bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Status Equality between Familial and Non-Familial Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Suharta Suharta , Balaputra Ishana , Hidayat Nur , Setiawan Henri
Published: November 2022

Aims: To compare psychosocial status between familial and non-familial breast cancer patients.
Methods: This study used a descriptive analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. Population and sampling were taken at Baladika Husada Hospital Jember with a total sampling technique of 90 respondents. The inclusion criteria in this study were a native Jember Regency diagnosed since the end of 2021, histologically documented diagnosis of breast cancer, age range 30-55 years, has a partner (husband), can write and read and is an outpatient or inpatient at a hospital. Baladika Husada Kab. Jember. Patients were excluded if they had stage 4 metastases, were unmarried or divorced, and diagnosed with other chronic diseases. The instrument used was the DASS 21 questionnaire (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21) which consisted of 21 self-declaration items. The process of collecting, cleaning, editing and analyzing data was carried out with SPSS version 25.0 using the Mann Withney U Test statistical test.
Results: This study involved 90 total respondents consisting of 40 in the category of familial breast cancer and 50 non-familial breast cancer. The p-value >0.05 indicates that there is no significant difference between psychosocial status in familial breast cancer and non-familial breast cancer.
Conclusion: Psychosocial status of familial breast cancer patients was not different from that of non-familial. Clinically, these findings indicate the importance of the same model of nursing care between the two patient groups. In the next study, the researcher recommends experimental research that examines various nursing interventions on psychosocial status in both groups.
Small molecule-mediated regenerative engineering for craniofacial and dentoalveolar bone
Authors: Mitchell Juan , Lo Kevin W. H.
Published: November 2022

The comprehensive reconstruction of extensive craniofacial and dentoalveolar defects remains a major clinical challenge to this day, especially in complex medical cases involving cancer, cranioplasty, and traumatic injury. Currently, osteogenic small molecule-based compounds have been explored extensively to repair and regenerate bone tissue because of their unique advantages. Over the past few years, a number of small molecules with the potential of craniofacial and periodontal bone tissue regeneration have been reported in literature. In this review, we discuss current progress using small molecules to regulate cranial and periodontal bone regeneration. Future directions of craniofacial bone regenerative engineering using the small molecule-based compounds will be discussed as well.
Application of extracellular vesicles proteins in cancer diagnosis
Authors: Huang Defa , Rao Dingyu , Xi Xuxiang , Zhang Zuxiong , Zhong Tianyu
Published: November 2022

Early tumor diagnosis is crucial for its treatment and reduction of death, with effective tumor biomarkers being important tools. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles secreted by cells with various biomolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. They harbor a double membrane structure. Previous studies on EVs in cancer diagnosis and therapy focused on miRNAs. Nonetheless, EVs contain proteins that represent physiological and pathological state of their parental cells. EVs proteins can reflect the pathological state of some diseases, which provides a basis for diagnosis and treatment. This study describes the role of EVs in cancer and summarizes the use of EVs proteins as diagnostic markers in different cancer types. Specifically, we discuss the potential and shortcomings of EVs as tumor biomarkers.
Early and midterm results of valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction with a bovine pericardium patch for patients with acute type a aortic dissection
Authors: Yang Jue , Li Xin , Wu Meifen , Wu Jinlin , Chen Zerui , Sun Tucheng , Fan Ruixin , Yu Changjiang
Published: November 2022

Objectives

We evaluated the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction with a bovine pericardium patch for patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods

From January 2016 to January 2021, 895 consecutive patients with ATAAD received surgical treatment at our hospital. After applying our exclusion criteria, 508 patients were included in this research. Based on the attending surgeon's judgment and preference, 192 patients underwent our novel surgical novel surgical technique of valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction (repair group [RG]) and 316 patients underwent the Bentall procedure (Bentall group [BG]).

Results

In the RG, the early mortality rate was 4.2% (8/192). In the BG, the early mortality rate was 5.1% (16/316). There were no significant differences between groups. The incidence of postoperative renal failure in the BG was significantly higher than that in the RG. The mean follow-up time was 2.93 years (standard deviation, ±1.38 years). There were no significant differences between groups regarding ATAAD-related mortality and reoperation. In the RG, the rate of freedom from aortic root reoperation at 5 years was 98.2%, and the grade of aortic regurgitation 6 months later was significant less than that before surgery, and it did not worsen during later follow-up.

Conclusions

Valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction with a bovine pericardium patch can be successfully performed for selected patients with ATAAD and is associated with low in-hospital and late mortality rates and low root reoperation rates during early and midterm follow-up.
Conduction disorders after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A comparison between SAPIEN 3 and SAPIEN 3 Ultra balloon-expandable valves
Authors: Monizzi Giovanni , Olivares Paolo , Makmur Giulio , Fabbiocchi Franco , Grancini Luca , Mastrangelo Angelo , Ferrari Cristina , Galli Stefano , Montorsi Piero , Bartorelli Antonio L.
Published: November 2022

Background

Conduction disorders (CD) are the most common complications after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). The last generation of Edwards balloon expandable valves, the SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U), is provided with an external sealing skirt that aims to further reduce paravalvular leakage (PVL) compared to SAPIEN 3 (S3) and could potentially lead to higher CD rate. We sought to investigate the rate of new-onset CD in patients undergoing TAVI with the S3 or S3U valve.

Methods

We included 582 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in a single high-volume Center. Patients with previously implanted pacemaker and Valve in valve procedures were excluded. CD rate was evaluated early after implantation and at discharge.

Results

No significant difference in the overall CD rate was found between S3 and S3U patients both immediately after the procedure (S3 45.5% vs. S3U 41.8%, p = 0.575) and at discharge (S3 30.4% vs. S3U 35.6%, p = 0.348) with low rate of permanent pacemaker implantation (S3 6.3% vs. S3U 5.5%, p = 0.749). No significant differences were found also in patients with pre-existing atrial fibrillation (S3 8.2% vs. S3U 5%, p = 0.648). A significantly lower rate of PVL was found with S3U compared to S3 (S3 42% vs. S3U 26%, p = 0.007). According to the manufacturer’s guidelines we confirmed that S3U were implanted in a significantly higher position compared to S3 (S3 4.89 ± 1.57 mm vs. S3U 4.47 ± 1.36 mm, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

No significant difference in the rate of CD, including the need for PPM implantation, was found in patients undergoing TAVI with the S3 compared to S3U. Moreover, S3U significantly reduced the PVL rate.
Analysis of the Deep Learning Strategies Questionnaire with Ecuadorian students
Authors: Yaguarema Marcia , Zambrano R. Jimmy , Salavarría Melba
Published: November 2022

Measurement of self-regulated learning through self-report questionnaires can help improve educational efforts. The Deep Learning Strategies Questionnaire has been recently validated, which consists of 30 items and four scales: basic self-regulated learning strategies, visual elaboration and summary strategies, deep information processing strategies, and self-regulated social learning strategies. We examined the characteristics of the questionnaire with 694 Ecuadorian students. The exploratory factor analysis resulted in four factors, like the original model. However, the factors identified as basic and social learning strategies included items of visual elaboration and summary and deep processing strategies. Further group comparisons showed that participants with high school finished used fewer visual and verbal elaboration strategies than those with higher education levels and that males use more deep information processing strategies than females. We discuss the difficulty of separating self-regulated learning strategies and conclude with suggestions for future research and recommendations for educational practice.
“I can’t see how people could walk through that exhibit and not be forever changed”: A qualitative analysis exploring the use of art in research dissemination
Authors: Pepe Vincent M. , Sowers Allison , Pimentel Michelle , Hoffman Alexa , Doran Cierrah , Guth Amanda , Khan Sameer , Baronet Willie , Frasso Rosemary
Published: November 2022

Background

Art can be a strong advocacy tool; it can be used to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and can change people’s perceptions of the world and others in it. In 2018, an art exhibit at Jefferson University included the cardboard signs of people who panhandle in Philadelphia as well as excerpts from in-depth interviews with those who panhandle to highlight their lived experiences. While the team published an article about this work, the purpose of this follow-up study is to explore the lasting impact of the exhibit experience on attendees’ perceptions of people who panhandle.

Methods

Fourteen attendees of the “Signs of Humanity” exhibit were interviewed 18 months later to explore their recollection of their visit and perceptions of the panhandling community. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematic codes were developed in two ways: a priori codes based on literature, and through line-by-line reading of transcripts.

Results

Directed content analysis showed three main areas in which the exhibit resonated with participants: emotional, behavioral, and educational resonance, in addition to a cross-cutting “sticky” theme, referring to the memorable long-term value of the exhibit.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that integrating art into the dissemination phase of research is effective in imbuing long-lasting emotional/behavioral responses in a way that is both accessible and provocative for the lay and scientific communities. This study adds to the body of evidence supporting the efficacy of art as an education tool and supports its use as a way to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
A scoping review on the relationship between robotics in educational contexts and e-health
Authors: Sannicandro Katia , De Santis Annamaria , Bellini Claudia , Minerva Tommaso
Published: November 2022

In recent years, due to technological advancement, research has been directed to the development and analysis of resources and tools related to educational robotics with particular attention to the field of special needs and training actions aimed at learners, teachers, professionals, and families. The use of robotics in all levels of education can support the development of logical and computational thinking, interaction, communication, and socialization, and the acquisition of particularly complex work practices, for example, in the medical field. The adoption of successful educational robotics training practices can be a potential tool to support rehabilitation interventions for disabilities and comprehensive training for students or future professionals in healthcare. A scoping review was conducted on the main topics “education” AND “robotics” with three specific focuses on complementary themes in educational research about ER: (1) teaching and computational thinking, (2) training in the health sector, and (3) education and special needs. The authors systematically searched two online databases, Scopus and Web of Science, up to April 2022. A total of 164 articles were evaluated, and 59 articles were analyzed, in a particular wayN= 33 related to computational thinking,N= 15 related to e-health, andN= 11 related to special needs. The following four questions guided our research: (1) What are the educational and experimental experiences conducted through robotics in transdisciplinary fields? (2) What tools and resources are most used in such experiments (educational robotics kit, humanoid robots, telepresence robots etc.)? (3) What are the constitutive elements of the experiments and studies involving robotics and health in educational contexts? and (4) What are those explicitly related to students with special needs? In this study, part of the research project “Robotics and E-health: new Challenges for Education” (RECE) activated at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. RECE aims to investigate the training, educational, cognitive, and legal processes induced by the increasing diffusion of educational robotics and telemedicine in clinical and surgical contexts.
Clinical characteristics of a male child with non-classic lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia and literature review
Authors: Lu Wenli , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Lidan , Wang Xueqing , Lv Sheng , Wang Junqi , Ye Lei , Xiao Yuan , Dong Zhiya , Wang Wei , Sun Shuoyue , Li Chuanyin , Hu Ronggui , Ning Guang , Ma Xiaoyu
Published: November 2022

Background

Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) is a rare and severe disorder that is caused by mutations in the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Non-classic LCAH is defined as late-onset glucocorticoid deficiency and even complete male external genitalia in 46,XY individuals. However, to date, few cases of non-classic LCAH have been reported.

Methods

It was attempted to describe the clinical characteristics of a male child with complete male external genitalia in terms of age of onset, adrenal function, and biochemical indicators. Previously reported cases were also reviewed to investigate the relationship of age of onset with enzymatic activity in non-classic LCAH.

Results

The patient with complete male external genitalia was diagnosed with non-classic LCAH, in which the reason for his referral to a local hospital at the of age 1.25 years was progressive skin hyperpigmentation, and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level was elevated to higher than 1,250 pg/ml. The compound heterozygous mutations c.772C>T/c.562C>T in STAR gene were identified via genetic testing. The literature review resulted in identification of 47 patients with non-classic LCAH from 36 families. The mutational analysis showed that c.562C>T mutation was prevalent in patients with non-classic LCAH, accounting for 37.2% of the total mutant alleles, which could reflect the founder effect on the non-classic LCAH population. In total, 28 46,XY patients were reported, including 22 (78.5%) cases with complete male external genitalia and six (21.5%) cases with different degrees of hypospadias.

Conclusion

The clinical phenotypes of non-classic LCAH are highly variable. Routine physical examination, laboratory measurement, genetic testing, and, importantly, enzymatic activity assay may facilitate the early diagnosis of non-classic LCAH. The age of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) onset may not be a diagnostic basis for non-classic LCAH, and enzymatic activity assay determination may be more effective.
An improved deep extreme learning machine to predict the remaining useful life of lithium-ion battery
Authors: Gao Yuansheng , Li Changlin , Huang Lei
Published: November 2022

To aim at the problem of inaccurate prediction of the remaining useful life of the lithium-ion battery, an improved grey wolf optimizer optimizes the deep extreme learning machine (CGWO-DELM) data-driven forecasting method is proposed. This method uses the grey wolf optimization algorithm based on an adaptive normal cloud model to optimize the bias of the deep extreme learning machine, the weight of the input layer, the selection of activation function, and the number of hidden layer nodes. In this article, indirect health factors that can characterize the degradation of battery performance are extracted from the discharge process, and the correlation between them and capacity is analyzed using the Pearson coefficient and Kendel coefficient. Then, the CGWO-DELM prediction model is constructed to predict the capacitance of the lithium-ion battery. The remaining useful life of lithium-ion batteries is indirectly predicted with a 1.44 A·h failure threshold. The prediction results are compared with deep extreme learning machines, long-term memory, other prediction methods, and the current public prediction methods. The results show that the CGWO-DELM prediction method can more accurately predict the remaining useful life of lithium-ion batteries.
Optimal performance of actuator disc models for horizontal-axis turbines
Authors: Wood David H. , Hammam Mohamed M.
Published: November 2022

This study analyzes actuator disc (AD) models of horizontal-axis turbines to determine optimal performance, defined as the maximum power extracted at any tip speed ratio. We use the calculus of variations to maximize rotor torque relative to the thrust without making any assumptions about the rotor loading. The torque was obtained from the angular momentum equation and the thrust from the Kutta-Joukowsky equation which depends on the circumferential velocity and tip speed ratio. The optimality requirement is that the pitch of the vorticity exiting the rotor must be constant across the wake and equal to the ratio of torque to thrust. This result generalizes the classical finding of Betz and Goldstein that optimal lightly-loaded ADs have constant pitch. Optimizing the torque in the far-wake, well downstream of the rotor, leads to the same requirement of constant pitch. This implies that the pitch of an optimal rotor is constant everywhere in the wake at all tip speed ratios. We show that it is not possible for the pitch to reach its optimal value because of the vorticity distribution in the wake, and propose modifications to the pitch at the rotor and in the far-wake. The axial and circumferential velocities in the far-wake, which are easily determined, were used to find those at the rotor from the “disc loading equation” for the angular momentum which is also the normalized bound circulation at the rotor. For the simplest case of a lightly-loaded rotor at zero tip speed ratio, the induced circumferential velocity is linear in radius and the axial component is quadratic, As the tip speed ratio increases, the optimal power and thrust asymptote to the familiar Betz-Joukowsky values, and the induced axial velocity and rotor bound circulation become constant. At low tip speed ratios, the optimal wakes are constrained by the need to avoid breakdown of the flow at high swirl, and the conventional thrust equation, involving the axial velocity only, is inaccurate. As found in previous studies, the power coefficient increases monotonically with tip speed ratio, but the thrust coefficient reaches a maximum value slightly above the Betz-Joukowsky limit at a tip speed ratio of two, before decreasing towards the limit.
Detrended fluctuation analysis based on best-fit polynomial
Authors: Zhao Shanshan , Jiang Yundi , He Wenping , Mei Ying , Xie Xiaoqiang , Wan Shiquan
Published: November 2022

Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) can quantify long-range correlation (LRC) and fractal scaling behavior of signal. We compared the results of variant DFA methods by varying the order of the polynomial and found that the order of 6 was relatively better than the others when both the accuracy and computational cost were taken into account. An alternative DFA method is proposed to quantify the LRC exponent by using best-fit polynomial algorithm in each segment instead of the polynomial of the same order in all of segments. In this study, the best-fit polynomial algorithm with the maximum order of 6 is used to fit the local trend in each segment to detrend the trend of a time series, and then the revised DFA is used to quantify the LRC in the time series. A series of numerical studies demonstrate that the best-fit DFA performs better than regular DFA, especially for the time series with scaling exponent smaller than 0.5. This may be attributed to the improvement of the fitted trend at the end of each segment. The estimation results of variant DFA methods reach stable when the time series length is greater than 1,000.
Reconstruction of tree branching structures from UAV-LiDAR data
Authors: Cárdenas José L. , López Alfonso , Ogayar Carlos J. , Feito Francisco R. , Jurado Juan M.
Published: November 2022

The reconstruction of tree branching structures is a longstanding problem in Computer Graphics which has been studied over several data sources, from photogrammetry point clouds to Terrestrial and Aerial Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging technology. However, most data sources present acquisition errors that make the reconstruction more challenging. Among them, the main challenge is the partial or complete occlusion of branch segments, thus leading to disconnected components whether the reconstruction is resolved using graph-based approaches. In this work, we propose a hybrid method based on radius-based search and Minimum Spanning Tree for the tree branching reconstruction by handling occlusion and disconnected branches. Furthermore, we simplify previous work evaluating the similarity between ground-truth and reconstructed skeletons. Using this approach, our method is proved to be more effective than the baseline methods, regarding reconstruction results and response time. Our method yields better results on the complete explored radii interval, though the improvement is especially significant on the Ground Sampling Distance In terms of latency, an outstanding performance is achieved in comparison with the baseline method.
Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system vs. systemic medication or blank control for women with dysmenorrhea: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Jing , Deng Ke , Li Ling , Dai Yi , Sun Xin
Published: November 2022

Aims

To compare efficacy and safety of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) with systemic medication or blank control in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LNG-IUS with systemic medication or blank control among women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea or secondary dysmenorrhea (adenomyosis or endometriosis) from inception to 2020.04. Der Simonian-Laird random-effect model was used to pool data.

Results

Seventy-one RCTs (6551 patients) were included. Overall bias risk was medium. Sixty-two articles enrolled patients with adenomyosis; LNG-IUS significantly reduced the visual analogue scale (VAS) score compared with the systemic medication group among adenomyosis women at 3 months (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.22 to −0.40); 6 months (SMD = −1.25, 95%CI: −1.58 to −0.92); 9 months (SMD = −1.23, 95%CI: −1.63 to −0.83); 12 months (SMD = −1.66, 95%CI: −2.14 to −1.18). No difference was found in the incidence of irregular vaginal bleeding (16 RCTs; RR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.62−1.33, P = 0.63, I2 = 4%) and other adverse outcomes. Sensitivity analysis regarding randomization methods was robust. Nine RCTs enrolled endometriosis women. Pooling results showed no significant difference between LNG-IUS and systemic medication treatment in terms of VAS at 6 months (SMD = −0.27, 95% CI: −0.97–0.43). Moreover, LNG-IUS was associated with higher risk of irregular vaginal bleeding (26.8% vs. 0).

Conclusions

LNG-IUS was associated with a reduced severity of dysmenorrhea compared with systemic medication; it was also beneficial for better control of menstrual blood loss and fewer adverse outcomes. Owing to small sample sizes, further well-designed RCTs are warranted to confirm these findings and long-term effects of LNG-IUS in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021228343.
Regulation of hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells by regulatory T cells
Authors: Riether Carsten
Published: November 2022

Adult bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are maintained in a quiescent state and sustain the continuous production of all types of blood cells. HSCs reside in a specialized microenvironment the so-called HSC niche, which equally promotes HSC self-renewal and differentiation to ensure the integrity of the HSC pool throughout life and to replenish hematopoietic cells after acute injury, infection or anemia. The processes of HSC self-renewal and differentiation are tightly controlled and are in great part regulated through cellular interactions with classical (e.g. mesenchymal stromal cells) and non-classical niche cells (e.g. immune cells). In myeloid leukemia, some of these regulatory mechanisms that evolved to maintain HSCs, to protect them from exhaustion and immune destruction and to minimize the risk of malignant transformation are hijacked/disrupted by leukemia stem cells (LSCs), the malignant counterpart of HSCs, to promote disease progression as well as resistance to therapy and immune control. CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are substantially enriched in the BM compared to other secondary lymphoid organs and are crucially involved in the establishment of an immune privileged niche to maintain HSC quiescence and to protect HSC integrity. In leukemia, Tregs frequencies in the BM even increase. Studies in mice and humans identified the accumulation of Tregs as a major immune-regulatory mechanism. As cure of leukemia implies the elimination of LSCs, the understanding of these immune-regulatory processes may be of particular importance for the development of future treatments of leukemia as targeting major immune escape mechanisms which revolutionized the treatment of solid tumors such as the blockade of the inhibitory checkpoint receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) seems less efficacious in the treatment of leukemia. This review will summarize recent findings on the mechanisms by which Tregs regulate stem cells and adaptive immune cells in the BM during homeostasis and in leukemia.
The derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio can be the predictor of prognosis for COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients
Authors: Qiu Weiji , Shi Qiqing , Chen Fang , Wu Qian , Yu Xiya , Xiong Lize
Published: November 2022

Background

Several systemic inflammatory biomarkers have been associated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease severity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it remains unclear which markers are better for predicting prognosis, especially for COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients. The present study aimed to identify reliable predictors of prognosis of COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 from inflammatory indicators.

Methods

A cohort of 2645 COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients were retrospectively analyzed during the Omicron BA.2 surge in Shanghai between April 12, 2022, and June 17, 2022. The patients were admitted to the Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University. Six systemic inflammatory indicators were included, and their cut-off points were calculated using maximally selected rank statistics. The analysis involved Kaplan-Meier curves, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves (time-ROC) for OS-associated inflammatory indicators.

Results

A total of 2347 COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients were included. All selected indicators proved to be independent predictors of OS in the multivariate analysis (all P < 0.01). A high derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) was associated with a higher mortality risk of COVID-19 [hazard ratio, 4.272; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.417-7.552]. The analyses of time-AUC and C-index showed that the dNLR (C-index: 0.844, 0.824, and 0.718 for the 5th, 10th, and 15th day, respectively) had the best predictive power for OS in COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients. Among different sub-groups, the dNLR was the best predictor for OS regardless of age (0.811 for patients aged ≥70 years), gender (C-index, 0.880 for men and 0.793 for women) and disease severity (C-index, 0.932 for non-severe patients and 0.658 for severe patients). However, the platelet to lymphocyte ratio was superior to the other indicators in patients aged <70 years.

Conclusions

The prognostic ability of the dNLR was higher than the other evaluated inflammatory indicators for all COVID-19 Omicron BA.2 infected patients.
Hsa_Circ_0066351 Acts as a Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Gao Yan , Zhou Yulai , Wei Le , Feng Ziyang , Chen Yihong , Liu Ping , Peng Yinghui , Huang Qiaoqiao , Gao Le , Liu Yongting , Han Ying , Shen Hong , Cai Changjing , Zeng Shan
Published: November 2022

Circular RNA (circRNA), a novel class of non-coding RNA, has been reported in various diseases, especially in tumors. However, the key signatures of circRNA-competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network are largely unclear in colorectal cancer (CRC). We first characterized circRNAs profile by using circRNA-seq analysis from real-word dataset. The expression level of hsa_circ_0066351 in CRC tissues and cell lines was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Then, cell proliferation assay was used to confirm the proliferation function of hsa_circ_0066351. Next, Cytoscape was used to construct circRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks. Last but not least, the landscape of hsa_circ_0066351–miRNA–mRNA in CRC had been investigated in the bulk tissue RNA-Seq level and single-cell Seq level. We proved that hsa_circ_0066351 was significantly downregulated in CRC cell lines and tissues (P < 0.001), and was negatively associated with distant metastasis (P < 0.01). Significantly, the expression of hsa_circ_0066351 was associated with better survival in patients with CRC. Function assays showed that hsa_circ_0066351 could inhibit CRC cells proliferation. In addition, a ceRNA network, including hsa_circ_0066351, two miRNAs, and ten mRNAs, was constructed. Our analyses showed that these ten mRNAs were consistently downregulated in pan-cancer and enriched in tumor suppressive function. A risk score model constructed by these ten downstream genes also indicated that they were related to the prognosis and immune response in CRC. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a novel circRNA (hsa_circ_0066351) inhibited CRC proliferation, and revealed a potential prognostic and immunotherapeutic biomarker in CRC.
Analyzing some concepts of immune regulation of the last three decades: Fostering greater research resilience despite the information overload. A personal view
Authors: Bretscher Peter A.
Published: November 2022

There is considerable interest in whether increased investment in science, made by society, pays dividends. Some plausibly argue the increased rate of production of information results in an ossification of the canon. Reports, challenging the canon, fall by the wayside. The field thus becomes increasingly complex, reflecting not so much the reality of nature but how we investigate the subject. I suggest that focusing on and resolving the paradoxes evident within a canon will free the logjam, resulting in more resilient research. Immunology is among the fastest growing of biological sciences and is, I suggest, an appropriate case study. I examine the commonly accepted frameworks employed over the last three decades to address two major, related immunological questions: what determines whether antigen activates or inactivates CD4 T cells, and so whether immune responses are initiated or this potential ablated; secondly, what determines the Th subset to which the activated Th cells belong, thus determining the class of immunity generated. I show there are major paradoxes within these frameworks, neglected for decades. I propose how research focused on resolving paradoxes can be better fostered, and so support the evolution of the canon. This perspective is pertinent in facing critical issues on how immune responses are regulated, and to more general issues of both the philosophy of science and of science policy.The last section is in response to questions and comments of the reviewers. It brings together several considerations to express my view: the same frameworks, formulated in response to the two questions, are useful in understanding the regulation of the immune response against model antigens, against self and foreign antigens, those of tumors and of pathogens.
Lobomycosis-like disease epidemiology, pathology and social affiliations in bottlenose dolphins from Southwestern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Gálvez Casandra , Tenorio-Osorio Mónica , Hernández-Candelario Isabel , Delfín-Alfonso Christian Alejandro , Morteo Eduardo
Published: November 2022

Mycotic diseases are considered a worldwide growing concern related to public health. Lobomycosis like disease (LLD) (Lacazia loboi) is a chronic and progressive infection in skin of humans and small cetaceans present in both sides of the Americas, including Mexico but information is still limited. Marine predators are indicators of potential risks for human and wildlife health, including fungal diseases like LLD in bottlenose dolphins. Here we report the first findings of an initial assessment in LLD epidemiology, pathology, and behavioral constraints of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico (SWGM). Overall, LLD prevalence in the population was low, within ranges reported for the species, and only in highly associated unisexual pairs near the Alvarado coastal waters. Photo-identified individuals exhibited an annual increase in average progression for LLD skin lesions. Gross lesions and skin biopsy evidenced mycotic structures and subcutaneous alterations associated to LLD. Habitat quality, demographic, and social characteristics of bottlenose dolphins are likely influencing LLD geographical expansion and temporal prevalence, but global and local climate variability may influence LLD epidemiology, implying a potential risk for human and dolphin health from coastal communities at the SWGM.
Exposure to whale watching vessels affects dive ascents and resting behavior in sperm whales
Authors: Oliveira Cláudia , Pérez-Jorge Sergi , Prieto Rui , Cascão Irma , Wensveen Paul J. , Silva Mónica A.
Published: November 2022

Disturbance from whale watching can induce a wide range of behavioral responses in cetaceans, some of which can affect their energetic balance and, ultimately, their long-term fitness. However, assessing disturbance effects on deep-diving cetaceans remains challenging, as the majority of their activities occurs underwater and are difficult to monitor from surface observations. To surpass this limitation, we attached high-resolution multi-sensor tags (DTAGs) on 24 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off the Azores, an area of intense whale watching, to evaluate changes in movement and acoustic parameters related to foraging effort and dives, locomotion effort, and non-foraging behavior. These parameters were compared between periods of exposure and non-exposure to whale watching vessels, using linear mixed-effect models to assess the presence of short-term effects, accounting for individual differences in behavior. We found no significant changes in foraging effort (number of buzzes, bottom phase depth, proportion of search and foraging phases) and overall dive behavior (dive duration, proportion of dive phases, and descending or ascending pitch) between non-exposure and exposure periods. In contrast, variation in body pitch during non-foraging periods increased during exposure but not variation in body roll. Taken together, these results suggest increased movements during resting activity, which may carry energetic costs to whales and impact their health. Vertical velocity during ascents was also significantly higher in response to vessel exposure, suggesting that sperm whales increased the frequency of fluke strokes, which was consistent with a higher Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration (ODBA) during ascents, incurring in higher energy expenditure. If the detected changes are repeated across multiple exposures, they might affect the individual’s energetic budget, and consequently their fitness. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the short-term behavioral responses of sperm whales to whale watching vessels and highlights the need for further studies examining the potential consequences from repeated disturbance to individuals.
A growing crisis for One Health: Impacts of plastic pollution across layers of biological function
Authors: Morrison Margaret , Trevisan Rafael , Ranasinghe Prabha , Merrill Greg B. , Santos Jasmine , Hong Alexander , Edward William C. , Jayasundara Nishad , Somarelli Jason A.
Published: November 2022

The global accumulation of plastic waste has reached crisis levels. The diverse and multilayered impacts of plastic on biological health prompts an evaluation of these effects from a One Health perspective, through which the complexity of these processes can be integrated and more clearly understood. Plastic particles ranging from nanometers to meters in size are found throughout every ecosystem on Earth, from the deepest marine trenches to the highest mountains. Plastic waste affects all layers of biological organization, from the molecular and cellular to the organismal, community, and ecosystem-levels. These effects are not only mediated by the physical properties of plastics, but also by the chemical properties of the plastic polymers, the thousands of additives combined with plastics during manufacturing, and the sorbed chemicals and microbes that are transported by the plastic waste. Using a One Health framework we provide an overview of the following themes: 1) ways in which plastic impacts global health across levels of biological organization, 2) how the effects of plastic interact between layers of biology, and 3) what knowledge gaps exist in understanding the effects of plastic within and between biological scales. We also propose potential solutions to address this growing crisis, with an emphasis on One Health perspectives that consider the oneness of animals, humans, and the environment.
Uneven response of microbial communities to intense dust deposition across the coastal transition zone off Mauritania
Authors: Pérez-Barrancos Clàudia , Gelado-Caballero María D. , Hernández-Hernández Nauzet , Baños Isabel , Gómez-Letona Markel , Montero María F. , Arrieta Jesús M. , Arístegui Javier
Published: November 2022

The eastern North Atlantic region receives large Saharan dust deposition inputs, providing nutrients and trace metals to the surface waters. We assessed the effects of intense dust deposition on phytoplankton and bacteria cell abundances, metabolic activity, and community structure, along a surface productivity gradient in the Mauritanian-Senegalese upwelling system. Dust concentrations above 4 mg L-1were added to triplicate microcosms in four bioassay experiments, each lasting three days, increasing nitrate, phosphate and, to a lesser extent, silicate seawater concentrations. Even though dust deposition enhanced both heterotrophic and photosynthetic activity, bacterial production responded faster and stronger than primary production, especially as oligotrophic conditions increased. Bacterial production rates in oligotrophic waters almost tripled one day after the enrichment. However, such favorable response could not be observed on the total organic carbon production until a lag phase of 2 days and whilst under moderate eutrophic conditions. Dust enrichment benefited the presence of certain planktonic groups over others according to their nutrient requirements. Indicator species analysis revealed that our dust-treated microcosms were consistently characterized byRaphid-pennatediatoms, as well as byHyphomonasgenus of Alphaproteobacteria and several species ofAlteromonasGammaproteobacteria. Yet, changes in microbial community structure and composition were primarily shaped by the starting conditions of each experiment. These findings indicate that increasing dust deposition events and the weakening of the Mauritanian-Senegalese upwelling system under climate change may result in a more heterotrophic system, particularly in oligotrophic waters, reducing its potential to function as an atmospheric carbon sink.
Transcatheter arterial embolization using N-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate Glubran® 2 for acute massive pancreati coduodenal arterial hemorrhage
Authors: Gong Maofeng , Liu Zhengli , Kong Jie , Zhao Boxiang , He Xu , Gu Jianping , Su Haobo
Published: November 2022

Purpose Acute massive pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) hemorrhage represents an urgent condition. Here, we report our experience in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using N-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate (NBCA) Glubran® 2 for this condition. Methods A retrospective study of 10 consecutive patients (mean, 55.2 ± 15.9 years; range, 27–74 years) was conducted from April 2015 to April 2021. The data, including baseline characteristics, control of active PDA hemorrhage (the technical and clinical outcomes), volumes of Glubran 2, and related complications, were collected from medical archives. Technical success was defined as complete occlusion of bleeding vessels on the final arteriogram. Clinical success was defined as the sustained resolution of symptoms or signs of PDA hemorrhage without the need for repeat endovascular or surgical treatment after TAE. Safety was evaluated based on the occurrence of complications. Results Glubran 2 was empirically used for six patients (6/10) with PDA hemorrhage without pseudoaneurysm (PSA), and a combination of Glubran 2 and microcoils (n = 13) was used for four patients (4/10) with PSA. The concentration ratios were 1:2–1:4 mixtures of Glubran 2 and ethiodized oil, and the median total volume injected was 1.1 ml (range, 0.7–1.6 ml). Technical success based on 10 episodes of TAEs was 100% (10/10). Early rebleeding did not occur, and repeat TAE was not necessary. Clinical success was 100% (10/10). No nontarget embolization or embolization-related complications occurred. Two patients (2/10) experienced minor complications of postembolization syndrome. During a median follow-up time of 3 months, no recurrent hemorrhage was recorded. Conclusion Urgent TAE with the use of NBCA Glubran 2 plays an important role in controlling massive PDA hemorrhage. It is minimally invasive, effective, relatively safe, and likely to reduce the need for immediate traditional surgery. The condition with PSA may determine the microcoils employed.
Publication trends of artificial intelligence in retina in 10 years: Where do we stand?
Authors: Yang Jingyuan , Wu Shan , Dai Rongping , Yu Weihong , Chen Youxin
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in the field of retina. The purpose of this study was to analyze the study trends within AI in retina by reporting on publication trends, to identify journals, countries, authors, international collaborations, and keywords involved in AI in retina.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study. Bibliometric methods were used to evaluate global production and development trends in AI in retina since 2012 using Web of Science Core Collection.

Results

A total of 599 publications were retrieved ultimately. We found that AI in retina is a very attractive topic in scientific and medical community. No journal was found to specialize in AI in retina. The USA, China, and India were the three most productive countries. Authors from Austria, Singapore, and England also had worldwide academic influence. China has shown the greatest rapid increase in publication numbers. International collaboration could increase influence in this field. Keywords revealed that diabetic retinopathy, optical coherence tomography on multiple diseases, algorithm were three popular topics in the field. Most of top journals and top publication on AI in retina were mainly focused on engineering and computing, rather than medicine.

Conclusion

These results helped clarify the current status and future trends in researches of AI in retina. This study may be useful for clinicians and scientists to have a general overview of this field, and better understand the main actors in this field (including authors, journals, and countries). Researches are supposed to focus on more retinal diseases, multiple modal imaging, and performance of AI models in real-world clinical application. Collaboration among countries and institutions is common in current research of AI in retina.
Omicron BA.2 lineage predominance in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive cases during the third wave in North India
Authors: Zaman Kamran , Shete Anita M. , Mishra Shailendra Kumar , Kumar Abhinendra , Reddy Mahendra M. , Sahay Rima R. , Yadav Shailendra , Majumdar Triparna , Pandey Ashok K. , Dwivedi Gaurav Raj , Deval Hirawati , Singh Rajeev , Behera Sthita Pragnya , Kumar Niraj , Patil Savita , Kumar Ashish , Dudhmal Manisha , Joshi Yash , Shukla Aishwarya , Gawande Pranita , Kavathekar Asif , Kumar Nalin , Kumar Vijay , Kumar Kamlesh , Singh Ravi Shankar , Kumar Manoj , Tiwari Shashikant , Verma Ajay , Yadav Pragya D. , Kant Rajni
Published: November 2022

Background

Recent studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reveal that Omicron variant BA.1 and sub-lineages have revived the concern over resistance to antiviral drugs and vaccine-induced immunity. The present study aims to analyze the clinical profile and genome characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), North India.

Methods

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted for 146 SARS-CoV-2 samples obtained from individuals who tested coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive between the period of 1 January 2022 and 24 February 2022, from three districts of eastern UP. The details regarding clinical and hospitalized status were captured through telephonic interviews after obtaining verbal informed consent. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree was created for evolutionary analysis using MEGA7.

Results

The mean age of study participants was 33.9 ± 13.1 years, with 73.5% accounting for male patients. Of the 98 cases contacted by telephone, 30 (30.6%) had a travel history (domestic/international), 16 (16.3%) reported having been infected with COVID-19 in past, 79 (80.6%) had symptoms, and seven had at least one comorbidity. Most of the sequences belonged to the Omicron variant, with BA.1 (6.2%), BA.1.1 (2.7%), BA.1.1.1 (0.7%), BA.1.1.7 (5.5%), BA.1.17.2 (0.7%), BA.1.18 (0.7%), BA.2 (30.8%), BA.2.10 (50.7%), BA.2.12 (0.7%), and B.1.617.2 (1.3%) lineages. BA.1 and BA.1.1 strains possess signature spike mutations S:A67V, S:T95I, S:R346K, S:S371L, S:G446S, S:G496S, S:T547K, S:N856K, and S:L981F, and BA.2 contains S:V213G, S:T376A, and S:D405N. Notably, ins214EPE (S1- N-Terminal domain) mutation was found in a significant number of Omicron BA.1 and sub-lineages. The overall Omicron BA.2 lineage was observed in 79.5% of women and 83.2% of men.

Conclusion

The current study showed a predominance of the Omicron BA.2 variant outcompeting the BA.1 over a period in eastern UP. Most of the cases had a breakthrough infection following the recommended two doses of vaccine with four in five cases being symptomatic. There is a need to further explore the immune evasion properties of the Omicron variant.