bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wnt Signaling Inhibitors and Their Promising Role in Tumor Treatment
Authors: Pećina-Šlaus Nives , Aničić Sara , Bukovac Anja , Kafka Anja
Published: April 2023

In a continuous search for the improvement of antitumor therapies, the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway has been recognized as a promising target. The altered functioning of the Wnt signaling in human tumors points to the strategy of the inhibition of its activity that would impact the clinical outcomes and survival of patients. Because the Wnt pathway is often mutated or epigenetically altered in tumors, which promotes its activation, inhibitors of Wnt signaling are being intensively investigated. It has been shown that knocking down specific components of the Wnt pathway has inhibitory effects on tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. Thus, similar effects are expected from the application of Wnt inhibitors. In the last decades, molecules acting as inhibitors on the pathway’s specific molecular levels have been identified and characterized. This review will discuss the inhibitors of the canonical Wnt pathway, summarize knowledge on their effectiveness as therapeutics, and debate their side effects. The role of the components frequently mutated in various tumors that are principal targets for Wnt inhibitors is also going to be brought to the reader’s attention. Some of the molecules identified as Wnt pathway inhibitors have reached early stages of clinical trials, and some have only just been discovered. All things considered, inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway shows potential for the development of future therapies.
Regulation of Ubiquitin Family Signaling in Disease
Authors: Rosa Jose Luis
Published: April 2023

Ubiquitin is a small regulatory protein found in all eukaryotic cells [...]
p53 and Myofibroblast Apoptosis in Organ Fibrosis
Authors: McElhinney Kealan , Irnaten Mustapha , O’Brien Colm
Published: April 2023

Organ fibrosis represents a dysregulated, maladaptive wound repair response that results in progressive disruption of normal tissue architecture leading to detrimental deterioration in physiological function, and significant morbidity/mortality. Fibrosis is thought to contribute to nearly 50% of all deaths in the Western world with current treatment modalities effective in slowing disease progression but not effective in restoring organ function or reversing fibrotic changes. When physiological wound repair is complete, myofibroblasts are programmed to undergo cell death and self-clearance, however, in fibrosis there is a characteristic absence of myofibroblast apoptosis. It has been shown that in fibrosis, myofibroblasts adopt an apoptotic-resistant, highly proliferative phenotype leading to persistent myofibroblast activation and perpetuation of the fibrotic disease process. Recently, this pathological adaptation has been linked to dysregulated expression of tumour suppressor gene p53. In this review, we discuss p53 dysregulation and apoptotic failure in myofibroblasts and demonstrate its consistent link to fibrotic disease development in all types of organ fibrosis. An enhanced understanding of the role of p53 dysregulation and myofibroblast apoptosis may aid in future novel therapeutic and/or diagnostic strategies in organ fibrosis.
Investigation of Dynamic Behavior of Confined Ionic Liquid [BMIM]+[TCM]− in Silica Material SBA-15 Using NMR
Authors: Gkoura Lydia , Panopoulos Nikolaos , Karagianni Marina , Romanos George , Chatzichristos Aris , Papavassiliou George , Hassan Jamal , Fardis Michael
Published: April 2023

The molecular dynamics of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tricyanomethanide ionic liquid [BMIM]+[TCM]− confined in SBA-15 mesoporous silica were examined using 1H NMR spin-lattice (T1) relaxation and diffusion measurements. An extensive temperature range (100 K–400 K) was considered in order to study both the liquid and glassy states. The hydrogen dynamics in the two states and the self-diffusion coefficients of the cation [BMIM]+ above the glass transition temperature were extracted from the experimental data. The results were then compared to the corresponding bulk substance. The effects of confinement on the dynamic properties of the ionic liquid clearly manifest themselves in both temperature regimes. In the high-temperature liquid state, the mobility of the confined cations reduces significantly compared to the bulk; interestingly, confinement drives the ionic liquid to the glassy state at a higher temperature Tg than the bulk ionic liquid, whereas an unusual T1 temperature dependence is observed in the high-temperature regime, assigned to the interaction of the ionic liquid with the silica-OH species.
The Potential Use of Near- and Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy in Kidney Diseases
Authors: Delrue Charlotte , De Bruyne Sander , Speeckaert Marijn M.
Published: April 2023

Traditional renal biomarkers such as serum creatinine and albuminuria/proteinuria are rather insensitive since they change later in the course of the disease. In order to determine the extent and type of kidney injury, as well as to administer the proper therapy and enhance patient management, new techniques for the detection of deterioration of the kidney function are urgently needed. Infrared spectroscopy is a label-free and non-destructive technique having the potential to be a vital tool for quick and inexpensive routine clinical diagnosis of kidney disorders. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy applications in patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (e.g., diabetic nephropathy and glomerulonephritis).
Literature Review: The sFlt1/PlGF Ratio and Pregestational Maternal Comorbidities: New Risk Factors to Predict Pre-Eclampsia
Authors: Karpova Nataliia Sergeevna , Dmitrenko Olga Pavlovna , Budykina Tatyana Sergeevna
Published: April 2023

One of the main causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality is pre-eclampsia. It is characterized by a high sFlt1/PlGF ratio, according to prior research. Pregestational diseases in mothers may increase the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Only a few studies have looked at the connection between maternal comorbidities before conception and the sFlt1/PlGF ratio. The most recent information regarding the association between maternal pregestational diseases and the ratio of sFlt1/PlGF is described in this review. The paper also examines current research suggesting that changes in pregnancy hormones and metabolites are related to a high sFlt1/PlGF ratio. Certain maternal disorders have been found to dramatically raise sFlt-1 and sFlt1/PlGF levels, according to an analysis of the literature. There is still debate about the data on the association between the sFlt1/PlGF ratio and maternal disorders such as HIV, acute coronary syndromes, cardiovascular function in the mother between 19 and 23 weeks of pregnancy, thyroid hormones, diabetes, and cancer. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
The Role of Next-Generation Probiotics in Obesity and Obesity-Associated Disorders: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives
Authors: Vallianou Natalia G. , Kounatidis Dimitris , Tsilingiris Dimitrios , Panagopoulos Fotis , Christodoulatos Gerasimos Socrates , Evangelopoulos Angelos , Karampela Irene , Dalamaga Maria
Published: April 2023

Obesity and obesity-associated disorders pose a major public health issue worldwide. Apart from conventional weight loss drugs, next-generation probiotics (NGPs) seem to be very promising as potential preventive and therapeutic agents against obesity. Candidate NGPs such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Anaerobutyricum hallii, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides coprocola, Parabacteroides distasonis, Parabacteroides goldsteinii, Hafnia alvei, Odoribacter laneus and Christensenella minuta have shown promise in preclinical models of obesity and obesity-associated disorders. Proposed mechanisms include the modulation of gut flora and amelioration of intestinal dysbiosis, improvement of intestinal barrier function, reduction in chronic low-grade inflammation and modulation of gut peptide secretion. Akkermansia muciniphila and Hafnia alvei have already been administered in overweight/obese patients with encouraging results. However, safety issues and strict regulations should be constantly implemented and updated. In this review, we aim to explore (1) current knowledge regarding NGPs; (2) their utility in obesity and obesity-associated disorders; (3) their safety profile; and (4) their therapeutic potential in individuals with overweight/obesity. More large-scale, multicentric and longitudinal studies are mandatory to explore their preventive and therapeutic potential against obesity and its related disorders.
The Protease Inhibitor Amprenavir Protects against Pepsin-Induced Esophageal Epithelial Barrier Disruption and Cancer-Associated Changes
Authors: Blaine-Sauer Simon , Samuels Tina L. , Yan Ke , Johnston Nikki
Published: April 2023

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) significantly impacts patient quality of life and is a major risk factor for the development of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the standard-of-care for GERD and are among the most prescribed drugs in the world, but do not protect against nonacid components of reflux such as pepsin, or prevent reflux-associated carcinogenesis. We recently identified an HIV protease inhibitor amprenavir that inhibits pepsin and demonstrated the antireflux therapeutic potential of its prodrug fosamprenavir in a mouse model of laryngopharyngeal reflux. In this study, we assessed the capacity of amprenavir to protect against esophageal epithelial barrier disruption in vitro and related molecular events, E-cadherin cleavage, and matrix metalloproteinase induction, which are associated with GERD severity and esophageal cancer. Herein, weakly acidified pepsin (though not acid alone) caused cell dissociation accompanied by regulated intramembrane proteolysis of E-cadherin. Soluble E-cadherin responsive matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were transcriptionally upregulated 24 h post-treatment. Amprenavir, at serum concentrations achievable given the manufacturer-recommended dose of fosamprenavir, protected against pepsin-induced cell dissociation, E-cadherin cleavage, and MMP induction. These results support a potential therapeutic role for amprenavir in GERD recalcitrant to PPI therapy and for preventing GERD-associated neoplastic changes.
Determination of Phenol with Peroxidase Immobilized on CaCO3
Authors: Kim Aleksandr L. , Dubrovskii Alexey V. , Musin Egor V. , Tikhonenko Sergey A.
Published: April 2023

Phenols are widely used in industries despite their toxicity, which requires governments to limit their concentration in water to 5 mg/L before discharge to the city sewer. Thus, it is essential to develop a rapid, simple, and low-cost detection method for phenol. This study explored two pathways of peroxidase immobilization to develop a phenol detection system: peroxidase encapsulation into polyelectrolyte microcapsules and peroxidase captured by CaCO3. The encapsulation of peroxidase decreased enzyme activity by 96%; thus, this method cannot be used for detection systems. The capturing process of peroxidase by CaCO3 microspherulites did not affect the maximum reaction rate and the Michaelis constant of peroxidase. The native peroxidase—Vmax = 109 µM/min, Km = 994 µM; CaCO3–peroxidase—Vmax = 93.5 µM/min, Km = 956 µM. Ultimately, a reusable phenol detection system based on CaCO3 microparticles with immobilized peroxidase was developed, capable of detecting phenol in the range of 700 ng/mL to 14 µg/mL, with an error not exceeding 5%, and having a relatively low cost and production time. The efficiency of the system was confirmed by determining the content of phenol in a paintwork product.
Different Alterations of Hippocampal and Reticulo-Thalamic GABAergic Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons Underlie Different States of Unconsciousness
Authors: Radovanovic Ljiljana , Novakovic Andrea , Petrovic Jelena , Saponjic Jasna
Published: April 2023

We traced the changes in GABAergic parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons of the hippocampus and reticulo-thalamic nucleus (RT) as possible underlying mechanisms of the different local cortical and hippocampal electroencephalographic (EEG) microstructures during the non-rapid-eye movement (NREM) sleep compared with anesthesia-induced unconsciousness by two anesthetics with different main mechanisms of action (ketamine/diazepam versus propofol). After 3 h of recording their sleep, the rats were divided into two experimental groups: one half received ketamine/diazepam anesthesia and the other half received propofol anesthesia. We simultaneously recorded the EEG of the motor cortex and hippocampus during sleep and during 1 h of surgical anesthesia. We performed immunohistochemistry and analyzed the PV and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) expression. PV suppression in the hippocampus and at RT underlies the global theta amplitude attenuation and hippocampal gamma augmentation that is a unique feature of ketamine-induced versus propofol-induced unconsciousness and NREM sleep. While PV suppression resulted in an increase in hippocampal PSD-95 expression, there was no imbalance between inhibition and excitation during ketamine/diazepam anesthesia compared with propofol anesthesia in RT. This increased excitation could be a consequence of a lower GABA interneuronal activity and an additional mechanism underlying the unique local EEG microstructure in the hippocampus during ketamine/diazepam anesthesia.
Unraveling Structural Alerts in Marketed Drugs for Improving Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework of Drug-Induced QT Prolongation
Authors: Long Wulin , Li Shihai , He Yujie , Lin Jinzhu , Li Menglong , Wen Zhining
Published: April 2023

In pharmaceutical treatment, many non-cardiac drugs carry the risk of prolonging the QT interval, which can lead to fatal cardiac complications such as torsades de points (TdP). Although the unexpected blockade of ion channels has been widely considered to be one of the main reasons for affecting the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential and leading to QT interval prolongation, the lack of knowledge regarding chemical structures in drugs that may induce the prolongation of the QT interval remains a barrier to further understanding the underlying mechanism and developing an effective prediction strategy. In this study, we thoroughly investigated the differences in chemical structures between QT-prolonging drugs and drugs with no drug-induced QT prolongation (DIQT) concerns, based on the Drug-Induced QT Prolongation Atlas (DIQTA) dataset. Three categories of structural alerts (SAs), namely amines, ethers, and aromatic compounds, appeared in large quantities in QT-prolonging drugs, but rarely in drugs with no DIQT concerns, indicating a close association between SAs and the risk of DIQT. Moreover, using the molecular descriptors associated with these three categories of SAs as features, the structure–activity relationship (SAR) model for predicting the high risk of inducing QT interval prolongation of marketed drugs achieved recall rates of 72.5% and 80.0% for the DIQTA dataset and the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) dataset, respectively. Our findings may promote a better understanding of the mechanism of DIQT and facilitate research on cardiac adverse drug reactions in drug development.
Integrative Analysis of Single-Cell and Bulk Sequencing Data Depicting the Expression and Function of P2ry12 in Microglia Post Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Wang Chenglong , Peng Li , Wang Yuan , Xue Ying , Chen Tianyi , Ji Yanyan , Li Yishan , Zhao Yong , Yu Shanshan
Published: April 2023

P2ry12 is a microglial marker gene. Recently, increasing evidence has demonstrated that its expression levels can vary in response to different CNS disorders and can affect microglial functions, such as polarization, plasticity, and migration. However, the expression and function of P2ry12 in microglia during ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) remain unclear. Here, we developed a computational method to obtain microglia-specific P2ry12 genes (MSPGs) using sequencing data associated with IRI. We evaluated the change in comprehensive expression levels of MSPGs during IRI and compared it to the expression of P2ry12 to determine similarity. Subsequently, the MSPGs were used to explore the P2ry12 functions in microglia through bioinformatics. Moreover, several animal experiments were also conducted to confirm the reliability of the results. The expression of P2ry12 was observed to decrease gradually within 24 h post injury. In response, microglia with reduced P2ry12 expression showed an increase in the expression of one receptor-encoding gene (Flt1) and three ligand-encoding genes (Nampt, Igf1, and Cxcl2). Furthermore, double-labeling immunofluorescence staining revealed that inhibition of P2ry12 blocked microglial migration towards vessels during IRI. Overall, we employ a combined computational and experimental approach to successfully explore P2ry12 expression and function in microglia during IRI.
The Role of Vitamin C and Vitamin D in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Periodontitis—Narrative Review
Authors: Ustianowski Łukasz , Ustianowska Klaudia , Gurazda Klaudia , Rusiński Marcin , Ostrowski Piotr , Pawlik Andrzej
Published: April 2023

Periodontitis is a common disorder affecting the bone and soft tissues of the periodontal complex. When untreated, it may lead to severe mobility or even loss of teeth. The pathogenesis of periodontitis is complex, with crucial factors being chronic inflammation in gingival and periodontal tissues and oral microbiome alterations. However, recent studies highlight the alleged role of vitamins, such as vitamin C (VitC) and vitamin D (VitD), in the development of the disease. VitC regulates numerous biochemical reactions, but foremost, it is involved in synthesizing collagen. It was reported that VitC deficiency could lead to damage to the periodontal ligaments. VitC supplementation improves postoperative outcomes in patients with periodontitis. VitD is a steroid derivative that can be produced in the skin under ultraviolet radiation and later transformed into an active form in other tissues, such as the kidneys. VitD was established to decrease the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in gingiva and regulate the proper mineral density of teeth. Moreover, the supplementation of VitD was associated with better results in the nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis. In this review, we summarize recent knowledge on the role of vitamins C and D in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontitis.
Machine Learning as a Support for the Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Agliata Antonio , Giordano Deborah , Bardozzo Francesco , Bottiglieri Salvatore , Facchiano Angelo , Tagliaferri Roberto
Published: April 2023

Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. Among the main types of diabetes, type 2 is the most common. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or delay the onset of complications. Previous studies examined the application of machine learning techniques for prediction of the pathology, and here an artificial neural network shows very promising results as a possible valuable aid in the management and prevention of diabetes. Additionally, its superior ability for long-term predictions makes it an ideal choice for this field of study. We utilized machine learning methods to uncover previously undiscovered associations between an individual’s health status and the development of type 2 diabetes, with the goal of accurately predicting its onset or determining the individual’s risk level. Our study employed a binary classifier, trained on scratch, to identify potential nonlinear relationships between the onset of type 2 diabetes and a set of parameters obtained from patient measurements. Three datasets were utilized, i.e., the National Center for Health Statistics’ (NHANES) biennial survey, MIMIC-III and MIMIC-IV. These datasets were then combined to create a single dataset with the same number of individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Since the dataset was balanced, the primary evaluation metric for the model was accuracy. The outcomes of this study were encouraging, with the model achieving accuracy levels of up to 86% and a ROC AUC value of 0.934. Further investigation is needed to improve the reliability of the model by considering multiple measurements from the same patient over time.
The Immunological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Is Linked to Clinical Severity and Age
Authors: Vanetti Claudia , Lampasona Vito , Stracuzzi Marta , Fenizia Claudio , Biasin Mara , Saulle Irma , Limanaqi Fiona , Abdelsalam Ahmed , Loretelli Cristian , Paradiso Laura , Longoni Emma , Barcellini Lucia , Piemonti Lorenzo , Marzinotto Ilaria , Dispinseri Stefania , Amendola Antonella , Fappani Clara , Tanzi Elisabetta , Clerici Mario Salvatore , Scarlatti Gabriella , Zuccotti Gian Vincenzo , Giacomet Vania , Trabattoni Daria
Published: April 2023

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is clinically less severe in children, even if the wide variety and degree of severity of symptoms reported in children pose a still-unresolved challenge for clinicians. We performed an in-depth analysis of the immunological profiles of 18 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected children, whose results were compared to those obtained from 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). The patients were categorized as paucisymptomatic/moderate (55.6%) or severe/critical (44.5%) according to established diagnostic criteria and further stratified into the categories of infants (1–12 months), children (1–12 years), and adolescents (>12 years). We assessed SARS-CoV-2-specific RBD antibodies (Ab), neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and circulating cytokines/chemokines in the plasma, and the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response was measured in PBMCs by gene expression and secretome analyses. Our results showed peculiar circulating cytokine/chemokine profiles among patients sharing a similar clinical phenotype. A cluster of patients consisting of infants with severe symptoms presented hyperinflammatory profiles, together with extremely polarized antibody profiles. In a second cluster consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, a less pronounced increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines, together with an association between the selected cytokines and humoral responses, was observed. A third cluster, again consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, showed a circulating cytokine/chemokine profile which overlapped with that of the HC. The SARS-CoV-2-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory proteins, T lymphocyte activation, and migration-specific proteins, were significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-infected children compared to the HC. Our findings suggest that immune response activation in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is directly correlated with clinical severity and, to a lesser extent, age.
Donor Pericardial Interleukin and Apolipoprotein Levels May Predict the Outcome after Human Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Authors: Pállinger Éva , Székely Andrea , Töreki Evelin , Bencsáth Erzsébet Zsófia , Szécsi Balázs , Losoncz Eszter , Oleszka Máté , Hüttl Tivadar , Kosztin Annamária , Buzas Edit I. , Radovits Tamás , Merkely Béla
Published: April 2023

The proinflammatory cascade that is activated at the time of brain death plays a crucial role in organ procurement. Our aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the clinical outcome of orthotopic heart transplantation, as well as cytokine and apolipoprotein profiles of the pericardial fluid obtained at donation. Interleukin, adipokine and lipoprotein levels in the pericardial fluid, as well as clinical data of twenty donors after brain death, were investigated. Outcome variables included primary graft dysfunction, the need for posttransplantation mechanical cardiac support and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grade ≥ 2R rejection. Hormone management and donor risk scores were also investigated. Lower levels of IL-6 were observed in primary graft dysfunction (median: 36.72 [IQR: 19.47–62.90] versus 183.67 [41.21–452.56]; p = 0.029) and in the need for mechanical cardiac support (44.12 [20.12–85.70] versus 247.13 [38.51–510.38]; p = 0.043). Rejection was associated with lower ApoAII (p = 0.021), ApoB100 (p = 0.032) and ApoM levels (p = 0.025). Lower adipsin levels were detected in those patients receiving desmopressin (p = 0.037); moreover, lower leptin levels were found in those patients receiving glucocorticoid therapy (p = 0.045), and higher T3 levels were found in those patients treated with L-thyroxine (p = 0.047) compared to those patients not receiving these hormone replacement therapies. IL-5 levels were significantly associated with UNOS-D score (p = 0.004), Heart Donor Score (HDS) and Adapted HDS (p < 0.001). The monitoring of immunological and metabolic changes in donors after brain death may help in the prediction of potential complications after heart transplantation, thus potentially optimizing donor heart allocation.
Developmental Biology and Identification of a Garden Pest, Otiorhynchus (Podoropelmus) smreczynskii Cmoluch, 1968 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), with Comments on Its Origin and Distribution
Authors: Gosik Rafał , Sprick Peter , Wrzesień Małgorzata , Dzyr Agata , Krstić Oliver , Toševski Ivo
Published: April 2023

The mature larva and pupa of Otiorhynchus smreczynskii are described and illustrated with complete chaetotaxy for the first time. Five larval instars and the factors for larval growth are determined, and the larval development of this species is comprehensively described. In order to confirm species affiliation, selected larvae were subjected to genetic analysis (mtCOI). Host plants and unique feeding signs of some Entiminae species are presented, and all available data on development are documented and interpreted. Additionally, the morphometry of 78 specimens (48 of O. smreczynskii and 30 of O. rotundus) was examined in order to verify the usefulness of morphological features in distinguishing both species. The female genitalia of both species are illustrated, described and compared with each other for the first time. Finally, the updated distribution of O. smreczynskii is given, and a possible origin of O. smreczynskii and O. rotundus is proposed.
Preclinical Application of Augmented Reality in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery: An Accuracy Study
Authors: Ruggiero Federica , Cercenelli Laura , Emiliani Nicolas , Badiali Giovanni , Bevini Mirko , Zucchelli Mino , Marcelli Emanuela , Tarsitano Achille
Published: April 2023

Background: Augmented reality (AR) allows the overlapping and integration of virtual information with the real environment. The camera of the AR device reads the object and integrates the virtual data. It has been widely applied to medical and surgical sciences in recent years and has the potential to enhance intraoperative navigation. Materials and methods: In this study, the authors aim to assess the accuracy of AR guidance when using the commercial HoloLens 2 head-mounted display (HMD) in pediatric craniofacial surgery. The Authors selected fronto-orbital remodeling (FOR) as the procedure to test (specifically, frontal osteotomy and nasal osteotomy were considered). Six people (three surgeons and three engineers) were recruited to perform the osteotomies on a 3D printed stereolithographic model under the guidance of AR. By means of calibrated CAD/CAM cutting guides with different grooves, the authors measured the accuracy of the osteotomies that were performed. We tested accuracy levels of ±1.5 mm, ±1 mm, and ±0.5 mm. Results: With the HoloLens 2, the majority of the individuals involved were able to successfully trace the trajectories of the frontal and nasal osteotomies with an accuracy level of ±1.5 mm. Additionally, 80% were able to achieve an accuracy level of ±1 mm when performing a nasal osteotomy, and 52% were able to achieve an accuracy level of ±1 mm when performing a frontal osteotomy, while 61% were able to achieve an accuracy level of ±0.5 mm when performing a nasal osteotomy, and 33% were able to achieve an accuracy level of ±0.5 mm when performing a frontal osteotomy. Conclusions: despite this being an in vitro study, the authors reported encouraging results for the prospective use of AR on actual patients.
Overview of Atopic Dermatitis in Different Ethnic Groups
Authors: Chiricozzi Andrea , Maurelli Martina , Calabrese Laura , Peris Ketty , Girolomoni Giampiero
Published: April 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence worldwide, including countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and in different ethnic groups. In recent years, more attention has been placed on the heterogeneity of AD associated with multiple factors, including a patient’s ethnic background, resulting in an increasing body of clinical, genetic, epidemiologic, and immune-phenotypic evidence that delineates differences in AD among racial groups. Filaggrin (FLG) mutations, the strongest genetic risk factor for the development of AD, are detected in up to 50% of European and 27% of Asian AD patients, but very rarely in Africans. Th2 hyperactivation is a common attribute of all ethnic groups, though the Asian endotype of AD is also characterized by an increased Th17-mediated signal, whereas African Americans show a strong Th2/Th22 signature and an absence of Th1/Th17 skewing. In addition, the ethnic heterogeneity of AD may hold important therapeutic implications as a patient’s genetic predisposition may affect treatment response and, thereby, a tailored strategy that better targets the dominant immunologic pathways in each ethnic subgroup may be envisaged. Nevertheless, white patients with AD represent the largest ethnicity enrolled and tested in clinical trials and the most treated in a real-world setting, limiting investigations about safety and efficacy across different ethnicities. The purpose of this review is to describe the heterogeneity in the pathophysiology of AD across ethnicities and its potential therapeutic implications.
Patterns of Infections among Extremely Preterm Infants
Authors: Perez Krystle , Puia-Dumitrescu Mihai , Comstock Bryan A. , Wood Thomas R. , Mayock Dennis E. , Heagerty Patrick J. , Juul Sandra E. ,   on behalf of the PENUT Consortium
Published: April 2023

Infections remain a leading cause of neonatal death, especially among the extremely preterm infants. To evaluate the incidence, pathogenesis, and in-hospital outcomes associated with sepsis among hospitalized extremely preterm infants born at 24–0/7 to 27–6/7 weeks of gestation, we designed a post hoc analysis of data collected prospectively during the Preterm Epo Neuroprotection (PENUT) Trial, NCT #01378273. We analyzed culture positive infection data, as well as type and duration of antibiotic course and described their association with in-hospital morbidities and mortality. Of 936 included infants, 229 (24%) had at least one positive blood culture during their hospitalization. Early onset sepsis (EOS, ≤3 days after birth) occurred in 6% of the infants, with Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) and Escherichia Coli the most frequent pathogens. Late onset sepsis (LOS, >day 3) occurred in 20% of the infants. Nearly all infants were treated with antibiotics for presumed sepsis at least once during their hospitalization. The risk of confirmed or presumed EOS was lower with increasing birthweight. Confirmed EOS had no significant association with in-hospital outcomes or death while LOS was associated with increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and death. Extremely premature infants with presumed sepsis as compared to culture positive sepsis had lower rates of morbidities. In conclusion, the use of antibiotics for presumed sepsis remains much higher than confirmed infection rates. Ongoing work exploring antibiotic stewardship and presumed, culture-negative sepsis in extremely preterm infants is needed.
Skull-Base Surgery—A Narrative Review on Current Approaches and Future Developments in Surgical Navigation
Authors: Tzelnick Sharon , Rampinelli Vittorio , Sahovaler Axel , Franz Leonardo , Chan Harley H. L. , Daly Michael J. , Irish Jonathan C.
Published: April 2023

Surgical navigation technology combines patient imaging studies with intraoperative real-time data to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. The navigation workflow can also include preoperative planning, which can reliably simulate the intended resection and reconstruction. The advantage of this approach in skull-base surgery is that it guides access into a complex three-dimensional area and orients tumors intraoperatively with regard to critical structures, such as the orbit, carotid artery and brain. This enhances a surgeon’s capabilities to preserve normal anatomy while resecting tumors with adequate margins. The aim of this narrative review is to outline the state of the art and the future directions of surgical navigation in the skull base, focusing on the advantages and pitfalls of this technique. We will also present our group experience in this field, within the frame of the current research trends.
Plankton Genes and Extracellular Organic Substances in the Ocean
Authors: Jenkinson Ian R.
Published: April 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean represents about 662 billion tons of C, 200 times more than the living biomass. It is produced mainly by microbial primary production. The largest fraction of this DOM is old (>weeks to months) and both chemically and biologically recalcitrant. The remainder is young (seconds to weeks), more labile and surface active. Part of the latter fraction changes the rheological properties in the bulk phase of the water and at interfaces including the sea surface microlayer (SML). In order of abundance, this DOM consists of sugars, amino acids, fatty acids and nucleic acids, often incorporated into complex polymers. The DOM molecules are produced by microbial genes, and are further modified by enzymes themselves produced by genes. The properties of ocean water and its interfaces as well as biogeochemical fluxes may thus be modified by ocean plankton genes. These fluxes influence ocean and atmospheric climate, which in return acts on the biota. Viral infection may furthermore modify prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes and their expression. Therefore, the ocean plankton genomes and the fluxes and climates they influence may be subject to Darwinian-type selection. Research programs need to integrate ocean ecology, rheology, biogeochemistry and genomics, to find the associations among them.
Soil Structure and Ectomycorrhizal Root Colonization of Pecan Orchards in Northern Mexico
Authors: Sáenz-Hidalgo Hilda Karina , Jacobo-Cuellar Juan Luis , Zúñiga-Rodríguez Erick , Avila-Quezada Graciela Dolores , Olalde-Portugal Víctor , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi
Published: April 2023

Pecan trees form a symbiotic relationship with ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM), which actively provide nutrition to the roots and protect them from phytopathogens. Although these trees originated in the southern United States and northern Mexico, information on their root colonization by ECM is insufficient in terms of a representative number of samples, both in these regions and worldwide. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the percentage of ectomycorrhizal colonization (ECM) of pecan trees of different ages in conventional and organic agronomic orchards and to identify ectomycorrhizal sporocarps, both morphologically and molecularly. The rhizospheric soil properties and the ECM percentages were analyzed for 14 Western variety pecan tree orchards between 3 and 48 years of age and grouped according to the agronomic management method. DNA extraction, internal transcribed spacer amplification, and sequencing were conducted on the fungal macroforms. The ECM colonization percentage fluctuated between 31.44 and 59.89%. Soils with low phosphorus content showed higher ECM colonization. The ECM concentrations were relatively homogeneous in relation to the ages of the trees, and organic matter content did not affect the percentage of ECM colonization. The highest ECM percentages occurred with the sandy clay crumb texture soil, with an average of 55% ECM, followed by sandy clay loam soils with 49.5%. The Pisolithus arenarius and Pisolithus tinctorius fungi were molecularly identified from sporocarps associated with pecan trees. This is the first study that reports Pisolithus arenarius as being associated with this tree.
Effects of Different Forms of Sensorimotor Training on Postural Control and Functional Status in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Rüger Alex , Laudner Kevin , Delank Karl-Stefan , Schwesig René , Steinmetz Anke
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to compare three sensorimotor training forms in patients with chronic low back pain to determine their effects on the reduction of pain-related impairment and changes in posturography. Over two weeks, during the multimodal pain therapy (MMPT) period, six sessions of sensorimotor physiotherapy or training in the Galileo® or Posturomed® (n = 25 per group) were performed. A significant reduction in pain-related impairment after the intervention phase was shown across all groups (time effect: p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.415). There was no change in postural stability (time effect: p = 0.666; ηp2 = 0.003), but there was a significant improvement in the peripheral vestibular system (time effect: p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.081). An interaction effect was calculated for the forefoot-hindfoot ratio (p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.111). Only the Posturomed® group showed an improvement in anterior-posterior weight distribution (heel load: 47% vs. 49%). These findings suggest that these forms of sensorimotor training in the context of MMPT are suitable for reducing pain-related impairment. Posturography demonstrated stimulation of a subsystem, but no improvement in postural stability.
Enhancing Financial Market Analysis and Prediction with Emotion Corpora and News Co-Occurrence Network
Authors: McCarthy Shawn , Alaghband Gita
Published: April 2023

This study employs an improved natural language processing algorithm to analyze over 500,000 financial news articles from sixteen major sources across 12 sectors, with the top 10 companies in each sector. The analysis identifies shifting economic activity based on emotional news sentiment and develops a news co-occurrence network to show relationships between companies even across sectors. This study created an improved corpus and algorithm to identify emotions in financial news. The improved method identified 18 additional emotions beyond what was previously analyzed. The researchers labeled financial terms from Investopedia to validate the categorization performance of the new method. Using the improved algorithm, we analyzed how emotions in financial news relate to market movement of pairs of companies. We found a moderate correlation (above 60%) between emotion sentiment and market movement. To validate this finding, we further checked the correlation coefficients between sentiment alone, and found that consumer discretionary, consumer staples, financials, industrials, and technology sectors showed similar trends. Our findings suggest that emotional sentiment analysis provide valuable insights for financial market analysis and prediction. The technical analysis framework developed in this study can be integrated into a larger investment strategy, enabling organizations to identify potential opportunities and develop informed strategies. The insights derived from the co-occurrence model may be leveraged by companies to strengthen their risk management functions, making it an asset within a comprehensive investment strategy.
Effect of Remittance-Sending Countries’ Type on Financial Development in Recipient Countries: Can the Pandemic Make a Difference?
Authors: Forhad Md. Abdur Rahman , Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Rahman Md. Toabur
Published: April 2023

This study examines the effect of remittances on selected recipient countries’ financial development. Using weights for bilateral remittances from 1990 to 2015, this study calculates the weighted gross national income per capita of remittance-sending countries. This study then uses the weighted gross national income as an instrument to address the endogeneity between remittance and financial development. Using the instrument variable (IV) model, this study finds that remittances from low-skilled migrant-abundant sending countries have different effects than the highly skilled labor-abundant sending countries. Assuming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as a source of low-skilled and the Group of Seven (G7) as the source of high-skilled labor-abundant sending countries, remittance from relatively low-skilled emigrants has a greater impact on financial inclusion in the recipient countries than their high-skilled counterparts. In contrast, remittance from high-skilled countries has a greater impact on the development of the stock market. Similar types of effects of remittance on financial development have also been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that policymakers should provide better foreign employment opportunities and improved transaction and investment policies in the home financial markets.
Shantytown Redevelopment and Housing Prices: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Liu Caixia
Published: April 2023

China has been undergoing urban regeneration and reconstruction over the past few decades. To improve the housing conditions of the poor and better achieve the goal of new urbanization, the Chinese government launched top-down shantytown redevelopment nationwide in 2008. Little is known about the economic effectiveness of shantytown redevelopment. Based on city-level data from 2014–2018, this study examined the impact of shantytown redevelopment on housing prices by using the fixed effects regression analysis and instrumental variables (IV) methods. The results show that shantytown redevelopment significantly increases the housing prices at the city level, and each 10% increase in the size of redeveloped shantytowns is associated with an average increase of 1.4% in housing prices. There is regional heterogeneity, with shantytown redevelopment in the central and western regions having a greater effect on housing prices. The rising home prices imposed by shantytown redevelopment negatively decrease housing affordability for those households not included in the redevelopment projects; thus, a more inclusive urban redevelopment policy should be considered.
Novel Reinforcing Techniques and Bearing Capacity Analysis for Tunnel Lining Structures with Extensive Corrosion
Authors: Zha Xicao , Lei Mingfeng , Sun Ningxin , Li Yongheng , Liu Linghui , Duan Lian , Wang Lichuan
Published: April 2023

Affected by the erosive environment, tunnel lining concrete in the long-term service zprocess often exhibits engineering diseases such as concrete corrosion degradation and loss of strength, decreasing the stability of the tunnel lining structure and the traffic safety. Based on HTG tunnel project, the basic distribution rule of tunnel lining corrosion and macro mechanical properties of corroded concrete were explored in this paper through engineering disease site investigation. Then, on this basis, aiming at large-scale corrosion of tunnel lining structure, two reinforcement and repair schemes are proposed, corrugated steel plate reinforcement method and channel steel reinforcement method. Indoor component tests are carried out on the two reinforcement schemes. The failure characteristics and stress and deformation law of tunnel lining members after reinforcement and repair were verified. The analysis showed that the failure process of the reinforced specimens on the tensile side could be divided into the non-cracking stage and the working stage with cracks, and the cracking load and failure load of the specimens were significantly increased. The bearing capacity of the reinforced specimens was divided into the ultimate bearing capacity against cracking and the ultimate bearing capacity during failure. Finally, the calculation methods of the bearing capacity of the channel steel reinforcement method and the corrugated steel plate reinforcement method were derived. Comparative analysis shows that the results of numerical simulation, experimental testing and theoretical simplification methods are close to each other, and the maximum deviation is less than 8%. The established method for calculating the bearing capacity of corroded components after reinforcement is reliable and can be used for the design calculation of corroded lining reinforcement.
A New Strategy to Improve the Toughness of Epoxy Thermosets—By Introducing Poly(ether nitrile ketone)s Containing Phthalazinone Structures
Authors: Guo Hongjun , Wang Bing , Fu Xin , Li Nan , Li Guiyang , Zheng Guodong , Wang Zaiyu , Liu Cheng , Chen Yousi , Weng Zhihuan , Zhang Shouhai , Jian Xigao
Published: April 2023

As high brittleness limits the application of all epoxy resins (EP), here, it can be modified by high-performance thermoplastic poly(ether nitrile ketone) containing phthalazinone structures (PPENK). Therefore, the influence of different PPENK contents on the mechanical, thermal, and low-temperature properties of EP was comprehensively investigated in this paper. The binary blend of PPENK/EP exhibited excellent properties due to homogeneous mixing and good interaction. The presence of PPENK significantly improved the mechanical properties of EP, showing 131.0%, 14.2%, and 10.0% increases in impact, tensile, and flexural strength, respectively. Morphological studies revealed that the crack deflection and bridging in PPENK were the main toughening mechanism in the blend systems. In addition, the PPENK/EP blends showed excellent thermal and low-temperature properties (−183 °C). The glass transition temperatures of the PPENK/EP blends were enhanced by approximately 50 °C. The 15 phr of the PPENK/EP blends had a low-temperature flexural strength of up to 230 MPa, which was 46.5% higher than EP. Furthermore, all blends exhibited better thermal stability.
Influence of Illite and Its Amine Modifications on the Self-Adhesive Properties of Silicone Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives
Authors: Antosik Adrian Krzysztof , Mozelewska Karolina , Musik Marlena , Miądlicki Piotr , Wilpiszewska Katarzyna
Published: April 2023

Obtaining new silicone self-adhesive in the presence of modified illite has been described. The filler was modified with N,N,4-trimethylaniline. The effect of illite content and modification on functional properties (adhesion, cohesion, stickiness, and shrinkage) was determined. Additionally, the thermal resistance (the SAFT test) of obtained silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives was evaluated. For all the systems tested, an increase in thermal resistance and shrinkage decrease were noted. Moreover, only a slight adhesion and tack decrease was revealed. Such self-adhesives could be applied for joining elements operating at increased temperatures, e.g., in heavy industry.