bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 and Antibiotic Treatments on Gut Microbiome: A Role for Enterococcus spp.
Authors: Righi Elda , Lambertenghi Lorenza , Gorska Anna , Sciammarella Concetta , Ivaldi Federico , Mirandola Massimo , Sartor Assunta , Tacconelli Evelina
Published: November 2022

Objective: Several studies showed the substantial use of antibiotics and increased risk of antimicrobial resistant infections in patients with COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19-related treatments and antibiotics on gut dysbiosis has not been clarified. Design: The prospective cohort study included hospitalized COVID-19 patients (April–December 2020). The gut microbiome composition was analysed by 16S sequencing. The gut diversity and changes in opportunistic bacteria (OBs) or symbionts were analysed according to clinical parameters, laboratory markers of disease progression, type of non-antibiotic COVID-19 treatments (NACT) and type, WHO AWaRe group, and duration of antibiotic therapy (AT). Results: A total of 82 patients (mean age 66 ± 13 years, 70% males) were enrolled. The relative abundance of Enterococcus was significantly correlated with duration of hospitalization, intensive care unit stay, O2 needs, and D-dimer, ferritin, and IL-6 blood levels. The presence of Enterococcus showed the highest number of correlations with NACT, AT, and AT + NACT (e.g., hydroxychloroquine ± lopinavir/ritonavir) and increased relative abundance with AWaRe Watch/Reserve antibiotics, AT duration, and combinations. Abundance of Dorea, Agathobacter, Roseburia, and Barnesiella was negatively correlated with AT and corticosteroids use. Patients with increased IL-6, D-dimer, and ferritin levels receiving AT were more likely to show dysbiosis with increased abundance of Enterococcus and Bilophila bacteria and decreased abundance of Roseburia compared with those not receiving AT. Conclusion: Microbiome diversity is affected by COVID-19 severity. In this context, antibiotic treatment may shift the gut microbiome composition towards OBs, particularly Enterococcus. The impact of treatment-driven dysbiosis on OBs infections and long-term consequences needs further study to define the role of gut homeostasis in COVID-19 recovery and inform targeted interventions.
Threonine Phosphorylation of an Electrochemical Peptide-Based Sensor to Achieve Improved Uranyl Ion Binding Affinity
Authors: Thompson Channing C. , Lai Rebecca Y.
Published: November 2022

We have successfully designed a uranyl ion (U(VI)-specific peptide and used it in the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor. The 12-amino acid peptide sequence, (n) DKDGDGYIpTAAE (c), originates from calmodulin, a Ca(II)-binding protein, and contains a phosphothreonine that enhances the sequence’s affinity for U(VI) over Ca(II). The sensing mechanism of this U(VI) sensor is similar to other electrochemical peptide-based sensors, which relies on the change in the flexibility of the peptide probe upon interacting with the target. The sensor was systematically characterized using alternating current voltammetry (ACV) and cyclic voltammetry. Its limit of detection was 50 nM, which is lower than the United States Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level for uranium. The signal saturation time was ~40 min. In addition, it showed minimal cross-reactivity when tested against nine different metal ions, including Ca(II), Mg(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Cu(II), Fe(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI). Its reusability and ability to function in diluted aquifer and drinking water samples were further confirmed and validated. The response of the sensor fabricated with the same peptide sequence but with a nonphosphorylated threonine was also analyzed, substantiating the positive effects of threonine phosphorylation on U(VI) binding. This study places emphasis on strategic utilization of non-standard amino acids in the design of metal ion-chelating peptides, which will further diversify the types of peptide recognition elements available for metal ion sensing applications.
Rewarding and Reinforcing Effects of 25H-NBOMe in Rodents
Authors: Jo Cheolmin , Joo Hyejin , Youn Dong-Hyun , Kim Jin Mook , Hong Young-Ki , Lim Na Young , Kim Kwan Soo , Park Su-Jeong , Choi Sun Ok
Published: November 2022

The drug 25H-NBOMe is a new psychoactive substance (NPS). The use of these substances is likely to pose a threat to public health because they elicit effects similar to those of known psychoactive substances with similar chemical structures. However, data regarding the abuse potential of 25H-NBOMe are lacking. Here, we evaluated the abuse liability of 25H-NBOMe in rodents. The rewarding and reinforcing effects were evaluated through conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) tests after administration of 25H-NBOMe. To investigate the effects of 25H-NBOMe on the central nervous system, we determined the changes in dopamine levels by in vivo microdialysis. In the locomotor activity test, 25H-NBOme significantly increased locomotor activity in mice. In the place conditioning test, the 25H-NBOMe (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) groups showed a significantly increase in CPP in mice. In the SA test, the 25H-NBOMe (0.01 mg/kg) administered group showed a significant increased number of infusions and active lever presses. In microdialysis, the 25H-NBOMe (10 mg/kg) administered group was significantly increased in rats.
Implementing Trauma Informed Care in Human Services: An Ecological Scoping Review
Authors: Mahon Daryl
Published: November 2022

Trauma and toxic stress are growing public health concerns with increasing risks to morbidity and mortality. Trauma informed care is an organizational response that challenges providers to adapt principled based approaches that seek to reduce adverse effects of care and support healing. However, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence on how trauma informed care is implemented in systems. A preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis-compliant scoping review based on Arksey, and O’Malley’s five steps model was conducted. Four databases, PubMed, Scopus, Embase and PsychINFO were searched for English articles published since 2000. Studies were included if they reported on trauma informed care delivered by services that support adults and there was some reference to implementation or organizational implications. Of 1099 articles retrieved, 22 met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that trauma informed care is being implemented in a range of human services, including at the city/state level. While implementation research is still at an early stage in this field, the findings elucidate several challenges when implementing this approach across systems of care. An ecological lens is used to present findings at the macro, mezzo, and micro level, and these are further discussed with reference to practice, policy, and research.
A New Approach to Evaluate the Integrated Development of City and Industry: The Cases of Shanghai and the Kangqiao Industrial Park
Authors: Shi Yishao , Li Jiaqi , Li Bei , Hang Taiyuan
Published: November 2022

The integration of population, industry, transportation, and land is the objective requirement of the coordinated development of industrialization and urbanization. However, previous research has not appreciated long-time series of city–industry integration from the multi-scale perspective, and there is an over-reliance on statistical data, which limits the spatial perspective in evaluation systems. The purposes of the research are (1) understanding the connotations and essence of the integrated development of city and industry from different spatial scales, (2) introducing a spatial perspective into the evaluation system, with multi-source geospatial data, and (3) evaluating it dynamically. Results showed that (1) at the city scale, the degree of city–industry integration in Shanghai has an upward trend over the 20 years, with volatile changes. (2) At the scale of the industrial park, functional, social, and spatial integration show an increase. The contributions of city development change were ranked high to low as follows: functional integration, spatial integration, and social integration. (3) Multi-source geospatial data improve data availability for the research in this field. The multi-source data fusion fixes the lack or abnormalities of the data in traditional research, which enriches the evaluation perspective. The contributions of this article include (1) this study established the city-population, industry, and transportation interaction system (C-PIT) to describe the integrated development of city and industry at city and industrial park scales; (2) this study introduced the spatial perspective to construct a new evaluation approach, which is based on the coupling coordination degree, the entropy method, and multi-source data; and (3) this study conducted a long-time series analysis of two cases, Shanghai and Kangqiao industrial park.
Numerical Simulation Methodology for Prefabricated Shear Walls Considering Stochastic Defects in Grouting Materials
Authors: Tang Baijian , Wang Jiawei , Shi Huiyuan , Xia Zhiyuan , Zhang Yongjie , Chen Li
Published: November 2022

The most used connection form for reinforced steel bars is the grouting sleeve using cement-based grouting materials. Hence, the quality of the grouting sleeve connection determines whether the performance of a precast concrete structure is equivalent to that of a cast in situ concrete structure. However, several existing reasons, namely, insufficient grouting cement or poor construction controls and even stochastic bubble holes, lead to inevitable grouting defects. The behavior of precast concrete structures is affected dramatically. Considering the cost and efficiency of the analysis of precast concrete structures, the finite element method is still the most used method, but the simulation technology of structures considering stochastic defects in grouting materials is not sufficient. Herein, a simulation method considering stochastic defects in precast concrete structures is proposed, and the application of the method to grouting sleeves and shear wall structures is performed to verify its accuracy and feasibility. The construction of stochastic defects in grouting material is first realized through the Python scripter. Secondly, the mechanical parameters are obtained from the refined finite element analysis of grouting sleeves with material defects. Finally, based on the obtained mechanical properties of grouting sleeves, the behaviors of precast shear walls under blast loading are analyzed. The simulations of grouting sleeves under uniaxial tensile loading and precast concrete shear walls under blast loading both indicate that the proposed numerical method is feasible in solving the structural issues with stochastic defects in grouting materials.
Applicability and Limitations of Ru’s Formulation for Vibration Modelling of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Strozzi Matteo
Published: November 2022

In this paper, a comparison is conducted between two different formulations of the van der Waals interaction coefficient between layers, as applied to the vibrations of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs); specifically, the evaluation of the natural frequencies is achieved through Ru’s and He’s formulations. The actual discrete DWCNT is modelled by means of a couple of concentric equivalent continuous thin cylindrical shells, where Donnell shell theory is adopted to obtain strain-displacement relationships. In order to take into account the chirality effect of DWCNT, an anisotropic elastic shell model is considered. Simply supported boundary conditions are imposed and the Rayleigh–Ritz method is used to obtain approximate natural frequencies and mode shapes. A parametric analysis considering different values of diameters and numbers of waves along longitudinal and circumferential directions is performed by adopting Ru’s and He’s formulations. From the comparisons, it is evident that Ru’s formulation provides unsatisfactory results for relatively low values of diameters and relatively high numbers of circumferential waves with respect to the more accurate He’s formulation. This behaviour is observed for every number of longitudinal half-waves. Therefore, Ru’s formulation cannot be used for the vibration modelling of DWCNTs in a large range of diameters and wavenumbers.
Recreational Drugs and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Pinazo-Bandera José M. , García-Cortés Miren , Segovia-Zafra Antonio , Lucena María Isabel , Andrade Raúl J.
Published: November 2022

Recreational or aesthetic drug use is a distinctive behavior of humans, principally attested in the last century. It is known that recreational and illegal drugs are major contributors to the universal morbidity rate worldwide. Many of these substances have a well-established hepatotoxic potential, causing acute or chronic liver injury, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, but their implications for hepatocellular carcinoma or other varieties of liver tumors are little known. In this article, we perform an extensive literature review, aiming to provide updated information about recreational drug use and the risk of developing liver tumors. Khat use and pyrrolizidine alkaloid consumption (present in some natural plants) have been linked to liver cirrhosis. Kava intake is associated with different liver tumors in animal models but not in humans. Cannabis’ potential to accelerate liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis is controversial according to the existing data. Cigarette smoking is an important contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma, and anabolic androgen steroids are well-defined causes of a variety of liver cancers and other hepatic tumors. Long-term follow-up studies of subjects who have developed injuries in association with the use of recreational drugs are warranted so as to better define the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in association with these substances and, thus, to implement health care policies to combat this preventable cause of cancer.
Inhibition of LIFR Blocks Adiposity-Driven Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer Growth
Authors: Blankenship Logan , Pratap Uday P. , Yang Xue , Liu Zexuan , Altwegg Kristin A. , Santhamma Bindu , Ramasamy Kumaraguruparan , Konda Swapna , Chen Yidong , Lai Zhao , Zheng Siyuan , Sareddy Gangadhara R. , Valente Philip T. , Kost Edward R. , Nair Hareesh B. , Tekmal Rajeshwar R. , Vadlamudi Ratna K. , Viswanadhapalli Suryavathi
Published: November 2022

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most common cancer in women, and half of the endometrioid EC (EEC) cases are attributable to obesity. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of obesity-driven EEC remain(s) unclear. In this study, we examined whether LIF signaling plays a role in the obesity-driven progression of EEC. RNA-seq analysis of EEC cells stimulated by adipose conditioned medium (ADP-CM) showed upregulation of LIF/LIFR-mediated signaling pathways including JAK/STAT and interleukin pathways. Immunohistochemistry analysis of normal and EEC tissues collected from obese patients revealed that LIF expression is upregulated in EEC tissues compared to the normal endometrium. Treatment of both primary and established EEC cells with ADP-CM increased the expression of LIF and its receptor LIFR and enhanced proliferation of EEC cells. Treatment of EEC cells with the LIFR inhibitor EC359 abolished ADP-CM induced colony formation andcell viability and decreased growth of EEC organoids. Mechanistic studies using Western blotting, RT-qPCR and reporter assays confirmed that ADP-CM activated LIF/LIFR downstream signaling, which can be effectively attenuated by the addition of EC359. In xenograft assays, co-implantation of adipocytes significantly enhanced EEC xenograft tumor growth. Further, treatment with EC359 significantly attenuated adipocyte-induced EEC progression in vivo. Collectively, our data support the premise that LIF/LIFR signaling plays an important role in obesity-driven EEC progression and the LIFR inhibitor EC359 has the potential to suppress adipocyte-driven tumor progression.
Cardiotoxicity Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: What a Cardio-Oncology Team Should Know and Do
Authors: Zito Concetta , Manganaro Roberta , Ciappina Giuliana , Spagnolo Calogera Claudia , Racanelli Vito , Santarpia Mariacarmela , Silvestris Nicola , Carerj Scipione
Published: November 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the therapeutic scenario for several malignancies. However, they can be responsible for immune-related adverse events (irAEs), involving several organs, with a pooled incidence ranging between 54% and 76%. The frequency of cardiovascular system involvement is <1%. Among the cardiovascular irAEs, myocarditis is the most common and the most dangerous but other, less common manifestations of ICI-related cardiotoxicity include pericardial disease, arrhythmias, Takotsubo-like syndrome, and acute myocardial infarction, all of which remain poorly explored. Both oncologists and cardiologists, as well as the patients, should be aware of the possible occurrence of one or more of these complications, which in some cases are fatal, in order to implement effective strategies of cardiac surveillance. In this review, we summarize the latest studies and recommendations on the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and management of ICI-related cardiotoxicity in order to realize a complete and updated overview on the main aspects of ICI-related cardiotoxicity, from surveillance to diagnosis to management, useful for both oncologists and cardiologists in their clinical practice. In particular, in the first part of the review, we realize a description of the pathogenetic mechanisms and risk factors of the main cardiovascular irAEs. Then, we focus on the management of ICI-related cardiotoxicity by analyzing five main points: (1) identifying and evaluating the type and severity of the cardiotoxicity; (2) deciding whether to withhold ICI therapy; (3) initiating steroid and immunosuppressive therapy; (4) starting conventional cardiac treatment; and (5) restarting ICI therapy. Finally, we discuss the existing evidence on surveillance for ICI-related cardiotoxicity and propose a surveillance strategy for both short- and long-term cardiotoxicity, according to the most recent guidelines.
Real-World Study: A Powerful Tool for Malignant Tumor Research in General Surgery
Authors: Zhang Liang , Li He , Wang TianFu , Wang RuiXin , Cheng Long , Wang Gang
Published: November 2022

Real-world study (RWS) is a method to draw conclusions by collecting and analyzing real-world data under a real clinical background. Compared with traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs), RWSs are favored by clinicians because of their low cost and good extrapolation. In recent years, RWS has made remarkable achievements in the field of general surgery, especially in the drug treatment of advanced malignant tumors. Therefore, to further understand the main contents of the existing RWS and the application prospect of RWS in the future, this paper systematically reviews the clinical application of RWS in malignant tumors in general surgery in the past three years.
Spark Ablation for the Fabrication of PEM Water Electrolysis Catalyst-Coated Membranes
Authors: Sapountzi Foteini M. , Lavorenti Marek , Vrijburg Wilbert , Dimitriadou Sofia , Tyburska-Pueschel Beata , Thüne Peter , Niemantsverdriet Hans , Pfeiffer Tobias V. , Tsampas Mihalis N.
Published: November 2022

Proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzers represent a promising technology for sustainable hydrogen production, owing to their efficiency and load flexibility. However, the acidic nature of PEM demands the use of platinum-group metal-electrocatalysts. Apart from the associated high capital costs, the scarcity of Ir hinders the large-scale implementation of the technology. Since low-cost replacements for Ir are not available at present, there is an urgent need to engineer catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) with homogeneous catalyst layers at low Ir loadings. Efforts to realize this mainly rely on the development of advanced Ir nanostructures with maximized dispersion via wet chemistry routes. This study demonstrates the potential of an alternative vapor-based process, based on spark ablation and impaction, to fabricate efficient and durable Ir- and Pt-coated membranes. Our results indicate that spark-ablation CCMs can reduce the Ir demand by up to five times compared to commercial CCMs, without a compromise in activity. The durability of spark-ablation CCMs has been investigated by applying constant and dynamic load profiles for 150 h, indicating different degradation mechanisms for each case without major pitfalls. At constant load, an initial degradation in performance was observed during the first 30 h, but a stable degradation rate of 0.05 mV h−1 was sustained during the rest of the test. The present results, together with manufacturing aspects related to simplicity, costs and environmental footprint, suggest the high potential of spark ablation having practical applications in CCM manufacturing.
Fabrication of Carbon/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites as Highly Efficient Catalytic Materials for Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Gulab Hussain , Fatima Nusrat , Shahzad Nadia , Shahzad Muhammad Imran , Siddique Mohsin , Hussain Muhammad , Humayun Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Different nanostructured semiconducting ZnO photoanodes were prepared by Hydrothermal (HT), Co-precipitation (CoP) and Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) methods for their use in the Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) in the present study. Additionally, different ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by mixing the Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), Graphene Oxide (GO) and their combination with the ZnO nanostructures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed various morphologies of ZnO nanostructures and nanocomposites such as nanoflowers, nanorods, rhombohedral, cubic, and cauliflower-like nanorods, and nanorods with hexagonal symmetry. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra confirmed the purity of the synthesized samples. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO and a minor presence of CNTs and graphene. The UV-Visible, transmittance and diffuse reflectance spectra demonstrated that the ZnO synthesized through the CBD method exhibits the highest transmittance as 70–71% in the UV-Vis range and reduced % R. Optical band gaps of the samples were determined with the help of Tauc plots. Comparison of J-V characteristics showed that the ZnO synthesized via the HT method exhibits the highest conversion efficiency of 1.45%. Comparison among pristine ZnO synthesized via CBD and ZnO nanocomposites revealed that ZnO/CNTs possesses the highest energy conversion efficiency of 1.23% with enhanced JSC of 4.49 mA/cm2.
Identification and Verification of a Novel MAGI2-AS3/miRNA-374-5p/FOXO1 Network Associated with HBV-Related HCC
Authors: Wang Chao , Su Kunkai , Lin Hanchao , Cen Beini , Zheng Shusen , Xu Xiao
Published: November 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common neoplasm worldwide, and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) plays an important role in the development of HCC. The purpose of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ceRNAs in HCC. Methods: This study detects potential ceRNAs from HCC through whole genome analysis of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression. We then performed high-throughput sequencing of tissues from five hepatitis B related HCC patients to screen ceRNAs and those screened ceRNAs expressions were verified on tissues from an independent group of six patients. Finally, the function of ceRNAs of interest was illustrated in vitro. Result: Functional and pathway analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed ceRNA networks. The high-throughput sequencing identified 985 upregulated and 1612 downregulated lncRNAs and 887 upregulated and 1116 downregulated mRNAs in HCC patients. Differentially expressed genes were parallel to cancer-associated processes, comprising 18 upregulated and 35 downregulated significantly enriched pathways including alcoholism and viral carcinogenesis. Among them, a potential ceRNA network was detected and verified in six HCC patients. CeRNAs of the lncRNA MAGI2-AS3/miR-374-5p/FOXO1 pathway were significantly dysregulated in HCC, and validation in vitro showed that FOXO1 is positively regulated by MAGI2-AS3 through the induction of miR-374a/b-5p in HCC cells. In addition, the overexpression of FOXO1 is associated with proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells and increases apoptosis of HCC cells. MiR-374a/b-5p caused an opposite effect by directly suppressing FOXO1 in HCC cells. Conclusion: CeRNA networks were found in HCC and aberrantly expressed ceRNAs of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3/miR-374-5p/FOXO1 plays a crucial role in HCC, assisting in diagnosis and providing a method for treatment.
Rifaximin Modifies Gut Microbiota and Attenuates Inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease: Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Authors: Hong Chien-Tai , Chan Lung , Chen Kai-Yun , Lee Hsun-Hua , Huang Li-Kai , Yang Yu-Chen S. H. , Liu Yun-Ru , Hu Chaur-Jong
Published: November 2022

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibit distinct gut microbiota, which may promote gut-derived inflammation. Rifaximin is a nonabsorbable antibiotic that can modify gut microbiota. The present study investigated the effect of rifaximin on gut microbiota and inflammation status in PD. The study examined the effect of long-term rifaximin treatment on in vivo transgenic PD mice (MitoPark) and short-term rifaximin treatment on patients with PD. Rifaximin treatment caused a significant change in gut microbiota in the transgenic PD mice; in particular, it reduced the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae UCG-001 and increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Muribaculum, and Lachnospiraceae UCG-001. Rifaximin treatment attenuated serum interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, claudin-5 and occludin, which indicated the reduction of systemic inflammation and the protection of the blood–brain barrier integrity. The rifaximin-treated MitoPark mice exhibited better motor and memory performance than did the control mice, with lower microglial activation and increased neuronal survival in the hippocampus. In the patients with PD, 7-day rifaximin treatment caused an increase in the relative abundance of Flavonifractor 6 months after treatment, and the change in plasma proinflammatory cytokine levels was negatively associated with the baseline plasma interleukin-1α level. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that rifaximin exerted a neuroprotective effect on the transgenic PD mice by modulating gut microbiota. We observed that patients with higher baseline inflammation possibly benefited from rifaximin treatment. With consideration for the tolerability and safety of rifaximin, randomized controlled trials should investigate the disease-modification effect of long-term treatment on select patients with PD.
Repeated Administration of Cisplatin Transforms Kidney Fibroblasts through G2/M Arrest and Cellular Senescence
Authors: Yu Jia-Bin , Lee Dong-Sun , Padanilam Babu J. , Kim Jinu
Published: November 2022

Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic used for the treatment of many types of cancer, but it has nephrotoxic side effects leading to acute kidney injury and subsequently chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous work has focused on acute kidney tubular injury induced by cisplatin, whereas the chronic sequelae post-injury has not been well-explored. In the present study, we established a kidney fibroblast model of CKD induced by repeated administration of cisplatin (RAC) as a clinically relevant model. In NRK-49F rat kidney fibroblasts, RAC upregulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin proteins, suggesting that RAC induces kidney fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation. RAC also enhanced cell size, including the cell attachment surface area, nuclear area, and cell volume. Furthermore, RAC induced p21 expression and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, suggesting that kidney fibroblasts exposed to RAC develop a senescent phenotype. Inhibition of p21 reduced cellular senescence, hypertrophy, and myofibroblast transformation induced by RAC. Intriguingly, after RAC, kidney fibroblasts were arrested at the G2/M phase. Repeated treatment with paclitaxel as an inducer of G2/M arrest upregulated p21, α-SMA, and fibronectin in the kidney fibroblasts. Taken together, these data suggest that RAC transforms kidney fibroblasts into myofibroblasts through G2/M arrest and cellular senescence.
Curcumin Reprograms TAMs from a Protumor Phenotype towards an Antitumor Phenotype via Inhibiting MAO-A/STAT6 Pathway
Authors: Jiang Mingjing , Qi Ying , Huang Wei , Lin Ying , Li Bo
Published: November 2022

M1 phenotype macrophages have anticancer characteristics, whereas M2 phenotype macrophages promote tumor growth and metastasis. A higher M1/M2 ratio, therefore, has a beneficial effect on the tumor immune microenvironment, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. The natural alkaloid curcumin is found to have anticancer properties. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, a cell co-culture system and M2 macrophage model were used to evaluate the effects of curcumin on tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) phenotypes. Our results demonstrate that curcumin reprogrammed the M2 macrophages by reducing the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β, Arg-1, and IL-10) and an M2 surface marker (CD206) induced by Cal27 cells or IL-4, as well as upregulating proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, iNOS, and IL-6) and an M1 surface marker (CD86). The in vitro assays suggested that curcumin treatment suppressed the migration and invasion of the Cal27 cells induced by the M2-like macrophages. Mechanistically, the repolarization of TAMs may be attributed to the inhibition of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A)/STAT6 signaling after curcumin treatment. Collectively, our results show that the anticancer effects of curcumin could be explained by reprogramming TAMs from a protumor phenotype towards an antitumor phenotype.
Early Cerebrovascular Autoregulation in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Brunsch Celina L. , Mebius Mirthe J. , Berger Rolf M. F. , Bos Arend F. , Kooi Elisabeth M. W.
Published: November 2022

Neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) display delayed brain development, predisposing them to impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation (CAR) and ischemic brain injury. For this paper, we analyzed the percentage of time with impaired CAR (%time impaired CAR) during the first 72 h after birth, the relation with clinical factors, and survival in 57 neonates with CHD. The primary outcome was a correlation coefficient of cerebral oxygenation (rcSO2) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP, mmHg) for two hours on a daily basis. The %time impaired CAR ranged from 9.3% of the studied time on day one to 4.6% on day three. Variables associated with more %time impaired CAR were the use of inotropes (day 1, B = 19.5, 95%CI = 10.6–28.3; day 3, B = 11.5, 95%CI = 7.1–16), lower MABP (day 1, B = −0.6, 95%CI = −1.2–0.0), and dextro-transposition of the great arteries (dTGA) (16.2%) compared with other CHD types (2.0–5.0%; day 1, p = 0.022). Survival was not an associated variable. To summarize, impaired CAR was found in CHD neonates in up to 9.3% of the studied time. More evidence is necessary to evaluate an association with inotropes, dTGA, %time impaired CAR, and long-term outcome, further in larger cohorts.
Cardamom Extract Alleviates the Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis Induced during Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Toxicity via Modulating Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1 Pathway
Authors: Alkhalifah Essraa A. R. , Alobaid Amjad A. , Almajed Marwah A. , Alomair Manar K. , Alabduladheem Lama S. , Al-Subaie Sarah F. , Akbar Abdullah , Attimarad Mahesh V. , Younis Nancy S. , Mohamed Maged E.
Published: November 2022

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most extensively used and safest analgesic and antipyretic drug worldwide; however, its toxicity is associated with life-threatening acute liver failure. Cardamom (CARD), a sweet, aromatic, commonly used spice, has several pharmacological actions. In the current study, we tried to explore the chemical composition and the hepato-protective effect of ethanolic aqueous extract of CARD to mitigate APAP-induced hepatic toxicity and elucidate its underlying mechanism of action. Material and methods: Aqueous CARD extract was subjected to LC-TOF-MS analysis to separate and elucidate some of its components. In vivo animal experiments involved five groups of animals. In the normal and cardamom groups, mice were administered either saline or CARD (200 mg/kg), respectively, orally daily for 16 days. In the APAP group, the animals were administered saline orally daily for 15 days, and on the 16th day, animals were administered APAP (300 mg/kg) IP for the induction of acute hepatic failure. In the CARD 200 + APAP group, mice were administered CARD (200 mg/kg) for 15 days, followed by APAP on the 16th day. Results: The aqueous extract of CARD showed several compounds, belonging to polyphenol, flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives and essential oil components. In the in vivo investigations, APAP-induced impaired liver function, several histopathological alterations, oxidative stress and inflammatory and apoptotic status signified severe hepatic failure. Whereas, pretreatment with the CARD extract prior to APAP administration diminished serum levels of the hepatic function test and augmented Nrf2 nucleoprotein and HO-1 and NQO-1. CARD down-regulated MDA, inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB) and apoptotic markers (caspase 3 and 9 and Bax) and amplified the activities of SOD, catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-R in hepatic tissue samples. Conclusion: CARD extract mitigated the hepatic toxicity induced by APAP. The underlying mechanism of action of such hepato-protective action may be through upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1 pathway with subsequent alleviation of the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis induced by APAP. Many of the compounds identified in the CARD extract could be attributed to this pharmacological action of the extract.
Solid Waste Management in Rural Communities of Developing Countries: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Vinti Giovanni , Vaccari Mentore
Published: November 2022

Solid waste management (SWM) in rural areas of many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represents a critical and underrated topic. However, almost half of the world’s population still lives in rural areas and an adequate SWM is crucial in reducing environmental and health threats. A lack of knowledge and appropriate tools often leads to inappropriate practices such as waste dumping and uncontrolled burning. However, appropriate methods can transform waste into resources and even guarantee a revenue source. This manuscript provides an overview of the state of the knowledge characterising SWM in rural communities of LMICs, analysing common practices and principal issues. Different solid waste fractions are considered. Virtuous approaches are presented, taking into account recent sustainable solutions. Considering that a relevant part of the world population is still living in rural areas, the benefits associated with an appropriate SWM may be enormous. Such activities may improve local conditions from social, environmental and health perspectives; furthermore, they may have a global impact on facing climate change and environmental pollution.
Factors Affecting Demand and Supply in the Housing Market: A Study on Three Major Cities in Turkey
Authors: Kader Sheikh Abdul , Zayed Nurul Mohammad , Faisal-E-Alam Md. , Salah Uddin Muhammad , Nitsenko Vitalii , Klius Yuliia
Published: November 2022

This paper aims to identify the economic factors that significantly affect the demand for and supply of housing in three major cities in Turkey, such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. This study uses monthly data ranges from January 2010 to December 2020 because of the limited housing price data from each city. For smooth measurement, the logarithm of all data except measurements of nominal interest rate, real interest rate and inflation is used. This research uses the Co-integration Analysis and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to investigate the macroeconomic variables’ effects on the demand and supply. Mortgage credit volume, as a dependent variable, is influenced by real per capita GDP, real house prices, projected inflation, and nominal interest rates. On the contrary, the building site is used as a dependent variable on the supply side that is determined by the real housing price, the real interest rate, and the real cost of construction. In the VECM model, the mortgage credit volume and constriction cost were dominated by error correction variables, showing the adjustment of disequilibrium towards an equilibrium point. In the case of Ankara, supply-side variables have a long-term relationship. Both housing demand and supply-related factors have a long-term impact on the housing market in Istanbul and Izmir. Given a significant p-value, the coefficient of C1 derived from system equations is negative.
Determination of a High-Power THz Detector for EA-FEL Radiation Using Optical Sampling of GaAs and ZnTe Crystals
Authors: Haj Yahya Adnan , Gerasimov Michael , Ciplis Johnathan , Balal Nezah , Friedman Aharon
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a diagnostic method for THz pulses produced by EA-FEL. Experimental results present a comparison between ZnTe and GaAs crystals for the detection of a single terahertz pulse using electro-optic sampling. In order to match an electro-optic detector for the EA-FEL radiation, the THz pulse from a source was simultaneously detected by ZnTe and GaAs electro-optic detectors. The GaAs detection system was found to have a shorter response time but low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to the ZnTe system. The GaAs crystal is suitable for the detection of short THz pulses due to fiber coupling, and the SNR of the GaAs system can be improved using a faster and more sensitive photodetector.
Tuberculosis Epididymo-Orchitis Mimicking Malignancy Resulting from Intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer: A Case Report of a Rare Complication
Authors: Chiu Liang-Wei , Tsai Li-Hsien , Hsieh Po-Fan , Chen Wen-Chi , Chang Chao-Hsiang
Published: November 2022

Tuberculous epididymo-orchitis is a rare complication of intravesical bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder cancer. We report a patient with bladder cancer and a history of intravesical BCG immunotherapy who presented with right scrotal pain for 1 week. A heterogeneous, hypoechoic, and solid mass surrounded by increased blood flow in the right testis was seen on scrotal echogram. Urine ordinary and tuberculosis culture yielded negative results. After failure of antibiotic treatment and the inability to rule out tumor, the diagnosis was confirmed by radical orchiectomy. Acid-fast staining of pus in the tumor and tumor tissue was positive, and a pus culture was positive for Mycobacteria tuberculosis complex. Right radical orchiectomy was performed, and anti-tuberculosis treatment with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide was given. The patient is still currently under anti-tuberculosis treatment, and no significant adverse effects have been noted. BCG-related epididymo-orchitis should be suspected in patients with a history of intravesical BCG immunotherapy if the empiric antibiotic treatment typically used to treat common epididymo-orchitis fails.
Endoscopic Features of Gastric Epithelial Neoplasm of Fundic Gland Mucosa Lineage
Authors: Matsumoto Kohei , Ueyama Hiroya , Yao Takashi , Iwano Tomoyo , Yamamoto Momoko , Utsunomiya Hisanori , Uchida Ryota , Abe Daiki , Oki Shotaro , Suzuki Nobuyuki , Ikeda Atsushi , Yatagai Noboru , Akazawa Yoichi , Takeda Tsutomu , Ueda Kumiko , Asaoka Daisuke , Hojo Mariko , Nagahara Akihito
Published: November 2022

The endoscopic features of gastric epithelial neoplasms of fundic gland mucosa lineage (GEN-FGML) have not been well investigated. We aimed to clarify the endoscopic features of GEN-FGML and differences between gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type (GA-FG) and fundic gland mucosa type (GA-FGM). A total of 62 GEN-FGML lesions, including 52 GA-FG and 10 GA-FGM, were retrospectively analyzed using endoscopic and clinicopathological findings to provide information of diagnostic value using white light imaging (WLI) and magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI). GA-FG frequently presented with a whitish, submucosal tumor (SMT) shape with dilated vessels with branching architecture and background mucosa without atrophic change in WLI, an indistinct demarcation line (DL), dilatation of the crypt opening and intervening part (IP), and microvessels without distinct irregularity in M-NBI. GA-FGM frequently presented as a reddish, elevated lesion in WLI, with a distinct DL, dilatation of the IP, and an irregular microvascular pattern in M-NBI. As for an M-NBI diagnosis, five GA-FGM lesions met the diagnostic criteria for cancer, whereas none of the GA-FG lesions met the same criteria. We highlight the endoscopic features of GEN-FGML, and the differentiation between GA-FG and GA-FGM might be possible by combination of lesion color and morphology in WLI and M-NBI diagnoses.
Challenging Diagnosis of Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery
Authors: Mahmoud Hiyam , Cinteză Eliza , Voicu Cristiana , Mărgărint Irina , Rotaru Iulian , Aria Amelia , Youssef Tammam , Nicolescu Alin
Published: November 2022

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the pulmonary artery, ARCAPA, is an extremely rare congenital heart disease. Only 200 cases were reported from 1885 to the present. Patients diagnosed with ARCAPA can be either asymptomatic or can experience symptoms, such as heart murmur, dyspnea, or angina, shortly after birth or around 40–60 years of life. Usually, those with isolated ARCAPA are diagnosed later in life compared to those who associate other structural cardiac defects. We report two cases of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery at the level of the pulmonary artery trunk (ARCAPA) that were diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography. Although asymptomatic, general recommendations suggest an early corrective intervention to prevent complications such as myocardial ischemia and cardiac dysfunction, which can lead to sudden cardiac death.
A Mechanistic Overview on Impact of Dietary Fibres on Gut Microbiota and Its Association with Colon Cancer
Authors: Biswas Vasudev , Praveen Asma , Marisetti Arya Lakshmi , Sharma Ajay , Kumar Vijender , Sahu Sanjeev Kumar , Tewari Devesh
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an abnormal growth that occurs in the rectum or rectal portion. In 2020, an anticipated 104,610 new cases of colon illness and 43,340 new cases of rectal abnormal growth were expected in the United States. Red and processed meat, body bloatedness, belly fatness, and binge drinking expands the occurrence of colorectal disease. Dietary fibres contribute to faecal bulking, but they are break down by gut bacteria and produce metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs are chemical compounds that are mostly made up of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Acetate and butyrate help to control mucus production and discharge, and thus, protect the gut mucosa. Reduced mucus secretion/increased bacterial catabolism, and fermentation of amino acids resulted in an increase of potentially detrimental metabolites such as branched-chain fatty acids, ammonia, amines, and N-nitroso complex components. Vital roles of fibres include reduction in the time that carcinogens encounter the intestinal lumen and promotion of healthy gut microbiota as well as modification of the host metabolism. The present review focuses on a brief introduction to various dietary fibres and specialised metabolites that can possess beneficial effect on CRC, as well as presenting our current, detailed understanding of various dietary fibres along with their potential effects on gut microbiota and its association with the colon cancer. A comprehensive discussion is also included, advocating the dietary fibre-enriched diet.
Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia with Botulinum Toxin Type A: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Pearl Craig , Moxley Brendan , Perry Andrew , Demian Nagi , Dallaire-Giroux Cyndie
Published: November 2022

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition associated with sharp, shock-like pain in one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. For patients who do not respond well to pharmacotherapy, there is growing evidence that Botulinum toxin type A injections into the trigeminal ganglion provide pain relief for several weeks up to several months at a time. One option is to administer injections into the trigeminal ganglion in Meckel’s cave by inserting a needle through the Pterygopalatine Fossa using fluoroscopy to guide and confirm the proper needle placement. However, there is evidence that Botulinum toxin travels across nerve synapses; thus, injecting directly into the trigeminal ganglion may not be necessary. We present two patients with a confirmed diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia who were treated by injecting Botulinum toxin type A intraorally into the mental foramen which resulted in 6 months or longer of pain relief. Injections into the mental foramen are much easier to administer than those administered directly into the trigeminal ganglion, and both patients treated with this technique experienced comparable results to what can be expected from traditional fluoroscopy-guided botulinum toxin injections. Though more research is needed, these cases potentially imply that a less-invasive injection may be sufficient in managing trigeminal neuralgia-related pain.
Dynamic Modeling and Control for Tilt-Rotor UAV Based on 3D Flow Field Transient CFD
Authors: Wang Hongpeng , Sun Wenhao , Zhao Changli , Zhang Sujie , Han Jianda
Published: November 2022

The tilt-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (TRUAV) is characterized by both multi-rotor vertical takeoff or landing and fixed-wing long-duration flight. Not only the structure of TRUAV is complex, but also the aerodynamic coupling is severe. Especially when the TRUAV is in the transition mode, the rotor flow field and wake are complicated. The abnormal variation of the aerodynamic force of the rotor blades will directly affect the balance and manipulation of the aircraft. The downwash flow generated by the rotor spiral propeller tip vortex interference will impact the wing from every direction, forming a blocked three-dimensional effect flow field on the wing surface, which seriously affects the stability of the UAV. In this paper, the transient CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) numerical simulation was applied to examine the flow fields of the fuselage and rotor under the transition modal of TRUAV as well as the aerodynamic disturbance. In addition, the dynamics model of the TRUAV was established based on the change of the tilt angle state, and considering the effect of rotor slip flow, we analyzed the three-dimensional flow field distribution of TRUAV in the transition mode under the aerodynamic disturbance of the fuselage and rotor, and we identified each aerodynamic parameter required for modeling. A cascade PID control strategy is designed for the TRUAV, and the results verify that the proposed TRUAV model can remain stable even when the maximum roll angle is 20 degrees. At last, the simulation results provide data support for the optimization of the TRUAV aerodynamic profile and the design of subsequent flight control methods.