were significantly higher in the LS group than that in the non-LS group (P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders identified poor sleep quality as an independent factor of LS (odds ratio 1.59 [95% confidence interval 1.30–1.93], P < .001). Similar results were observed in the sensitivity analysis in postmenopausal women. LS and trouble sleeping because of pain showed stepwise association in all LS stages.

Conclusions

Poor sleep quality was independently associated with LS among community-dwelling middle-aged and older women. As the stage of LS progressed, the proportion of women with poor sleep quality increased significantly.
Antitumor potential of platinum(II) complexes of selenium donor ligands
Authors: Ahmad Saeed , Isab Anvarhusein A , Al-Arfaj Abdul Rahman
Published: March 2023

Platinum(II) coordination compounds are widely applied in clinics as anticancer drugs. In this review, we provide a summary of the reports on cytotoxic properties of platinum(II) complexes of selenium donor ligands along with a brief description of their structural features. It has been observed that the platinum(II) complexes of selenones and selenoethers display reasonable antitumor properties and in some cases their cytotoxic activity is greater than cisplatin. The complexes containing NH3 ligands along with selenones were found to exhibit better cytotoxicity compared to the binary Pt-selenone complexes. The mechanistic insights showed that these complexes exert antitumor activity through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and induction of apoptosis. The platinum-selenoether coordination compounds can self-assemble into spherical aggregates capable of self-delivery. The self-assembled Pt-selenium aggregates induce cell apoptosis via ROS, which leads to high selectivity between cancer cells and normal cells in cytotoxicity assays.
Blood culture collection practices in NICU; A national survey
Authors: Hajjar Nicole , Ting Joseph Y , Shah Prakesh S , Lee Kyong-Soon , Dunn Michael S , Srigley Jocelyn A , Khurshid Faiza
Published: March 2023

Background

Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates. Blood cultures are the gold standard in diagnosing neonatal sepsis; however, there are currently no consensus guidelines for blood culture collection in neonates and significant practice variation exists in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) globally.

Objective

To examine current practices in obtaining blood cultures in the evaluation of neonatal sepsis in NICUs across Canada.

Methods

A nine-item electronic survey was sent to each of the 29 level-3 NICUs in Canada, which are equipped to provide highly specialized care for newborns.

Results

Responses were received from 90% (26/29) of sites. Sixty-five percent (17/26) of sites have blood culture collection guidelines for the investigation of neonatal sepsis. Forty-eight percent (12/25) of sites routinely target 1.0 mL per culture bottle. In late-onset sepsis (LOS), 58% (15/26) of sites process one aerobic culture bottle, whereas four sites routinely add anaerobic culture bottles. In early-onset sepsis (EOS) in very low birth weight infants (BW <1.5 kg), 73% (19/26) of sites use umbilical cord blood, and 72% (18/25) use peripheral venipuncture. Two sites routinely collect cord blood for culture in EOS. Only one site applies the concept of differential time-to-positivity to diagnose central-line-associated bloodstream infection.

Conclusions

There is significant practice variation in methods used to obtain blood cultures in level-3 NICUs across Canada. Standardization of blood culture collection practices can provide reliable estimates of the true incidence of neonatal sepsis and help to develop appropriate antimicrobial stewardship strategies.
Energy Efficiency and Directed Technical Change: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Casey Gregory
Published: March 2023

I develop a directed technical change model of economic growth and energy efficiency in order to study the impact of climate change mitigation policies on energy use. I show that the standard Cobb–Douglas production function used in the environmental macroeconomics literature overstates the reduction in cumulative energy use that can be achieved with a given path of energy taxes. I also show that, in the model, the government combines energy taxes with research and development (R&D) policy that favors output-increasing technology—rather than energy efficiency technology—to maximize welfare subject to a constraint on cumulative energy use. In addition, I study energy use dynamics following sudden improvements in energy efficiency. Exogenous shocks that increase energy efficiency also decrease the incentive for subsequent energy efficiency R&D and increase long-run energy use relative to a world without the original shock. Subsidies for energy efficiency R&D, however, permanently alter R&D incentives and decrease long-run energy use.
Mortality estimates and excess mortality in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Black Rachel J , Lester Susan , Tieu Joanna , Sinnathurai Premarani , Barrett Claire , Buchbinder Rachelle , Lassere Marissa , March Lyn , Proudman Susanna M , Hill Catherine L
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To determine long-term (20 year) survival in RA patients enrolled in the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD).

Methods

ARAD patients with RA and data linkage consent who were diagnosed from 1995 onwards were included. Death data were obtained through linkage to the Australian National Death Index. Results were compared with age-, gender- and calendar year–matched Australian population mortality rates. Analysis included both the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and relative survival models. Restricted mean survival time (RMST) at 20 years was calculated as a measure of life lost. Cause-specific SMRs (CS-SMRs) were estimated for International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision cause of death classifications.

Results

A total of 1895 RA patients were included; 74% were female, baseline median age 50 years (interquartile range 41–58), with 204 deaths. There was no increase in mortality over the first 10 years of follow up, but at 20 years the SMR was 1.49 (95% CI 1.30, 1.71) and the relative survival was 94% (95% CI 91, 97). The difference between observed (18.41 years) and expected (18.68 years) RMST was 4 months. Respiratory conditions were an important underlying cause of death in RA, primarily attributable to pneumonia [CS-SMR 5.2 (95% CI 2.3, 10.3)] and interstitial lung disease [CS-SMR 7.6 (95% CI 3.0, 14.7)], however, coronary heart disease [CS-SMR 0.82 (95% CI 0.42, 1.4)] and neoplasms [CS-SMR 1.2 (95% CI 0.89, 1.5)] were not.

Conclusion

Mortality risk in this RA cohort accrues over time and is moderately increased at 20 years of follow-up. Respiratory diseases may have supplanted cardiovascular diseases as a major contributor to this mortality gap.
Blocking the IFN‐gamma signal in the choroid plexus confers resistance to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Zheng Yuyin , Hu Lanxin , Yang Yuwen , Zheng Cheng , Tu Wenzhan , Lin Haiyan , Wang Haotian , Jiang Yiwei , Jiang Songhe , Zheng Wu
Published: March 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory infiltration and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). IFN‐gamma (IFN‐γ), a critically important immunomodulator, has been widely studied in MS pathology. The confusing and complex effects of IFN‐γ in MS patients and rodent models, however, cause us to look more closely at its exact role in MS. In this study, we identified the role of the IFN‐γ signaling in the choroid plexus (CP) in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. We found that the IFN‐γ signal was rapidly amplified when CNS immune cell infiltration occurred in the CP during the progressive stage. Furthermore, using two CP‐specific knockdown strategies, we demonstrated that blocking the IFN‐γ signal via knockdown of IFN‐γR1 in the CP could protect mice against EAE pathology, as evidenced by improvements in clinical scores and infiltration. Notably, knocking down IFN‐γR1 in the CP reduced the local expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines. This finding suggests that IFN‐γ signaling in the CP may participate in the pathological process of EAE by preventing pathological T helper (Th) 17+ cells from infiltrating into the CNS. Finally, we showed that the unbalanced state of IFN‐γ signaling between peripheral lymphocytes and the choroid plexus may determine whether IFN‐γ has a protective or aggravating effect on EAE pathology. Above all, we discovered that IFN‐γR1‐mediated IFN‐γ signaling in the CP was a vital pathway in the pathological process of EAE.
A Survey of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Status in China
Authors: Yin Tao. , Liang Hongyan , Huang Qi , Zhou Boting , Tang Mimi , Lou Jiang , Xiang Dong
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To understand the status of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in China Mainland, and thus lay down the foundation for further improvement in TDM.

Methods:

In the present study, a nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted, which was distributed and collected using a mobile‐based application. Clinicians, pharmacists, and clinical laboratory physicians belonging to different levels of public hospitals were involved as subjects/objects. The contents of the survey included TDM implementation in their hospital and information regarding their opinions and suggestions on TDM work. Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the difference between top tertiary hospitals and non–top tertiary hospitals.

Results:

A total of 475 questionnaires were collected, 383 from top tertiary hospitals (3A hospitals) and 92 from non–top tertiary hospitals (other than 3A hospitals). A total of 240 clinicians, TDM pharmacists, and clinical laboratory physicians were involved, with an effective rate of 50.5%. Top tertiary hospitals were associated with certain advantages, such as the number of TDM testing facilities, annual sample size, number of monitoring varieties, and interpretation rate of monitoring reports, compared with non–top tertiary hospitals. In particular, β-lactamase inhibitor, olanzapine, carbamazepine, and glucocorticoids seemed to be the main projects that clinicians wanted to assess. The drugs for which TDM was commonly performed included vancomycin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenytoin sodium, and methotrexate. The most commonly used detection methods include high-performance liquid chromatography, immunization, 2D-LC, and LC-MS. The monitoring concentration range was found to be inconsistent for most of the drugs. Currently, no unified regulation exists for TDM charges in China, which is no more than ¥200 in general. Clinicians rely on pharmacists for professional guidance. Importantly, improvement in the interpretation of monitoring reports, proficiency testing, and cooperation with clinical departments may aid in improving the level of TDM service.

Conclusions:

This survey objectively reflected the current status of TDM work in hospitals in China, and provided a strong reference base for devising strategies for improvement and effective execution of TDM work.
Strategies to Reduce Congestion in the Resident Match: What Can Plastic Surgery Learn from Other Specialties?
Authors: Ruffolo Alexis M. , Sommer Nicole Z. , Neumeister Michael W.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Many medical specialties are experiencing congestion in the residency match process because of increasing competition amongst applicants to secure a training position. With rising application numbers for a stable number of positions, the result is an inefficient use of time and financial resources on behalf of both the residency applicants and programs. Solutions to address congestion in the match process have been proposed in the literature, and other specialties have implemented specialty-wide reforms.

Methods:

The Pubmed and Web of Science databases were queried using keywords related to the residency match and resident selection. The initial search yielded 372 results. Titles and abstracts were evaluated for inclusion and 93 articles met criteria for full-text evaluation. The bibliographies of these publications were reviewed for additional references.

Results:

Numerous strategies to reduce congestion in the match were identified across specialties. Implemented reforms include a centralized preference signaling system, an interview cap, a staged or consortia match, and publication of transparent program-specific resident selection criteria. We discuss pros and cons of different strategies to reduce congestion in the match and summarize the effects that recent reforms have had on other specialties.

Conclusions:

Plastic surgery as a field is at a distinct advantage to be a leader in transforming the residency match process, as we are a small and historically innovative group. We hope to spark discussion amongst students, residents, and program faculty with the goal of creating a more efficient match process.
Allostatic Load and Depression Symptoms in Cancer Survivors
Authors: Petrova Dafina , Ubago-Guisado Esther , Garcia-Retamero Rocio , Redondo-Sánchez Daniel , Pérez-Gómez Beatriz , Catena Andrés , Caparros-Gonzalez Rafael A. , Sánchez Maria José
Published: March 2023

Background

Individuals with cancer often experience stress throughout the cancer trajectory and have a high risk of experiencing depression.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between allostatic load (AL), a measure of cumulative stress-related physiologic dysregulation of different body systems, and symptoms of depression in cancer survivors.

Methods

Participants were 294 adult cancer survivors from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2007-2018). Allostatic load was measured using 14 indicators representing cardiometabolic risk, glucose metabolism, cardiopulmonary functioning, parasympathetic functioning, and inflammation. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The relationship between AL and depressive symptoms was investigated using multiple regression adjusted for diverse sociodemographic and diagnosis variables.

Results

Higher AL was associated with higher depressive symptom scores. The higher risk of depression was concentrated among those survivors in the highest AL quartile, with 21% (95% confidence interval, 11%-32%) of survivors presenting a high risk of depression compared with 8% to 11% of survivors in the lower quartiles. In exploratory analyses, the relationship between AL and depressive symptoms was only significant among survivors with a lower income. In contrast, in survivors in the highest income group, depressive symptoms were lower and unrelated to AL.

Conclusion

High AL is associated with more depressive symptoms among cancer survivors.

Implications for Practice

Nurses have an important role in identifying psychological distress in cancer patients and survivors. Further research is needed to investigate the usefulness of AL as a marker in the context of cancer follow-up care and screening for psychological distress.
A Nationwide Survey on Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in Health Facilities in China
Authors: Han Yan , Chen Shaochun , Xu Wenqi , Shi Meiqin , Chen Kai , Liu Jun , Kim Peter , Chen Xiangsheng , Yin Yueping
Published: March 2023

Background

This study evaluated the clinical laboratory capacity for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in China to provide recommendations to improve the diagnostic capacity and quality of this clinically important sexually transmitted disease.

Methods

An electronic questionnaire-based cross-sectional, survey study was conducted by the National Center for STD Control among different types of healthcare facilities in China from July to December 2021.

Results

The surveyed laboratory facilities were located in 332 cities in 31 provinces in China. A total of 4640 records from clinical laboratories were included in the data set for the final analysis. Less than half of the laboratories (41.6% [1931 of 4640]) performed the CT diagnostic test; of these, 721 laboratories (15.5% [721 of 4640]) carried out nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) methods, and 1318 laboratories (28.4% [1318 of 4640]) performed antigen-based immunochromatographic assays. Most laboratories were equipped with biological safety cabinets (93.7% [4348 of 4640]), 49.2% (2283 of 4640) were equipped with fully automated nucleic acid extractors, and 55.2% (2560 of 4640) were equipped with polymerase chain reaction amplification instruments. The laboratories from Southern China or third-class hospitals (i.e., the highest rated hospitals) had the highest proportion using NAATs to diagnose CT among the surveyed health facilities.

Conclusions

Advancing laboratories to use NAAT to detect CT should be phased step-by-step by different areas and levels of hospitals according to the current situation.
Changes in Surgical Outcomes in a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative with Introduction of Simultaneous, Comprehensive Interventions
Authors: Silver Casey M , Yang Anthony D , Shan Ying , Love Remi , Prachand Vivek N , Cradock Kimberly A , Johnson Julie , Halverson Amy L , Merkow Ryan P , McGee Michael F , Bilimoria Karl Y ,   for the Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

Surgical quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) aim to improve patient outcomes through coaching, benchmarked data reporting, and other activities. Although other regional QICs have formed organically over time, it is unknown whether a comprehensive quality improvement program implemented simultaneously across hospitals at the formation of a QIC would improve patient outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN:

Patients undergoing surgery at 48 hospitals in the Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative (ISQIC) were included. Risk-adjusted rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality were compared from baseline to year 3. Difference-in-differences analyses compared ISQIC hospitals with hospitals in the NSQIP Participant Use File (PUF), which served as a control.

RESULTS:

There were 180,582 patients who underwent surgery at ISQIC-participating hospitals. Inpatient procedures comprised 100,219 (55.5%) cases. By year 3, risk-adjusted rates of death or serious morbidity decreased in both ISQIC (relative reduction 25.0%, p < 0.001) and PUF hospitals (7.8%, p < 0.001). Adjusted difference-in-differences analysis revealed that ISQIC participation was associated with a significantly greater reduction in death or serious morbidity (odds ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, p = 0.01) compared with PUF hospitals. Relative reductions in risk-adjusted rates of other outcomes were also seen in both ISQIC and PUF hospitals (morbidity 22.4% vs 6.4%; venous thromboembolism 20.0% vs 5.0%; superficial surgical site infection 27.3% vs 7.7%, all p < 0.05), although these difference-in-differences did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although complication rates decreased at both ISQIC and PUF hospitals, participation in ISQIC was associated with a significantly greater improvement in death or serious morbidity. These results underscore the potential of QICs to improve patient outcomes.
Vitamin D analysis in the Korean total diet study and UV/sun light
irradiated mushrooms
Authors: Seo Min-Jeong , Roh In-Hwa , Lee Jee-Yeon , Kwon Sung-Ok , Kim Cho-Il , Lee Gae-Ho
Published: March 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate vitamin D intake of Koreans in a total diet
study (TDS) and to determine the effect of irradiation on vitamin D synthesis in
mushrooms. For analysis, sample were saponified and extracted with hexane, and
vitamin D was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
(LC-MS/MS). Based on the validation results, the recovery of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference sample (SRM)
1849a was 96.7% and the z-score of −1.6 was obtained by the Food
Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) proficiency test (PT) 21115.
Vitamin D2 was not detected in any samples, and the highest level of
vitamin D3 was detected in mackerel and anchovies ranging from 24.2
to 120.2 μg/kg. The mean daily intake of vitamin D was
0.99 μg/day, as estimated from the vitamin D contents of
the analyzed foods and their corresponding intake. The adequate intake (AI) of
vitamin D based on the Dietary reference intakes for Koreans provided by the
Ministry of Health and Welfare is 5-15 μg/day for
Koreans aged 6 to 75 years. Compared with this AI, vitamin D intake of Koreans
estimated in this study was inadequate. For that, the increased vitamin D
content in ultraviolet (UV)/sun light irradiated mushrooms warrants further
research to increase vitamin D intake of Koreans through diet.
Physicochemical characteristics of carotenoid-enriched extract
prepared from persimmon peels by ultrasound-assisted extraction with soybean
oil solvent
Authors: Chung Hun Sik , Youn Kwang Sup , Lee Soo Won , Moon Hey Kyung , Kim Jong Kuk
Published: March 2023

Persimmon peels are mostly discared as a by-product of dried persimmon
manufacturing, but effective use is required as it contains various functional
constituents. This study covers the preparation of carotenoid-enriched oil by
ultrasound treatment of persimmon peel in soybean oil solvent, and the
investigation of its physicochemical characteristics. Using the Box-Behnken
design and response surface methodology, the optimal extraction conditions
(temperature, 62°C; time, 32 min; and persimmon peel to oil ratio, 1:3.1)
were determined based on the carotenoid concentration of the extract. The
physicochemical characteristics of the extract obtained under optimal conditions
and the untreated soybean oil (control) were compared. The total carotenoid
content of the extract increased. The carotenoid-enriched soybean oils had a
lighter color than the controls, but with high redness and yellowness values.
The effect of sonication and a component of the persimmon peel on the oxidation
and heating stability of soybean oil was weak. The viscosity and activation
energy of carotenoid-enriched soybean oil were slightly higher than those of the
control. Thus, it was possible to prepare yellow-red carotenoid-enriched soybean
oil by applying ultrasonic-soybean oil solvent extraction to persimmon peel. The
oil is expected to be useful as an additive as well as a substitute for general
edible oils.
Isolation and characterization of a lytic Salmonella
Typhimurium-specific phage as a potential biofilm control agent
Authors: Kim Su-Hyeon , Park Mi-Kyung
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to characterize a lytic Salmonella
Typhimurium-specific (ST) phage and its biofilm control capability against
S. Typhimurium biofilm on polypropylene surface. ST phage
was isolated, propagated, and purified from water used in a slaughterhouse. The
morphology of ST phage was observed via transmission electron microscopy. Its
bactericidal effect was evaluated by determining bacterial concentrations after
the phage treatment at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 0.01, 1.0,
and 100. Once the biofilm was formed on the polypropylene tube after incubation
at 37°C for 48 h, the phage was treated and its antibiofilm capability
was determined using crystal violet staining and plate count method. The phage
was isolated and purified at a final concentration of ∼11 log PFU/mL. It was
identified as a myophage with an icosahedral head (∼104 nm) and contractile tail
(∼90-115 nm). ST phage could significantly decrease S.
Typhimurium population by ∼2.8 log CFU/mL at an MOI of 100. After incubation for
48 h, biofilm formation on polypropylene surface was confirmed with a bacterial
population of ∼6.9 log CFU/cm2. After 1 h treatment with ST phage,
the bacterial population in the biofilm was reduced by 2.8 log
CFU/cm2. Therefore, these results suggest that lytic ST phage as
a promising biofilm control agent for eradicating S.
Typhimurium biofilm formed on food contact surfaces.
The landscape of cancer rewired GPCR signaling axes
Authors: Arora Chakit , Matic Marin , DiChiaro Pierluigi , Rosa Natalia De Oliveira , Carli Francesco , Clubb Lauren , Fard Lorenzo Amir Nemati , Kargas Giorgos , Diaferia Giuseppe , Vukotic Ranka , Licata Luana , Wu Guanming , Natoli Gioacchino , Gutkind J. Silvio , Raimondi Francesco
Published: March 2023

We explored the dysregulation of GPCR ligand signaling systems in cancer transcriptomics datasets to uncover new therapeutics opportunities in oncology. We derived an interaction network of receptors with ligands and their biosynthetic enzymes, which revealed that multiple GPCRs are differentially regulated together with their upstream partners across cancer subtypes. We showed that biosynthetic pathway enrichment from enzyme expression recapitulated pathway activity signatures from metabolomics datasets, providing valuable surrogate information for GPCRs responding to organic ligands. We found that several GPCRs signaling components were significantly associated with patient survival in a cancer type-specific fashion. The expression of both receptor-ligand (or enzymes) partners improved patient stratification, suggesting a synergistic role for the activation of GPCR networks in modulating cancer phenotypes. Remarkably, we identified many such axes across several cancer molecular subtypes, including many pairs involving receptor- biosynthetic enzymes for neurotransmitters. We found that GPCRs from these actionable axes, including e.g., muscarinic, adenosine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and chemokine receptors, are the targets of multiple drugs displaying anti-growth effects in large-scale, cancer cell drug screens. We have made the results generated in this study freely available through a webapp (gpcrcanceraxes.bioinfolab.sns.it).

Significance

Comprehensive analysis of GPCR extracellular network in cancer transcriptomics datasets reveals signaling axes associated to patient survival, whose targeting is associated with growth inhibition in cancer cell lines drug sensitivity assays.
InClust+: the multimodal version of inClust for multimodal data integration, imputation, and cross modal generation
Authors: Wang Lifei , Nie Rui , Cai Yankai , Wang Anqi , Zhang Hanwen , Zhang Jiang , Cai Jun
Published: March 2023

With the development of single-cell technology, many cell traits (e.g. gene expression, chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation) can be measured. Furthermore, the multi-omic profiling technology could jointly measure two or more traits in a single cell simultaneously. In order to process the various data accumulated rapidly, computational methods for multimodal data integration are needed. Previously, we developed inClust, a flexible all-in deep generative framework for transcriptome data. Here, we extend the applicability of inClust into the realm of multimodal data by adding two mask modules: an input-mask module in front of the encoder and an output-mask module behind the decoder. We call this augmented model inClust+, and apply it to various multimodal data. InClust+ was first used to integrate scRNA and MERFISH data from similar cell populations and to impute MERFISH data based on scRNA data. Then, inClust+ is shown to have the capability to integrate a multimodal data contain scRNA and scATAC or two multimodal CITE datasets with batch effect. Finally, inClust+ is used to integrate a monomodal scRNA dataset and two multimodal CITE datasets, and generate the missing modality of surface protein in monomodal scRNA data. In the above examples, the performance of inClust+ is better than or comparable to the most recent tools to the corresponding task, which prove inClust+ is a suitable framework for handling multimodal data. Meanwhile, the successful implementation of mask in inClust+ means that it can be applied to other deep learning methods with similar encoder-decoder architecture to broaden the application scope of these models.
Identification of a new pharyngeal mucosal lymphoid organ in zebrafish and other teleosts: tonsils in fish?
Authors: Resseguier J , Nguyen-Chis M , Wohlmann J , Rigaudeau D , Salinas I , Oehlers SH , Wiegertjes GF , Johansen FE , Qiao SW , Koppang EO , Verrier B , Boudinot P , Griffiths G
Published: March 2023

The constant exposure of the fish branchial cavity to aquatic pathogens must have driven local mucosal immune responses to be extremely important for their survival. In this study, we used a universal marker for T lymphocytes/natural killer cells (ZAP70) and advanced imaging techniques to investigate the lymphoid architecture of the zebrafish branchial cavity. We identified a new lymphoid organ, which we tentatively named “Nemausean Lymphoid Organ” (NEMO), situated below the pharynx, and closely associated with gill lymphoid tissues. Besides T/NK cells, NEMO is enriched in plasma/B cells and antigen-presenting cells embedded in a network of reticulated epithelial cells. Presence of activated T cells and lymphocyte proliferation but not V(D)J recombination or hematopoiesis, suggests a function as secondary lymphoid organ. In response to infection, NEMO displays structural changes including the formation of T/NK cells clusters. NEMO and gill lymphoid aggregates form a cohesive unit within a lymphoid network that extends throughout the pharyngo-respiratory area. Collectively, our findings reveal a new mucosal lymphoid organ reminiscent of mammalian tonsils that evolved in fish. Importantly, NEMO could clearly be identified in multiple teleost fish families.

One sentence summary

A previously unreported lymphoid organ has been identified within the pharyngo-respiratory tract of the zebrafish, and other teleost fish, providing new insights into the immune system of teleost fish and the evolution of vertebrate immunology.
The impact of female sex on anaesthetic awareness, depth and emergence: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Braithwaite Hannah E. , Payne Thomas , Duce Nicholas , Lim Jessica , McCulloch Tim , Loadsman John , Leslie Kate , Webster Angela C , Sanders Robert D.
Published: March 2023

Background

Accumulating evidence supports sex differences in pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug profiles. However, recommended anaesthetic drug doses are not sex-adjusted, likely due to limited studies comparing sexes. Our objective was to systematically synthesise studies of anaesthetic key performance indicators (anaesthesia awareness), and markers of relatively lighter anaesthesia, time to emergence and dosing to achieve adequate depth of anaesthesia, for females and males.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane library databases. Studies were identified from inception of database to August 2nd, 2022. Controlled clinical trials (randomised and non-randomised) and prospective cohort studies that reported outcomes by sex for awareness with post-operative recall, connected consciousness during anaesthesia, depth of anaesthesia, and emergence from anaesthesia. Two authors undertook search, review, selection, and data abstraction. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Results were synthesized by random effects meta-analysis where possible, or narrative form. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Of the 19,749 studies identified from literature search, 66 citations of 64 studies (98,243 participants; 53,143 females and 45,100 males) were eligible for inclusion, of which 44 contributed to meta-analysis. Females had a higher incidence of awareness with post-operative recall (33 studies, OR 1.37, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.75) and connected consciousness during anaesthesia (3 studies, OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.23) than males. Time to emergence was faster in females than in males, including time to eye-opening (10 studies, MD -2.28 min, 95% CI -3.58 to -0.98), and time to response to command (6 studies, MD - 2.84 min, 95% CI -4.07 to -1.62). Data on depth of anaesthesia were heterogenous limiting synthesis to a qualitative review which did not identify differences by sex.

Conclusion

Female sex was associated with a greater incidence of anaesthetic awareness, as well as faster emergence from anaesthesia. These data suggest reappraisal of anaesthetic care, including whether similar drug dosing for females and males represents best care. Equitable outcomes for females undergoing general anaesthesia warrants strategic focus in future research.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42022336087.
Autocorrelation analysis of a phenotypic screen reveals hidden drug activity
Authors: Dubach Richard A. , Dubach J. Matthew
Published: March 2023

Phenotype based screening is a powerful tool to evaluate cellular drug response. Using high content fluorescence imaging of simple fluorescent labels and complex image analysis, phenotypic analysis identifies subtle compound-induced cellular changes unique to compound mechanisms of action (MoA). Recently, a screen of 1,008 compounds in three cell lines was reported where phenotype analysis detected changes in cellular phenotypes and accurately identified compound MoA for roughly half the compounds. However, we were surprised that DNA alkylating agents and other compounds known to induce or impact the DNA damage response produced no activity in cells with fluorescently labeled TP53BP1 - a canonical DNA damage marker. We hypothesized that phenotype analysis is not sensitive enough to detect small changes in 53BP1 distribution and analyzed the screen images with autocorrelation image analysis. We found that autocorrelation analysis, which quantifies the clustering of fluorescently-labelled protein within the nucleus, of 53BP1 images from this screen identified higher compound activity for compounds and MoAs known to impact the DNA damage response. These results demonstrate the capacity of autocorrelation to detect otherwise undetectable compound activity and suggest that autocorrelation analysis of specific proteins could serve as a powerful screening tool for drug discovery.
The effect of virtual visual scene inclination transitions on gait modulation in healthy young vs older adults - a virtual reality study
Authors: Benady Amit , Zadik Sean , Gilaie-Dotan Sharon , Plotnik Meir
Published: March 2023

Bipedal locomotion requires body adaptation to maintain stability after encountering a transition to inclined walking. A major adaptation is the change in walking speed to maintain optimal energy consumption. When transitioning to uphill walking, people exert more energy to counteract gravitational forces pulling them backward, while when transitioning to downhill walking people break to avoid uncontrolled acceleration. This behavior is controlled by three main senses:proprioceptionandvestibular(aka body-based cues), andvisualcues. In this study, we aimed to measure the influence of the visual cues on these modulations in healthy older adults and compare it to healthy young adults. To that end, we used a fully immersive virtual-reality system embedded with a self-paced treadmill and projected visual scene that allowed us to manipulate the inclinations of the treadmill and the visual scene in an independent manner. In addition, we measured the visual field dependency of each participant using the rod and frame test. The group of older adults presented the braking (decelerating), and exertion (accelerating) effects, in response to downhill and uphill visual illusions, respectively, in a similar manner as the young group. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the intensity of the speed modulation and the visual field dependency for each group separately, however the visual field dependency was significantly higher in the elderly adults. These results suggest that with aging individuals maintain their reliance on the visual system to modulate their gait in accordance with surface inclination in the same manner as young adults.
Platelet Activating Factor Activity Modulates Hyperoxic Neonatal Lung Injury Severity
Authors: Yee Aaron J. , Kandasamy Jegen , Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Ren Changchun , Halloran Brian , Olave Nelida , Nicola Teodora , Jilling Tamas
Published: March 2023

Hyperoxia-induced inflammation contributes significantly to developmental lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is known to be a major driver of inflammation in lung diseases such as asthma and pulmonary fibrosis, but its role in BPD has not been previously investigated. Therefore, to determine whether PAF signaling independently modulates neonatal hyperoxic lung injury and BPD pathogenesis, lung structure was assessed in 14 day-old C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and PAF receptor knockout (PTAFR KO) mice that were exposed to 21% (normoxia) or 85% O2(hyperoxia) from postnatal day 4. Lung morphometry showed that PTAFR KO mice had attenuated hyperoxia-induced alveolar simplification when compared to WT mice. Functional analysis of gene expression data from hyperoxia-exposed vs. normoxia-exposed lungs of WT and PTAFR KO showed that the most upregulated pathways were thehypercytokinemia/hyperchemokinemiapathway in WT mice,NAD signalingpathway in PTAFR KO mice, andagranulocyte adhesion and diapedesisas well as other pro-fibrotic pathways such astumor microenvironmentandoncostatin-M signalingin both mice strains, indicating that PAF signaling may contribute to inflammation but may not be a significant mediator of fibrotic processes during hyperoxic neonatal lung injury. Gene expression analysis also indicated increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as CXCL1, CCL2 and IL-6 in the lungs of hyperoxia-exposed WT mice and metabolic regulators such as HMGCS2 and SIRT3 in the lungs of PTAFR KO mice, suggesting that PAF signaling may modulate BPD risk through changes in pulmonary inflammation and/or metabolic reprogramming in preterm infants.
An analysis of students’ attitudes and behaviors toward on-campus sustainable dining initiatives
Authors: Franzidis Alexia F. , Zinder Steven M. , Backston Olivia
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes toward sustainable dining. It aims to identify the level of importance that students place on specific on-campus sustainable dining initiatives and the factors that affect their attitudes and behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

A random sample of 197 undergraduate students completed an online survey in the spring semester of 2020. The survey was divided into four sections: demographic and background information; familiarity with on-campus dining, specifically with sustainable on-campus dining initiatives; the level of importance placed on these sustainable practices; and practiced sustainable behaviors.

Findings

Many students placed a high level of importance on common sustainable dining behaviors and practices such as recycling, waste reduction techniques and the use of eco-friendly utensils. Sex was found to be a significant factor in determining students’ attitudes and behaviors. While men had a higher level of knowledge of on-campus sustainable practices at the dining facilities, women consistently placed a higher level of importance on almost all sustainable dining practices. Additionally, the study also found that signage was not an effective method of influencing behavior.

Originality/value

Previous studies that have explored this topic have been limited. Additional research is needed to ascertain if better knowledge of on-campus sustainable dining initiatives can influence students’ inclinations to act more sustainably.