bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of School Nurse-Led Interventions in Collaboration with Kinesiologists in Promoting Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Authors: Longobucco Yari , Ricci Matteo , Scrimaglia Susan , Camedda Claudia , Dallolio Laura , Masini Alice
Published: May 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that schools adopt a whole-school strategy for healthy behaviors involving different health professionals. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nurse-led interventions in collaboration with kinesiologists on physical activity and lifestyle behaviors’ outcomes in school settings. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022343410). The primary research study was developed through the PICOS question: children and adolescence 6–18 years (P); school nurse-led interventions in promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behaviors (I); usual lessons, no intervention focusing on PA (C); PA levels, sedentary behaviors, and healthy lifestyle behaviors (O); experimental or observational study with original primary data and full-text studies written in English (S). Seven studies were included. Interventions were heterogeneous: besides physical activities carried out in all studies, the interventions were based on different health models and strategies (counselling, face-to-face motivation, education). Five out of seven articles investigated PA levels or their related behaviors using questionnaires, and two used ActiGraph accelerometers. Lifestyle behaviors were assessed with heterogeneous methods. Five out of seven articles showed an improvement in at least one outcome after the interventions, whereas two papers showed a statistically non-significant improvement. In conclusion, school interventions involving nurses, also in association with other professionals such as kinesiologists, can be effective in reducing sedentary behaviors and improving healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents.
MLuq Protocol: A Proposal for the Immobilization of the White Weapon, Preservation of DNA Traces, and Its Chain of Custody
Authors: Luque-Oliveros Manuel , Martínez-Flores Salvador , Morilla-Romero-de-la-Osa Rubén
Published: May 2023

Unprecedentedly, this article presents a useful management protocol for the workers in emergency situations assisting victims of white weapon aggressions with a dual innovation. It could presage a possible advance in the healthcare management of these patients and support important repercussions in the legal field when this type of wound is inflicted due to an aggression. The MLuq protocol has been agreed by consensus in a multidisciplinary manner including experts belonging to the state security forces (judicial and scientific Police), to the healthcare area (surgical nursing, emergency medicine, general cardiothoracic and digestive surgery, and the legal and forensic medicine area), to the legal system (a jurist specialized in the area), and to the academic sphere. It is the first paper to propose purse string sutures as a weapon immobilization technique, as well as a set of actions designed to obtain biological traces of legal interest and to preserve the chain of custody. Therefore, it is a useful tool for the health and legal personnel, and especially for the victims.
Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Wild and Cultivated Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Essential Oil
Authors: Ilić Zoran S. , Kevrešan Žarko , Šunić Ljubomir , Stanojević Ljiljana , Milenković Lidija , Stanojević Jelena , Milenković Aleksandra , Cvetković Dragan
Published: May 2023

Chemical profiling the sage essential oils (SEOs) from wild and cultivated (shaded or non-shaded) plants has been investigated. The yield of SEOs from wild plants (3.51 mL/100 g) was higher than that from cultivated plants(shaded plants: 3.20 mL/100 g and non-shaded plants: 2.56 mL/100 g).The main components of SEO from wild plants were cis-thujone (43.2%), camphor (17.6%), 1,8-cineole (13.8%), veridiflorol (3.8%) and borneol (3.4%).The chemical composition of SEO from cultivated plants included camphor > cis-thujone > 1,8-cineole. Net shading lowered the content of toxic cis-thujone in sage (23.5%) and is therefore recommended in order to achieve better quality of SEO compared to non-shaded plants (cis-thujone 28.3%).The thujone content of SEO from wild plants is much higher (43.2%), and this drastically reduces the quality of EO. Cultivated sage was found to have stronger antioxidant activity (shaded plants 6.16 mg/mL or non-shaded 7.49 ± 0.13 mg/mL) compared to wild sage plants (9.65 mg/mL). The isolated SEOs are good sources of natural antioxidants with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Physiology and Application of Gibberellins in Postharvest Horticultural Crops
Authors: Zhang Jingyu , Cao Yuhao , Tang Jia , He Xujie , Li Ming , Li Chen , Ren Xiaolin , Ding Yuduan
Published: May 2023

Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones indispensable in regulating the growth and development of fruits. Recent studies have shown that GAs play important roles in delaying horticultural crop ripening and senescence, enhancing the internal and external quality of horticultural crops and resistance to stress and disease. We reviewed the role of GAs in the postharvest physiology of fruits in recent years. GAs are closely related to their ability to retard fruit senescence. GAs could effectively improve fruit storage quality and significantly increase flesh hardness, reduce respiration intensity, inhibit the release of endogenous ethylene, and effectively inhibit fruit softening and ripening. It can also improve the intrinsic and extrinsic quality of fruit storage by improving fruit shape, regulating color, delaying the reduction of soluble solids, promoting sugar accumulation, and delaying vitamin loss. GAs also play a role in postharvest biotic and abiotic stress resistance. The GA treatment effectively reduces the cold damage index, reduces the production and accumulation of superoxide anion(O2−), improves the antioxidant capacity of fruits, and maintains the integrity of cell membranes during low-temperature storage. Moreover, GAs could effectively control some postharvest fruit diseases. In conclusion, GAs play an important role in the physiological regulation of postharvest fruits and have important application prospects in postharvest fruits.
Monitoring Role of Exogenous Amino Acids on the Proteinogenic and Ionic Responses of Lettuce Plants under Salinity Stress Conditions
Authors: Abdelkader Mostafa , Voronina Luidmila , Shelepova Olga , Puchkov Mikhail , Loktionova Elena , Zhanbyrshina Nursaule , Yelnazarkyzy Rakhiya , Tleppayeva Aigul , Ksenofontov Alexander
Published: May 2023

Lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown under salinity stress conditions. Amino acids (histidine (His), lysine (Lys), phenylalanine (Phe), and threonine (Thr)) were individually applied to the seedlings to study their impact on the status of the photosynthetic pigments, ion absorption, proteinogenic metabolism, and peroxidase activity. Investigating the effect of exogenous amino acids on the metabolism processes showed their potential role in inducing salt stress tolerance in lettuce plants. Generally, a destructive impact on lettuce plant morphology was observed when the plants were exposed to salt stress. In contrast, the significant (p < 0.05) mitigation of salt stress was registered when EAAs were applied to the stressed seedlings while using Threonine and lysine enhanced the status of the plants under salinity stress. For the salt treatment, the maximum electric conductivity (580.2 μS/g) was reported while applying EAAs to stressed plants’ decreased EC, and the data ranged from 522 to 554 μS/g. EAAs decreased the chloride ions in the leaves by 23–30% compared to in the stressed plants. Additionally, the sodium contents were mitigated when the stressed plants were sprayed with EAAs. In contrast, applying EAAs enhanced the potassium uptake, and Thr gave the highest K+ contents (3022 μg/g). EAAs increased the chlorophyll content compared to the control except when histidine was applied, while the carotene contents significantly increased when histidine and phenylalanine were used. Endogenous amino acids are highly expressed in non-stressed lettuce plants compared to the stressed ones. Under salt stress conditions, the threonine usage increased the expression of proteinogenic amino acids except methionine and tyrosine. Compared to the salt-stressed plants, the peroxidase activity significantly decreased in the other treatments, which fell by over 32% when His, Lys, and Phe were applied.
Water Productivity Indices of Onion (Allium cepa) under Drip Irrigation and Mulching in a Semi-Arid Tropical Region of Colombia
Authors: Terán-Chaves César Augusto , Montejo-Nuñez Luis , Cordero-Cordero Carina , Polo-Murcia Sonia Mercedes
Published: May 2023

Efficient water management is crucial for sustainable agriculture and water resource conservation, particularly in water-scarce regions. This study investigated the effect of different irrigation depths on onion (Allium cepa L.) yield and water use patterns in a semi-arid tropical region of Colombia, using a completely randomized design with five treatments. The treatments ranged from 0–100% of total available water (TAW), T1 (100% of TAW), T2 (80% of TAW), T3 (60% of TAW), T4 (40% of TAW), and T5 (20% of TAW). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse during one growing season (2022–2023). The normalized water productivity (WP *), irrigation water productivity (IWP), consumptive water productivity, blue water footprint (WFblue), marginal water use efficiency (MWUE), and elasticity of water productivity (EWP), as well as some parameters of quality onion, were determined. The soil in the experimental field was classified as sandy loam; the results show that the WP * of onion is 17.42 g m−2, the water production function shows the maximum production will be achieved at a water application depth of approximately 943 mm, and beyond that, the biomass yield will decrease with additional water application, IWP values for onion ranged from 2.18 to 3.42 kg m−3, the highest Wfblue was in T5 (34.10 m3 t−1), and low Wfblue was T1 (20.95 m3 t−1). In terms of quality, treatment T1 had the most favorable effects on bulb weight, polar diameter, and equatorial diameter, while treatment T5 had the least favorable effects. The study highlights the importance of efficient irrigation on sandy loam soils to maximize yield and water use efficiency. It provides valuable data for evaluating the potential yield benefits of precision irrigation in the study area. Optimizing irrigation depth can significantly improve onion yield and water use efficiency in semi-arid regions.
Evaluation of the Relationship between Stream Habitat Quality and Taxa and Trait Richness and Diversity in Piedmont Streams in North Carolina
Authors: Roux Anthony J. , Clinton Sandra M.
Published: May 2023

As impervious cover increases with urban development, stream channels are degraded by increased stormwater runoff, which negatively impacts stream habitat quality and benthic macroinvertebrate diversity. We examined the relationship between stream habitat diversity and aquatic insect taxa and trait richness and diversity at the watershed scale in 30 streams, covering a gradient of stream habitat quality. We then quantified the relationship between taxa and trait richness and diversity and seven microhabitats at the reach scale in ten streams with high habitat quality. We found that both taxa richness and diversity declined at a greater rate than trait richness and diversity along an in-stream habitat diversity gradient. Taxa richness was positively correlated with pools, runs, backwater, leaf packs, and riffles, while trait richness was positively correlated with runs, small wood, and riffles. Taxa diversity was positively correlated with pools and leaf packs while trait diversity was positively correlated with runs, leaf packs, small wood, and riffles. An indicator species analysis revealed that specific taxa and traits were associated with specific microhabitats or combinations of microhabitats. By correlating the taxa in urban streams with specific microhabitats, we can better evaluate the success of stream restoration in restoring stream function and in stimulating benthic macroinvertebrate recovery.
Integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery with Landsat Imagery for Better Watershed Scale ET Prediction
Authors: Khanal Rajendra , Barber Michael E.
Published: May 2023

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a critical component of the water cycle, and an accurate prediction of ET is essential for water resource management, irrigation scheduling, and agricultural productivity. Traditionally, ET has been estimated using satellite-based remote sensing, which provides synoptic coverage but can be limited in spatial resolution and accuracy. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer improved ET prediction by providing high-resolution imagery of the Earth’s surface but are limited to a small area. Therefore, UAV and satellite images provide complementary data, but the integration of these two data for ET prediction has received limited attention. This paper presents a method that integrates UAV and satellite imagery for improved ET prediction and applies it to five crops (corn, rye grass, wheat, and alfalfa) from agricultural fields in the Walla Walla of eastern Washington State. We collected UAV and satellite data for five crops and used the combination of remote sensing models and statistical techniques to estimate ET. We show that UAV-based ET can be integrated with the Landsat-based ET with the application of integration factors. Our result shows that the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of daily ET for corn (Zea mays), rye grass (Lolium perenne), wheat (Triticum aestivum), peas (Pisum sativum), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) can be improved by the application of the integration factor to the Landsat based ET in the range of (35.75–65.52%). We also explore the variability and effect of partial cloud on UAV-based ET estimation. Our findings have implications for the use of UAVs in water resource management and highlight the importance of considering multiple sources of data in ET prediction.
Developing a Model for Integrating of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Primary Healthcare Services in Oliver Reginald (O.R) Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Dlatu Ntandazo , Longo-Mbenza Benjamin , Oladimeji Kelechi Elizabeth , Apalata Teke
Published: May 2023

Despite the policy, frameworks for integration exist; integration of TB and HIV services is far from ideal in many resource-limited countries, including South Africa. Few studies have examined the advantages and disadvantages of integrated TB and HIV care in public health facilities, and even fewer have proposed conceptual models for proven integration. This study aims to fill this vacuum by describing the development of a paradigm for integrating TB, HIV, and patient services in a single facility and highlights the importance of TB-HIV services for greater accessibility under one roof. Development of the proposed model occurred in several phases that included assessment of the existing integration model for TB-HIV and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data from the study sites, which were selected public health facilities in rural and peri-urban areas in the Oliver Reginald (O.R.) Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Secondary data on clinical outcomes from 2009–2013 TB–HIV were obtained from various sources for the quantitative analysis of Part 1. Qualitative data included focus group discussions with patients and healthcare workers, which were analyzed thematically in Parts 2 and 3. The development of a potentially better model and the validation of this model shows that the district health system was strengthened by the guiding principles of the model, which placed a strong emphasis on inputs, processes, outcomes, and integration effects. The model is adaptable to different healthcare delivery systems but requires the support of patients, providers (professionals and institutions), payers, and policymakers to be successful.
Integrating Telehealth for Strengthening Health Systems in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perspective from Peru
Authors: Curioso Walter H. , Coronel-Chucos Lelis G. , Henríquez-Suarez Milagro
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the government to rapidly modify its legal framework to adopt telemedicine and promote the implementation of telehealth services to meet the healthcare needs of patients in Peru. In this paper, we aim to review the main changes to the regulatory framework and describe selected initiatives to promote the telehealth framework that emerged in Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we discuss the challenges to integrate telehealth services for strengthening health systems in Peru. The Peruvian telehealth regulatory framework began in 2005, and in subsequent years, laws and regulations were established that sought to progressively implement a national telehealth network. However, mainly local initiatives were deployed. In this sense, significant challenges remain to be addressed, such as infrastructure in healthcare centers, including high-speed Internet connectivity; infostructure of health-information systems, including interoperability with electronic medical records; monitoring and evaluation of the national agenda for the health sector in 2020–2025; expanding the healthcare workforce in terms of digital health; and developing the capacities of healthcare users on health literacy, including digital aspects. In addition, there is enormous potential for telemedicine as a key strategy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve access to rural and hard-to-reach areas and populations. There is thus an urgent need to effectively implement an integrated national telehealth system to address sociocultural issues and strengthen the competencies of human resources in telehealth and digital health in Peru.
Elucidating the Mesocarp Drupe Transcriptome of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.): An Amazonian Tree Palm Producer of Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Darnet Elaine , Teixeira Bruno , Schaller Hubert , Rogez Hervé , Darnet Sylvain
Published: May 2023

Euterpe oleracea palm, endemic to the Amazon region, is well known for açai, a fruit violet beverage with nutritional and medicinal properties. During E. oleracea fruit ripening, anthocyanin accumulation is not related to sugar production, contrarily to grape and blueberry. Ripened fruits have a high content of anthocyanins, isoprenoids, fibers, and proteins, and are poor in sugars. E. oleracea is proposed as a new genetic model for metabolism partitioning in the fruit. Approximately 255 million single-end-oriented reads were generated on an Ion Proton NGS platform combining fruit cDNA libraries at four ripening stages. The de novo transcriptome assembly was tested using six assemblers and 46 different combinations of parameters, a pre-processing and a post-processing step. The multiple k-mer approach with TransABySS as an assembler and Evidential Gene as a post-processer have shown the best results, with an N50 of 959 bp, a read coverage mean of 70x, a BUSCO complete sequence recovery of 36% and an RBMT of 61%. The fruit transcriptome dataset included 22,486 transcripts representing 18 Mbp, of which a proportion of 87% had significant homology with other plant sequences. Approximately 904 new EST-SSRs were described, and were common and transferable to Phoenix dactylifera and Elaeis guineensis, two other palm trees. The global GO classification of transcripts showed similar categories to that in P. dactylifera and E. guineensis fruit transcriptomes. For an accurate annotation and functional description of metabolism genes, a bioinformatic pipeline was developed to precisely identify orthologs, such as one-to-one orthologs between species, and to infer multigenic family evolution. The phylogenetic inference confirmed an occurrence of duplication events in the Arecaceae lineage and the presence of orphan genes in E. oleracea. Anthocyanin and tocopherol pathways were annotated entirely. Interestingly, the anthocyanin pathway showed a high number of paralogs, similar to in grape, whereas the tocopherol pathway exhibited a low and conserved gene number and the prediction of several splicing forms. The release of this exhaustively annotated molecular dataset of E. oleracea constitutes a valuable tool for further studies in metabolism partitioning and opens new great perspectives to study fruit physiology with açai as a model.
miR-3174 Is a New Tumor Suppressor MicroRNA That Inhibits Several Tumor-Promoting Genes in Glioblastoma
Authors: Hanif Farina , Zhang Ying , Dube Collin , Gibert Myron K. , Saha Shekhar , Hudson Kadie , Marcinkiewicz Pawel , Kefas Benjamin , Guessous Fadila , Abounader Roger
Published: May 2023

microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathology of glioblastoma (GBM), which is the most malignant and most common primary malignant brain tumor. miRNAs can target multiple genes simultaneously and are considered as potential therapeutic agents or targets. This study aimed to determine the role of miR-3174 in the pathobiology of GBM using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. This is the first study deciphering the role of miR-3174 in GBM. We studied the expression of miR-3174 and found it to be downregulated in a panel of GBM cell lines, GSCs and tissues relative to astrocytes and normal brain tissue. This finding led us to hypothesize that miR-3174 has a tumor-suppressive role in GBM. Exogenous expression of miR-3174 inhibited GBM cell growth and invasion, and hampered the neurosphere formation ability of GSCs. miR-3174 downregulated the expression of multiple tumor-promoting genes including CD44, MDM2, RHOA, PLAU and CDK6. Further, overexpression of miR-3174 reduced tumor volume in nude mice with intracranial xenografts. Immuno-histochemical study of brain sections with intracranial tumor xenografts revealed the pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity of miR-3174. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR-3174 has a tumor-suppressive role in GBM and could be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Systemic Sclerosis: How Can We Manage the Challenge?
Authors: Richter Patricia , Cardoneanu Anca , Dima Nicoleta , Bratoiu Ioana , Rezus Ciprian , Burlui Alexandra Maria , Costin Damiana , Macovei Luana Andreea , Rezus Elena
Published: May 2023

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a severe and frequent manifestation of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Due to its debilitating potential, it requires serious evaluation and treatment. The prevalence of ILD in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still controversial. Therefore, in order to establish the diagnosis of ILD, an overlap syndrome must be excluded. Increasing the identification of SLE-associated ILD cases should become a target. To treat this complication, various therapies are now being proposed. To date, no placebo-controlled studies were conducted. Regarding another CTD, systemic sclerosis (SSc), SSc-associated ILD is considered one of the leading causes of mortality. The incidence of ILD varies among disease subtypes, being influenced by diagnostic method, but also by disease duration. Due to the high prevalence of this complication, all SSc patients should be investigated for ILD at the time of SSc diagnosis and during the course of the disease. Fortunately, progress was made in terms of treatment. Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinases inhibitor, showed promising results. It appeared to decrease the rate of progression of ILD compared to placebo. This review aimed to provide up-to-date findings related to SLE-associated ILD and SSc-associated ILD, in order to raise awareness of their diagnosis and management.
Transcription Factor MdbHLH093 Enhances Powdery Mildew Resistance by Promoting Salicylic Acid Signaling and Hydrogen Peroxide Accumulation
Authors: Ma Hai , Zou Fuyan , Li Dongmei , Wan Ye , Zhang Yiping , Zhao Zhengyang , Wang Xiping , Gao Hua
Published: May 2023

Powdery mildew is an apple disease caused by the obligate trophic fungus Podosphaera leucotricha. Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors play important roles in plant development and stress responses, and they have been widely studied in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana. However, their role in the stress response of perennial fruit trees remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of MdbHLH093 in the powdery mildew of apples. The expression of MdbHLH093 was significantly induced during the infection of apples with powdery mildew, and the allogenic overexpression of MdbHLH093 in A. thaliana enhanced the resistance to powdery mildew by increasing the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and activating the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway. The transient overexpression of MdbHLH093 in apple leaves increased the resistance to powdery mildew. Conversely, when MdbHLH093 expression was silenced, the sensitivity of apple leaves to powdery mildew was increased. The physical interaction between MdbHLH093 and MdMYB116 was demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid, bi-molecular fluorescence complementation, and split luciferase experiments. Collectively, these results indicate that MdbHLH093 interacts with MdMYB116 to improve apple resistance to powdery mildew by increasing the accumulation of H2O2 and activating the SA signaling pathway, as well as by providing a new candidate gene for resistance molecular breeding.
High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Neurobehavioral Abnormalities and Neuronal Morphological Alterations Accompanied by Excessive Microglial Activation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescent Mice
Authors: Wang Conghui , Li Hong , Chen Chen , Yao Xiuting , Yang Chenxi , Yu Zhehao , Ren Jiayi , Ming Yue , Huang Yi , Rong Yi , Ma Yu , Liu Lijie
Published: May 2023

The association between a high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and emotional/cognitive disorders is widely documented. One distinctive feature of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a kernel emotion- and cognition-related brain region, is its protracted adolescent maturation, which makes it highly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of environmental factors during adolescence. Disruption of the PFC structure and function is linked to emotional/cognitive disorders, especially those that emerge in late adolescence. A HFD consumption is common among adolescents, yet its potential effects on PFC-related neurobehavior in late adolescence and any related underlying mechanisms are yet to be established. In the present study, adolescent (postnatal days 28–56) male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet (CD) or a HFD and underwent behavioral tests in addition to Golgi staining and immunofluorescence targeting of the medial PFC (mPFC). The HFD-fed adolescent mice exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behavior and abnormal mPFC pyramidal neuronal morphology accompanied by alterations in microglial morphology indicative of a heightened state of activation and increased microglial PSD95+ inclusions signifying excessive phagocytosis of the synaptic material in the mPFC. These findings offer novel insights into the neurobehavioral effects due to adolescent HFD consumption and suggest a contributing role in microglial dysfunction and prefrontal neuroplasticity deficits for HFD-associated mood disorders in adolescents.
Playing Peekaboo with a Master Manipulator: Metagenetic Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Wolbachia Supergroups in Freshwater Invertebrates
Authors: Mioduchowska Monika , Konecka Edyta , Gołdyn Bartłomiej , Pinceel Tom , Brendonck Luc , Lukić Dunja , Kaczmarek Łukasz , Namiotko Tadeusz , Zając Katarzyna , Zając Tadeusz , Jastrzębski Jan P. , Bartoszek Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

The infamous “master manipulators”—intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia—infect a broad range of phylogenetically diverse invertebrate hosts in terrestrial ecosystems. Wolbachia has an important impact on the ecology and evolution of their host with documented effects including induced parthenogenesis, male killing, feminization, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Nonetheless, data on Wolbachia infections in non-terrestrial invertebrates are scarce. Sampling bias and methodological limitations are some of the reasons limiting the detection of these bacteria in aquatic organisms. In this study, we present a new metagenetic method for detecting the co-occurrence of different Wolbachia strains in freshwater invertebrates host species, i.e., freshwater Arthropoda (Crustacea), Mollusca (Bivalvia), and water bears (Tardigrada) by applying NGS primers designed by us and a Python script that allows the identification of Wolbachia target sequences from the microbiome communities. We also compare the results obtained using the commonly applied NGS primers and the Sanger sequencing approach. Finally, we describe three supergroups of Wolbachia: (i) a new supergroup V identified in Crustacea and Bivalvia hosts; (ii) supergroup A identified in Crustacea, Bivalvia, and Eutardigrada hosts, and (iii) supergroup E infection in the Crustacea host microbiome community.
Localized Cutaneous Nodular Amyloidosis in a Patient with Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Llamas-Molina José María , Velasco-Amador Juan Pablo , De La Torre-Gomar Francisco Javier , Carrero-Castaño Alejandro , Ruiz-Villaverde Ricardo
Published: May 2023

Primary localized cutaneous nodular amyloidosis (PLCNA) is included in the primary forms of cutaneous amyloidosis along with macular and lichenoid amyloidosis. It is a rare disease attributed to plasma cell proliferation and deposition of immunoglobulin light chains in the skin. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman with a personal history of Sjogren’s syndrome (SjS), who consulted for asymptomatic yellowish, waxy nodules on the left leg. Dermoscopy of the lesions showed a smooth, structureless, yellowish surface with hemorrhagic areas and few telangiectatic vessels. Histopathology revealed an atrophic epidermis and deposits of amorphous eosinophilic material in the dermis with a positive Congo red stain. The diagnosis of nodular amyloidosis was made. Periodic reevaluation was indicated after the exclusion of systemic amyloidosis. PLCNA is often associated with autoimmune connective tissue diseases, and up to 25% of all PLCNA cases occur in patients with SjS. Therefore, in addition to ruling out systemic amyloidosis, screening for possible underlying SjS should be performed when the diagnosis of PLCNA is confirmed.
Empower Psychotherapy with mHealth Apps: The Design of “Safer”, an Emotion Regulation Application
Authors: Diano Federico , Sica Luigia Simona , Ponticorvo Michela
Published: May 2023

In the past decade, technological advancements in mental health care have resulted in new approaches and techniques. The proliferation of mobile apps and smartphones has significantly improved access to psychological self-help resources for individuals. In this paper, a narrative review offers a comprehensive overview of recent developments in mental health mobile apps, serving as a foundation to introduce the design and development of “Safer”. Safer is a mobile application that targets the transdiagnostic process of emotion dysregulation. The review outlines the theoretical framework and design of Safer, an mHealth app grounded in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model, aimed at fostering emotion regulation skills.
Novel Pyrimidinethione Hydrazide Divalent and Trivalent Metal Complexes for Improved High-Performance Antimicrobial and Durable UV Blocking Cellulosic Fabric
Authors: Saeed Saeed El-Sayed , Alomari Budoor A. , Abd El-Hady Marwa. M. , Al-Hakimi Ahmed N.
Published: May 2023

Ultraviolet (UV)-protective and antimicrobial cotton fabrics are necessary for the protection of our skin. In this article, a pyrimidinethione hydrazide (PTH) derivative ligand was complexed with Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd as divalent metals and Fe and Cr as trivalent metals to prepare highly antimicrobial and UV-blocking metal–pyrimidinethione hydrazide-modified cotton fabrics (M-PTH-C). The cotton sample treated (M-PTH) was found to show improved efficiency over pyrimidinethione hydrazide-modified cotton (PTH-C). Cadmium-PTH-C showed the highest performance of antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), Escherichia Coli (Gram-negative bacteria), and Candida albicans (fungi) with zones of inhibition 31 mm, 18 mm, and 27 mm, respectively. Furthermore, all M-PTH-C samples showed no effect against Candida albicans, except Co, Ni, and Cd pyrimidinethione hydrazide-modified cotton with inhibition zones of 16 mm, 27 mm, and 22 mm. In addition, no compounds showed any activity against Aspergillus flavus except Cd-PTH-C, which gave an excellent performance, with a 33 mm inhibition zone. Furthermore, most modified cotton fabrics have excellent UV protection. Fe-PTH-C showed 113.3 as the highest Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) compared to the other modified samples. The tensile strength test of all samples was also investigated. The values of tensile strength for the treated cotton samples are slightly affected compared to the untreated ones.
Interaction of Copper(II) Ions with Certain Oxyacids and Azoles
Authors: Skorik Nina , Tomilova Evgeniya , Pastushchak Ekaterina , Kurzina Irina
Published: May 2023

Compounds composed of [Cu(HIm, metIm)2–3L] ∙ nH2O (n = 0, 2) were obtained during the interaction of slightly soluble tartrate and copper(II) salicylate composed of CuL ∙ nH2O (n = 1–2, L2−—Tar2−, Sal2−) with imidazole (HIm) and 2-methylimidazole (metIm). Mono- and bi-ligand salts were analyzed; the process of their thermal decomposition was studied. The solubility constants KS of the CuC4H4O6 ∙ 2H2O tartrate and CuC7H4O3 ∙ H2O salicylate of copper(II) with at ionic strength of 0.3 were determined. The IR spectroscopy method showed the participation in complexation of the nitrogen atom N(3) of imidazole and the oxygen atoms of the carboxyl groups of oxyacids, as well as the hydroxyl group of salicylic acid in the mixed-ligand salts of copper(II). The compositions and stability of the imidazole-tartrate(salicylate) copper(II) complexes in an aqueous solution were determined by performing photometry and spectrophotometry and of the monoligand complexes [CuTar] and [CuSal] were determined by solubility and isomolar series methods.
Effect of Intraluminal Thrombus Burden on the Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
Authors: Arslan Aykut Can , Salman Huseyin Enes
Published: May 2023

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a critical health disorder, where the abdominal aorta dilates more than 50% of its normal diameter. Enlargement in abdominal aorta alters the hemodynamics and flow-induced forces on the AAA wall. Depending on the flow conditions, the hemodynamic forces on the wall may result in excessive mechanical stresses that lead to AAA rupture. The risk of rupture can be predicted using advanced computational techniques such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and fluid–structure interaction (FSI). For a reliable rupture risk assessment, formation of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) and uncertainty in arterial material properties should be taken into account, mainly due to the patient-specific differences and unknowns in AAAs. In this study, AAA models are computationally investigated by performing CFD simulations combined with FSI analysis. Various levels of ILT burdens are artificially generated in a realistic AAA geometry, and the peak effective stresses are evaluated to elucidate the effect of material models and ILT formation. The results indicate that increasing the ILT burden leads to lowered effective stresses on the AAA wall. The material properties of the artery and ILT are also effective on the stresses; however, these effects are limited compared to the effect of ILT volume in the AAA sac.
Morbidity and Mortality of Heterotopic Partial Heart Transplantation in Rodent Models
Authors: Skidmore Savannah , Hill Morgan A. , Bishara Katherine , Konsek Haley , Kwon Jennie H. , Brockbank Kelvin G. M. , Rajab Taufiek Konrad
Published: May 2023

Unrepairable congenital heart valve disease is an unsolved problem in pediatric cardiac surgery because there are no growing heart valve implants. Partial heart transplantation is a new type of transplant that aims to solve this problem. In order to study the unique transplant biology of partial heart transplantation, animal models are necessary. This study aimed to assess the morbidity and mortality of heterotopic partial heart transplantation in rodent models. This study assessed two models. The first model involved transplanting heart valves from donor animals into the abdominal aortic position in the recipient animals. The second model involved transplanting heart valve leaflets into the renal subcapsular position of the recipient animals. A total of 33 animals underwent heterotopic partial heart transplantation in the abdominal aortic position. The results of this model found a 60.61% (n = 20/33) intraoperative mortality rate and a 39.39% (n = 13/33) perioperative mortality rate. Intraoperative mortality was due to vascular complications from the procedure, and perioperative mortality was due to graft thrombosis. A total of 33 animals underwent heterotopic partial heart transplantation in the renal subcapsular position. The results of this model found a 3.03% (n = 1/33) intraoperative mortality rate, and the remaining 96.97% survived (n = 32/33). We conclude that the renal subcapsular model has a lower mortality rate and is technically more accessible than the abdominal aortic model. While the heterotopic transplantation of valves into the abdominal aortic position had significant morbidity and mortality in the rodent model, the renal subcapsular model provided evidence for successful heterotopic transplantation.
Effect of Coronary Sinus Reducer Implantation on Aerobic Exercise Capacity in Refractory Angina Patients—A CROSSROAD Study
Authors: Mrak Miha , Pavšič Nejc , Žižek David , Ležaić Luka , Bunc Matjaž
Published: May 2023

Coronary sinus reducer (CSR) implantation is a new treatment option for patients with refractory angina pectoris. However, there is no evidence from a randomized trial that would show an improvement in exercise capacity after this treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of CSR treatment on maximal oxygen consumption and compare it to a sham procedure. Twenty-five patients with refractory angina pectoris (Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class II–IV) were randomized to a CSR implantation (n = 13) or a sham procedure (n = 12). At baseline and after 6 months of follow-up, the patients underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing with an adjusted ramp protocol and assessment of angina pectoris using the CCS scale and Seattle angina pectoris questionnaire (SAQ). In the CSR group, maximal oxygen consumption increased from 15.56 ± 4.05 to 18.4 ± 5.2 mL/kg/min (p = 0.03) but did not change in the sham group (p = 0.53); p for intergroup comparison was 0.03. In contrast, there was no difference in the improvement of the CCS class or SAQ domains. To conclude, in patients with refractory angina and optimized medical therapy, CSR implantation may improve oxygen consumption beyond that of optimal medical therapy.
Ectopic Calcification: What Do We Know and What Is the Way Forward?
Authors: Snijders Birgitta M. G. , Peters Mike J. L. , Koek Huiberdina L.
Published: May 2023

Ectopic calcification, or ectopic mineralization, is a pathologic condition in which calcifications develop in soft tissues [...]
Characteristics of E-Scooter-Related Maxillofacial Injuries over 2019–2022—Retrospective Study from Poznan, Poland
Authors: Kowalczewska Justyna , Rzepczyk Szymon , Okła Maciej , Nijakowski Kacper , Słowik Łukasz , Makuch Aleksandra , Hryniewicz Oliwia , Krasnoborska Julia , Żaba Czesław , Osmola Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

Recently, there has been a considerable rise in the popularity and use of electric scooters. Because of this, the number of accidents involving them has also risen. Head and neck injuries are the most common. The aim of the study was to determine the most frequent craniofacial injuries resulting from accidents involving electric scooters, and to identify the risk factors directly related to their placement and severity. The study carried out a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients of the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery over 2019–2022, in terms of craniofacial injuries suffered as a result of e-scooter-related accidents. In the study population (31 cases), of which 61.3% were men, the median age was 27 years. At the time of the accident, 32.3% patients were under the influence of alcohol. Accidents were most common in the 21–30 age group; more often than not, they occurred during warm months and on weekends. The study identified a total of 40 fractures in the patients. The most common craniofacial injuries were mandibular fractures (37.5%), zygomatic-orbital fractures (20%) and frontal bone fractures (10%). A multidimensional correspondence analysis was also performed, which showed that at an age of under 30, alcohol consumption and female gender were associated with a higher likelihood of mandibular fracture. Proper education on the risks associated with the use of e-scooters is essential, with particular emphasis on the impact of alcohol on the driver. It is important to develop diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for doctors, both in ED and in specialised departments.
Benefits of Prehabilitation before Complex Aortic Surgery
Authors: Mesnard Thomas , Dubosq Maxime , Pruvot Louis , Azzaoui Richard , Patterson Benjamin O. , Sobocinski Jonathan
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this narrative review was to detail and discuss the underlying principles and benefits of preoperative interventions addressing risk factors for perioperative adverse events in open aortic surgery (OAS). The term “complex aortic disease” encompasses juxta/pararenal aortic and thoraco-abdominal aneurysms, chronic aortic dissection and occlusive aorto-iliac pathology. Although endovascular surgery has been increasingly favored, OAS remains a durable option, but by necessity involves extensive surgical approaches and aortic cross-clamping and requires a trained multidisciplinary team. The physiological stress of OAS in a fragile and comorbid patient group mandates thoughtful preoperative risk assessment and the implementation of measures dedicated to improving outcomes. Cardiac and pulmonary complications are one of the most frequent adverse events following major OAS and their incidences are correlated to the patient’s functional status and previous comorbidities. Prehabilitation should be considered in patients with risk factors for pulmonary complications including advanced age, previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure with the aid of pulmonary function tests. It should also be combined with other measures to improve postoperative course and be included in the more general concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Although the current level of evidence regarding the effectiveness of ERAS in the setting of OAS remains low, an increasing body of literature has promoted its implementation in other specialties. Consequently, vascular teams should commit to improving the current evidence through studies to make ERAS the standard of care for OAS.
Cardiovascular Subphenotypes in ARDS: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications and Overlap with Other ARDS Subphenotypes
Authors: Chotalia Minesh , Patel Jaimin , Bangash Mansoor , Parekh Dhruv
Published: May 2023

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a highly heterogeneous clinical condition. Shock is a poor prognostic sign in ARDS, and heterogeneity in its pathophysiology may be a barrier to its effective treatment. Although right ventricular dysfunction is commonly implicated, there is no consensus definition for its diagnosis, and left ventricular function is neglected. There is a need to identify the homogenous subgroups within ARDS, that have a similar pathobiology, which can then be treated with targeted therapies. Haemodynamic clustering analyses in patients with ARDS have identified two subphenotypes of increasingly severe right ventricular injury, and a further subphenotype of hyperdynamic left ventricular function. In this review, we discuss how phenotyping the cardiovascular system in ARDS may align with haemodynamic pathophysiology, can aid in optimally defining right ventricular dysfunction and can identify tailored therapeutic targets for shock in ARDS. Additionally, clustering analyses of inflammatory, clinical and radiographic data describe other subphenotypes in ARDS. We detail the potential overlap between these and the cardiovascular phenotypes.
Laparoscopic or Open Adrenalectomy for Stage I–II Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Gaillard Martin , Razafinimanana Meva , Challine Alexandre , Araujo Raphael L. C. , Libé Rossella , Sibony Mathilde , Barat Maxime , Bertherat Jérôme , Dousset Bertrand , Fuks David , Gaujoux Sebastien
Published: May 2023

Surgical resection of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is the only curative treatment. Even in localized (I–II) stages, open adrenalectomy (OA) is the gold standard, though laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) can be proposed in selected patients. Despite the postoperative benefits of LA, its role in the surgical management of patients with ACC remains controversial regarding oncologic outcomes. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcomes of patients with localized ACC submitted to LA or OA in a referral center from 1995 to 2020. Among 180 consecutive patients operated on for ACC, 49 presented with localized ACC (19 LA and 30 OA). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for tumor size. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year overall survival were similar in both groups (p = 0.166) but 3-year disease-free survival was in favor of OA (p = 0.020). Though LA could be proposed in highly selected patients, OA should still be considered the standard approach in patients with known or suspected localized ACC.
Locoregional Flaps for the Reconstruction of Midface Skin Defects: A Collection of Key Surgical Techniques
Authors: Salzano Giovanni , Maffìa Francesco , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Committeri Umberto , Copelli Chiara , Maglitto Fabio , Manfuso Alfonso , Abbate Vincenzo , Bonavolontà Paola , Scarpa Alfonso , Califano Luigi , Dell’Aversana Orabona Giovanni
Published: May 2023

Background: The reconstruction of midface skin defects represents a challenge for the head and neck surgeon due to the midface’s significant role in defining important facial traits. Due to the high complexity of the midface region, there is no possibility to use one definitive flap for all purposes. For moderate defects, the most common reconstructive techniques are represented by regional flaps. These flaps can be defined as donor tissue with a pedunculated axial blood supply not necessarily adjacent to the defect. The aim of this study is to highlight the more common surgical techniques adopted for midface reconstruction, providing a focus on each technique with its description and indications. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, an international database. The target of the research was to collect at least 10 different surgical techniques. Results: Twelve different techniques were selected and cataloged. The flaps included were the bilobed flap, rhomboid flap, facial-artery-based flaps (nasolabial flap, island composite nasal flap, retroangular flap), cervicofacial flap, paramedian forehead flap, frontal hairline island flap, keystone flap, Karapandzic flap, Abbè flap, and Mustardè flap. Conclusions: The study of the facial subunits, the location and size of the defect, the choice of the appropriate flap, and respect for the vascular pedicles are the key elements for optimal outcomes.