bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification and Evolutionary Analysis of Yellow River Delta Wetlands Using Decision Tree Based on Time Series SAR Backscattering Coefficient and Coherence
Authors: Li Zhenjin , Wang Zhiyong , Liu Xiaotong , Zhu Yuandong , Wang Kai , Zhang Tiange
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the Yellow River Delta has been affected by invasive species Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora), resulting in a fragile ecological environment. It is of great significance to monitor the ground object types in the Yellow River Delta wetlands. The classification accuracy based on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) backscattering coefficient is limited by the small difference between some ground objects. To solve this problem, a decision tree classification method for extracting the ground object types in wetland combined time series SAR backscattering and coherence characteristics was proposed. The Yellow River Delta was taken as the study area and the 112 Sentinel-1A GRD data with VV/VH dual-polarization and 64 Sentinel-1A SLC data with VH polarization were used. The decision tree method was established, based on the annual mean VH and VV backscattering characteristics, the new constructed radar backscattering indices, and the annual mean VH coherence characteristics were suitable for extracting the wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. Then the classification results in the Yellow River Delta wetlands from 2018 to 2021 were obtained using the new method proposed in this paper. The results show that the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of the proposed method w5ere 89.504% and 0.860, which were 9.992% and 0.127 higher than multi-temporal classification by Support Vector Machine classifier. Compared with the decision tree without coherence, the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient were improved by 8.854% and 0.108. The spatial distributions of wetland types in the Yellow River Delta from 2018 to 2021 were obtained using the constructed decision tree. The spatio-temporal evolution analysis was conducted. The results showed that the area ofS. alternifloradecreased significantly in 2020 but it increased to the area of 2018 in 2021. In addition,S. alternifloraseriously affected the living space of Phragmites australis (P. australis) and in 4 years, 10.485 km2living space ofP. australiswas occupied byS. alterniflora. The proposed method can provide a theoretical basis for higher accuracy SAR wetland classification and the monitoring results can provide an effective reference for local wetland protection.
The ABC-Stroke Score Refines Stroke Risk Stratification in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation at the Emergency Department
Authors: Niederdöckl Jan , Oppenauer Julia , Schnaubelt Sebastian , Cacioppo Filippo , Buchtele Nina , Warenits Alexandra-Maria , Laggner Roberta , Schütz Nikola , Bögl Magdalena S. , Ruzicka Gerhard , Gupta Sophie , Lutnik Martin , Sheikh Rezaei Safoura , Wolzt Michael , Herkner Harald , Domanovits Hans , Laggner Anton N. , Schwameis Michael , Hijazi Ziad
Published: June 2022

Aims

To evaluate the performance of the ABC (Age, Biomarkers, Clinical history) and CHA2DS2-VASc stroke scores under real-world conditions in an emergency setting.

Methods and Results

The performance of the biomarker-based ABC-stroke score and the clinical variable-based CHA2DS2-VASc score for stroke risk assessment were prospectively evaluated in a consecutive series of 2,108 patients with acute symptomatic atrial fibrillation at a tertiary care emergency department. Performance was assessed according to methods for the development and validation of clinical prediction models by Steyerberg et al. and the Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis. During a cumulative observation period of 3,686 person-years, the stroke incidence rate was 1.66 per 100 person-years. Overall, the ABC-stroke and CHA2DS2-VASc scores revealed respective c-indices of 0.64 and 0.55 for stroke prediction. Risk-class hazard ratios comparing moderate to low and high to low were 3.51 and 2.56 for the ABC-stroke score and 1.10 and 1.62 for the CHA2DS2-VASc score. The ABC-stroke score also provided improved risk stratification in patients with moderate stroke risk according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score, who lack clear recommendations regarding anticoagulation therapy (HR: 4.35, P = 0.001). Decision curve analysis indicated a superior net clinical benefit of using the ABC-stroke score.

Conclusion

In a large, real-world cohort of patients with acute atrial fibrillation in the emergency department, the ABC-stroke score was superior to the guideline-recommended CHA2DS2-VASc score at predicting stroke risk and refined risk stratification of patients labeled moderate risk by the CHA2DS2-VASc score, potentially easing treatment decision-making.
Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidences Reveal Four New Species of Cantharellus Subgenus Cantharellus (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales) From China
Authors: Zhang Yu-Zhuo , Lin Wen-Fei , Buyck Bart , Liang Zhi-Qun , Su Ming-Sheng , Chen Zuo-Hong , Zhang Ping , Jiang Shuai , An Dong-Yu , Zeng Nian-Kai
Published: June 2022

Species of Cantharellus subgenus Cantharellus are interesting and important for their mycorrhizal properties, medicinal values, and edibility. In China, there are many undescribed species of the subgenus. In this study, four new species of subg. Cantharellus, viz. Cantharellus albopileatus, Cantharellus chuiweifanii, Cantharellus pinetorus, and Cantharellus ravus from Hainan and Hunan Provinces, respectively, were described based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence as a contribution to the knowledge of the species diversity in China. Detailed descriptions, color photographs of fresh basidiomata, and line drawings of microstructures of these four new species are presented as well as comparisons with related species.
The Shift of Soil Bacterial Community After Afforestation Influence Soil Organic Carbon and Aggregate Stability in Karst Region
Authors: Lan Jiacheng , Wang Shasha , Wang Junxian , Qi Xue , Long Qixia , Huang Mingzhi
Published: June 2022

Soil microbes regulate the carbon cycle and affect the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates. However, the interactions between the soil microbial community and soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, organic carbon (OC) content in aggregates, and soil aggregate stability after afforestation are remain poorly understood. In our study, we investigated SOC fractions in bulk soil, aggregate-associated OC content, soil aggregate stability, and soil bacterial community with high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing at sites representing natural secondary forest (NF) and managed forest (MF), with cropland (CL) as reference in a degraded karst region of Southwest China. Our results showed that afforestation remarkably increased the SOC fraction and OC content in aggregates, the mean weight diameter (MWD), and the mean geometric diameter (GMD). The most dominant bacterial phyla detected were Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi across all soils. Afforestation remarkably altered the relative abundances of most of the dominant soil bacteria at the phylum, class, and order levels. Interestingly, such changes in the abundance of soil bacteria taxa had significantly effects on SOC fraction, aggregate-associated OC content, MWD, and MGD. The abundance of dominant bacterial taxa such as Methylomirabilota, Latescibacterota, Methylomirabilia, MB-A2-108, norank_Latescibacterota; Dehalococcoidia, Rokubacteriales, Gaiellales, Microtrichales, norank_c__MB-A2-108, norank_c__norank_p__Latescibacterota, Rhizobiales, and S085 not only remarkably increased but also had significant positive effects on SOC fractions and aggregate-associated OC content after afforestation. Moreover, MWD and MGD were positively correlated with the relative abundance of Methylomirabilota, Methylomirabilia, Rokubacteriales, Latescibacterota, and Rhizobiales. Results indicated the importance of certain soil bacteria for regulating SOC storage and soil aggregate stability. We concluded that afforestation on cropland could alter the abundance of soil bacteria, and these changes modulate the stability of soil aggregates and SOC fractions.
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Administration Triggers Macrophages Reprogramming and Alleviates Inflammation During Sepsis Induced by Experimental Peritonitis
Authors: Cros Cécile , Margier Marielle , Cannelle Hélène , Charmetant Julie , Hulo Nicolas , Laganier Laurent , Grozio Alessia , Canault Matthias
Published: June 2022

Peritonitis and subsequent sepsis lead to high morbidity and mortality in response to uncontrolled systemic inflammation primarily mediated by macrophages. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an important regulator of oxidative stress and immunoinflammatory responses. However, the effects of NAD+ replenishment during inflammatory activation are still poorly defined. Hence, we investigated whether the administration of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (β-NMN), a natural biosynthetic precursor of NAD+, could modulate the macrophage phenotype and thereby ameliorate the dysregulated inflammatory response during sepsis. For this purpose, C57BL6 mice were subjected to the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model to provoke sepsis or were injected with thioglycolate to induce sterile peritonitis with recruitment and differentiation of macrophages into the inflamed peritoneal cavity. β-NMN was administered for 4 days after CLP and for 3 days post thioglycolate treatment where peritoneal macrophages were subsequently analyzed. In the CLP model, administration of β-NMN decreased bacterial load in blood and reduced clinical signs of distress and mortality during sepsis. These results were supported by transcriptomic analysis of hearts and lungs 24 h post CLP-induction, which revealed that β-NMN downregulated genes controlling the immuno-inflammatory response and upregulated genes involved in bioenergetic metabolism, mitochondria, and autophagy. In the thioglycolate model, a significant increase in the proportion of CD206 macrophages, marker of anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, was detected on peritoneal exudate macrophages from β-NMN-administered mice. Transcriptomic signature of these macrophages after bacterial stimulation confirmed that β-NMN administration limited the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and induced the expression of specific markers of M2 type macrophages. Furthermore, our data show that β-NMN treatment significantly impacts NAD + metabolism. This shift in the macrophage phenotype and metabolism was accompanied by a reduction in phagolysosome acidification and secretion of inflammatory mediators in macrophages from β-NMN-treated mice suggesting a reduced pro-inflammatory activation. In conclusion, administration of β-NMN prevented clinical deterioration and improved survival during sepsis. These effects relied on shifts in the metabolism of organs that face up an increased energy requirement caused by bacterial infection and in innate immunity response, including reprogramming of macrophages from a highly inflammatory phenotype to an anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving profile.
Computerized Working Memory Training in Remission From Major Depressive Disorder: Effects on Emotional Working Memory, Processing Speed, Executive Functions, and Associations With Symptoms
Authors: Ronold Eivind Haga , Joormann Jutta , Hammar Åsa
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Remission from major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with residual symptoms related to reduced functioning, quality of life, and relapse risk. Previous studies have raised questions about mechanisms involved-in and affected by cognitive training. This study investigated the associations and changes among depressive symptoms, rumination, processing speed (PS), executive functioning (EF), and emotional working memory (e-WM) pre- post computerized working memory training (CWMT).

Method

Twenty-nine remitted participants were included in a pre- post pilot study of within-subject effects of online CWMT. A total of 20 participants completed the intervention and pre- post tests of EF and PS, e-WM, in addition to symptom and rumination measures. Associations between changes in symptoms and cognition were investigated pre- post. Associations between improvements in CWMT, depression history, and changes in cognition were explored. Hypotheses and statistics were preregistered before data were analyzed.

Results

Manipulation of negatively valanced stimuli in e-WM showed an inverse association with rumination pre-intervention, but the association disappeared post-intervention. Cognitive functioning improved in most conditions with largest effects in EF. Symptoms did not change in the remitted sample. CWMT improvements were related to improvements in some aspects of EF and PS, but also to worse self-reported attention. Depression history was related to less improvement in EF.

Limitations

Sample size was small and there was dropout from the study. There was no control group, thus precluding practice and placebo effects and causal relationships.

Conclusions

Computerized WM training improves cognitive functions and could influence associations between e-WM and rumination. This could counteract functional impairment following MDD.
Artificial Intelligence Technology in Basketball Training Action Recognition
Authors: Cheng Yao , Liang Xiaojun , Xu Yi , Kuang Xin
Published: June 2022

The primary research purpose lies in studying the intelligent detection of movements in basketball training through artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Primarily, the theory of somatosensory gesture recognition is analyzed, which lays a theoretical foundation for research. Then, the collected signal is denoised and normalized to ensure that the obtained signal data will not be distorted. Finally, the four algorithms, decision tree (DT), naive Bayes (NB), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN), are used to detect the data of athletes' different limb movements and recall. The accuracy of the data is compared and analyzed. Experiments show that the back propagation (BP) ANN algorithm has the best action recognition effect among the four algorithms. In basketball training athletes' upper limb movement detection, the average accuracy rate is close to 93.3%, and the average recall is also immediate to 93.3%. In basketball training athletes' lower limb movement detection, the average accuracy rate is close to 99.4%, and the average recall is immediate to 99.4%. In the detection of movements of upper and lower limbs: the recognition method can efficiently recognize the basketball actions of catching, passing, dribbling, and shooting, the recognition rate is over 95%, and the average accuracy of the four training actions of catching, passing, dribbling, and shooting is close to 98.95%. The intelligent basketball training system studied will help basketball coaches grasp the skilled movements of athletes better to make more efficient training programs and help athletes improve their skill level.
Cochlear Implant Electrode Impedance as Potential Biomarker for Residual Hearing
Authors: Wimmer Wilhelm , Sclabas Luca , Caversaccio Marco , Weder Stefan
Published: June 2022

Introduction and Objectives

Among cochlear implant candidates, an increasing number of patients are presenting with residual acoustic hearing. To monitor the postoperative course of structural and functional preservation of the cochlea, a reliable objective biomarker would be desirable. Recently, impedance telemetry has gained increasing attention in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate the postoperative course of the residual acoustic hearing and clinical impedance in patients with long electrode arrays and to explore the applicability of impedance telemetry for monitoring residual hearing.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed records of 42 cochlear implant recipients with residual hearing covering a median postoperative follow-up of 25 months with repeated simultaneous pure tone audiometry and impedance telemetry. We used a linear mixed-effects model to estimate the relation between clinical electrode impedance and residual hearing. Besides the clinical impedance, the follow-up time, side of implantation, gender, and age at implantation were included as fixed effects. An interaction term between impedance and follow-up time, as well as subject-level random intercepts and slopes, were included.

Results

Loss of residual hearing occurred either during surgery or within the first 6 post-operative months. Electrode contacts inserted further apically (i.e., deeper) had higher impedances, independent of residual hearing. The highest impedances were measured 1 month postoperatively and gradually decreased over time. Basal electrodes were more likely to maintain higher impedance. Follow-up time was significantly associated with residual hearing. Regardless of the time, we found that a 1 kΩ increase in clinical impedance was associated with a 4.4 dB deterioration of residual hearing (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Pure tone audiometry is the current gold standard for monitoring postoperative residual hearing. However, the association of clinical impedances with residual hearing thresholds found in our study could potentially be exploited for objective monitoring using impedance telemetry. Further analysis including near-field related impedance components could be performed for improved specificity to local immune responses.
Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods
Authors: Tamura Yasuhisa , Yamato Masanori , Kataoka Yosky
Published: June 2022

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic disease of unknown etiology and without effective treatment options. The onset of ME/CFS is often associated with neuroinflammation following bacterial or viral infection. A positron emission tomography imaging study revealed that the degree of neuroinflammation was correlated with the severity of several symptoms in patients with ME/CFS. In animal studies, lipopolysaccharide- and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced models are thought to mimic the pathological features of ME/CFS and provoke neuroinflammation, characterized by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of microglia. In this review, we described the anti-inflammatory effects of three compounds on neuroinflammatory responses utilizing animal models. The findings of the included studies suggest that anti-inflammatory substances may be used as effective therapies to ameliorate disease symptoms in patients with ME/CFS.
Altered Functional Network Connectivity of Precuneus and Executive Control Networks in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Without Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Wu Jinjian , Kang Shangyu , Su Jianpo , Liu Kai , Fan Liangwei , Ma Xiaomeng , Tan Xin , Huang Haoming , Feng Yue , Chen Yuna , Lyu Wenjiao , Zeng Lingli , Qiu Shijun , Hu Dewen
Published: June 2022

In epidemiological studies, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but studies about functional network connectivity in T2DM without cognitive impairment are limited. This study aimed to explore network connectivity alterations that may help enhance our understanding of damage-associated processes in T2DM. MRI data were analyzed from 82 patients with T2DM and 66 normal controls. Clinical, biochemical, and neuropsychological assessments were conducted in parallel with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and the cognitive status of the patients was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-B (MoCA-B) score. Independent component analysis revealed a positive correlation between the salience network and the visual network and a negative connection between the left executive control network and the default mode network in patients with T2DM. The differences in dynamic brain network connectivity were observed in the precuneus, visual, and executive control networks. Internal network connectivity was primarily affected in the thalamus, inferior parietal lobe, and left precuneus. Hemoglobin A1c level, body mass index, MoCA-B score, and grooved pegboard (R) assessments indicated significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). Our findings show that key changes in functional connectivity in diabetes occur in the precuneus and executive control networks that evolve before patients develop cognitive deficits. In addition, the current study provides useful information about the role of the thalamus, inferior parietal lobe, and precuneus, which might be potential biomarkers for predicting the clinical progression, assessing the cognitive function, and further understanding the neuropathology of T2DM.
A Narrative Review of Toxic Heavy Metal Content of Infant and Toddler Foods and Evaluation of United States Policy
Authors: Bair Emily C.
Published: June 2022

Excessive exposure to inorganic contaminants through ingestion of foods, such as those commonly referred to as heavy metals may cause cancer and other non-cancerous adverse effects. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to these toxic effects due to their immature development and high ’food intake/ body weight' ratio. Concerns have been raised by multiple independent studies that heavy metals have been found to be present in many foods in the infant and child food sector. Most recently, reports from the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy suggest subpar testing practices, lenient or absent standards, and limited oversight of food manufacturers perpetuate the presence of these contaminants in infant and toddler foods. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the current state of policies in the United States designed to safe-guard against excessive heavy metal exposure and to discuss what is presently known about the presence of the so-called heavy metals; arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium found in infant and toddler foods. PubMed was used to search for studies published between 1999 and 2022 using a combination of search terms including: “heavy metal,” “contamination,” “infant,” “toddler,” and “complementary food”.
Health Care Utilization and Anti-Cancer Drug Expenditure for Six Solid Cancers in Korea From 2007 to 2019
Authors: Park Juhee , Moon Kyeongjun , Kim Dong-Sook
Published: June 2022

Background

The burden of care continues to rise considerably worldwide and the challenge of diversity in cancer research has become important. We aimed to examine trends of cancer care utilization and anti-cancer medication among patients with six solid cancers (gastric, colorectal, liver, lung, breast, and prostate cancer) in South Korea.

Methods

This study analyzed patients diagnosed with six types of solid cancer from 2007 to 2019 using data from the National Health Insurance claims database. We analyzed the total number of cancer cases, each patient’s length of stay (LOS) in a hospital, the number of outpatient physician visits, total medical care costs, total out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, and expenditures on anti-cancer drugs.

Results

Utilization of healthcare services and spending on cancer care including anti-cancer drugs both increased in the 13-year study period. The average LOS was the highest for colorectal cancer patients at 43.5 days, and breast cancer patients had the highest average number of physician visits at 11.8. Breast cancer patients had the highest total medical costs (USD 923 million), anti-cancer drug spending (USD 156 million), and the largest increase (5 times) over the 13-year period. The anti-cancer drugs with the largest market shares were ramucirumab for gastric cancer; oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer; sorafenib for liver cancer; pembrolizumab, nivolumab, for lung cancer; trastuzumab for breast cancer; and bicalutamide for prostate cancer.

Conclusion

This study was a large-scale analysis from a nationally representative database of the total population. The study also shows the pattern of cancer care in an Asian country and can provide implications for future cancer research.
Metabolic Links to Socioeconomic Stresses Uniquely Affecting Ancestry in Normal Breast Tissue at Risk for Breast Cancer
Authors: Rujchanarong Denys , Scott Danielle , Park Yeonhee , Brown Sean , Mehta Anand S. , Drake Richard , Sandusky George E. , Nakshatri Harikrishna , Angel Peggi M.
Published: June 2022

A primary difference between black women (BW) and white women (WW) diagnosed with breast cancer is aggressiveness of the tumor. Black women have higher mortalities with similar incidence of breast cancer compared to other race/ethnicities, and they are diagnosed at a younger age with more advanced tumors with double the rate of lethal, triple negative breast cancers. One hypothesis is that chronic social and economic stressors result in ancestry-dependent molecular responses that create a tumor permissive tissue microenvironment in normal breast tissue. Altered regulation of N-glycosylation of proteins, a glucose metabolism-linked post-translational modification attached to an asparagine (N) residue, has been associated with two strong independent risk factors for breast cancer: increased breast density and body mass index (BMI). Interestingly, high body mass index (BMI) levels have been reported to associate with increases of cancer-associated N-glycan signatures. In this study, we used matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to investigate molecular pattern changes of N-glycosylation in ancestry defined normal breast tissue from BW and WW with significant 5-year risk of breast cancer by Gail score. N-glycosylation was tested against social stressors including marital status, single, education, economic status (income), personal reproductive history, the risk factors BMI and age. Normal breast tissue microarrays from the Susan G. Komen tissue bank (BW=43; WW= 43) were used to evaluate glycosylation against socioeconomic stress and risk factors. One specific N-glycan (2158 m/z) appeared dependent on ancestry with high sensitivity and specificity (AUC 0.77, Brown/Wilson p-value<0.0001). Application of a linear regression model with ancestry as group variable and socioeconomic covariates as predictors identified a specific N-glycan signature associated with different socioeconomic stresses. For WW, household income was strongly associated to certain N-glycans, while for BW, marital status (married and single) was strongly associated with the same N-glycan signature. Current work focuses on understanding if combined N-glycan biosignatures can further help understand normal breast tissue at risk. This study lays the foundation for understanding the complexities linking socioeconomic stresses and molecular factors to their role in ancestry dependent breast cancer risk.
Construction and Verification of a Predictive Model for Risk Factors in Children With Severe Adenoviral Pneumonia
Authors: He Yaqiong , Liu Peng , Xie Leyun , Zeng Saizhen , Lin Huashan , Zhang Bing , Liu Jianbin
Published: June 2022

Objective

To construct and validate a predictive model for risk factors in children with severe adenoviral pneumonia based on chest low-dose CT imaging and clinical features.

Methods

A total of 177 patients with adenoviral pneumonia who underwent low-dose CT examination were collected between January 2019 and August 2019. The assessment criteria for severe pneumonia were divided into mild group (N = 125) and severe group (N = 52). All cases divided into training cohort (N = 125) and validation cohort (N = 52). We constructed a prediction model by drawing a nomogram and verified the predictive efficacy of the model through the ROC curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis.

Results

The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) between the mild adenovirus pneumonia group and the severe adenovirus pneumonia group in gender, age, weight, body temperature, L/N ratio, LDH, ALT, AST, CK-MB, ADV DNA, bronchial inflation sign, emphysema, ground glass sign, bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, pleural effusion, consolidation score, and lobular inflammation score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender, LDH value, emphysema, consolidation score, and lobular inflammation score were severe independent risk factors for adenovirus pneumonia in children. Logistic regression was employed to construct clinical model, imaging semantic feature model, and combined model. The AUC values of the training sets of the three models were 0.85 (0.77–0.94), 0.83 (0.75–0.91), and 0.91 (0.85–0.97). The AUC of the validation set was 0.77 (0.64–0.91), 0.83 (0.71–0.94), and 0.85 (0.73–0.96), respectively. The calibration curve fit good of the three models. The clinical decision curve analysis demonstrates the clinical application value of the nomogram prediction model.

Conclusion

The prediction model based on chest low-dose CT image characteristics and clinical characteristics has relatively clear predictive value in distinguishing mild adenovirus pneumonia from severe adenovirus pneumonia in children and might provide a new method for early clinical prediction of the outcome of adenovirus pneumonia in children.
Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in a Third-Level Pediatric Surgical Center: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Spezzotto Giovanna , Boscarelli Alessandro , Giangreco Manuela , Ceschiutti Giulia , Codrich Daniela , Scarpa Maria-Grazia , Iaquinto Marianna , Olenik Damiana , Guida Edoardo , Schleef Jürgen
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in pediatrics remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of recurrence after non-surgical treatment vs. surgery, the difference in the length of stay (LOS) between various treatment options, and the role of computed tomography (CT) in the management of PSP.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients admitted to our Pediatric Surgery Unit for an episode of PSP between June 2009 and July 2020. Medical records including clinical presentation at admission, diagnostics, treatments, complications, and LOS were collected.

Results

Twenty-three patients (22 males and 1 female) were included in this study. Median age was 15.65 (range 9–18). Chest X-rays were performed in all patients and showed 5 small (22%) and 18 large (78%) PSP. Chest drain was used for large PSP (≥2 cm) if the patient was clinically unstable. Eleven patients (48%) were managed non-operatively with observation alone and a recurrence rate of 18%, chest drain was used in 11 patients with a recurrence rate of 36%, and surgery was deemed necessary as a first treatment choice in one case. Six patients (27%) had an episode of relapse after non-operative management or chest drain placement. Following surgery, a relapse occurred in 2 of the 6 patients. Chest drain insertion was associated with a longer LOS than observation alone (6.36 vs. 2.4 days), and surgery resulted in a longer LOS than other types of treatment (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

According to our experience, small PSP or clinically stable larger PSP can be treated conservatively with observation alone. Operative management should be taken into consideration in children with large symptomatic PSP, persistent air leak, and/or relapse after chest drain insertion.
Theabrownin and Poria cocos Polysaccharide Improve Lipid Metabolism via Modulation of Bile Acid and Fatty Acid Metabolism
Authors: Wang Jieyi , Zheng Dan , Huang Fengjie , Zhao Aihua , Kuang Junliang , Ren Zhenxing , Chen Tianlu , Lei Jing , Lin Jingchao , Wang Xiaoning , Jia Wei , Xie Guoxiang , Zheng Xiaojiao
Published: June 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent worldwide, while no pharmaceutical treatment has been approved. Natural herbs are promising for their amelioration effect on lipid metabolism. Theabrownin (TB) and Poria cocos polysaccharide (PCP) have been reported to have effect on hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Here, we compared the effect of individual TB or PCP and the combination of TB and PCP (TB + PCP) on NAFLD phenotypes and the alteration of metabolism in the mice with high-fat diet. The results showed that TB, PCP, and TB + PCP reduced serum and hepatic lipid levels, among which TB + PCP was the most effective. Serum metabolomic profile and liver mRNA analyses revealed that the treatments altered metabolic pathways involved in fatty acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle, which was also most significant in the TB + PCP group. This study demonstrated that TB, PCP, especially the combination of TB and PCP could be potential therapeutic formula for NAFLD that promoted lipid utilization and inhibited lipid synthesis and absorption.
Liquid Biopsy-Based Biomarkers of Inflammatory Nociception Identified in Male Rats
Authors: Merritt Christina R. , Cisneros Irma E. , Covarrubias-Zambrano Obdulia , Stutz Sonja J. , Motamedi Massoud , Bossmann Stefan H. , Cunningham Kathryn A.
Published: June 2022

Physicians are challenged in treating pain patients due to the lack of quantifiable, objective methods of measuring pain in the clinic; pain sensation is multifaceted and subjective to each individual. There is a critical need for point-of-care quantification of accessible biomarkers to provide objective analyses beyond the subjective pain scales currently employed in clinical care settings. In the present study, we employed an animal model to test the hypothesis that circulating regulators of the inflammatory response directly associate with an objective behavioral response to inflammatory pain. Upon induction of localized paw inflammation, we measured the systemic protein expression of cytokines, and activity levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are known to participate in the inflammatory response at the site of injury and investigated their relationship to the behavioral response across a 24 h period. Intraplantar injection with 1% λ-carrageenan induced a significant increase in paw thickness across this timespan with maximal effects observed at the 8 h timepoint when locomotor activity was also impaired. Expression of the chemokines C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) positively correlated with paw inflammation and negatively correlated with locomotor activity at 8 h. The ratio of MMP9 to MMP2 activity negatively correlated with paw inflammation at the 8 h timepoint. We postulate that the CXCL1 and CCL2 as well as the ratio of MMP9 to MMP2 activity may serve as predictive biomarkers for the timecourse of inflammation-associated locomotor impairment. These data define opportunities for the future development of a point-of-care device to objectively quantify biomarkers for inflammatory pain states.
Medicine shortages: Product life cycle phases and characteristics of medicines in short supply—A register study
Authors: Sarnola Kati , Kari Heini , Koskinen Hanna
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Product life cycle refers to all phases of a product from development to active market phase and finally the phase in which products possibly exit the market. The product life cycle of medicines in short supply has not been studied in depth, although there is some indication of mature products and products with lower prices and profit margins being exposed to shortages more often. The aim of this study was to examine the product life cycle phases and characteristics of medicines in short supply as well as the features of medicine shortages in Finland from 2017 to 2019.

Material and methods: Register data on medicine shortages of human medicinal products from 2017 to 2019 was combined with timely data on marketing authorizations and reimbursement status to gain data on product life cycle phases and characteristics (e.g., the age and the reimbursement status) of medicines in short supply and the features of medicine shortages. The data were analyzed in descriptive manner using appropriate statistical testing.

Results: 3,526 shortages were reported during the 3-year study period and the number of shortages increased annually. The average duration of a shortage was 83 days and shortages affected 660 active pharmaceutical ingredients. Most often, shortages occurred with medicines affecting the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the genitourinary system. A majority of shortages (n = 2,689) was reported in the reimbursable medicines group, where shortages increased as the number of patients receiving reimbursements increased (p < 0.001). In the reimbursable medicines group, shortages most commonly involved medicines aged 15–19, 20–24, and 25–29, whereas with both reimbursable and non-reimbursable products the shortages most often occurred in medicines aged 50–54. The frequency of shortages differed between the groups (p < 0.001) when both age and reimbursement status were taken into account.

Conclusion: Medicine shortages are common and affect commonly used medicines. Product life cycle phase has an effect on the frequency of shortages: Reimbursable medicines and medicines exposed to changes in life cycle are more likely to face a shortage. The impacts of product life cycle on the availability of medicines and medicine shortages should be studied in more detail.
Giant-Cavity-Based Quantum Sensors With Enhanced Performance
Authors: Zhu Y. T. , Wu R. B. , Peng Z. H. , Xue Shibei
Published: June 2022

Recent progress has revealed that quantum systems with multiple position-dependent couplings, e.g., giant atoms, can exhibit some unconventional phenomena, such as non-exponential decay. However, their potential applications are still open questions. In this paper, we propose a giant-cavity-based quantum sensor for the first time, whose performance can be greatly enhanced compared to traditional cavity-based sensors. In our proposal, two cavities are coupled to a dissipative reservoir at multiple points while they couple to a gain reservoir in a single-point way. To detect an unknown parameter entering the sensor, a waveguide is coupled to one of the cavities where detecting fields can pass through for homodyne detection. We find that multiple position-dependent couplings can induce an inherent non-reciprocal coupling between the cavities, which can enhance the performance of sensors. Compared to the results in the work of Lau and Clerk, (Nat Commun, 2018, 9: 4,320), our output noise can remain at the shot noise level, which is about one order of magnitude lower. In addition, the signal-to-noise ratio per photon is also enhanced by about one order of magnitude. These results showed that the multiple-point coupling structure is beneficial to existing quantum devices.
Skin Dose Modeling and Measurement in a High Field In-Line MRI-Linac System
Authors: Tai Madiha , Patterson Elizabeth , Metcalfe Peter E. , Rosenfeld Anatoly , Oborn Bradley M.
Published: June 2022

The Australian MRI-Linac prototype radiotherapy system has been shown to generate significant entry skin or surface dose increases. This arises from electron contamination focusing toward the isocenter caused by the 1 T MRI field being in-line with the x-ray beam. The aim of this study is to present accurate Monte Carlo modeling of these skin dose changes and to compare them with previous experimental measurements. Accurate skin dose modeling will improve confidence in the pathway forward to treatment planning for clinical trials. A COMSOL Multiphysics model of the Australian MRI-Linac system was used to generate a 3D magnetic field map to be used in corresponding Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations. The Geant4 simulations included the x-ray source (6 MV Linac), multileaf collimators (MLCs), and a 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm water phantom located with its front surface at the beam isocenter. Simulations were performed with a source to surface distance (SSD) of 1,819 mm for nominal field sizes 2 cm × 2 cm, 6 cm × 6 cm, and 10 cm × 10 cm. Central axis percentage depth dose (PDD) and surface (or skin) doses at 70 μm depth were calculated by using high-resolution scoring voxels of 10 μm thickness. The results were compared with corresponding experimental data collected using MOSkin™ on the Australian MRI-Linac prototype system. The accurate modeling provides great detail into how the electron contamination is heavily confined and focused toward the beam central axis due to the presence of in-line magnetic field. This concentration significantly increases the skin dose up to 320% for the field size of 10 cm × 10 cm. For 2 cm × 2 cm and 6 cm × 6 cm, the surface skin dose is 128% and 217%, respectively, as compared to the skin dose in the absence of the magnetic field. The simulation results are in generally good agreement, ±10%, with previously collected experimental data for the same nominal field sizes. For the first time, detailed Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations of the electron contamination in the Australian MRI-Linac system have been performed and confirmed to be sufficiently accurate. These simulations will provide a solid framework for estimating the skin dose changes in more clinically relevant treatment plan scenarios that are envisaged in the near future.
Generation of the Anomalous Vortex Beam by Spiral Axicon Implemented on Spatial Light Modulator
Authors: Huang Xiaoting , Chang Zehong , Zhao Yuanyuan , Wang Yunlong , Zhu Xindong , Zhang Pei
Published: June 2022

The anomalous vortex beam (AVB), whose paraxial local topological charge varies with propagation, has potential applications in quantum information, laser beam shaping, and other fields. However, there are currently no efficient optical devices to generate AVBs. In this paper, we propose an efficient pure-phase device called spiral axicons. We theoretically analyze the spiral axicon, and then experimentally verify its performance by implementing a spiral axicon on spatial light modulator. Our work provides an alternative method for generating AVB, which will facilitate its application in different fields.
Effect of Plyometric Jump Training on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review With Multilevel Meta-Analysis
Authors: Arntz F. , Mkaouer B. , Markov A. , Schoenfeld B. J. , Moran J. , Ramirez-Campillo R. , Behrens M. , Baumert P. , Erskine R. M. , Hauser L. , Chaabene H.
Published: June 2022

Objective: To examine the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in healthy individuals.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to September 2021.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The main overall finding (44 effect sizes across 15 clusters median = 2, range = 1–15 effects per cluster) indicated that plyometric jump training had small to moderate effects [standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.47 (95% CIs = 0.23–0.71); p < 0.001] on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Subgroup analyses for training experience revealed trivial to large effects in non-athletes [SMD = 0.55 (95% CIs = 0.18–0.93); p = 0.007] and trivial to moderate effects in athletes [SMD = 0.33 (95% CIs = 0.16–0.51); p = 0.001]. Regarding muscle groups, results showed moderate effects for the knee extensors [SMD = 0.72 (95% CIs = 0.66–0.78), p < 0.001] and equivocal effects for the plantar flexors [SMD = 0.65 (95% CIs = −0.25–1.55); p = 0.143]. As to the assessment methods of skeletal muscle hypertrophy, findings indicated trivial to small effects for prediction equations [SMD = 0.29 (95% CIs = 0.16–0.42); p < 0.001] and moderate-to-large effects for ultrasound imaging [SMD = 0.74 (95% CIs = 0.59–0.89); p < 0.001]. Meta-regression analysis indicated that the weekly session frequency moderates the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with a higher weekly session frequency inducing larger hypertrophic gains [β = 0.3233 (95% CIs = 0.2041–0.4425); p < 0.001]. We found no clear evidence that age, sex, total training period, single session duration, or the number of jumps per week moderate the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy [β = −0.0133 to 0.0433 (95% CIs = −0.0387 to 0.1215); p = 0.101–0.751].

Conclusion: Plyometric jump training can induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy, regardless of age and sex. There is evidence for relatively larger effects in non-athletes compared with athletes. Further, the weekly session frequency seems to moderate the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, whereby more frequent weekly plyometric jump training sessions elicit larger hypertrophic adaptations.
New Therapeutic Options for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Impact Against Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Almutairi Malak , Chan Jordan S. F. , Ussher John R.
Published: June 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) greatly increases risk for cardiovascular disease, including ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. With the completion of several cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) for new glucose-lowering therapies, including the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, we now have strong evidence alluding to the cardioprotective nature of these agents in people with T2DM. These agents have frequently been observed to reduce rates for 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events, which encompass death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Herein we will provide an overview on whether reductions in nonfatal myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease status are a key component of the improved cardiovascular outcomes in people with T2DM treated with either SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1R agonists. Observations from preclinical studies will be compared to their clinical counterparts, while being further interrogated to define potential mechanisms that may account for SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1R agonist-induced cardioprotection against ischemic heart disease. A better understanding of the role these agents have in impacting the progression of ischemic heart disease in individuals with T2DM will have a substantial impact in our management of this patient population.
The Effect of Commercial Genetic Selection on Somatotropic Gene Expression in Broilers: A Potential Role for Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Regulating Broiler Growth and Body Composition
Authors: Vaccaro Lauren A. , Porter Tom E. , Ellestad Laura E.
Published: June 2022

The somatotropic axis influences growth and metabolism, and many of its effects are a result of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling modulated by IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). Modern commercial meat-type (broiler) chickens exhibit rapid and efficient growth and muscle accretion resulting from decades of commercial genetic selection, and it is not known how alterations in the IGF system has contributed to these improvements. To determine the effect of commercial genetic selection on somatotropic axis activity, two experiments were conducted comparing legacy Athens Canadian Random Bred and modern Ross 308 male broiler lines, one between embryonic days 10 and 18 and the second between post-hatch days 10 and 40. Gene expression was evaluated in liver and breast muscle (pectoralis major) and circulating hormone concentrations were measured post-hatch. During embryogenesis, no differences in IGF expression were found that corresponded with difference in body weight between the lines beginning on embryonic day 14. While hepatic IGF expression and circulating IGF did not differ between the lines post-hatch, expression of both IGF1 and IGF2 mRNA was greater in breast muscle of modern broilers. Differential expression of select IGFBPs suggests their action is dependent on developmental stage and site of production. Hepatic IGFBP1 appears to promote embryonic growth but inhibit post-hatch growth at select ages. Results suggest that local IGFBP4 may prevent breast muscle growth during embryogenesis but promote it after hatch. Post-hatch, IGFBP2 produced in liver appears to inhibit body growth, but IGFBP2 produced locally in breast muscle facilitates development of this tissue. The opposite appears true for IGFBP3, which seems to promote overall body growth when produced in liver and restrict breast muscle growth when produced locally. Results presented here suggest that paracrine IGF signaling in breast muscle may contribute to overall growth and muscle accretion in chickens, and that this activity is regulated in developmentally distinct and tissue-specific contexts through combinatorial action of IGFBPs.