bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated bioinformatics-based identification of diagnostic markers in Alzheimer disease
Authors: Chen Danmei , Zhang Yunpeng , Qiao Rui , Kong Xiangyu , Zhong Hequan , Wang Xiaokun , Zhu Jie , Li Bing
Published: November 2022

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting from the accumulation of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. There are currently no objective diagnostic measures for AD. The aim of this study was to identify potential diagnostic markers for AD and evaluate the role of immune cell infiltration in disease pathogenesis. AD expression profiling data for human hippocampus tissue (GSE48350 and GSE5281) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using R software and the Human Protein Atlas database was used to screen AD-related DEGs. We performed functional enrichment analysis and established a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network to identify disease-related hub DEGs. The fraction of infiltrating immune cells in samples was determined with the Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter method. The random forest algorithm was used to develop a prediction model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to validate the diagnostic utility of the candidate AD markers. The correlation between expression of the diagnostic markers and immune cell infiltration was also analyzed. A total of 107 AD-related DEGs were screened in this study, including 28 that were upregulated and 79 that were downregulated. The DEGs were enriched in the Gene Ontology terms GABAergic synapse, Morphine addiction, Nicotine addiction, Phagosome, and Synaptic vesicle cycle. We identified 10 disease-related hub genes and 20 candidate diagnostic genes. Synaptophysin (SYP) and regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) (area under the ROC curve = 0.909) were verified as potential diagnostic markers for AD in the GSE28146 validation dataset. Natural killer cells, B lineage cells, monocytic lineage cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts were found to be involved in AD; additionally, the expression levels of both SYP and RGS4 were negatively correlated with the infiltration of these immune cell types. These results suggest that SYP and RGS4 are potential diagnostic markers for AD and that immune cell infiltration plays an important role in AD development and progression.
Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine Ukgansan for clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A pilot, randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial
Authors: Jin Chul , Cho Ki-Ho , Kwon Seungwon , Lee Han-Gyul , Kim Tae-Hun , Jung Woo-Sang , Moon Sang-Kwan , Cho Seung-Yeon , Kang Byoung-Kab , Park Jung-Mi , Park Hi-Joon , Ko Chang-Nam
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which patients are suffering various symptoms. Previous experimental studies suggested that herbal medicine Ukgansan (UGS) could be beneficial for PD. The aim of this pilot clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of UGS for improving clinical symptoms in patients with PD.

Methods

Sixty patients with idiopathic PD were randomly assigned to receive either UGS plus acupuncture or acupuncture alone for 6 weeks. During the trial, all anti-parkinsonian medications were maintained. Subjects were evaluated for various clinical assessments of PD, including the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), until 12 weeks.

Results

In MDS-UPDRS between the groups, no significant time x group interaction was found. In the subgroup analysis of participants with anxiety, a significant time x group interaction was found in the PDQ-39 domain of mobility (P = 0.007), activities of daily living (P = 0.042), and the PDQ-39 summary index (P = 0.048). In addition, post-hoc analysis in participants with anxiety showed a significant decrease in the domains of mobility (P = 0.001) and activities of daily living (P = 0.013) at week 7. There were no adverse events associated with UGS.

Conclusion

The additional administration of UGS has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of PD patients with anxiety. In order to create more definitive evidence, clinical trials with more rigorous methodologies should be conducted in future.

Clinical trial registration

http://cris.nih.go.kr, identifier: KCT0003444.
Effect of bispectral index-guided total intravenous anesthesia in younger children: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Liu Guoliang , Zhang Jianmin , Wang Fang , Li Lijing , Zhang Xuemei
Published: November 2022

Background

BIS-guided total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is widely used in children, but few studies have attempted to evaluation of the effect of BIS-guided TIVA in younger children. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bispectral index (BIS) guidance during TIVA in younger children during anesthesia.

Methods

This study is a prospective, randomized, single-blind and controlled clinical trial. This study enrolled pediatric patients (aged 1–3 years) who were scheduled for surgery under TIVA with propofol and remifentanil. The children were randomly assigned to the BIS group (group B) and standard clinical practice group (group S). The BIS values in group B were maintained at 45–60. The anesthesiologist controlled the depth of anesthesia in group S according to the variation in the clinical signs of the children. The time of extubation, duration of stay in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), as well as BIS values, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse oxygen saturation at eight time points 1 min before induction (T1), 1 min after induction (1 min after the induction drugs were administrated) (T2), immediately after intubation (T3), immediately after skin incision (T4), 30 min after the start of the operation (T5), 60 min after the start of operation (T6), immediately after drug withdrawal (T7), and immediately after extubation (T8), propofol consumption, and postoperative adverse reactions were recorded.

Results

There was no significant difference in time to extubation 15(10,21) vs 14 (11,20) and duration of stay in PACU 27 (20,37) vs. 29 (22,39) between the group B and group S. At the time points 30 min after the start of the operation, 60 min after the start of operation and immediately after drug withdrawal, the BIS values in group S were significantly higher than those in group B (57 ± 9, 57 ± 9, 60 ± 8 vs 52 ± 7, 54 ± 7, 57 ± 6).

Conclusions

The use of BIS-guided total intravenous anesthesia in younger children does not shorten the time of extubation and the duration of stay in the PACU.

Trial registration

Chictr.org.cn identifier: 24/11/2017, ChiCTR-IOR-17013530.
Heart rate variability is associated with cerebral small vessel disease in patients with diabetes
Authors: Qiu Qianwen , Song Wenhui , Zhou Xirui , Yu Zhiyuan , Wang Minghuan , Hao Huang , Pan Dengji , Luo Xiang
Published: November 2022

Objective

Low heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, has been associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and incident stroke. However, the relationship between HRV and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) showed contradictory results. We aimed to examine the relationship of HRV and total burden of CSVD and each of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of CSVD.

Methods

We recruited 435 patients who attended our hospital for physical examination between June 2020 and August 2021. All underwent 24-h Holter monitoring and MRI scan. The standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) was selected as the method for HRV assessment. The presence of severe white matter hyperintensity, lacunes, and >10 enlarged basal ganglia perivascular spaces, and cerebral microbleeds were added for estimating the CSVD score (0–4). Multivariate logistic analyses was performed to assess whether HRV was independently associated with the burden of CSVD and each of the MRI markers of CSVD, with and without stratification by prevalent diabetes.

Results

This study included 435 subjects with a mean age of 64.0 (57.0–70.0) years; 49.4% of the patients were male, and 122 (28.0%) had a history of diabetes. In multivariate analyses, lower SDNN was independently associated with total burden of CSVD and the presence of enlarged perivascular spaces in all subjects. According to diabetes stratification, lower SDNN was independently associated with total burden of CSVD and each MRI markers of CSVD separately only in the diabetic group.

Conclusions

Lower HRV was associated with total burden of CSVD and each MRI markers of CSVD separately among diabetic patients, but not among non-diabetic patients.
Neural dynamics during emotional video engagement relate to anxiety
Authors: Nan Jason , Balasubramani Pragathi P. , Ramanathan Dhakshin , Mishra Jyoti
Published: November 2022

Inter-subject correlations (ISCs) of physiological data can reveal common stimulus-driven processing across subjects. ISC has been applied to passive video viewing in small samples to measure common engagement and emotional processing. Here, in a large sample study of healthy adults (N = 163) who watched an emotional film (The Lion Cage by Charlie Chaplin), we recorded electroencephalography (EEG) across participants and measured ISC in theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. Peak ISC on the emotionally engaging video was observed three-quarters into the film clip, during a time period which potentially elicited a positive emotion of relief. Peak ISC in all frequency bands was focused over centro-parietal electrodes localizing to superior parietal cortex. ISC in both alpha and beta frequencies had a significant inverse relationship with anxiety symptoms. Our study suggests that ISC measured during continuous non-event-locked passive viewing may serve as a useful marker for anxious mood.
Prognostic nutritional index for predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Sun Hao , Chen Li , Huang Rong , Pan Hongming , Zuo Yanjiao , Zhao Ruihu , Xue Yingwei , Song Hongjiang
Published: November 2022

Objective

Although the application of immunotherapy in gastric cancer has achieved satisfactory clinical effects, many patients have no response. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the predictive ability of the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) to the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Materials and methods

Participants were 146 gastric cancer patients with ICIs (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) or chemotherapy. All patients were divided into a low PNI group and a high PNI group based on the cut-off evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We contrasted the difference in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in two groups while calculating the prognosis factors for PFS and OS by univariate and multivariate analyses. Moreover, the nomogram based on the results of the multivariate analysis was constructed to estimate the 1- and 3-year survival probabilities.

Results

There were 41 (28.1%) cases in the low PNI group and 105 (71.9%) cases in the high PNI group. The median survival time for PFS in the low PNI group and high PNI group was 12.30 months vs. 33.07 months, and 18.57 months vs. not reached in the two groups for OS. Patients in low PNI group were associated with shorter PFS and OS in all patients [Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.913, p = 0.013 and HR = 2.332, p = 0.001]. Additionally, in subgroup analysis, low PNI group cases also had poorer PFS and OS, especially in patients with ICIs. In addition, the multivariate analysis found that carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for PFS. At the same time, indirect bilirubin (IDBIL), CA724, PNI, and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusion

Prognostic nutrition index was an accurate inflammatory and nutritional marker, which could predict the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer who received ICIs. PNI could be used as a biomarker for ICIs to identify patients with gastric cancer who might be sensitive to ICIs.
Effect of acid hydrolysis on the structural and antioxidant characteristics of β-glucan extracted from Qingke (Tibetan hulless barley)
Authors: Zhao Lan , Lin Shuwei , Lin Jingying , Wu Jia , Chen Huibin
Published: November 2022

In this study, we explored the effect of acid hydrolysis on the molecular, structural, rheological, thermal, and antioxidant characteristics of Qingke β-glucan. The acid hydrolysis reduced the molecular weights of β-glucans from 510 to 155 KDa. The results of the structural analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that acid hydrolysis did not change the primary functional groups of β-glucans. The rheological behavior of β-glucan without and with acid hydrolysis can be described as pseudoplastic and Newtonian, respectively. The DSC curves of the β-glucans with high molecular weights showed the highest transition temperature. The 2, 2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activity and the reducing power of soluble β-glucans in Qingke showed a dose-dependent pattern. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activities of Qingke β-glucan of different molecular weights were similar. This study demostrated that the acid hydrolysis almost have no effect on antioxidant activity of Qingke β-glucans.
Moringa oleifera leaf polysaccharide alleviates experimental colitis by inhibiting inflammation and maintaining intestinal barrier
Authors: Mohamed Husien Hosameldeen , Peng WeiLong , Su Hongrui , Zhou RuiGang , Tao Ya , Huang JunJie , Liu MingJiang , Bo RuoNan , Li JinGui
Published: November 2022

The characteristic of ulcerative colitis (UC) is extensive colonic mucosal inflammation. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a medicine food homology plant, and the polysaccharide from M. oleifera leaves (MOLP) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study to investigate the potential effect of MOLP on UC in a mouse model as well as the underlying mechanism. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) 4% in drinking water was given for 7 days to mice with UC, at the same time, MOLP (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) was intragastric administered once daily during the experiment. Structural analysis revealed that MOLP had an average molecular weight (Mw) of 182,989 kDa and consisted of fucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose uronic acid, glucuronic acid, glucose uronic acid and mannose uronic acid, with a percentage ratio of 1.64, 18.81, 12.04, 25.90, 17.57, 12.01, 3.51, 5.28, 0.55, 1.27, and 1.43%, respectively. In addition, the features of MOLP were identified by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that MOLP exhibited protective efficacy against UC by alleviating colonic pathological alterations, decreasing goblet cells, crypt destruction, and infiltration of inflammatory cells caused by DSS. Furthermore, MOLP notably repressed the loss of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin proteins in mucosal layer, as well as up-regulating the mRNA expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), whereas down-regulating the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, these results will help understand the protective action procedure of MOLP against UC, thereby providing significance for the development of MOLP.
Comprehensive genomic profiling of colorectal cancer patients reveals differences in mutational landscapes among clinical and pathological subgroups
Authors: Li Peng , Meng Qingyu , Xue Yonggan , Teng Zhipeng , Chen Hanlin , Zhang Junli , Xu Yang , Wang Sha , Yu Ruoying , Ou Qiuxiang , Wu Xue , Jia Baoqing
Published: November 2022

With the widespread of colonoscopy, colorectal cancer remains to be one of the most detrimental types of cancer. Though there were multiple studies investigating the genomic landscape of colorectal cancer, a comprehensive analysis uncovering the differences between various types of colorectal cancer is still lacking. In our study, we performed genomic analysis on 133 patients with colorectal cancer. Mutated FAT1 and PKHD1 and altered Hippo pathway genes were found to be enriched in early-onset colorectal cancer. APOBEC signature was prevalent in microsatellite stable (MSS) patients and was related to lymph node metastasis. ZNF217 mutations were significantly associated with early-stage colorectal cancer. In all, this study represents a comprehensive genomic analysis uncovering potential molecular mechanisms underneath different subgroups of colorectal cancer thus providing new targets for precision treatment development.
Postoperative outcomes of resectable periampullary cancer accompanied by obstructive jaundice with and without preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage
Authors: Pattarapuntakul Tanawat , Charoenrit Tummarong , Netinatsunton Nisa , Yaowmaneerat Thanapon , Pitakteerabundit Thakerng , Ovartlarnporn Bancha , Attasaranya Siriboon , Wong Thanawin , Chamroonkul Naichaya , Sripongpun Pimsiri
Published: November 2022

Background

Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) is useful in resectable periampullary cancer with obstructive jaundice. Whether it is better than direct surgery (DS) in terms of postoperative complications and mortality is controversial.

Methods

All cases of successful pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in patients with periampullary cancer with obstructive jaundice performed between January 2016 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Endoscopic PBD was performed; data pertaining to serum bilirubin level, procedural technique, and duration before surgery were obtained. The incidence of postoperative complications and survival rate were compared between the PBD and DS group.

Results

A total of 104 patients (PBD, n = 58; DS, n = 46) underwent curative PD. The mean age was 63.8 ± 10 years and 53 (51%) were male. Age, body mass index (BMI), sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, presence of comorbid disease, initial laboratory results, and pathological diagnoses were not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative complications was 58.6% in the PBD group while 73.9% in the DS group (relative risk [RR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92, 1.73, p=0.155) and the difference was not significant except in bile leakage (RR 8.83, 95% CI 1.26, 61.79, p = 0.021) and intraoperative bleeding (RR 3.97, 95% CI 0.88, 17.85, p = 0.049) which were higher in the DS group. The one-year survival rate was slightly less in the DS group but the difference was not statistically significant. The independent predictors for death within 1-year were intraoperative bleeding and preoperative total bilirubin > 14.6 mg/dL.

Conclusions

PBD in resectable malignant distal biliary obstruction showed no benefit in terms of 1-year survival over DS approach. But it demonstrated the benefit of lower risks of intraoperative bleeding, and bile leakage. Additionally, the level of pre-operative bilirubin level of over 14.6 mg/dL and having intraoperative bleeding were associated with a lower 1-year survival in such patients. Overall, PBD may be not necessary for all resectable periampullary cancer patients, but there might be a role in those with severely jaundice (>14.6 mg/dL), as it helps lower risk of intraoperative bleeding, and might lead to a better survival outcome.
Total marrow irradiation reduces organ damage and enhances tissue repair with the potential to increase the targeted dose of bone marrow in both young and old mice
Authors: Lim Ji Eun , Sargur Madabushi Srideshikan , Vishwasrao Paresh , Song Joo Y. , Abdelhamid Amr M. H. , Ghimire Hemendra , Vanishree V. L. , Lamba Jatinder K. , Dandapani Savita , Salhotra Amandeep , Lemecha Mengistu , Pierini Antonio , Zhao Daohong , Storme Guy , Holtan Shernan , Aristei Cynthia , Schaue Dorthe , Al Malki Monzr , Hui Susanta K.
Published: November 2022

Total body irradiation (TBI) is a commonly used conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT), but dose heterogeneity and long-term organ toxicity pose significant challenges. Total marrow irradiation (TMI), an evolving radiation conditioning regimen for HCT can overcome the limitations of TBI by delivering the prescribed dose targeted to the bone marrow (BM) while sparing organs at risk. Recently, our group demonstrated that TMI up to 20 Gy in relapsed/refractory AML patients was feasible and efficacious, significantly improving 2-year overall survival compared to the standard treatment. Whether such dose escalation is feasible in elderly patients, and how the organ toxicity profile changes when switching to TMI in patients of all ages are critical questions that need to be addressed. We used our recently developed 3D image-guided preclinical TMI model and evaluated the radiation damage and its repair in key dose-limiting organs in young (~8 weeks) and old (~90 weeks) mice undergoing congenic bone marrow transplant (BMT). Engraftment was similar in both TMI and TBI-treated young and old mice. Dose escalation using TMI (12 to 16 Gy in two fractions) was well tolerated in mice of both age groups (90% survival ~12 Weeks post-BMT). In contrast, TBI at the higher dose of 16 Gy was particularly lethal in younger mice (0% survival ~2 weeks post-BMT) while old mice showed much more tolerance (75% survival ~13 weeks post-BMT) suggesting higher radio-resistance in aged organs. Histopathology confirmed worse acute and chronic organ damage in mice treated with TBI than TMI. As the damage was alleviated, the repair processes were augmented in the TMI-treated mice over TBI as measured by average villus height and a reduced ratio of relative mRNA levels of amphiregulin/epidermal growth factor (areg/egf). These findings suggest that organ sparing using TMI does not limit donor engraftment but significantly reduces normal tissue damage and preserves repair capacity with the potential for dose escalation in elderly patients.
MSCs can be a double-edged sword in tumorigenesis
Authors: Zhang Lu , Xiang Junyu , Zhang Fang , Liu Limei , Hu Chongling
Published: November 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to treat various diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. In particular, the immunomodulatory function of MSCs plays a major role in cancer therapy using stem cells. However, MSCs exert promotive and inhibitory effects on cancer. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are ambiguous, which is the primary reason for the different outcomes of MSCs therapies for tumors. This review discusses the use of MSCs in cancer immunotherapy and their immunomodulatory mechanisms in cancers.
Primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma after operation for small intestinal stromal tumor: A case report
Authors: Peng Zhiwei , Yi Li , Tao Yahong , Chen Zhiyong , Lin Ze , He Anjing , Jin Mengni , Liu Fanrong , Zuo Minjing
Published: November 2022

Background

The risk of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in combination with other primary malignancies is high, which occurs before and after the diagnosis of GIST. Primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Case presentation

We report a 53-year-old male patient who was admitted to our hospital with fever, cough, and expectoration for 2 weeks. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a cavitary mass in the left lower lobe with multiple nodules in the upper lobes of both lungs. The patient had a history of surgery for small intestinal stromal tumors and was treated with oral imatinib after surgery. Lung biopsy was diagnosed as lymphomatoid granulomatosis, tending to grade 3. The pathological diagnosis was corrected by surgery and genetic testing for lung non-Hodgkin CD8-positive cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in some cells. After multiple chemotherapies, the CT scan showed a better improvement than before. The patient is still under follow-up, and no tumor recurrence has been found.

Conclusion

Patients with a history of GIST should be monitored for other malignancies. The clinical symptoms and imaging examinations of primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma are not characteristic, and the definite diagnosis still depends on pathological examination. The patient was treated with the CHOP chemotherapy regimen after the operation, the curative effect was good.
The mechanisms on evasion of anti-tumor immune responses in gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Junyang , Liu Tong , Huang Tao , Shang Mei , Wang Xudong
Published: November 2022

The immune system and the tumor have been at each other’s throats for so long that the neoplasm has learned to avoid detection and avoid being attacked, which is called immune evasion. Malignant tumors, such as gastric cancer (GC), share the ability to evade the body’s immune system as a defining feature. Immune evasion includes alterations to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), antigen presentation mechanisms (APMs), and the tumor microenvironment (TME). While TAA and APM are simpler in nature, they both involve mutations or epigenetic regulation of genes. The TME is comprised of numerous cell types, cytokines, chemokines and extracellular matrix, any one of which might be altered to have an effect on the surrounding ecosystem. The NF-kB, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hippo and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways are all associated with gastric cancer tumor immune evasion. In this review, we will delineate the functions of these pathways in immune evasion.
Interpretable machine learning to identify important predictors of birth weight: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Zheng , Han Na , Su Tao , Ji Yuelong , Bao Heling , Zhou Shuang , Luo Shusheng , Wang Hui , Liu Jue , Wang Hai-Jun
Published: November 2022

Background

Predicting birth weight and identifying its risk factors are clinically important. This study aims to use interpretable machine learning to predict birth weight and identity important predictors.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted in Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Beijing, China, recruiting pregnant women between June 2018 and February 2019. We used 24 features to predict infant birth weight, including gestational age, mother's age, parity, history of macrosomia delivery, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), height, father's BMI, lifestyle (diet, physical activity, smoking), and biomarker (fasting glucose and lipids) features. Study outcome was birth weight of infant. We used 8 supervised learning models including 4 individual [linear regression, ridge regression, lasso regression, support vector machines regression (SVR)], and 4 ensemble estimators (random forest, AdaBoost, gradient boosted trees, and voting ensemble for regression) to predict birth weight. Model accuracy was measured by root mean squared error (RMSE) of 10-fold cross validation on the training set and RMSE of prediction on the test set. We used permutation importance algorithm to understand the prediction from the models and what affected them.

Result

This study included 4,754 mother-child dyads. RMSEs were lower in voting ensemble for regression, linear regression, and SVR than random forest, AdaBoost, and gradient boosted tree. The 5 most important predictors for infant birth weight were gestational age, fetal sex, preterm birth, mother's height, and pre-pregnancy BMI. After adding ultrasound-measured indicators of fetal growth into predictors, mother's height and pre-pregnancy BMI remained the most important predictors in predicting the outcome.

Conclusion

Mother's height and pre-pregnancy BMI were identified as important predictors for infant birth weight. Interpretable machine learning is a promising tool in the prediction of birth weight.
Relationship between preterm, low birth weight, and development defects of enamel in the primary dentition: A meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Shan , Zhao Caiyun , Jia Liying , Ma Zhe , Zhang Xiaolin , Shi Hong
Published: November 2022

Background

This study aimed to systematically analyze the relationship between preterm (PT), low birth weight (LBW), and developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in the primary dentition.

Methods

Following the retrieval of the databases, case–control studies, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies on the relationship between PT, LBW and DDE, which had been published in English or Chinese up to January 2022 were included. The data about odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted and calculated using STATA 12.0 Software. Case–control studies were evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), while cross-sectional studies and cohort studies were evaluated using the JBI scale. The heterogeneity of each study was evaluated using the Q test.

Results

A total of 15 studies were included, of which 8 studied the relationship between PT and DDE, and 13 explored the relationship between LBW and DDE including three about the relationship between very low birth weight (VLBW) and DDE. Seven studies explored the relationship between PT, LBW, and DDE. The results of this meta-analysis showed that both PT and LBW especially VLBW (OR = 7.19, 95% CI: 4.98–10.38) were risk factors for DDE in the primary dentition (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.55–3.51) (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.08–2.59). The subgroup results showed that PT and LBW were both associated with the occurrence of enamel hypoplasia (EHP) (OR = 6.89, 95% CI: 3.33–14.34; OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.10–3.68) rather than enamel opacity (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.55–1.61; OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.66–1.61). There was no publication bias about the included studies (P = 0.75 > 0.05; P = 0.47 > 0.05).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis demonstrated that both PT and LBW especially VLBW are associated with a higher risk of DDE in the primary dentition. PT and LBW are both related to the occurrence of EHP. However, the relationship between PT, LBW, and enamel opacity has not been verified.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?, identifier: CRD42021262761.
G protein estrogen receptor as a potential therapeutic target in Raynaud’s phenomenon
Authors: Fardoun Manal , Mondello Stefania , Kobeissy Firas , Eid Ali H.
Published: November 2022

Exaggerated cold-induced vasoconstriction can precipitate a pathogenesis called Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP). Interestingly, RP is significantly more prevalent in females than age-matched men, highlighting the potential implication of 17β-estradiol (E2) in the etio-pathogenesis of this disease. Indeed, we have previously reported that E2 stimulates the expression of vascular alpha 2C-adrenoceptors (α2C-AR), the sole mediator of cold-induced constriction of cutaneous arterioles. This induced expression occurs through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate → exchange protein activated by cAMP→ Ras-related protein 1→ c-Jun N-terminal kinase→ activator protein-1 (cAMP/Epac/Rap/JNK/AP-1 pathway). On the basis that estrogen-induced rapid cAMP accumulation and JNK activation occurs so rapidly we hypothesized that a non-classic, plasma membrane estrogen receptor was the mediator. We then showed that an impermeable form of E2, namely E2:BSA, mimics E2 effects suggesting a role for the membranous G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in E2-induced α2C-AR expression. Our current working hypothesis and unpublished observations further cement this finding, as G1, a GPER agonist, mimics while G15, a GPER antagonist, abrogates estrogen’s effect on the expression of vascular α2C-AR. These, and other observations, highlight the potential of GPER as a tractable target in the management of RP, particularly in pre-menopausal women.
Effect of proton pump inhibitors on the risk of chronic kidney disease: A propensity score-based overlap weight analysis using the United Kingdom Biobank
Authors: Zhang Xing-Yu , He Qiang-Sheng , Jing Zhong , He Juan-Xia , Yuan Jin-Qiu , Dai Xiao-Yu
Published: November 2022

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used and have been linked to kidney diseases. However, the role of PPI use in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. We undertook this study to examine the association between PPI use and the subsequent risk of CKD.

Methods: This is a prospective analysis of 462,421 participants free of cancer diagnosis or chronic kidney disease from the United Kingdom Biobank. Self-reported PPI use was recorded using an electronic questionnaire and confirmed by a trained staff. Incident CKD was identified based on the medical history. Overlap propensity score weighting with the Cox model was used to calculate the effect of PPI use on CKD risk. The number needed to harm (NNH) was calculated at 5 and 10 years of follow-up.

Results: We documented 7,031 cases of CKD over a median follow-up of 8.1 years. Overlap propensity score weighting analysis showed that regular PPI users had a 37% higher risk of CKD incident than non-users (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.28–1.47). The association persisted across subgroup analyses, different types of PPIs, and several sensitivity analyses. Quantitative bias analysis indicated that the result was robust to unmeasured confounding (E-value 2.08, lower 95% CI 1.88). The NNH was 147.9 and 78.6 for 5 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. A head-to-head comparison showed that PPI users had a 19% higher risk of CKD than H2RA users (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02–1.39).

Conclusion: The regular use of PPI is associated with a higher risk of CKD. Healthcare providers should carefully weigh up the potential benefits against the risk in prescribing PPIs, particularly for patients requiring long-term treatment.
Risk prediction model of polypharmacy for community-dwelling elderly patients: An assessment tool for early detection
Authors: Tang Qi , Lu Jing , Wu Wenhui , Liu Zhenwei , Zhao Sitang , Li Chengyue , Chen Gang , Lu Jun
Published: November 2022

Background: Polypharmacy has become a major and growing public health issue, with significant implications for health outcomes and expenditure on healthcare resources. In this study, a risk prediction model of polypharmacy represented by a nomogram for community-dwelling elderly patients based on the Chinese population was constructed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. The variables data affecting polypharmacy were fetched from the information system database of health government departments in Shanghai. The Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used to select the predictor variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used to establish the prediction model. A visual tool of the nomogram was established for predicting the risk of polypharmacy in the elderly population. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to estimate the performance of the model.

Results: A total of 80,012 elderly patients were included in this study. Eight variables, containing age, residential area, preferred medical institutions, number of visits to tertiary hospitals, number of visits to secondary hospitals, number of visits to community health centers, number of diagnoses, and main types of disease, were included in the risk prediction model of nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram was 0.782 in both sets, demonstrating that the model has a good discriminant ability. The calibration chart shows that the prediction model fits well with the validation set. DCA results displayed that the threshold probabilities of the two sets in the prediction model reached up to 90%, implying that the model had a preferable application value.

Conclusion: This study explored the risk factors for polypharmacy among the elderly in Shanghai, China, and applied the nomogram to establish a predictive model via eight variables, which provided an effective tool for early screening and timely prevention of polypharmacy. Family physicians or pharmacists could scientifically use the tool to closely observe community-dwelling elderly patients, decreasing the adverse health effects caused by medication for the elderly.
An improved quantum artificial fish swarm algorithm for resource allocation in multi-user system
Authors: Dong Yumin , Xu Qian , Fu Yanying , Jia Fanghua , Nian Zheng
Published: November 2022

Through in-depth research and application, it is found that with the increasing number of artificial fish, the required storage space is also increasing, which finally leads to the increasing difficulty of calculation, and the ability to obtain accurate solutions is seriously insufficient, and only satisfactory solution domains can be obtained for the system. Since the development of multi-user systems, there are still some problems in resource allocation, such as poor user fairness, low system throughput, and low system security. In view of the appeal problem, we can design a multi-user system resource allocation scheme based on quantum artificial fish swarm algorithm. Firstly, it is necessary to analyze the working principle of resource allocation in multi-user system, and establish a mathematical model according to its working principle; Furthermore, through the research and in-depth research on the artificial fish swarm algorithm, we integrate the quantum phase concept fish artificial fish swarm algorithm, introduce quantum evolutionary algorithm into the algorithm, and use quantum phase to code and improve it; Then, through simulation experiments, we compare other types of resource allocation schemes in the market, and process and analyze the experimental results; Finally, according to the experimental data, the conclusion is drawn that the improved quantum artificial fish school algorithm can accurately and quickly obtain the optimal allocation scheme, and to a certain extent, ensure user fairness, improve the communication ability of the multi-user system. Compared with other multi-user system resource allocation schemes, its overall performance is also more outstanding.
Research on beam quality control technology of 2 μm antimonide semiconductor laser
Authors: Li Sensen , Zhang Jingsheng , Cheng Xiangzheng , Shao Ming , Liu Qianghu , An Jiashuo , Li Shun , Fan Xinmin
Published: November 2022

Antimonide semiconductor laser is a new type of laser with unique advantages in the 2 μm band. However, employing FP cavities causes multiple transverse modes to degrade beam quality despite achieving higher power output. In this paper, an antimonide semiconductor laser operating in 2 μm band is realized by utilizing fiber coupling and combining. Fiber combining results in higher output power, while the uniform patterns in both near-field and far-field are obtained, and the beam quality is improved. The experimental results illustrate that the output power reaches 1.2 W after 7-channel beam combination, and the near-field distribution is approximately Gaussian, while the far-field distribution is a flat-top.
Sensitivity analysis of the temperature profile changing law in the production string of a high-pressure high-temperature gas well considering the coupling relation among the gas flow friction, gas properties, temperature, and pressure
Authors: Cao Lihu , Sun Jinsheng , Zhang Bo , Lu Nu , Xu Yuqiang
Published: November 2022

The temperature profile plays an important role in well integrity, flow assurance, and well test. Meanwhile, the impact of engineering conditions should not be ignored while calculating the well temperature profile. Therefore, in this study, we established a model to analyze the changing law of the temperature profile inside the production string of a high-pressure/high-temperature gas well (HPHT gas well). The proposed model considers the flow friction caused by a high production rate. Meanwhile, the variations in gas properties are taken into account to increase the model accuracy, including gas density, flow velocity, and viscosity. The analysis indicates that the temperature in the production string decreases more and more quickly from the reservoir to the wellhead. The wellhead temperature changes more and more slowly with time. When the reservoir temperature is too low to maintain production, it is useful to regulate the production rate or inject the thermal insulating fluid into the annulus to avoid the block caused by wax deposition or hydrate deposition. Considering the sensitivity, feasibility, and cost, it is recommended to change the well temperature profile by adjusting the production rate. If not applicable, the thermal conductivity can also be optimized to change the temperature profile.
Prompt gamma spectroscopy retrieval algorithm for element and density measurements accelerated by cloud computing
Authors: Wang Jin-Long , Wu Xiao-Guang , Li Zuo-Feng , Xie Shu-Qing , Hei Da-Qian , Zhao Zi-Hao , Rusanov Andrii , Zheng Yun , Li Cong-Bo , Li Tian-Xiao , Zheng Min , Wang Xiao-Dong , Ding Da-Jun , Ruan Huo-Sheng
Published: November 2022

Prompt gamma ray in proton therapy is the product of a nuclear reaction between a proton and a target. The characteristic energies and intensities of prompt gamma lines can be used to determine the types of elements and their amounts in the target. In several previous experiments, it was demonstrated that no matter how complex the reaction cross-section is, once the energy of the incident proton and the irradiated element are determined, there is a definite linear relationship between the element concentration and the number of gamma-ray photons. However, this linear relationship is difficult to apply to medical imaging, and the nonlinear behavior of hydrogen has not been investigated so far. In this study, this linear relationship is extended to mixed elemental materials including a nonlinear case such as hydrogen, and a universal mathematical form, which is referred to as the prompt gamma spectroscopy retrieval algorithm (PGSRA), is developed. The basic assumption of the PGSRA is that the PGS of the sample material has a relationship with the molar gamma lines of the elements. For carbon and oxygen, this relationship is linear, while for hydrogen, this relationship is nonlinear. As the 2.23 MeV gamma line originates from neutron absorption radiation, the behavior of hydrogen is carefully investigated. The linear and nonlinear relationships are verified using Monte Carlo simulations with different combinations of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, such as PMMA, pentanediol, and ethanediol. The PGSRA developed in this work could be the first bridge between PGS and medical imaging.
Entanglement entropy of the quantum Hall edge and its geometric contribution
Authors: Ye Dan , Yang Yi , Li Qi , Hu Zi-Xiang
Published: November 2022

Generally speaking, entanglement entropy (EE) between two subregions of a gapped quantum many-body state is proportional to the area/length of their interface due to the short-range quantum correlation. However, the so-called area law is violated logarithmically in a quantum critical phase. Moreover, the subleading correction exists in long-range entangled topological phases. It is referred to as topological EE which is related to the quantum dimension of the collective excitation in the bulk. Furthermore, if a non-smooth sharp angle is in the presence of the subsystem boundary, a universal angle dependent geometric contribution is expected to appear in the subleading correction. In this work, we simultaneously explore the geometric and edge contributions in the integer quantum Hall (IQH) state and its edge reconstruction in a unified bipartite method. Their scaling is found to be consistent with conformal field theory (CFT) predictions and recent results of particle number fluctuation calculations.
Modelling of p-tyramine transport across human intestinal epithelial cells predicts the presence of additional transporters
Authors: Sarkar Shreyasi , Saika-Voivod Ivan , Berry Mark D.
Published: November 2022

p-Tyramine (TYR) is an endogenous trace amine, which can also be synthesized by intestinal microbiota, and is present in commonly consumed diets. TYR is an agonist for the intracellular trace amine-associated receptor 1, which has been implicated in psychiatric, metabolic, and immune-related disorders. We have previously demonstrated TYR readily diffuses across lipid bilayers, while transport across Caco-2 cell membranes involves Organic Cation Transporter 2 (OCT2) and a Na+-dependent active transporter. Here we developed mathematical models to determine whether known kinetics for these processes are sufficient to explain observed transcellular TYR passage. Ordinary differential equations were developed for known TYR transport processes to predict concentration-time relationships. Michaelis-Menten kinetics were assumed for all transporter-mediated processes and a one phase exponential function used for simple diffusion. Modelled concentration-time plots were compared to published experimental results. Additional transporter functions were sequentially added to models to improve consistency, and a least squares error minimization approach utilized to determine added transporter kinetics. Finally, possible TYR compartmentalization was also modelled. Following apical loading, transport across the apical, but not the basolateral, membrane was modelled without additional transporters, suggesting a basolateral transporter was missing. Consistent with this, models of basolateral compartment loading did not match experimental observations, indicating missing basolateral transporters were bidirectional. Addition of a transporter with the kinetic characteristics of OCT2 did not improve models. Varying the kinetic parameters of the added transporter improved models of basolateral, but worsened apical, loading models, suggesting the need for either a directional preference in transporters, or intracellular TYR compartmentalization. Experimental parameters were recapitulated by introducing asymmetry into the apical OCT2 (Kt_OCT2_apicaltocell = 110.4 nM, Kt_OCT2_celltoapical = 1,227.9 nM), and a symmetric basolateral facilitated diffusion transporter (Vmax = 6.0 nM/s, Kt = 628.3 nM). The apparent directionality of OCT2 may reflect altered TYR ionization due to known pH differences between compartments. Models for asymmetry and compartmentalization were compared by root mean square deviation from experimental data, and it was found that TYR compartmentalization could only partially replace the need for asymmetry of OCT2. In conclusion, modelling indicates that known TYR transport processes are insufficient to explain experimental concentration-time profiles and that asymmetry of the apical membrane OCT2 combined with additional, low affinity, basolateral membrane facilitated diffusion transporters are required.