bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The diagnostic value of ADC histogram and direct ADC measurements for coexisting isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation in glioma
Authors: Xie Zhiyan , Li Jixian , Zhang Yue , Zhou Ruizhi , Zhang Hua , Duan Chongfeng , Liu Song , Niu Lei , Zhao Jiping , Liu Yingchao , Song Shuangshuang , Liu Xuejun
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To non-invasively predict the coexistence of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation in adult-type diffuse gliomas using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram and direct ADC measurements and compare the diagnostic performances of the two methods.

Materials and methods

A total of 118 patients with adult-type diffuse glioma who underwent preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) were included in this retrospective study. The patient group included 40 patients with coexisting IDH mutation and MGMT promoter methylation (IDHmut/MGMTmet) and 78 patients with other molecular status, including 32 patients with IDH wildtype and MGMT promoter methylation (IDHwt/MGMTmet), one patient with IDH mutation and unmethylated MGMT promoter (IDHmut/MGMTunmet), and 45 patients with IDH wildtype and unmethylated MGMT promoter (IDHwt/MGMTunmet). ADC histogram parameters of gliomas were extracted by delineating the region of interest (ROI) in solid components of tumors. The minimum and mean ADC of direct ADC measurements were calculated by placing three rounded or elliptic ROIs in solid components of gliomas. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic performances of the two methods.

Results

The 10th percentile, median, mean, root mean squared, 90th percentile, skewness, kurtosis, and minimum of ADC histogram analysis and minimum and mean ADC of direct measurements were significantly different between IDHmut/MGMTmet and the other glioma group (P < 0.001 to P = 0.003). In terms of single factors, 10th percentile of ADC histogram analysis had the best diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.860), followed by mean ADC obtained by direct measurements (AUC = 0.844). The logistic regression model combining ADC histogram parameters and direct measurements had the best diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.938), followed by the logistic regression model combining the ADC histogram parameters with statistically significant difference (AUC = 0.916) and the logistic regression model combining minimum ADC and mean ADC (AUC = 0.851).

Conclusion

Both ADC histogram analysis and direct measurements have potential value in predicting the coexistence of IDHmut and MGMTmet in adult-type diffuse glioma. The diagnostic performance of ADC histogram analysis was better than that of direct ADC measurements. The combination of the two methods showed the best diagnostic performance.
Combining in vivo proton exchange rate (kex) MRI with quantitative susceptibility mapping to further stratify the gadolinium-negative multiple sclerosis lesions
Authors: Liao Huiting , Cai Zimeng , Ye Haiqi , Chen QianLan , Zhang Yan , Shaghaghi Mehran , Lutz Sarah E. , Chen Weiwei , Cai Kejia
Published: January 2023

Background

Conventional gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MRI is currently used for stratifying the lesion activity of multiple sclerosis (MS) despite limited correlation with disability and disease activity. The stratification of MS lesion activity needs further improvement to better support clinics.

Purpose

To investigate if the novel proton exchange rate (kex) MRI combined with quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) may help to further stratify non-enhanced (Gd-negative) MS lesions.

Materials and methods

From December 2017 to December 2020, clinically diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS patients who underwent MRI were consecutively enrolled in this IRB-approved retrospective study. The customized MRI protocol covered conventional T2-weighted, T2-fluid-attenuated-inversion-recovery, pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted imaging, and quantitative sequences, including kex MRI based on direct-saturation removed omega plots and QSM. Each MS lesion was evaluated based on its Gd-enhancement as well as its susceptibility and kex elevation compared to the normal appearing white matter. The difference and correlation concerning lesion characteristics and imaging contrasts were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test or Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman rank analysis with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Results

A total of 322 MS lesions from 30 patients were identified with 153 Gd-enhanced and 169 non-enhanced lesions. We found that the kex elevation of all lesions significantly correlated with their susceptibility elevation (r = 0.30, p < 0.001). Within the 153 MS lesions with Gd-enhancement, ring-enhanced lesions showed higher kex elevation than the nodular-enhanced ones’ (p < 0.001). Similarly, lesions with ring-hyperintensity in QSM also had higher kex elevation than the lesions with nodular-QSM-hyperintensity (p < 0.001). Of the 169 Gd-negative lesions, three radiological patterns were recognized according to lesion manifestations on the kex map and QSM images: Pattern I (kex+ and QSM+, n = 114, 67.5%), Pattern II (only kex+ or QSM+, n = 47, 27.8%) and Pattern III (kex– and QSM–, n = 8, 4.7%). Compared to Pattern II and III, Pattern I had higher kex (p < 0.001) and susceptibility (p < 0.05) elevation. The percentage of Pattern I of each subject was negatively correlated with the disease duration (r = –0.45, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

As a potential imaging biomarker for inflammation due to oxidative stress, in vivo kex MRI combined with QSM is promising in extending the clinical classification of MS lesions beyond conventional Gd-enhanced MRI.
Testing geometry and 3D perception in children following vision restoring cataract-removal surgery
Authors: Maimon Amber , Netzer Ophir , Heimler Benedetta , Amedi Amir
Published: January 2023

As neuroscience and rehabilitative techniques advance, age-old questions concerning the visual experience of those who gain sight after blindness, once thought to be philosophical alone, take center stage and become the target for scientific inquiries. In this study, we employ a battery of visual perception tasks to study the unique experience of a small group of children who have undergone vision-restoring cataract removal surgery as part of the Himalayan Cataract Project. We tested their abilities to perceive in three dimensions (3D) using a binocular rivalry task and the Brock string task, perceive visual illusions, use cross-modal mappings between touch and vision, and spatially group based on geometric cues. Some of the children in this study gained a sense of sight for the first time in their lives, having been born with bilateral congenital cataracts, while others suffered late-onset blindness in one eye alone. This study simultaneously supports yet raises further questions concerning Hubel and Wiesel’s critical periods theory and provides additional insight into Molyneux’s problem, the ability to correlate vision with touch quickly. We suggest that our findings present a relatively unexplored intermediate stage of 3D vision development. Importantly, we spotlight some essential geometrical perception visual abilities that strengthen the idea that spontaneous geometry intuitions arise independently from visual experience (and education), thus replicating and extending previous studies. We incorporate a new model, not previously explored, of testing children with congenital cataract removal surgeries who perform the task via vision. In contrast, previous work has explored these abilities in the congenitally blind via touch. Taken together, our findings provide insight into the development of what is commonly known as the visual system in the visually deprived and highlight the need to further empirically explore an amodal, task-based interpretation of specializations in the development and structure of the brain. Moreover, we propose a novel objective method, based on a simple binocular rivalry task and the Brock string task, for determining congenital (early) vs. late blindness where medical history and records are partial or lacking (e.g., as is often the case in cataract removal cases).
Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in Cucurbita ficifolia fruits, an underrated fruit
Authors: Moreno-Quiroga G. , Alba-Jiménez J.E. , Aquino-Bolaños E. N. , Chávez-Servia J. L.
Published: January 2023

The fruits and seeds of Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché are sources of minerals, vitamins, and functional compounds with nutraceutical and preventive potential against cardiovascular diseases and diseases derived from eating disorders. C. ficifolia is native from Mesoamerica and is currently cultivated in temperate zones from Mexico to South America and Asia. This study evaluated the fruit mesocarps of C. ficifolia for physicochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, and phenolic compound contents in a collection of farmers’ landraces. Germplasm is cultivated by traditional farmers in the temperate zones of two municipalities from Oaxaca, Mexico. The results show that the content of soluble solid contents (SSC), pH, total sugars (TS), and flavonoids are influenced by the fruit geographical origin (municipalities) and implicitly by their agroecological cultivation conditions (Huamelúlpam: SSC = 6.22 °Brix, pH = 5.44, TS = 0.52 mg G g–1, flavonoids = 1.24 mg CE g–1; Yanhuitlán: SSC = 6.69, pH = 5.33, TS = 0.55, flavonoids = 1.30). Among populations preserved by traditional farmers, significant differences, and wide variability were found for all parameters evaluated (Huamelúlpam: SSC = 4.9–7.3, pH = 5.5–5.8, TS = 0.4–0.7, protein = 5.8–11.4, polyphenols = 1.9–4.8, flavonoids = 1.0–1.5, DPPH = 4.3–10.6, and FRAP = 4.8–11.8; Yanhuitlán: SSC = 4.3–8.9, pH = 4.8–5.6, TS = 0.4–0.7, protein = 5.0–15.3, polyphenols = 1.9–4.9, flavonoids = 0.8–1.9, DPPH = 5.3–10.5, and FRAP = 4.5–12.6). Eight compounds were identified by UPLC-MS: L-phenylalanine, an amino acid that is regularly associated with proteins; vanillin, a phenolic aldehyde with its functional groups including aldehyde, hydroxyl, and ether; and six phenolic acids: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, vanillic acid, 4-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid, all with potential health effects. The C. ficifolia fruit mesocarp has bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity with the potential to both improve diet and to obtain other benefits against nontransmissible diseases derived from food and its associated risk factors.
Associations between the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and S-Klotho plasma levels: A cross-sectional analysis in middle-to-older aged adults
Authors: Ma Teng-Chi , Zhou Jing , Wang Chen-Xi , Lin Zhi-Zhi , Gao Feng
Published: January 2023

Background and aim

The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a dietary index developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to determine whether a diet adheres to US dietary guidelines. Soluble Klotho (S-Klotho) is a protein with essential anti-aging properties. However, whether HEI is linked to S-Klotho plasma levels is still debatable. This study aimed to assess the association between HEI-2015 and S-Klotho in middle-to-older aged adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016.

Methods

The study included 8456 middle-to-older aged (40–79 years old) participants. Multivariate regression models were used to estimate the correlation between HEI-2015 and S-Klotho concentrations. General additive models and two-piece-wise regression models were used to investigate the possible non-linear relationships between HEI-2015 and S-Klotho concentrations. Moreover, a stratified analysis of potential influencing factors was performed.

Results

A positive correlation was observed between HEI-2015 and S-Klotho plasma levels (β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.21, 1.27, P = 0.0067). According to the two-piece-wise regression, the turning point of HEI-2015 was 45.15. When the range of HEI-2015 was from 0 to 45.15, the relationship between HEI and S-Klotho was insignificant (β = −0.87, 95% CI: −2.47, 0.73, P = 0.2858). However, when the range of HEI-2015 was from 45.15 to 100, HEI-2015 increased by 1 unit, the S-Klotho increased by 1.30 pg/ml (β = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.55, 2.05, P = 0.0007), suggesting a dose-response relationship. Furthermore, the stratified analysis showed that the association between HEI-2015 and S-Klotho concentrations was more significant in people with normal body mass index (P-interaction = 0.0161).

Conclusion

There is a dose-response relationship between the HEI-2015 and S-Klotho in the middle-to-older aged adults. This relationship suggests that adherence to healthy dietary patterns may benefit the prevention of aging and health maintenance. The underlying mechanisms require further investigation.
Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy: Update on current diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Esmaeil Ali , Ali Ali , Behbehani Raed
Published: January 2023

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a fairly prevalent mitochondrial disorder (1:50,000) arising from the dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which eventually leads to apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. The usual presentation is that of a young male with a sequential reduction in visual acuity. OCT has been used to study the pattern of optic nerve involvement in LHON, showing early thickening of the inferior and superior retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cell layer thinning corresponding with the onset of symptoms. Of the three primary mutations for LHON, the m.14484T>C mutation has the best visual prognosis. Recent emerging therapeutic options for LHON include idebenone and the introduction of genetic vector therapy, which is currently in phase III clinical trials. Screening of family members and adequate advice to avoid environmental triggers, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, are also cornerstones in the management of LHON.
Epidemiological data of national Kawasaki disease registry in Iran, 2007–2019
Authors: Shahbaznejad Leila , Hosseininasab Ali , Mahboobi Leila , Mohammadi Hamid , Esmaeili Hassan , Farrokhi Far Seyed Majid , Alipour Mohammad Reza , Sedighi Iraj , Mansour Ghanaei Roxana , Sobouti Behnam , Taremiha Alireza , Malek Abdol Reza , Ghadiri Keyghobad , Soleimani Gholamreza , Tabasizadeh Hamed , Ghadimi Moghadam Abdolkarim , Barak Manouchehr , Salehi Abarghouei Forood , Hashemian Houman , Daryani Nezhad Hossein , Sherkatolabbasieh Hamid Reza , Abedini-Varamini Masoumeh , Rahmati Mohammad Bagher , Movahedi Faezeh Sadat , Rezai Mohammad Sadegh
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Kawasaki disease(KD) is a vasculitis of childhood that tends to influence the coronary arteries. There is no national data about the prevalence of KD in Iran. This study aimed to perform a national registry in Iran for 13 years.

Methods

In this retrospective study, the data for KD extracted from medical records of <19 year-old patients admitted to tertiary hospitals in Iran between 2007 and 2019 were recorded in the national KD registry system. Age, admission date, gender, location, and presence of KD criteria, laboratory and echocardiography findings, and treatment modalities were evaluated. Complete KD was considered if ≥4 clinical criteria of the KD existed and otherwise, incomplete KD was considered.

Results

Data from 1,682 KD patients including 999(59.39%) boys and 683(40.61%) girls and male/female ratio of 1.46 were evaluated. The mean age was 3.08 ± 2.49 years and 1465(87%) were living in urban regions. The yearly incidence of the disease was between 2.62 to 3.03 from 2015 to 2019. The highest age-specific incidence was observed in children <1-year-old. Incomplete and resistant KD included 1,321(78.54%) and 9(0.54%) patients, respectively. Abnormal echocardiography was detected in 619(36.80%) patients. Leukocytosis, with dominancy of neutrophils, anemia, thrombocytosis and increased ESR and CRP were the most noticeable laboratory findings. No death due to KD disease was reported.

Conclusion

Based on this study, most of the KD cases are presented with atypical presentation in Iran. So, increasing awareness of primary healthcare workers by educating and updating their data is very important in timely diagnosis and management of the disease.
Management of diabetes mellitus in people living with HIV: A single-center experience
Authors: Cattaneo Dario , Gidaro Antonio , Rossi Antonio , Merlo Andrea , Formenti Tiziana , Meraviglia Paola , Antinori Spinello , Gervasoni Cristina
Published: January 2023

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is more common in people living with HIV (PLWH) than in HIV-negative patients. Here we aimed to describe the response of PLWH with DM to glucose-lowering therapies in a reference hospital of northern Italy.

Setting: 200 PLWH and DM were identified from the database of our clinic.

Methods: Good control of DM was defined as having fasting glucose <130 mg/dl or HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol. The distribution of glucose-lowering therapies in PLWH was compared with that of HIV-negative patients with DM.

Results: Mean total fasting glucose and HbA1C were 143 ± 50 mg/dl (51% exceeding the 130 mg/dl cutoff) and 51 ± 16 mmol/mol (30% exceeding the 53 mmol/mol cutoff), respectively. PLWH were less treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (1.7% versus 9.6%, p < 0.01) and sulfonylureas (3.3% versus 13.2%, p < 0.01), being conversely more frequently treated with metformin (53.8% versus 37.7%, p < 0.01), glifozins plus metformin (7.1% versus 2.0%, p < 0.05) or insulin plus other glucose-lowering agents (5.5% versus 0.5%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: An underuse of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors was found which was, however, counterbalanced by a higher use of combination of drugs (including glifozins). A rational assessment of drug-drug interactions would contribute to a better selection of the best glucose lowering agent for each antiretroviral therapy.
Alkaloid from Alstonia yunnanensis diels root against gastrointestinal cancer: Acetoxytabernosine inhibits apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Lai Qi , Yang Chun-Ju , zhang Qi , Zhuang Min , Ma Yan-Hua , Lin Cheng-Yuan , Zeng Guang-Zhi , Yin Jun-Lin
Published: January 2023

Liver cancer belongs to Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies which is a common clinical disease, a thorny public health problem, and one of the major diseases that endanger human health. Molecules from natural products (NPs) or their derivatives play an increasingly important role in various chronic diseases such as GI cancers. The chemical composition of the Alstonia yunnanensis Diels roots was studied using silica column chromatography, gel chromatography, recrystallization, and HPLC, and the compounds were structurally identified by modern spectral analysis using mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-, 13C-, HMQC-, HMBC-, and 1H-1HCOSY-NMR), ultraviolet and visible spectrum (UV), and electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD). Acetoxytabernosine (AC), an indole alkaloid with antitumor activity, was isolated from Alstonia yunnanensis Diels root. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of AC on the cell proliferation of BEL-7402 and SMMC7721 and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. The absolute configuration of AC was calculated by ECD (electronic circular dichroism). The effects of AC on the viability of different tumor cell lines were studied by the SRB method. The death mode of human hepatoma cells caused by AC was studied by TUNEL cell apoptosis detection and AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining image. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1. The effects of AC on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase9, Caspase3, and Parp-1) in SMMC7721 and BEL-7402 cells were detected by western blot. It was found that the absolute configuration of AC is 19(s), 20(s)-Acetoxytabernosine. AC could induce apoptosis of SMMC7721 and BEL-7402, and block the replication of DNA in the G1 phase. Under the treatment of AC, the total protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase9, Caspase3, and Parp-1) significantly decreased in SMMC7721 and BEL-7402. The results suggested that AC induced apoptosis through a caspase-dependent intrinsic pathway in SMMC7721 and BEL-7402, and natural product-based drug development is an important direction in antitumor drug discovery and research.
Natural product manoalide promotes EGFR-TKI sensitivity of lung cancer cells by KRAS-ERK pathway and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload-induced ferroptosis
Authors: Ni Yinyun , Liu Jiaye , Zeng Lingyan , Yang Ying , Liu Lei , Yao Menglin , Chai Li , Zhang Lu , Li Yi , Zhang Li , Li Weimin
Published: January 2023

Background: Manoalide (MA), a proven natural inhibitor of PLA2 has anticancer effects, but its potential application and mechanism as an anticancer drug to promote EGFR-TKI sensitivity in lung cancer cells have not been studied.

Methods: KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells and organoids, acquired osimertinib-resistant lung cancer cell lines HCC827OR, were used as EGFR-TKI-resistant models. CCK-8, clone formation, apoptosis assays, and calcein-AM staining were performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of MA in lung cancer cells and organoids. The flow cytometry or confocal microscope was used to detect lipid droplets, ROS, lipid peroxidation, mitochondria Ca2+, and iron content. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) were used to estimate the effect of MA on mitochondrial function.

Results: MA inhibits the proliferation of KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells and organoids. In addition, MA induces ER stress in a ROS-dependent mechanism. The ROS induced by MA is mainly in mitochondrial and causes lipid peroxidation, thereby inhibiting mitochondrial FAO metabolism and promoting the accumulation of lipid droplets. MA also suppresses the KRAS-ERK pathway through ROS and promotes the sensitivity of KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells and organoids to osimertinib. Furthermore, MA induces ferroptosis by suppressing the NRF2-SLC7A11 axis and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload induced-FTH1 pathways to promote the sensitivity of osimertinib-resistant lung cancer cells to osimertinib.

Conclusions: MA is a candidate EGFR-TKI sensitizer in KRAS-mutated and osimertinib-resistant lung cancer cells.
Muon capture on deuteron using local chiral potentials
Authors: Ceccarelli L. , Gnech A. , Marcucci L. E. , Piarulli M. , Viviani M.
Published: January 2023

The muon capture reaction μ− + d → n + n + νμ in the doublet hyperfine state is studied using nuclear potentials and consistent currents derived in the chiral effective field theory, which are local and expressed in coordinate space (the so-called Norfolk models). Only the largest contribution due to the 1S0nn scattering state is considered. Particular attention is given to the estimate of theoretical uncertainty, for which four sources have been identified: 1) the model dependence, 2) the chiral-order convergence for the weak nuclear current, 3) the uncertainty in the single-nucleon axial form factor, and 4) the numerical technique adopted to solve the bound and scattering A = 2 systems. This last source of uncertainty has turned out to be essentially negligible. For the 1S0 doublet muon capture rate ΓD(S01), we obtain ΓD(S01)=255.8(0.6)(4.4)(2.9) s−1, where the three errors come from the first three sources of uncertainty. The value for ΓD(S01) obtained within this local chiral framework is compared with previous calculations and found in very good agreement.
C:N:P stoichiometry in plant, soil and microbe in Sophora moorcroftiana shrubs across three sandy dune types in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River
Authors: Dong Ruizhen , Yang Shihai , Wang Xiaoli , Xie Lele , Ma Yushou , Wang Yanlong , Zhang Litian , Zhang Min , Qin Jinping
Published: January 2023

The alpine sandy dune ecosystem is highly vulnerable to global climate change. Ecological stoichiometry in plants and soils plays a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, energy flow and functioning in ecosystems. The alpine sandy dune ecosystem is highly vulnerable to global climate change. However, the stoichiometric changes and correlations of plants and soils among different types of sandy dunes have not been fully explored. Three sandy dune types (moving dune, MD; semifixed dune, SFD; and fixed dune, FD) of the Sophora moorcroftiana shrub in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River were used as the subjects in the current study. Plant community characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents of leaves, understorey herbs, litter, and soil microbes were evaluated to explore the C:N:P stoichiometry and its driving factors. Sandy dune type significant affected on the C:N:P stoichiometry in plants and soils. High soil N:P ratio was observed in FD and high plant C:P and N:P ratios in SFD and MD. The C:N ratio decreased with sand dune stabilization compared with other stoichiometric ratios of soil resources. Leaf C:P and N:P ratios in S. moorcroftiana were higher than those in the understorey herb biomass, because of the low P concentrations in leaves. C, N and P contents and stoichiometry of leaves, understorey herbs, litter and microbe were significantly correlated with the soil C, N and P contents and stoichiometry, with a higher correlation for soil N:P ratio. P was the mainly limiting factor for the growth of S. moorcroftiana population in the study area and its demand became increasingly critical with the increase in shrub age. The variation in the C:N:P stoichiometry in plants and soils was mainly modulated by the soil physicochemical properties, mainly for soil moisture, pH, available P and dissolved organic C. These findings provide key information on the nutrient stoichiometry patterns, element distribution and utilization strategies of C, N and P and as well as scrubland restoration and management in alpine valley sand ecosystems.
Fungicide sensitivity levels in the Lithuanian Zymoseptoria tritici population in 2021
Authors: Lavrukaitė Karolina , Heick Thies M. , Ramanauskienė Jūratė , Armonienė Rita , Ronis Antanas
Published: January 2023

Zymoseptoria tritici causes the disease known as septoria leaf blotch in winter wheat and is a major factor in yield loss worldwide. Farmers are inclined to use fungicides to protect their crops; however, the efficacy of these measures is rapidly decreasing due to the natural mechanisms of mutation emergence in pathogen populations. Increasing fungicide resistance is being recorded worldwide, therefore, screening of the current situation in Lithuania is essential to determine the subsequent steps of crop protection strategies. In this study, in vitro fungicide sensitivity tests, mutation detection, and field experiments were carried out. The mean EC50 values for prothioconazole-desthio and mefentrifluconazole were 0.14 and 0.28 mg/l, respectively. Increased frequency of the mutation S524T, linked to DMIs resistance, was observed. Results revealed that the dominant point mutation in the gene CYP51 was I381V, and the most frequent CYP51 haplotype was D13 (V136C, I381V, Y461H, S524T). The mutation G143A, linked to QoI resistance, was detected in ¾ of the population. Mutations conferring resistance to SDHIs were not detected in single pycnidium isolates. Two-year field experiments likewise showed no decline in field efficacy of SDHI fungicide in Lithuania. Moreover, the baseline sensitivity of the Lithuanian Z. tritici population to QiI fungicide fenpicoxamid was established. The findings of this study provide an update on the current status of fungicide resistance in the Lithuanian Z. tritici population.
Multispecies transcriptomes reveal core fruit development genes
Authors: Rajewski Alex , Maheepala Dinusha C. , Le Jessica , Litt Amy
Published: January 2023

During angiosperm evolution there have been repeated transitions from an ancestral dry fruit to a derived fleshy fruit, often with dramatic ecological and economic consequences. Following the transition to fleshy fruits, domestication may also dramatically alter the fruit phenotype via artificial selection. Although the morphologies of these fruits are well documented, relatively less is known about the molecular basis of these developmental and evolutionary shifts. We generated RNA-seq libraries from pericarp tissue of desert tobacco and both cultivated and wild tomato species at common developmental time points and combined this with corresponding, publicly available data from Arabidopsis and melon. With this broadly sampled dataset consisting of dry/fleshy fruits and wild/domesticated species, we applied novel bioinformatic methods to investigate conserved and divergent patterns of gene expression during fruit development and evolution. A small set of 121 orthologous “core” fruit development genes show a common pattern of expression across all five species. These include key players in developmental patterning such as orthologs of KNOLLE, PERIANTHIA, and ARGONAUTE7. GO term enrichment suggests that these genes function in basic cell division processes, cell wall biosynthesis, and developmental patterning. We furthermore uncovered a number of “accessory” genes with conserved expression patterns within but not among fruit types, and whose functional enrichment highlights the conspicuous differences between these phenotypic classes. We observe striking conservation of gene expression patterns despite large evolutionary distances, and dramatic phenotypic shifts, suggesting a conserved function for a small subset of core fruit development genes.
Under pressure – The working situation of Swedish healthcare managers during the first wave of COVID-19
Authors: Björk Lisa , Corin Linda , Akerstrom Magnus , Jonsdottir Ingibjörg H. , Innocenti Alessio Degl , Wijk Helle , Ahlstrom Linda
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study is to provide insight into the psychosocial work situation of hospital managers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Mixed-effect modelling was used on survey data on job demands, job resources, job motivation, and work-life balance among over 500 managers working in 55 departments of a large Swedish university hospital in 2019 and 2020. Responses from 6011 employees were then used to stratify the analysis for COVID-19 exposure. Inductive content analysis was applied to open-ended questions on the managers’ views on organisational prerequisites during the onset of the pandemic.

Results

The proportion of managers reporting difficulties with role clarity, quantitative demands, decision-making authority, and emotional support, time for recovery at work, motivation deficits, or problems with work-life balance clearly increased during the first wave of the pandemic. The proportion of managers reporting negative responses was higher in departments with high COVID-19 exposure. The qualitative analysis shows that overall governance in terms of clear, fair, and well-communicated routines, resource allocation, and division of responsibilities constituted an important framework for managerial during the crisis. First-line managers also require a mandate to re-organize their roles and their teams to successfully adapt to the situation. Organisational and social support was also important resources.

Discussion

This is the first study investigating healthcare managers’ work situation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Swedish context. As expected, it indicates an increasingly strained work situation during the crisis, but it also provides findings on organisational prerequisites that allow healthcare managers to cope with stressful situations. In line with previous research on organisational resilience, the study provides suggestions for how higher-level managers can act in order to provide front-line managers with the organisational prerequisites they need to adapt, learn and develop successfully during times of unpredictability, insecurity, and rapid change in order to offer the best possible support to health care workers.
Measuring parental involvement as parental actions in children’s private music lessons in China
Authors: Cui Cancan
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to establish a survey instrument to measure Chinese parents’ level of actions in their children’s private music classes. I adopted Fung’s framework of change and human actions as the theoretical support for a model of parents’ level of actions. Parents of 5- to 12-year-old children (N = 894) from 20 different provinces in China were surveyed on their level of involvement (i.e., proactivity, passivity, and avoidance) in their children’s private music education. Seven factors were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis, which were then consolidated into a 3-factor solution. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate model fit for the data collected from the Parents’ Level of Action in Private Music Learning Scale. The results from correlation analyses revealed that (1) children’s age had a direct but weak correlation with parents’ proactivity and (2) parents’ proactivity was positively associated with children’s intention to take music lessons. The results of the repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that most Chinese parents in this study were proactively involved in their children’s private music lessons. The findings from this study are consistent with the literature. Implications and recommendations are discussed, and suggestions for future research are included.
Anxiety, depression, and academic stress among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Avila-Carrasco Lorena , Díaz-Avila Daisy Lorena , Reyes-López Adrian , Monarrez-Espino Joel , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Velasco-Elizondo Perla , Vázquez-Reyes Sodel , Mauricio-González Alejandro , Solís-Galván Jorge Alfonso , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L.
Published: January 2023

Background

The social distancing policies implemented by the health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico and elsewhere led to major changes in teaching strategies for college undergraduates. So far, there is limited data regarding the impact of the lockdown on the academic stress and mental health of these students.

Objective

To assess the occurrence of academic difficulties, anxiety, depression, and academic stressors resulting in somatization with subsequent coping strategies linked to the pandemic.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 728 medical students (years 1–5). A purposely designed questionnaire to assess academic difficulties associated with the pandemic was administered electronically. The validated Goldberg anxiety and depression scale was also used, as well as the SISCO-II inventory on academic stress.

Results

Screening for anxiety and depression led to a prevalence of 67.9 and 81.3%, respectively. Most relevant stressors, reported always or nearly always, included professors’ evaluations (63.9%), and reading overload of academic papers (50.6%). Factorial analyses showed that women were more prone to stress than men (p < 0.001). Somatization symptomatology included drowsiness or increased need of sleep, anxiety, anguish, desperation, chronic fatigue, and sleep disorders. Common coping strategies included practicing a hobby, done always or nearly always by 65% of students with high stress, and 34% of those with low stress (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There was a relevant impact of the mandatory lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students reflected in the high prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and stressors in the studied population pointing to the need for designing and implementing preventive strategies to deal with the effects of lockdowns.
Relationship between job involvement, perceived organizational support, and organizational commitment with job insecurity: A systematic literature review
Authors: Hngoi Chin Ling , Abdullah Nurul-Azza , Wan Sulaiman Wan Shahrazad , Zaiedy Nor Norshaffika Izzaty
Published: January 2023

This manuscript aims to review the literature on the relationship between job insecurity and job involvement, perceived organizational support, organizational commitment, and positional characteristics. The definition and conceptualization of the variables are discussed for clarity. This systematic review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to summarize and review 19 articles on job insecurity. The result shows gaps in the relationship between job involvement and organizational commitment, yielding no result from the search. This review identified implications and areas for future research on the topic. It also found evidence supporting the need to further investigate the antecedents and consequences of job insecurity in order to improve productivity and reduce attrition.
A psychometric evaluation of the Italian short version of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III: Psychometric properties, measurement invariance across gender, convergent, and discriminant validity
Authors: Diotaiuti Pierluigi , Corrado Stefano , Mancone Stefania , Cavicchiolo Elisa , Chirico Andrea , Siqueira Thais Cristina , Andrade Alexandro
Published: January 2023

Introduction

TheFear of Pain Questionnaire-III(FPQ-III) is a self-assessment instrument developed specifically to measure fear based on various pain stimuli converging on three factors: severe pain, medical pain, and minor pain. It actually remains the most studied and internationally used tool even in its short versions. The aim of this work was to propose a new validation study oriented to confirm the good psychometric properties of a short model of the FPQ-III for the Italian context.

Methods

A large sample of participants was recruited (n  = 1,064) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as well as Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed. Measurement invariance of the FPQ-III across gender was also evaluated. In order to examine convergent validity, a further convenient sample (n  = 292) was used and variables related to the individual’s pain experience, locus of control and coping orientations were assessed. A final discriminant assessment using experimental manipulation through fear eliciting videos was performed.

Results

The three factors structure of the 13-item version of the questionnaire was confirmed (χ2= 148.092, CFI = 0.971, TLI = 0.962, RMSEA = 0.046, RMSEA 90% CI = 0.037–0.056) as well as the measurement invariance across gender. Item internal reliability was satisfactory. The results provided evidence of the good predictive validity of the FPQ-III and the discriminant assessment demonstrated that the instrument is suitable in detecting changes in fear of pain induced by specific situational conditions.

Discussion

The scale in this short version is suitable for quickly and efficiently gathering information about the perceived intensity of such anticipatory fears that might affect even the healthy person dysfunctionally.
Online experimental research on the psychological capital development of new venture entrepreneur under the COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic
Authors: Zeng Na , Zhang Ming , Fu Shanna , Xiao Qin , Javed Tahira
Published: January 2023

The global economy has been severely traumatized by the COVID-19 pandemic, and new ventures are under tremendous pressure to survive. This paper explores whether structured reading materials and mindfulness intervention can develop entrepreneurs’ psychological capital and whether there are different effects on different development methods. We recruited 112 new venture entrepreneurs and carried out an online experiment using the experimental group, the control group, and the pre-test and post-test design; at last, 83 of whom participated in the process can be assessed for psychological capital development effect. The research findings indicated that structured reading materials could effectively improve the overall psychological capital of the subjects (t = −5.574，p < 0.01) and impact in every dimension, including self-efficacy (Z = −2.858, p < 0.01), hope (t = −3.560, p < 0.01), resilience (t = −4.368, p < 0.01) and optimism (Z = −3.300, p < 0.01). In comparison, mindfulness intervention can improve the subjects’ overall psychological capital (Z = −3.293, p < 0.01) and improve levels of self-efficacy (Z = −2.285, p < 0.01), hope (t = −4.244, p < 0.01), resilience (t = −3.167, p < 0.01), but limited effect on the optimism (t = −1.955, p > 0.05); In addition, there is no significant difference between structured reading materials and mindfulness intervention according to the statistical analysis.
A qualitative exploration of stakeholders’ perspectives on the experiences, challenges, and needs of persons with serious mental illness as they consider finding a partner or becoming parent
Authors: Dubreucq Marine , Lysaker Paul H. , Dubreucq Julien
Published: January 2023

Background

While many persons with serious mental illness (SMI) consider intimate relationships and becoming parent as central parts of their lives deeply affecting wellbeing and recovery, others anticipate facing multiple challenges in these life domains. This qualitative study sought to explore the perspectives of persons with SMI and mental health providers (MHPs) with diverse backgrounds and practices on the experiences, challenges, needs and expectations of persons with SMI as they consider finding a partner or becoming parent.

Methods

For this qualitative study, we conducted five focus groups between March and December 2020 for a total number of 22 participants (nine persons with SMI and thirteen MHPs) recruited from a center for psychiatric rehabilitation and a community mental health center in France. We used the inductive six-step process by Braun and Clarke for the thematic analysis.

Results

Participants reported some challenges related to intimate relationships, stigma/self-stigma, disclosure and decision-making about start a family. Their expectations included: (i) psychoeducation about decision-making about finding a partner and starting a family; (ii) support in making empowered decisions about finding a partner, starting a family or disclosure to a prospective partner or their child; (iii) peer-support interventions; (iv) enhancing coping strategies; (v) integrated service provision including home treatment interventions, training to recovery-oriented practices and access to dedicated resources for providers.

Conclusion

In short, intimate relationships and desire to start a family for persons with SMI should be more considered in psychiatric rehabilitation and additional support and interventions should therefore be provided.
Prophylactic intravitreal injection of aflibercept for preventing postvitrectomy hemorrhage in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Qu Jinfeng , Chen Xiuju , Liu Qinghuai , Wang Fang , Li Mingxin , Zhou Qiong , Yao Jin , Li Xiaoxin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of preoperative intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) injection on the incidence of postoperative vitreous hemorrhage (VH) after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods

This study involved a prospective, randomized clinical trial. One hundred twenty-eight eyes of 128 patients of PDR who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were enrolled. Sixty-four eyes were assigned randomly to either the IVA group (IVA injection 1 to 5 days before PPV) or the control group (no IVA injection). The primary outcome was the incidence of VH at 1 month after PPV. Secondary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes from baseline to at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after surgery.

Results

The VH incidences in the IVA group and the control group were 14.8 and 39.3% at week 1, 8.6 and 31.7% at month 1, 11.7 and 30.5% at month 2, and 8.6 and 30.5% at month 3, respectively. Intergroup differences showed a significantly decreased VH rate in the IVA group compared with that in the control group at week 1, month 1, and month 3 (p = 0.021, 0.006, and 0.047, respectively). Compared to the baseline, neither the mean BCVA nor the BCVA change in the Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) scale did differ significantly between the two groups at each visit point. There are a greater number of eyes with BCVA improvement of more than 2 logMAR in the IVA group than in the control group at week 1 (8 vs. 2, p = 0.048).

Conclusions

This study found that the adjunctive use of preoperative IVA reduces early and late postoperative VH in vitrectomy for PDR.
The positive effect of mother-performed infant massage on infantile eczema and maternal mental state: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lin Lin , Yu Lin , Zhang Shuying , Liu Jing , Xiong Ying
Published: January 2023

Objective

To observe the influence of MPIM on infantile eczema, quality of life, growth and maternal mental state.

Methods

This trial was a randomized controlled study. Sixty-six full-term infants with eczema were randomly divided into eczema control group (EC group, n = 33) and eczema with MPIM group (EM group, n = 33), along with healthy full-term infants in the healthy control group (HC group, n = 31). The mothers in the EC group received the instruction of routine care, while the mothers in the EM group applied massage on the infants plus receiving the same instruction of the routine care. HC group received none of any specific intervention. Data were collected in the three groups at the baseline and at the end of 2- and 5-month intervention. Before and at the end of 2-month intervention, the following indexes were investigated in infants including the growth indexes, eczema area severity index (EASI), infantile dermatitis quality of life index (IDQOL). And the scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were investigated in mothers at the same timepoints. At the end of 5-month intervention, the infants' growth and relapse condition of eczema were observed.

Results

Overall, 31 cases in HC group, 31 in EC group and 32 in EM group were included for data analysis. There were no significant differences in the indexes of infantile growth among the three groups (all P >0.05). The scores of EASI and IDQOL significantly lowered (both P < 0.001) in EC group following the instruction of routine care, along with reduced maternal scores of SAS and SDS (both P < 0.05). Compared with the EC group, the EM group showed significantly lower scores of EASI and IDQOL (both P < 0.001) and lower relapse rate (P < 0.01) in infants with eczema, along with significantly lower scores of SAS and SDS in mothers (both P < 0.01). Moreover, none of obvious adverse reaction was reported following MPIM, to which most of the mothers could adhere.

Conclusion

MPIM could effectively promote the remission of infantile eczema and reduce its relapse, along with relieving maternal anxiety and depression mood.

Clinical trial registration

Identifier: ChiCTR2200066246.
Developing fluency in a language of tactile communication
Authors: Tuttle Neil , Hillier Susan
Published: January 2023

Touch has been an integral part of physiotherapeutic approaches since the inception of the profession. More recently, advances in the evidence-base for exercise prescription and “active” management have brought “touch” into question. This, in part, assumes that the patient or recipient simply passively receives the input rather than being an active partner in the interaction. In this article, we propose that touch can be used as a two-way conversation between therapist and client where each is engaged in tactile communication that has the potential to raise patient awareness and improve movement-based behaviour.