bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of blood trihalomethane concentrations with diabetes mellitus in older adults in the US: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2013–2018
Authors: Chen Tuotuo , He Haiqing , Tang Wei , Liu Ziyi , Zhang Hongliang
Published: July 2024

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that there is a correlation between trihalomethanes and disease progression, such as allergic diseases. As we know, only few studies focused on the relationship between trihalomethanes and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus.

Objective

The aim of this study was to further explore the associations between blood trihalomethane concentrations and diabetes mellitus in older adults in the US.

Methods

Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) database in the survey cycle during 2013 to 2018, including 2,511 older adults in the US whose blood trihalomethane concentrations were measured, involving chloroform (TCM) and brominated trihalomethanes (Br-THMs). Br-THMs include bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform (TBM). Meanwhile, the concentration of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) was also measured later. A multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to examine the relationship between blood THMs and diabetes mellitus. Meanwhile, we performed a subgroup analysis, which aims to explore the stability of this relationship in different subgroups. In order to further consider the impact of various disinfection by-products on diabetes, we also used weighted quantile sum (WQS). To explore the correlation in trihalomethanes, we plot a correlation heatmap.

Results

Adjusting for potential confounders, we found that there was a significant negative association between chloroform and diabetes mellitus [Model 1 (adjusted for covariates including age, sex, and race, OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.50–1.02; p = 0.068; p for trend = 0.094); Model 2 (adjusted for all covariates, OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48–0.96; p = 0.029; p for trend = 0.061)]. In the bromodichloromethane, we reached a conclusion that is similar to TCM [Model 1 (adjusted for covariates including age, sex, and race, OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35–0.82; p = 0.005; p for trend = 0.002); Model 2 (adjusted for all covariates, OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35–0.82; p = 0.003; p for trend = 0.002)]. Meanwhile, the restricted cubic spline curve also further confirms this result (p overall = 0.0027; p overall< 0.001). Based on the analysis in the subgroups, we found that the value p for interaction in the majority of subgroups is higher than 0.1. Trihalomethanes and diabetes were inversely associated, and in the WQS, chloroform and bromodichloromethane were found to be the major contributors to this relationship. In the correlation analysis, we found that most trihalomethanes have a weak correlation, except for TBM and TCM with a strong correlation.

Conclusion

Our results in this study showed that blood chloroform, bromodichloromethane concentrations, and diabetes mellitus in older adults in the US are negatively correlated, suggesting that chloroform and bromodichloromethane can be protective factors for diabetes.
Asset risk assessment and management of large-scale electricity enterprises under the concept of financial sharing
Authors: Minyue Bai , XiuE Yuan
Published: July 2024

The power grid is an important industry that is crucial to national security and economic development, and its importance in society continues to grow. As an emerging concept, financial sharing enables internal resource sharing and optimization, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of asset management. This study investigates and analyzes the current situation of asset management in large-scale electricity enterprises in X Province, China, and proposes a comprehensive asset management strategy optimization plan based on the concept of financial sharing. The proposed plan integrates management models such as PDCA and designs an entire information management architecture to enhance resource utilization efficiency, reduce environmental pollution risks, and optimize asset allocation and operational decisions. In addition, it also utilizes the status of assets to assess the risks associated with fixed assets in the power grid. The results indicate that the asset risk assessment method under the concept of financial sharing can reduce power grid asset losses, effectively enhance the competitiveness and sustainable development capabilities of electricity enterprises.
Identifying priority ecosystem services in tidal wetland restoration
Authors: Jackson Chloe A. , Hernandez Connie L. , Yee Susan H. , Nash Maliha S. , Diefenderfer Heida L. , Borde Amy B. , Harwell Matthew C. , DeWitt Theodore H.
Published: July 2024

Classification systems can be an important tool for identifying and quantifying the importance of relationships, assessing spatial patterns in a standardized way, and forecasting alternative decision scenarios to characterize the potential benefits (e.g., ecosystem services) from ecosystem restoration that improve human health and well-being. We present a top-down approach that systematically leverages ecosystem services classification systems to identify potential services relevant for ecosystem restoration decisions. We demonstrate this approach using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ecosystem Service Classification System Plus (NESCS Plus) to identify those ecosystem services that are relevant to restoration of tidal wetlands. We selected tidal wetland management documents from federal agencies, state agencies, wetland conservation organizations, and land stewards across three regions of the continental United States (northern Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest) to examine regional and organizational differences in identified potential benefits of tidal wetland restoration activities and the potential user groups who may benefit. We used an automated document analysis to quantify the frequencies at which different wetland types were mentioned in the management documents along with their associated beneficiary groups and the ecological end products (EEPs) those beneficiaries care about, as defined by NESCS Plus. Results showed that a top combination across all three regions, all four organizations, and all four tidal wetland types was the EEP naturalness paired with the beneficiary people who care (existence). Overall, the Mid-Atlantic region and the land steward organizations mentioned ecosystem services more than the others, and EEPs were mentioned in combination with tidal wetlands as a high-level, more general category than the other more specific tidal wetland types. Certain regional and organizations differences were statistically significant. Those results may be useful in identifying ecosystem services-related goals for tidal wetland restoration. This approach for identifying and comparing ecosystem service priorities is broadly transferrable to other ecosystems or decision-making contexts.
Causal relationships of lifestyle behaviours and body fat distribution on diabetic microvascular complications: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Guo Nuojin , Shi Hekai , Zhao Hongmei , Abuduani Yierfan , Chen Da , Chen Xishuang , Wang Hua , Li Peicheng
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To determine the causal correlations of lifestyle behaviours and body fat distribution on diabetic microvascular complications through a Mendelian Randomization (MR).

Methods

Genetic variants significantly associated with lifestyle behaviours, abdominal obesity, generalized obesity and diabetic microvascular complications were extracted from the UK Biobank (UKB) and FinnGen. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was regarded as the primary method. The main results were presented in odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation (SD) increase, and a series of sensitivity analyses were also conducted to validate the stability of the results.

Results

There was a positive causal correlation between smoking and the development of diabetic retinopathy (OR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.04–1.30; p = 0.01). All of the indicators representing abdominal obesity had a statistically significant causal association with diabetic microvascular complications. Concerning generalized obesity, there were significant causal associations of body mass index (BMI) on diabetic nephropathy (OR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.58–2.33; p < 0.001), diabetic retinopathy (OR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.15–1.40; p < 0.001), and diabetic neuropathy (OR = 2.60; 95%CI: 1.95–3.45; p < 0.001). Other indicators including leg fat mass (left), and arm fat mass (left) also had a significant positive causality with diabetic microvascular complications.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that smoking has a genetically causal association with the development of diabetic retinopathy rather than diabetic nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy. In addition, both abdominal obesity and generalized obesity are risk factors for diabetic microvascular complications. To note, abdominal obesity represented by waist circumference (WC) is the most significant risk factor.
Intratumoral high endothelial venules in solid tumors: a pooled study
Authors: Wang Bin , Han Yin , Liu Jie , Zhang Xinyao , Deng Yaotiao , Jiang Yu
Published: July 2024

Objective

We performed this pooled analysis for the first time to comprehensively explore the prognostic value of tumor-associated high endothelial venules (TA-HEVs) and determine their relationships with clinicopathological features in solid tumors.

Methods

Four online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were comprehensively searched to identify studies assessing the effect of TA-HEVs on prognosis or clinicopathological features. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to evaluate survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The association between TA-HEV status and clinicopathological characteristics was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) combined with 95% CIs. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. The sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the stability of our findings. Meanwhile, Funnel plots were employed to visually evaluate potential publication bias, and both Begg’s and Egger’s tests were adopted to quantitatively determine publication bias.

Results

A total of 13 retrospective cohort studies, involving 1,933 patients were finally included in this meta-analysis. Effect-size pooling analysis showed that the positivity of TA-HEVs was related to improved OS (pooled HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62-0.93, P<0.01), and DFS (pooled HR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.41-0.72, P< 0.01). However, TA-HEV positivity in solid tumors was not linked to PFS (pooled HR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.34-1.64, P = 0.47) or CSS (pooled HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.04-7.58, P= 0.68). Further subgroup analysis demonstrated that ethnicity and source of HR were the main factors contributing to heterogeneity. Moreover, TA-HEVs were inversely associated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, but were positively related to worse tumor differentiation. However, TA-HEVs were not significantly correlated with sex, LVI, clinical stage, and depth of invasion. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the pooled results were stable and reliable, with no significant publication bias in all included articles.

Conclusions

This is the first comprehensive analysis of the prognostic value of TA-HEVs in solid tumors using existing literature. Overall, our study demonstrated a significant correlation between TA-HEVs and prognosis as well as clinicopathological features. TA-HEVs may serve as novel immune-related biomarkers for clinical assessments and prognosis prediction in solid tumors.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php, identifier CRD42023394998.
Analysis revealed the molecular mechanism of oxidative stress-autophagy-induced liver injury caused by high alkalinity: integrated whole hepatic transcriptome and metabolome
Authors: Shang Xinchi , Geng Longwu , Wei Hai jun , Liu Tianqi , Che Xinghua , Li Wang , Liu Yuhao , Shi Xiao dan , Li Jianhong , Teng Xiaohua , Xu Wei
Published: July 2024

Introduction

High-alkalinity water is a serious health hazard for fish and can cause oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation in fish livers. However, the molecular mechanism of liver damage caused by high alkalinity in fish is unclear.

Methods

In this study, 180 carp were randomly divided into a control (C) group and a high-alkalinity (A25) group and were cultured for 56 days. High-alkalinity-induced liver injury was analysed using histopathological, whole-transcriptome, and metabolomic analyses.

Results

Many autophagic bodies and abundant mitochondrial membrane damage were observed in the A25 group. High alkalinity decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver tissues, causing oxidative stress in the liver. Transcriptome analysis revealed 61 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and 4008 differentially expressed mRNAs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), forkhead box O (FoxO), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the autophagy signalling pathway were the molecular mechanisms involved. High alkalinity causes oxidative stress and autophagy and results in autophagic damage in the liver. Bioinformatic predictions indicated that Unc-51 Like Kinase 2 (ULK2) was a potential target gene for miR-140-5p, demonstrating that high alkalinity triggered autophagy through the miR-140-5p–ULK2 axis. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the concentrations of cortisol 21-sulfate and beta-aminopropionitrile were significantly increased, while those of creatine and uracil were significantly decreased.

Discussion

The effects of high alkalinity on oxidative stress and autophagy injury in the liver were analysed using whole-transcriptome miRNA-mRNA networks and metabolomics approaches. Our study provides new insights into liver injury caused by highly alkaline water.
The potential immunological mechanisms of sepsis
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Yujing , Yuan Shiying , Zhang Jiancheng
Published: July 2024

Sepsis is described as a life-threatening organ dysfunction and a heterogeneous syndrome that is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care settings. Severe sepsis could incite an uncontrollable surge of inflammatory cytokines, and the host immune system's immunosuppression could respond to counter excessive inflammatory responses, characterized by the accumulated anti-inflammatory cytokines, impaired function of immune cells, over-proliferation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, depletion of immune effector cells by different means of death, etc. In this review, we delve into the underlying pathological mechanisms of sepsis, emphasizing both the hyperinflammatory phase and the associated immunosuppression. We offer an in-depth exploration of the critical mechanisms underlying sepsis, spanning from individual immune cells to a holistic organ perspective, and further down to the epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, we outline the strengths of artificial intelligence in analyzing extensive datasets pertaining to septic patients, showcasing how classifiers trained on various clinical data sources can identify distinct sepsis phenotypes and thus to guide personalized therapy strategies for the management of sepsis. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent, reliable biomarkers for hyperinflammatory and immunosuppressive states, facilitating more precise and expedited diagnosis of sepsis.
SLC7A11: the Achilles heel of tumor?
Authors: Jiang Yulang , Sun Mingyu
Published: July 2024

The non-natriuretic-dependent glutamate/cystine inverse transporter-system Xc- is composed of two protein subunits, SLC7A11 and SLC3A2, with SLC7A11 serving as the primary functional component responsible for cystine uptake and glutathione biosynthesis. SLC7A11 is implicated in tumor development through its regulation of redox homeostasis, amino acid metabolism, modulation of immune function, and induction of programmed cell death, among other processes relevant to tumorigenesis. In this paper, we summarize the structure and biological functions of SLC7A11, and discuss its potential role in tumor therapy, which provides a new direction for precision and personalized treatment of tumors.
Advancing understanding of the role of IL-22 in myelination: insights from the Cuprizone mouse model
Authors: Zamali Imen , Elbini Ines , Rekik Raja , Neili Nour-Elhouda , Ben Hamouda Wafa , Ben Hmid Ahlem , Doghri Raoudha , Ben Ahmed Mélika
Published: July 2024

Despite significant advancements in the field, the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains partially understood, with limited therapeutic options available for this debilitating condition. The precise impact of Interleukin-22 (IL-22) in the context of MS is still incompletely elucidated with some evidence suggesting its protective role. To provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role of IL-22, we investigated its effect on remyelination in a mouse model of demyelination induced by Cuprizone. Mice underwent a 6 week regimen of Cuprizone or vehicle, followed or not by intraperitoneal administration of IL-22. Behavioral assessments including tail suspension and inverted screen tests were conducted, alongside histological, histochemical, and quantitative PCR analyses. In Cuprizone-treated mice, IL-22 significantly improved motor and behavioral performance and robustly promoted remyelination in the corpus callosum. Additionally, IL-22 administration led to a significant elevation in MBP transcription in brain biopsies of treated mice. These findings collectively suggest a crucial role for IL-22 in the pathophysiology of MS, particularly in supporting the process of remyelination. These results offer potential avenues for expanding therapeutic strategies for MS treatment. Ongoing experiments aim to further unravel the underlying mechanisms of IL-22 action.
Temporal changes in mouse hippocampus transcriptome after pilocarpine-induced seizures
Authors: Popova Evgenya Y. , Kawasawa Yuka Imamura , Leung Ming , Barnstable Colin J.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Status epilepticus (SE) is a seizure lasting more than 5 min that can have lethal consequences or lead to various neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Using a pilocarpine-induced SE model in mice we investigated temporal changes in the hippocampal transcriptome.

Methods

We performed mRNA-seq and microRNA-seq analyses at various times after drug treatment.

Results

At 1 h after the start of seizures, hippocampal cells upregulated transcription of immediate early genes and genes involved in the IGF-1, ERK/MAPK and RNA-PolII/transcription pathways. At 8 h, we observed changes in the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress, overall transcription downregulation, particularly for genes related to mitochondrial structure and function, initiation of a stress response through regulation of ribosome and translation/EIF2 signaling, and upregulation of an inflammatory response. During the middle of the latent period, 36 h, we identified upregulation of membrane components, cholesterol synthesis enzymes, channels, and extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as an increased inflammatory response. At the end of the latent period, 120 h, most changes in expression were in genes involved in ion transport, membrane channels, and synapses. Notably, we also elucidated the involvement of novel pathways, such as cholesterol biosynthesis pathways, iron/BMP/ferroptosis pathways, and circadian rhythms signaling in SE and epileptogenesis.

Discussion

These temporal changes in metabolic reactions indicate an immediate response to injury followed by recovery and regeneration. CREB was identified as the main upstream regulator. Overall, our data provide new insights into molecular functions and cellular processes involved at different stages of seizures and offer potential avenues for effective therapeutic strategies.
Myogenic artifacts masquerade as neuroplasticity in the auditory frequency-following response
Authors: Bidelman Gavin M. , Sisson Alexandria , Rizzi Rose , MacLean Jessica , Baer Kaitlin
Published: July 2024

The frequency-following response (FFR) is an evoked potential that provides a neural index of complex sound encoding in the brain. FFRs have been widely used to characterize speech and music processing, experience-dependent neuroplasticity (e.g., learning and musicianship), and biomarkers for hearing and language-based disorders that distort receptive communication abilities. It is widely assumed that FFRs stem from a mixture of phase-locked neurogenic activity from the brainstem and cortical structures along the hearing neuraxis. In this study, we challenge this prevailing view by demonstrating that upwards of ~50% of the FFR can originate from an unexpected myogenic source: contamination from the postauricular muscle (PAM) vestigial startle reflex. We measured PAM, transient auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and sustained frequency-following response (FFR) potentials reflecting myogenic (PAM) and neurogenic (ABR/FFR) responses in young, normal-hearing listeners with varying degrees of musical training. We first establish that PAM artifact is present in all ears, varies with electrode proximity to the muscle, and can be experimentally manipulated by directing listeners' eye gaze toward the ear of sound stimulation. We then show this muscular noise easily confounds auditory FFRs, spuriously amplifying responses 3–4-fold with tandem PAM contraction and even explaining putative FFR enhancements observed in highly skilled musicians. Our findings expose a new and unrecognized myogenic source to the FFR that drives its large inter-subject variability and cast doubt on whether changes in the response typically attributed to neuroplasticity/pathology are solely of brain origin.
Spinal manipulation and mobilization forces delivered treating sciatica: a case report
Authors: Siciliano Theodore B. , Gudavalli Maruti R. , Kruse Ralph
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Accurately measuring the forces applied during spinal manipulation and its biomechanical effects on the spine are critically important in current research. This single case report discusses the potential benefit of accurately monitoring manipulative forces in treating low back pain with sciatica. The type of force-based spinal manipulation used to manage this case was Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression (CTFDD) spinal manipulation care, along with other ancillary modalities.

Methods

The treatment plan, in this case, was primarily force-based CTFDD, equal-force bi-directional traction (EqFT), pre-modulated electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), infrared light therapy (ILT), and a home stretching and strengthening program.

Clinical findings

Initially, the case study patient presented with complaints of left lumbar spine pain, which radiated into the left buttock, down the left leg, accompanied by an inability to dorsiflex the left foot. The patient was concerned with this condition as the left leg pain and left lower extremity motor deficit were having a profound effect on the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living and work. The patient was recommended to undergo spinal decompression surgery, which the patient did not want, and elected to exhaust all alternative, non-surgical treatments first.

Diagnosis, intervention, and outcomes

A diagnosis of sciatica with a sequestered disk fragment and left lower extremity motor deficit was rendered through objective physical examination results and a review of a lumbar MRI study. Past interventions included prescription medications, physical rehabilitation, chiropractic, pain management, and neurosurgical consultation. All past interventions prior to initiating CTFDD care provided minimal subjective and/or objective clinical improvement. This patient had a positive clinical outcome from a force-based CTFDD treatment plan along with other modalities consisting of pre-modulated EMS, ILT, and a home stretching and strengthening program.

Conclusion

Force-based CTFDD spinal manipulation, along with other modalities consisting of pre-modulated EMS, ILT, and a home stretching and strengthening program, has been found to be an alternative, non-surgical treatment for discogenic sciatica. Continued research is needed on force-based CTFDD spinal manipulation to further evaluate the neurological and biomechanical effects of the forces and motion applied to the spine and determine health benefits for the treatment of low back pain.
Rhythm and music for promoting sensorimotor organization in autism: broader implications for outcomes
Authors: LaGasse Blythe , Yoo Ga Eul , Hardy Michelle Welde
Published: July 2024

Emerging research suggests that music and rhythm-based interventions offer promising avenues for facilitating functional outcomes for autistic individuals. Evidence suggests that many individuals with ASD have music processing and production abilities similar to those of neurotypical peers. These individual strengths in music processing and production may be used within music therapy with a competence-based treatment approach. We provide an updated perspective of how music and rhythm-based interventions promote sensory and motor regulation, and how rhythm and music may then impact motor, social, and communicative skills. We discuss how music can engage and motivate individuals, and can be used intentionally to promote skill acquisition through both structured and flexible therapeutic applications. Overall, we illustrate the potential of music and rhythm as valuable tools in addressing skill development in individuals on the autism spectrum.
Formulation of nanoemulsion parijoto fruit extract (Medinilla Speciosa) with variation of tweens stabilizers
Authors: Ananingsih Victoria Kristina , Pratiwi Alberta Rika , Soedarini Bernadeta , Putra Yohanes Alan Sarsita
Published: July 2024

Nanotechnology has substantial potential for development due to its ability to modify surface characteristics and particle size, facilitating enhanced absorption of functional food compounds and controlled release of active substances to mitigate adverse effects. Nanoemulsion, a stable colloidal system formed by blending oil, emulsifier, and water, was identified as nanotechnology with promising applications. However, investigations into the impact of surfactants on characteristic nanoemulsions need to be more varied. This research gap necessitated further exploration in the advancement of nanotechnology-based foods. The parijoto fruit (Medinilla speciosa), an indigenous plant species in Indonesia, has yet to undergo extensive scrutiny for its potential use as a functional and nutraceutical food. Anthocyanins, a principal compound in the parijoto fruit, had exhibited efficacy in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease diabetes, demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of nanoemulsion formulations derived from parijoto fruit extract and to evaluate an optimum condition with various tween surfactants. The findings from this investigation could furnish valuable insights for the further advancement of anthocyanin nanoemulsions from parijoto fruit extract. The results comprised the characterization of nanoemulsion particle size, polydispersity index, ζ-potential, conductivity, pH, and viscosity. Through mathematical modeling and statistical methods, RSM optimizes nanoemulsion by examining the relationships and interactions between independent and response variables. Furthermore, the characterization of nanoemulsion encompassed ζ-potential, polydispersity, particle size, conductivity, pH, and viscosity. Elevated surfactant concentrations resulted in diminished particle sizes and more uniform size distribution, albeit reaching a plateau where surfactant aggregation and micelle formation ensued. Increased concentrations of surfactant type, concentration, and parijoto extract impacted the physical characteristics of nanoparticle size and polydispersity. The optimal process conditions for nanoemulsion consisting of the type of Tween used are Tween 80, Tween concentration of 12%, and parijoto fruit extract concentration of 7.5%, yielding a desirability value of 0.74, categorizing it as moderate.
Case report: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma demonstrating rapid growth on follow-up CT
Authors: Tu Li , Xie Hong , Zhan Lianshan , Yang Yushi , Chen Tingting , Hu Na , Du Xiaojun , Zhou Shi
Published: July 2024

Background

The tumor growth rate and tumor volume doubling time are crucial parameters in diagnosing and managing lung lesions. Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a unique and highly malignant subtype of lung cancer, with limited documentation on its growth feature. This article aims to address the gap in knowledge regarding a PSC’s growth patterns by describing the characteristics of a confirmed case using computed tomography, thereby enhancing the understanding of this rare disease.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old man was transferred to our center presenting with a mild cough, blood-tinged sputum, and a malignant nodule in the left upper lobe. Chest CT revealed a solid nodule in the left upper lobe. A follow-up CT ten days later showed a significant increase in the size of the nodule, accompanied by ground-glass opacity in the surrounding lung. The rapid preoperative growth of the nodule suggested a non-neoplastic lesion, and intraoperative frozen pathology also considered the possibility of tuberculosis. Subsequently, a left upper apical-posterior segment (S1 + 2) resection was performed. Postoperative tumor pathology confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma with extensive giant cell carcinoma and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry indicated approximately 60% PD-L1 positive and genetic testing revealed a MET mutation. The patient was discharged with oral crizotinib targeted therapy, and his condition remained stable postoperatively. The patient is currently undergoing regular follow-up at our hospital, with no evidence of distant metastasis or recurrence.

Conclusion

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma can exhibit rapid tumor growth on imaging, and PSC should be considered in the differential diagnosis for lesions that present with a fast growth rate. Timely and appropriate treatment for PSC may lead to a good prognosis.
Implications of tumor-positive sentinel lymph nodes in single vs multiple nodal basins in melanoma
Authors: Reyes Emiliano , Lourdault Kristel , Ramiscal Judi Anne , Stern Stacey , Essner Richard
Published: July 2024

Background

Melanoma patients’ prognosis is based on the primary tumor characteristics and the tumor status of the regional lymph nodes. The advent of lymphoscintigraphy with SLN biopsy (SLNB) has shown that melanoma can drain to multiple nodal basins but the significance of multiple basins (vs. one basin) with tumor-positive sentinel lymph node(s) (+SLN) of similar tumor burden has not been shown. We examined the impact of the number of nodal basins with +SLN (+basin) in melanoma patients and its significance for patients’ prognosis and survival.

Study design

We identified 1,915 patients with +SLN from two randomized surgical clinical trials: Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trials I and II. Patient groups were divided based on number of +SLNs and number of +basins. Disease-free survival (DFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were compared with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard regressions.

Results

Among the 1,915 patients, 1,501 had only one +SLN (78%) in one basin and 414 (22%) had multiple +SLNs: 340 located in one basin and 74 in multiple basins. Among patients with multiple +SLNs, those with multiple +basins have a worse DFS, DDFS and MSS than those with a single basin (p ≤ 0.0001 for all comparisons). MSS was significantly different based on AJCC stages: AJCC IIIA and IIIB (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.0287, respectively).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the number of tumor-positive basins may be important for staging and in understanding the biology of lymph node metastases.
The use of rh-NGF in the management of neurotrophic keratopathy
Authors: Roszkowska Anna M. , Spinella Rosaria , Calderone Alessandro , Sindoni Marianna , Wowra Bogumił H. , Kozak Maciej , Sajak-Hydzik Katarzyna , Aliò Jorge
Published: July 2024

Neurotrophic keratitis or keratopathy (NK) is a degenerative corneal disease induced by impairment of the trigeminal nerve function. This condition may lead to persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulceration, and perforation. The diagnosis of NK requires a careful investigation of any ocular and systemic condition associated with the disease and ocular surface and corneal sensitivity examinations. In the past, several medical and surgical procedures were used to treat this condition with different clinical effectiveness. Cenegermin is a recombinant human nerve growth factor (rh-NGF) that supports corneal reinnervation. Different clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of topical cenegermin in patients with moderate to severe neurotrophic keratitis. In this review, we report the literature on clinical results regarding the treatment of NK with cenegermin since its approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
What are the benefits of therapeutic drug monitoring in the optimization of adalimumab therapy? a systematic review and meta-analysis up to 2022
Authors: Li Yun , Xie Cheng , Ding Xiaoliang , Wu Ziyang , Zhang Jingjing , Zhu Jianguo , Miao Liyan
Published: July 2024

Aims

Persistent uncertainties exist surrounding the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of adalimumab in clinical settings. To address these issues, we conducted a systematic review to assess the current evidence regarding the benefits of TDM for adalimumab.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases were searched from inception to October 2022. The trials regarding to the list three key questions were considered: 1) Could routine proactive TDM assist in improving outcomes in patients receiving adalimumab? 2) Could reactive TDM assist in guiding subsequent treatment strategies for patients with treatment failure to adalimumab? 3) Could TDM assist in informing dose reduction or discontinuation in patients with low disease activity or in remission treated with adalimumab? Two reviewers independently selected the studies and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total of 9 studies was included in this review. For proactive TDM, meta-analysis indicated that proactive TDM (n = 163/257, 63.42%) showed no significant superiority over reactive TDM and/or conventional management (n = 336/606, 55.44%) in achieving and/or maintaining clinical remission by random effects model (RR: 1.24, 95% CI 0.98–1.58, I2 = 73%). There were three studies that supporting the reactive TDM, low drug levels in the absence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) strongly indicate the need for dose intensification, and infliximab is a feasible choice for patients with low drug levels and ADA positivity. While swapping to another class should be considered in patients with adequate drug levels. In addition, TDM can help clinicians optimize dosing schedules and prevent overtreatment in patients who have achieved low disease activity and sufficient drug concentrations, with no predictive value for successful adalimumab discontinuation.

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that proactive TDM is numerically but not statistically significant superiority over reactive TDM and/or conventional management. Reactive TDM can aid in understanding treatment failure and developing subsequent therapy. For patients reaching low disease activity and remission, TDM can help successful dose reduction, while it cannot inform the successful drug discontinuation. However, existing trials are limited, and more well-designed trials are necessary to clarify the role of TDM in adalimumab treatment.
SPX family response to low phosphorus stress and the involvement of ZmSPX1 in phosphorus homeostasis in maize
Authors: Luo Bowen , Sahito Javed Hussain , Zhang Haiying , Zhao Jin , Yang Guohui , Wang Wei , Guo Jianyong , Zhang Shuhao , Ma Peng , Nie Zhi , Zhang Xiao , Liu Dan , Wu Ling , Gao Duojiang , Gao Shiqiang , Su Shunzong , Gishkori Zeeshan Ghulam Nabi , Gao Shibin
Published: July 2024

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth and development, and low-Pi stress poses a significant limitation to maize production. While the role of the SPX domain in encoding proteins involved in phosphate (Pi) homeostasis and signaling transduction has been extensively studied in other model plants, the molecular and functional characteristics of the SPX gene family members in maize remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified six SPX members, and the phylogenetic analysis of ZmSPXs revealed a close relationship with SPX genes in rice. The promoter regions of ZmSPXs were abundant in biotic and abiotic stress-related elements, particularly associated with various hormone signaling pathways, indicating potential intersections between Pi signaling and hormone signaling pathways. Additionally, ZmSPXs displayed tissue-specific expression patterns, with significant and differential induction in anthers and roots, and were localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The interaction between ZmSPXs and ZmPHRs was established via yeast two-hybrid assays. Furthermore, overexpression of ZmSPX1 enhanced root sensitivity to Pi deficiency and high-Pi conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phenotypic identification of the maize transgenic lines demonstrated the negative regulatory effect on the P concentration of stems and leaves as well as yield. Notably, polymorphic sites including 34 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and seven insertions/deletions (InDels) in ZmSPX1 were significantly associated with 16 traits of low-Pi tolerance index. Furthermore, significant sites were classified into five haplotypes, and haplotype5 can enhance biomass production by promoting root development. Taken together, our results suggested that ZmSPX family members possibly play a pivotal role in Pi stress signaling in plants by interacting with ZmPHRs. Significantly, ZmSPX1 was involved in the Pi-deficiency response verified in transgenic Arabidopsis and can affect the Pi concentration of maize tissues and yield. This work lays the groundwork for deeper exploration of the maize SPX family and could inform the development of maize varieties with improved Pi efficiency.
Development and validation of the Alimetry Gut-Brain Wellbeing Survey: a novel patient-reported mental health scale for patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms
Authors: Law Mikaela , Pickering Isabella , Humphrey Gayl , Sebaratnam Gabrielle , Schamberg Gabriel , Simpson Katie , Varghese Chris , Du Peng , Daker Charlotte , Huang I-Hsuan , Khalsa Sahib S. , Gharibans Armen , O'Grady Greg , Andrews Christopher N. , Calder Stefan
Published: July 2024

Objective

There is currently a lack of validated questionnaires designed specifically to assess mental health within patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms. This research describes the multi-phase process used to develop and validate a novel mental health scale for patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms, the Alimetry® Gut-Brain Wellbeing (AGBW) Survey.

Methods

A patient-centered multi-phase process was implemented. In Phase 1, the most relevant concepts for this patient population were selected from existing mental health scales, using data from 79 patients. In Phase 2, an interdisciplinary panel of experts generated scale items. In Phase 3, the scale underwent pre-testing with gastroenterologists (n = 9), health psychologists (n = 3), and patients (n = 12), with feedback incorporated over multiple rounds. Lastly, the psychometric properties of the scale were assessed in a sample of 311 patients via an online survey.

Results

The AGBW Survey comprises a patient preface, 10 close-ended questions, and an optional open-ended question. This multidimensional scale assesses general mental health, alongside specific subscales relating to depression, stress, and anxiety. The subscale and total scores demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.91 for the total scale; α = 0.72–0.86 for subscales) and good convergent, divergent, concurrent validity, and known groups validity, with large effect sizes.

Conclusion

The AGBW Survey is a brief, valid, and reliable scale for assessing mental health in patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms. It can be used as a tool to complement physiological tests and has the potential to guide psychological referrals, inform multidisciplinary management, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
The relationship between depression and lipid accumulation product: a population-based study
Authors: Zhu Xianlin , Wang Peng , Yue Ya , Wu Tiancheng , Cui Jiali , Shu Yanping , Ma Ling
Published: July 2024

Background

Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) is a new type of obesity index. The relationship between LAP and depression is unclear, and this cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between LAP and depression using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005–2018.

Methods

In our study, logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio between depression and LAP, and subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed to verify the robustness of the results.

Results

The analysis included 13,240 participants aged 20 years or older. After adjusting for multiple variables, LAP was positively associated with depression, OR 1. 50 (95% CI, 1. 05–2. 12). In subgroup analysis, LAP was significantly positively, associated with depression among male (2. 52, OR; 95% CI, 1. 39,4. 57), non-Hispanic Black (2. 55, OR; 95% CI, 1. 49,4. 36), those without diabetes (1. 67, OR; 95% CI, (1. 06,2. 61) or in the overweight (2. 09, OR; 95% CI, (1. 23,3. 54) subgroups. After inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), the OR for the highest versus lowest quartile was 1. 55 (95% CI: 1. 24 – 1. 95).

Conclusion

There are positive results between LAP and depression after adjusting for multiple potential variables, and prospective studies are needed to verify the results.
Sensitivity analysis of space-based water vapor differential absorption lidar at 823 nm
Authors: Barton-Grimley Rory A. , Nehrir Amin R.
Published: July 2024

Measurements of water vapor are important for understanding the hydrological cycle, the thermodynamic structure of the lower troposphere, and broader atmospheric circulation. Subsequently, many scientific communities have emphasized a need for high-accuracy and spatial resolution profiles of water vapor within and above the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Advancements in lidar technologies at the NASA Langley Research Center are ongoing to enable the first space-based water vapor differential absorption lidar (DIAL) that can provide high-accuracy and vertical resolution retrievals of moisture in the PBL and through the mid-troposphere. The performance of this space-based DIAL is assessed here for sensitivity throughout the troposphere and globally with representative canonical cases of water vapor and aerosol loading. The specific humidity retrieval sensitivity to systematic and random errors is assessed, and measurement resolutions and capabilities are provided. We show that tunable operation along the side of the 823-nm absorption line allows for the optimization of the lower-tropospheric water vapor retrievals across different meteorological regimes and latitudes and provides the operational flexibility needed to dynamically optimize random errors for different scientific applications. The analysis presented here suggests that baseline and threshold systematic error requirements of <1.5% and <2.5%, respectively, are achievable. Random error is shown to dominate the retrieval, with errors on the order of 5% within the PBL being achievable with 300-m vertical 50-km horizontal resolutions over open ocean and on the order of 10%–15% over high-albedo surfaces. The flexibility of the DIAL method to trade retrieval precision for spatial resolution is shown, highlighting its strengths over passive techniques to tailor retrievals to different scientific applications. Combined, the total error budget demonstrated here indicates a high impact for space-based DIAL, with technologies being advanced for space missions within the next 5–10 years.
Infrared-radio-follow-up observations for detection of the magnetic radio emission of extra solar planets: a new window to detect exoplanets
Authors: Bagheri Fatemeh , Lopez Ramon E. , Shahmoradi Amir
Published: July 2024

There are several methods for indirectly detecting exoplanets, such as transit, radial velocity, astrometry, and the conventional gravitational microlensing approach. These methods rely on observing the effects of exoplanets on the emission or motion of observed stars. All these techniques have focused on the optical or infrared domains. However, an alternative method for exoplanet detection via microlensing events involves planets orbiting the source star, creating a binary source system. In this study, we explore a novel approach to detecting and studying exoplanets exclusively through their radio emissions resulting from magnetospheric processes. We propose utilizing the Roman telescope as a survey observer to detect microlensing events. Subsequently, we investigate the potential for detecting planetary radio signals through follow-up observations of these microlensing events in the radio band using the SKA telescope. This method is viable due to the comparable radio emission levels of exoplanets and their parent stars, unlike optical and infrared emissions. We conduct a Monte Carlo simulation to replicate the observations by the Nancy Roman Telescope, followed by a follow-up observation in radio frequencies using the SKA telescope. We determine that approximately 1,317 exoplanets exhibit detectable signals by the SKA telescope during the 7-season observations by the Nancy Roman Telescope. This result indicates that such a method cannot only facilitate the direct detection of exoplanets but also enable the measurement of their magnetic field strength through analysis of their radio emissions.
Kinematics characteristics of key point of interest during tennis serve among tennis players: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jacquier-Bret Julien , Gorce Philippe
Published: July 2024

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an overview of kinematic parameters associated with key points of interest in the tennis serve. The research was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline without date restriction. Google scholar, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, Mendeley, and Science.gov databases were scanned to find relevant studies. Only English peer-review original article focused on joint body angles at trophy position, racket low point and ball impact were retained. The review, quality appraisal, and data extraction from selected studies were performed independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was carried out on the most studied joint parameters. Among the 2,844 records identified, 27 articles were included. The wide variety of methods used required data homogenization for comparison purposes. Trunk inclination (25.0 ± 7.1°) and front knee flexion (64.5 ± 9.7°) were the most studied parameters for trophy position. Shoulder lateral rotation (130.1 ± 26.5°) was systematically evaluated for racket low point. At ball impact, shoulder elevation (110.7 ± 16.9°) and elbow flexion (30.1 ± 15.9°) were the most considered joint angles. The systematic review revealed that many kinematic parameters were not quantified at the various key points of interest. Knowledge of the kinematics is essential for understanding the gesture, implementing training methods, and improving the performance.