bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xylella fastidiosa Infection Reshapes Microbial Composition and Network Associations in the Xylem of Almond Trees
Authors: Anguita-Maeso Manuel , Ares-Yebra Aitana , Haro Carmen , Román-Écija Miguel , Olivares-García Concepción , Costa Joana , Marco-Noales Ester , Ferrer Amparo , Navas-Cortés Juan A. , Landa Blanca B.
Published: July 2022

Xylella fastidiosa represents a major threat to important crops worldwide including almond, citrus, grapevine, and olives. Nowadays, there are no efficient control measures for X. fastidiosa, and the use of preventive measures and host resistance represent the most practical disease management strategies. Research on vessel-associated microorganisms is gaining special interest as an innate natural defense of plants to cope against infection by xylem-inhabiting pathogens. The objective of this research has been to characterize, by next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, the microbial communities residing in the xylem sap of almond trees affected by almond leaf scorch disease (ALSD) in a recent X. fastidiosa outbreak occurring in Alicante province, Spain. We also determined community composition changes and network associations occurring between xylem-inhabiting microbial communities and X. fastidiosa. For that, a total of 91 trees with or without ALSD symptoms were selected from a total of eight representative orchards located in five municipalities within the X. fastidiosa-demarcated area. X. fastidiosa infection in each tree was verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, with 54% of the trees being tested X. fastidiosa-positive. Globally, Xylella (27.4%), Sphingomonas (13.9%), and Hymenobacter (12.7%) were the most abundant bacterial genera, whereas Diplodia (30.18%), a member of the family Didymellaceae (10.7%), and Aureobasidium (9.9%) were the most predominant fungal taxa. Furthermore, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of Bray–Curtis and weighted UniFrac distances differentiated almond xylem bacterial communities mainly according to X. fastidiosa infection, in contrast to fungal community structure that was not closely related to the presence of the pathogen. Similar results were obtained when X. fastidiosa reads were removed from the bacterial data set although the effect was less pronounced. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed negative associations among four amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assigned to X. fastidiosa with different bacterial ASVs belonging to 1174-901-12, Abditibacterium, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium–Methylorubrum, Modestobacter, Xylophilus, and a non-identified member of the family Solirubrobacteraceae. Determination of the close-fitting associations between xylem-inhabiting microorganisms and X. fastidiosa may help to reveal specific microbial players associated with the suppression of ALSD under high X. fastidiosa inoculum pressure. These identified microorganisms would be good candidates to be tested in planta, to produce almond plants more resilient to X. fastidiosa infection when inoculated by endotherapy, contributing to suppress ALSD.
Altered Brain Function Activity in Patients With Dysphagia After Cerebral Infarction: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Li Lei , Liu Jiayu , Liang Fenxiong , Chen Haidong , Zhan Rungen , Zhao Shengli , Li Tiao , Peng Yongjun
Published: July 2022

Objective

Dysphagia after cerebral infarction (DYS) has been detected in several brain regions through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). In this study, we used two rs-fMRI measures to investigate the changes in brain function activity in DYS and their correlations with dysphagia severity.

Method

In this study, a total of 22 patients with DYS were compared with 30 patients without dysphagia (non-DYS) and matched for baseline characteristics. Then, rs-fMRI scans were performed in both groups, and regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) values were calculated in both groups. The two-sample t-test was used to compare ReHo and fALFF between the groups. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between the ReHo and fALFF of the abnormal brain regions and the scores of the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), the Standardized Bedside Swallowing Assessment (SSA), the Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS), and the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS).

Results

Compared with the non-DYS group, the DYS group showed decreased ReHo values in the left thalamus, the left parietal lobe, and the right temporal lobe and significantly decreased fALFF values in the right middle temporal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule. In the DYS group, the ReHo of the right temporal lobe was positively correlated with the SSA score and the PAS score (r = 0.704, p < 0.001 and r = 0.707, p < 0.001, respectively) but negatively correlated with the VFSS score (r = −0.741, p < 0.001). The ReHo of the left parietal lobe was positively correlated with SSA and PAS (r = 0.621, p = 0.002 and r = 0.682, p < 0.001, respectively) but negatively correlated with VFSS (r = −0.679, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The changes in the brain function activity of these regions are related to dysphagia severity. The DYS group with high ReHo values in the right temporal and left parietal lobes had severe dysphagia.
Tolerance to Dizziness Intensity Increases With Age in People With Chronic Dizziness
Authors: Prell Tino , Mendorf Sarah , Axer Hubertus
Published: July 2022

Background

Dizziness is a common complaint in older adults. To know which factors are instrumental in enabling patients with chronic dizziness to tolerate their symptoms to a certain degree in everyday life can help to develop tailored therapies.

Methods

Data from 358 patients with chronic dizziness and vertigo who had attended a multimodal daycare treatment program were recorded. Data included sociodemographic parameters, dizziness-related characteristics, the Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Descriptive statistics, elastic net regression, and mediation analysis were used.

Results

A higher tolerance of dizziness was associated with higher age, higher intensity of dizziness, lower burden of dizziness, higher HADS depression, structural reason for dizziness (type), permanent dizziness, absence of attacks, and longer disease duration. In contrast, younger persons with attack-like dizziness reported to tolerate less dizziness. Age had a significant direct effect on tolerance (72% of the total effect) and a significant indirect effect via intensity on tolerance (28% of the total effect) in the mediation analysis.

Conclusion

It can only be speculated that negative stereotypes about age-related complaints may play a role in this. Why older people tolerate more dizziness and to what extent this may contribute to lower healthcare utilization need to be investigated in further studies.
Movement Disorders Associated With Cerebral Artery Stenosis: A Nationwide Study
Authors: Park Kye Won , Choi Nari , Oh Eungseok , Lyoo Chul Hyoung , Baek Min Seok , Kim Han-Joon , Yoo Dalla , Lee Jee-Young , Choi Ji-Hyun , Lee Jae Hyeok , Koh Seong-Beom , Sung Young Hee , Cho Jin Whan , Yang Hui-Jun , Park Jinse , Shin Hae-Won , Ahn Tae-Beom , Ryu Ho-Sung , You Sooyeoun , Choi Seong-Min , Kim Bum Joon , Lee Seung Hyun , Chung Sun Ju
Published: July 2022

Background

Studies of secondary movement disorder (MD) caused by cerebrovascular diseases have primarily focused on post-stroke MD. However, MD can also result from cerebral artery stenosis (CAS) without clinical manifestations of stroke. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of MD associated with CAS.

Materials and Methods

A nationwide multicenter retrospective analysis was performed based on the data from patients with CAS-associated MDs from 16 MD specialized clinics in South Korea, available between January 1999 and September 2019. CAS was defined as the >50% luminal stenosis of the major cerebral arteries. The association between MD and CAS was determined by MD specialists using pre-defined clinical criteria. The collected clinical information included baseline demographics, features of MD, characteristics of CAS, treatment, and MD outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the MD outcomes.

Results

The data from a total of 81 patients with CAS-associated MD were analyzed. The mean age of MD onset was 60.5 ± 19.7 years. Chorea was the most common MD (57%), followed by tremor/limb-shaking, myoclonus, and dystonia. Atherosclerosis was the most common etiology of CAS (78%), with the remaining cases attributed to moyamoya disease (MMD). Relative to patients with atherosclerosis, those with MMD developed MD at a younger age (p < 0.001) and had a more chronic mode of onset (p = 0.001) and less acute ischemic lesion (p = 0.021). Eight patients who underwent surgical treatment for CAS showed positive outcomes. Patients with acute MD onset had a better outcome than those with subacute-to-chronic MD onset (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

This study highlights the spectrum of CAS-associated with MD across the country. A progressive, age-dependent functional neuronal modulation in the basal ganglia due to CAS may underlie this condition.
Associations of Eating Identities With Self-Reported Dietary Behaviors and Body Mass Index
Authors: Sleboda Patrycja , Bruine de Bruin Wändi , Arangua Lisa , Gutsche Tania
Published: July 2022

Objective:

To inform dietary interventions, it is important to understand antecedents of recommended (henceforth: healthy) dietary behaviors, beyond dietary beliefs and self-efficacy. We used the validated “Eating Identity Type Inventory” to assess the extent to which participants identified as healthy eaters, meat eaters, emotional eaters or picky eaters. We examined correlations between participants' race/ethnicity and other socio-demographic characteristics and affinity with these eating identities, how affinity with these eating identities correlated with self-reports of dietary beliefs, self-efficacy, dietary behaviors and Body Mass Index (BMI), and how well affinity with these eating identities predicted self-reported dietary behaviors and BMI, as compared to self-reported dietary beliefs and self-efficacy.

Methods

In an online survey, a diverse sample of 340 Los Angeles County adults reported eating identities, dietary beliefs, and self-efficacy, dietary behaviors and BMI.

Results

Pearson correlations revealed that identifying more as a healthy eater was positively associated with self-reports of being non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic mixed race, older, and college-educated, while identifying more as a meat eater was positively associated with self-reports of being non-Hispanic Black, younger, and male (α = 0.05). Pearson correlations also showed that healthy eaters had more accurate dietary beliefs and self-efficacy, and emotional eaters had lower self-efficacy (α = 0.05). In linear regressions, identifying more as a healthy eater was associated with self-reporting healthier dietary behaviors and lower BMI, and identifying more as a meat eater and emotional eater was associated with reporting less healthy dietary behaviors and higher BMI, even after accounting for correlations with socio-demographics, dietary beliefs, and self-efficacy (α = 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of eating identities in understanding dietary behaviors and outcomes, with implications for dietary interventions.
Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Alleviates the Inflammatory Response in Asthma by Regulating TLR2/TLR4 Expression
Authors: Wang Weifang , Li Yunfeng , Han Guojing , Li Aimin , Kong Xiaomei
Published: July 2022

Background

Asthma is a chronic disease, which is harmful to the health of the body and the quality of life. Supplementation of Lactobacillus can affect the immune environment of the lungs through the gut-lung axis. This study aimed to explore the potential regulatory targets of Lactobacillus to relieve inflammation in asthma and determine a new approach for improving asthma.

Methods

A mouse ovalbumin (OVA)-induced model was constructed. OVA mice were supplemented with Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 by gavage. The gut microbiota composition of normal and OVA mice was analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA identification. BALF, serum, lung tissues, and duodenal tissues were collected. Wright’s staining was performed to determine the cell content of the alveolar lavage fluid. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed to observe the improvement in the lungs of OVA mice supplemented with Lactobacillus. Immunofluorescence was performed to measure the severity of the intestinal barrier leakage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out to determine the expression levels of inflammatory cell factors, while quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to detect the levels of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/TLR4 expression and cell adhesion factors.

Results

Compared with Control mice, OVA mice exhibited malignant conditions, such as intestinal leakage and lung edema. After supplementation with Lactobacillus, the inflammatory cell content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased, and the inflammatory response was alleviated. The level of TLR2/TLR4 expression was reduced. The inflammatory cell infiltration in the airway mucosa of OVA mice was improved, alveolar swelling was reduced and the basement membrane appeared thinner.

Conclusion

The Lactobacillus inhibited the TLR2/TLR4 expression in OVA mice. Supplementation with Lactobacillus can alleviate the inflammatory response in OVA mice, inhibit pulmonary fibrosis, and treat asthma.
A Novel Polysaccharide From Chuanminshen violaceum and Its Protective Effect Against Myocardial Injury
Authors: He Peng , Zhang Mi , Zhao Meng , Zhang Mengyao , Ma Benxu , Lv Hongyu , Han Yantao , Wu Dingtao , Zhong Zhangfeng , Zhao Wenwen
Published: July 2022

We isolated and purified a novel polysaccharide from the root of Chuanminshen violaceum, namely, Chuanminshen violaceumis polysaccharide (CVP) and confirmed its structure and molecular weight. Furthermore, in vivo experiment, CVP’s protective effect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice was evidenced by significantly reducing I/R-induced myocardial infarction (MI) size, decreasing the secretion of heart damage biomarkers, and improving cardiac function. Then, the myocardial anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury model was established to mimic reperfusion injury. Noticeably, ferroptosis was the major death manner for A/R-damaged H9c2 cells. Meanwhile, CVP significantly inhibited ferroptosis by decreasing intracellular Fe2+ level, enhancing GPX4 expression, and suppressing lipid peroxidation to confront A/R injury. In conclusion, CVP, with a clear structure, ameliorated I/R injury by inhibiting ferroptosis.
Insights Into the Host Contribution of Endocrine Associated Immune-Related Adverse Events to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition Therapy
Authors: Chye Adrian , Allen India , Barnet Megan , Burnett Deborah L.
Published: July 2022

Blockade of immune checkpoints transformed the paradigm of systemic cancer therapy, enabling substitution of a cytotoxic chemotherapy backbone to one of immunostimulation in many settings. Invigorating host immune cells against tumor neo-antigens, however, can induce severe autoimmune toxicity which in many cases requires ongoing management. Many immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are clinically and pathologically indistinguishable from inborn errors of immunity arising from genetic polymorphisms of immune checkpoint genes, suggesting a possible shared driver for both conditions. Many endocrine irAEs, for example, have analogous primary genetic conditions with varied penetrance and severity despite consistent genetic change. This is akin to onset of irAEs in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which vary in timing, severity and nature despite a consistent drug target. Host contribution to ICI response and irAEs, particularly those of endocrine origin, such as thyroiditis, hypophysitis, adrenalitis and diabetes mellitus, remains poorly defined. Improved understanding of host factors contributing to ICI outcomes is essential for tailoring care to an individual’s unique genetic predisposition to response and toxicity, and are discussed in detail in this review.
A Novel Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Predicting the Prognosis and the Associated Immune Infiltration in Colon Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Zhiyuan , Han Zheng , Nan Han , Fan Jianing , Zhan Jingfei , Zhang Yu , Zhu He , Cao Yu , Shen Xian , Xue Xiangyang , Lin Kezhi
Published: July 2022

Background

Pyroptosis has been demonstrated to be an inflammatory form of programmed cell death recently. However, the expression of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and their correlations with prognosis remain unclear.

Methods

Data of COAD patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Univariate Cox regression analysis and the LASSO Cox regression analysis were applied to construct a gene signature. All COAD patients in TCGA cohort were separated into low-risk subgroup or high-risk subgroup via the risk score. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were adopted to assess its prognostic efficiency. COAD data from the GSE17537 datasets was used for validation. A prognostic nomogram was established to predict individual survival. The correlation between PRGs and immune cell infiltration in COAD was verified based on TIMER database. CIBERSORT analysis was utilized on risk subgroup as defined by model. The protein and mRNA expression level of PRGs were verified by HPA database and qPCR.

Results

A total of 51 differentially expressed PRGs were identified in TCGA cohort. Through univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO Cox regression analysis, a prognostic model containing 7 PRGs was constructed. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that patients in the low-risk subgroup exhibited better prognosis compared to those in the high-risk subgroup. Additionally, the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC is 0.60, 0.63, and 0.73 for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival in TCGA cohort and 0.63, 0.65, and 0.64 in validation set. TIMER database showed a strong correlation between 7 PRGs and tumor microenvironment in COAD. Moreover, CIBERSORT showed significant differences in the infiltration of plasma cells, M0 macrophages, resting dendritic cells, and eosinophils between low-risk subgroup and high-risk subgroup. HPA database showed that protein expression level of SDHB, GZMA, BTK, EEF2K, and NR1H2 was higher in normal tissues. And the transcriptional level of CASP5, BTK, SDHB, GZMA, and RIPK3 was high in normal tissues.

Conclusions

Our study identified a novel PRGs signature that could be used to predict the prognosis of COAD patients, which might provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of COAD patients.
Meaning and Significance of “Alkalization Therapy for Cancer”
Authors: Wada Hiromi , Hamaguchi Reo , Narui Ryoko , Morikawa Hiromasa
Published: July 2022

Objectives of the Study

Our research aims to answer the following questions. Can cancer progression be stopped by changing the body condition of person with cancer? Can cancer be cured?If cancer progression can be stopped, what is the underlying mechanism?

Theoretical Rationale for Alkalization Therapy

Almost 70 years ago, Goldblatt H. & Cameron G. reported on the idea of alkalization therapy. Before that, Otto Warburg had been studying the metabolism of cancer and had discovered the essential nature of cancer. He published a review in Science in 1956 under the title “On the origin of cancer cells”. From his phenomena described above, we established the theoretical rationale for alkalization therapy, based on the question of “How does cancer form and what is its nature”?

Limitations of Deductive Methods and Inductive Approaches

In this paper, we describe a method to reconstruct the limitations and weaknesses of modern cancer medicine as Science-based Medicine using an inductive method, and to present a new vision of cancer therapy. How should we treat cancer? (Case presentation): Using a specific clinical case, we present patients in whom were successfully treated with no or few anticancer drugs.

The biggest weakness of current cancer treatments is that they only treat the cancer and not the actual patient. The “alkalization therapy” that we advocate does not compete with any of the current standard treatments, but improves the effectiveness of standard treatments, reduces side effects, and lowers medical costs.
Comparison of Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes Between Surgical T4 and T3 in Patients Diagnosed With Pathologic Stage IIA Right Colon Cancer
Authors: Jeon Youngbae , Nam Kug Hyun , Choi Seok Won , Hwang Tae Sik , Baek Jeong-Heum
Published: July 2022

Purpose

T stage plays an important role in the classification of subgroups in stage II colon cancer. Patients with pathologic T4 are at high risk of recurrence and it is recommended to include adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment plan, while this is not necessary in pathologic T3. There is a discrepancy between the surgical T stage (sT), as determined by the surgeon in the operative field, and pathologic T stage (pT). The pathologic stage is considered a standard prognostic factor, but it has not been established whether the surgical stage has an oncologic impact. The aim of this study was to compare oncologic outcomes between sT4 and sT3 in pathologic stage IIA right colon cancer.

Methods

Between January 2005 and December 2018, there were 354 patients who underwent right hemicolectomy performed by a single surgeon (JHB) at a tertiary hospital. The data from these patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Only those patients with pathologic stage IIA (pT3N0M0) right colon adenocarcinomas were included in this study. Patients with mucinous carcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or hereditary colon cancer, and who had emergent surgery were excluded. Finally, 86 patients were included in this study. The patients were categorized, according to their surgical records, into either the sT4 group (n=28) or the sT3 group (n=58).

Results

There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, cancer location, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, number of harvested lymph nodes, and adjuvant chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly different between the sT4 and sT3 groups (92.6% vs. 97.7%, p=0.024). In addition, the 5-year disease-free survival rate was significantly different between the sT4 and sT3 groups (88.6% vs. 97.7%, p=0.017). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, a classification of sT4 was a significant independent predictive factor for recurrence (p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Long-term oncologic outcomes have shown significant differences between surgical T4 and T3 in pathologic stage IIA right colon cancer patients. Further large-scale, multicenter studies are required to verify the clinical impact of the surgical staging.
Clinical Analysis of 17 Cases of Borderline Ovarian Tumors During Pregnancy
Authors: Wang Mingdan , Li Yue , Xu Tongtong , Shi Chen , Jiang Lili , Liu Kuiran
Published: July 2022

Objective

The study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognosis of 17 cases of pregnancy complicated by borderline ovarian tumors to provide help for clinical workers.

Materials and Methods

The clinicopathological data of 17 patients with ovarian borderline tumors during pregnancy at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2015 to June 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The average age of the patients was 31.82 years (25–45 years), the average number of pregnancies was 2.06 times (1–6 times), and the average number of births was 0.41 times (0–1 time).

Results

Among the 17 patients, 4 were diagnosed in the first trimester, 2 in the second trimester, and 11 in the third trimester. Most of the first symptoms were cysts, cyst enlargement, or cyst rupture. Among them, 3 cases (1 in the first trimester and 2 in the second trimester) continued pregnancy after a conservative operation, 9 cases underwent cesarean section and a conservative operation simultaneously, and the mother and child had a good outcome. Two cases underwent conservative operations and induced abortion, and 1 case underwent an ectopic pregnancy operation at the same time. The prognosis of the patients was good without recurrence.

Conclusion

Preoperative diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumors in pregnancy is delayed, and imaging and tumor markers are not specific. The coincidence rate between intraoperative frozen pathology and postoperative paraffin pathology was not high. Borderline tumors are mainly treated by surgery, and the prognosis for mothers and infants is good.
Mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs in biological phenotypes and ferroptosis of glioma
Authors: Yin Xianyong , Gao Jiajia , Liu Zihao , Han Min , Ji Xiaoshuai , Wang Zhihai , Li Yuming , He Dong , Zhang Fenglin , Liu Qian , Xin Tao
Published: July 2022

Glioma, one of the most common malignant tumors in the nervous system, is characterized by limited treatment, high mortality and poor prognosis. Numerous studies have shown that lncRNAs play an important role in the onset and progression of glioma by acting on various classical signaling pathways of tumors through signaling, trapping, guiding, scaffolding and other functions. LncRNAs contribute to the malignant progression of glioma via proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, chemotherapy resistance, ferroptosis and other biological traits. In this paper, relevant lncRNA signaling pathways involved in glioma progression were systematically evaluated, with emphasis placed on the specific molecular mechanism of lncRNAs in the process of ferroptosis, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the application of lncRNAs in the anticancer treatment of glioma.
Brachytherapy Drainage Catheter and Chemotherapy for Unresectable Pancreatic Carcinoma Combined with Obstructive Jaundice
Authors: Jiao Dechao , Xu Kaihao , Mukhiya Gauri , Liu Yiming , Wu Kunpeng , Li Zongming , Ren Jianzhuang , Han Xinwei
Published: July 2022

Background

Most patients with advanced pancreatic cancer do not have the chance to undergo surgery or chemotherapy because of their poor conditions. Biliary drainage is a palliative treatment to restore liver function and alleviate jaundice, but most patients still face the risk of biliary obstruction in the short term after operation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of brachytherapy drainage catheter (BDC)-combined chemotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer complicated with obstructive jaundice.

Patients and Methods

From November 2017 and May 2019, 48 patients underwent the BDC or conventional drainage catheter (CDC) intervention with chemotherapy. The outcomes/endpoints analyzed were technical and clinical success, early complications, stent patency period, and survival.

Results

The technical and clinical success rates in both groups were 100%, and the early complication rates were not significantly different (P = 0.43). The median stent patency in the BDC group was significantly longer than that in the CDC group (7.8 ± 1.5 vs. 5.7 ± 0.7 months, P = 0.001), and the median overall survival period in the BDC group was prone to significant difference than that in the CDC group (9.4 ± 4.0 vs. 8.2 ± 0.3 months, P = 0.089).

Conclusion

The findings of this study show that BDC with chemotherapy was associated with better stent patency and survival. However, since the sample size was very small, large randomized controlled multicenter studies are needed to further evaluate the long-term survival effects of BDC in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma combined with obstructive jaundice.
A Prediction Model Intended for Exploratory Laparoscopy Risk Stratification in Colorectal Cancer Patients With Potential Occult Peritoneal Metastasis
Authors: Zhang Yuanxin , Qin Xiusen , Li Yang , Zhang Xi , Luo Rui , Wu Zhijie , Li Victoria , Han Shuai , Wang Hui , Wang Huaiming
Published: July 2022

Background

The early diagnosis of occult peritoneal metastasis (PM) remains a challenge due to the low sensitivity on computed tomography (CT) images. Exploratory laparoscopy is the gold standard to confirm PM but should only be proposed in selected patients due to its invasiveness, high cost, and port-site metastasis risk. In this study, we aimed to develop an individualized prediction model to identify occult PM status and determine optimal candidates for exploratory laparoscopy.

Method

A total of 622 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from 2 centers were divided into training and external validation cohorts. All patients’ PM status was first detected as negative on CT imaging but later confirmed by exploratory laparoscopy. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors, which were used to build a prediction model for identifying occult PM in CRC. The concordance index (C-index), calibration plot and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate its predictive accuracy and clinical utility.

Results

The C-indices of the model in the development and validation groups were 0.850 (95% CI 0.815-0.885) and 0.794 (95% CI, 0.690-0.899), respectively. The calibration curve showed consistency between the observed and predicted probabilities. The decision curve analysis indicated that the prediction model has a great clinical value between thresholds of 0.10 and 0.72. At a risk threshold of 30%, a total of 40% of exploratory laparoscopies could have been prevented, while still identifying 76.7% of clinically occult PM cases. A dynamic online platform was also developed to facilitate the usage of the proposed model.

Conclusions

Our individualized risk model could reduce the number of unnecessary exploratory laparoscopies while maintaining a high rate of diagnosis of clinically occult PM. These results warrant further validation in prospective studies.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.isrctn.com, identifier ISRCTN76852032
The Link Between the Microbiota and HER2+ Breast Cancer: The New Challenge of Precision Medicine
Authors: Di Modica Martina , Arlotta Valeria , Sfondrini Lucia , Tagliabue Elda , Triulzi Tiziana
Published: July 2022

The microbiota is emerging as a key player in cancer due to its involvement in several host physiological functions, including digestion, development of the immune system, and modulation of endocrine function. Moreover, its participation in the efficacy of anticancer treatments has been well described. For instance, the involvement of the breast microbiota in breast cancer (BC) development and progression has gained ground in the past several years. In this review, we report and discuss new findings on the impact of the gut and breast microbiota on BC, focusing on the HER2+ BC subtype, and the possibility of defining microbial signatures that are associated with disease aggressiveness, treatment response, and therapy toxicity. We also discuss novel insights into the mechanisms through which microorganism-host interactions occur and the possibility of microbiota editing in the prevention and treatment optimization of BC.
Glaucocalyxin A Inhibits the Malignant Progression of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by Affecting the MicroRNA-374b-5p/HMGB3/Wnt-β-Catenin Pathway Axis
Authors: Chen Feng , Sun Fang , Liu Xia , Shao Jing , Zhang Bei
Published: July 2022

Objective

Glaucocalyxin A (GLA) is an ent-kaurene diterpenoid from Rabdosia japonica var possessing anti-tumor activity. This study aimed to investigate effects of GLA on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The expression of HMGB3 in EOC tissues was analyzed by GEPIA and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation was determined using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Cell invasion, migration, and apoptosis were detected using Transwell, wound healing, and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Interactions between HMGB3 and miRNAs were predicted using ENCORI and validated using a dual-luciferase assay. mRNA expression levels of HMGB3 and miRNAs were measured using qPCR. Protein expression levels of HMGB3, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Wnt3a,β-catenin, Bcl-2, and Bax were measured by western blotting. A tumor xenograft model was established to validate the efficacy and mechanism of GLA in vivo.

Results

HMGB3 was upregulated in EOC tissues and cells. GLA dose-dependently inhibited EOC cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). HMGB3 overexpression promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, and suppressed the apoptosis of EOC cells. In addition, miR-374b-5p was targeted by HMGB3, and its overexpression hindered malignant characteristics of EOC cells. HMGB3 overexpression weakened antitumor effects of GLA and miR-374b-5p in EOC cells. Moreover, the Wnt-β-catenin pathway was inhibited by the GLA-mediated miR-374b-5p/HMGB3 axis. In vivo experiments showed that GLA inhibited EOC tumor growth, meanwhile, upregulated the miR-374b-5p level and downregulated the expression of HMGB3, Wnt3a, and β-catenin in tumor tissues.

Conclusions

GLA suppressed the malignant progression of EOC by regulating the miR-374b-5p/HMGB3/Wnt-β-catenin pathway axis.
Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Conditioned Fear Extinction and Retention in a Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Vizeli Patrick , Straumann Isabelle , Duthaler Urs , Varghese Nimmy , Eckert Anne , Paulus Martin P. , Risbrough Victoria , Liechti Matthias E.
Published: July 2022

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has shown initial promise as an adjunct in psychotherapy to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its efficacy and safety have been demonstrated across phase I–III studies. However, the mechanism underlying the potential utility of MDMA to treat PTSD in humans has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Preliminary evidence suggests that MDMA may facilitate fear extinction recall, which may be through the release of oxytocin. To test this hypothesis, we examined the efficacy of acute MDMA treatment to enhance fear extinction learning and recall.

Methods: We used a two-period, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover design in 30 healthy male subjects who received a placebo and a single dose of MDMA (125 mg). Fear extinction was tested using two separate Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigms, one using skin conductance response (SCR), and the other fear-potentiated startle (FPS) to conditioned cues. MDMA treatment occurred after fear conditioning and 2 h before extinction learning. Extinction recall was tested 23 h after MDMA intake. Additional outcome measures included subjective effects, emotion recognition tasks, plasma levels of oxytocin, and pharmacokinetics.

Results: Fear conditioning and extinction learning were successful in both fear extinction paradigms (generalized eta–squared [ges] for SCR: 0.08; FPS: 0.07). Compared to placebo treatment, MDMA treatment significantly reduced SCRs to the reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS+) during extinction learning (ges = 0.03) and recall (ges = 0.06). Intensity of the subjective effects of MDMA (good effect, trust, and openness) during extinction learning negatively correlated with the discrimination between CS+ and the safety stimulus (CS−) during recall. MDMA did not influence FPS to conditioned cues. Oxytocin concentration was increased fourfold on average by MDMA during acute effects but was not associated with fear extinction outcomes.

Conclusions: MDMA treatment facilitated rapid fear extinction and retention of extinction as measured by SCR to fear cues, in line with animal studies of MDMA facilitation of extinction. However, this effect may be limited to certain forms of learned fear responses, as it was not observed in the extinction model using startle reactivity as the outcome. This study provides further evidence for the facilitation of extinction with MDMA treatment and suggests this may be a component of its efficacy when paired with psychotherapy.

Clinical Trial registration:clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03527316
Discovering the Potential Value of Coenzyme Q10 in Oxidative Stress: Enlightenment From a Synthesis of Clinical Evidence Based on Various Population
Authors: Zhang Yili , Huang Xinyi , Liu Ning , Liu Mengmin , Sun Chuanrui , Qi Baoyu , Sun Kai , Wei Xu , Ma Yong , Zhu Liguo
Published: July 2022

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is associated with ferroptosis. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), as an adjuvant treatment, has shown to be beneficial against OS. However, the efficacy of CoQ10 as a therapeutic agent against OS has not been promptly updated and systematically investigated.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using the Medline, EMBASE, Web of science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CNKI, CBM, Science direct and clinical trial. gov to identify randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of CoQ10 supplementation on OS parameters. Standard mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for net changes in OS parameters using a random-effects model.

Results: Twenty-one randomized clinical studies met the eligibility criteria to be included in the meta-analysis. Overall, CoQ10 supplementation increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes [including superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.88; p < 0.001), catalase (CAT) (SMD = 0.44; 95% CI:0.16 to 0.72; p = 0.002)] significantly and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD = -0.68; 95% CI: 0.93 to -0.43; p < 0.001) was decreased considerably. However, significant associations were not observed between this supplement and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity.

Conclusion: CoQ10 can improve OS as indicated by statistical significance in CAT and MDA concentrations, as well as SOD activity. Future studies focusing on long-term results and specific valuation of OS parameters are required to confirm the efficacy of CoQ10 on OS. We also believe that with the further research on ferroptosis, CoQ10 will gain more attention.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://inplasy.com/], identifier [INPLASY2021120123].
On Black Holes as Macroscopic Quantum Objects
Authors: Dai De-Chang , Minic Djordje , Stojkovic Dejan
Published: July 2022

The relative flow of the Schwarzschild vs. the proper time during the classical evolution of a collapsing shell in the Schwarzschild coordinates practically forces us to interpret black hole formation as a highly non-local quantum process in which a shell/anti-shell pair is created within the incipient horizon, thus canceling out the original collapsing shell exactly at the horizon. By studying quantum fields in the black hole background, we reveal similar non-local effects. Among other things, the outgoing member of the Hawking pair very quickly becomes entangled with the black hole geometry (and not its partner), which is in contrast with the usual assumption that the Hawking pair is maximally entangled according to the local geometry near the horizon. Also, an infalling wave affects the black hole geometry even before it crosses the horizon. Finally, we find that a particle takes a finite amount of time to tunnel in and out of the black hole horizon, and thus avoids infinite blue and redshift in processes happening exactly at the horizon. These findings strongly support the picture of a black hole as a macroscopic quantum object.
Predicting the Popularity of Online Content by Modeling the Social Influence and Homophily Features
Authors: Shang Yingdan , Zhou Bin , Zeng Xiang , Wang Ye , Yu Han , Zhang Zhong
Published: July 2022

Predicting the popularity of online content on social network can bring considerable economic benefits to companies and marketers, and it has wide application in viral marketing, content recommendation, early warning of social unrest, etc. The diffusion process of online contents is often a complex combination of both social influence and homophily; however, existing works either only consider the social influence or homophily of early infected users and fail to model the joint effect of social influence and homophily when predicting future popularity. In this study, we aim to develop a framework to unify the social influence and homophily in popularity prediction. We use an unsupervised graph neural network framework to model nondirectional social homophily and integrate the attention mechanism with the graph neural network framework to learn the directional and heterogeneous social relationship for generating social influence representation. On the other hand, existing research studies often overlook the social group characteristics of early infected users, and we try to divide users into different social groups based on user interest and learn the social group representation from clusters. We integrate the social influence, homophily, and social group representation of early infected users to make popularity predictions. Experiments on real datasets show that the proposed method significantly improves the prediction accuracy compared with the latest methods, which confirms the importance of joint model social influence and homophily and shows that social group characteristic is an important predictor in the popularity prediction task.
Influence of distance from lens to sample surface on spectral sensitivity of femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with NaCl water film
Authors: Wang Ying , Gao Heyan , Hong Yanji , Zhang Dan , Chen Anmin , Jin Mingxing
Published: July 2022

Increasing the emission intensity of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an effective way to improve the sensitivity of LIBS technology to elements analysis in liquid samples. In this work, the influence of the distance from lens to sample surface (DFLS) on the spectral emission of femtosecond laser-induced plasma of NaCl water film was studied by measuring Na atomic line. The results showed that the emission intensity of the spectral line presented the phenomenon of double peaks with an increase in the DFLS. The position for the highest spectral intensity was not geometric focal point of focusing lens, but was located in front of the geometric focal point. In addition, we carried out quantitative analysis on Na element with different concentrations, showing a calibration curve of Na element, and calculating limit of detection (LOD) and relative standard deviation (RSD) for different DFLSs. Subsequently, the changes in the LOD and RSD with the DFLS are discussed. With the increase of the DFLS, the LOD and RSD were greatly reduced. At the DFLS of 99.0 mm, the line intensity was highest, and the LOD and RSD were better. Therefore, it can be confirmed that femtosecond LIBS of water film can be optimized by changing the DFLS, the experiment shows great potential in real-time water quality monitoring.
Effects of Feeding Fermented Medicago sativa (Plus Soybean and DDGS) on Growth Performance, Blood Profiles, Gut Health, and Carcass Characteristics of Lande (Meat) Geese
Authors: Li Hui , Liu Yang , Wei Lan , Lin Qian , Zhang Zhifei
Published: July 2022

The objective was to investigate the effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linn)-mixed silage fermentation material (AMSFM) on various aspects of growth, function, and carcass characteristics of Lande (meat) geese. Based on a previous study, we used the following AMSFM: 80% Alfalfa +10% soybean meal +10% DDGS ensiled for 45 days. Lande geese, n = 264, 77 days of age, were randomly allocated into four groups with six replicates in each group. Control geese were fed a basal diet, whereas experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 6, 12, or 24% AMSFM. The experiment lasted 21 days. The AMSFM promoted some aspects of growth, with increase (p < 0.05) in leg muscle rate, lean meat rate, muscle protein content, and total energy content of leg muscle plus concurrent decreases (p < 0.05) in crude fat content and abdominal fat rate in chest muscle. In addition, AMSFM increased (p < 0.05) glutathione content in chest and leg muscles and serum superoxide dismutase activity, and it reduced (p < 0.05) muscle malondialdehyde content and serum concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, and aspartate aminotransferase, consistent with good liver and kidney function. Moreover, AMSFM improved (p < 0.05) ileum morphology. In conclusion, the optimal supplemented rate of AMSFM in the meat geese diet (12%) improved immunity and antioxidant status and enhanced growth performance and carcass characteristics of meat geese.
Fish Behavior as a Neural Proxy to Reveal Physiological States
Authors: Fu Chih-Wei , Horng Jiun-Lin , Chou Ming-Yi
Published: July 2022

Behaviors are the integrative outcomes of the nervous system, which senses and responds to the internal physiological status and external stimuli. Teleosts are aquatic organisms which are more easily affected by the surrounding environment compared to terrestrial animals. To date, behavioral tests have been widely used to assess potential environmental risks using fish as model animals. In this review, we summarized recent studies regarding the effects of internal and external stimuli on fish behaviors. We concluded that behaviors reflect environmental and physiological changes, which have possible implications for environmental and physiological assessments.
Odorant Receptor PxylOR11 Mediates Repellency of Plutella xylostella to Aromatic Volatiles
Authors: Liu Yipeng , Zhang Sai , Liu Yang , Wang Guirong
Published: July 2022

Insects can use plant volatiles to guide certain behaviors, such as courtship, mating, host positioning, and habitat selection. Plutella xylostella is a global agricultural pest and has always been closely studied, but relatively few studies assess the molecular mechanism of P. xylostella exposed to plant volatiles. In this study, we analyzed the role of the odorant receptor PxylOR11 when P. xylostella is exposed to plant volatiles. Our analysis of tissue expression demonstrated that PxylOR11 is expressed in the antennae and that expression levels in female moths were significantly higher than in male moths. Functional analyses using the Xenopus oocyte expression system demonstrated that PxylOR11 was tuned to three aromatic compounds: benzyl alcohol, salicylaldehyde, and phenylacetaldehyde. Electroantennogram analyses revealed that these three aromatic compounds can induce electrophysiological responses in the antennae of P. xylostella, and that the electroantennograms response value of female moths was significantly higher than that of male moths. Dual-choice bioassays demonstrated that the three aromatic compounds have a repellent effect on female P. xylostella. These results suggest that PxylOR11 has a role in mediating the repellent effect of aromatic volatiles on P. xylostella and can be used as a potential target to design novel olfactory regulators controlling P. xylostella.