bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acceleration of U.S. Southeast and Gulf Coast Sea-Level Rise Amplified by Internal Climate Variability
Authors: Dangendorf Sönke , Hendricks Noah , Sun Qiang , Klinck John , Ezer Tal , Frederikse Thomas , Calafat Francisco , Wahl Thomas , Tornqvist Torbjorn
Published: September 2022

While there is evidence for an acceleration in global mean sea-level (MSL) since the 1960s, its detection at local levels has been hampered by the considerable influence of natural variability on the rate of MSL change. Here we report an MSL acceleration in tide gauge records along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts that has led to rates (>10 mmyr-1 since 2000) that are unprecedented in at least 120 years. We show that this acceleration is primarily induced by an ocean dynamic signal exceeding the externally forced response from historical climate model simulations. However, when the simulated forced response is removed from observations, the residuals are neither historically unprecedented nor inconsistent with unforced variability in simulations. Furthermore, a large fraction of the residuals can be explained by wind-driven Rossby waves in the tropical North Atlantic. This indicates that the acceleration represents the compounding effects of external forcing and internal climate variability.
Investıgatıon of The Dıagnostıc and Prognostıc Values of Some Specıfıc mıcroRNAs In Menıngıom Tumors
Authors: Dagli Hasan , Gülbahar özlem , Bulut Tuba Saadet Deveci , ŞAHİN Mustafa Çağlar , Emmez Ömer Hakan
Published: September 2022

Objective
Primary brain tumors are classified as glial or non-glial and benign or malignant. Menenjiomas are common benign intracranial tumors. Although the name meningioma refers to a tumor of the lining of the brain called the 'Meninx', it has actually been shown to originate from the spider web-shaped 'arachnoid' membrane (arachnoid cover cells). MicroRNAs are 18–22 nucleotide long, endogenous, non-protein-coding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we applied a genome-wide array screen comparing the expression of miR-145, miR-34a-3p, miR-200a, miR-335, miR-106a-5p, miR-219-5p, miR-375, miR-409-3p miR-197 and miR-224 in meningiomas.
Patients and methods
A total of 40 meningioma patients (13 men, 27 women) and healthy control individuals (12 men, 18 women) aged between 30 and 65 were inclusives in the study. The research was conducted at Gazi University Hospital.
Results
In our study, miR-197 identified as the most highly expressed miRNA in meningiomas compared to other miRNAs. miR-197, miR-34a, miR-375, miR-219 a and miR-224 stand out as potential biomarkers in human serum samples of meningiomas patients. Moreover, as per WHO classification miR-197, miR-34a, miR-375 might be used as potentail biomarkes for grade I meningioma while miR-375 for grade II meningioma.
Conclusion
The role of miRNAs in meningiomas is gaining importance each day. Therefore, our study examining the role of miRNAs in meningiomas will shed more light and pave the way for future therapeutic strategy.
Volatile sulfide compounds and oral microorganisms on the inner surface of masks in individuals with halitosis during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lee Yeon-Hee , Kim Hyeongrok , Heo Dae Wook , Ahn In-Suk , Auh Q-Schick
Published: September 2022

Mask-wearing is still recommended owing to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the closed chamber created by the mask, people are increasingly self-aware of their oral malodor. This study aimed to measure volatile sulfide compound (VSC) levels in patients with halitosis and investigate the oral microbiome profile on the inner surface of their masks. We also investigated which oral microbiota increases VSC levels and whether the oral microbiomes of oral saliva and mask are correlated. A total of 50 subjects (41 women, average age 38.12 ± 12.58 years old) were included in the study, 25 healthy subjects and 25 patients with halitosis who wore masks for more than 3 hours. The dominant bacterial species, bacterial profile, and Shannon diversity index of whole unstimulated saliva and the inner surface of the mask were investigated. The bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes of the major oral bacterial species were analyzed using real-time PCR. Gas chromatography was used to measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), which are representative VSCs. The total bacterial DNA copy number was significantly higher in the saliva sample than in the mask sample (p < 0.001), and the average value was 276 times greater. Shannon diversity index was also significantly higher in saliva than in the inner surface of the mask (2.62 ± 0.81 vs. 1.15 ± 1.52, p < 0.001). The most common Gram-negative and Gram-positive species in the masks were Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Lactobacillus casei (Lc), respectively. The bacterial species with significant positive correlations between saliva and mask samples were Prevotella intermedia (Pi) (r = 0.324, p = 0.022), Eikenella corrodens (r = 0.309, p = 0.029), Lc (r = 0.293, p = 0.039), and Parvimonas micra (Pm) (r = 0.366, p = 0.009). The mean value of CH3SH was significantly higher in the halitosis group than in the non-halitosis group (17.84 ± 29.00 vs. 3.84 ± 10.57 ppb, p = 0.031). In the halitosis group, the DNA copy numbers and VSC levels showed highly positive correlation coefficients in the order Pg, Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Pi, and Prevotella nigrescens (Pn) (all p < 0.05). Regarding bacterial profiles of the mask, Td was strongly correlated with CH3SH (r = 0.414, p = 0.040) and total VSCs (r = 0.374, p = 0.033) only in halitosis group. Mask-wearing time was strongly correlated with total VSCs, H2S, and CH3SH (all r > 0.8, p < 0.001). Oral bacteria, whose association with halitosis has been identified, increased VSC levels in mask-wearing subjects during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the number of Gram-negative anaerobes such as Pg and Td. Mask-wearing time was a major factor in increasing VSC levels. The study results suggest that people with halitosis could control these Gram-negative bacteria by managing oral hygiene and regularly changing masks.
Biochar-promoted methane production and mitigation of acidification during thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of food waste with crude glycerol: Comparison with re-inoculation
Authors: Li Xiaojue , Shimizu Naoto
Published: September 2022

Food waste and crude glycerol were anaerobically co-digested for 100 days at 52 ± 1°C with a volatile solids loading rate of 1.0 g L− 1 d− 1. This long-term thermophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) system encountered severe inhibition from volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The study investigated the impacts of re-inoculation (RI) and biochar addition (BA) on this AD process, and monitored the variation of pH, VFAs, total alkalinity, total ammonia nitrogen, and electrical conductivity during treatment. RI treatment was effective in the short term by recovering reactivity after inhibited sludge was mixed 1:1 with active inoculant. In the long term, RI could not reverse process imbalance and finally failed on day 56. Superior performance in methane production and process stability was observed in BA reactors when compared with control and RI reactors. Overall, the biochar contributed to alkalinity and facilitated the activation of methanogenesis and stimulated the conversion of VFAs.
ADAR1-dependent miR-3144-3p editing simultaneously induces MSI2 and suppresses SLC38A4 in liver cancer
Authors: Nam Suk Woo , Kim Hyung Seok , Na Min Jeong , Son Keun Hong , Yang Hee Doo , Kim Sang Yean , Shin Eunbi , Ha Jin Woong , Jeon Soyoung , Kang Keunsoo , Moon Kiho , Park Won Sang
Published: September 2022

Aberrant adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, catalyzed by adenosine deaminase acting on double-stranded RNA (ADAR), is implicated in various cancers, but the mechanisms by which microRNA (miRNA) editing contributes to cancer development are currently largely unknown. Our multi-step hepatocellular carcinogenesis transcriptome data analyses, together with publicly available data, indicated that ADAR1 is the most dysregulated gene among the RNA editing enzyme families in liver cancer. Targeted inactivation of ADAR1 inhibits in vitro tumorigenesis of liver cancer cells. Integrative computational analyses of RNA editing hotspots and the editing frequency of miRNAs suggested miR-3144-3p a potential mRNA edited by ADAR1 in liver cancer progression. ADAR1 promoted A-to-I editing of the canonical miR-3144-3p to change position 3 adenosine in the seed region to guanine (ED_miR-3144-3p(3_A < G)) in liver cancer cells. We then demonstrated that Musashi RNA-binding protein 2 (MSI2) is a specific target of miR-3144-3p, and that MSI2 overexpression is due to ADAR1-dependent over-editing of the canonical miR-3144-3p in liver cancer. In addition, target prediction analyses and validation experiments identified solute carrier family 38 member 4 (SLC38A4) as specific target gene for ED_miR-3144-3p(3_A < G). Ectopic expressions of both ADAR1 and ED_miR-3144-3p(3_A < G) mimics enhanced mitotic activities and that ADAR1 suppressed SLC38A4 in liver cancer cells. Treatments with mouse-specific ADAR1-, MSI2-siRNA or SLC39A4-expressing plasmids suppressed tumor incidence and growth in a spontaneous mouse liver cancer model. Our findings suggest that aberrant regulation of ADAR1 augments oncogenic MSI2 via overediting the canonical miR-3144-3p, and the resultant ED_miR-3144-3p(3_A < G) simultaneously suppresses tumor suppressor SLC38A4, thereby contributing to hepatocellular carcinogenesis.
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids affect longevity, heat tolerance, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane potential in Daphnia.
Authors: Yampolsky Lev Y. , Moore Taraysha D , Martin-Creuzburg Dominik
Published: September 2022

The dietary supply with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) crucially affects animals’ performance at different temperatures. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are still insufficiently understood. Here, we analyzed lifespan and heat tolerance of four genotypes of Daphnia magna reared on either the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus that lacks long-chain (>C18) PUFA, or a the heterokont alga Nannochloropsis limnetica that contains C20 PUFA, both either at saturating and near-starvation levels. A significant genotype-by-diet interaction in lifespan was observed at saturating diets, the C20 PUFA-rich diet eliminating differences in lifespan among genotypes observed on the PUFA-deficient diet. Corrected for body length, acute heat tolerance was higher at low than at high food concentration, except for the youngest ages. Genotypes differed significantly in heat tolerance, but there was no genotype-by-diet interactions. As predicted, the C20 PUFA-rich diet resulted in higher lipid peroxidation (LPO) and a lower mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and LPO levels averaged across clones and rearing conditions were inversely related to acute heat tolerance. Yet, heat tolerance was higher on the PUFA-rich diet than on the PUFA-deficient diet, particularly in older Daphnia , indicating that the C20 PUFA-rich diet allowed Daphnia to compensate for higher LPO. In contrast, Daphnia with intermediate levels of ΔΨm showed the lowest heat tolerance. Neither LPO nor ΔΨm explained the diet effects on lifespan. We hypothesize that antioxidants present in the PUFA-rich diet may have enabled higher heat tolerance of Daphnia despite higher LPO and may also explain the lifespan expansion of otherwise short-lived genotypes.
Factors associated with recent and regular non-use of dental services by students from a university in southeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Cunha Rafaela de Oliveira , Leite Isabel Cristina Gonçalves
Published: September 2022

Background
Lack of use of dental services can be a risk factor for oral health. In addition to recent visits to dental services, it is important to assess the regularity of use of these services, as well as the motivations for visiting the dentist. There is a gap in literature studies on the patterns of use of oral health services by the young university students. The goal of this study was to assess the factors associated with recent and regular non-use of dental services by young university students, using the Andersen model as a reference.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study with 477 university students between 18 and 24 years old, carried out as a web survey, through which predisposing, enabling and need variables were collected, according to the model proposed by Andersen, to test the factors associated with recent and regular non-use of dental services. Bivariate analyses and robust Poisson regression were performed, with estimation of crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, using confidence intervals of 95%. The variables with p < 0.05 remained in the final model.
Results
The prevalence of recent non-use was of 19.5% (95%CI 16.0–23.3%), and of regular non-use, of 53.5% (95%CI 48.9–58.0%). After the adjusted analysis, the following were found to be associated with the outcome of recent non-use: type of service used (PR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.85–0.98) and perceived need for dental treatment (PR = 0.98; 95%CI 0.97–0.99); and the following variables were associated with regular non-use: father’s level of education (PR = 0.86; 95%CI 0.78–0.96), area of study (PR = 1.08; 95%CI 1.02–1.15), reason for last dental appointment (PR = 0.81; 95%CI 0.75–0.88), use of dental services throughout childhood (PR = 0.92; 95%CI 0.86–0.97), self-perceived oral health (PR = 0.86; 95%CI 0.76–0.88), and toothaches over the last 2 years (PR = 0.93; 95%CI 0.87–0.99).
Conclusions
The motivation for young university students to use dental services are curative treatment needs, not prevention. The results point to the need to implement health prevention and promotion policies in higher education institutions and to expand access to dental services for this young population.
Distribution of upper gastro-intestinal pathology by endoscopic evaluation and assessment of H. pylori colonization in malnourished Bangladeshi population: A descriptive study
Authors: Hossain Md. Shabab , Rahman M Masudur , Mazumder Ramendra Nath , Sarker Shafiqul Alam , Mahfuz Mustafa , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: September 2022

Background

There is paucity of knowledge on the macroscopic appearance of the gut in malnourished adults. Such data is strikingly lacking in chronic malnourished children aged between 12–24 months. We, therefore, aimed to explore the upper-gastrointestinal (UGI) pathology in both this population, compare differences and evaluate H.pylori colonization in the malnourished adult gut.

Methods

Data was collected from the BEED (Bangladesh Environmental Enteric Dysfunction) study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh. To address the association of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) with childhood stunting and adult malnutrition, UGI endoscopy was performed in 120 children (60 stunted, length-for-age Z-scores [LAZ]<-2 and 60 at risk of stunting, LAZ <-1 to -2) and 58 malnourished adults (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2). Presence of pathologies during endoscopy was noted, Rapid Urease Test (RUT) was done on biopsies obtained from distal antrum of adults, clinical features of dyspepsia was recorded, and stool for H. pylori antigen (HpSA) using ELISA was tested. RUT positive dyspeptic patients were treated with 14-day Clarithromycin based triple therapy. Correlation between the findings was analyzed.

Results

The mean age of the children was 18 ± 2 months and that of adults was 25 ± 7 years. Of the 120 children, only one child revealed lymphoid hyperplasia at the second part of duodenum, while the others had normal findings in upper GI endoscopy. More than half of the malnourished adults (55%) had normal findings, 10 (18%) had antral erosive gastritis, 6 (10%) had antral non-erosive gastritis, 6 (10%) had polyps and 2 (3%) had gastric ulcer. 25 (43%) of these adults had dyspeptic symptoms, 49 (85%) were HpSA positive and 48 (83%) were RUT positive. More than 90% of the RUT positive cases were dyspeptic (p < 0.05). A sub-analysis on the impact of triple therapy on RUT positive symptomatic patients showed, the erosive group responded better than the non-erosive group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Children irrespective of nutritional status exhibited normal UGI endoscopy findings; however, malnourished adults were often diagnosed with abnormal GI findings, antral gastritis being the most prevalent pathology. Erosive gastritis responded significantly better to triple therapy. Both RUT and HpSA yielded significantly similar results in detecting H.pylori infection.
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02812615 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=NCT02812615&term=&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=)
Date of first registration: 24/06/2016
Networks in Japanese Regional Agro-food Economies: An Empirical Exploration of the Network Linkage Model
Authors: Ishikawa Kiyotaka
Published: September 2022

Network linkage is important in evaluating macroeconomic performance since input‒output networks across industries are asymmetric and respond differently to external shocks. While most studies implicitly assume elastic substitution between intermediates and factors using Cobb‒Douglas models, this is often improbable since the input‒output structure may change due to the shocks, which would be observed as nonlinearities in macroeconomic impacts on sectoral shocks. Additionally, considering regionally located sectors such as the agriculture and food-processing industries, the propagation of sectoral shocks can be interregionally correlated. This study employs the network linkage model to empirically verify the interaction of agro-food sectoral shocks in regional outcomes. By comparing the network effects influencing the national economy and regional economy, the superiority of considering intraregional networks among agro-food sectors is empirically verified, which means that productivity shocks arising in these industries propagate more within their own region.
Obesity as a Modifying Factor of Periodontal Therapy Outcomes: Local and Systemic Adipocytokines and Oxidative Stress Markers
Authors: Toy Vesile Elif , Ataoglu Tamer , Eltas Abubekir , Otlu Husniye Gul , Karabulut Aysun Bay
Published: September 2022

Objectives: Adipocytokines and oxidative stress (OS) are involved in the pathogenesis of both obesity and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal therapy outcomes in terms of serum and gingival crevicular ﬂuid (GCF) levels of adipocytokines and OS markers in obese patients with periodontitis, in order to have an insight into the association between obesity and periodontitis.
Materials and Methods: A total of 39 patients (20 obese, 19 non-obese) with periodontitis were included in this study. Clinical periodontal parameters were assessed; serum and GCF levels of adipocytokines and OS markers were evaluated by ELISA at baseline and 3 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy.
Results: Significant improvements in clinical periodontal parameters were observed in both groups at 3 months (p<0.01). While serum levels of TNF-α, leptin, and total oxidant status (TOS) in the obese group were higher at baseline (p<0.01), leptin levels remained higher at 3 months despite a significant decrease (p<0.01). Although NSPT improved GCF levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and TOS in both groups, they were significantly different between the groups after therapy (p<0.05).
Conclusions:It seems that leptin, TNF-α, and TOS contribute to systemic inflammatory and oxidative statein patients with obesity. Despite improvements in clinical periodontal parameters, obesity might be a modulating factor in the development and progression of periodontal disease in terms of some adipocytokines and OS markers.
Clinical Relevance: Since the global burden of both obesity and periodontitis is continuously increasing, the management of these inflammatory diseases has become more important. The current study contributes to our understanding of the role of OS and adipocytokines on the relationship between obesity and periodontitis by response to periodontal treatment.
A probiotic bi-functional peptidoglycan hydrolase sheds NOD2 ligands to regulate gut homeostasis
Authors: Gao Jie , wang lei , Jiang Jing , Zeng Nianyi , Lu Bingyun , Sun Kai , Zhou Hongwei , He Xiaolong
Published: September 2022

The secreted protein is one of the direct molecular mechanisms by which microbiota influence the host, thus constituting a promising field for drug discovery. Here, through bioinformatics-guided screening of the secretome of clinically established probiotics from Lactobacillus, an uncharacterized secreted protein (named LPH here) shared by most of these probiotic strains (8/10) was identified and proved to protect mice from colitis in multiple models. Functional studies showed LPH is a bi-functional peptidoglycan hydrolase (PGH) with both N-Acetyl-β-D-muramidase and DL-endopeptidase activities that could generate muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a NOD2 ligand with high efficiency. Different active site mutants of LPH in combination with Nod2 knockout mice confirmed that LPH exerts colitis-protective effects through MDP-NOD2 signaling. Furthermore, we validated that LPH could also exert protective effects on other NOD2-associated diseases such as colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Our study provides a new probiotic enzyme to efficiently enhance the NOD2 signaling in vivo and reveals a molecular mechanism of traditional probiotics.
Sea ice and oxygen
Authors: Hambler Clive
Published: September 2022

1) Atmospheric oxygen cycles on a seasonal basis, as does carbon dioxide.

2) Photosynthesis is likely contributing to these cycles, but the dominant spatial regions are unknown and the contribution of marine plankton has been assumed to be small.

3) Since the cyclic rate of change of carbon dioxide is very highly correlated with that of sea ice, I predict the cyclic rate of change of oxygen will also be, at least at high latitudes.

4) I test and confirm the prediction that seasonal sea ice and oxygen rates are highly coherent at high latitudes, with peak oxygen emission in months of peak rates of sea ice loss within each Hemisphere.

5) No stronger similarity has yet been found between seasonal changes in oxygen and terrestrial productivity (NDVI), but much more detailed comparison is required.

6) These results are consistent with a hypothesised major influence of Arctic plankton in the seasonality of 'global' oxygen levels.

7) Air temperature near the Poles is very closely synchronized with the seasonal rate of change of oxygen at high latitudes.

8) Determining causality requires far more observations and experimentation.

9) These results provide further evidence that polar phenomena have been neglected in studies of the oxygen and carbon cycles and are consistent with a proposed major role of high latitudes in these cycles.
Corneal foreign bodies: are antiseptics and antibiotics equally effective?
Authors: Rebattu Benjamin , BAILLIF Stephanie , Ferrete Thierry , Risso Karine , Rabot Alexandra , Babeau Fanny , Nahon-Esteve Sacha , MARTEL Arnaud
Published: September 2022

Purpose
To compare the effect of antiseptics and antibiotics on the occurrence of Infectious Keratitis (IK) secondary to Corneal Foreign Body (CFB) removal.
Methods
Multicenter retrospective study conducted between June 2020 and June 2022 in patients referred for CFBs and treated with Picloxydine (Group 1) or Tobramycin (Group 2) for 7 days. A follow-up visit was scheduled on Day 3 (D3) and a phone call on D30. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of IK.
Results
307 patients (300 men) with a mean age of 42.8 (14.8) years were included. The mean (SD) time to consultation was 43.1 (45.6) hours. Picloxydine and Tobramycin were given to 155 and 152 patients. Half of patients (n = 154, 50.2%) were building workers and 209 (68.1%) did not wear eye protections. CFBs were mainly metallic (n = 292, 95.1%). Upon referral, rust was found in 220 patients (72.1%). A burr was used in 119 (38.9%) patients. IK occurred in 15 (4.9%) patients, 8 (5.3%) in Group 1 and 7 (4.5%) in Group 2 (p = 0.797). IK was successfully treated in all cases. Persistent rust was found in 113 patients (36.9%) on D3 without difference between burr or needle use (p = 0.278). On D3, corneal healing was delayed in 154 patients (47.2%), mainly in burr-treated patients (p = 0.003). The mean (SD) work stoppage duration was 0.32 (0.98) days.
Conclusion
IK rate was 4.9%. The efficacy of antibiotics and antiseptics was similar on CFB removal. Using a burr was associated with a longer healing time. CFBs had a limited social impact.
Factors that contribute to the Late Presentation of Surgical Acute Abdomen of the patients attending Muhimbili National Hospital – Tanzania
Authors: Hamdan Maryam , Xin Chen , Yang Xu , Mavura Peter Maurice , Kannani George , Zhaohui Xu , Zezhong Gong , Hyokju Ri , Amado Boureima , Yanying Ren , Haonan Kang
Published: September 2022

Background: Acute abdomen is a sudden and severe abdominal pain associated with nausea or vomiting. Its prevalence is high in east Africa. In Tanzania, the most common cases of the acute abdomen are malignancies, intestinal obstruction and peptic ulcers.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a general surgery clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital - Tanzania from March 2022 to August 2022. It aimed to show the contribution of Social-Demographic as well as health-related factors to the late presentation of Surgical Acute Abdomen in patients attending Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania. The data were inserted and analyzed by SPSS, a Frequency distribution table was used to summarize social-demographic characteristics, and a Chi-Square (Fisher Exact) was used to find an association of those factors with the Surgical Abdomen.
Results: A total of 170 patients participated in the study, of them males were 115 (67.6%) and the females were 55 (32.4%). The mean age was 37 years with a standard deviation of 20 years in which the Maximum and Minimum were 85 and 0.2 years respectively. Age was a significant (p-0.05) factor in the late acute surgical abdomen in which an older group (76.2%) was shown to be presented Late than other groups. Non-formal (83.3%) and un education (70.0%) were the strongest factors in leading to Late and Acute Abdominal Surgery while educated groups like University/College had shown to be presented early (59.9%) to the Acute abdominal Surgery although was not a statically significant (p-0.121). Government employment had shown less effect (44.4%) on causing late surgical acute abdomen than private and self-ones (52.6%, 54.1%) (p-0.94). The family had shown a statically significant (p-0.03) effect on the emergence of the acute abdominal surgery in which the cohabiting one had an increasing chance (88.9%) of being Late to the hospital for surgical procedures. An appropriate surgeon’s task force (52.7%) was also a factor to cause a late surgical acute abdomen for those patients although was not statically significant (p-0.751).
Conclusion: Non-formal education, cohabiting family, self and private employment, adequate health staff and increasing age were the factors contributing to Late Surgical Acute abdomen for patients who attended Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania.
Deep-Learning Approach to Detect Childhood glaucoma Based on Periocular Photograph
Authors: Kitaguchi Yoshiyuki , Hayakawa Rina , Kawashima Rumi , Matsushita Kenji , Tanaka Hisashi , Kawasaki Ryo , Fujino Takahiro , Usui Shinichi , Shimojyo Hiroshi , Okazaki Tomoyuki , Nishida Kohji
Published: September 2022

Childhood glaucoma is one of the major causes of blindness in children, however, its diagnosis is of great challenge. The study aimed to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of a deep-learning (DL) model for detecting childhood glaucoma based on periocular photographs. Primary gaze photographs of children diagnosed with glaucoma with appearance features (corneal opacity, corneal enlargement, and/or globe enlargement) were retrospectively collected from the database of a single referral center. DL framework with the RepVGG architecture was used to automatically recognize childhood glaucoma from photographs. The average receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 5-fold cross-validation was 0.91. When the 5-fold result was assembled, the DL model achieved an AUC of 0.95 with a sensitivity of 0.85 and specificity of 0.94. The DL model showed comparable accuracy to the pediatric ophthalmologists and glaucoma specialists in diagnosing childhood glaucoma (0.90 vs 0.81, p = 0.22, chi-square test), outperforming the average of human examiners in the detection rate of childhood glaucoma in cases without corneal opacity (72% vs. 34%, p = 0.038, chi-square test), with a bilateral corneal enlargement (100% vs. 67%, p = 0.03), and without skin lesions (87% vs. 64%, p = 0.02). Hence, this DL model is a promising tool for diagnosing missed childhood glaucoma cases.
Exploring the mechanism of action of TwHF in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Luo Feng , xuemei yuan , Xiong Hong , Yang Xiao-yu , Shen Min , Zhou Yong , Ma Wu-kai , Yao Xue-ming
Published: September 2022

objectives: To explore the Relationship and Potential Mechanism of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F ( TwHF ) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA ) Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.
Methods:The main active ingredients and targets in TwHF were screened by searching the TCMSP database, combined with oral bioavailability and drug-like analysis, and then the drug-component-target maps were drawn by UniProt database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 software; the drug-target maps were searched in GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, pharmGKB, and drugbank databases. drugbank database to obtain the predicted targets of RA, draw Venn diagrams to derive the common targets of TwHF components and RA, and perform protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, GO enrichment and KEGG pathway The potential binding activities between the active ingredients of TwHF and the targets were predicted by molecular docking technique.
Results: TwHF had 7 active ingredients and 131 potential targets, RA had 4917 related targets, and TwHF and RA had 87 common targets. The target genes obtained by the PPI network include tumor necrosis factor (TNF), p53 tumor protein (TP53), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), etc.; GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis yielded 336 results and 121 signal pathways, respectively.
Conclusion: TwHF therapy for RA may be a multi-component, multi-target, multi-signal pathway biological process, it may be able to regulate VEGFA, TNF, TP53 and other targets, play anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and other functions.
Examination of spatial heterogeneity in population age frequency and recruitment in the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica Linnaeus 1767)
Authors: Sower Jillian , Powell Eric , Mann Roger , Hemeon Kathleen , Pace Sara , Redmond Theresa
Published: September 2022

The ocean quahog, Arctica islandica, is a commercially important species on the northwestern Atlantic continental shelf. This species can live over 200 years with ages varying widely per 5-mm size class (shell length), making study of age-related demographics difficult. To determine how the demography of this species differs across its range, including age frequencies, age-at-length relationships, and sex ratios, multiple populations from the Mid-Atlantic Bight and Georges Bank were studied. The age and length frequencies from two populations collected in 2019 from New Jersey, north and south of Hudson Canyon (39.840556 N, 72.821667 W and 39.33 N, 73.545 W, respectively), were analyzed and compared to two northern populations from Long Island (40.09658 N, 73.01057 W) and Georges Bank (40.72767 N, 67.79850 W), previously collected in 2015 and 2017. Sex-specific differences were also analyzed to determine how said differences influenced a range of demographic metrics. Though some similarities in recruitment trends exist, likely caused by large-geographic-scale environmental conditions, each site contains a distinct population with distinct demographics. Recruitment is consistent over hundreds of years, but year-to-year and decadal-length variations are apparent. One age-length key may potentially be used to represent Long Island and northern New Jersey, but the remaining sites are significantly dissimilar. Sex ratios also vary, potentially caused by differential survival of one sex during certain times in the past. Mortality rates for Georges Bank are distinctly higher compared to the other populations. Based on these results, the use of separate age-length keys would seem necessary for each population and each sex.
Comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome profiling reveals key regulating signaling and metabolic pathways of resistant hypertension in drug users
Authors: Yang Ji-Qun , Jia Jie , Zhao Yu , Wang Wei-Jie , Chen Tong , Du Ying-Rong , Hu Gui-Fang , Li Jun , Wang Ming-Chun , Kuang Yi-Qun
Published: September 2022

Background: Hypertension patients with drug use have a low susceptibility to hypotensor. The pathogenesis and metabolic characteristics of hypertension in drug users remain unknown.
Methods: We performed high-throughput sequencing for transcriptome and metabolome of peripheral blood from 30 hypertension patients with drug use (HBP-DU) and 30 hypertension patients without drug use (HBP).
Results: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the HBP and HBP-DU groups were mainly involved in the pathways of toll-like receptor (TLR) cascades, FCERI signaling, and interleukin signaling. Differentially metabolites (DMs) were significantly enriched in the pathways of alanine and histidine metabolism. We identified a gene cluster (turquoise module, MEturquoise) correlated with the HBP-DU group, which has a similar function to DEGs. The abundance of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells was significantly decreased in the HBP-DU group.
Conclusions: These results indicated a potential function of histidine, immune cells, and the pathway of toll-like receptor cascades in drug use hypertension.
A retrospective study of second-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yue Wenwen , Dai Xichao , Tao Leilei , Bian Weigang
Published: September 2022

Background and Purpose:To immune checkpoint inhibitors (immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs) as the representative of immunotherapy is more and more widely used in the treatment of lung cancer, this study was to evaluate the recurrent metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (non – small cell lung cancer,NSCLC).Efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC.Methods:Twenty-three patients with recurrent NSCLC who were admitted to Yancheng First People's Hospital from June 2019 to October 2021 and progressed after first-line chemotherapy and received second-line chemotherapy combined with immunization were selected.To compare patients with ORR(objective response rate, ORR), PFS(progression free survival, PFS) and OS(overall survival, OS),To explore the application of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.Results: The ORR was 26.1% (6/23).Median PFS and median OS were 7.0 and 11.0 months, respectively.Age, gender, smoking history, performance status score (PS), pathological type, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage were not correlated with ORR, PFS, OS.There was no significant increase in adverse reaction of the second-line combined immunization.Conclusion: The efficacy of PFS and OS in patients with second-line chemotherapy combined with immunization is better.The optimal treatment of NSCLC needs to be further confirmed by large prospective clinical studies.
Exploring the training of pharmacists oriented to the demands for clinical pharmacy services: from the perspective of physicians
Authors: Jin Hang , Huang Yuankai , Xi Xiaoyu , Chen Lei
Published: September 2022

Background
To evaluate physicians' perceptions, expectations and experiences of clinical pharmacists in China from the perspective of physicians' demands, with a view to improving the training of pharmacists.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey involving physician (except for primary physicians) was conducted from July to August 2019 in China. Using a field questionnaire, this study gathered data on descriptive information about the respondents and their perceptions, experiences and expectations of clinical pharmacists. Data was analysed descriptively using frequencies, percentages and mean. Several subgroup analyses using Chi-square tests were conducted to identify physicians’ demands for clinical pharmacists in China.
Results
A total of 1376 physicians from secondary and tertiary hospitals in China (response rate = 92%) participated. The majority of the respondents were comfortable with clinical pharmacists providing education to patients (59.09%) and detecting and preventing prescription errors (60.17%), but they appeared uncomfortable when asked about clinical pharmacists suggesting the use of prescription medications to patients (15.71%). Most of the respondents agreed that clinical pharmacists are a reliable source of general drug information (81.84%) as opposed to clinical drug information (79.58%). The majority of the respondents expected clinical pharmacists to be knowledgeable drug therapy experts (95.56%) and to educate their patients about the safe and appropriate use of medications (95.56%).
Conclusion
Physicians’ perceptions and experiences were positively associated with the frequency of their interaction with clinical pharmacists. They had high expectations of clinical pharmacists as knowledgeable drug therapy experts. Corresponding policies and measures are needed to improve the education and training system of clinical pharmacists in China.
Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: a systematic review and meta- analysis
Authors: Lema Asamene Kelelom , Anbesu Etsay Woldu
Published: September 2022

Background
Computer vision syndromes are becoming a major public health concern; however, less emphasis is given, particularly in developing countries. Although there are studies on different continents, there are inconsistent findings among the studies. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of computer vision syndrome.
Methods
In this study, the review was developed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Online electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, were used to retrieve published and unpublished studies from December 1 to April 9/2022. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently. Quality assessment of the studies was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument. Heterogeneity was assessed using statistical test I2. STATA 14 software was used for statistical analysis.
Results
A total of 7, 35 studies were retrieved, and 45 studies with a total 17,526 participants were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of computer vision syndrome was 66% (95%, CI: 59, 74). Subgroup analysis based on country was highest in Pakistan 97% (95% CI: 96, 98) and the lowest was in Japan 12% (95% CI: 9, 15). Subgroup analysis based on country showed studies in Saudi Arabia (I2 = 99.41%, p-value < 0.001), Ethiopia (I2 = 72.6%, p-value < 0.001), and India (I2 = 98.04%, p-value < 0.001) had significant heterogeneity
Conclusion
Nearly two in three participants had computer vision syndrome. Thus, preventive practice strategic activities on computer vision syndrome are important interventions.
High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among street adolescents in Lomé, Togo, 2021
Authors: SADIO Arnold Junior , FERRÉ Valentine Marie , KONU Rodion Yao , DAGNRA Anoumou Claver , DESCAMPS Diane , EKOUEVI Didier Koumavi , CHARPENTIER Charlotte
Published: September 2022

Background. There is almost no data on the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 among street adolescents. We conducted a study to document the immunization status of street adolescents in Togo against different variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021 in Lomé, the city with the highest number of COVID 19 cases in Togo (60%). Adolescents aged 13- and 19 years old living on the street were eligible for inclusion. A standardized questionnaire was administered face-to-face to adolescents. A sample of blood was taken and aliquots of plasma were transported to the virology laboratory of the Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard (Paris, France). SARS-CoV-2 anti-S and anti-N IgG were measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. A quantitative miniaturized and parallel-arranged ELISA assay was used to detect IgG antibodies specifically directed against the different SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOC).
Results. A total of 299 street adolescents (5.2% female), median age 15 years, interquartile range [14-17], were included in this study. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 63.5% (95%CI: 57.8-69.0). Specific-IgG against the ancestral Wuhan strain was developed by 92.0% of subjects. The proportion of patients being immunized against each VOC was 86.8%, 51.1%, 56.3%, 60.0, and 30.5% for the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron VOCs, respectively.
Conclusion. This study showed a very high prevalence with approximately 2/3 of Togolese street adolescents having antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 due to a previous infection. These results confirm an under-reporting of COVID-19 cases in Togo, questioning the hypothesis of low virus circulation in Togo and even in Africa.
Results of thermal osteonecrosis for implant removal on electron microscopy, implant stability, and radiographic parameters – a rat study
Authors: Kniha Kristian , Buhl Eva Miriam , Al-Sibai Faruk , Möhlhenrich Stephan Christian , Bock Anna , Heitzer Marius , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali
Published: September 2022

Background
The aim of this rat study was to evaluate the feasibility of temperature thresholds that affect peri-implant bone cells and morphology and the potential usefulness of thermal necrosis for inducing implant removal for a subsequent in vivo pig study.
Methods
On one side, rat tibiae were thermally treated before implant insertion. The contralateral side was used as the control group without tempering. Temperatures of 4°C, 3°C, 2°C, 48°C, 49°C, and 50°C were evaluated with a tempering time of 1 min. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were performed.
Results
The EDX analysis revealed significant increases in element weights at 50°C (e.g., calcium, phosphate, sodium, and sulfur; p < 0.01). The results of the TEM analysis showed that at all the applied cold and warm temperatures, signs of cell damage were observed, including vacuolization, shrinkage, and detachment from the surrounding bone matrix. Some cells became necrotic, leaving the lacunae empty.
Conclusions
Although this was a preliminary study, from the results, we identified that a temperature of 50°C at a time interval of 60 min can lower the number of samples in a further study of thermo-explantation. Thus, the subsequent planned in vivo study in pigs, which will consider osseointegrated implants, is feasible.
Osteopontin depletion in macrophages perturbs proteostasis and leads to UCHL1 deficiency and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Koronyo-Hamaoui Maya , Rentsendorj Altan , Raedschelders Koen , Fuchs Dieu-Trang , Sheyn Julia , Vaibhav Vineet , Porritt Rebecca A. , Shi Haoshen , Dagvadorj Jargalsaikhan , Germano Juliana De Freitas , Koronyo Yosef , Arditi Moshe , Black Keith L. , Gaire Bhakta P. , Eyk Jennifer E. Van
Published: September 2022

Osteopontin (OPN; also known as SPP1), an immunomodulatory cytokine highly expressed in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMΦ), is known to regulate diverse cellular and molecular immune responses. We previously revealed that glatiramer acetate (GA) stimulation of BMMΦ upregulates OPN expression, promoting an anti-inflammatory, phagocytic, pro-healing phenotype, whereas OPN inhibition triggered a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Here, we applied a global proteome profiling via mass spectrometry analysis to gain a mechanistic understanding of OPN suppression versus induction in macrophages. We identified over 630 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in OPN knockout (OPNKO) or GA-stimulated versus wild type (WT) macrophages. Two topmost downregulated DEPs in OPN-deficient macrophages were ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), a crucial component of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and the anti-inflammatory Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1), whereas GA stimulation upregulated their expression. We confirmed UCHL1 expression in BMMΦ, which was previously recognized as a neuronal-specific protein. Further, immunoprecipitation assays suggest a direct interaction of OPN and UCHL1 proteins. Functional pathway analyses revealed two inversely regulated pathways in OPN-deficient macrophages: activated oxidative stress and lysosome-mitochondria-mediated apoptosis (ROS, Lamp1/2, ATP-synthase subunits, cathepsins, and cytochrome C and B subunits) and inhibited translation and proteolytic pathways (60S and 40S ribosomal subunits and UPS proteins). In agreement with the proteome-bioinformatics data, Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses revealed that OPN deficiency perturbs protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in macrophages—inducing apoptosis and inhibiting translation—whereas GA-stimulated OPN induction restores cellular proteostasis. Taken together, OPN is essential for macrophage homeostasis via regulation of cell viability, UCHL1-UPS, and protein synthesis, indicating its potential application in immunotherapy.
Comparison of 3 different techniques in the treatment of pilonidal sinüs
Authors: Anadolulu Ali ihsan , Gerçel Gonca
Published: September 2022

Purpose: It was aimed to compare the surgical excision and primary suturing, liquid phenol application and laser application in pilonidal sinus (Ps).
Methods: The files of 358 patients diagnosed with Ps in the years 2019-2022 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of 125 patients who underwent surgical excision and primary suturing in 2019, group 2 of 194 patients who underwent liquid phenol in 2020-2021, and group 3 of 39 patients who underwent laser in 2022.
Results: A significant correlation was found between the groups and the development of infection (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant relationship between the groups and recurrence (p>0.05). A significant correlation was found between infection and recurrence (p<0.05). Recurrence is positive in 6.3% of infection-negative patients and 47.2% of infection-positive patients.
Conclusions: Rapid recovery, short operative time, low complication and recurrence rates have increased the tendency for minimally invasive methods. The presence of infection may cause recurrence regardless of the method.
Winter drought monitoring using Standard Precipitation Index over Nepal
Authors: Bagale Damodar Bagale , Sigdel Madan , Aryal Deepak
Published: September 2022

The frequency of winter drought episodes marked frequently in the recent decade. This study examined the time series indices of drought variability over Nepal using historical data of 42-years (1977–2018) for 107 stations using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Monthly rainfall was used as input variable to generate the output for SPI time scales of each station. SPI threshold was used to identify severity, frequency, duration, and spatial extent of the drought episodes. The SPI3 output showed occurrence of major eight drought episodes. Among these years, dryness signals identified the worst drought episode in the year 2006. However, in regional prospective the western region observed extreme drought episode in 2009. There was distinct drought dynamics in each major drought event over the western, central and eastern Nepal. Spatial variability for SPI3 time scale was interpolated to depict spatial patterns of major drought episodes with their severities. The areas of Nepal affected by extreme, severe and moderate drought in winter were 4, 21 and 37%.