bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exogenous Betaine Enhances Salt Tolerance of Glycyrrhiza uralensis through Multiple Pathways
Authors: Dong Xinping , Ma Xiaomei , Zhao Zhilong , Ma Miao
Published: December 2023

Background
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is a medicinal plant with high economic value. Despite the relatively strong salt tolerance of perennial individuals, its salt tolerance at the seedling growth stage is low. Improving its salt stress resistance at the seedling stage is the key to the cultivation of the plant using salinized land. In this study, we investigated the enhancement effect of exogenous glycine betaine (GB) on the growth of G. uralensis seedlings under NaCl stress conditions and analysed its physiological mechanism.
Results
The root growth of G. uralensis seedlings was severely inhibited under NaCl stress conditions, and the addition of GB could effectively alleviate the adverse effects of the salt stress; the application of 20 mM GB had the most significant alleviating effect. Compared with the NaCl-only treatment group, the application of 20 mM GB under NaCl stress conditions significantly increased total root length, total root surface area, and total root volume by 80.38%, 93.28%, and 175.61%, respectively, and obviously increased the GB content in its roots, stems, and leaves by 36.88%, 107.05%, and 21.63%, respectively, and their activity of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) was increased by 74.10%, 249.38%, and 150.60%, respectively. The GB-addition treatment significantly increased content of osmoregulatory substances (soluble proteins, sluble sugars and proline) in the roots and leave, markedly enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of antioxidant, and dramatically promoted salt secretion capacity of the leaves, which especially promoted the secretion of Na+.
Conclusions
In summary, the exogenous addition of GB is an effective way to significantly improve the salt tolerance of G. uralensis seedlings, and promotion of the synthesis of osmoregulatory substances, enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities, reduction of membrane lipid peroxidation products, and discharge of excess salts in the body (especially the significant promotion of the secretion of Na+) are the critical reasons why exogenous addition of GB was able to effectively alleviate the NaCl damage of G. uralensis seedlings.
Palm-based tototrienol-rich fraction (TRF) supplementation modulates cardiac sod1 expression, fxr target gene expression and tauro-conjugated bile acid levels in aleptinemic mice fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Shahrulni Nur Aliah Natasha Md , Goon Mohd Danial Mohd Efendy , Rahim Sharaniza Ab , Lew Sook Weih , Ibrahim Effendi , Kadir Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul
Published: December 2023

Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) has been reported to protect the heart from oxidative stress-induced inflammation. It is, however, unclear whether the protective effects TRF against oxidative stress involve the activation of farnesoid-x receptor (fxr), a bile acid receptor, and the regulation of bile acid metabolites. In the current study, we investigated the effects of TRF supplementation on antioxidant activities, expression of fxr and its target genes in cardiac tissue, and serum untargeted metabolomics of high-fat diet-fed mice. Mice were divided into high-fat diet (HFD) with or without TRF supplementation (control) for six weeks. At the end of the intervention, weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), and random blood glucose were measured. Heart tissues were collected, and the gene expression of sod1, sod2, gpx and fxr and its target genes shp and stat3 was determined. Serum was subjected to untargeted metabolomic analysis using UHPLC-Orbitrap. In comparison to the control, the WC of the TRF-treated group was significantly higher (p > 0.05) than that of the HFD-only group, but there was no significant difference in weight or random blood glucose level. Downregulation of sod1, sod2 and gpx expression was observed in TRF-treated mice; however, only sod1 was significant when compared to the HFD only group. The expression of cardiac fxr and shp was significantly upregulated, but stat3 was significantly downregulated in the TRF-treated group compared to the HFD-only group. Biochemical pathways found to be influenced by TRF supplementation include bile acid secretion, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and biotin and cholesterol metabolism. In conclusion, TRF supplementation in HFD-fed mice affects antioxidant activities, and more interestingly, TRF also acts as a signaling molecule that is possibly involved in several bile acid-related biochemical pathways accompanied by an increase in cardiac fxr shp expression. This study provides new insight into TRF in deregulating bile acid receptors and metabolites in high-fat diet-fed mice.
Investigating the relationship between household food insecurity and pregnancy complications
Authors: Davoodi Marzieh
Published: December 2023

Introduction
: Food insecurity, is an important health and social problem that affects millions of people around the world every day. Meanwhile, assessing the food insecurity situation in pregnant women is more important. IConsidering the contradictory results in previous studies and also the limited studies on the relationship between food insecurity and pregnancy complications in Iran, this study investigates the relationship between household food insecurity and pregnancy complications in mothers
method
This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 550 mothers referring to Yasuj health centers. Two food safety questionnaires from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and general information were used to collect data. Independent t-test and chi-square tests were used in statistical analysis.
Results
According to the findings, 62.3% of mothers had food security. And 37.7% of them had food insecurity, of which 27.1% were in the category of non-hunger insecurity, 9% were in the category of moderate hunger and 1.6% were in the category of severe hunger. In this study, various complications such as gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension were investigated and their relationship with food insecurity was assessed. There was a significant relationship between food insecurity and diabetes and blood pressure during pregnancy.
Conclusion
The results of the present study showed that living in food insecure households is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and gestational hypertension.
Implementation of a comprehensive and personalised approach for older people with psychosocial frailty in Valencia (Spain): Study Protocol for a pre-post controlled trial
Authors: Fernández-Salido Mirian , Alhambra-Borrás Tamara , Garcés-Ferrer Jorge
Published: December 2023

Background
With aging the risk of frailty increases, becoming a common condition that exposes older people to an increased risk of multiple adverse health outcomes and decreased quality of life. It has been shown that the experience of loneliness increases with age and in particular frail older adults appear to be at higher risk of experiencing loneliness. In Valencia (Spain), the ValueCare project develops and applies a value-based care approach that addresses the multidimensional nature of frailty by implementing integrated and personalized care to tackle frailty and loneliness by improving the well-being and quality of life of older people experiencing psychosocial frailty.
Methods
This study presents the study protocol of a pre-post controlled design with a baseline measurement at inclusion, at the end of implementation and a follow-up measurement after 6 months of intervention. In Valencia (Spain), 120 participants over 65 years of age are recruited from primary care centres to receive the ValueCare comprehensive and personalised care plan according to the results and are compared with 120 participants receiving "usual care". An assessment questionnaire is designed using validated instruments and a personalised care plan is developed specifically for each participant based on the results obtained. Participants whose results confirm the presence of psychosocial frailty receive a psychosocial intervention plan that combines the use of motivational interviewing supported by the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model, social workshops in the local context and the use of the ValueCare digital tool. The benefits of the intervention are assessed in terms of level of loneliness and psychological and social frailty.
Discussion
Addressing frailty as a multidimensional and multifactorial risk condition requires the development and implementation of comprehensive assessment and care models that address not only the physical condition but also the psychological and social condition in terms of prevention and reversal of social frailty and associated loneliness.
The ValueCare project in Valencia (Spain) focuses on providing tools that integrate social and health aspects with the support of information and communication technologies to promote active aging and social participation and improve the health, well-being and quality of life of older people experiencing loneliness.
Trial registration
ISRCTN registration number is ISRCTN25089186. The registration date is 16/11/2021.
Development and validation of pathological nomograms for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients
Authors: An Yingqi , Gong Jianping , Xiao Aitang
Published: December 2023

Purpose
The prediction of colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis greatly influences clinical decision-making. The traditional tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system has limited prognostic accuracy in CRC patients. This study was designed to develop a more robust prognostic tool to aid in prognosis prediction for CRC patients.
Methods
Novel prognostic nomogram models were developed based on postoperative pathological findings from 2435 patients who underwent curative colorectal tumor resection. In the development cohort, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select parameters for inclusion in the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) nomograms. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were utilized to compare performance between the models and the traditional AJCC staging.
Results
Calibration plots indicated that the nomograms developed had good prognostic prediction capability. ROC analysis revealed that the OS-related nomogram predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS with AUCs of 0.786, 0.776, and 0.803, respectively, compared to 0.768, 0.750, and 0.782, respectively, for the TNM staging system. The DFS nomogram predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS with AUCs of 0.764, 0.777, and 0.789, respectively, in contrast to 0.762, 0.761, and 0.770 for TNM staging. DCA demonstrated that the developed nomograms provided greater net benefits than did the TNM staging system.
Conclusion
Our developed prognostic model demonstrated enhanced accuracy in predicting CRC prognosis compared to traditional staging methods. Utilizing this model in postoperative survival prediction for CRC patients could facilitate development of more suitable personalized treatment strategies.
Surgical Outcomes of Endogenous Endophthalmitis Caused by Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Jinshan Suo , Xuzhong Shen , Dan Li , Jing Jiang , Yiwen Qian , Xin Wang , Pei Zhang , Minggui Wang , Wang Zhiliang
Published: December 2023

Background
Endogenous Klebsiella pneumoniae endophthalmitis has been a complex challenge for both ophthalmologists and physicians, characterized by its unpredictable onset, nonspecific initial symptoms, difficulty in early diagnosis, and serious implications for visual prognosis. To determine the surgical outcomes and visual acuity (VA)-related prognostic factors for patients with endogenous endophthalmitis caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp-EE).
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients diagnosed with hvKp-EE at Huashan Hospital between September 2014 and January 2022. The statistical analysis involved hypothesis testing, which was conducted using the SPSS 26.0.
Results
We enrolled 51 eyes (43 patients) with hvKp-EE who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Postoperatively, the mean logMAR VA increased from 2.27 ± 0.57 to 2.15 ± 0.72. The VA preservation rate was 86.67%, with 26 eyes achieving a VA ≥ 20/2000. Vision improved in 21 patients during follow-up. A final VA > = 20/2000 was reported for 19 (79.17%) and 7 (25.93%) individuals who had early and late PPVs, respectively (p < 0.001). Late PPV surgery predicted poor visual results (p = 0.031). The average number of extraocular infection sites was 2.49. All patients received systematic antibiotics, and 22 of the 36 patients had liver abscesses drain. The hvKp-EE risk factors included corneal edema, poor preoperative VA, and late PPV.
Conclusions
HvKp-EE patients who underwent early vitrectomy had better VA results. Late surgery, ocular edema, and inadequate initial VA (worse than 20/2000) were risk factors for poor outcomes.
Naturally acquired adaptive immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae is impaired in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Ercoli Giuseppe , Selway Hugh , Folkmanaite Milda , Oulton Tate , Norris-Grey Caitlin , Nakajima Rie , Felgner Philip , Wren Brendan W. , Tetteh Kevin , Leandro Maria , Cambridge Geraldine , Brown Jeremy S.
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased susceptibility to infection, including those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Why RA is associated with increased susceptibility to S. pneumoniae is poorly understood. This study aims to assess the effects of RA and B cell depletion therapy on naturally acquired antibody responses to 289 S. pneumoniae protein antigens using a novel protein array.
Methods: IgG responses to S. pneumoniae were characterized in serum from RA patients and disease controls (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)) using whole-cell ELISA, a flow cytometry opsonization assay, and a S. pneumoniae protein array. For the RA patients, results were compared before and after B cell depletion therapy.
Results: Compared to a well characterized disease control group of ME/CFS patients, RA patients had reduced antibody responses to multiple S. pneumoniae protein antigens, with significant IgG recognition of approximately half the number of antigens along with reduced median strengths of these responses. Reduction in multiple array antigen-specific responses also correlated with reduced IgG opsonization of S. pneumoniae. Although B cell depletion therapy with rituximab did not reduce overall IgG recognition of S. pneumoniae in the RA group, it was associated with marked disruption of pre-existing IgG repertoire to protein antigens in individual patients.
Conclusion: These data show RA is associated with major disruption of naturally acquired adaptive immunity to S. pneumoniae, which can be assessed rapidly using a protein antigen array and is likely to contribute towards the increased incidence of pneumonia in patients with RA.
Accuracy of prediction from multi-environment trials to new locations using pedigree information and environmental covariates
Authors: Gudata Diriba Tadese , Piepho Hans-Peter , Hartung Jens
Published: December 2023

Plant breeding trials are usually conducted across multiple testing locations to predict genotype performances in the targeted population of environments. The predictive accuracy can be increased by the use of adequate statistical models. We compared models with and without synthetic covariates (SC) and pedigree information under the identity, the diagonal and the factor-analytic variance-covariance structures of the genotype-by-location interactions. The model comparison was made to evaluate predictive accuracy of different models in predicting genotype performances in untested locations using the mean squared error of predicted differences (MSEPD) and the Spearman rank correlation between predicted and adjusted means. A multi-environmental trial (MET) dataset evaluated for yield performance in the dry low-land sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) breeding program of Ethiopia was used. For validating our models, we followed a leave-one-location-out cross-validation strategy. A total of 65 environmental covariates (ECs) obtained from the sorghum test locations were considered. From the actual ECs, SC were first extracted using multivariate partial least squared analysis. Then, the model was fitted accounting for pedigree information by linear mixed models. According to MSEPD, our results indicate that models accounting for SC improve prediction precision of genotype performances in the three of the variance-covariance structures compared to others without SC. The rank correlation was also higher for the model with the SC. When the SC was fitted, the rank correlation was 0.58 for the factor-analytic, 0.51 for the diagonal and 0.46 for the identity variance-covariance structure.
Local 2-connected bow-tie structure of the Web and of Social networks
Authors: Perekhodko Eugenia
Published: December 2023

The explosive growth of the Web and of Social networks motivates the need for analyzing the macroscopic structure of their underlying graphs. Although the characterization of the structure of a graph with respect to its pairwise connectivity has been known for over 15 years, just one subsequent study analyzed the world inside the giant strongly connected component, where it has been shown that the largest strongly connected component has its own microscopic bow-tie structure defined with respect to pairwise 2-connectivity among its vertices. In this paper, we introduce the local microscopic bow-tie structure of the largest strongly connected component, demonstrating its self-similarity property. Our experiments, conducted on the several Web graphs and Social networks demonstrate clear structural differences between considered Web and Social networks.
Complexities in crisis-affected contexts: a comparative case study of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response implementation
Authors: Mary Meighan , Tappis Hannah , Scudder Elaine , Creanga Andreea A
Published: December 2023

Background
Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) systems provide an opportunity for health systems to understand the determinants of maternal and perinatal deaths in order to improve quality of care and prevent future deaths from occurring. While there has been broad uptake and learning from low- and middle-income countries, little is known on how to effectively implement MPDSR within humanitarian contexts -- where disruptions in health service delivery are common, infrastructural damage and insecurity impact the accessibility of care, and severe financial and human resource shortages limit the quality and capacity to provide services to the most vulnerable. This study aimed to understand how contextual factors influence MPDSR interventions within five humanitarian contexts.
Methods
Descriptive case studies were conducted on the implementation of MPDSR in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh, refugee settlements in Uganda, South Sudan, Palestine, and Yemen. Desk reviews of case-specific MPDSR documentation and in-depth key informant interviews with 76 stakeholders supporting or directly implementing mortality surveillance interventions were conducted between December 2021 and July 2022. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Dedoose software. Thematic content analysis was employed using an adapted implementation science framework to facilitate cross-case synthesis.
Results
Implementation of MPDSR interventions in the five humanitarian settings varied in scope, scale, and approach. Adoption of the interventions and fidelity to established protocols were influenced by availability of key inputs (e.g., financial and human resources), the implementation climate (leadership engagement, health administration and provider buy-in, and community involvement), and complex humanitarian-health system dynamics. Blame culture was pervasive in all contexts, with health providers often facing punishment or criminalization for negligence, threats, and violence. Across contexts, successful implementation was driven by integrating MPDSR within quality improvement efforts, improving community involvement, and adapting programming fit-for-context.
Conclusions
The unique contextual considerations of humanitarian settings call for a customized approach to implementing MPDSR that best serves the immediate needs of the crisis, aligns with stakeholder priorities, and supports health workers and humanitarian responders in providing care to the most vulnerable populations.
Macular vascular density alteration patterns in paediatric optic neuritis patients with serum MOG antibody positivity detected by optic coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Peng chunxia , Li Siyuan , Zuo Huaxin , LIU Xi , Tian Li rong , Zhang Ru , Li Li , Shi Wei
Published: December 2023

Purpose The retinal microvascular network plays a crucial role in inflammatory injury in paediatric optic neuritis (PON) with serum MOG antibody positivity (MOG+PON). This study compared retinal microvascular densities and structural alterations in MOG+PON eyes with paediatric isolated optic neuritis (PION) eyes and followed up with the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 6 months.
Methods A total of 29 children (52 eyes) with PON, including 15 MOG+PON cases (28 eyes), 6 PION cases (10 eyes), 2 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders associated PON(NMOSD-PON) cases (4 eyes), 6 MOG-associated disease (MOGAD) patients without ON-affected eyes (MOG+NPON) cases (10 eyes) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent superficial/deep retinal angiography density (SAD/DAD) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Their BCVAs were followed up until 6 months after PON onsets.
Results MOG+PON cases had better final BCVAs than PION and NMOSD-ON. MOG+PON (35.7 ± 10.3% ) and PION (40.1 ± 10.3%) eyes experienced severe SAD reductions in contrast to MOGAD+NPON (48.7 ± 5.2%) and HCs eyes (55.6 ± 8.2%). However, DAD in MOG+PON eyes (48.5 ± 9.2%) and MOG+NPON eyes (53.1 ± 3.3%) increased compared to HC eyes (45.7 ± 9.6%; p = 0.028 and 0.009, respectively). SAD reduction occurred in acute PON and was detected as early as 2 weeks after PON onset.
Conclusions MOG+PON eyes had better final BCVAs than PION eyes, which displayed superficial retinal microvascular perfusion reductions and deep microvascular perfusion increases. SAD could be a sensitive surrogate for PON attacks in children with MOGAD.
Tracking the Initial Capacity Loss in Solid-State Batteries using in-situ Neutron Tomography and Raman Imaging
Authors: Yang Guang , Zhang Yuxuan , Bilheux Jean-Christophe , Self Ethan , Westover Andrew , Chen Jihua , Bilheux Hassina , Nanda Jagjit
Published: December 2023

Despite their high ionic conductivity and manufacturing advantages, sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes face challenges with initial capacity loss during full cell cycling. We use neutron computed tomography and radiography for in situ lithium-ion tracking, which sheds light on lithium distribution and migration patterns. The research examines a battery with a 7Li anode, ß-Li3PS4 (LPS) electrolyte, and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode. Key findings reveal lithium accumulation at the LPS/NMC811 interface and in LPS pellet cracks, leading to significant initial capacity loss. The study concludes with strategies to improve cathode/sulfide interface engineering and reduce LPS pellet defects, aiming to enhance capacity retention in all solid-state batteries.
Amwaprin is a honeybee sperm-binding protein that inhibits sperm motility and enhances sperm viability
Authors: Kim Yun Hui , Kim Bo Yeon , Yoon Hyung Joo , Choi Yong Soo , Lee Kwang Sik , Jin Byung Rae
Published: December 2023

Mated queen honeybees store viable sperm in their spermathecae for egg fertilization throughout their lifetimes, which can span several years. However, the mechanism by which queen honeybees store sperm for extended periods has remained a longstanding question. The molecular basis for the long-term survival of stored sperm in queen honeybees is linked to minimized energy metabolism and reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the specific factor responsible for such changes remains unknown. In this study, we present the first evidence of the presence of Amwaprin, a sperm-binding protein, in the seminal and spermathecal fluids of honeybees. We observed that Amwaprin acted as a sperm-binding protein primarily expressed in the testes and spermatheca of honeybees. A lack of binding between Amwaprin and the sperm surface resulted in altered sperm morphology, increased sperm motility, elevated H2O2 production, and decreased sperm viability. Our data demonstrate that Amwaprin inhibits sperm motility and enhances sperm viability. These findings suggest that the reduced sperm motility caused by Amwaprin binding in queen bees’ spermathecae contributes to the long-term survival of stored sperm by minimizing energy metabolism and ROS production.
Various aspects of approximative $\tau$-compactness in Banach spaces
Authors: Das Syamantak , Paul Tanmoy
Published: December 2023

We investigate the notion of approximative τ-compactness in Banach spaces, where τ is the norm or the weak topology. The approximative τ-compactness of Banach spaces is characterized in several ways when the subspace is of finite codimensional. A separable Banach space $X$ is shown to be Asplund if and only if X* admits a dual $CLUR$ renorming. This property is discussed in the context of quotient spaces. We prove that, under certain conditions, the property of approximative τ-compactness passes through M-ideals. Stability results for approximative τ-compactness in the spaces of Bochner integrable functions are also presented.
Exercise Level and Its Related Factors in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus undergoing Chemotherapy
Authors: Liu Huan , Zhao Huihua , Yang Zhuojun , Gu Yi , Zhang Wen , Zhou Jiao , Yang Yang , Li Haiyan , Zhu Renmin
Published: December 2023

Aim: To investigate the status quo of exercise management as well as its related factors among patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus to provide reference for clinical exercise intervention programs.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 124 patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus who were undergoing chemotherapy in Shanghai from December, 2022 to April, 2023, was undertaken. A self-made questionnaire was used to investigate the exercise management and its related factors, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the potential related factors.
Results: The mean amount of exercise per week was 3.70±3.50 MET-h/week. The stepwise regression results revealed that exercise level was positively correlated with motor function (r = 0.305, p = 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.582, p = 0.000), social support (r = 0.434, p = 0.000), and health behavior change techniques (r = 0.419, p = 0.000).
Conclusion: The patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus have a low level of exercise, and the level of exercise can be increased by improving their self-efficacy, increasing their social support, and reducing the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.
Changes in High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) in teenagers undergoing a first renal transplantation between baseline and 6 months
Authors: de Mul Aurelie , Leclerc Anne-Laure Sellier , Ginhoux Tiphanie , Levi Charlène , confavreux Cyrille , Aurelle Manon , Portefaix Aurélie , Bacchetta Justine
Published: December 2023

Background
Mineral bone disorders associated to chronic kidney disease (CKD-MBD) frequently persist after renal transplantation (R-Tx), being due to pre-existing CKD-MBD, immunosuppressive therapies and post-Tx hypophosphatemia. We aimed to evaluate bone biomarkers and microarchitecture at the time of and 6 months after R-Tx.
Methods
Here we present the single-center sub-group of patients included between 10 and 18 years of age from the prospective TRANSOS study (NCT02729142). Patients undergoing a first R-Tx were matched on a 1:2 basis on gender, puberty and age with healthy controls (HC) from the VITADOS cohort. Results are presented as median (Q1-Q3). Non-parametric tests were performed.
Results
At a median age of 15 (13-16) years, 19 patients (6 girls, 7 pre-emptive R-Tx, 7 steroid-sparing immunosuppressive strategies) underwent a first R-Tx, with PTH levels of 1.9 (1.4-2.9) the upper limit of normal (ULN).
When comparing HC and patients at the time of R-Tx, bone parameters assessed with High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) were significantly better in patients. Six months after R-Tx, patients displayed significantly impaired trabecular parameters at radius compared to baseline; results were not different at the weight-bearing tibia, neither cortical parameters at both sides.
Six months after R-Tx, 6 (31%) patients displayed acidosis, 10 (53%) persistent hyperparathyroidism (always < 2 ULN) and 5 (26%) increased FGF23 levels; 11 (58%) received phosphate supplementation.
Conclusion
Data on bone health in teenagers receiving a first R-Tx seem reassuring, but radial trabecular bone microarchitecture impairment observed 6 months post-Tx may reflect subtle albeit present post-Tx CKD-MBD.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: automatic lung and liver MRI segmentation with nnU-Net, reproducibility of pyradiomics features, and a Machine Learning application for the classification of liver herniation.
Authors: Conte Luana , Amodeo Ilaria , De Nunzio Giorgio , Raffaeli Genny , Borzani Irene , Persico Nicola , Griggio Alice , Como Giuseppe , Cascio Donato , Colnaghi Mariarosa , Mosca Fabio , Cavallaro Giacomo
Published: December 2023

Purpose
Prenatal assessment of lung size and liver position is essential to stratify Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) fetuses in risk categories, guiding counseling and patient management. Manual segmentation on fetal MRI provides a quantitative estimation of total lung volume and liver herniation. However, it is time-consuming and operator-dependent.
Methods
In this study, we utilized a publicly available Deep Learning (DL) segmentation system (nnU-Net) for automatic contouring of CDH-affected fetal lungs and liver on MRI sections. Reproducibility was assessed calculating the Jaccard coefficient for manual and automatic segmentation. Pyradiomics standard features were then extracted from both manually and automatically segmented regions. Features reproducibility between the two groups was evaluated through the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs). We finally tested the reliability of the automatic-segmentation approach by building a ML classifier system for the prediction of liver herniation, based on Support Vector Machines (SVM) and trained on shape features computed both in the manual and nnU-Net-segmented organs.
Results
We compared the area under the classifier Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (AUC) in the two cases. Pyradiomics features calculated in the manual ROIs were partly reproducible by the same features calculated in nnU-Net segmented ROIs and, when used in the ML procedure to predict liver herniation (both AUC around 0.85).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that automatic MRI segmentation is feasible, with good reproducibility of pyradiomics features, and that a ML system for liver herniation prediction offers good reliability.
Trial registration URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04609163?term=NCT04609163&draw=2&rank=1
Clinical Trial Identification n° NCT04609163
Reduced frequency dosing of osimertinib in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung carcinoma: Real world data
Authors: Noronha Vanita , Sahu Harsh , Kapoor Akhil , Patil Vijay M. , Menon Nandini , Shah Minit , M Dilan Davis , Roy Rumeli , Vivek Srigadha , Janu Amit , Kaushal Rajiv , Prabhash Kumar
Published: December 2023

Introduction
Osimertinib has better efficacy than first generation EGFR-directed TKIs with similar safety profile. However, osimertinib is not affordable for most in developing nations. Moreover, minimum biologically effective dose of osimertinib may be less than approved, given uncertainty surrounding dose determination strategy for targeted agents
Materials and Methods
This was retrospective observational multicentric study aimed to describe the objective response rate(ORR), disease control rate(DCR), progression free survival(PFS), overall survival(OS), and toxicity of osimertinib 80 mg orally administered less frequently than daily (ranging from alternate day to once weekly) in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
Results
Between January 2021 and August 2023, we enrolled 22patients. Six received osimertinib 80mg once weekly, nine received 80mg every three days, and seven received 80mg alternate days. Responses included 0 complete responses, 7(31.8%) partial responses, 9(40.9%) stable diseases, and 5(22.7%) progressive disease. ORR was 31.8%, and DCR was 72.7%. Median PFS was 9.2months (95% confidence interval[CI] 2.9–15.7), and median OS was 17.8months (95%CI, 3.2–32.6). In patients who received reduced frequency osimertinib in the second line and beyond, the ORR was 29.4%, DCR was 70.5%, median PFS was 5.9months (95%CI, 1.1–10.6) and median OS was 17.6months (95%CI, 2.9–32.2). Grade- 3 and higher toxicities were noted in 8(36.3%) patients.
Conclusion
Less frequent dosing of osimertinib may be valid treatment option especially in second line and beyond in patients who cannot afford full dose osimertinib. This may provide additional treatment option with similar toxicity profile as standard dose osimertinib.
MAP3K1 Identified as a Prognostic Biomarker in Breast Cancer After Multi-omics Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Narang Binish
Published: December 2023

Background
Despite significant advances in cancer research, cancer remains a major public health concern, with breast cancer being one of the leading causes of death among women. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1) codes for a serine/threonine kinase abundant in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Nf-kappa-β pathways, which are involved in tumorigenesis.
Methods
Multi-omics bioinformatics analysis on the TCGA and METABRIC datasets from cBioPortal was conducted to analyze MAP3K1’s relevance in breast cancer. Other tools, including TIMER 2.0, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, UALCAN, and STRING, were implemented to provide additional insight into MAP3K1 in different types of omics data.
Results
Results revealed that, though MAP3K1 alterations are relatively uncommon overall, they are most common in breast cancer. These alterations mostly included truncating mutations and often co-occurred with alterations in PIK3CA, an already established biomarker in breast cancer research. Survival analysis indicated that MAP3K1 underexpression was strongly associated with lower patient survival. MAP3K1 was underexpressed for African Americans, triple-negative breast cancer patients, and stage 4 patients, while its phosphoprotein was overexpressed for these demographics.
Conclusions
Drug targets or other targeted therapy options that limit MAP3K1 phosphoprotein expression could potentially improve patient outcomes, especially for the aforementioned demographics. However, limited information is known about this phosphoprotein, so there is an unmet need to address this lack of knowledge and eventually find ways to combat its excessive expression in breast cancer.
The incidence and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children with IBD during the Omicron Wave: a single-center experience in China
Authors: Li Rui , Chen Pei-Yu , Li Hui-Wen , Ren Lu , Cheng Yang , Liu Li-Ying , Wei Li-Juan , Zeng Zi-Huan , Xu Wan-Fu , Gong Si-Tang , Geng Lan-Lan
Published: December 2023

Aims
The pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a major impact on the health of people worldwide, including the pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (PIBD) patients. As no study has investigated the susceptibility and disease course of COVID-19 in PIBD patients after the end of zero-COVID policy in China, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in our center.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey enrolling PIBD patients has been completed by online survey, phone, and face-to-face assessment. The demographic data, epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of the patients were analyzed.
Results
PIBD patients represented 55.45%(56/101) of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases between December 1st 2022 and January 31th 2023, 67.86% were male, mean age was 11.15 ± 3.92 years old. Among the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases, 3 patients (5.36%) were asymptomatic, 53 patients (94.64%) had mild symptoms. The main symptoms were fever (92.86%), cough (69.64%), nasal congestion or runnig nose (35.71%), and sore throat (33.93%). No severe case or deaths were reported. All patients recovered from COVID-19 symptoms within one week. We did not observe an association between different clinical disease activities and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, so as it in different treatments. 51 patients were reported to be in close contact with persons confirmed with COVID-19 infection, and out of them, 36 patients test positive of SARS-CoV-2, which is significantly higher than it in patients without exposure of COVID-19 (70.59% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.002). A total of 10 patients were underweight, of which 9 patients tested positive for COVID-19(p = 0.048). Meanwhile, unvaccinated patients were also found to be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 than vaccinated patients(70.97% vs. 48.48%, p = 0.049).
Conclusions
The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in our center of pediatric IBD patients during the Omicron pandemic was 55.45%. No severity or death case was observed. Patients with underweight, unvaccinated and history of exposure to COVID-19 were at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and risk of obstructive sleep apnea: A nationwide, population-based study
Authors: Cha Hyunkyung , Kim DoHyeon , Lee Hyeon Woo , Lee Yeongrok , Baek Byoung-Joon , Lee Jae Yong , Choi Ji Ho
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to assess relationship between OSA risks, as assessed by STOP-Bang questionnaire, and CRS symptoms. This is a cross-sectional study based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). In a low-risk group according to the STOP-Bang questionnaire, 3.1% of subjects were CRS patients. However, a gradual increasing trend was observed among different risk groups. In the higher risk group, CRS patients accounted for 5.3% (P < 0.001). This finding was associated with increased occurrences of snoring, tiredness, and apnea (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.016, respectively). Among the four main symptoms of CRS (nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, and decreased sense of smell), nasal obstruction increased from 4.1% in the low-risk group to 7.3% in the high-risk group (P < 0.001). Patients with a decreased sense of smell accounted for 1.9% in the low-risk group and 3.3% in the high-risk group, demonstrating an association of a decreased sense of smell with an increased risk of OSA (P < 0.001). This study found that the proportion of patients with CRS was significantly higher in the group at a higher risk of OSA. Among symptoms of CRS, nasal obstruction and anosmia were found to be associated with an increased risk of OSA.
Identification and Molecular Characterization of NS1 and NS2 Genes of Dengue Virus from two mini outbreaks (2022-2023) in Pakistan
Authors: Kanwal¹ Nida , Batool¹ Anum , Aziz Sadia , Amraiz Amraiz , Akram Madiha , Karim Aman , Ali Liaqat
Published: December 2023

Background
Dengue viral infection is a global threat and approximately 400 million infections and 22000 deaths occur due to this virus worldwide annually. The exact mechanism of dengue virus pathogenesis remains unclear due to the absence of suitable in vivo and in vitro models. So far no antiviral medications available for the clinical treatment of Dengue virus (DENV) infection. The non-structural genes that are involved in disease pathogenesis are still not well defined. For that reason, there is a dire need to characterize these non-structural genes for further functional characterization. The main goal of this study is to identify DENV serotypes circulating in Pakistan during the year 2022 to 2023, characterize the non-structural (NS1 and NS2) genes for identification of their sequence variations and further functional analysis.
Methods
In this study, NS1 positive dengue serum samples were collected from the different molecular diagnostic laboratories and hospitals, in Pakistan. Viral RNA was purified and synthesized complementary DNA (cDNA). Serotype specific primers were used for the identification of dengue virus serotypes (DENV 1–4). Through nested PCR, inner and outer sense primers were used to amplify NS1 and NS2 genes of DENV and confirmed through gel electrophoresis. All purified DNA products were processed for sequencing. For cloning these fragments were then cloned in the TA cloning vector (pcDNA 2.1) and expressed expression vector (pcDNA3.)
Results
In our study, it was confirmed that the most prevalent serotype of DENV in Pakistan is Serotype-2 during the year 2022-23 and also amplified NS1 and NS2 genes. These amplified products were confirmed through Sanger sequencing. Through phylogenetic analysis of these sequences, it was confirmed that the isolated strains are closely related to the strains from Swat, Jeddah, India etc with homology about 97%. The amplified NS1 and NS2A gene fragments were then cloned in the TA cloning vector (pcDNA 2.1) and expressed in mammalian expression vector (pcDNA3.1) for further functional characterization.
Conclusion
Our study has shed light on the most prevalent serotype between the year 2022 to 2023 and characterization on the molecular genetic landscape of non-structural genes (NS1 and NS2). This study will give us a prime way for in-depth investigation of non-structural genes in the dengue virus, contributing valuable insights for the development of antiviral therapy against DENV infection.
The Assesment of Fatigue and Sleep Quality Among Children and Adolescents with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Case-Control and Correlation Study
Authors: İncesu Çağla , Kayaalp Gülşah Kavrul , Demirkan Fatma Gül , Turan Oya Köker , Çakmak Figen , Akgün Özlem , Ayaz Nuray Aktay , Ömeroğlu Rukiye Nurten
Published: December 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the sleep quality and fatigue levels in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in comparison to healthy children.
Methods: The Pediatric Quality of Life Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and were the instruments utilized to assess fatigue and sleep quality in children with FMF and controls, respectively. Spearman's rank coefficient was decisive in determining the association between patient-reported outcome measures and disease-related features.
Results: Two hundred twenty five (59.3% female) patients and 182 (51.6% female) healthy counterparts were enrolled in the study. In PSQI, where high scores indicate sleep disturbance, the median score was significantly higher in the patient group (5; 3-6), than the control group (3; 2-4) (p <0.001). PEDsQL-MFS demonstrated significantly lower fatigue levels in the control group than patients (p=0.01). The level of fatigue in the patient group was found to increase in correlation with sleep problems (r: -0.750, p< 0.001). Additionally, a high correlation was present between the PSQI/PedsQL-MFS scores and the number of attacks in the last year (r: -0.645, p< 0.001/ r: 0.721, p< 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in terms of fatigue and sleep disorders between mutations (homozygous, heterozygous, or compound heterozygous) in the MEFV gene (p> 0.05).
Conclusions: High disease activity has significant negative impact on the sleep quality and fatigue levels of patients with FMF. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing fatigue and sleep quality with objective outcome tools periodically in FMF patients throughout the disease course.
Wideband CPW Fed Four Port MIMO Antenna-based Microwave Sensor for Deep Brain Temperature in 5G WLAN Bands
Authors: SINGH TILAKDHARI , Mishra Piyush Kumar , Pal Aditya , Tripathi Vijay Shanker
Published: December 2023

This study presents a wideband CPW-fed four-port multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna-based sensor for measuring deep brain temperature inside the human head in 5G wireless local area network (WLAN) bands. The range of desired frequency is from 5.45 to 8.56 GHz. The proposed MIMO sensors cover the 5.8 ISM (industrial scientific and medical) band, IEEE 802.11ax-defined Wi-Fi 6E band (6 GHz), IEEE 802.11p WLAN band (5.9GHz), and WPAN band (7.4GHz). A Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) fed approach on a low-cost FR4 substrate is used in designing the planar antenna. In the operational frequency range, the obtained diversity performance parameters show an envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) of very low value (< 0.05), DG of about 10 (> 9.95), total active reflection coefficient (TARC) less than − 13 dB and channel capacity loss (CCL) about less than 0.125 bits/S/Hz. For deep brain temperature measurements, the proposed sensors provide an electric field of 3.92 v/m and a specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 0.16 w/kg at the 9 mm distance inside the human head Phantom. The proposed sensor is capable of measuring 0.5 0C change in temperature at 10 W of input power for 300 seconds when all four ports are active.
New 4-point bending test protocol for the strength grading of timber: relationship between local and global Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) of maritime pine
Authors: LOKO Raoul Spéro ADJOVI , COUREAU Jean-Luc , GALIMARD Philippe
Published: December 2023

This study focuses on the characterization of maritime pine (pinus pinaster) according to standards EN408 and EN384 required for timber grading. A comparison of the EN408 bending test setup is performed with a new 4-point bending protocol, reducing as much as possible, the effects of the shear force in the span where the deflection is measured. The study highlights difficulties to estimate accurately, the elasticity modulus of wood by using EN408 bending test setup, since two approach can be used. This is probably due to inaccuracies in the measurements of small curvatures and due to the local heterogeneities of wood. The EN384 standard anticipates these difficulties by introducing a fitting function, which is not well fitted for maritime pine and probably other species used in timber engineering. An original 4-point bending test is proposed with 75% of the span of the wood beams in pure bending. This configuration clearly exhibits the convergence of measurements, in comparison to EN 408 setup. The deformations generated by this new loading protocol, allow a better evaluation of the bending modulus E0. Moreover, the study reveals that the proposed setup, supplies an increase of elasticity modulus close to 20%. In addition, dynamic tests are also performed in order to characterise the Young's modulus. The experimental results reveal a better agreement between static test, using the new four-point bending configuration and dynamic method, than considering EN408 as a reference.