bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Menopause-related cortical loss of the humeral head region mainly occurred in the greater tuberosity
Authors: Wang Yeming , Li Jian , Men Yutao , Wei Wanfu
Published: August 2022

Aims

Proximal humerus fractures are commonly observed in postmenopausal women. The goal of this study was to investigate menopause-related changes in cortical structure of the humeral head.

Materials and methods

Clinical computed tomography (CT) scans of 75 healthy women spanning a wide range of ages (20–72 years) were analyzed. For each subject, cortical bone mapping (CBM) was applied to create a color three-dimensional (3D) thickness map for the proximal humerus. Nine regions of interest (ROIs) were defined in three walls of the humeral head. Cortical parameters, including the cortical thickness (CTh), cortical mass surface density (CM), and the endocortical trabecular density (ECTD), were measured.

Results

Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women were characterized by a significantly lower CTh and CM value in the lateral part of the greater tuberosity. Similar changes were only found in ROI 4, but not in ROIs 5–6 in the lesser tuberosity. Linear regression analysis revealed that the CTh and CM value of ROIs 1, 3, and 4 were negatively associated with age. These results showed that menopause-related loss in CTh and CM was mainly in the greater tuberosity besides the proximal part of the lesser tuberosity. Trabecular bone variable measured as ECTD showed a notably lower value in ROIs 1–9 in postmenopausal vs. premenopausal group. Inverse linear associations for ECTD and age were found in ROIs 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9, indicating no site-specific differences of endocortical trabecular bone loss between the greater and lesser tuberosity.

Conclusions

Menopause-related cortical loss of the humeral head mainly occurred in the lateral part of the greater tuberosity. The increased rate of humeral bone loss in the greater tuberosity may contribute materially to complex proximal humerus fractures.
A review on configuration optimization of hybrid energy system based on renewable energy
Authors: Zhang Junli , Wei Huashuai
Published: August 2022

Hybrid energy system based on renewable energy is an important way to solve current energy and environmental problems. However, its achievable benefits need to be realized through an integrated optimization that considers optimization objectives, optimization models, and optimization algorithms. In this paper, the integrated structure and configuration optimization techniques of the hybrid energy system based on renewable energy (RE-HES) is summarized. The performance indicators, system characteristics, model construction, and solutions of RE-HES optimized configuration are comprehensively reviewed. Current review highlights the diversification of performance evaluation index, consideration of uncertainty and dynamic properties, superstructure approaches and intelligent algorithms.
New Evacuation Management Criteria for Potential Landslides Based on Experimental Studies
Authors: Choi Sun-Gyu , Jung Min-Su , Suk Jae-Wook , Kim Ho-Jong , Kang Hyo-Sub , Jeong Hyang-Seon , Song Hyo-Sung
Published: August 2022

This study developed and verified landslide evacuation management criteria through the analysis of surface behaviors (the surface displacement and slope) to minimize casualties and property damage caused by landslides. First, for the surface-displacement–based evacuation management criteria, short-term–based management criteria were developed through the analysis of experimental results, and long-term–based evacuation management criteria were developed through the analysis of site collapse data. Furthermore, the reliability of the developed criteria was verified through additional experiments and comparison with the results of previous domestic and overseas studies. Next, surface-angle–based evacuation management criteria were developed through the analysis of experimental results, and the reliability of the developed criteria was verified through additional experiments. Finally, the phased management criteria of these two criteria categories were directly compared and their similar results (i.e., warning times) were verified. This analysis confirmed that the investigated surface-angle–based management criteria can serve as an auxiliary form of the surface-displacement–based evacuation management criteria.
Tracking movements and growth of post-hatchling to adult hawksbill sea turtles using skeleto+iso
Authors: Turner Tomaszewicz Calandra N. , Liles Michael J. , Avens Larisa , Seminoff Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2022

In the eastern Pacific Ocean, hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are adapted to use coastal habitats and ecosystems uncharacteristic of most other sea turtles. Once considered extirpated from this region, hawksbills had sought refuge in estuaries, nesting on muddy banks among the tangles of mangrove roots. This population is at high risk of bycatch during fishing efforts in the estuaries (blast fishing) and adjacent coastal rocky reefs (gillnets), and is further impacted by habitat degradation from coastal development and climate change. The conservation and population recovery of hawksbills in this region is highly dependent on management actions (e.g., nest relocation, habitat protection, bycatch mitigation), and a better understanding of how hawksbills use and move between distinct habitats will help prioritize conservation efforts. To identify multi-year habitat use and movement patterns, we used stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of skin and bone growth layers to recreate movements between two isotopically distinct habitats, a nearshore rocky reef and a mangrove estuary, the latter distinguishable by low δ13C and δ15N values characteristic of a mangrove-based foodweb. We applied skeletochronology with sequential δ13C and δ15N analysis of annual growth layers, “skeleto+iso,” to a dataset of 70 hawksbill humeri collected from coastal El Salvador. The results revealed at least two unique habitat-use patterns. All turtles, regardless of stranding location, spent time outside of the mangrove estuaries during their early juvenile years (< 35 cm curved carapace length, CCL, age 0–5), showing that an oceanic juvenile stage is likely for this population. Juveniles ca. > 35 cm then began to recruit to nearshore areas, but showed divergent habitat-use as some of turtles occupied the coastal rocky reefs, while others settled into the mangrove estuaries. For turtles recruiting to the estuaries, settlement age and size ranged from 3 to 13 years and 35–65 cm CCL. For the adult turtles, age-at-sexual-maturity ranged from 16 to 26 years, and the maximum reproductive longevity observed was 33 years. The skeleto+iso also showed that adult hawksbills have long-term habitat fidelity, and the results demonstrate the importance of both mangrove estuary and nearshore rocky reefs to the conservation of hawksbills in the eastern Pacific.
XBP1 impacts lung adenocarcinoma progression by promoting plasma cell adaptation to the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Zhong Zhaoqian , Wang Junhao , Han Qizheng , Lin Hong , Luo Haihua , Guo Danyan , Jiang Yong , Liu Aihua
Published: August 2022

Background: The activation of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) plays an essential role in the unfolded protein response (UPR) of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). XBP1 is commonly expressed in various tumors and is closely related to tumorigenesis and progression. However, the role of XBP1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), especially the prognostic value of its alternative splicing isoforms, remains largely unknown.

Methods: The LUAD datasets were retrieved from the The Cancer Genome Atlas, ArrayExpress and Gene Expression Omnibus. GEPIA2 and meta-analysis were employed to explore the prognostic value, and bioinformatics analysis with the TIMER2.0 database was used to investigate immune cell infiltration. We performed single-cell analyses to identify cell types with high XBP1 expression. In addition, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing were performed to verify the authenticity of the new spliceosome.

Results: In this study, we found that high expression of XBP1 was significantly associated with a good prognosis, and XBP1 expression was significantly positively correlated with B cell infiltration in LUAD. In addition, we found that high-level expression of a novel splicing isoform, XBP1 (XBP1-003), improved the prognosis of LUAD. Protein structural analysis demonstrated that XBP1-003 has several specific protein domains that are different from those of other XBP1 isoforms, indicating a unique function of this isoform in LUAD.

Conclusion: All these results suggest that XBP1 plays an antitumorigenic role in LUAD through alternative splicing, which may be related to the adaptation of plasma cells. This sheds new light on the potential strategy for LUAD prognosis evaluation and immunotherapy.
Geometric complement heterogeneous information and random forest for predicting lncRNA-disease associations
Authors: Yao Dengju , Zhang Tao , Zhan Xiaojuan , Zhang Shuli , Zhan Xiaorong , Zhang Chao
Published: August 2022

More and more evidences have showed that the unnatural expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is relevant to varieties of human diseases. Therefore, accurate identification of disease-related lncRNAs can help to understand lncRNA expression at the molecular level and to explore more effective treatments for diseases. Plenty of lncRNA-disease association prediction models have been raised but it is still a challenge to recognize unknown lncRNA-disease associations. In this work, we have proposed a computational model for predicting lncRNA-disease associations based on geometric complement heterogeneous information and random forest. Firstly, geometric complement heterogeneous information was used to integrate lncRNA-miRNA interactions and miRNA-disease associations verified by experiments. Secondly, lncRNA and disease features consisted of their respective similarity coefficients were fused into input feature space. Thirdly, an autoencoder was adopted to project raw high-dimensional features into low-dimension space to learn representation for lncRNAs and diseases. Finally, the low-dimensional lncRNA and disease features were fused into input feature space to train a random forest classifier for lncRNA-disease association prediction. Under five-fold cross-validation, the AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) is 0.9897 and the AUPR (area under the precision-recall curve) is 0.7040, indicating that the performance of our model is better than several state-of-the-art lncRNA-disease association prediction models. In addition, case studies on colon and stomach cancer indicate that our model has a good ability to predict disease-related lncRNAs.
Global research trends on the links between gut microbiota and cancer immunotherapy: A bibliometric analysis (2012-2021)
Authors: Yang Shanshan , Zhao Suya , Ye Yixiang , Jia Liqun , Lou Yanni
Published: August 2022

Background

There is a crosstalk between gut microbiota (GM) and cancer immunotherapy (CI). The purpose of this study is to use bibliometric analysis to identify the highly cited papers relating to GM/CI and explore the research status and development trends of the GM/CI research.

Methods

A literature search regarding GM/CI publications from 2012 to 2021 was undertaken on July 4, 2022. The article titles, journals, authors, institutions, countries, total citations, keywords, and other information were extracted from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) of Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The Bibliometrix of R package and VOSviewer were used for bibliometric analysis.

Results

A total of 665 papers were extracted. The number of papers has increased rapidly over the past decade, especially after 2018. The United States and China had the most publications and made great contributions to this field. Th5e Univ Texas MD Anderson Canc Ctr and Univ Paris Saclay were absolutely in the leading position in GM/CI. The most influential authors were Zitvogel L and Routy B. Frontiers in Immunology had the most publications and Science had the most total citations. Historical direct citation analysis explained the historical evolution in GM/CI. Highly cited papers and high-frequency keywords illustrated the current status and trends of GM/CI. Four clusters were identified and the important topics included the role of GM and antibiotics in CI, the methods of targeting GM to improve CI outcomes, the mechanism by which GM affects CI and the application of ICIs in melanoma. “Tumor microbiome”, “proton pump inhibitors” and “prognosis” may be the new focus of attention in the next few years.

Conclusion

This study filtered global publications on GM/CI correlation and analyzed their bibliometric characteristics, identified the most cited papers in GM/CI, and gained insight into the status, hotspots and trends of global GM/CI research, which may inform researchers and practitioners of future directions.
Inflammasome-targeting natural compounds in inflammatory bowel disease: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential
Authors: Xu Qiuyun , Sun Weichen , Zhang Jie , Mei Youmin , Bao Jingyin , Hou Shengping , Zhou Xiaorong , Mao Liming
Published: August 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, seriously affects human health and causes substantial social and economic burden. The pathogenesis of IBD is still not fully elucidated, whereas recent studies have demonstrated that its development is associated with the dysfunction of intestinal immune system. Accumulating evidence have proven that inflammasomes such as NLRP3 and NLRP6 play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Thus, regulating the activation of inflammasomes have been considered to be a promising strategy in IBD treatment. A number of recent studies have provided evidence that blocking inflammasome related cytokine IL-1β can benefit a group of IBD patients with overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome. However, therapies for targeting inflammasomes with high efficacy and safety are rare. Traditional medical practice provides numerous medical compounds that may have a role in treatment of various human diseases including IBD. Recent studies demonstrated that numerous medicinal herb derived compounds can efficiently prevent colon inflammation in animal models by targeting inflammasomes. Herein, we summarize the main findings of these studies focusing on the effects of traditional medicine derived compounds on colitis treatment and the underlying mechanisms in regulating the inflammasomes. On this basis, we provide a perspective for future studies regarding strategies to improve the efficacy, specificity and safety of available herbal compounds, and to discover new compounds using the emerging new technologies, which will improve our understanding about the roles and mechanisms of herbal compounds in the regulation of inflammasomes and treatment of IBD.
Bioinformatics analysis identified apolipoprotein E as a hub gene regulating neuroinflammation in macrophages and microglia following spinal cord injury
Authors: Yao Xin-Qiang , Chen Jia-Ying , Yu Zi-Han , Huang Zu-Cheng , Hamel Regan , Zeng Yong-Qiang , Huang Zhi-Ping , Tu Ke-Wu , Liu Jun-Hao , Lu Yan-Meng , Zhou Zhi-Tao , Pluchino Stefano , Zhu Qing-An , Chen Jian-Ting
Published: August 2022

Macrophages and microglia play important roles in chronic neuroinflammation following spinal cord injury (SCI). Although macrophages and microglia have similar functions, their phagocytic and homeostatic abilities differ. It is difficult to distinguish between these two populations in vivo, but single-cell analysis can improve our understanding of their identity and heterogeneity. We conducted bioinformatics analysis of the single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE159638, identifying apolipoprotein E (APOE) as a hub gene in both macrophages and microglia in the subacute and chronic phases of SCI. We then validated these transcriptomic changes in a mouse model of cervical spinal cord hemi-contusion and observed myelin uptake, lipid droplets, and lysosome accumulation in macrophages and microglia following SCI. Finally, we observed that knocking out APOE aggravated neurological dysfunction, increased neuroinflammation, and exacerbated the loss of white matter. Targeting APOE and the related cholesterol efflux represents a promising strategy for reducing neuroinflammation and promoting recovery following SCI.
Targeting thymidine phosphorylase alleviates resistance to dendritic cell immunotherapy in colorectal cancer and promotes antitumor immunity
Authors: Paladhi Ankush , Daripa Samrat , Mondal Indrani , Hira Sumit Kumar
Published: August 2022

T-cell exhaustion plays a pivotal role in the resistance of microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (CRC) to immunotherapy. Identifying and targeting T-cell exhaustion-activating mechanisms is a promising strategy to augment the effects of immunotherapy. Here, we found that thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) plays a decisive role in inducing systemic T-cell exhaustion and abrogating the efficacy of dendritic cell (DC) therapy in a CRC model. Targeting TYMP with tipiracil hydrochloride (TPI) induces immunological cell death (ICD). The combined effects of TPI and imiquimod-activated DCs turn CT26 tumors into immunologically ‘hot’ tumors by inducing ICD in vivo. High-dimensional cytometry analysis revealed T-cell and IFN-γ dependency on the therapeutic outcome. In addition, chemoimmunotherapy converts intratumoral Treg cells into Th1 effector cells and eliminates tumor-associated macrophages, resulting in higher cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and activation. This effect is also associated with the downregulation of PD-L1 expression in tumors, leading to the prevention of T-cell exhaustion. Thus, cooperative and cognitive interactions between dendritic cells and immunogenic cell death induced by therapy with TPI promote the immune response and tumoricidal activities against microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Our results support TYMP targeting to improve the effects of DC immunotherapy and outcomes in CRC.
Recent progress in simulating two types of ENSO – from CMIP5 to CMIP6
Authors: Hou Meiyi , Tang Youmin
Published: August 2022

The new emerging type of El Niño brings challenges to the state-of-the-art coupled models to simulated features of El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diversity. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), containing the advanced worldwide coupled models, has recently released the model outputs in phase 6. In this paper, the characteristics of two types of ENSO in 19 models from CMIP phase 5 and their counterparts in phase 6 are assessed regarding the spatial and temporal features and the seasonal cycle features. The weaker amplitude of Eastern Pacific (EP) and Central Pacific (CP) ENSO in CMIP5 is increased and the spatial structure of CP ENSO is better depicted in CMIP6. However, no significant improvement in the ENSO periodicity and the ENSO phase-locking behavior compared to CMIP5. A synthetic ENSO score, containing eight metrics, is defined and employed to evaluate the performance of each CMIP model. The average ENSO score for CMIP6 is 2.375, indicating modest improvement compared to the average score of 2.441 for CMIP5. Furthermore, the slight improvement in the ENSO score is partly related to the reduced climatology bias of sea surface temperature in the Niño4 region. The overall evaluation provides necessary information for future investigation about the mechanism exploration of the ENSO diversity based on the models with better performance.
Initial experiences using plasma rich in growth factors to treat keratoneuralgia
Authors: Wang Margaret , Yennam Sowmya , Pflugfelder Stephen
Published: August 2022

Keratoneuralgia, a clinical diagnosis of sensitized corneal pain without visible ocular surface damage, generally has minimal response to conventional therapies. Causes include refractive surgery and chronic dry eye. We evaluated the efficacy of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF), a novel treatment prepared using a commercially available kit, in patients with keratoneuralgia. A retrospective chart review identified patients who had the clinical diagnosis of keratoneuralgia and were treated with PRGF for at least 3 months from October 2015 to April 2020 at a single academic institution. Both objective eye exam findings and concurrent treatments were obtained at baseline, 3 months, and final visit (if available). A questionnaire was administered to identified patients, including symptoms scores measured with a visual analog scale. The results of this survey and other objective findings were compared before and after PRGF treatment. 16 out of 32 patients (50%) with a mean follow-up period of 33 ± 26 months answered the questionnaire. Refractive surgeries were the cause of keratoneuralgia in 14 patients (87.5%), with LASIK the most common procedure (11 patients, 69%). There were no adverse events recorded or reported. Symptom scored by VAS in a modified Symptoms Assessment in Dry Eye questionnaire significantly decreased after PRGF use (85 ± 16 to 45 ± 33, p = 0.0002). Ten patients (63%) reported PRGF is superior to other therapy and would recommend to others. There were no significant trends in visual acuity, objective exam findings, or concurrent treatments after PRGF treatment. PRGF is safe and can potentially alleviate symptoms in patients with keratoneuralgia, a rare but devastating complication after refractive surgery. Prospective trial is indicated to explore PRGF as a potentially useful treatment for keratoneuralgia.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE case reports from 1980 to 2020
Authors: Wang Liqin , Varghese Sheril , Bassir Fatima , Lo Ying-Chin , Ortega Carlos A. , Shah Sonam , Blumenthal Kimberly G. , Phillips Elizabeth J. , Zhou Li
Published: August 2022

Background

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare, life-threatening immunologic reactions. Prior studies using electronic health records, registries or reporting databases are often limited in sample size or lack clinical details. We reviewed diverse detailed case reports published over four decades.

Methods

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis-related case reports were identified from the MEDLINE database between 1980 and 2020. Each report was classified by severity (i.e., SJS, TEN, or SJS-TEN overlap) after being considered a “probable” or “definite” SJS/TEN case. The demographics, preconditions, culprit agents, clinical course, and mortality of the cases were analyzed across the disease severity.

Results

Among 1,059 “probable” or “definite” cases, there were 381 (36.0%) SJS, 602 (56.8%) TEN, and 76 (7.2%) SJS-TEN overlap cases, with a mortality rate of 6.3%, 24.4%, and 21.1%, respectively. Over one-third of cases had immunocompromised conditions preceding onset, including cancer (n = 194,18.3%), autoimmune diseases (n = 97, 9.2%), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (n = 52, 4.9%). During the acute phase of the reaction, 843 (79.5%) cases reported mucous membrane involvement and 210 (19.8%) involved visceral organs. Most cases were drug-induced (n = 957, 90.3%). A total of 379 drug culprits were reported; the most frequently reported drug were antibiotics (n = 285, 26.9%), followed by anticonvulsants (n = 196, 18.5%), analgesics/anesthetics (n = 126, 11.9%), and antineoplastics (n = 120, 11.3%). 127 (12.0%) cases reported non-drug culprits, including infections (n = 68, 6.4%), of which 44 were associated with a mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and radiotherapy (n = 27, 2.5%).

Conclusion

An expansive list of potential causative agents were identified from a large set of literature-reported SJS/TEN cases, which warrant future investigation to understand risk factors and clinical manifestations of SJS/TEN in different populations.
Frailty in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: A life-threatening condition
Authors: Fernandes Alan L. , Pereira Rosa M. R.
Published: August 2022

The pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused emerging challenges for healthcare systems regarding the assistance to the older adult population which, added to the increased life expectancy, may be exposing frail older adults to an increased risk of unfavorable health outcomes. Frailty has a pathogenesis of multifactorial etiology and is defined as a condition characterized by progressive decline in physiological function, weakness, decreased strength, and reduced resilience to stressors, leading to vulnerability and an increased risk of fractures, falls, institutionalization, and death. In the context of COVID-19, frail older adults accounted for approximately 51% of hospitalized patients with confirmed cases and elevated risk of mortality in-hospital. In addition, frailty may be associated with recent “excess mortality” reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of the full death toll associated directly (due to the disease) or indirectly (due to the pandemic's impact on health systems and society) to COVID-19. Therefore, this mini review aimed to provide a summarized discussion from meta-analyses data regarding the impact of frailty in community-dwelling older adults hospitalized with COVID-19 on short-term mortality risk.
Development of a rapid and accurate CRISPR/Cas13-based diagnostic test for GII.4 norovirus infection
Authors: Duan Lei , Yang Xiaohan , Zhan Wenli , Tang Yuan , Wei Mengru , Chen Keyi , Liu Pan , Xie Jia , Zhang Changbin , Zhao Hongyu , Luo Mingyong
Published: August 2022

Genogroup II genotype 4 (GII.4) norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis in children, and its infection is more severe than that of other genotypes. Early and precise detection and treatment are critical for controlling its spread and reducing the severity of infection. In this study, a rapid and efficient isothermal assay for the GII.4 norovirus detection (GII.4-CRISPR detection) was developed based on the CRISPR/Cas13a system. The assay can be applied without expensive instrumentation, and the results can be read via both fluorescence and lateral flow strip (LFS). The analytical sensitivity of this assay was 5 copies/reaction, and there was no cross-reaction with other genotypes of norovirus or other clinically common pathogens. There was a coincidence rate of 100% between our assay and commercial quantitative polymerase chain reaction. GII.4-CRISPR detection improves upon the shortcomings of some previously established molecular methods of detection, particularly with regard to accessibility. It provides an alternative tool for outbreak control and early diagnosis of GII.4 norovirus infection.
Insights Into the Helical Shape Complex of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Holtrup Sven , Greger Maximilian , Mayer Benjamin , Specht Mara , Waidner Barbara
Published: August 2022

One important factor that promotes the colonization of the upper digestive system of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is its helical cell shape. The bacteria cell shape is predominantly defined by its peptidoglycan cell wall. In rod-shaped species, PG synthesis is mediated by two dynamic molecular machines that facilitate growth along the perpendicular axis and the septum, called the elongasome and the divisome, respectively. Furthermore, many bacteria evolved additional mechanisms to locally change PG synthesis patterns to generate diverse cell shapes. Recent work characterizing cell shape mutants of Helicobacter pylori revealed a novel mechanism for the generation of a twisted helix from a rod, including PG-modifying enzymes as well as additional proteins such as the bactofilin homolog CcmA or the membrane proteins Csd5 and Csd7. In this study, we investigate the localization and dynamics of CcmA and Csd7 using live-cell imaging. We also address the question of how these change in the presence or absence of the putative interaction partners.
The structure, processes, and outcomes of stroke rehabilitation in Ghana: A study protocol
Authors: Yarfi Cosmos , Nyante Gifty Gyamah , Rhoda Anthea
Published: August 2022

Background

Conventional and complementary treatments are often used in rehabilitation for persons with stroke. The conventional treatment makes use of medications, physiotherapy, occupational, speech, and diet therapies, while the complementary treatment makes use of homeopathy, naturopathy, massage, and acupuncture. The structure, process, and outcomes of stroke rehabilitation using conventional or complementary treatments have not been empirically investigated in Ghana.

Aims

This study aims to investigate the structure, process, and outcomes of stroke rehabilitation at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra and Kwayisi Christian Herbal Clinic (KCHC) in Nankese-Ayisaa, Ghana, and to explore the experiences of persons with stroke.

Methods

This study involves a mixed methods approach. This study will utilize three study designs, namely, cross-sectional, hospital-based cohort, and qualitative exploratory study designs. The objectives of the study will be achieved using three phases, namely, phase one will recruit health professionals and gather information on the structure and process of stroke rehabilitation at a conventional and complementary hospital using adapted questionnaires; phase two will determine the outcomes of stroke patients attending a conventional and complementary hospital facility at baseline, 2-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up using outcome measures based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model; and phase three will explore the experiences of stroke patients who use complementary or conventional treatment using an interview guide.

Data analysis

IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27 will be used to analyze the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Repeated measures of ANOVA will be used to determine the differences between variables at baseline, 2-, 3-, and 6-month post-stroke. The qualitative data will be transcribed and entered into Atlas Ti version 9.0. The data will be coded and analyzed using thematic areas that will be generated from the codes.

Conclusion

The study protocol will provide a comprehensive overview of the structure, process, and outcomes of stroke rehabilitation in Ghana, incorporating both conventional and complementary treatment and rehabilitation into the stroke recovery journey. It will also inform clinical practice, with new insights on the experiences of stroke patients based on their choice of rehabilitation pathway.
High serum amyloid A predicts risk of cognitive impairment after lacunar infarction: Development and validation of a nomogram
Authors: Ye Sheng , Pan Huiqing , Li Weijia , Wang Bing , Xing Jingjing , Xu Li
Published: August 2022

Background

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) after lacunar infarction was worth attention in recent years. An easy-to-use score model to predict the risk of PSCI was rare. This study aimed to explore the association between serum amyloid A (SAA) and cognitive impairment, and it also developed a nomogram for predicting the risk of PSCI in lacunar infarction patients.

Methods

A total of 313 patients with lacunar infarction were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2021 and December 2021. They were divided into a training set and a validation set at 70%:30% randomly. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed to identify cognitive impairment 3 months after discharge. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent risk factors for PSCI in the training set. A nomogram was developed based on the five variables, and the calibration curve and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were drawn to assess the predictive ability of the nomogram between the training set and the validation set. The decision curve analysis (DCA) was also conducted in both sets.

Results

In total, 52/313 (16.61%) participants were identified with PSCI. The SAA levels in patients with PSCI were significantly higher than non-PSCI patients in the training set (P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, age, diabetes mellitus, white blood count, cystatin C, and SAA were independent risk predictors of PSCI. The nomogram demonstrated a good discrimination performance between the training set (AUC = 0.860) and the validation set (AUC = 0.811). The DCA showed that the nomogram had a well clinical utility in the two sets.

Conclusion

The increased SAA is associated with PSCI in lacunar infarction patients, and the nomogram developed with SAA can increase prognostic information for the early detection of PSCI.
Machine learning analysis reveals abnormal functional network hubs in the primary angle-closure glaucoma patients
Authors: Chen Ri-Bo , Zhong Yu-Lin , Liu Hui , Huang Xin
Published: August 2022

Background

Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a serious and irreversible blinding eye disease. Growing studies demonstrated that PACG patients were accompanied by vision and vision-related brain region changes. However, whether the whole-brain functional network hub changes occur in PACG patients remains unknown.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the brain function network hub changes in PACG patients using the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) method.

Materials and methods

Thirty-one PACG patients (21 male and 10 female) and 31 healthy controls (HCs) (21 male and 10 female) closely matched in age, sex, and education were enrolled in the study. The DC method was applied to investigate the brain function network hub changes in PACG patients. Moreover, the support vector machine (SVM) method was applied to distinguish PACG patients from HC patients.

Results

Compared with HC, PACG patients had significantly higher DC values in the right fusiform, left middle temporal gyrus, and left cerebelum_4_5. Meanwhile, PACG patients had significantly lower DC values in the right calcarine, right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus gyrus, and left postcentral gyrus. Furthermore, the SVM classification reaches a total accuracy of 72.58%, and the ROC curve of the SVM classifier has an AUC value of 0.85 (r = 0.25).

Conclusion

Our results showed that PACG patients showed widespread brain functional network hub dysfunction relative to the visual network, auditory network, default mode network, and cerebellum network, which might shed new light on the neural mechanism of optic atrophy in PACG patients.
Downregulation of oxytocin-related genes in periodontitis
Authors: Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Gholami Leila , Nazer Naghme , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Sayad Arezou , Hajiesmaeili Mohammadreza
Published: August 2022

Periodontitis is a common oral disorder leading to tooth loss in both developed and developing regions of the world. This multifactorial condition is related to the abnormal activity of several molecular pathways, among them are oxytocin-related pathways. In this study, we enrolled 26 patients and 28 controls and assessed the expression of four oxytocin-related genes, namely, FOS, ITPR, RCAN1, and RGS2, in circulation and affected tissues of enrolled individuals using real-time PCR. Expression of FOS was downregulated in total periodontitis tissues compared with total control tissues [ratio of mean expression (RME) = 0.23, P-value = 0.03]. Expression of FOS was also lower in total blood samples of patients compared with total controls. Expression of ITPR was downregulated in total periodontitis tissues compared with total control tissues (RME = 0.16, P-value = 0.01). Moreover, the expression of ITPR was reduced in total blood samples of patients compared with controls (RME = 0.25, P-value = 0.03). Expression of RCAN1 was downregulated in total periodontitis tissues compared with total control tissues (RME = 0.17, P-value = 0.01). However, the expression of RCAN1 was not different in blood samples of affected vs. unaffected individuals. Finally, the expression of RGS2 was lower in total periodontitis tissues compared with total control tissues (RME = 0.24, P-value = 0.01) and in total blood samples of affected individuals compared with controls (RME = 0.42, P-value = 0.05). This study provides data about the association between expressions of oxytocin-related genes and the presence of periodontitis. Future studies are needed to unravel the mechanistic links and find the correlation between expressions of these genes and the pathological stage of periodontitis.
Joint analyses of human milk fatty acids, phospholipids, and choline in association with cognition and temperament traits during the first 6 months of life
Authors: Li Tengfei , Samuel Tinu M. , Zhu Ziliang , Howell Brittany , Cho Seoyoon , Baluyot Kristine , Hazlett Heather , Elison Jed T. , Wu Di , Hauser Jonas , Sprenger Norbert , Zhu Hongtu , Lin Weili
Published: August 2022

Early dietary exposure via human milk nutrients offers a window of opportunity to support cognitive and temperament development. While several studies have focused on associations of few pre-selected human milk nutrients with cognition and temperament, it is highly plausible that human milk nutrients synergistically and jointly support cognitive and behavioral development in early life. We aimed to discern the combined associations of three major classes of human milk nutrients with cognition and temperament during the first 6 months of life when human milk is the primary source of an infant’s nutrition and explore whether there were persistent effects up to 18 months old. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning and Infant Behavior Questionnaires—Revised were used to assess cognition and temperament, respectively, of 54 exclusively/predominantly breastfed infants in the first 6 months of life, whose follow-ups were conducted at 6–9, 9–12, and 12–18 months old. Human milk samples were obtained from the mothers of the participants at less than 6 months of age and analyzed for fatty acids [total monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acid, total saturated fatty acid (TSFA), arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), ARA/DHA, omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio (n-6/n-3)], phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), sphingomyelin], and choline [free choline, phosphocholine (PCho), glycerophosphocholine]. Feature selection was performed to select nutrients associated with cognition and temperament. The combined effects of selected nutrients were analyzed using multiple regression. A positive association between the arachidonic acid (ARA) and surgency was observed (p = 0.024). A significant effect of DHA, n-6/n-3, PE, and TSFA concentrations on receptive language (R2 = 0.39, p = 0.025) and the elevated ARA, PCho, and PI with increased surgency (R2 = 0.43, p = 0.003) was identified, suggesting that DHA and ARA may have distinct roles for temperament and language functions. Furthermore, the exploratory association analyses suggest that the effects of human milk nutrients on R.L. and surgency may persist beyond the first 6 months of life, particularly surgency at 12–18 months (p = 0.002). Our study highlighted that various human milk nutrients work together to support the development of cognition and temperament traits during early infancy.
Variation in characterization and probiotic activities of polysaccharides from litchi pulp fermented for different times
Authors: He Chunmei , Zhang Ruifen , Jia Xuchao , Dong Lihong , Ma Qin , Zhao Dong , Sun Zhida , Zhang Mingwei , Huang Fei
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the chemical structures and probiotic potential of different polysaccharides (LPs) extracted from the litchi pulp that fermented with Lactobacillus fermentum for different times (i.e., 0–72 h corresponding to LP-0 through LP-72, respectively). Fermentation times affected the yields, total sugar contents, uronic acid contents, molecular weights, and monosaccharide compositions of LPs. The LPs yields and uronic acid contents exhibited irregular trends in association with fermentation time, while total sugar contents decreased, and the molecular weights increased. Particularly, LP-6 contained the highest extraction yields (2.67%), lowest uronic acid contents, and smallest average Mw (104 kDa) (p < 0.05). Moreover, analysis of the monosaccharide composition in the fermented LPs indicated that the proportions of glucose decreased, while arabinose and galacturonic acid proportions increased relative to unfermented LP-0. Further, LP-6 demonstrated the highest growth for Bifidobacterium compared to LP-0, while the other fermentation time led to comparable or worse probiotic promoting activities. These results suggest that lactic acid bacteria fermentation alters the physicochemical properties of litchi polysaccharides, such that suitable fermentation time can enhance their probiotic activities.
Molecular mechanisms for the prevention and promoting the recovery from ischemic stroke by nutraceutical laminarin: A comparative transcriptomic approach
Authors: Luo Jiefeng , Chen Dingzhi , Qin Biyun , Kong Deyan
Published: August 2022

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide. Ischemic stroke caused by atherosclerosis accounts for approximately 87% of all stroke cases. Ischemic stroke is a preventable disease; therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and recovery processes could provide therapeutic targets for drug development and reduce the associated mortality rate. Laminarin, a polysaccharide, is a nutraceutical that can be found in brown algae. Accumulating evidence suggests that laminarin could reduce the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation on brain damage after stroke. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its beneficial effects remains largely unknown. In the present study, we used a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model and applied comparative transcriptomics to investigate the molecular targets and pathways involved in the beneficial effects of laminarin on ischemic stroke. Our results show the involvement of laminarin targets in biological processes related to blood circulation, oxygen supply, and anti-inflammatory responses in the normal brain. More importantly, laminarin treatment attenuated brain damage and neurodeficits caused by ischemic stroke. These beneficial effects are controlled by biological processes related to blood vessel development and brain cell death through the regulation of canonical pathways. Our study, for the first time, delineated the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of laminarin on ischemic stroke prevention and recovery and provides novel therapeutic targets for drug development against ischemic stroke.
MiR-146b-5p/TRAF6 axis is essential for Ginkgo biloba L. extract GBE to attenuate LPS-induced neuroinflammation
Authors: Liu Min , Peng Yulin , Che Yilin , Zhou Meirong , Bai Ying , Tang Wei , Huang Shanshan , Zhang Baojing , Deng Sa , Wang Chao , Yu Zhenlong
Published: August 2022

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) has been widely used to treat cerebral and peripheral blood circulation disorders. However, its potential targets and underlying mechanisms regarding neuroinflammation have not yet been characterized.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate and validate the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of GBE against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammation and to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods: The effect of GBE on LPS-induced release of inflammatory cytokines was examined using ELISA and western blot assay. The effects of GBE on NF-κB binding activity and translocation were determined via luciferase, streptavidin-agarose pulldown, and immunofluorescence assays. The potential targets of GBE were screened from the GEO and microRNA databases and further identified via qPCR, luciferase, gene mutation, and western blot assays.

Results: GBE significantly inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses in BV-2 and U87 cells, with no obvious cytotoxicity. GBE significantly induced miR-146b-5p expression, which negatively regulated TRAF6 expression by targeting its 3′-UTR. Thus, due to TRAF6 suppression, GBE decreases the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and finally reverses LPS-induced neuroinflammation.

Conclusion: Our study revealed the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism of GBE through the miR-146b-5p/TRAF6 axis and provided a theoretical basis for its rational clinical application.
The improvement of Coreopsis tinctoria essential oil on learning and memory impairment of d-galactose-induced mice through Nrf2/NF-κB pathway
Authors: Qu Yan , Guo Yingxue , Li Wenpeng , Shen Hongkuan , Cui Jiwen , Li Jinlian , Liu Jiguang , Wu Dongmei
Published: August 2022

Essential oil of Coreopsis tinctoria (EOC) is a essential substance extracted from Coreopsis tinctoria with the excellent anti-oxidant effect. However, it is still unclear whether EOC can improve learning and memory impairment and its mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EOC on learning and memory impairment induced by D-galactose (D-gal) in mice and reveal its mechanism. The composition of EOC was analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that the highest content was D-limonene. The follow-up experiments were conducted by comparing EOC with D-limonene. The aging model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-gal, and donepezil, D-limonene and EOC were given by intragastric administration. It was found that EOC and D-limonene significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by D-gal through the Morris water maze and step-through tests. Pathological and biochemical analysis showed that the hippocampal morphologic of mice was damage and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) induced by D-gal were decreased, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased, while EOC and D-limonene could reverse the morphological changes and reduce oxidative damage. In addition, EOC and D-limonene significantly increased body weight and organ coefficients, including liver, spleen and kidney. Moreover, EOC and D-limonene improved the expression of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and inhibited nuclear transcription factors-κB (NF-κB) pathway. In summary, the results showed that EOC and D-limonene could improve learning and memory impairment induced by D-gal through Nrf2/ NF-κB pathway. It was clear that as a mixture, EOC was better than D-limonene on improving learning and memory impairment.