bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ramadan fasting on chronic inflammation markers and gut bacterial endotoxins among Egyptian hemodialysis patients
Authors: Samaan Emad , Eldeeb Ahmed A. , Ibrahim Ahmed B. , Erman Mohammed , Sabry Alaa A. , Mahmoud Mostafa A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a state of chronic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate effects of Ramadan fasting on the markers of chronic inflammation and gut bacterial endotoxin levels in maintenance hemodialysis.

Method

A prospective self‐controlled observational study included 45 patients. Serum levels of High Sensitive CRP (hsCRP), indoxyl sulfate, and trimethylamine‐n‐levels were measured within a week before and a week after Ramadan fasting.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients have fasted more than 15 days (29 ± 2.2 days). The levels of high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) (median of 62 mg/L vs. 91 mg/L), trimethylamine‐n‐oxide (TMAO) (median of 4.5 μmoL/L vs. 17 μmoL/L), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (mean of 98.9 mg/L vs. 111.8 mg/L) and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (median of 1.56 vs. 1.59) were significantly lower after Ramadan fasting with p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.04, respectively.

Conclusion

A beneficial effect of Ramadan fasting on levels of bacterial endotoxins and markers of chronic inflammation in hemodialysis patients was observed.
Characterization and mechanisms of radioresistant lung squamous cell carcinoma cell lines
Authors: Pan Lifang , Wu Qiong , Wang Yuqing , Ma Shenglin , Zhang Shirong
Published: April 2023

Background

Radiotherapy is an important clinical treatment for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), and resistance to radiotherapy is an important cause of recurrence and metastasis in LUSC. The aim of this study was to establish and explore the biological characteristics of radioresistant LUSC cells.

Materials and methods

The LUSC cell lines NCI‐H2170 and NCI‐H520 were irradiated (4 Gy × 15Fraction). Radiosensitivity, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA damage repair were measured by clonogenic survival assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence for γ‐H2AX foci, and Comet assay, respectively. Activation of p‐ATM(Ser1981), p‐CHK2(Th68), p‐DNA‐PKcs (Ser2056), and Ku70/Ku80 was measured by western blot. Proteomics was used to explore the differential genes and enriched signaling pathways between radioresistant cell lines and parental lines. In vivo nude mouse xenograft experiments further verified the feasibility of the radioresistant LUSC cell lines.

Results

After fractionated irradiation (total dose of 60 Gy), radioresistant cells had decreased radiosensitivity, increased G0/G1 phase arrest, enhanced DNA damage repair ability, and through the ATM/CHK2 and DNA‐PKcs/Ku70 pathways regulated double strands break. The upregulated differential genes in radioresistant cell lines were mainly enriched in biological pathways such as cell migration and extracellular matrix (ECM)‐receptor interaction. In vivo verification of decreased radiosensitivity of radioresistant cells

Conclusions

Radioresistant LUSC cell lines were established by fractional radiotherapy, which regulates IR‐induced DNA damage repair through ATM/CHK2 and DNA‐PKcs/Ku70. Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) quantitative proteomics found that the biological process pathway of cell migration and ECM‐receptor interaction are upregulated in LUSC radioresistant cells.
Association between postoperative thrombocytopenia and outcomes after traumatic brain injury surgery: A cohort study
Authors: Xu Jianbo , Zhu Yanhong , Zhen Shuai , Jiang Xiaofeng
Published: April 2023

Background

It is well known that thrombocytopenia occurs in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and its incidence increases with the severity of injury. We aimed to determine whether postoperative thrombocytopenia in patients with TBI is associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of a large international database called the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC‐III), which included 1093 patients who underwent TBI surgery. Hospital mortality was the primary endpoint of this study.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed non‐thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with a decreased hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.75; p = .01). In addition, platelet counts increased over time in both survivors and non‐survivors, according to generalized additive mixed model (GAMM). However, the platelet count increased more noticeably in the survivors than in the non‐survivors and the difference in platelet count between the two groups showed a trend toward increasing within 7 days after surgery. This difference increased by 7.97 per day on average.

Conclusions

Patients with TBI who experienced postoperative thrombocytopenia were more likely to have a poor short‐term prognosis. In addition, we found that the rate of platelet growth over time varied significantly between the survival and non‐survival groups. Patients with TBI who experienced a greater early increase in platelet count had a lower mortality rate.
Parkin regulates microglial NLRP3 and represses neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Yan Yi‐Qun , Zheng Ran , Liu Yi , Ruan Yang , Lin Zhi‐Hao , Xue Nai‐Jia , Chen Ying , Zhang Bao‐Rong , Pu Jia‐Li
Published: April 2023

Microglial hyperactivation of the NOD‐, LRR‐, and pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, neuronally expressed NLRP3 was demonstrated to be a Parkin polyubiquitination substrate and a driver of neurodegeneration in PD. However, the role of Parkin in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether Parkin regulates NLRP3 in microglia. We investigated the role of Parkin in NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the overexpression of Parkin in BV2 microglial cells and knockout of Parkin in primary microglia after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted to quantify the ubiquitination levels of NLRP3 under various conditions and to assess the interaction between Parkin and NLRP3. In vivo experiments were conducted by administering intraperitoneal injections of LPS in wild‐type and Parkin knockout mice. The Rotarod test, pole test, and open field test were performed to evaluate motor functions. Immunofluorescence was performed for pathological detection of key proteins. Overexpression of Parkin mediated NLRP3 degradation via K48‐linked polyubiquitination in microglia. The loss of Parkin activity in LPS‐induced mice resulted in excessive microglial NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, facilitating motor impairment, and dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra. Accelerating Parkin‐induced NLRP3 degradation by administration of a heat shock protein (HSP90) inhibitor reduced the inflammatory response. Parkin regulates microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation through polyubiquitination and alleviates neurodegeneration in PD. These results suggest that targeting Parkin‐mediated microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activity could be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD.
Investigating the relationship between early life adversity, inflammation and alcohol use
Authors: Battista Jillian T. , Piacentino Daria , Schwandt Melanie L. , Lee Mary R. , Faulkner Monica L. , Farokhnia Mehdi , Leggio Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

Early life adversity (ELA) has long‐lasting and potentially harmful effects on adult mental and physical health, including a higher likelihood of developing psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorder (AUD). It has been suggested that inflammation may play a role in linking ELA to the development of AUD. Here, we evaluated a number of predictive factors of high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), a key inflammatory marker, and the potential mediating role of hsCRP in the relationship between ELA and alcohol misuse in adulthood. Data was collected from participants who participated in NIAAA screening protocols between January 2013 and December 2019. In this secondary analysis, we first tested, via multiple linear regression, potential predictors of hsCRP levels among adults with AUD (N = 781) and non‐AUD (N = 440) individuals. We subsequently conducted mediation analyses to evaluate the potential role of hsCRP in the relationship between early life stress and alcohol use. Regression analysis showed that stress in early life, but not childhood trauma, significantly predicted increased hsCRP levels in adulthood (p < 0.05). Additionally, a greater amount of alcohol drinking, but not a diagnosis of AUD, significantly predicted increased hsCRP levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, hsCRP mediated the relationship between early life stress and alcohol consumption. Early life stress and heavier alcohol drinking both predicted increased hsCRP levels; however, an AUD diagnosis did not. Elevated inflammation, due to and/or predicted by greater early life stress, may contribute to the development of unhealthy alcohol use in adulthood.
Predictive utility of the fetal cerebroplacental ratio for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, severe neonatal morbidity and perinatal mortality in late‐preterm and term infants
Authors: Bendall Alexa , Schreiber Veronika , Crawford Kylie , Kumar Sailesh
Published: April 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of a low cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), severe neonatal morbidity (SNM) and perinatal mortality (PNM).

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of late‐preterm and term births at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Brisbane, between 2016 and 2020. Study outcomes were HIE, PNM and SNM (a composite of severe acidosis, Apgar score less than four at 5 min, severe respiratory distress or need for significant cardiopulmonary resuscitation at birth). Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine if a low CPR was associated with HIE, SNM or PNM.

Results

A total of 51 870 births met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 216 (0.42%) were complicated by HIE, 10 224 (19.7%) had SNM and 251 (0.48%) had PNM. Rates of low CPR (<10th and <5th centile) were significantly higher in the SNM cohort (20.1 and 13.2%, respectively) and PNM cohort (21.1 and 15.1%, respectively) compared to the overall cohort. A low CPR was associated with significantly increased adjusted odds for SNM but not for HIE or PNM. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for CPR <10th centile was greatest for SNM (0.768) and lowest for HIE (0.595). Predictive margins of a low CPR for HIE, SNM and PNM were significant only for SNM at late‐preterm gestations.

Conclusions

A low CPR is associated with increased odds of SNM in infants born >34 weeks’ gestation but not for HIE or PNM.
Prenatal maternal stress was not associated with birthweight or gestational age at birth during COVID‐19 restrictions in Australia: The BITTOC longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Gladstone Miriam E. , Paquin Vincent , McLean Mia A. , Lequertier Belinda , Elgbeili Guillaume , Kildea Sue , Klimos Chloe , King Suzanne , Dahlen Hannah G.
Published: April 2023

Background

Various forms of prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) have been reported to increase risk for preterm birth and low birthweight. However, the associations between specific components of stress – namely objective hardship and subjective distress ‐ and birth outcomes are not well understood.

Aims

Here, we aimed to determine the relationship between birthweight and gestational age at birth and specific prenatal factors (infant gender and COVID‐19 pandemic‐related objective hardship, subjective distress, change in diet), and to determine whether effects of hardship are moderated by maternal subjective distress, change in diet, or infant gender.

Materials and methods

As part of the Birth in the Time of COVID (BITTOC study), women (N = 2285) who delivered in Australia during the pandemic were recruited online between August 2020 and February 2021. We assessed objective hardship and subjective distress related to the COVID pandemic and restrictions, and birth outcomes through questionnaires that were completed at recruitment and two months post‐partum. Analyses included hierarchical multiple regressions.

Results

No associations between maternal objective hardship or subjective distress and gestational age at birth or birthweight were identified. Lower birthweight was significantly associated with female gender (adjusted β = 0.083, P < 0.001) and with self‐reported improvement in maternal diet (adjusted β = 0.059, P = 0.015).

Conclusions

In a socioeconomically advantaged sample, neither objective hardship nor subjective distress related to COVID‐19 were associated with birth outcomes. Further research is warranted to understand how other individual factors influence susceptibility to PNMS and how these findings are applicable to women with lower socioeconomic status.
The first Australian uterus transplantation procedure: A result of a long‐term Australian‐Swedish research collaboration
Authors: Deans Rebecca , Pittman Jana , Gerstl Brigitte , Haghighi Koroush , Pleass Henry , KÄhler Pernilla Dahm , Kvarnström Niclas , Hseuh Wayne , Keung Karen , Luxton Grant , Yong Kenneth , Caldas Rita , Byun Lily , Loo Christine , Tippett John , Caponas George , Moses Daniel , Wan King‐Man , Arulpragasam Kaushalya , Kiely Neill , Brännström Mats , Abbott Jason
Published: April 2023

Aims

The aim is to report the results of Australia's first uterus transplantation (UTx).

Methods

Following long‐standing collaboration between the Swedish and Australian teams, Human Research Ethics approval was obtained to perform six UTx procedures in a collaborative multi‐site research study (Western Sydney Local District Health 2019/ETH13038), including Royal Hospital for Women, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Westmead Hospital in New Souh Wales. Surgeries were approved in both the live donor (LD) and deceased donor models in collaboration with the inaugural Swedish UTx team.

Results

This is the first UTx procedure to occur in Australia, involving a mother donating her uterus to her daughter. The total operative time for the donor was 9 h 54 min. Concurrently, recipient surgery was synchronised to minimise graft ischaemic time, and the total operative time for the recipient was 6 h 12 min. Surgery was by laparotomy in the LD and recipient. The total warm ischaemic time of the graft was 1 h 53 min, and the cold ischaemic time was 2 h 17 min (total ischaemic time 4 h 10 min). The patient's first menstruation occurred 33 days after the UTx procedure.

Conclusion

Twenty‐five years of Swedish and Australian collaboration has led to Australia's first successfully performed UTx surgery at The Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia.
Moving materialities: Oceanic epistemologies and embodied knowledge production in Pentecostal women's health mentorship in Samoa
Authors: Hardin Jessica
Published: April 2023

This article employs Oceanic epistemological theories to explore the body as a site of knowledge production among Samoan Pentecostal women as they dance in a church‐sponsored Zumba session, tracking foods, words, and feelings: I call thesemoving materialities. In their work together, these women contextualized health, sickness, and weight as generated from the circulation of these kinds of moving materialities. Their work theorizing health through material change is quite different from those imagined and circulated in the literatures on diabetes and obesity. The article orients critical studies of health toward an interrogation of the dynamic qualities of materiality, including both the moving body and materials that move between or within bodies. By expanding what might be considered material and movement in the context of health, this article offers an alternative to theories of metabolism that have come to dominate how we understand the body in terms energy expenditure. Ultimately, this approach calls for anthropologists to consider the circumstances in which theory is understood to be “culturally specific” or “generalizable.”
Intraoperative use of tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss during cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Yang Xijun , Chai Mao , Xia Lingfang , He Zhiyong , Wu Xiaohua , Zhang Jun
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and allogeneic transfusion requirements in various surgical procedures. The role of tranexamic acid during cytoreductive procedures in advanced ovarian cancer is not clear.

Material and methods

This was a single center randomized, controlled, three‐armed clinical trial. A total of 150 ovarian cancer patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery were recruited and assigned to three groups (n = 50/group): the control group (normal saline), low‐dose group (10 mg/kg bolus + 1 mg/kg continuous infusion of tranexamic acid), and high‐dose group (20 mg/kg bolus + 5 mg/kg continuous infusion of tranexamic acid). The primary endpoint was intraoperative blood loss volume and total blood loss volume, and secondary endpoints included intraoperative blood transfusion volumes, vasoactive agent consumption, admission into the intensive care unit, and incidence of postoperative complications within postoperative 30 days. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04360629.

Results

The patients in the high‐dose group had less intraoperative (median [IQR]: 625.3 mL [343.5–1210.5]) and total blood loss volume (748.9 mL [292.2–1650.2]) than those in the control group (1015.5 mL [679.4–1015.5], p = 0.012; and 1700.7 mL [458.7–2419.8], p = 0.004, respectively). In contrast, the intraoperative (992.5 mL [539.0–1404.0], p = 0.874) and total blood loss volume (1025.0 mL [381.8–1819.9], p = 0.113) was not significantly reduced in the low‐dose group when compared with the control group. Correspondingly, the relative risk of blood transfusion (RR [95% CI], 0.405 [0.180–0.909], p = 0.028) was reduced in the high‐dose group and required less intraoperative noradrenaline (881.0 ± 438.3 mg) to maintain stable hemodynamics than the control group (1548.0 ± 349.8 mg, p = 0.001). Furthermore, compared with the control group, the two tranexamic acid groups had decreased intensive care unit admission rates (p = 0.016) without increasing the incidence of postoperative seizure, acute kidney injury, and thromboembolism.

Conclusions

High‐dose tranexamic acid is more effective in reducing blood loss and blood transfusion without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. The high‐dose regime tended to have a better risk–benefit profile.
The culture of perceptual expertise and the other‐race effect
Authors: Lall Megan K. , Tanaka James W.
Published: April 2023

In our commentary, we propose that the ORE can be viewed as a form of perceptual expertise. Like experts, we recognize own‐race faces at the subordinate level as individuals and novices when recognize other‐race faces at the basic level of race. Applying a perceptual expertise account, we explain the ORE in terms of its cognitive, neural, and motivational factors. We suggest that by creating a culture of “other‐race” expertise, improvements in other‐race face recognition can be achieved.
Silicon switch: Carbon–silicon Bioisosteric replacement as a strategy to modulate the selectivity, physicochemical, and drug‐like properties in anticancer pharmacophores
Authors: Fotie Jean , Matherne Caitlyn M. , Wroblewski Jordan E.
Published: April 2023

Bioisosterism is one of the leading strategies in medicinal chemistry for the design and modification of drugs, consisting in replacing an atom or a substituent with a different atom or a group with similar chemical properties and an inherent biocompatibility. The objective of such an exercise is to produce a diversity of molecules with similar behavior while enhancing the desire biological and pharmacological properties, without inducing significant changes to the chemical framework. In drug discovery and development, the optimization of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity (ADMETox) profile is of paramount importance. Silicon appears to be the right choice as a carbon isostere because they possess very similar intrinsic properties. However, the replacement of a carbon by a silicon atom in pharmaceuticals has proven to result in improved efficacy and selectivity, while enhancing physicochemical properties and bioavailability. The current review discusses how silicon has been strategically introduced to modulate drug‐like properties of anticancer agents, from a molecular design strategy, biological activity, computational modeling, and structure–activity relationships perspectives.
Clinical characteristics and long‐term outcomes for parapharyngeal metastases of well‐differentiated thyroid cancer during 131I therapy and follow‐up
Authors: Deng Xian‐Zhao , Shi Ya‐Fei , Shen Chen‐Tian , Song Hong‐Jun , Wang Jian , Fan You‐Ben , Luo Quan‐Yong , Qiu Zhong‐Ling
Published: April 2023

Objective

Parapharyngeal metastases (PPM) are rarely observed in patients with well‐differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). Radioiodine (131I) therapy has been the main treatment for metastatic and recurrent DTC after thyroidectomy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and long‐term outcomes associated with survival of patients with PPM at the end of follow‐up.

Design

In total, 14,984 consecutive patients with DTC who underwent 131I therapy after total or near‐total thyroidectomy from 2004 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours v1.1 and logistic regression analysis. The disease status was determined using dynamic risk stratification. Disease‐specific survival (DSS) was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and a Cox proportional hazards model.

Patients

Seventy‐five patients with PPM from WDTC were enroled in this study. Their median age at the initial diagnosis of PPM was 40.2 ± 14.1 years, and the patients comprised 32 men and 43 women (male:female ratio, 1.00:1.34). Of the 75 patients, 43 (57.33%) presented with combined distant metastases. Fifty‐seven (76.00%) patients had 131I avidity and 18 had non‐131I avidity. At the end of follow‐up, 22 (29.33%) patients showed progressive disease. Sixteen of the 75 patients died; of the remaining 59 patients, 6 (8.00%) had an excellent response, 6 (8.00%) had an indeterminate response, 10 (13.33%) had an biochemical incomplete response, and 37 (49.33%) had a structural incomplete response. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age at initial PPM diagnosis, the maximal size of PPM, and 131I avidity had significant effects on progressive disease of PPM lesions (p = .03, p= .02, and p < .01, respectively). The 5‐ and 10‐year DSS rates were 98.49% and 62.10%, respectively. Age of ≥55 years at initial diagnosis of PPM and the presence of concomitant distant metastasis were independently associated with a poor prognosis (p = .03 and p = .04, respectively).

Conclusion

The therapeutic effect for PPM was closely associated with 131I avidity, age at initial PPM diagnosis, and maximal size of PPM at the end of follow‐up. Age of ≥55 years at initial diagnosis of PPM and the presence of concomitant distant metastasis were independently associated with poor survival.
Do Retinal Neurons Also Represent Somatosensory Inputs? On Why Neuronal Responses Are Not Sufficient to Determine What Neurons Do
Authors: Elber‐Dorozko Lotem , Loewenstein Yonatan
Published: April 2023

How does neuronal activity give rise to cognitive capacities? To address this question, neuroscientists hypothesize about what neurons “represent,” “encode,” or “compute,” and test these hypotheses empirically. This process is similar to the assessment of hypotheses in other fields of science and as such is subject to the same limitations and difficulties that have been discussed at length by philosophers of science. In this paper, we highlight an additional difficulty in the process of empirical assessment of hypotheses that is unique to the cognitive sciences. We argue that, unlike in other scientific fields, comparing hypotheses according to the extent to which they explain or predict empirical data can lead to absurd results. Other considerations, which are perhaps more subjective, must be taken into account. We focus on one such consideration, which is the purposeful function of the neurons as part of a biological system. We believe that progress in neuroscience critically depends on properly addressing this difficulty.
Interleaving Effects in Blindfolded Perceptual Learning Across Various Sensory Modalities
Authors: Abel Roman
Published: April 2023

Research on sequence effects on learning visual categories has shown that interleaving (i.e., studying the categories in a mixed manner) facilitates category induction as compared to blocking (i.e., studying the categories one by one), but learners are unaware of the interleaving effect and prefer blocking. However, little attention has been paid to sequence effects in perceptual learning across further sensory modalities. The present (preregistered) research addresses this shortcoming by using auditory (birdcalls), olfactory (tealeaves), gustatory (ingredient mixtures), and tactile (stones) stimuli across four analog experiments. The number of participants per experiment was determined based on a medium effect size of interleaving. Participants studied six categories (with six exemplars, respectively) either interleaved or blocked. No single experiment showed a significant effect of interleaving. We ran a comprehensive meta‐analysis based on the data from all experiments, which revealed a significant small effect of interleaving, demonstrating its applicability to perceptual learning across all sensory modalities. Learners in the interleaved condition underestimated their classification performance. Overall, learners did not rate interleaving as less effective than blocking, which is at odds with previous studies that consistently demonstrated a metacognitive preference of blocking. Our findings suggest that learners rely less on conventional beliefs about the effectivity of study sequence when dealing with unfamiliar (blindfolded) perceptual learning tasks.
What Flips Attention?
Authors: Cleary Anne M. , Irving Zachary C. , Mills Caitlin
Published: April 2023

A central feature of our waking mental experience is that our attention naturally toggles back and forth between “external” and “internal” stimuli. In the midst of an externally demanding task, attention can involuntarily shift internally with no clear reason how or why thoughts momentarily shifted inward. In the case of external attention, we are typically exploring and encoding aspects of our external world, whereas internal attention often involves searching for and retrieving potentially relevant information from our memory networks. Cognitive science has traditionally focused on understanding forms of internal and external attention separately, leaving a mystery about what sparks the seemingly automatic shifts between the two. Specifically, what shifts attentional focus from being outward‐directed to being inward‐directed? We present a candidate mechanism: Familiarity‐detection.
Extinction risk patterns in a biodiversity hotspot—The case of Thesium (Santalaceae) in the Greater Cape Floristic Region
Authors: Zhigila Daniel A. , Muasya A. Muthama , Verboom G. Anthony
Published: April 2023

Ecologically specialized plants are expected to be at greater risk of extinction than generalists due to climate change. Such risk is greatest in biodiversity hotspots such as the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR), which accommodates both ecological specialists and generalists. Thesium L., a genus with the highest number of species in Santalaceae and the most diverse in Africa, offers an appropriate system for evaluating both the correlates of range extent and specialization and the relative extinction risks associated with both. We hypothesized that range size, ecological specialization, and consequent climatically modulated extinction risks are all phylogenetically structured, such that climate change will precipitate a disproportionate loss of phylogenetic diversity in the GCFR Thesium. Past and future species distribution ranges were predicted using MaxEnt models based on present‐day occurrences and environmental conditions. Of the 101 Thesium species modeled, 70% have had large range sizes during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), 50% currently have a large range size, and future conditions are predicted to allow 40% to obtain large range sizes. Between the LGM and the present, 17% of species are thought to have undergone a contraction of available range space in the present time whereas 37% are expected to expand their ranges into the future, while 51% of species will experience range contractions. Of the 65 species currently ranked as Least Concern in the South African Red List, 24% will likely shift into higher extinction risk categories. Interestingly, 8.5% of ecological specialists, although having experienced a range reduction from the LGM to the present, are predicted to persist in the face of future climate change. However, the range extent, ecological specialization, and extinction risk are phylogenetically random and therefore should have a negligible impact on the phylogenetic diversity of the GCFR Thesium.
Venous outflow obstruction in pediatric left lateral segment split liver transplantation
Authors: Pinelli Domenico , Sansotta Naire , Cavallin Francesco , Marra Paolo , Deiro Giacomo , Camagni Stefania , Bonanomi Ezio , Sironi Sandro , Antiga Lorenzo D’ , Colledan Michele
Published: April 2023

Background

Venous outflow obstruction (VOO) is a known cause of graft and patient loss after pediatric liver transplantation (LT). We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, management, and outcome of VOO in a large, consecutive series of left lateral segment (LLS) split LT with end‐to‐side triangular venous anastomosis.

Methods

We evaluated data collected in our prospective databases relative to all consecutive pediatric liver transplants performed from January 2006 to December 2021. We included in this study children undergoing LLS split liver transplant with end‐to‐side triangular anastomosis. Diagnosis of VOO was based on clinical suspicion and radiological confirmation.

Results

VOO occurred in 24/279 transplants (8.6%), and it was associated with lower graft weight (p = .04), re‐transplantation (p = .008), and presence of two hepatic veins (p < .0001). In presence of two segmental veins’ orifices, the type of reconstruction (single anastomosis after venoplasty or double anastomosis) was not significantly related to VOO (p = .87). Multivariable analysis indicated VOO as a risk factor for graft lost (hazard ratio 3.21, 95% confidence interval 1.22–8.46; p = .01). Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) was effective in 17/22 (77%) transplants. Surgical anastomosis was redone in one case. Overall six grafts (25%) were lost.

Conclusion

VOO after LLS split LT with end‐to‐side triangular anastomosis is an unusual but critical complication leading to graft loss in a quarter of cases. The occurrence of VOO was associated with lower graft weight, re‐transplantation, and presence of two hepatic veins. PTA was safe and effective to restore proper venous outflow in most cases.
Treatment options for gastrointestinal bleeding blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: Systematic review
Authors: Rimondi Alessandro , Sorge Andrea , Murino Alberto , Nandi Nicoletta , Scaramella Lucia , Vecchi Maurizio , Tontini Gian Eugenio , Elli Luca
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare challenging cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. We performed a systematic review of case reports and case series on BRBNS to gather information on the treatment options currently available.

Methods

All studies reporting a case of BRBNS in humans were evaluated. Papers were ruled out if CARE criteria and explanations on patient's selection, ascertainment, causality, and reporting were not respected or identified. PROSPERO 2021 CRD 42021286982.

Results

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome was treated in 106 cases from 76 reports. 57.5% of the population was under 18 years old, and up to 50% of the cases reported a previous treatment. Clinical success was achieved in 98 patients (92.4%). Three main types of interventions were identified: systemic drug therapy, endoscopy, and surgery. After BRBNS recurrence or previous therapy failure, systemic drug therapy emerged as a preferred second‐line treatment over endoscopy (P = 0.01), but with a higher rate of reported adverse events when compared with surgery and endoscopy (P < 0.001). Endoscopic treatment was associated with a higher number of required sessions to achieve complete eradication when compared with surgery (P < 0.001). No differences between the three main areas were found in the overall follow‐up time (P = 0.19) or in the recurrence rate (P = 0.45).

Conclusion

Endoscopy, surgery, and systemic drug therapy are feasible treatment options for BRBNS. Systemic drug therapy was the favorite second‐line treatment after endoscopic failure or recurrence of BRBNS, but adverse events were more frequently reported.
Use of metformin and insulin among pregnant women with gestation diabetes in the United Kingdom: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Yu Ya‐Hui , Platt Robert W. , Reynier Pauline , Yu Oriana H. Y. , Filion Kristian B.
Published: April 2023

Aims

The contemporary prescription patterns of antidiabetic drugs following guideline changes recommending metformin as first‐line gestational diabetes (GDM) pharmacotherapy is underexplored. We aimed to examined use of metformin and insulin during pregnancy among women with GDM over 20 years in the United Kingdom.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based cohort study using linked data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, its pregnancy register and Hospital Episode Statistics from 1998 to 2017. We included pregnancies of women without prior diabetes history who received GDM diagnosis or initiated an antidiabetic drug after 20 weeks gestation. Patient‐level and practice‐level characteristics were compared between metformin initiators and insulin initiators. We described trends of initiating metformin as first‐line treatment and described time to initiation of rescue insulin overall, and by body mass index among metformin initiators.

Results

Our cohort included 5633 pregnancies from 5393 women with GDM, of whom 38.9% initiated pharmacotherapy (41% insulin, 59% metformin). Metformin prescriptions (as opposed to insulin) increased substantially, from <5% of pregnancies before 2007 to 42.5% in 2008. Over 85% of pregnancies that were prescribed pharmacotherapy were prescribed metformin as first‐line treatment in 2015. Among metformin initiators, 16% initiated rescue insulin, typically occurring within 40 days of metformin initiation. Choice of GDM pharmacotherapy varied by characteristics, including smoking, obesity, race/ethnicity and general practice regions.

Conclusions

Metformin was the most prescribed medication for GDM, with large increases over the past 2 decades. The increasing use of oral‐antidiabetic drugs during pregnancy, consistent with other regions, highlights the need for future studies examining effectiveness and safety of antidiabetic drug use during pregnancy.
Sauna bathing, renal function and chronic kidney disease: Cross‐sectional and longitudinal findings from the KIHD study
Authors: Kunutsor Setor K. , Kauhanen Jussi , Laukkanen Jari A.
Published: April 2023

Background

It is uncertain if passive heat therapies are associated with adverse renal outcomes. We sought to evaluate the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations of the frequency of sauna bathing with renal function measures and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials and Methods

Baseline self‐reported sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2071 men aged 42–61 years with normal kidney function. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and serum levels of creatinine, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) were measured, with only 11‐year measurements of K and Na 11 years in a random subset of participants due to logistical reasons. Study participants were followed up for CKD diagnosed using KDOQI guidelines, which were collected from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. The associations of frequency of sauna bathing with renal function measures were evaluated using regression analyses. Hazard ratios (HRs; 95% CIs) were estimated for CKD.

Results

There were no significant changes in baseline levels of estimated GFR, creatinine and Na comparing 4–7 sauna sessions/week versus 1 sauna session/week; there was a slight increase in K .05 mmoL/L (95% CI, .00, .10; p = .033). There were no significant changes in levels of serum K and Na at 11 years. After 25.7 years overall median follow‐up, 188 CKD cases were recorded. Comparing 4–7 sauna sessions/week with 1 sauna session/week, there was no evidence of an association with CKD .84 (95% CI, .46–1.53; p = .56).

Conclusions

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal observational evidence suggests that frequent sauna bathing is not associated with impaired renal function or the future risk of CKD.
Effects of a past contest on the future winning probability in a hyper‐aggressive fruit fly
Authors: Amino Kai , Matsuo Takashi
Published: April 2023

In various animal taxa, prior experience of contests influences the consequences of subsequent contests. A well‐known example is the winner and loser effects, in which winners have a higher winning probability, whereas losers become more likely to lose in the subsequent contests. Previous studies have suggested that the intensity of past contests also affects the future winning probability in two ways: modulating the extent of the winner–loser effect or decreasing the winning probability of both winners and losers. However, the number of studies that investigated the effect of both the contest outcome and intensity has been limited. Here, we analyzed the effect of past fighting experience in a hyper‐aggressive fruit fly Drosophila prolongata to ask (1) whether the winner–loser effect exists in this species and (2) how the contest intensity influences the subsequent winning probability. To disentangle the multiple factors affecting the winning probability, we employed the experimental design involving both body size manipulation and the comparison of different intervals between the two contests. The results did not support the existence of the winner–loser effect: both winners and losers of the first contest showed decreased winning probability in the second contest. With a short interval (2 h), contest intensity negatively influenced the winning probability in winners, though the significance level of its effect was marginally above the statistical threshold. In contrast, contest intensity had no effect in losers. Notably, contest intensity positively correlated with the winning probability after the longer interval (1 d) in both winners and losers, suggesting that it reflects the intrinsic fighting potential of individuals. The possible mechanisms underlying the observed results were discussed. Our study illustrates the transient influence of past contests other than the winner–loser effect.
Fine‐scale spatial genetic structure in a locally abundant native bunchgrass (Achnatherum thurberianum) including distinct lineages revealed within seed transfer zones
Authors: Osuna‐Mascaró Carolina , Agneray Alison C. , Galland Lanie M. , Leger Elizabeth A. , Parchman Thomas L.
Published: April 2023

Analyses of the factors shaping genetic variation in widespread plant species are important for understanding the evolutionary history and local adaptation and have applied significance for guiding conservation and restoration decisions. Thurber's needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum) is a widespread, locally abundant grass that inhabits heterogeneous arid environments of western North America and is of restoration significance. It is a common component of shrubland steppe communities in the Great Basin Desert, where drought, fire, and invasive grasses have degraded natural communities. Using a reduced representation sequencing approach, we generated SNP data at 5677 loci across 246 individuals from 17 A. thurberianum populations spanning five previously delineated seed zones from the western Great Basin. Analyses revealed a pronounced population genetic structure, with individuals forming consistent geographical clusters across a variety of population genetic analyses and spatial scales. Low levels of genetic diversity within populations, as well as high population estimates of linkage disequilibrium and relatedness, were consistent with self‐fertilization as a contributor to population differentiation. Variance partitioning and partial redundancy analysis (pRDA) indicated local adaptation to environment as additionally influencing the spatial distribution of genetic variation. The environmental variables driving these results were similar to those implicated in recent genecological work which inferred local adaptation for seed zone delineation. Our analyses also revealed a complex evolutionary history of A. thurberianum in the Great Basin, where previously delineated seed zones contain distantly related populations. Our results indicate evolutionary history, mating system, and differentiation across distinct geographic and environmental scales have shaped genetic variation in A. thurberianum and illustrate how numerous aspects of population genetic variation might require consideration for restoration planning.
Link between obesity and atopic dermatitis: Does obesity predispose to atopic dermatitis, or vice versa?
Authors: Yang Shuyun , Zhu Tingting , Wakefield Joan S. , Mauro Theodora M. , Elias Peter M. , Man Mao‐Qiang
Published: April 2023

Two serious health conditions, obesity and atopic dermatitis (AD), share some pathological features such as insulin resistance, leptin resistance and inflammation, and a growing body of evidence suggests a link between obesity and AD. Obesity predisposes an individual to and/or worsens AD, whereas AD increases the risk of obesity. Obesity and AD's interactions are mediated by cytokines, chemokines and immune cells. Obese individuals with AD are more resistant to anti‐inflammatory therapy, while weight loss can alleviate AD. In this review, we summarize the evidence linking AD and obesity. We also discuss the pathogenic role of obesity in AD, and vice versa. Because of the connection between these two conditions, mitigation of one could possibly prevent the development of or alleviate the other condition. Effective management of AD and weight loss can enhance the wellness of individuals with both of these conditions. However, proper clinical studies are warranted to validate this speculation.
Analysis of biomechanical properties of mouse skin dermis through atomic force microscopy: Application to demonstrate a sexual dimorphism
Authors: Prigent Laura , Mercier‐Gouy Perrine , Bovio Simone , Aubert Alexandre , Liot Sophie , Lambert Elise , Valcourt Ulrich
Published: April 2023

An in‐depth understanding of the mechanical properties of the dermis is indispensable to improve wound healing or slow‐down skin ageing. Despite crucial research issues for dermatological and cosmetic industries, very little is known about the mechanical behaviour of the dermis at nanoscale level. This knowledge is relevant not only to human skin but also to mouse skin since this animal model is widely used in basic and preclinical studies for skin biology and health. Here, we describe an original protocol that we developed to specifically measure the mechanical properties of mouse dermis using atomic force microscopy‐based nano‐indentation approach. Using horizontal cryosections (i.e. parallel to the skin surface) performed at different depths through the dermis of dorsal skin, our protocol allowed us to detect nanoscale mechanical changes between female and male dermis samples. We found that the dermis was softer (i) in females than in males and (ii) with depth within the dermis of male mice. We also quantified compositional differences between female and male skin dermis and found that increased extracellular matrix gene expression and type V collagen staining were associated with increased dermal stiffness in male mice, compared with females. Our results demonstrating a sexual dimorphism in the nanomechanical properties and molecular composition of mouse dermis, open the way to better consider sex‐related cutaneous differences to understand skin disease and to stimulate the development of female versus male‐specific products with more appropriate dermatological treatments and cosmetic interventions.
H7N9avian influenza diagnosis based on a multilayer belief rule‐based inference methodology
Authors: Xu Xiaojian , Gao Yucai , Xu Xiaobin , Dai Libo , Liu Shelan , Zhang Shuo , Weng Xu
Published: April 2023

H7N9 avian influenza is a novel virus with high morbidity and mortality that threatens human health and life. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose H7N9 avian influenza in a timely and rapid manner to prevent further transmission of the virus and greatly reduce the infection and mortality rates. This paper proposes an H7N9 avian influenza diagnostic model that is based on a multilayer belief rule‐based (BRB) inference methodology by considering five typical characteristics of influenza: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, complications, characteristics of imaging tests and positive pathogen test results. Specifically, the severity of H7N9 avian influenza is gradually identified by a multilayer BRB model, and then the diagnostic model is optimized by a genetic algorithm (GA) to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Finally, the feasibility of the model is verified by fivefold cross‐validation with a real clinical dataset. The performance of the proposed diagnostic model is compared with those of the BP neural network (BPNN) model and support vector machine (SVM) model, and the results show that the multilayer BRB model can achieve rapid and satisfactory diagnostic results for H7N9 avian influenza. The experiment shows that the accuracy of the BRB model for H7N9 avian influenza hierarchical diagnosis provided in this paper is 0.903, which is higher than 0.818 of the BP neural network (BPNN) modules and 0.844 of the support vector machine (SVM) models. Especially when diagnosing the suspected and confirmed degree of H7N9 disease, it is more realized satisfactory diagnostic accuracy.
Parental leave system design impacts on its gendered use: Paternity leave introduction in Spain
Authors: Castellanos‐Serrano Cristina , Escot Lorenzo , Fernández‐Cornejo José Andrés
Published: April 2023

Objective

The article evaluates the 2007 introduction of nontransferable and fully paid paternity leave in Spain.

Background

Previous research has focused on paternity leave reforms, especially in the Nordic and continental countries. This article studies characteristics of the parental leave system design, including transferability, payment, and purpose of different types of leave for mothers and fathers in a Mediterranean country.

Method

We use a quasi‐experimental approach based on a sample of heterosexual dual‐earner couples with children born before and after the paternity leave introduction. We estimate differences in differences regression models.

Results

The 2007 reform caused a significant increase in fathers' number of days of parental leave. Most fathers used the whole nontransferable and fully paid paternity leave, but they hardly used transferable or unpaid leave. Mothers used all of these, especially paid leave.

Conclusion

The number of nontransferable fully paid days of parental leave provided by law approximates the actual number of days most fathers used.

Implications

The policy design matters. A design of equal, nontransferable, and fully paid leave for each parent is necessary for equal use by fathers and mothers—and thus for gender equality in families and work.