bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Power shift: quantifying the role of actors in the multi-actor Swiss energy system decentralization
Authors: Schnidrig Jonas , Chuat Arthur , Granacher Julia , Terrier Cédric , Maréchal François , Margni Manuele
Published: August 2024

The global transition to decentralized energy systems signifies a fundamental transformation toward sustainable energy paradigms. This study specifically focuses on the Swiss energy system, analyzing how dynamic pricing influences the strategic decisions of different actors. The main contributions include 1) a detailed examination of pricing models tailored to the Swiss context, 2) an exploration of strategic financial burden shifts among end-users, TSOs, and DSOs, and 3) a comparison of decentralized versus centralized energy models, highlighting their respective efficiencies and resilience. This research differentiates from existing literature by providing an in-depth actor-based analysis within a Swiss context, offering valuable insights into decentralized energy system optimization. This study tackles the problem of how pricing influences strategic decisions across different actors in Switzerland’s evolving decentralized energy landscape. Here we show that a carefully tailored pricing model, designed for the Swiss context, enables optimized strategies that balance local efficiencies with systemic equity and resilience. The analysis reveals that decentralized approaches, in contrast to centralized models, not only accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences but also enhance system robustness against market and operational disruptions. Moreover, the study illustrates the strategic financial burden shifting where end-users compensate for cost shifts, with observed additional costs up to 5200 CHF/year cap when service providers are prioritized as objective actors. Notably, the most frequently selected system configuration in the primal problem, which optimizes the total system costs, aligns with the preferences of TSO and DSO for a 47.1 GW PV deployment. However, end-users demonstrate a preference for increased PV installations, constrained by urban grid capacities. Additionally, the study highlights significant regional disparities across Switzerland, necessitating tailored pricing approaches that reflect varied urban forms. The emergence of prosumers catalyzes new business models, redistributing investments across TSOs (256–261 CHF/cap/year), DSOs (244–413 CHF/cap/year), and prosumers (556–764 CHF/cap/year), showcasing the evolving dynamics of energy system economics.
Causal association between peripheral immune cells and IgA nephropathy: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liang Li-Mei , Xiong Liang , He Xin-Liang , Song Lin-Jie , Wang Xiaorong , Lu Yu-Zhi , Ye Hong , Ma Wan-Li , Yu Fan
Published: August 2024

Background

The relationship between peripheral immune cells and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is widely known; however, causal evidence of this link is lacking. Here, we aimed to determine the causal effect of peripheral immune cells, specifically total white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils, as well as lymphocyte subset traits, on the IgAN risk using a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used for the primary analysis. We applied three complementary methods, including the weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and MR-PRESSO, to detect and correct for the effect of horizontal pleiotropy. Additionally, we performed a multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis, adjusting for the effects of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The roles of specific lymphocyte subtypes and their significance have garnered interest. Bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was performed to test the potential causal relationships between immune traits, including median fluorescence intensities (MFIs) and the relative cell count (AC), and IgAN.

Results

The IVW-MR analysis suggested a potential causal relationship between lymphocyte counts and IgAN in Europe (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.08–1.88, P = 0.0123). The risk effect of lymphocytes remained even after adjusting for CRP levels using the MVMR method (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05–1.96, P = 0.0210). The other sensitivity analyses showed a consistent trend. The largest GWAS published to date was used for peripheral blood immunophenotyping to explore the potential causal relationship between peripheral immune cell subsets and IgAN. Six AC–IgAN and 14 MFI–IgAN pairs that reached statistical significance (P < 0.05) were detected. Notably, CD3, expressed in eight subsets of T cells, consistently showed a positive correlation with IgAN. The bidirectional MR analysis did not reveal any evidence of reverse causality. According to the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy was unlikely to distort the causal estimates.

Conclusions

Genetically determined high lymphocyte counts were associated with IgAN, supporting that high lymphocyte counts is causal risk factor for IgAN.
Preservation of functionality, immunophenotype, and recovery of HIV RNA from PBMCs cryopreserved for more than 20 years
Authors: Dyer Wayne B. , Suzuki Kazuo , Levert Angelique , Starr Mitchell , Lloyd Andrew R. , Zaunders John J.
Published: August 2024

Background

Many research laboratories have long-term repositories of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), which are costly to maintain but are of uncertain utility for immunological studies after decades in storage. This study investigated preservation of cell surface phenotypes and in-vitro functional capacity of PBMC from viraemic HIV+ patients and healthy seronegative control subjects, after more than 20 years of cryopreservation.

Methods

PBMC were assessed by 18-colour flow cytometry for major lymphocyte subsets within T, B, NK, and dendritic cells and monocytes. Markers of T-cell differentiation and activation were compared with original immunophenotyping performed in 1995/1996 on fresh blood at the time of collection. Functionality of PBMC was assessed by culture with influenza antigen or polyclonal T-cell activation, to measure upregulation of activation-induced CD25 and CD134 (OX40) on CD4 T cells and cytokine production at day 2, and proliferative CD25+ CD4 blasts at day 7. RNA was extracted from cultures containing proliferating CD4+ blast cells, and intracellular HIV RNA was measured using short amplicons for both the Double R and pol region pi code assays, whereas long 4-kbp amplicons were sequenced.

Results

All major lymphocyte and T-cell subpopulations were conserved after long-term cryostorage, except for decreased proportions of activated CD38+HLA-DR+ CD4 and CD8 T cells in PBMC from HIV+ patients. Otherwise, differences in T-cell subpopulations between recent and long-term cryopreserved PBMC primarily reflected donor age-associated or HIV infection-associated effects on phenotypes. Proportions of naïve, memory, and effector subsets of T cells from thawed PBMC correlated with results from the original flow cytometric analysis of respective fresh blood samples. Antigen-specific and polyclonal T-cell responses were readily detected in cryopreserved PBMC from HIV+ patients and healthy control donors. Intracellular HIV RNA quantitation by pi code assay correlated with original plasma viral RNA load results. Full-length intracellular and supernatant-derived amplicons were generated from 5/12 donors, and sequences were ≥80% wild-type, consistent with replication competence.

Conclusions

This unique study provides strong rationale and validity for using well-maintained biorepositories to support immunovirological research even decades after collection.
Interactions between HIV proteins and host restriction factors: implications for potential therapeutic intervention in HIV infection
Authors: Rashid Farooq , Zaongo Silvere D. , Iqbal Hifza , Harypursat Vijay , Song Fangzhou , Chen Yaokai
Published: August 2024

Different host proteins target different HIV proteins and antagonize their functions, depending on the stage of the HIV life cycle and the stage of infection. Concurrently, HIV proteins also target and antagonize various different host proteins to facilitate HIV replication within host cells. The preceding quite specific area of knowledge in HIV pathogenesis, however, remains insufficiently understood. We therefore propose, in this review article, to examine and discuss the HIV proteins that counteract those host restriction proteins which results directly in increased infectivity of HIV. We elaborate on HIV proteins that antagonize host cellular proteins to promote HIV replication, and thus HIV infection. We examine the functions and mechanisms via which Nef, Vif, Vpu, Env, Vpr, and Vpx counteract host proteins such as Ser5, PSGL-1, IFITMS, A3G, tetherin, GBP5, SAMHD1, STING, HUSH, REAF, and TET2 to increase HIV infectivity. Nef antagonizes three host proteins, viz., Ser5, PSGL1, and IFITIMs, while Vpx also antagonizes three host restriction factors, viz., SAMHD1, STING, and HUSH complex; therefore, these proteins may be potential candidates for therapeutic intervention in HIV infection. Tetherin is targeted by Vpu and Env, PSGL1 is targeted by Nef and Vpu, while Ser5 is targeted by Nef and Env proteins. Finally, conclusive remarks and future perspectives are also presented.
Anti-PD-1 combined with hypomethylating agent and CAG regimen bridging to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a novel strategy for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Wang Yu-Xin , Wang An , Su Yong-Feng , Wang Jun , Li Yu-Hang , Li Fei , Jing Yu , Xu Lei , Wang Yi-Zhi , Zheng Xuan , Gao Chun-Ji , Hu Liang-Ding , Gao Xiao-Ning , Liu Dai-Hong
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The prognosis of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/rAML) is dismal, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) is a potential cure. Combining anti-PD-1, hypomethylating agent (HMA), and CAG (cytarabine, aclarubicin/idarubicin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) regimen has showed primary efficacy in r/rAML. However, pre-transplant exposure to anti-PD-1 may lead to severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of allo-HSCT in r/rAML patients receiving the anti-PD-1+HMA+CAG regimen.

Methods

Fifteen r/rAML patients (12 related haploidentical donors [HIDs], 2 matched siblings, 1 unrelated donor) received this regimen and subsequent peripheral blood HSCT.

Results

Four patients with HIDs received a GVHD prophylaxis regimen consisted of Anti-thymocyte globulin and a reduced-dose of post-transplant cyclophosphamide. The median follow-up was 20.9 months (range, 1.2-34.2). The cumulative incidences of acute GVHD grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 were 40% and 13.3%, respectively. The 2-year incidence of moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD, non-relapse mortality, and relapse were 10%, 22.3%, and 22.5%, respectively. The 2-year overall survival and GVHD-free/relapse-free survival rates were 54% and 48.6%, respectively. No death or relapse was observed in the PTCy group.

Conclusion

The anti-PD-1+HMA+CAG regimen bridging to allo-HSCT for r/r AML was tolerable with promising efficacy. GVHD prophylaxis with PTCy for HID-HSCT showed preliminary survival advantage.
The basic biology of NK cells and its application in tumor immunotherapy
Authors: Jiang Pan , Jing Shaoze , Sheng Gaohong , Jia Fajing
Published: August 2024

Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role as effector cells within the tumor immune microenvironment, capable of identifying and eliminating tumor cells through the expression of diverse activating and inhibitory receptors that recognize tumor-related ligands. Therefore, harnessing NK cells for therapeutic purposes represents a significant adjunct to T cell-based tumor immunotherapy strategies. Presently, NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy strategies encompass various approaches, including adoptive NK cell therapy, cytokine therapy, antibody-based NK cell therapy (enhancing ADCC mediated by NK cells, NK cell engagers, immune checkpoint blockade therapy) and the utilization of nanoparticles and small molecules to modulate NK cell anti-tumor functionality. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in NK cell-based anti-tumor immunotherapy, with the aim of offering insights and methodologies for the clinical treatment of cancer patients.
TCR-H: explainable machine learning prediction of T-cell receptor epitope binding on unseen datasets
Authors: T. Rajitha Rajeshwar , Demerdash Omar N. A. , Smith Jeremy C.
Published: August 2024

Artificial-intelligence and machine-learning (AI/ML) approaches to predicting T-cell receptor (TCR)-epitope specificity achieve high performance metrics on test datasets which include sequences that are also part of the training set but fail to generalize to test sets consisting of epitopes and TCRs that are absent from the training set, i.e., are ‘unseen’ during training of the ML model. We present TCR-H, a supervised classification Support Vector Machines model using physicochemical features trained on the largest dataset available to date using only experimentally validated non-binders as negative datapoints. TCR-H exhibits an area under the curve of the receiver-operator characteristic (AUC of ROC) of 0.87 for epitope ‘hard splitting’ (i.e., on test sets with all epitopes unseen during ML training), 0.92 for TCR hard splitting and 0.89 for ‘strict splitting’ in which neither the epitopes nor the TCRs in the test set are seen in the training data. Furthermore, we employ the SHAP (Shapley additive explanations) eXplainable AI (XAI) method for post hoc interrogation to interpret the models trained with different hard splits, shedding light on the key physiochemical features driving model predictions. TCR-H thus represents a significant step towards general applicability and explainability of epitope:TCR specificity prediction.
Causal association between circulating inflammatory proteins and peripheral artery disease: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhao Juncheng , Sun Bo , Huang Shujie , Chen Yunhui , Yan Jingqiang
Published: August 2024

Introduction

A growing body of research has shown a strong connection between circulating inflammatory proteins and Peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, the causal relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and PAD is still not fully understood. To investigate this association, we conducted a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Materials and methods

Our study utilized genetic variation data obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets. Specifically, the GWAS dataset related to PAD (identifier: finn-b-I9_PAD) included 7,098 cases and 206,541 controls. Additionally, we extracted data on 91 inflammatory proteins from another GWAS dataset (identifiers: GCST90274758-GCST90274848), involving 14,824 participants. To assess the causal relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and PAD development, we employed methodologies such as inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR Egger regression, and the weighted median approach. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the reliability and robustness of our findings.

Results

Two inflammatory proteins were found to be significantly associated with PAD risk: Natural killer cell receptor 2B4 levels (OR, 1.219; 95% CI,1.019~1.457; P=0.03), Fractalkine levels (OR, 0.755; 95% CI=0.591~0.965; P=0.025). PAD had statistically significant effects on 12 inflammatory proteins: C-C motif chemokine 19 levels (OR, 0.714; 95% CI, 0.585 to 0.872; P=0.001), T-cell surface glycoprotein CD5 levels (OR, 0.818; 95% CI, 0.713 to 0.938; P=0.004), CUB domain-containing protein 1 levels (OR, 0.889; 95% CI, 0.809 to 0.977; P=0.015), Fibroblast growth factor 23 levels (OR, 1.129; 95% CI, 1.009 to 1.264; P=0.034), Interferon gamma levels (OR, 1.124; 95% CI, (1.011 to 1.250); P=0.031),Interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha levels (OR, 1.183; 95% CI,(1.005 to 1.392); P=0.044), Interleukin-17C levels (OR,1.186; 95% CI, (1.048 to 1.342); P=0.007), Interleukin-1-alpha levels (OR, 1.349; 95% CI, (1.032 to 1.765); P=0.029), Interleukin-5 levels (OR, 1.119; 95% CI,(1.003 to 1.248); P=0.043), Latency-associated peptide transforming growth factor beta 1 levels (OR,1.123; 95% CI, (1.020 to 1.236); P=0.018), Matrix metalloproteinase-10 levels (OR, 1.119; 95% CI,(1.015 to 1.233); P=0.024), Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule levels (OR, 0.823; 95% CI, (0.693 to 0.978); P=0.027).

Conclusion

Our research expands on genetic studies exploring the strong association between circulating inflammatory proteins and PAD. This discovery has the potential to inform and shape future clinical and basic research endeavors in this area.
Expression of IL-1β in transgenic Eimeria necatrix enhances the immunogenicity of parasites and promotes mucosal immunity against coccidiosis
Authors: Duan Chunhui , Abudureheman Tumalisi , Wang Si , Suo Jingxia , Yu Ying , Shi Fangyun , Liu Xianyong , Salama Dina B. , Srivastav Ratnesh Kumar , Gupta Nishith , Suo Xun
Published: August 2024

Anticoccidial vaccines comprising living oocysts of Eimeria tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria acervulina are used to control coccidiosis. This study explored the potential of IL-1β to act as a molecular adjuvant for enhancing the immunogenicity of Eimeria necatrix and mucosal immunity. We engineered E. necatrix to express a functional chIL-1β (EnIL-1β) and immunized chickens with oocysts of the wild type (EnWT) and tranegenic (EnIL-1β) strains, respectively. The chickens were then challenged with EnWT oocysts to examine the immunogenicity-enhancing potential of chIL-1β. As expected, the oocyst output of EnIL-1β-immunized chickens was significantly reduced compared to those immunized using EnWT. No difference in body weight gain and lesion scores of EnIL-1β and EnWT groups was observed. The parasite load in the small intestine and caeca showed that the invasion and replication of EnIL-1β was not affected. However, the markers of immunogenicity and mucosal barrier, Claudin-1 and avian β-defensin-1, were elevated in EnIL-1β-infected chickens. Ectopic expression of chIL-1β in E. necatrix thus appears to improve its immunogenicity and mucosal immunity, without increasing pathogenicity. Our findings support chIL-1β as a candidate for development of effective live-oocyst-based anticoccidial vaccines.
The emerging role of neutrophil extracellular traps in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Cao Yang , Xiao Jing , Hong Yujie , Zhu Yan
Published: August 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a complex etiology. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs are NETwork protein structures activated by neutrophils to induce the cleavage and release of DNA-protein complexes). Current studies have shown the critical involvement of NETs in the progression of autoimmune diseases, Neutrophils mostly gather in the inflammatory sites of patients and participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in various ways. NETs, as the activated state of neutrophils, have attracted much attention in immune diseases. Many molecules released in NETs are targeted autoantigens in autoimmune diseases, such as histones, citrulline peptides, and myeloperoxidase. All of these suggest that NETs have a direct causal relationship between the production of autoantigens and autoimmune diseases. For RA in particular, as a disorder of the innate and adaptive immune response, the pathogenesis of RA is inseparable from the generation of RA. In this article, we investigate the emerging role of NETs in the pathogenesis of RA and suggest that NETs may be an important target for the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases.
E-cigarette exposure disrupts antitumor immunity and promotes metastasis
Authors: Arias-Badia Marcel , Pai Chien-Chun Steven , Chen PeiXi , Chang Anthony , Lwin Yee May , Srinath Aahir , Gotts Jeffrey E. , Glantz Stanton A. , Fong Lawrence
Published: August 2024

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are thought to pose low risk of cancer because the components of e-cigarette liquid are not carcinogens. We analyzed the effects of the two major components, PG/VG and nicotine, on tumor development in preclinical models. We found that PG/VG promoted tumor cell migration in migration assays and contributed to more aggressive, metastatic, and immunosuppressive tumors in vivo, aggravated by the presence of nicotine. Whole body exposure of mice to PG/VG and nicotine rendered animals more susceptible to developing tumors with high frequencies of infiltrating proinflammatory macrophages expressing IL-6 and TNFα. Moreover, tumor-infiltrating and circulating T cells in e-cigarette exposed mice showed increased levels of immune checkpoints including CTLA4 and PD-1. Treatment with anti-CTLA4 antibody was able to abrogate metastasis with no detrimental effects on its ability to induce tumor regression in exposed mice. These findings suggest that the major components used in e-cigarette fluid can impact tumor development through induced immunosuppression.
Red blood cell dynamics during malaria infection challenge the assumptions of mathematical models of infection dynamics
Authors: Peters Madeline A. E. , King Aaron A. , Wale Nina
Published: August 2024

For decades, mathematical models have been used to understand the course and outcome of malaria infections (i.e., infection dynamics) and the evolutionary dynamics of the parasites that cause them. The extent to which this conclusion holds will in part depend on model assumptions about the host-mediated processes that regulate RBC availability, i.e., removal (clearance) of uninfected RBCs and supply of RBCs. Diverse mathematical functions have been used to describe host-mediated RBC supply and clearance in rodent malaria infections; however, the extent to which these functions adequately capture the dynamics of these processes has not been quantitatively interrogated, as in vivo data on these processes has been lacking. Here, we use a unique dataset, comprising time-series measurements of erythrocyte (i.e., mature RBC) and reticulocyte (i.e., newly supplied RBC) densities during Plasmodium chabaudi malaria infection, and a quantitative data-transformation scheme to elucidate whether RBC dynamics conform to common model assumptions. We found that RBC supply and clearance dynamics are not well described by mathematical functions commonly used to model these processes. Indeed, our results suggest said dynamics are not well described by a single-valued function at all. Furthermore, the temporal dynamics of both processes vary with parasite growth rate in a manner again not captured by existing models. Together, these finding suggest that new model formulations are required if we are to explain and ultimately predict the within-host population dynamics and evolution of malaria parasites.
Novel workflow analysis of robot-assisted hysterectomy through objective performance indicators: a pilot study
Authors: Neis Felix , Brucker Sara Yvonne , Bauer Armin , Shields Mallory , Purvis Lilia , Liu Xi , Ershad Marzieh , Walter Christina Barbara , Dijkstra Tjeerd , Reisenauer Christl , Kraemer Bernhard
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The curriculum for a da Vinci surgeon in gynecology requires special training before a surgeon performs their first independent case, but standardized, objective assessments of a trainee’s workflow or skills learned during clinical cases are lacking. This pilot study presents a methodology to evaluate intraoperative surgeon behavior in hysterectomy cases through standardized surgical step segmentation paired with objective performance indicators (OPIs) calculated directly from robotic data streams. This method can provide individual case analysis in a truly objective capacity.

Materials and methods

Surgical data from six robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomies (rTLH) performed by two experienced surgeons was collected prospectively using an Intuitive Data Recorder. Each rTLH video was annotated and segmented into specific, functional surgical steps based on the recorded video. Once annotated, OPIs were compared through workflow analysis and across surgeons during two critical surgical steps: colpotomy and vaginal cuff closure.

Results

Through visualization of the individual steps over time, we observe workflow consistencies and variabilities across individual surgeons of a similar experience level at the same hospital, creating unique surgeon behavior signatures across each surgical case. OPI differences across surgeons were observed for both the colpotomy and vaginal cuff closure steps, specifically reflecting camera movement, energy usage and clutching behaviors. Comparing colpotomy and vaginal cuff closure time needed for the step and the events of energy use were significantly different (p < 0.001). For the comparison between the two surgeons only the event count for camera movement during colpotomy showed significant differences (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

This pilot study presents a novel methodology to analyze and compare individual rTLH procedures with truly objective measurements. Through collection of robotic data streams and standardized segmentation, OPI measurements for specific rTLH surgery steps can be reliably calculated and compared to those of other surgeons. This provides opportunity for critical standardization to the gynecology field, which can be integrated into individualized training plans in the future. However, more studies are needed to establish context surrounding these metrics in gynecology.
Proteomic analysis reveals key differences in pro-stromal corneal tissue between highly myopic males and females
Authors: Cui Ge , Di Yu , Yang Shan , Chen Youxin , Li Ying , Chen Di
Published: August 2024

Background and purpose

Nowadays, myopia has become a highly prevalent disease globally, especially in East Asia. Epidemiological studies have found that there may be sex differences in the occurrence and progression of myopia, with females having a higher incidence of myopia and higher risk of myopia progression. The purpose of this study was to explore the sex differences in myopic cornea using corneal stroma removed by small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery.

Methods

The corneal stroma of females with high myopia (FH) and males with high myopia (MH) were subjected to proteomic assays. Proteomic-related data were statistically analyzed using software such as MaxQuan, KAAS, Proteome Discovery, etc. The total number of proteins in the cornea and the proteins specifically expressed in the two groups were counted, and the differentially expressed proteins in the two groups were identified by expression fold change >2 and p-value <0.05, and volcano plots were constructed, and functional enrichment analysis, subcellular organelle analysis, and molecular interaction were implemented.

Results

Ten samples from each group were analyzed. Twenty-seven proteins were down-regulated and 27 proteins were up-regulated in the FH group, of which 23 proteins were up-regulated in the range of 2–10-fold and 4 proteins were up-regulated in the range of >10-fold. Comparative proteomic analysis of the cornea of male and female patients with high myopia revealed that the expression of corneal extracellular matrix and collagen I, III, V, and VIII-associated proteins were increased in the cornea of female patients, and the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway was an important pathway obtained by functional analysis.

Conclusion

Comparative proteomic analysis of cornea from male and female patients with high myopia revealed increased expression of proteins related to extracellular matrix and collagen I, III, V, and VIII in female patients, and the TGF-β/Smad pathway was an important pathway obtained from the functional analysis, suggesting that extracellular matrix remodeling and collagen fiber synthesis may be more active in the cornea of female patients.
Case report: Thoracic vertebral abscess caused by Salmonella via diagnosed next-generation sequencing
Authors: Cao Xiao-guang , Ni Jun-xi , Huang Chong-jian
Published: August 2024

The genus Salmonella consists of Gram-negative bacteria with various serotypes. It commonly causes bacterial infections that affect the intestines. Infection can occur in humans and animals through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, or through contact with infected animals or environments. Complications commonly include intestinal hemorrhage and perforation, though vertebral osteomyelitis is rarely observed. Therefore, in patients with spinal cord abscesses, The genus Salmonella is typically not considered a likely pathogen, especially in the absence of typical symptoms. In this case, the limited information provided by traditional cultivation methods, particularly under the influence of antibiotics. However, next-generation sequencing (NGS) unexpectedly detected Salmonella, which assisted in formulating the final treatment plan. This underscores the role and clinical value of NGS in pathogen identification.
Integrating behavioral assessment in instructional design for competency-based medical education
Authors: Williams K. N. , Lazzara Elizabeth H. , Sadighi M. , Chandran N. , Joshi K. , Raj S. , Shields I. , Nichols B. , Testa D. , Hernandez J. , Michael M. , Rege R. , Greilich P.
Published: August 2024

As institutions continuously strive to align with the standards set forth within competency-based medical education, there is an increased need to produce evidence of learner achievement in the form of observable behaviors. However, the complexity of healthcare education and clinical environments make it challenging to generate valid and reliable behavioral assessments. In this article, we utilize our interdisciplinary knowledge from the perspectives of experts in medical education, assessment, and academic administration to provide tips to successfully incorporate behavioral assessments into instructional designs. These include tips for identifying the best assessment methods fit for purpose, guiding instructors in establishing boundaries of assessment, managing instructors, selecting raters, generating behavioral assessment guides, training raters, ensuring logistics support assessment strategies, and fostering capacity for iteration. These can be used by institutions to improve planning and implementation for longitudinal behavioral assessments.
Clinical characteristics of patients with a family history of psoriasis: an observational epidemiological study in Chinese Han population
Authors: Cao Lu , Lu Lingyi , Yu Yingzhe , Zhou Huiying , Lin Bingjiang
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is believed to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Despite this understanding, the clinical epidemiological status of psoriasis patients with a family history of the disease remains uncertain.

Methods

In this study, we participated in a multicenter observational epidemiological study involved over 1,000 hospitals and enrolled a total of 5,927 psoriasis patients. These patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of a family history of psoriasis: family history cases (896) and sporadic cases (5,031). The clinical manifestations of these two groups were analyzed through clinical classification, comorbidities, treatment response, and other relevant factors.

Results

The findings of our study indicate that individuals with a family history of psoriasis predisposition exhibit a notably elevated prevalence of psoriatic arthritis compared to those with sporadic occurrences. Moreover, patients with a family history of psoriasis display a more rapid and efficacious response to secukinumab. Additionally, individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis are at a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular and liver diseases in comparison to those with mild psoriasis, with no discernible impact of familial history on the likelihood of comorbidities.

Discussion

Our study identified the clinical characteristics of individuals with a familial predisposition to psoriasis, offering novel insights into the management and therapeutic approaches for patients with this condition.
Postbiotics from Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation stabilize rumen solids microbiota and promote microbial network interactions and diversity of hub taxa during grain-based subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenges in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Guo Junfei , Zhang Zhengxiao , Guan Le Luo , Zhou Mi , Yoon Ilkyu , Khafipour Ehsan , Plaizier Jan C.
Published: August 2024

Background

High-yielding dairy cows are commonly fed high-grain rations. However, this can cause subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), a metabolic disorder in dairy cows that is usually accompanied by dysbiosis of the rumen microbiome. Postbiotics that contain functional metabolites provide a competitive niche for influential members of the rumen microbiome, may stabilize and promote their populations, and, therefore, may attenuate the adverse effects of SARA.

Methods

This study used a total of 32 rumen-cannulated lactating dairy cows, which were randomly assigned into four treatments: no SCFP (control), 14 g/d Original XPC (SCFPa), 19 g/d NutriTek (SCFPb-1X), and 38 g/d NutriTek (SCFPb-2X) (Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) from 4 weeks before until 12 weeks after parturition. Grain-based SARA challenges were conducted during week 5 (SARA1) and week 8 (SARA2) after parturition by replacing 20% dry matter of the base total mixed ration (TMR) with pellets containing 50% ground barley and 50% ground wheat. The DNA of rumen solids digesta was extracted and subjected to V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The characteristics of rumen solids microbiota were compared between non-SARA (Pre-SARA1, week 4; Post-SARA1, week 7; and Post-SARA2, weeks 10 and 12) and SARA stages (SARA1/1, SARA1/2, SARA2/1, SARA2/2), as well as among treatments.

Results

Both SARA challenges reduced the richness and diversity of the microbiota and the relative abundances of the phylum Fibrobacteres. Supplementation with SCFP promoted the growth of several fibrolytic bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae UCG-009, Treponema, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, and unclassified Ruminococcaceae during the SARA challenges. These challenges also reduced the positive interactions and the numbers of hub taxa in the microbiota. The SCFPb treatment increased positive interactions among microbial members of the solids digesta and the number of hub taxa during the SARA and non-SARA stages. The SCFPb-2X treatment prevented changes in the network characteristics, including the number of components, clustering coefficient, modularity, positive edge percentage, and edge density of the microbiota during SARA challenges. These challenges reduced predicted carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism in microbiota, whereas SCFP supplementation attenuated those reductions.

Conclusions

Supplementation with SCFP, especially the SCFPb-2X attenuated the adverse effects of grain-based SARA on the diversity and predicted functionality of rumen solids microbiota.
Vehicle recognition pipeline via DeepSort on aerial image datasets
Authors: Hanzla Muhammad , Yusuf Muhammad Ovais , Al Mudawi Naif , Sadiq Touseef , Almujally Nouf Abdullah , Rahman Hameedur , Alazeb Abdulwahab , Algarni Asaad
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used in various computer vision applications, especially in intelligent traffic monitoring, as they are agile and simplify operations while boosting efficiency. However, automating these procedures is still a significant challenge due to the difficulty of extracting foreground (vehicle) information from complex traffic scenes.

Methods

This paper presents a unique method for autonomous vehicle surveillance that uses FCM to segment aerial images. YOLOv8, which is known for its ability to detect tiny objects, is then used to detect vehicles. Additionally, a system that utilizes ORB features is employed to support vehicle recognition, assignment, and recovery across picture frames. Vehicle tracking is accomplished using DeepSORT, which elegantly combines Kalman filtering with deep learning to achieve precise results.

Results

Our proposed model demonstrates remarkable performance in vehicle identification and tracking with precision of 0.86 and 0.84 on the VEDAI and SRTID datasets, respectively, for vehicle detection.

Discussion

For vehicle tracking, the model achieves accuracies of 0.89 and 0.85 on the VEDAI and SRTID datasets, respectively.
The super-resolution reconstruction algorithm of multi-scale dilated convolution residual network
Authors: Wang Shanqin , Zhang Miao , Miao Mengjun
Published: August 2024

Aiming at the problems of traditional image super-resolution reconstruction algorithms in the image reconstruction process, such as small receptive field, insufficient multi-scale feature extraction, and easy loss of image feature information, a super-resolution reconstruction algorithm of multi-scale dilated convolution network based on dilated convolution is proposed in this paper. First, the algorithm extracts features from the same input image through the dilated convolution kernels of different receptive fields to obtain feature maps with different scales; then, through the residual attention dense block, further obtain the features of the original low resolution images, local residual connections are added to fuse multi-scale feature information between multiple channels, and residual nested networks and jump connections are used at the same time to speed up deep network convergence and avoid network degradation problems. Finally, deep network extraction features, and it is fused with input features to increase the nonlinear expression ability of the network to enhance the super-resolution reconstruction effect. Experimental results show that compared with Bicubic, SRCNN, ESPCN, VDSR, DRCN, LapSRN, MemNet, and DSRNet algorithms on the Set5, Set14, BSDS100, and Urban100 test sets, the proposed algorithm has improved peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity, and reconstructed images. The visual effect is better.
Efficacy and safety of hyaluronic-polidocanol foam in sclerotherapy for head and neck venous malformations
Authors: Sun Zhaoyang , Liu Yiran , Chen Anwei , Wang Tao , Liu Shaohua
Published: August 2024

Background

Foam sclerotherapy is currently the first-line treatment for venous malformations (VMs). Hyaluronic acid-polidocanol (HA-POL) foam has been used in the treatment of head and neck VMs recently; however, its clinical efficacy and safety have yet to be further evaluated, and the impact of age and other related factors on its safety is still unclear.

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of HA-POL foam in the treatment of head and neck VMs.

Methods and materials

We performed a single-center retrospective review of all patients with VMs involving the head and neck region undergoing HA-POL foam sclerotherapy from February 2015 to February 2022 in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Qilu Hospital Shandong University. Patients’ medical records were collected and all patients enrolled were followed up for 1–6 months (group 1), part of them were followed up for 3–9 years (group 2).

Results

A total of 223 patients with head and neck VMs were enrolled in the study, with 36 patients who were followed for 3–9 years. Total response rate in group 1 was 96.41% (n = 215), of which 30.94% (n = 69) of the patients met the criteria of “resolution,” and 65.47% (n = 146) of the patients had “significant improvement.” In group 2, the total response rate was 72.22% (n = 26), of which the rates of the patients met the criteria of “resolution” and patients had “significant improvement” were all 36.11% (n = 13)0.144 (64.57%) patients experienced complications like localized swelling, pain and fever, and no serious complications occurred. The risk of developing complications after treatment was independent of age, and was weakly associated with the dose of HA-POL foam.

Conclusion

The HA-POL foam sclerotherapy is safe and effective in the treatment of head and neck VMs.
Case report: Malignant epithelioid angiosarcoma in a Chinese female patient
Authors: Li Xiaohong , Chen Lu , Ye Rong , Wu Chunyan , Zhuo Wenlei
Published: August 2024

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are mesenchymal tumors that exhibit characteristic epithelioid or spindle cell morphology and typically grow around blood vessels. These tumors are characterized by the expression of melanocytic and smooth muscle markers, such as HMB-45, Melan-A, and smooth muscle actin, indicating a dual differentiation phenotype. PEComas are extremely rare diseases, and patients typically have a very poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of malignant cutaneous PEComa with pulmonary metastasis in a Chinese female and review relevant literature. The patient underwent surgical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the left upper arm under general anesthesia, and the subsequent pathological findings suggested a tumor with perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation (PEComa). The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection, along with monitoring through computed tomography (CT) scans. Three months later, pulmonary metastasis was detected, but both the cutaneous PEComa in the left upper limb and the pulmonary metastatic lesions were stably controlled under active management and treatment. This is a rare case worth reporting and studying, and therefore, we conducted a long-term follow-up, and we hope to provide help for the clinical treatment of PEComa.
Fibrosis to carcinogenesis: unveiling the causal dynamics between pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer
Authors: Huang Yiming , Lin Zhi , Huang Ting , Zhou Heran
Published: August 2024

Background

Previous clinical evidence has shown a correlation between pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and lung cancer (LC), but their causal relationship remains unknown.

Methods

This study utilized a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to explore the causal relationship between PF and LC, including its subtypes. Genetic data were obtained from the IEU and FinnGen Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). SNPs with genome-wide significance were selected, and analyses were conducted using Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW), MR Egger, and Weighted Median methods. The IVW results for various subtypes of lung cancer and PF were used in a meta-analysis to investigate the overall causal effect between PF and lung cancer. Sensitivity analysis was used for both MR and meta-analysis to investigate the robustness of the results.

Results

The bidirectional MR analysis showed no significant causal relationship between PF and overall, LC or its subtypes, except for SCLC, which had a significant positive association (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.07-1.57, p = 0.009). The meta-analysis results indicated no overall causal effect (OR = 1.067, 95% CI: 0.952-1.195, P = 0.265, I² = 57.3%). In the reverse MR analysis, NSCLC and LUSC showed significant associations with PF (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.23, p = 0.028 and OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, p = 0.012, respectively), while the meta-analysis results indicated no significant causal effect (OR = 1.006, 95% CI: 0.973-1.040, P = 0.734, I² = 55.9%). Sensitivity analyses indicated no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or significant heterogeneity.

Conclusion

This study suggests a potential causal relationship between PF and SCLC, as well as between NSCLC and LUSC with PF. However, the overall causal relationship between PF and LC was not statistically significant, possibly due to individual variability and other influencing factors. Further research using data from diverse populations is needed to validate these findings.
Eat, Sleep, Console model for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chu Liangliang , Liu Xiaoyi , Xu Cuiping
Published: August 2024

Background

The rising incidence of drug abuse among pregnant women has rendered neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome a significant global health concern.

Methods

Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Elton B. Stephens. Company (EBSCO), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang were searched for comparative studies of the Eat, Sleep, Console model vs. traditional assessment tools for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Two reviewers conducted literature searches, screened according to the inclusion criteria, extracted data, and independently verified accuracy. All meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager Version 5.4.

Results

In total, 18 studies involving 4,639 neonates were included in the meta-analysis. The Eat, Sleep, Console model demonstrated superior outcomes in assessing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, significantly reducing the need for pharmacological treatment [risk ratio = 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34–0.56, P < 0.001], decreasing the length of hospital stay [standard mean difference (SMD) = −2.10, 95% CI = −3.43 to −0.78, P = 0.002], and shortening the duration of opioid treatment (SMD = −1.33, 95% CI = −2.22 to −0.45, P = 0.003) compared to the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System.

Conclusions

The Eat, Sleep, Console model is more effective than the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System in improving the assessment and management of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
The GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 reduces taurine and glycine in nucleus accumbens of male rats, an effect tentatively involving the nucleus tractus solitarius
Authors: Edvardsson Christian E. , Vestlund Jesper , Ericson Mia , Jerlhag Elisabet
Published: August 2024

The physiological effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are mainly centered on its ability to decrease blood glucose levels and facilitate satiety. Additional physiological functions have been identified by means of GLP-1 agonists such as exenatide (exendin-4; Ex4). In particular, Ex4 reduces the intake of natural and artificial rewards, effects that to some extent involve activation of GLP-1 receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Although Ex4 acts in the brain, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying this activation are not fully elucidated. Investigating Ex4-induced neurochemical alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) would be valuable for understanding its impact on reward-related behaviors. The aim of the present exploratory in vivo microdialysis study was therefore to study how Ex4, administered either systemically or locally into the NTS, influences classical neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, glutamate and GABA as well as additional players such as glycine, taurine and serine in NAc of male rats. We showed that Ex4 reduced extracellular levels of serine, taurine and glycine, where the latter two declines appear to involve activation of GLP-1R in the NTS. Besides, after systemic Ex4 injection the metabolites DOPAC, HVA, and 5HIAA are elevated. Where the increase in metabolites related to dopamine, but not serotonin, involves GLP-1 receptors in other areas than the NTS. Although the descriptive nature of the present data does not provide causality, it may however serve as an indication of mechanisms underlying how Ex4 may modulate reward-related behaviors.