bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide on Orthodontic Tooth Movement-Induced Bone Remodeling
Authors: Yamauchi Taisuke , Miyabe Megumi , Nakamura Nobuhisa , Ito Mizuho , Sekiya Takeo , Kanada Saki , Hoshino Rina , Matsubara Tatsuaki , Miyazawa Ken , Goto Shigemi , Naruse Keiko
Published: August 2022

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) exerts extra-pancreatic effects via the GIP receptor (GIPR). Herein, we investigated the effects of GIP on force-induced bone remodeling by orthodontic tooth movement using a closed-coil spring in GIPR-lacking mice (GIPRKO) and wild-type mice (WT). Orthodontic tooth movements were performed by attaching a 10-gf nickel titanium closed-coil spring between the maxillary incisors and the left first molar. Two weeks after orthodontic tooth movement, the distance of tooth movement by coil load was significantly increased in GIPRKO by 2.0-fold compared with that in the WT. The alveolar bone in the inter-root septum from the root bifurcation to the apex of M1 decreased in both the GIPRKO and WT following orthodontic tooth movement, which was significantly lower in the GIPRKO than in the WT. The GIPRKO exhibited a significantly decreased number of trabeculae and increased trabecular separation by orthodontic tooth movement compared with the corresponding changes in the WT. Histological analyses revealed a decreased number of steady-state osteoblasts in the GIPRKO. The orthodontic tooth movement induced bone remodeling, which was demonstrated by an increase in osteoblasts and osteoclasts around the forced tooth in the WT. The GIPRKO exhibited no increase in the number of osteoblasts; however, the number of osteoclasts on the coil-loaded side was significantly increased in the GIPRKO compared with in the WT. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the impacts of GIP on the dynamics of bone remodeling. We revealed that GIP exhibits the formation of osteoblasts and the suppression of osteoclasts in force-induced bone remodeling.
High Plasma Levels of Fortilin in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Aoyama Masayuki , Kishimoto Yoshimi , Saita Emi , Ohmori Reiko , Tanimoto Kojiro , Nakamura Masato , Kondo Kazuo , Momiyama Yukihiko
Published: August 2022

Excessive apoptosis is known to be a common feature of atherosclerotic lesions. Fortilin is recognized to have potent antiapoptotic properties. An increased fortilin expression was demonstrated in atherosclerotic lesions, and fortilin knockout mice developed less atherosclerosis. However, no study has reported blood fortilin levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated plasma fortilin levels in 384 patients undergoing coronary angiography. CAD severity was evaluated as the numbers of stenotic vessels and segments. CAD was found in 208 patients (one-vessel (1VD), n = 86; two-vessel (2VD), n = 68; and three-vessel disease (3VD), n = 54). Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher in patients with CAD than without CAD (median 0.60 vs. 0.45 mg/L, p < 0.01). Notably, fortilin levels were higher in patients with CAD than without CAD (75.1 vs. 69.7 pg/mL, p < 0.02). A stepwise increase in fortilin was found according to the number of stenotic vessels: 69.7 in CAD(−), 71.1 in 1VD, 75.7 in 2VD, and 84.7 pg/mL in 3VD (p < 0.01). Fortilin levels also correlated with the number of stenotic segments (r = 0.16) and CRP levels (r = 0.24) (p < 0.01). In a multivariate analysis, fortilin levels were independently associated with 3VD. The odds ratio for 3VD was 1.93 (95%CI = 1.01–3.71) for a high fortilin level (>70.0 pg/mL). Thus, plasma fortilin levels in patients with CAD, especially those with 3VD, were found to be high and to be associated with the severity of CAD.
Generation of an Immortalized Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Line Suitable for Wound Healing Therapy
Authors: Iacomi Daniela-Madalina , Rosca Ana-Maria , Tutuianu Raluca , Neagu Tiberiu Paul , Pruna Vasile , Simionescu Maya , Titorencu Irina
Published: August 2022

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSC) are a promising source for cellular therapy of chronic wounds. However, the limited life span during in vitro expansion impedes their extensive use in clinical applications and basic research. We hypothesize that by introduction of an ectopic expression of telomerase into ADSC, the cells’ lifespans could be significantly extended. To test this hypothesis, we aimed at engineering an immortalized human ADSC line using a lentiviral transduction with human telomerase (hTERT). ADSC were transduced with a third-generation lentiviral system and a hTERT codifying plasmid (pLV-hTERT-IRES-hygro). A population characterized by increased hTERT expression, extensive proliferative potential and remarkable (potent) multilineage differentiation capacity was selected. The properties for wound healing of this immortalized ADSC line were assessed after 17 passages. Their secretome induced the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and endothelial cells similarly to untransduced ADSC. Moreover, they sustained the complete re-epithelialization of a full thickness wound performed on a skin organotypic model. In summary, the engineered immortalized ADSC maintain the beneficial properties of parent cells and could represent a valuable and suitable tool for wound healing in particular, and for skin regenerative therapy in general.
PUF-Based Post-Quantum CAN-FD Framework for Vehicular Security
Authors: Cultice Tyler , Thapliyal Himanshu
Published: August 2022

The Controller Area Network (CAN) is a bus protocol widely used in Electronic control Units (ECUs) to communicate between various subsystems in vehicles. Insecure CAN networks can allow attackers to control information between vital vehicular subsystems. As vehicles can have lifespans of multiple decades, post-quantum cryptosystems are essential for protecting the vehicle communication systems from quantum attacks. However, standard CAN’s efficiency and payload sizes are too small for post-quantum cryptography. The Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate (CAN-FD) is an updated protocol for CAN that increases transmission speeds and maximum payload size. With CAN-FD, higher security standards, such as post-quantum, can be utilized without severely impacting performance. In this paper, we propose PUF-Based Post-Quantum Cryptographic CAN-FD Framework, or PUF-PQC-CANFD. Our framework provides post-quantum security to the CAN network while transmitting and storing less information than other existing pre-quantum and post-quantum CAN frameworks. Our proposal protects against most cryptographic-based attacks while transmitting (at up to 100 ECUs) 25–94% less messages than existing pre-quantum frameworks and 99% less messages than existing post-quantum frameworks. PUF-PQC-CANFD is optimized for smaller post-quantum key sizes, storage requirements, and transmitted information to minimize the impact on resource-restricted ECUs.
Mitochondrial Phylogenomics Suggests Complex Evolutionary Pattern of Pronotal Foliaceous Mimicry in Hierodulinae (Mantodea: Mantidae), with Description of a New Species of Rhombodera Burmeister, 1838 from China
Authors: Liu Qin-Peng , Liang Le , Zhang Xin-Yang , Li Hao-Kun , Zhao Chu-Xiang , Liu Xing-Yue
Published: August 2022

Hierodulinae is a species-rich mantid subfamily, with some species bearing a notable leaf-like pronotum. However, the evolutionary pattern and taxonomic significance of the leaf-like pronotum are largely unknown. Here, we present a phylogenomic analysis of the Hierodulinae genera Rhombodera Burmeister, 1838, and Hierodula Burmeister, 1838 based on mitochondrial genomes. We also describe a new species, namely Rhombodera hyalina sp. nov. from Guangxi, China. Our phylogenetic result, together with the evidence from male genitalia, suggests the division of the Oriental Hierodula and Rhombodera complex into three clades. We find a complex pattern on the evolution of the leaf-like pronotum, which is present in at least five lineages, respectively, of the above three clades.
Transcriptome of Nosema ceranae and Upregulated Microsporidia Genes during Its Infection of Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Li Yi-Hsuan , Chang Zih-Ting , Yen Ming-Ren , Huang Yu-Feng , Chen Tzu-Han , Chang Ju-Chun , Wu Ming-Cheng , Yang Yu-Liang , Chen Yue-Wen , Nai Yu-Shin
Published: August 2022

Nosema ceranae is one of the fungal parasites of Apis mellifera. It causes physical and behavioral effects in honey bees. However, only a few studies have reported on gene expression profiling during A. mellifera infection. In this study, the transcriptome profile of mature spores at each time point of infection (5, 10, and 20 days post-infection, d.p.i.) were investigated. Based on the transcriptome and expression profile analysis, a total of 878, 952, and 981 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (fold change ≥ 2 or ≤ −2) were identified in N. ceranae spores (NcSp) at 5 d.p.i., 10 d.p.i., and 20 d.p.i., respectively. Moreover, 70 upregulated genes and 340 downregulated genes among common DEGs (so-called common DEGs) and 166 stage-specific genes at each stage of infection were identified. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the DEGs and corresponding common DEGs are involved in the functions of cytosol (GO:0005829), cytoplasm (GO:0005737), and ATP binding (GO:0005524). Furthermore, the pathway analysis found that the DEGs and common DEGs are involved in metabolism, environmental information processing, and organismal systems. Four upregulated common DEGs with higher fold-change values, highly associated with spore proteins and transcription factors, were selected for validation. In addition, the stage-specific genes are highly involved in the mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing according to GO enrichment analysis; thus, three of them showed high expression at each d.p.i. and were also subjected to validation. The relative gene expression levels showed a similar tendency as the transcriptome predictions at different d.p.i., revealing that the gene expression of N. ceranae during infection may be related to the mechanism of gene transcription, protein synthesis, and structural proteins. Our data suggest that the gene expression profiling of N. ceranae at the transcriptomic level could be a reference for the monitoring of nosemosis at the genetic level.
Comparative Mitogenomics of Flesh Flies: Implications for Phylogeny
Authors: Shang Jin , Xu Wentian , Huang Xiaofang , Zhang Dong , Yan Liping , Pape Thomas
Published: August 2022

Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) represent a rapid radiation belonging to the Calyptratae. With more than 3000 known species, they are extraordinarily diverse in terms of their breeding habits and are therefore of particular importance in human and veterinary medicine, forensics, and ecology. To better comprehend the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary characteristics of the Sarcophagidae, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of five species of flesh flies and performed mitogenomic comparisons amongst the three subfamilies. The mitochondrial genomes match the hypothetical condition of the insect ancestor in terms of gene content and gene arrangement. The evolutionary rates of the subfamilies of Sarcophagidae differ significantly, with Miltogramminae exhibiting a higher rate than the other two subfamilies. The monophyly of the Sarcophagidae and each subfamily is strongly supported by phylogenetic analysis, with the subfamily-level relationship inferred as (Sarcophaginae, (Miltogramminae, Paramacronychiinae)). This study suggests that phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genomes may not be appropriate for rapidly evolving groups such as Miltogramminae and that the third-codon positions could play a considerable role in reconstructing the phylogeny of Sarcophagidae. The protein-coding genes ND2 and ND6 have the potential to be employed as DNA markers for species identification and delimitation in flesh flies.
Special Issue: Hypertensive Heart Disease—From Pathophysiology to Therapeutical Challenges
Authors: Vischer Annina S. , Burkard Thilo
Published: August 2022

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide [...]
Angiogenesis and Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis: A Glance at New Pharmaceutical Approaches
Authors: Gentile Maria Teresa , Muto Gianluca , Lus Giacomo , Lövblad Karl-Olof , Svenningsen Åsa Fex , Colucci-D’Amato Luca
Published: August 2022

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and destruction of axons. The most common form of the disease is the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in which episodic attacks with typical neurological symptoms are followed by episodes of partial or complete recovery. One of the underestimated factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis is excessive angiogenesis. Here, we review the role of angiogenesis in the onset and in the development of the disease, the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis, the current therapeutic approaches, and the potential therapeutic strategies with a look at natural compounds as multi-target drugs with both neuroprotective and anti-angiogenic properties.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Keratinocytes Treated with Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, a Beneficial Cosmetic Ingredient
Authors: Nakajima Akiko , Sakae Nahoko , Yan Xianghong , Hakozaki Tomohiro , Zhao Wenzhu , Laughlin Timothy , Furue Masutaka
Published: August 2022

Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF, Pitera™) is a cosmetic ingredient known to have multiple skin care benefits, such as reducing redness and pore size via the topical application of its moisturizer form. Although GFF is known to act partly as an antioxidative agonist for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), its significance in keratinocyte biology is not fully understood. In this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of GFF-treated human keratinocytes. Three different lots of GFF consistently modulated 99 (22 upregulated and 77 downregulated) genes, including upregulating cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), a specific downstream gene for AHR activation. GFF also enhanced the expression of epidermal differentiation/barrier-related genes, such as small proline-rich proteins 1A and 1B (SPRR1A and SPRR1B), as well as wound healing-related genes such as serpin B2 (SERPINB2). Genes encoding components of tight junctions claudin-1 (CLDN1) and claudin-4 (CLDN4) were also target genes upregulated in the GFF-treated keratinocytes. In contrast, the three lots of GFF consistently downregulated the expression of inflammation-related genes such as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14) and interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R). These results highlight the beneficial properties of GFF in maintaining keratinocyte homeostasis.
Clinical Implication of the Acumen Hypotension Prediction Index for Reducing Intraoperative Haemorrhage in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery: A Prospective Randomised Controlled Single-Blinded Trial
Authors: Koo Jung Min , Choi Hoon , Hwang Wonjung , Hong Sang Hyun , Kim Sang-Il , Kim Young-Hoon , Choi Seungtae , Kim Chang Jae , Chae Min Suk
Published: August 2022

We investigated the clinical implication of the Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI) in decreasing amount of surgical haemorrhage and requirements of blood transfusion compared to the conventional method (with vs. without HPI monitoring). A prospective, randomised controlled-trial of 19- to 73-year-old patients (n = 76) undergoing elective lumbar spinal fusion surgery was performed. According to the exclusion criteria, the patients were divided into the non-HPI (n = 33) and HPI (n = 35) groups. The targeted-induced hypotension systolic blood pressure was 80–100 mmHg (in both groups), with HPI > 85 (in the HPI group). Intraoperative bleeding was lower in the HPI group (299.3 ± 219.8 mL) than in the non-HPI group (532 ± 232.68 mL) (p = 0.001). The non-HPI group had a lower level of haemoglobin at the end of the surgery with a larger decline in levels. The incidence of postoperative transfusion of red blood cells was higher in the non-HPI group than in the HPI group (9 (27.3%) vs. 1 (2.9%)). The use of HPI monitoring may play a role in providing timely haemodynamic information that leads to improving the quality of induced hypotension care and to ameliorate intraoperative surgical blood loss and postoperative demand for blood transfusion in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery.
Encircling Scleral Buckling Surgery for Severe Hypotony with Ciliary Body Detachment on Anterior Segment Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography: A Case Series
Authors: Cisiecki Sławomir , Bonińska Karolina , Bednarski Maciej
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an encircling scleral buckling procedure to manage severe hypotony secondary to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)-induced retinal detachment. This retrospective study included six eyes of six patients (five women and one man) with hypotony (intraocular pressure [IOP] ≤ 6 mmHg) after multiple reattachment surgeries for PVR-induced retinal detachment. In patients with failure of hypotony resolution after conservative treatment (dexamethasone drops five times daily), 360° scleral buckling was performed under periocular anesthesia. The light perception was evaluated immediately postoperatively. The anatomic parameters were evaluated pre- and postoperatively observed on anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography. Ciliary body detachment (CBD) secondary to advanced cyclitic membranes associated with PVR grades C and D was detected in all eyes with hypotony. The mean IOP increased in all eyes (4.83 mmHg preoperatively vs. 10.17 mmHg postoperatively, p = 0.006), with subsequent improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (1.91 logMAR preoperatively vs. 1.50 logMAR postoperatively, p = 0.034). However, no eye showed any significant changes in CBD postoperatively. Scleral buckling surgery might be useful to increase IOP in eyes with persistent severe hypotonia secondary to PVR-induced CBD. Further studies are needed to improve outcomes in eyes with severe PVR-induced retinal detachment.
Sex-Specific Cut-Off Values for Low Skeletal Muscle Mass to Identify Patients at Risk for Treatment-Related Adverse Events in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Zwart Aniek T. , Pörtzgen Wolf , van Rijn-Dekker Irene , Sidorenkov Grigory A. , Dierckx Rudi A. J. O. , Steenbakkers Roel J. H. M. , Wegner Inge , van der Hoorn Anouk , de Bock Geertruida H. , Halmos Gyorgy B.
Published: August 2022

A low skeletal muscle index (SMI), defined with cut-off values, is a promising predictor for adverse events (AEs) in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients. The aim was to generate sex-specific SMI cut-off values based on AE to diagnose low SMI and to analyse the relationship between low SMI and AEs in HNSCC patients. In this present study, HNSCC patients were prospectively included in a large oncological data-biobank and SMI was retrospectively measured using baseline neck scans. In total, 193 patients were included and were stratified according to treatment modality: (chemo-)radiotherapy ((C)RT) (n = 135) and surgery (n = 61). AE endpoints were based on the occurrence of clinically relevant toxicities (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥ III) and postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo Classification grade ≥ II). Sex-specific SMI cut-off values were generated with receiver operating characteristic curves, based on the AE endpoints. The relationship of the baseline characteristics and AEs was analysed with logistic regression analysis, with AEs as the endpoint. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that low SMI (OR 3.33, 95%CI 1.41–7.85) and tumour stage (OR 3.45, 95%CI 1.28–9.29) were significantly and independently associated to (C)RT toxicity. Low SMI was not related to postoperative complications. To conclude, sex-specific SMI cut-off values, were generated based on the occurrence of AEs. Low SMI and tumour stage were independently related to (C)RT toxicity in HNSCC patients.
Skeletal, Dentoalveolar and Dental Changes after “Mini-Screw Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion” Evaluated with Cone Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Solano Mendoza Patricia , Aceytuno Poch Paula , Solano Reina Enrique , Solano Mendoza Beatriz
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate skeletal, dentoalveolar and dental changes after Mini-screw Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) using tooth bone-borne expanders in adolescent patients after analyzing different craniofacial references by Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital model analysis. This prospective, non-controlled intervention study was conducted on fifteen subjects (mean age 17 ± 4 years) with transversal maxillary deficiency. Pre (T1) and post-expansion (T2) CBCTs and casts were taken to evaluate changes at the premolars and first molar areas. To compare means between two times, paired samples t- or Wilcoxon test were used following criteria. Significant skeletal changes were found after treatment for Nasal width and Maxillary width with means of 2.1 (1.1) mm and 2.5 (1.6) mm (p < 0.00005). Midpalatal suture showed a tendency of parallel suture opening in the axial and coronal view. For dentoalveolar changes, a significant but small buccal bone thickness (BBT) reduction was observed in all teeth with a mean reduction of 0.3 mm for the right and left sides, especially for the distobuccal root of the first molar on the left side (DBBTL1M) [IC95%: (−0.6; −0.2); p = 0.001] with 0.4 (0.4) mm. However, a significant augmentation was observed for the palatal bone thickness (PBT) on the left side. The buccal alveolar crest (BACL) and dental inclination (DI) showed no significant changes after treatment in all the evaluated teeth. MARPE using tooth bone-borne appliances can achieve successful skeletal transverse maxillary expansion in adolescent patients, observing small dentoalveolar changes as buccal bone thickness (BBT) reduction, which was not clinically detectable. Most maxillary expansions derived from skeletal expansion, keeping the alveolar bone almost intact with minor buccal dental tipping.
Diagnostic Role of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Patients with Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia and Negative Upper Respiratory Tract Swab: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mei Federico , Rota Matteo , Bonifazi Martina , Zuccatosta Lina , Porcarelli Francesco , Sediari Michele , Gonnelli Francesca , Di Marco Berardino Alessandro , Gasparini Stefano
Published: August 2022

The added role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in SARS-CoV-2 detection in hospitalized patients with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and at least one negative nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) has yet to be definitively established. We aimed to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize data from the literature on the diagnostic yield of BAL in this context. We searched Medline and Embase for all studies reporting outcomes of interest published up to October 2021. Two authors reviewed all titles/abstracts and retrieved the selected full texts according to predefined selection criteria. The summary estimate was derived using the random-effects model. Thirteen original studies, involving 868 patients, were included. The summary estimate of proportions of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in BAL fluid in patients with at least one previous negative NPS was 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 11–30%). Moreover, microbiological tests of BAL fluid led to the identification of other pathogens, mainly bacteria, in up to two-thirds of cases. BAL plays a crucial role in the diagnostic work-up of patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 and previous negative NPS, as it allowed to detect the infection in a significant proportion of subjects, who would have been otherwise misclassified, with relevant implications in the prevention of disease spread, especially in hospital settings.
Reference Values for the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) from General Population Samples in the United Kingdom, Italy, and The Netherlands
Authors: Zeldovich Marina , Bockhop Fabian , Covic Amra , Cunitz Katrin , Polinder Suzanne , Haagsma Juanita A. , von Steinbuechel Nicole ,   on behalf of the CENTER-TBI Participants and Investigators
Published: August 2022

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals may experience short- or long-term health burdens, often referred to as post-concussion symptoms (PCS). The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) is one of the commonly used instruments to assess self-reported PCS. To date, no reference values for RPQ have been provided, although they are crucial for clinical practice when evaluating a patient’s health status relative to a comparable healthy population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide reference values for the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy. A total of 11,759 individuals (50.3% women) from representative general population samples participated in an online survey (4646 individuals from the UK, 3564 from the Netherlands, and 3549 from Italy). The factorial structure of the RPQ was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and results from the general population samples were compared with those from respective TBI samples recruited within the international CENTER-TBI study using multigroup CFA. Reference values were stratified by sex, health status, age, and education using percentiles. The three-factorial model outperformed the one-factorial structure. The general population samples were largely comparable to the corresponding TBI samples, except for items such as dizziness, vision, and sensory sensitivity, which can be considered more TBI-specific. Because of the significant differences between the general population samples, we provided reference values for the total score and for the somatic, emotional, and cognitive scales for each country separately. The reference values provided can now be used in clinical practice and research. Future studies should obtain stratified reference values for other countries and languages to improve accuracy in the diagnosis and treatment of symptom burden after TBI.
Oral Health in Breast Cancer Women with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Machine Learning Study
Authors: Ferrillo Martina , Migliario Mario , Marotta Nicola , Lippi Lorenzo , Antonelli Alessandro , Calafiore Dario , Ammendolia Valerio , Fortunato Leonzio , Renò Filippo , Giudice Amerigo , Invernizzi Marco , de Sire Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Breast cancer (BC) survivors treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) commonly show several pathological issues, including poor oral health, bone health impairment, and vitamin D deficiency. However, to date, oral health issues in BC survivors treated with AIs have been poorly investigated and their relationship with vitamin D deficiency are far from being understood. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between oral health and vitamin D status in BC survivors undergoing treatment with AIs through a machine learning approach. In this cross-sectional study, we included post-menopausal BC women with vitamin D deficiency undergoing AIs therapy. The outcome measures were the following: oral health indexes as the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Permanent Teeth Index (DMFT); serum levels of 25(OH)D3; Bone Mineral Density (BMD); and the diagnosis of osteoporosis. We included 41 post-menopausal BC women, mean aged 66.10 ± 8.47 years, with mean serum levels of vitamin D of 14.63 ± 6.62 ng/mL. Furthermore, 56.10% of patients had a diagnosis of osteoporosis and 36.59% were osteopenic. DMFT was significantly related to smoking (p-value = 0.005) and dental floss use (p-value = 0.001). There was a significant correlation between DMFT and vitamin D levels (Pearson’s r: −0.73; p-value = 0.001). The regression machine learning model showed that vitamin D status and the use of dental floss were the most relevant variables in terms of correlation with DMFT. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency, inadequate use of dental floss, and smoking had a negative impact on oral health in BC women. Thus, vitamin D deficiency screening and supplementation and a prompt oral rehabilitation plan should be suggested and implemented in the complex treatment framework of BC survivors undergoing treatment with AIs.
Exploring the Association between Gambling-Related Offenses, Substance Use, Psychiatric Comorbidities, and Treatment Outcome
Authors: Vintró-Alcaraz Cristina , Mestre-Bach Gemma , Granero Roser , Caravaca Elena , Gómez-Peña Mónica , Moragas Laura , Baenas Isabel , del Pino-Gutiérrez Amparo , Valero-Solís Susana , Lara-Huallipe Milagros , Mora-Maltas Bernat , Valenciano-Mendoza Eduardo , Guillen-Guzmán Elías , Codina Ester , Menchón José M. , Fernández-Aranda Fernando , Jiménez-Murcia Susana
Published: August 2022

Several studies have explored the association between gambling disorder (GD) and gambling-related crimes. However, it is still unclear how the commission of these offenses influences treatment outcomes. In this longitudinal study we sought: (1) to explore sociodemographic and clinical differences (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities) between individuals with GD who had committed gambling-related illegal acts (differentiating into those who had had legal consequences (n = 31) and those who had not (n = 55)), and patients with GD who had not committed crimes (n = 85); and (2) to compare the treatment outcome of these three groups, considering dropouts and relapses. Several sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed, including the presence of substance use, and comorbid mental disorders. Patients received 16 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Patients who reported an absence of gambling-related illegal behavior were older, and showed the lowest GD severity, the most functional psychopathological state, the lowest impulsivity levels, and a more adaptive personality profile. Patients who had committed offenses with legal consequences presented the highest risk of dropout and relapses, higher number of psychological symptoms, higher likelihood of any other mental disorders, and greater prevalence of tobacco and illegal drugs use. Our findings uphold that patients who have committed gambling-related offenses show a more complex clinical profile that may interfere with their adherence to treatment.
Validation of the Korean Version of the Positive and Negative Sleep Appraisal Measure (PANSAM) as a Tool for Evaluating Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep among the General Population
Authors: Bang Young , Cho Eulah , Ahmed Oli , Lee Joohee , Pearson Lydia , Ahn Junseok , Chung Seockhoon
Published: August 2022

We explored the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Positive and Negative Sleep Appraisal Measure (PANSAM) scale using pre-existing sleep-related questionnaires among the general population. Through an online survey, data from 400 South Korean participants were collected from 10 to 18 January 2022. Symptoms were measured with the PANSAM, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the 16-item Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS-16), the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES), and the discrepancy between desired time in bed and the desired total sleep time (DBST) index. The four PANSAM subscales were reliable and valid tools for measuring individuals’ dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the full-scale and four-factor model showed a good fit. The full scale and each subscale were significantly correlated with ISI, DBAS-16, and GSES scores. The DBST index was significantly correlated with Subscales 2 and 3. In conclusion, the Korean version of the PANSAM scale and its four subscales can be applied when clinicians measure dysfunctional beliefs regarding sleep among the general population in South Korea. The PANSAM should be explored among other clinical groups to elucidate its applicability as a trans-diagnostic tool while conducting cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
Guilt Feelings in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An Investigation between Diagnostic Groups
Authors: Mancini Alessandra , Granziol Umberto , Gragnani Andrea , Femia Giuseppe , Migliorati Daniele , Cosentino Teresa , Luppino Olga Ines , Perdighe Claudia , Saliani Angelo Maria , Tenore Katia , Mancini Francesco
Published: August 2022

Guilt plays a role in various forms of psychopathology. However, different types of guilt might be involved in different mental disorders. Obsessive-compulsive (OC) patients are prone to a type of guilt in which the violation of an internalized moral norm is necessary and sufficient, whereas data suggest that depression might be linked to more interpersonal types of guilt. However, the extent to which a specific guilt phenomenology is involved in each condition is yet to be determined. Here we assessed the association between different types of guilt and different diagnostic groups. Two clinical samples (33 OCD and 35 non-OCD) filled in the Moral Orientation Guilt Scale (MOGS) along with other OCD and depression measures. Regression was employed to test group differences in the MOGS subscales and to test the influence of MOGS subscales on OCD and depression levels. Results confirm that different types of guilt might be implicated in different psychopathological conditions. Specifically, moral norm violation guilt is more present in OC patients than in other disorders. Depression seems to be associated with different guilt feelings depending on the psychopathological condition, specifically in non-OC patients, with types of guilt involving a “victim”, supporting the accounts viewing interpersonal guilt as involved in the emergence of depressive symptomatology and hyper-altruistic behavior as a vulnerability factor for depression.
Hodgkin Lymphoma and Hairy Cell Leukemia Arising from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Case Reports and Literature Review
Authors: D’Addona Matteo , Giudice Valentina , Pezzullo Luca , Ciancia Giuseppe , Baldi Carlo , Gorrese Marisa , Bertolini Angela , Campana Annapaola , Fresolone Lucia , Manzo Paola , Zeppa Pio , Serio Bianca , Selleri Carmine
Published: August 2022

Richter’s syndrome represents the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to more aggressive diseases, most frequently diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, while Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and hairy cell leukemia (HCL) are rarely described. The first case involved a 67-year-old man with a diagnosis of a high-risk stage-II CLL treated with rituximab and ibrutinib, developed a HL nodular sclerosis variant after three months of therapy for CLL. After achieving a complete remission for HL and ibrutinib cessation because of drug-related cardiotoxicity, the patient relapsed after five months off-therapy and died due to disease progression after two cycles of brentuximab-vedotin. The second case involved an 83-year-old female with a diagnosis of stage-IV CLL treated with rituximab plus bendamustine who developed a HCL eight years later. Pentostatin was unsuccessfully employed as upfront HCL therapy, and the patient was then switched to rituximab while in remission for CLL. In conclusion, Richter’s transformation risk rate might be higher in patients treated with novel targeted therapies, and multiparametric flow cytometry and lymph node biopsy at relapse could help in early identifying small clones. The treatment of predominant neoplasia is mandatory, and disease-specific drugs are administered; however, clinical efficacy might be lower in these patients.
The Role of Soy Isoflavones in the Prevention of Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Barańska Agnieszka , Kanadys Wiesław , Bogdan Magdalena , Stępień Ewa , Barczyński Bartłomiej , Kłak Anna , Augustynowicz Anna , Szajnik Marta , Religioni Urszula
Published: August 2022

The aim of the report was to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) in menopausal women. MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published in English during 1995–2019. Studies were identified and reviewed for inclusion and exclusion eligibility. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated for each study and were pooled by using the random effects model. Eighteen randomized controlled trials were selected for meta-analysis. Different types of soy phytoestrogens, i.e., genistein extracts, soy isoflavones extracts, soy protein isolate, and foods containing diverse amounts of isoflavones were used in the studies. The analysis showed that daily intake of 106 (range, 40–300) mg of isoflavones for 6–24 months moderately but statistically significantly positively affects BMD, compared with controls: lumbar spine WMD = 1.63 (95% CI: 0.51 to 2.75)%, p = 0004; femoral neck WMD = 1.87 (95% CI: 0.14 to 3.60)%, p = 0.034; and total hip WMD = 0.39 (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.69)%, p = 0.013. Subgroups analyses indicated that the varying effects of isoflavones on BMD across the trials might be associated with intervention duration, racial diversity (Caucasian, Asian), time after menopause, form of supplements (especially genistein), and dose of isoflavones. Our review and meta-analysis suggest that soy isoflavones are effective in slowing down bone loss after menopause.
New Mutations in the 5′ Region of the Notch Gene Affect Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis
Authors: Volkova Elena I. , Dorogova Natalya V. , Andreyenkov Oleg V. , Tikhomirov Saveliy A. , Demakov Sergey A.
Published: August 2022

The Notch pathway is an important and evolutionarily conserved signaling system involved in the development of multicellular organisms. Notch signaling plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. In this study, we report new aspects of Notch gene participation in oogenesis using our previously generated mutations. The mutations consist of an insertion of an auxiliary element of a transgene construct into the first intron of the gene and a series of directed deletions within the 5′ regulatory region of Notch. We showed that some of these mutations affect Drosophila oogenesis. This insertion, either alone or in combination with the deletion of an insulator sequence, led to lower expression of Notch in the ovaries. As a result, the formation of egg chambers was disturbed in middle oogenesis. These abnormalities have not been described previously and imply one more function of Notch in oogenesis. It can be assumed that Notch is associated with not only follicular epithelium morphogenesis but also cellular mechanisms of oocyte growth.
Next-Generation Personalized Medicine: Implementation of Variability Patterns for Overcoming Drug Resistance in Chronic Diseases
Authors: Ilan Yaron
Published: August 2022

Chronic diseases are a significant healthcare problem. Partial or complete non-responsiveness to chronic therapies is a significant obstacle to maintaining the long-term effect of drugs in these patients. A high degree of intra- and inter-patient variability defines pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, and medication response. This variability is associated with partial or complete loss of drug effectiveness. Regular drug dosing schedules do not comply with physiological variability and contribute to resistance to chronic therapies. In this review, we describe a three-phase platform for overcoming drug resistance: introducing irregularity for improving drug response; establishing a deep learning, closed-loop algorithm for generating a personalized pattern of irregularity for overcoming drug resistance; and upscaling the algorithm by implementing quantified personal variability patterns along with other individualized genetic and proteomic-based ways. The closed-loop, dynamic, subject-tailored variability-based machinery can improve the efficacy of existing therapies in patients with chronic diseases.
Schema Incongruity: A Framework for Distributing Service Forms of FMCG Brands via a Digital Channel
Authors: Parackal Mathew , Mather Damien , Redman Rory
Published: August 2022

This paper reports an extension of schema incongruity theory to a service form of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distributed via a digital platform. According to this theory, an FMCG brand’s service form would be incongruent compared to its traditional form available via supermarkets. Based on the relevancy and expectancy dimensions, the level of incongruence for such a service was classed as moderately incongruent. The study used qualitative research to investigate whether the moderate incongruence appealed to modern-day customers. The findings revealed that a subscription to receive a regular supply of the FMCG test brand appealed to the respondents. The moderate incongruity employed in this study was of an optimal stimulation level, enabling respondents to see the added values offered. The values recognised included convenience, family bonding, health and variety. The study observed schema incongruity theory operating for the service form of the FMCG brand. As the study used a qualitative methodology, the findings are specific to the brand and context tested. However, the high interest observed suggests schema incongruity theory could serve as a framework for using a digital distribution system to market service forms of FMCG brands.
Mining Investment Risk Assessment for Nations along the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Xiang Yujing , Zhang Qinli , Wang Daolin , Wu Shihai
Published: August 2022

As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to advance, the proportion of China’s investment in mineral resources has increased yearly. However, the current research on mineral resources investment risk mainly focuses on specific resources or combinations of minerals. There is still a lack of risk assessment research regarding mineral resources as a whole, which leads to the lack of appropriate methods for decision makers to consider the overall investment risk. This research establishes a six-dimension (6-D) investment evaluation indicator system to comprehensively assess the mineral resources, including political, economic, social, resource potential, environmental risks, and China factors, and 50 countries were studied. Various mineral resources are integrated into the resource potential dimension for quantitative risk assessment calculations. The entropy–fuzzy method determines the indicator’s weights and calculates the risk assessment. The results indicate that resource potential is the main determinant of overseas mineral resources investment. The outcomes show that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Russia are ideal for China’s mineral resources investment. The findings provide a theoretical and methodological basis for the further macroscopic study of mineral resources investment risk between countries.
In Situ Monitoring and Quantitative Determination of R27 Plasmid Conjugation
Authors: Gibert Marta , Jiménez Carlos J. , Comas Jaume , Zechner Ellen L. , Madrid Cristina , Balsalobre Carlos
Published: August 2022

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) by plasmid conjugation is a major driving force in the spread of antibiotic resistance among Enterobacteriaceae. Most of the conjugation studies are based on calculation of conjugation ratios (number of transconjugants/number of donors) after viable counting of transconjugant and donor cells. The development of robust, fast and reliable techniques for in situ monitoring and quantification of conjugation ratios might accelerate progress in understanding the impact of this cellular process in the HGT. The IncHI1 plasmids, involved in multiresistance phenotypes of relevant pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli, are distinguished by the thermosensitivity of their conjugative transfer. Conjugation mediated by IncHI1 plasmids is more efficient at temperatures lower than 30 °C, suggesting that the transfer process takes place during the environmental transit of the bacteria. In this report, we described a methodology to monitor in situ the conjugation process during agar surface matings of the IncHI1 plasmid R27 and its derepressed derivative drR27 at different temperatures. A three-color-labeling strategy was used to visualize the spatial distribution of transconjugants within the heterogeneous environment by epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. Moreover, the fluorescent labelling was also used to quantify conjugation frequencies in liquid media by flow cytometry.
Deep Neural Network Framework Based on Word Embedding for Protein Glutarylation Sites Prediction
Authors: Liu Chuan-Ming , Ta Van-Dai , Le Nguyen Quoc Khanh , Tadesse Direselign Addis , Shi Chongyang
Published: August 2022

In recent years, much research has found that dysregulation of glutarylation is associated with many human diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and glutaric aciduria type I. Therefore, glutarylation identification and characterization are essential tasks for determining modification-specific proteomics. This study aims to propose a novel deep neural network framework based on word embedding techniques for glutarylation sites prediction. Multiple deep neural network models are implemented to evaluate the performance of glutarylation sites prediction. Furthermore, an extensive experimental comparison of word embedding techniques is conducted to utilize the most efficient method for improving protein sequence data representation. The results suggest that the proposed deep neural networks not only improve protein sequence representation but also work effectively in glutarylation sites prediction by obtaining a higher accuracy and confidence rate compared to the previous work. Moreover, embedding techniques were proven to be more productive than the pre-trained word embedding techniques for glutarylation sequence representation. Our proposed method has significantly outperformed all traditional performance metrics compared to the advanced integrated vector support, with accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and correlation coefficient of 0.79, 0.89, 0.59, and 0.51, respectively. It shows the potential to detect new glutarylation sites and uncover the relationships between glutarylation and well-known lysine modification.
Imaging of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Sadik Jean-Claude , Jianu Dragos Catalin , Sadik Raphaël , Purcell Yvonne , Novaes Natalia , Saragoussi Edouard , Obadia Michaël , Lecler Augustin , Savatovsky Julien
Published: August 2022

Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare cause of stroke. Imaging is essential for diagnosis. Although digital subtraction angiography is still considered by many to be the gold standard, it no longer plays a significant role in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis. MRI, which allows for imaging the parenchyma, vessels and clots, and CT are the reference techniques. CT is useful in case of contraindication to MRI. After presenting the radio-anatomy for MRI, we present the different MRI and CT acquisitions, their pitfalls and their limitations in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis.
Flow Mechanisms and Lubrication Performance of Water-Lubricated Thrust Bearings with Herringbone Grooves
Authors: Ran Haifeng , Dai Peng , Yan Shuping , Wang Fengtao , Yao Xingjia , Wang Jianping , Zuo Guizhong
Published: August 2022

Due to their excellent stability and zero leakage capability, thrust bearings with herringbone spiral grooves are frequently used in transmission mechanisms. However, the lubrication mechanism of thrust bearings has not been clearly understood and explained, preventing the optimization of the bearing performance. Thus, this paper is devoted to solving this problem by building a three-dimensional finite element flow model. In this model, the change in viscosity temperature is considered using Roelands equation, and the turbulence and cavitation are taken into consideration. Using the established model, the influence of parameters such as spiral angle, groove width ratio, and rotational speed on the cavitation area of the thrust bearing are analyzed. The pressure contour and speed distribution are obtained inside the clearance, as well as the volume fraction of the gas phase at the end face. Finally, according to the analysis results, the optimum structural parameter for the herringbone spiral groove structure is proposed, which enables higher bearing stability and provides a reference for engineering practice.