bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Monoclonal Antibodies Acting on the CGRP as a Combined Treatment for Migraine (TACTIC): Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial
Authors: Ornello Raffaele , Rosignoli Chiara , Caponnetto Valeria , Pistoia Francesca , Ferrara Michele , D'Atri Aurora , Sacco Simona
Published: May 2022

Background

Migraine is a recurrent headache disorder that has a still unclear pathophysiology, involving several circuits of both the central and peripheral nervous system. Monoclonal antibodies acting on the calcitonin gene-related (CGRP) pathway (CGRP-MAbs) are the first drugs specifically designed for migraine; those drugs act peripherally on the trigeminal ganglion without entering the blood-brain barrier. Conversely, neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) act centrally by increasing or decreasing the neuronal firing rate of brain cortical areas. The aim of the study will be to evaluate whether tDCS, in addition to CGRP-MAbs, is an effective add-on treatment in reducing headache frequency, intensity and acute medication use in patients with migraine. To demonstrate the biological effects of tDCS, the electroencephalographic (EEG) power changes after tDCS will be assessed.

Methods

We will include patients with migraine on treatment with CGRP-MAbs and reporting ≥8 monthly migraine days. During a prospective 28-day baseline period, patients will fill in a headache diary and questionnaires to evaluate migraine-related disability, anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. Subjects will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to active or sham tDCS. The stimulation protocol will consist in five daily sessions, the cathodes will be applied bilaterally above the occipital areas, with the reference anode electrodes positioned above the primary motor areas. Before the first, and immediately after the last stimulation session, patients will perform a 10-min resting EEG recording. During a 28-day follow-up period following tDCS, patients will have to fill in a headache diary and questionnaires identical to those of the baseline period.

Discussion

This trial will evaluate the efficacy of an add-on treatment acting on the brain in patients with migraine, who are already treated with peripherally acting drugs, showing how tDCS acts in restoring the dysfunctional brain networks typical of the migraine patient.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT05161871.
Global Trends and Hotspots in Trigeminal Neuralgia Research From 2001 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Zhu Ganggui , Fu Zaixiang , Su Sheng , Tang Yajuan , Liu Fuyi , Yu Wenhua
Published: May 2022

Background

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies on trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, a scientific and comprehensive study of the current situation and trends in the field of TN research is lacking. The purpose of this study is to summarize and visualize the development, research hotspots, and future trends in TN based on a bibliometric approach.

Methods

Studies on TN published from 2001 to 2021 were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometrics, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer tools were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization.

Results

In total, 4,112 documents were searched. The number of research articles in the field is generally on an upward trend, with the fastest growth in the number of articles from 2017 to 2020. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pittsburgh University, and Mayo Clinic are the three institutions with the most publications. Shiting Li and Zakrzewska JM are the most prolific author and top co-cited authors, respectively. The Journal of Neurosurgery is the most influential journal. The top 5 keywords in that time frame are TN, microvascular decompression, facial pain, stereotactic radiosurgery, and neuropathic pain.

Conclusion

This is the first comprehensive scientific bibliometric analysis of the global research field on TN over the past 21 years, providing a meaningful reference for further exploration of topical issues and research trends in the field.
On the Minimal Amount of EEG Data Required for Learning Distinctive Human Features for Task-Dependent Biometric Applications
Authors: Gómez-Tapia Carlos , Bozic Bojan , Longo Luca
Published: May 2022

Biometrics is the process of measuring and analyzing human characteristics to verify a given person's identity. Most real-world applications rely on unique human traits such as fingerprints or iris. However, among these unique human characteristics for biometrics, the use of Electroencephalogram (EEG) stands out given its high inter-subject variability. Recent advances in Deep Learning and a deeper understanding of EEG processing methods have led to the development of models that accurately discriminate unique individuals. However, it is still uncertain how much EEG data is required to train such models. This work aims at determining the minimal amount of training data required to develop a robust EEG-based biometric model (+95% and +99% testing accuracies) from a subject for a task-dependent task. This goal is achieved by performing and analyzing 11,780 combinations of training sizes, by employing various neural network-based learning techniques of increasing complexity, and feature extraction methods on the affective EEG-based DEAP dataset. Findings suggest that if Power Spectral Density or Wavelet Energy features are extracted from the artifact-free EEG signal, 1 and 3 s of data per subject is enough to achieve +95% and +99% accuracy, respectively. These findings contributes to the body of knowledge by paving a way for the application of EEG to real-world ecological biometric applications and by demonstrating methods to learn the minimal amount of data required for such applications.
Advancing the Understanding of Acupoint Sensitization and Plasticity Through Cutaneous C-Nociceptors
Authors: Cui Xiang , Liu Kun , Gao Xinyan , Zhu Bing
Published: May 2022

Acupoint is the key area for needling treatment, but its physiology is not yet understood. Nociceptors, one of the responders in acupoints, are responsible for acupuncture manipulation and delivering acupuncture signals to the spinal or supraspinal level. Recent evidence has shown that various diseases led to sensory hypersensitivity and functional plasticity in sensitized acupoints, namely, acupoint sensitization. Neurogenic inflammation is the predominant pathological characteristic for sensitized acupoints; however, the underlying mechanism in acupoint sensitization remains unclear. Recent studies have reported that silent C-nociceptors (SNs), a subtype of C nociceptors, can be “awakened” by inflammatory substances released by sensory terminals and immune cells under tissue injury or visceral dysfunction. SNs can transform from mechano-insensitive nociceptors in a healthy state to mechanosensitive nociceptors. Activated SNs play a vital role in sensory and pain modulation and can amplify sensory inputs from the injured tissue and then mediate sensory hyperalgesia. Whether activated SNs is involved in the mechanism of acupoint sensitization and contributes to the delivery of mechanical signals from needling manipulation remains unclear? In this review, we discuss the known functions of cutaneous C nociceptors and SNs and focus on recent studies highlighting the role of activated SNs in acupoint functional plasticity.
Cluster Analysis and Classification Model of Nutritional Anemia Associated Risk Factors Among Palestinian Schoolchildren, 2014
Authors: Qasrawi Radwan , Abu Al-Halawa Diala
Published: May 2022

Nutritional inadequacy has been a major health problem worldwide. One of the many health problems that result from it is anemia. Anemia is considered a health concern among all ages, particularly children, as it has been associated with cognitive and developmental delays. Researchers have investigated the association between nutritional deficiencies and anemia through various methods. As novel analytical methods are needed to ascertain the association and reveal indirect ones, we aimed to classify nutritional anemia using the cluster analysis approach. In this study, we included 4,762 students aged between 10 and 17 years attending public and UNRWA schools in the West Bank. Students' 24-h food recall and blood sample data were collected for nutrient intake and hemoglobin analysis. The K-means cluster analysis was used to cluster the hemoglobin levels into two groups. Vitamin B12, folate, and iron intakes were used as the indicators of nutrient intake associated with anemia and were classified as per the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values. We applied the Classification and Regression Tree (CRT) model for studying the association between hemoglobin clusters and vitamin B12, folate, and iron intakes, sociodemographic variables, and health-related risk factors, accounting for grade and age. Results indicated that 46.4% of the students were classified into the low hemoglobin cluster, and 60.7, 72.5, and 30.3% of vitamin B12, folate, and iron intakes, respectively, were below RDA. The CRT analysis indicated that vitamin B12, iron, and folate intakes are important factors related to anemia in girls associated with age, locality, food consumption patterns, and physical activity levels, while iron and folate intakes were significant factors related to anemia in boys associated with the place of residence and the educational level of their mothers. The deployment of clustering and classification techniques for identifying the association between anemia and nutritional factors might facilitate the development of nutritional anemia prevention and intervention programs that will improve the health and wellbeing of schoolchildren.
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Network Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Studies
Authors: Jiang Maofen , Liu Chunjiao , Ding Dongxiao , Tian Hui , Yu Chaoqun
Published: May 2022

Objective

The present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to summarize the direct and indirect evidence of common programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors including avelumab, atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and further to determine the optimal therapeutic regimen.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search to identify all potentially eligible studies in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until August 7, 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the second outcome was treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). We used random-effects model to conduct direct and network meta-analyses, which were performed by using RevMan 5.3 and R version 3.6.1, respectively.

Results

Direct meta-analysis suggested that atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab significantly improved OS compared with chemotherapy (CT), and NMA further established that atezolizumab [hazard ratio (HR), 0.77; 95% CrI, 0.62–0.96], nivolumab (HR, 0.75; 95% CrI, 0.62–0.93), or pembrolizumab (HR, 0.71; 95% Credible interval (Crl), 0.57–0.89) significantly and cemiplimab (HR, 0.68; 95% CrI, 0.46–1.02) numerically improved OS compared with CT. Meanwhile, NMA also indicated that cemiplimab was numerically superior to other PD-1/PD-L1 agents. Moreover, avelumab, atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab were found to have fewer TRAEs compared with CT in direct meta-analysis, which were supported by the results from the NMA. Meanwhile, surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) and ranking probability suggested that cemiplimab provided the most favorable balance between efficacy and safety, with the first ranking for the OS.

Conclusions

Based on available evidence, cemiplimab may have the most favorable risk–benefit ratio for NSCLC patients compared with other common therapeutic management. However, future research with a large-scale, high-quality, and mature follow-up is needed to further determine which agents should be preferentially selected for NSCLC patients due to the limitations of our NMA and variations of eligible studies in treatment line and PD-L1 status.
The Aging-Related Prognostic Signature Reveals the Landscape of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Fang , Gong Xin , Xia Meng , Yu Feng , Wu Jian , Yu Chaosheng , Li Junzheng
Published: May 2022

Background

Numerous studies have shown that the aging microenvironment played a huge impact on tumor progression. However, the clinical prognostic value of aging-related risk signatures and their effects on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains largely unclear. This study aimed to identify novel prognostic signatures based on aging-related genes (AGs) and reveal the landscape of the TIME in HNSCC.

Methods

Differentially expressed AGs were identified using the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The prognostic risk model of AGs was established by univariate and multivariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses. The independent prognostic value of the risk model and the correlations of the prognostic signature with immune score, tumor immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoints were systematically analyzed.

Results

A prognostic risk model of four AGs (BAK1, DKK1, CDKN2A, and MIF) was constructed and validated in the training and testing datasets. Kaplan–Meier curves and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed that the four-AG risk signature possessed an accurate predictive value for the prognosis of patients with HNSCC. Correlation analysis revealed that the risk score was negatively associated with immune score and immune cell infiltration level while positively correlated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response score. Patients of the high-risk subtype contained higher infiltration levels of resting natural killer (NK) cells, M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and resting mast cells while having lower infiltration levels of memory B cells, CD8+ T cells, follicular helper T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and activated mast cells than did those of the low-risk subtype. The expressions of CTLA4, PDCD1, and TIGIT were downregulated while the PDCD1LG2 expression was upregulated in the high-risk subtype compared to those in the low-risk subtype. Furthermore, the four selected AGs in the risk model were demonstrated to possess important functions in immune cell infiltration and ICB response of HNSCC.

Conclusions

The aging-related risk signature is a reliable prognostic model for predicting the survival of HNSCC patients and provides potential targets for improving outcomes of immunotherapy.
Synergistic Radiosensitization Mediated by Chemodynamic Therapy via a Novel Biodegradable Peroxidases Mimicking Nanohybrid
Authors: Zhang Jun , Jiang Dazhen , Lyu Meng , Ren Shiqi , Zhou Yunfeng , Cao Zhen
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are practically essential in radiotherapy to damage cancer cells; however, they are always inadequate for some malignant entities. Here, we designed a biodegradable mesoporous silica decorated with hemin and glucose oxidase (GOD@Hemin-MSN) to generate a chemodynamic therapy in order to enhance the killing capacity of radiotherapy.

Methods

Mesoporous silica, as an outstanding drug carrier, can deliver hemin and glucose oxidase to the tumor site. With high level of metabolism activity, cancer cells are abundant in glucose, which can be oxidized into H2O2 by glucose oxidase (GOD) on site. The generated H2O2 is subsequently converted into intracellular ROS, especially hydroxyl radical within the tumor microenvironment, by hemin, which has mimetic peroxidase properties. By this means, the ROS can be supplemented or enriched to facilitate the killing of tumor cells.

Results

The chemodynamic therapy induced by GOD@Hemin-MSN produced quantities of ROS, which compensated for their inadequacy as a result of radiotherapy, and exhibited remarkable antitumor efficacy, with a tumor inhibition rate of 91.5% in A549 tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion

This work has validated GOD@Hemin-MSN as a radiosensitizer in chemodynamic therapy, which showed biocompatibility and potential for translational application.
Clinical Experience and Management Strategy of Retroperitoneal Tumor With Venous Tumor Thrombus Involvement
Authors: Liu Zhuo , Ge Liyuan , Liu Lei , Zhao Xun , Chen Kewei , Li Yuxuan , Aili Abudureyimujiang , Lu Min , Pei Xinlong , Han Dengyang , Zhang Shudong , Ma Lulin
Published: May 2022

Background

This study aims to report the surgical management, complications, and outcomes for patients with retroperitoneal tumor and venous thrombus.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 19 cases of retroperitoneal tumor with venous tumor thrombus from August 2015 to March 2021. A new tumor thrombus PUTH-RT grading system was proposed on the basis of the characteristics of the surgical techniques.

Results

Two cases of PUTH-RT-1a, two cases of PUTH-RT-1b, six cases of PUTH-RT-2, six cases of PUTH-RT-3, and three cases of PUTH-RT-4 were included. Surgeries were successfully performed in all 19 patients. Among them, five cases (26.3%) were operated via a completely laparoscopic approach and 13 cases (68.4%) via an open approach. One case (5.3%) was converted from laparoscopic to open approach. Five cases (26.3%) experienced postoperative complications. All patients were followed for a median of 14 months. Cancer-associated death occurred in three cases. Distant metastases occurred in seven cases.

Conclusions

We propose a new tumor thrombus grading system based on the anatomical characteristics of retroperitoneal tumors with venous tumor thrombus. Retroperitoneal tumor resection and removal of venous tumor thrombi are safe and effective for the treatment of such diseases.
OGG1 Inhibition Triggers Synthetic Lethality and Enhances The Effect of PARP Inhibitor Olaparib in BRCA1-Deficient TNBC Cells
Authors: Baquero Juan Miguel , Marchena-Perea Erik , Mirabet Rocío , Torres-Ruiz Raúl , Blanco-Aparicio Carmen , Rodríguez-Perales Sandra , Helleday Thomas , Benítez-Buelga Carlos , Benítez Javier , Osorio Ana
Published: May 2022

Background

PARP1 plays a critical role in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, and PARP1 inhibition leads to specific cell death, through a synthetic lethal interaction, in the context of BRCA1/2 deficiency. To date, up to five different PARP inhibitors (PARPi), have been approved, nevertheless, the acquisition of resistance to PARPi is common and there is increasing interest in enhancing responses and expand their use to other tumour types.

Methods

We hypothesized that other BER members could be additional synthetic lethal partners with mutated BRCA genes. To test this, we decided to evaluate the glycosylase OGG1 as a potential candidate, by treating BRCA1 proficient and deficient breast cancer cells with PARPi olaparib and the OGG1 inhibitor TH5478.

Results

Knocking out BRCA1 in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines causes hypersensitivity to the OGG1 inhibitor TH5487. Besides, TH5487 enhances the sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor olaparib, especially in the context of BRCA1 deficiency, reflecting an additive interaction.

Discussion

These results provide the first evidence that OGG1 inhibition is a promising new synthetic lethality strategy in BRCA1-deficient cells, and could lead to a new framework for the treatment of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
AQP5 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Guo , Song Haiyang , Yang Zelong , Du Tianshu , Zheng Yu , Lu Zifan , Zhang Kunpeng , Wei Di
Published: May 2022

Background

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The identification of effective molecular markers is of great significance for diagnosis and treatment. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel proteins that exhibit several properties and play regulatory roles in human carcinogenesis. However, the association between Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) expression and prognosis and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in PAAD has not been reported.

Methods

AQP5 mRNA expression, methylation, and protein expression data in PAAD were analyzed using GEPIA, UALCAN, HAP, METHSURV, and UCSC databases. AQP5 expression in PAAD patients and cell lines from our cohort was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The LinkedOmics database was used to study signaling pathways related to AQP5 expression. TIMER and TISIDB were used to analyze correlations among AQP5, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and immunomodulators. Survival was analyzed using TCGA and Kaplan–Meier Plotter databases.

Results

In this study, we investigated AQP5 expression in PAAD and determined whether the expression of AQP5 is a strong prognostic biomarker for PAAD. We searched and analyzed public cancer databases (GEO, TCGA, HAP, UALCAN, GEPIA, etc.) to conclude that AQP5 expression levels were upregulated in PAAD. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed that high AQP5 expression positively correlated with poor prognosis. Using TIMER and TISIDB, we found that the expression of AQP5 was associated with different tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially macrophages. We found that hypomethylation of the AQP5 promoter region was responsible for its high expression in PAAD.

Conclusions

AQP5 can serve as a novel biomarker to predict prognosis and immune infiltration in PAAD.
Management Practices During Perinatal Respiratory Transition of Very Premature Infants
Authors: Hallman Mikko , Ronkainen Eveliina , Saarela Timo V. , Marttila Riitta H.
Published: May 2022

The present review considers some controversial management practices during extremely premature perinatal transition. We focus on perinatal prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in immature infants. New concerns regarding antenatal corticosteroid management have been raised. Many fetuses are only exposed to potential adverse effects of the drug. Hence, the formulation and the dosage may need to be modified. Another challenge is to increase the fraction of the high-risk fetuses that benefit from the drug and to minimize the harmful effects of the drug. On the other hand, boosting anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties of surfactant requires further attention. Techniques of prophylactic surfactant administration to extremely immature infants at birth may be further refined. Also, new findings suggest that prophylactic treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) of a high-risk population rather than later selective closure of PDA may be preferred. The TREOCAPA trial (Prophylactic treatment of the ductus arteriosus in preterm infants by acetaminophen) evaluates, whether early intravenous paracetamol decreases the serious cardiorespiratory consequences following extremely premature birth. Lastly, is inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) used in excess? According to current evidence, iNO treatment of uncomplicated RDS is not indicated. Considerably less than 10% of all very premature infants are affected by early persistence of pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). According to observational studies, effective ventilation combined with early iNO treatment are effective in management of this previously fatal disease. PPHN is associated with prolonged rupture of fetal membranes and birth asphyxia. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immunotolerance and hypoxia-reperfusion-induced oxidant stress may inactivate NO-synthetases in pulmonary arterioles and terminal airways. Prospective trials on iNO in the management of PPHN are indicated. Other pulmonary vasodilators may be considered as comparison drugs or adjunctive drugs. The multidisciplinary challenge is to understand the regulation of pregnancy duration and the factors participating the onset of extremely premature preterm deliveries and respiratory adaptation. Basic research aims to identify deficiencies in maternal and fetal tissues that predispose to very preterm births and deteriorate the respiratory adaptation of immature infants. Better understanding on causes and prevention of extremely preterm births would eventually provide effective antenatal and neonatal management practices required for the intact survival.
Maternal Resilience and Postpartum Depression at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Mautner Eva , Stern Christina , Avian Alexander , Deutsch Maria , Fluhr Herbert , Greimel Elfriede
Published: May 2022

Background

The neonatal intensive care unit causes maternal stress and postpartum depressive symptoms in preterm and term mothers. Personal resources like maternal resilience are usually not considered in counselling these women.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the resilience and differences in postpartum depression after admission of newborns at the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods

This prospective pilot study was conducted in a single teaching hospital in Austria from December 2016 until December 2018. Sixty women completed two internationally validated questionnaires, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to evaluate depressive symptoms and the Resilience Scale RS-13 to measure maternal resilience during the postpartum period (3 to 10 days postpartum). Additionally, women answered two open questions about burdens and relief.

Results

Twenty women (34%) showed lower resilience scores. The 39 high-resilient women (66%) showed significantly less depression (p = 0.005). Women reported social support from their partner (n = 15), health professionals and psychologists (n = 15), family and friends (n = 12), and child-specific relief, e.g., spending time with the newborn and involvement in care (n = 7) as the most helpful variable during the first postpartum period.

Conclusion

The experience of having a newborn at the neonatal intensive care unit is a challenging event for women. Women have different resilience parameters. Mothers with lower resilience will benefit from social support and emotional health-promoting activities.
Molecular Basis Underlying Hepatobiliary and Renal Excretion of Phenolic Acids of Salvia miltiorrhiza Roots (Danshen)
Authors: Lu Jun-Lan , Zeng Xue-Shan , Zhou Xin , Yang Jun-Ling , Ren Ling-Ling , Long Xin-Yu , Wang Feng-Qing , Olaleye Olajide E. , Tian Nan-Nan , Zhu Ya-Xuan , Dong Jia-Jia , Jia Wei-Wei , Li Chuan
Published: May 2022

Phenolic acids are cardiovascular constituents (originating from the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza root/Danshen) of DanHong and many other Danshen-containing injections. Our earlier pharmacokinetic investigation of DanHong suggested that hepatic and/or renal uptake of the Danshen compounds was the crucial steps in their systemic elimination. This investigation was designed to survey the molecular basis underlying hepatobiliary and renal excretion of the Danshen compounds, i.e., protocatechuic acid, tanshinol, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid D, salvianolic acid A, lithospermic acid, and salvianolic acid B. A large battery of human hepatic and renal transporters were screened for transporting the Danshen compounds and then characterized for the uptake kinetics and also compared with associated rat transporters. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Because the Danshen phenolic acids are of poor or fairly good membrane permeability, their elimination via the liver or kidneys necessitates transporter-mediated hepatic or renal uptake from blood. Several human transporters were found to mediate hepatic and/or renal uptake of the Danshen compounds in a compound-molecular-mass-related manner. Lithospermic acid and salvianolic acid B (both >500 Da) underwent systemic elimination, initiated by organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP)1B1/OATP1B3-mediated hepatic uptake. Rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acids D (350–450 Da) underwent systemic elimination, initiated by OATP1B1/OATP1B3/organic anion transporter (OAT)2-mediated hepatic uptake and by OAT1/OAT2-mediated renal uptake. Protocatechuic acid and tanshinol (both <200 Da) underwent systemic elimination, initiated by OAT1/OAT2-mediated renal uptake and OAT2-mediated hepatic uptake. A similar scenario was observed with the rat orthologs. The investigation findings advance our understanding of the disposition of the Danshen phenolic acids and could facilitate pharmacokinetic research on other Danshen-containing injections.
Involvement of the SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway in Noise-Induced Hidden Hearing Loss
Authors: Liu Yu-Hui , Jiang Yi-Hong , Li Cong-Cong , Chen Xue-Min , Huang Li-Gui , Zhang Min , Ruan Bai , Wang Xiao-Cheng
Published: May 2022

Objective: To establish an animal model of noise-induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL), evaluate the dynamic changes in cochlear ribbon synapses and cochlear hair cell morphology, and observe the involvement of the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway in NIHHL.

Methods: Male guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: control group, noise exposure group, and resveratrol treatment group. Each group was divided into five subgroups: the control group and 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month post noise exposure groups. The experimental groups received noise stimulation at 105 dB SPL for 2 h. Hearing levels were examined by auditory brainstem response (ABR). Ribbon synapses were evaluated by inner ear basilar membrane preparation and immunofluorescence. The cochlear morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence was performed to assess the change of SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), ATP and SIRT1 activity were measured using commercial testing kits.

Results: In the noise exposure group, hearing threshold exhibited a temporary threshold shift (TTS), and amplitude of ABR wave I decreased irreversibly. Ribbon synapse density decreased after noise exposure, and the stereocilia were chaotic and then returned to normal. The expression and activity of SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein was lower than that in the control group. SOD, CAT and ATP were also influenced by noise exposure and were lower than those in the control group, but MDA showed no statistical differences compared with the control group. After resveratrol treatment, SIRT1 expression and activity showed a significant increase after noise exposure, compared with the noise exposure group. In parallel, the PGC-1α and antioxidant proteins were also significantly altered after noise exposure, compared with the noise exposure group. The damage to the ribbon synapses and the stereocilia were attenuated by resveratrol as well. More importantly, the auditory function, especially ABR wave I amplitudes, was also promoted in the resveratrol treatment group.

Conclusion: The SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of NIHHL and could be potential therapeutical targets in the future.
Dynamic Target Tracking Method Based on Medical Imaging
Authors: Qin Guofeng , Qin Jiahao , Xia Qiufang , Zou Jianghuang , Lin Pengpeng , Ren Chengkun , Wang Ruihan
Published: May 2022

The cross fusion of rehabilitation medicine and computer graphics is becoming a research hotspot. Due to the problems of low definition and unobvious features of the initial video data of medical images, the initial data is filtered and enhanced by adding image preprocessing, including image rotation and contrast enhancement, in order to improve the performance of the tracking algorithm. For the moving barium meal, the discrete point tracking and improved inter frame difference method are proposed; for the position calibration of tissues and organs, the Kernel Correlation Filter (KCF) and Discriminative Scale Space Tracker (DSST) correlation filtering method and the corresponding multi-target tracking method are proposed, and the experimental results show that the tracking effect is better. The two algorithms modify each other to further improve the accuracy of calibration and tracking barium meal flow and soft tissue organ motion, and optimize the whole swallowing process of moving target tracking model.
The Motivation of Media Users and China’s National Media Digitization Construction in the Post-COVID-19 Era
Authors: Tan Yufei , She Xinlin , Zhou Cun , Wang Fangfei
Published: May 2022

The sudden arrival of COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on the lives of people around the world, including significant psychological pressure and increased emotional needs. In China, research into user psychology and the motivations of commercial digital media has become more popular, but the national media should pay more attention to user psychology and perform more research on user motivations to improve the effectiveness of communication. We investigated people’s internal psychology and motivation for using national media digital platforms in China during the pandemic. We collected data through online questionnaires and analyzed the use of apps of CCTV and The People’s Daily by individual users during the pandemic and the psychological needs of national digital media users. In the first stage of our research, we selected national digital media app users through the WeChat platform. In the second stage, more active users were chosen by snowballing upon the original sample. We surveyed 210 participants and ultimately obtained 180 valid samples. We analyzed the data using used SPSS 23.0. The results showed that with the help of digital media platforms and diversified media technology, the Chinese national media not only met the needs of users for information acquisition, but also provided sufficient emotional mutual assistance and comfort to users through the network aggregation formed by digital scene communication.
Investigating the Role of English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Academic Motivation and Language Mindset in Their Grit: A Theoretical Review
Authors: Liu Yiran
Published: May 2022

This review made a critical attempt to examine the studies on the role of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ academic motivation and growth mindsets in their grit. Some investigations have been done on the role of academic motivation in learner grit. However, a significant positive correlation between academic motivation and grit has been approved in related studies. The related literature review justified the results by broaden-and-build and expectancy-value theories. The related literature has shown that grittier learners persist in doing tasks, and developing their intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, the related literature has approved the effect of learners’ language mindset on their grit. In other words, learners with a growth mindset are persistent, and they devote their time to their performance. Finally, the pedagogical implications are expanded to promote the quality of language learning. This review also provides some suggestions for further research to illuminate our perspectives over motivation, mindset, and their interactions with each other.
Injury Prevention Considerations for Drum Kit Performance
Authors: Azar Nadia R.
Published: May 2022

For any skilled performer to deliver their optimal performance, preparation must extend beyond task-specific skill development to include psychological skills training, physical conditioning, and injury prevention. The keynote lecture upon which this article is based (delivered at the International Symposium on Performance Science 2021) explored current research that demonstrates the importance of physical conditioning and injury prevention for drummers (i.e., percussionists who play the drum kit). Early results revealed that professional drummers’ heart rates during live performances can reach similar levels to those of other professional athletes during competitions. They also established that playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) are very common in drummers, particularly those affecting the upper limbs such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Evidence from laboratory-based studies supports non-neutral postures, repetitive movements, and exposure to hand-arm vibration as risk factors for the development of these injuries in drummers. Embedding injury prevention education within drum kit curricula is a promising strategy for reducing the rates at which drummers report experiencing PRMDs, and the barriers and facilitators that drum kit educators encounter when attempting to do so are currently under investigation. When drummers include both physical conditioning and injury prevention within their overall preparation regimen, they will maximize their potential to deliver their peak performance.
Transfer Discriminative Dictionary Pair Learning Approach for Across-Subject EEG Emotion Classification
Authors: Ruan Yang , Du Mengyun , Ni Tongguang
Published: May 2022

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are not easily camouflaged, portable, and noninvasive. It is widely used in emotion recognition. However, due to the existence of individual differences, there will be certain differences in the data distribution of EEG signals in the same emotional state of different subjects. To obtain a model that performs well in classifying new subjects, traditional emotion recognition approaches need to collect a large number of labeled data of new subjects, which is often unrealistic. In this study, a transfer discriminative dictionary pair learning (TDDPL) approach is proposed for across-subject EEG emotion classification. The TDDPL approach projects data from different subjects into the domain-invariant subspace, and builds a transfer dictionary pair learning based on the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) strategy. In the subspace, TDDPL learns shared synthesis and analysis dictionaries to build a bridge of discriminative knowledge from source domain (SD) to target domain (TD). By minimizing the reconstruction error and the inter-class separation term for each sub-dictionary, the learned synthesis dictionary is discriminative and the learned low-rank coding is sparse. Finally, a discriminative classifier in the TD is constructed on the classifier parameter, analysis dictionary and projection matrix, without the calculation of coding coefficients. The effectiveness of the TDDPL approach is verified on SEED and SEED IV datasets.
The Impact of Social Isolation Due to COVID-19 on Symptom Progression in People With Dementia: Findings of the SOLITUDE Study
Authors: Manca Riccardo , De Marco Matteo , Colston Amanda , Raymont Vanessa , Amin Jay , Davies Rhys , Kumar Pramod , Russell Gregor , Blackburn Daniel J. , Venneri Annalena
Published: May 2022

Background

People with dementia (PWD) are vulnerable to abrupt changes to daily routines. The lockdown enforced on the 23rd of March 2020 in the UK to contain the expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic limited opportunities for PWD to access healthcare services and socialise. The SOLITUDE study explored the potential long-term effects of lockdown on PWD’s symptoms and carers’ burden.

Methods

Forty-five carers and 36 PWD completed a telephone-based assessment at recruitment (T0) and after 3 (T1) and 6 months (T2). PWD completed measures validated for telephonic evaluations of cognition and depression. Carers completed questionnaires on their burden and on PWD’s health and answered a customised interview on symptom changes observed in the initial months of lockdown. Longitudinal changes were investigated for all outcome variables with repeated-measures models. Additional post hoc multiple regression analyses were carried out to investigate whether several objective factors (i.e., demographics and time under social restrictions) and carer-reported symptom changes observed following lockdown before T0 were associated with all outcomes at T0.

Results

No significant changes were observed in any outcomes over the 6 months of observations. However, post hoc analyses showed that the length of social isolation before T0 was negatively correlated with episodic and semantic memory performance at T0. Carers reporting worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms and faster disease progression in PWD also reported higher burden. Moreover, carer-reported worsening of cognitive symptoms was associated with poorer semantic memory at T0.

Conclusion

PWD’s symptoms and carers’ burden remained stable over 6 months of observation. However, the amount of time spent under social restrictions before T0 appears to have had a significant detrimental impact on cognitive performance of patients. In fact, carer-reported cognitive decline during social isolation was consistent with the finding of poorer semantic memory, a domain sensitive to progression in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the initial stricter period of social isolation had greater detrimental impact on patients and their carers, followed then by a plateau. Future interventions may be designed to maintain an optimal level of social and cognitive engagement for PWD in challenging times, to prevent abrupt worsening of symptoms and associated detrimental consequences on patients’ carers.
Lessons Learned From Presumptive Condition Lists in Veteran Compensation Systems
Authors: Hall Amy L. , Demers Paul A. , VanTil Linda , MacLean Mary Beth , Dalton Maria E. , Batchelor Trish , Rushton Lesley , Driscoll Tim R.
Published: May 2022

Presumptive condition lists formally accept connections between military factors and veteran health conditions. An environmental scan of such lists and their evidentiary basis was conducted across four veterans' administrations to inform other administrations considering the development of such lists. Information on included conditions, qualifying military factors, and scientific processes was obtained through targeted internet searches and correspondence with veterans' administrations. The content of presumptive condition lists across jurisdictions varied by conditions included, as well as military eligibility requirements (e.g., service in particular conflict, context, or time period). Scientific review processes to develop lists also varied across jurisdictions. Findings indicate that evidence and experience may be leveraged across compensation systems (veteran and civilian). Ongoing research to understand links between military exposures and veteran health is recommended.
Trends and Correlates of Breakthrough Infections With SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Yamal Jose-Miguel , Appana Savitri , Wang Mengxi , Leon-Novelo Luis , Bakota Eric , Ye Yuanqing , Sharma Shreela , Morrison Alanna C. , Marko Dritana , Linder Stephen H. , Rector Alison , Jetelina Katelyn K. , Boerwinkle Eric , de Oliveira Otto Marcia
Published: May 2022

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant has been hypothesized to decrease the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Factors associated with infections with SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination are unknown. In this observational cohort study, we examined two groups in Harris County, Texas: (1) individuals with positive Nucleic Acid Amplification test between 12/14/2020 and 9/30/2021 and (2) the subset of individuals fully vaccinated in the same time period. Infected individuals were classified as a breakthrough if their infection occurred 14 days after their vaccination had been completed. Among fully vaccinated individuals, demographic and vaccine factors associated with breakthrough infections were assessed. Of 146,731 positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, 7.5% were breakthrough infections. Correlates of breakthrough infection included young adult age, female, White race, and receiving the Janssen vaccine, after adjustments including the amount of community spread at the time of infection. Vaccines remained effective in decreasing the probability of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The data indicate that increased vaccine booster uptake would help decrease new infections.
What Is Eczema?
Authors: Scollan Margaret E. , Lauren Christine T.
Published: May 2022

Do you get red and itchy rashes that just do not seem to go away? You may have atopic dermatitis, sometimes called eczema, the most common skin disease in children and teenagers. In this article, we describe how to recognize eczema and what causes it. Then we discuss the various treatments for eczema and strategies to help prevent it. Finally, we discuss the impact eczema can have on a person’s life.
Carbon Paste Electrochemical Sensors for the Detection of Neurotransmitters
Authors: Rejithamol R. , Beena S.
Published: May 2022

The relevance of the carbon-paste electrodes in the field of neurotransmitter electrochemical sensing is focused on in this review. The significance of biomolecules especially neurotransmitters in treatments related to different diseases has tremendously expanded the scope of analytical detection of these biomolecules. The detection of them from biological fluids and pharmaceutical dosages is highly recommendable because the normal functioning of a human body is very much related to the exact concentrations of these biomolecules. Therefore, electroanalytical techniques can be employed for the quantification of these molecules as these techniques take over the advantage of fast response time, are easy to handle, and possess highly sensitive results. Due to the cost-effectiveness and vague electron transfer kinetics, many carbon-paste electrode-based electrochemical sensors have been developed for various biomolecules, environmental pollutants, food additives, and pharmaceuticals. This review gives an intuition on different materials used for the quantification of neurotransmitters using carbon-paste electrode modified electrochemical methods. The electrochemical analysis of neurochemicals by probing the various analytical utilities of carbon-paste electrodes can enlighten the upcoming research on these molecules.
Critical Review of the State-of-the-Art on Lumbar Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty
Authors: Techens Chloé , Eltes Peter Endre , Lazary Aron , Cristofolini Luca
Published: May 2022

Interbody fusion is the gold standard surgery to treat lumbar disc degeneration disease but can be a high-risk procedure in elderly and polymorbid patients. Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty (PCD) is a minimally invasive technique developed to treat advanced stage of disc degeneration exhibiting a vacuum phenomenon. A patient-specific stand-alone spacer is created by filling the disc with polymethylmethacrylate cement, allowing to recover the disc height and improve the patient’s conditions. As it has recently been introduced in the lumbar spine, this review aims to present a transversal state-of-the-art of the surgery from its clinical practice and outcome to biomechanical and engineering topics. The literature was searched across multiple databases using predefined keywords over no limited period of time. Papers about vertebroplasty were excluded. Among 466 identified papers, the relevant ones included twelve clinical papers reporting the variations of the surgical technique, follow-up and complications, four papers reporting biomechanical ex vivo and numerical tests, and four letters related to published clinical papers. Papers presenting the operative practice are reported, as well as follow-ups up to four years. The papers found, consistently reported that PCD significantly improved the clinical status of the patients and maintained it after two years. Spine alignment was impacted by PCD: the sacral slope was significantly reduced, and disc height increased. The foramen opening correlated to the volume of injected cement. Substitutes to the acrylic cement exhibited better osteointegration and mechanical properties closer to bone tissue. Finally, limitations and risks of the surgery are discussed as well as potential improvements such as the development of new filling materials with better mechanical properties and biological integration or the investigation of the inner disc.