bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) on Blood Pressure in Awake Rats and Effects of Anesthesia
Authors: Nieman Michelle L , Lorenz Suzanne G , Lorenz John
Published: May 2024

Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) has been used for decades in a variety of settings and species to model orthostatic challenge (OC) and baroreceptor unloading. However, due to physical constraints, measurements of blood pressure (BP) during LBNP have always been made in anesthetized animals, where cardiovascular reflexes are blunted or even blocked. In terminal procedures, for example, urethane is often used in an attempt to preserve some measure of autonomic reflex function during OC. More recently, investigators have used isoflurane in animals fitted with BP telemeters in order to perform longitudinal studies, but the extent to which various cardiovascular reflexes may be preserved is unknown. Here we have developed a novel method to apply lower body negative pressure in awake rats instrumented for BP measurement. Rats were placed into a tubular restraining device (5 cm diameter X 21 cm length), that is divided into an upper and lower chamber by two adjacent latex septa with small holes (~ 2 cm). Rats were positioned so that the septa form a seal at the lower margin of the thorax, thereby creating independent upper and lower chambers. Negative pressure was then applied to the lower chamber using a high-volume vacuum and the pressure controlled using an adjustable damper. BP measurements in response to progressive levels of LBNP (-3 to -15 mmHg) were first made in awake rats, followed by induction of anesthesia and repetition of the LBNP protocol. The effects of pentobarbital (50mg/kg), ketamine/xylazine (70/6 mg/kg) and isoflurane (3%) were determined on separate days. BP and heart rate (HR) responses are shown in the Table. We found that BP was remarkably preserved in awake rats up to at least -9 mmHg LBNP, and thereafter (at -12 and -15 mmHg) decreased modestly. There was a robust baroreceptor-mediated increase in HR beginning at -6 mmHg. By contrast, under each anesthetic, blood pressure decreased dramatically and progressively with increasing LBNP, and the reflex increases in HR were entirely blocked (and actually inverted). These data indicate that the awake rat has robust mechanisms to preserve cardiovascular function during OC, and that these mechanisms are severely compromised during anesthesia.

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Innovation Seed Grant.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Chronic Hyperoxia Augments the Hypercapnic Ventilatory Response in Adult Rats
Authors: Hanus Julia , Dufour Gemma , Bavis Ryan
Published: May 2024

Rats exposed to 4 – 14 days of 60% O2 as adults exhibit a modest enhancement of their hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) (Danielson & Bavis, Physiology 38(S1): 5730119, 2023). To determine whether this plasticity is unique to the HVR or a general increase in excitability of the respiratory control system, we tested the hypothesis that chronic hyperoxia would also enhance the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). The ventilatory response to 7% CO2 was measured by whole-body plethysmography in adult, Sprague-Dawley rats immediately after 4 and 14 days of exposure to 60% O2 or an equivalent time period in room air. Baseline ventilation and the HCVR were unchanged after 4 days of hyperoxia. The HCVR was increased after 14 days (Treatment × FICO2, P=0.004), with hypercapnic ventilation being approximately 15% greater than in control rats. However, this effect was no longer significant after accounting for variation in metabolic rate, and the HCVR was fully recovered when rats were restudied four weeks after they were returned to room air. In a follow-up experiment, pulse oximetry was performed in isoflurane-anesthetized rats breathing room air or 12% O2. Exposure to 4 – 14 days of 60% O2 did not impair gas exchange, so augmented ventilatory responses likely reflect changes in the neural control of breathing and/or metabolism rather than differences in the levels of hypoxemia and hypercapnia experienced by rats during the tests. In conclusion, chronic hyperoxia elicits plasticity in both the HVR and HCVR of adult rats, but these responses recover in less than one month after rats are returned to room air.

Supported by NIH grant P20 GM-103423 (Maine INBRE).

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Pulsatile Perfusion Therapy at 0.1 Hz Improves Survival Following Severe Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Dinh Viet , Farmer George , Rickards Caroline
Published: May 2024

Oscillations in arterial pressure and blood flow at 0.1 Hz are associated with protection of tissue oxygenation during conditions of reduced tissue perfusion. Pulsatile Perfusion Therapy (PPT) is a method we have developed to induce these oscillations, and has been associated with increased tolerance to simulated hemorrhage via lower body negative pressure in humans. However, it is unknown how effective this therapy would be in an actual hemorrhage model. The aim for this study was to test the effcacy of PPT in a rat model of severe hemorrhage. We hypothesized that PPT at 0.1 Hz would protect arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow following severe hemorrhage in rats, subsequently improving survival. Eleven adult Sprague-Dawley rats (six female, five male) were anesthetized via isoflurane, then underwent bilateral carotid artery catheterization for assessment of arterial pressure and carotid artery blood flow, while heart rate was assessed via lead II ECG. Following a 15-min baseline period, all animals were hemorrhaged to 50% of their estimated blood volume over 30-min. Rats were then randomly assigned to the PPT group (3 female, 3 male) or the control group (CON; 3 female, 2 male). PPT was administered via inflatable cuffs attached to both hind limbs, oscillating between 0 mmHg and 250 mmHg every 5-s (10-s cycles or 0.1 Hz) for 30-min immediately following hemorrhage. For the CON group, the leg cuffs were also attached but were not inflated for this 30-min period. All animals were then monitored for an additional 150-min recovery period post-hemorrhage, or until death — defined as the absence of ventricular function on the ECG. Survival time and peak mean arterial pressure (MAP), carotid blood flow, and heart rate were assessed to determine the effectiveness of PPT in protecting hemodynamic responses following hemorrhage. PPT increased survival time ( P = 0.02), with 3 of 6 (50%) rats in the PPT group and 0 of 5 (0%) rats in the CON group surviving the entire 180-min recovery period following hemorrhage. During recovery, PPT protected MAP (PPT: −46.5 ± 12.9% vs. CON: −72.6 ± 19.5% from baseline; P = 0.07) and carotid blood flow (PPT: −61.5 ± 17.7% vs. CON: −83.7 ± 6.7% from baseline; P = 0.04), but did not affect heart rate (PPT: 0.11 ± 6.58% vs. CON: −18.70 ± 29.34% from baseline, P = 0.20), although responses were highly variable between subjects. PPT protected arterial pressure and carotid blood flow in rats following severe hemorrhage, subsequently improving survival. These data add further evidence for the use of 0.1 Hz hemodynamic oscillations as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of hemorrhage.

Physiology and Anatomy Department Seed Grant.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Effects of chronic inspiratory muscle strength training on metabolic and cardiovascular measures during a glucose tolerance test
Authors: Harbin Christina , Janssen Noah , Vranish Jennifer
Published: May 2024

Previous work has shown that both a single session of aerobic exercise and chronic exercise training improve glucose homeostasis. Similarly, a single bout of inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) has been shown to facilitate a greater degree of glycemic control. However, less is known about the chronic effects of IMST, particularly with respect to metabolic and cardiovascular responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We hypothesized that 6 weeks of IMST would promote a greater degree of glycemic control, via a reduction in fasting and peak glucose during an OGTT. To test this hypothesis, participants (n=14, 57% female, average age=21.9) completed 6 weeks of daily training at either 15% (n=7) or 75% (n=7) of their maximal inspiratory pressure. Each subject underwent a pre-IMST glucose tolerance test in which their blood glucose level, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes following glucose ingestion. A post-IMST glucose tolerance test was completed after 6 weeks of training. The results indicate no training effect on baseline glucose, peak glucose, 90-minutes post-glucose, or glucose area under the curve responses, for both training intensities (P>0.05). There was no significant effect of IMST on heart rate, nor was heart rate altered during the OGTT (P>0.5). While mean arterial pressure was not affected during the OGTT (P>0.05), baseline mean arterial pressure decreased in the 75% intensity group only (P=0.012). In summary, 6 weeks of high-intensity IMST decreases baseline blood pressure, and glucose tolerance was unaffected in both training groups. Future studies should investigate the effects of chronic IMST on other metabolic measures (e.g. lipids, triglycerides, and/or cholesterol levels) and the impact that this training has on glucose homeostasis in clinical populations.

This work was supported by the Alma College CORE Summer Research Program.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Nicotine Exposure Causes Nitrosative and Oxidative Stress in Glomerular Podocytes, Resulting in Renal Damage
Authors: Jones Adam , Semenikhina Marharyta , Fedoriuk Mykhailo , Stefanenko Mariia , Cherezkova Alena , Veit Acosta Martina , Stadler Krisztian
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Nicotine consumption is the leading cause of preventable disease and death. Patients with hypertension or kidney disease are more likely to exhibit renal pathologies associated with nicotine, such as glomerulopathy. In endothelial cells, nicotine was linked to mitochondrial oxidative stress and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) remodeling. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the effects of nicotine in glomerular epithelial cells, podocytes. We hypothesized that nicotine promotes nitrosative stress in the podocytes by producing peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and mitochondrial damage, thereby reducing glomerular function. Methods: We performed confocal imaging on human cultured podocytes to detect ONOO− (HPF), Ca2+ (Fluo-8) and nitric oxide NO (DAF-FM) in response to nicotine. Seahorse assay (Agilent XFe24) was used to test mitochondrial respiration. Then, nicotine was chronically infused in Dahl SS rats (0.2 mg/kg/day s.c., 0.4% NaCl, 21 days), and blood pressure was recorded with telemetry. Glomerular damage was evaluated, and electron microscopy was employed to assess mitochondrial ultrastructure. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to access the NO levels in cultured podocytes and in vivo. OriginPro was used for statistical analysis. Results: Acute application of nicotine promoted intracellular Ca2+ and ONOO− transients in podocytes. The ONOO− response was blocked in the presence of SOD, indicating that ONOO− production requires superoxide. The application of specific α7 or α4β2, α2β4, α4β4, and α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists elicited Ca2+ transients but did not produce ONOO−, suggesting that nitrosative stress occurs independently from Ca2+ influx or nAChR activation. Incubation with nicotine (12 hrs) resulted in a decrease in podocytes’ mitochondrial respiration (two-sample t-test, p<0.05). In vivo, nicotine infusion did not affect blood pressure but promoted mitochondrial damage in podocytes, which exhibited swelling, loss of cristae, and mitophagy (t-test, p<0.05). Histopathological assessment showed higher glomerular damage in nicotine-exposed rats (t-test, p<0.05). Both EPR and confocal approaches demonstrated nicotine-mediated changes in NO bioavailability and an increase in NOS2 activity (t-test, p<0.05) Conclusion: Nicotine elicits superoxide-mediated nitrosative stress and peroxynitrite formation in podocytes, promoting mitochondrial damage and glomerular dysfunction. Revealing the mechanisms of nicotine-mediated damage in the podocytes impacts our progress towards new treatments for smoking and vaping-associated renal pathologies.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Estrogens and Olfactomedins May Induce a Feedback Loop that Increases Nicotine Consumption in Females via the Brain Reward Circuitry
Authors: Pauss Sally , Kipp Zachary , Gipson-Reichardt Cassandra , Hinds Terry
Published: May 2024

Estrogen is associated with enhanced nicotine use in women, with enhanced vulnerability to nicotine use disorders being associated with higher levels of circulating estrogen. In ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, estradiol (E2) treatments increased estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and not ERα in a key brain reward region, the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore). Therefore, we hypothesized that ERβ might be important in the reward circuitry for regulating nicotine use in females. To determine ERβ-specific functions that might regulate nicotine use, we analyzed large sequencing datasets of estrogen-induced genes and narrowed the list to those expressed in the brain and that have a hormone function. We found one class of genes known as the olfactomedins (OLFMs), which meet these criteria. Therefore, we wanted to determine whether ERα or ERβ regulates the expression of the OLFM isoforms. We used human uterine cells (Ishikawa) that express both ER isoforms and the OLFMs and found that two-hour E2 treatments induced the expression of OLFM1 and OLFM3. However, nicotine only suppressed the E2-induction of OLFM1 and not the others. We next performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays with these cells and treatments using antibodies for ERα, ERβ, or GFP control. We found that the OLFM1 promoter was only enriched by ERβ, and no binding of ERα was observed. We next treated OVX female rats with E2, nicotine, E2+nicotine, or vehicle and found that Olfm1 and Olfm2 significantly increased in the NAcore, and all three OLFM isoforms were significantly higher in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), another key region within the mesolimbic reward pathway. Nicotine suppressed the E2-induced OLFM expression in the NAcore and VTA. These new findings suggest that ERβ-induction of the olfactomedins might serve as a feedback loop for driving nicotine addiction processes, which is suppressed when nicotine is on board. These results indicate a potential new target for therapeutic cessation of nicotine use in women.

None.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
High Resolution Reconstruction of the Proximal Tubule Apical Endocytic Pathway
Authors: Lackner Emily , Pandya Raj , Burdyniuk Mariia , Xu C. Shan , Pang Song , Caplan Michael , Weisz Ora
Published: May 2024

Kidney proximal tubule (PT) cells are specialized for effcient apical uptake of albumin and other proteins that escape the glomerular filtration barrier. The apical endocytic pathway is uniquely organized to maintain highly dynamic retrieval of these proteins via binding to the multiligand receptors megalin and cubilin. Ultrastructural studies following the fate of internalized markers have provided a temporal model for the delivery of receptor-bound ligands and fluid phase markers to lysosomes. In this model, internalization from the apical membrane occurs via budding of irregular clathrin-coated invaginations that form at the base of microvilli. After uncoating, budded vesicles fuse with apical early endosomes (AEEs) where acidification triggers dissociation of ligands from their receptors. AEEs further mature and expand into apical vacuoles (AVs) that ultimately deliver ligands and fluid to lysosomes. Receptor recycling to the apical membrane is thought to occur via dense apical tubules (DATs) that have a uniform diameter and membrane thickness and which appear to bud from both AEEs and AVs. We used Zeiss Arivis Pro technology to annotate and reconstruct apical membrane invaginations and endocytic compartments in a 3D volume of mouse kidney with isotropic voxels of 4 nm, acquired using focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Strikingly, 3D reconstruction of DATs revealed a large and highly interconnected network of tubules in the subapical region of PT cells. Connections were observed between the DAT network and endosomal compartments, as well as between DATs and apical membrane invaginations. Our data suggest the possibility that DATs exist as a stable compartment that interacts transiently with the apical membrane to enable receptor recycling. Current studies are underway to better understand how PT cells modulate endocytic entry and recycling via the same portals.

National Institute of Health: 5T32GM133353-03, R01 DK118726, R01 DK125049, U54 DK137329.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
A Novel Generalized n-Dimensions Sixtic B-Spline Function to Solving n-Dimensions Mathematical Models
Authors: Ali Khalid K. , Raslan K. R. , Mohamed Mohamed S.
Published: May 2024

In this study, we present a novel framework for the sixtic B-spline collocation approach in n-dimensions. Building upon previous research that focused on developing B-spline functions in n-dimensions to solve mathematical models, this work represents an extension of those efforts. We provide formulations of the sixtic B-spline collocation algorithm in one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional settings. These structures play a crucial role in solving mathematical models across diverse fields of study. To showcase the efficacy and accuracy of the proposed method, we employ a range of test problems in two and three dimensions. These examples serve as demonstrations of the effectiveness and precision of the suggested approach.
Relationship between Intraoperative Bile Culture Outcomes and Subsequent Postoperative Infectious Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ramírez-Arbeláez Jaime Alberto , Arroyave-Zuluaga Ricardo Leonel , Barrera-Lozano Luis Manuel , Hurtado Verónica , González-Arroyave Daniel , Ardila Carlos M.
Published: May 2024

The presence of positive bile culture during intraoperative procedures has been associated with elevated morbidity and mortality rates in hepatobiliopancreatic surgeries, contributing to increased healthcare expenditures. However, the precise impact of bactobilia on the development of postoperative complications remains uncertain due to existing disparities in the published literature. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed 137 patients who underwent major hepatobiliopancreatic surgery to examine the relationship between intraoperative bile culture outcomes and subsequent postoperative infectious complications. Among patients with bactobilia, a significant 35.1% exhibited systemic or local infectious complications, whereas only 11.1% of those with negative culture results experienced any infectious complications (p=0.002). Similarly, a notable difference was observed in the incidence of surgical site infections, with 24.3% in the bactobilia group compared to 7.9% in the negative culture group (p=0.01). A total of 74 monomicrobial cultures with microbiological growth were isolated, predominantly featuring Gram-negative microorganisms, primarily Enterobacteriaceae in 49 cultures. Escherichia coli was identified in 37.8% of positive cultures, while Klebsiella pneumoniae was evident in 21.6%. Gram-positive microorganisms were present in 10 cultures, with Enterococcus emerging as the prevailing species. The logistic regression model identified a positive bile culture as an independent factor significantly associated with infection development (OR: 2.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.23-11; p=0.02). Considering the limitations of the study, these findings underscore the critical importance of conducting bile cultures during the intraoperative phase to enable vigilant monitoring and prompt management of infectious complications.
Continuous and Unconstrained Tremor Monitoring in Parkinson’s Disease Using Supervised Machine Learning and Wearable Sensors
Authors: Rodriguez Fernando , Krauss Philipp , Kluckert Jonas , Ryser Franziska , Stieglitz Lennart , Baumann Christian , Gassert Roger , Imbach Lukas , Bichsel Oliver
Published: May 2024

Background. Accurately assessing the severity and frequency of fluctuating motor symptoms is important at all stages of Parkinson’s disease management. Contrarily to time-consuming clinical testing or patient self-reporting with uncertain reliability, recordings with wearable sensors show promise as a tool for continuously and objectively assessing PD symptoms. While wearables-based clinical assessments during standardised and scripted tasks have been successfully implemented, assessments during unconstrained activity remain a challenge. Methods. We developed and implemented a supervised machine learning algorithm, trained and tested on tremor scores. We evaluated the algorithm on a 67-hour database comprising sensor data and clinical tremor scores for 24 Parkinson patients at four extremities for periods of about 3 hours. A random 25% subset of the labelled samples was used as test data, the remainder as training data. Based on features extracted from the sensor data, a Support Vector Machine was trained to predict tremor severity. Due to the inherent imbalance in tremor scores, we applied dataset rebalancing techniques. Results. Our classifier demonstrated robust performance in detecting tremor events with a sensitivity of 0.90 on the test-portion of the resampled dataset. The overall classification accuracy was high at 0.88. Conclusion. We implemented an accurate classifier for tremor monitoring in free-living environments that can be trained even with modestly sized and imbalanced datasets. This advancement offers significant clinical value in continuously monitoring Parkinson’s disease symptoms beyond the hospital setting, paving the way for personalized management of PD, timely therapeutic adjustments, and improved patient quality of life.
Utilizing Sweet Corn “Milk” Residue to Develop Fiber-Rich Pasta: Effects of Replacement Ratio and Transglutaminase Treatment on Pasta Quality
Authors: Nguyen Thi Quynh Ngoc , Nguyen Phuong Hanh , Vo Minh Tam , Le Van Viet Man
Published: May 2024

The rising demand for fiber-rich food products has fuelled the exploration of innovative approaches to enhance their dietary fiber content. Although adding dietary fiber-rich materials into pasta formula can increase the dietary fiber content, this approach counters several technological problems as the cooking and textural properties of the resulting pastas are usually negatively affected. This study is aimed at utilizing sweet corn “milk” residue (SCMR), a food by-product, and transglutaminase to develop fiber-rich pasta. Durum wheat semolina was replaced by SCMR powder at the ratio of 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20% to make SCMR-fortified pasta. The chemical compositions and cooking and textural properties of the fortified pasta were then quantified. As the replacement ratio increased, the dietary fiber content, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant properties of pasta were considerably improved while the cooking and textural attributes were negatively impacted. At 20% SCMR fortification, the dietary fiber content and TPC of the pasta were increased by 3.2 and 1.2 times, respectively, while the cooking loss increased by 73% as compared to those of the control pasta. Meanwhile, the chewiness, cohesiveness, tensile strength, and elongation rate at break of the 20% SCMR-fortified pasta were reduced by 19%, 26%, 21%, and 65%, respectively, compared to those of the control pasta. To improve the cooking properties and the textural properties of the fortified pasta, transglutaminase was added to the pasta dough with 20% SCMR. The effect of transglutaminase was enzyme-dose dependent. The cooking and textural qualities of pasta were improved as enzyme concentration increased 0 to 0.75 U/g protein and declined as the enzyme concentration increased from 0.75 to 1.25 g/U protein. At the optimal concentration of transglutaminase (0.75 U/g protein), the cooking loss reduced by 16% while the chewiness, cohesiveness, tensile strength, and elongation rate increased by 18%, 11%, 31%, and 32% compared to those without transglutaminase. Novelty Impact Statement. This study focuses on developing the dietary fiber-enriched pasta using sweet corn “milk” residue and transglutaminase enzyme. The results showed that replacing 20% durum wheat semolina with SCMR powder significantly enhanced the dietary fiber and total phenolic content of the pasta but negatively affect the cooking and textural properties of the pasta. Adding transglutaminase at 0.75 U/g protein to the SCMR-semolina blended dough successfully restored the adverse effects of SCMR on the cooking and textural properties. This study showed that dietary fiber-enriched pasta with improved cooking and textural properties can be prepared using the combination of SCMR and transglutaminase.
Managing the Last Move: Older People’s Practical, Relational, and Emotional Work throughout the Transition from Home to a Nursing Home
Authors: Arvidsson Linda , Alftberg Åsa , Harnett Tove
Published: May 2024

Moving into a nursing home is a significant transition for older people which can be emotional and stressful. The literature on the decision to move and subsequent residential stress focuses on the time after admission; however, there is less understanding of older people’s management of the process. To fully understand and possibly reduce negative consequences and health‐related risks, the aim of this article is to explore how older people manage the transition from home to nursing home. The study is based on 21 longitudinal interviews with seven older people during the process of moving. Following Dorothy Smith’s theory of work, the analysis finds three types of work—practical, relational, and emotional—that older people engage in during the transition process. The results highlight the importance of considering the entire transition process, not only experiences before or after, if we are to reduce the negative, stress‐related consequences of relocations of this kind. The findings have practical implications for professionals in health and social care and point to the need to develop practical, relational, and emotional support for older people throughout the transition process.
Enhancing Communication Reliability: Designing Microwave Links for Bahir Dar-Woretta Connectivity
Authors: Mihretu Adega Gashaw
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the need for establishing a microwave link between Bahir Dar and Woretta as an alternative communication solution to the existing optical fiber infrastructure. Microwave links offer an effective way to overcome challenges posed by rugged terrains and unfavorable environmental conditions that hinder the deployment of fiber optics. As Woretta emerges as a key economic and investment hub within the Amhara Region, demand for reliable and efficient communication is expected to grow significantly. The study encompasses various aspects of planning and designing the microwave link, including site surveys, consideration of fade margins, frequency planning, link budget calculations, and assessing the feasibility and reliability of the proposed link. The paper employs LINKPlanner 5.4.1 software to simulate and validate the results. Due to terrain constraints, a direct link between Bahir Dar and Woretta is not feasible. Instead, a two-hop link is proposed, involving transmission from Bahir Dar to Zege, and then from Zege to Woretta. This alternative configuration ensures optimal connectivity while addressing the terrain limitations. By presenting a comprehensive analysis and simulation of the microwave link, this paper provides valuable insights into the planning and implementation of a robust communication infrastructure. The proposed microwave link will offer a reliable and efficient alternative to the existing optical fiber network, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity to support the region’s growth and development.
Loss of RAB25 Cooperates with Oncogenes in the Transformation of Human Mammary Epithelial Cells (HMECs) to Give Rise to Claudin-Low Tumors
Authors: Joshi Pooja , Ayyagari Vijayalakshmi , Kandel Samikshya , Modur Vishnu , Iqbal Muhammad F. , Robinson Kathy , Gao John , Rao Krishna
Published: May 2024

The loss of RAB25 expression—RAS superfamily of GTPase characteristic of numerous breast cancers—corresponds with H-RAS point mutations, particularly in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), a subtype associated with a poor prognosis. To address the poorly understood factors dictating the progression of TNBC tumors, we examine the cooperative effects that loss of RAB25 expression in human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) lines with H-RAS mutations confers in tumorigenesis. HMECs were immortalized by transduction with LXSN CDK4 R24C, a mutant form of cyclin-dependent kinase, followed by transduction with hTERT, a catalytic subunit of the telomerase enzyme. We found that with the loss of RAB25 and overexpression of mutant H-RAS61L, immortal HMECs transformed toward anchorage-independent growth and acquired an increased ability to migrate. Furthermore, cells express low CD24, high CD44, and low claudin levels, indicating stem-like properties upon transformation. Besides, loss of RAB25 and overexpression of H-RAS61L resulted in increased expression of transcription factors Snail and Slug that drive these cells to lose E-cadherin and undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study confirms that loss of RAB25 and overexpression of mutant H-RAS can drive HMECs toward a mesenchymal stem-like state. Our findings reveal that RAB25 functions as a tumor suppressor gene, and loss of RAB25 could serve as a novel biomarker of the claudin-low type of TNBC.
Response of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum L.) Genotypes to Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates and Wheat Rust Diseases in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Daniel Hana , Yebo Belay , Kebede Mesfin
Published: May 2024

Lack of improved varieties and soil fertility degradation are among the major factors that limit durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) production in Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to determine the response of durum wheat cultivars (i) to nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, and boron (NPSB) fertilizer blend; (ii) rust infection; and (iii) partial budget analysis using NPSB fertilizer blend. A 2-location experiment was conducted in 2021 in South Ethiopia to evaluate the response of 4 durum wheat genotypes to blended NPSB fertilizer rates in a randomized complete block design in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences due to genotypes (G), rate of NPSB fertilizer (F), and location (E) for all the parameters. The effects due to the G × F × E interaction were significant (P<0.05) for the number of total tillers, number of productive tillers, and grain yield (GY). A significant (P<0.05) G × E interaction was observed for the majority of parameters except days to 50% heading and plant height. Durum wheat genotype S3-213037 produced the highest grain yield of 3689.3 kg·ha−1 when NPSB fertilizer was applied at a rate of 225 kg·ha−1 at Adekoysha. Moreover, partial budget analysis indicated that genotype S3-213037 accrued a maximum benefit of 112,986.50 birr·ha−1 and the highest marginal rate of return of 1356.4% when NPSB fertilizer was applied at a rate of 225 kg·ha−1. Therefore, this study indicated that the application of an NPSB fertilizer rate of 225 kg·ha−1 could be used in the production of durum wheat in the East African region with similar agroecologies to the study area.
Screening of Breast among Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nepal
Authors: Shah Sangam , Dahal Krishna , Pangeni Paras , Niroula Sandhya , Paudel Kiran , Subedi Prativa , Dhakal Sarita , Mandal Prince , Rawal Laba , Bhatta Nikita , Shrestha Anisha , Bhattarai Ganesh , Bhandari Pragya
Published: May 2024

Background. Breast cancer ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy among women in Nepal. This cancer has a high likelihood of cure, if detected early. Therefore, it is imperative to emphasize awareness and screening for breast cancer in Nepal. It indeed underscores the importance of clinical breast examination. The study aims to find the disease burden, association of abnormal breast condition with sociodemographic variables, and the need for change in the breast cancer screening protocol. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2023 on 100 female participants who were older than 18 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The chi-square test was used to compare nominal variables while the independent sample t-test and the paired sample t-test were used to compare nominal and continuous variables. Results. The findings of the study showed that 19% of all participants complained about abnormal breast, out of which 31.7% reported lumps, 26.31% reported discharge , another 26.31% reported pain, and the remaining 15.7% reported soreness. The upper outer quadrant and lower inner quadrant each individually accounted for 33.33% of the abnormal findings. The complaints of the participants in our study were significantly correlated with age at marriage, number of pregnancies, and use of contraception. Conclusion. Our study revealed considerable abnormal breast findings. This warrants the need for the change in breast cancer screening protocols which lead to early diagnosis and higher curability.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Feng Fei , Zhao Yue
Published: May 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of liver cancer globally, poses a substantial health burden. Influenced by risk factors such as hepatitis B or C virus infections, chronic consumption of alcohol, and metabolic dysfunction, its exact etiology likely involves a complex interplay between viral infection, hepatocyte mutations, and chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and demographic variables like sex, race, and age. Disease stage significantly impacts the prognosis of HCC. There is significant potential for life-saving and socioeconomic benefits through the implementation of surveillance programs and the introduction of low-cost screening measures for high-risk groups; these screening measures include ultrasound imaging and blood tests. Treatment options for HCC encompass liver resection, transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Despite therapeutic advances, treating advanced HCC remains challenging, emphasizing the need for continued efforts in prevention, early detection, and development of treatments to improve prognosis and long-term survival.
Reseña de libro “Una investigación innovadora sobre alfabetización y democracia”
Authors: Lozano Carlos Sánchez
Published: May 2024

Este libro, producto de la tesis de las exalumnas de la Maestría en Educación del CINDE, Blanca González y Niny Johana Sánchez, contiene elementos innovadores que deben ser resaltados y que ayudarán a docentes y autoridades educativas en la comprensión de problemas acuciantes con la relación subjetividad-escritura-reivindicación de derechos.

La Reforma y la Revolución Francesa permitieron construir la conciencia de lo subjetivo, conciencia que se inauguró con Descartes y que se plantea de modo explícito en una frase célebre del Discurso del método (1637): “No admitir en mis juicios nada más de lo que se presentase a mi espíritu tan clara y distintamente, que no tuviese ocasión alguna de ponerlo en duda”. Con menos de treinta palabras se comenzaba el desmonte de una visión teológica y omnímoda del mundo. Pero la subjetividad, históricamente, no solo es una actitud distintiva propia de la clase que la reivindicó -la burguesía-, sino un canon en las relaciones sociales y políticas desde finales del siglo XVIII y que podemos denominar de modo amplio, como ciudadanía. La condición sine qua non de la subjetividad es ser ciudadano. Y por decirlo de un modo directo: no se construye la subjetividad, la ciudadanía, sin dominio de las herramientas que la constituyen. Dos de ellas son la lectura y la escritura.
Survival Predictive Nomograms for Non-Surgical Brain Metastases Patients From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Li Peng , Luo Jie , Zheng Zilong , Meng Lu , Zhang Anqi , Cao Wei , Gong Xiaomei
Published: May 2024

Objective

A high number of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis who have not had surgery often have a negative outlook. Radiotherapy remains a most common and effective method. Nomograms were developed to forecast the cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC individuals with nonoperative brain metastases who underwent radiotherapy.

Methods

Information was gathered from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database about patients diagnosed with NSCLC who had brain metastases not suitable for surgery. Nomograms were created and tested using multivariate Cox regression models to forecast CSS and OS at intervals of 1, 2, and 3 years.

Results

The research involved 3413 individuals diagnosed with NSCLC brain metastases who had undergone radiotherapy but had not experienced surgery. These participants were randomly divided into two categories. The analysis revealed that gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, tumor location, tumor laterality, tumor grade, histology, T stage, N stage, chemotherapy, tumor size, lung metastasis, bone metastasis, and liver metastasis were significant independent predictors for OS and CSS. The C-index for the training set for predicting OS was .709 (95% CI, .697-.721), and for the validation set, it was .705 (95% CI, .686-.723), respectively. The C-index for predicting CSS was .710 (95% CI, .697-.722) in the training set and .703 (95% CI, .684-.722) in the validation set, respectively. The nomograms model, as suggested by the impressive C-index, exhibits outstanding differentiation ability. Moreover, the ROC and calibration curves reveal its commendable precision and distinguishing potential.

Conclusions

For the first time, highly accurate and reliable nomograms were developed to predict OS and CSS in NSCLC patients with non-surgical brain metastases, who have undergone radiotherapy treatment. The nomograms may assist in tailoring counseling strategies and choosing the most effective treatment method.
Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of heat shock proteins and their combination with Alpha-Fetoprotein in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis
Authors: Xiang Dan , Fu Lifang , Yang Ying , Liu ChengJiang , He Yong
Published: May 2024

Background

A growing body of research suggests that heat shock proteins (HSPs) may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but their results are still controversial. This meta-analysis endeavors to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HSPs both independently and in conjunction with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as novel biomarkers for HCC detection.

Methods

Pooled statistical indices, including sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), were computed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of HSPs, AFP, and their combinations. Additionally, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve (AUC) was determined.

Results

A total of 2013 HCC patients and 1031 control subjects from nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. The summary estimates for HSPs and AFP are as follows: sensitivity of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69–0.85) compared to 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65–0.80); specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81–0.95) compared to 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77–0.91); PLR of 7.4 (95% CI: 3.7–14.9) compared to 5.1 (95% CI: 3.3–8.1); NLR of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.16–0.37) compared to 0.31 (95% CI: 0.24–0.41); DOR of 30.19 (95% CI: 10.68–85.37) compared to 16.34 (95% CI: 9.69–27.56); and AUC of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87–0.92) compared to 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82–0.88). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUC were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82–0.95), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.82–0.98), 14.5 (95% CI: 4.6–45.4), 0.11 (95% CI: 0.06–0.20), 133.34 (95% CI: 29.65–599.61), and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94–0.98) for the combination of HSPs and AFP.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that HSPs have potential as a biomarker for clinical use in the diagnosis of HCC, and the concurrent utilization of HSPs and AFP shows notable diagnostic effectiveness for HCC.
Combined systematic screening for malnutrition and dysphagia in hospitalized older adults: a scoping review
Authors: Javorszky Susanne M. , Palli Christoph , Domkar Susanne , Iglseder Bernhard
Published: May 2024

Background

Dysphagia affects about 40% of patients admitted to acute geriatric wards, as it is closely associated with diseases that rise in prevalence with advancing age, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Malnutrition is a highly associated predictive factor of dysphagia as well as one of the most common symptoms caused by dysphagia. Thus, the two conditions may exist simultaneously but also influence each other negatively and quickly cause functional decline especially in older adults. The purpose of this review was to determine whether institutions have established a protocol combining screenings for dysphagia and malnutrition on a global scale. If combined screening protocols have been implemented, the respective derived measures will be reported.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted. A systematic database search was carried out in January and February 2024. Studies were included that examined adult hospitalized patients who were systematically screened for dysphagia and malnutrition. The results were managed through the review software tool Covidence. The screening of titles and abstracts was handled independently by two reviewers; conflicts were discussed and resolved by consensus between three authors. This procedure was retained for full-text analysis and extraction. The extraction template was piloted and revised following feedback prior to extraction, which was carried out in February 2024.

Results

A total of 2014 studies were found, 1075 of which were included for abstract screening, 80 for full text screening. In the end, 27 studies were extracted and reported following the reporting guideline PRISMA with the extension for Scoping Reviews.

Conclusion

Most of the studies considered the prevalence and association of dysphagia and malnutrition with varying outcomes such as nutritional status, pneumonia, oral nutrition, and swallowing function. Only two studies had implemented multi-professional nutrition teams.
Clinical presentation and treatment of 2 patients with infection caused by Chromobacterium violaceum in Vietnam
Authors: Nam Bùi Văn , Hà Bùi Thanh , Thúy Đặng Thị , van Doorn H. Rogier , Huy Bùi Vũ
Published: May 2024

Chromobacterium violaceum is a rare but severe and often fatal cause of disease in humans. We present 2 clinical cases of sepsis and skin abscesses / cellulitis caused by C. violaceum seen in a referral hospital for infectious diseases in Vietnam. Both patients survived, but appropriate antibiotic treatment was only installed after culture of the organism. We reviewed and summarised the characteristics of C. violaceum infection and treatment.
Effect of heart rate on poor outcome in stroke patients treated with intra-arterial thrombectomy
Authors: Wang Huaishun , Xu Longdong , Dong Li , Li Yingzi , Liu Huihui , Xiao Guodong
Published: May 2024

Background and purpose

The relationship between heart rate and the prognosis of patients with large vessel occlusion strokes treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the association of mean heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) with the clinical outcomes after MT therapy.

Methods

Acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing MT therapy were prospectively recruited from March 2020 to November 2022. Their heart rate was collected every hour for the initial 72 h after MT procedure, and the variability of heart rate was measured by standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV). All-cause mortality and worsening of functional outcome (change in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score) at 3-month were captured. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between heart rate indicators and all-cause mortality. Ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between heart rate indicators and worsening of functional outcome.

Results

Among 191 MT-treated patients, 51(26.7%) patients died at 3-month after stroke. Increased mean heart rate per 10-bpm, heart rate SD and CV per 5-unit were all associated with the increased risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] with 95% CI: 1.29 [1.09–1.51], 1.19 [1.07–1.32], 1.14 [1.03–1.27]; respectively). Patients in the highest tertile of heart rate SD had an increased risk of mortality (4.62, 1.70-12.52). After using mRS as a continuous variable, we found increased mean heart rate per 10-bpm, heart rate SD and CV per 5-unit were associated with the worsening of functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] with 95% CI: 1.35 [1.11–1.64], 1.27 [1.05–1.53], 1.19 [1.02–1.40]; respectively). A linear relationship was observed between mean heart rate or heart rate SD and mortality; while all of the heart rate measures in this study showed a linear relationship with the worsening of functional outcome.

Conclusions

Higher mean heart rate and HRV were associated with the increased risk of 3-month all-cause mortality and worse functional outcome after MT therapy for AIS patients.