bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlação da função motora e respiratória de indivíduos com distrofia muscular de Duchenne
Authors: Garção Diogo Costa , Andrade Poliana , Santos Tatiane de Oliveira , Silva Raquel Prado da , Santos Vívian Fernandes dos , Déda Arthur Valido , Nascimento Jadson , Oliveira Jeison Saturnino de , Fraga Byanka Porto , Moreira Olga Sueli Marques
Published: July 2022

Uma vez que a fraqueza gradual dos músculos respiratórios, principalmente o diafragma, induz  complicações respiratórias, o acompanhamento da função pulmonar de pessoas com Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é primordial. Vale destacar que essa deficiência no sistema respiratório é a maior causa de morte de pacientes com DMD. Objetivou-se correlacionar a função motora e respiratória de indivíduos com DMD. Foram avaliados 14 indivíduos sendo subdivididos 09 no grupo estudo e 05 no grupo controle; todos do gênero masculino, com faixa etária de 11,3 (± 0,5) anos. A avaliação foi realizada através das escalas para medida de função motora (MFM), Elgen Klassifikation (EK) e exames de espirometria e manovacuometria. As variáveis da MFM, EK, espirometria e manovacuometria foram analisadas por meio do teste t - student (p<0.05). Foram considerados valores significativos entre função motora e variáveis espirométricas e pressões respiratórias analisados através do índice de correlação de Pearson. Foi demonstrada significativa redução da função motora e maior dependência funcional de indivíduos com DMD. As avaliações espirométricas e manovacuométricas evidenciaram redução da função pulmonar, e as correlações foram significativas, evidenciando forte relação entre o declínio da função motora concomitante à função pulmonar. Os resultados deste estudo apontam que o comprometimento da função motora prediz a intensidade das alterações respiratórias. Pode-se concluir que, nos indivíduos com DMD a função motora e respiratória são reduzidas de acordo com o avanço da idade; e que o desempenho funcional e as condições respiratórias estão diretamente associados. Sugere-se que o tratamento respiratório deve ser realizado combinado ao tratamento do desempenho funcional.
A percepção de alunos dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental de uma escola pública sobre a ginástica para todos (GPT)
Authors: Nascimento João Paulo Oliveira do , Lima Cássio Lucas Silva de , Corrêa Lionela da Silva , Santos João Otacilio Libardoni dos , Verde Evandro Jorge Souza Ribeiro Cabo
Published: July 2022

A Base Nacional Comum Curricular, ao tratar do componente curricular Educação Física, especificamente na unidade de ginástica, aponta como objeto de conhecimento a Ginástica Para Todos (GPT). Com uma recente alteração no currículo municipal de educação de Manaus, seguindo as normativas da BNCC, essa prática foi inserida como conteúdo da Educação Física no ensino fundamental. Desse modo, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar a percepção de alunos dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental de uma escola pública sobre a GPT nas aulas de educação física. Tratou-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, caracterizada como pesquisa-ação. Participaram da pesquisa 16 alunos de uma turma do 4º ano do ensino fundamental, matriculados em uma escola municipal da cidade de Manaus. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se de questionário, aplicação de aula teórico-prática, grupo focal e diário de campo. A análise de dados foi realizada mediante análise de conteúdo. Dos resultados emergiram duas categorias: “do desconhecimento e desconforto à satisfação no ginasticar” e “a euforia na descoberta das possibilidades acrobáticas”. Evidenciou-se que os alunos desconheciam a prática da GPT. No primeiro contato, estranharam as atividades por estarem acostumados com outras práticas, por exemplo, as que envolviam bola, mas ao descobrirem a GPT, os alunos se mostraram interessados, demonstrando: divertimento, bom trabalho em equipe, criatividade, interação com os colegas e com o meio e, ainda, interesse na plasticidade de movimentos e figuras que até então só haviam visto na televisão, como os saltos (acrobática) e a pirâmide humana.
Aspectos gerais sobre a viabilidade de instalação de Energia Eólica no Brasil
Authors: Barroso Larissa Lopes , Silva Melissa Oliveira e , Galvão Márcia Edjane Moreira , Silva Gabriele de Jesus , Cunha Duel , Silva Lara dos Santos , Cristo Jaqueline Prestes de , Antunes Gabriel Nunes , Cabral Estefany Luz , Silva José Antônio de Castro
Published: July 2022

A utilização energética de fontes não renováveis tem encontrado grandes dificuldades devido ao aumento dos custos e diminuição da disponibilidade de oferta dos combustíveis fósseis, nesse sentido, a utilização dos ventos como fonte energética vem crescendo gradativamente tornando-se uma das principais matrizes energéticas mundiais. Dessa forma, esta pesquisa trata-se de uma revisão quantitativa e qualitativa centrada em identificar o potencial da energia eólica como fonte renovável, onde, para tal ação foi realizado uma filtragem de informações e reportagens de fontes governamentais ou instituições e companhias de renome, além de artigos publicados em periódicos ou anais de congressos nacionais, livros de autores/editores reconhecidos. Em relação a análise dos dados obtidos, ela indicou que dentro das energias alternativas, a eólica é uma das mais prósperas quando analisada a nível mundial, ademais, a nivel nacional, no brasil já estão instalados 52 parques eólicos no país, ao qual perfazem uma geração de 1.298,6 MW de potência. Dessa forma, foi possível observar nesta revisão que a energia eólica surge como uma “flecha de salvação” onde o alvo é a propagação energética de forma mais sustentável, especialmente em zonas litorâneas e locais com boa disponibilidade quanto a dispersão de ventos.
Medidas para prevenção de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde: revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Dias Débora Miranda , Silva Gabriel Oliveira da , Araújo Paulo da Costa , Mendonça Vinícius Rodrigues , Resende Clara Costa , Souza Michele de Aguiar , Souza Lucas  Furlan Cirqueira de , Alves Francisco Paulo de Andrade , Barros Ezequiel Almeida , Soares Alicia Rebeca Silva , Moura Andressa Sabrina Guimarães , Santos Francisco Bruno da Silva
Published: July 2022

As Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (IRAS) são umas das principais causas de mortalidade, sendo considerado um sério problema de saúde pública. Essas infecções trazem diversas complicações a saúde do indivíduo, aumentando o seu tempo de hospitalização, aumento dos custos da assistência e favorece a disseminação de microrganismos. Esse estudo tem como objetivo demonstrar as medidas de prevenção das infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada nos meses de maio e junho de 2022. As estratégias de buscas permitiram identificar 2390 artigos na base de dados Google Acadêmico. Ao longo das análises dos títulos e resumos, aplicando os critérios de inclusão, 2380 artigos foram excluídos. No total foram selecionados 10 por atenderem todos os requisitos. Varias são as formas para se prevenir infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde, dentre elas estão a higienização das mãos, o uso de mascaras, luvas, óculos e entre outros, a precaução de contato para prevenir a disseminação dos agentes infecciosos transmissíveis do paciente colonizado ou infectado por microrganismos, as medidas preventivas respiratórias onde se incluem precauções para gotículas, espirro e fala, e por fim, as precauções para aerossóis. Portanto, fica notório que é imprescritível a implementação e realização das medidas para prevenção de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde, visando diminuir os impactos na vida dos indivíduos.
Efeito da deterioração em imagens por ressonância magnética sobre redes neurais profundas
Authors: Prazeres Carlos Leandro Silva dos , Paula Perseu Lúcio Alexander Helene de , Monte Mozart Nolasco , Estácio Marcela Costa Alcântara , Santos Esdras Adriano Barbosa dos , Campos Laelia
Published: July 2022

Nas últimas décadas, tarefas de classificação e segmentação de achados clínicos com uso de redes neurais convolucionais cresceram bastante na esfera do diagnóstico por imagem e, mais precisamente, na modalidade de imagem por ressonância magnética. Porém, pouco se sabe a respeito do comportamento dessas arquiteturas quando confrontadas com fatores que degradam a resolução espacial e a resolução de contraste, uma vez que a maioria dos modelos é treinada com imagens de alta qualidade, o que não é condizente com o cotidiano geral. Por isso, faz-se necessário analisar a performance das redes neurais pré-treinadas, sob condições em que haja deterioração da imagem de entrada. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados os efeitos da degradação de ambas as resoluções, tanto em tarefas de classificação quanto de segmentação de tumores cerebrais, para três arquiteturas: Mobilenet, Vgg16 e SEResNeXt50. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que as tarefas executadas são muito afetadas pelas distorções na qualidade das imagens, em especial nos casos em que as deteriorações se tornam mais intensas.
Three-dimensionally rendering of the sphenoid bone of adolescents using Materialise’s Interactive Medical Image Control System software
Authors: Lisboa Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira , Carelli Júlia , Morais Nathaly Dias , Moro Alexandre , Küchler Erika Calvano , Brancher João Armando , Foggiatto José Aguiomar , Torres Maria Fernanda Pioli
Published: July 2022

The main goal of this study was to reconstruct three-dimensionally (3D) the sphenoid bone of adolescents with the software Materialise Mimics to test the accuracy and reliability of craniometric measurements performed with the software. The study was conducted according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was performed in adolescents before the orthodontic treatment as part of the orthodontic records. The CBCT images were exported as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) files, in a universal format, with a voxel size of 0.3 mm and sphenoid bone was three-dimensionally rendered with Software Materialise Mimics. Ten sphenoid measurements were performed in triplicate by two trained examiners. The studied population was composed of 26 adolescents, 16 females (61.5%), and 10 males (38.5%) with a mean age of 12.5 years (SD= 1.7). 60 measurements were taken and the intra and inter-examiner accuracy revealed a high degree of data reproducibility (Kappa test higher than 0.90). The reconstruction and rendering of the images obtained by CBTC allowed anatomical details of the sphenoid bone to be measured with very high reproducibility.  The Software Materialise Mimics allows you to analyze anatomical structures in detail and presents useful tools to optimize craniometry analyses.
Obtenção e Caracterização do Óleo Essencial de Laranja Obtido a Partir de Resíduos de Citrus sinensis ‘Valencia’
Authors: Orso Vinícius Tres , Rodrigues Wellyngton Luiz , Cort Jéssica Dalla , Zanetti Micheli , Colpani Gustavo Lopes , Zeferino Rubieli Carla Frezza
Published: July 2022

A implementação de alternativas menos agressivas ao meio ambiente, pautadas no reaproveitamento de resíduos, faz-se cada vez mais necessária e é tendência de mercado. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo extrair e caracterizar o óleo essencial de laranja obtido a partir de resíduos de Citrus sinensis ‘Valencia’ com vistas na maximização do rendimento de limoneno, avaliando-o frente ao seu potencial antimicrobiano e antioxidante. A extração foi realizada pelos métodos de hidrodestilação e soxhlet. A caracterização do óleo essencial foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa com detector por ionização de chama (CG-DIC) e a estrutura química do limoneno foi confirmada por espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). O efeito das variáveis ​​na extração líquido-líquido após a hidrodestilação foi avaliada a partir de planejamento experimental, obtendo-se maior rendimento global de limoneno no óleo essencial nas condições de 90 minutos e razão volumétrica 100:10 (soluto:solvente). O óleo essencial obtido na melhor condição de processo, demonstrou ação antimicrobiana frente à Staphylococcus aureus e Proteus mirabilis, com concentrações inibitórias mínimas de 0,151 g∙mL-1 e 0,302 g∙mL-1, respectivamente, avaliadas pelo método de microdiluição em caldo. Além disso, o óleo essencial apresentou atividade antioxidante de 84,64 ± 2,35% para concentração de 93,44 μg∙mL-1 e IC50 de 24,72 μg∙mL-1, avaliadas pelo método de eliminação de radicais livres de 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH). Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a extração do óleo essencial de laranja a partir de resíduos de Citrus sinensis ‘Valencia’ pela rota proposta é viável e que este apresenta potencial como aditivo antimicrobiano e antioxidante para futuras aplicações.
Pacientes oncológicos pediátricos submetidos à amputação como tratamento do osteossarcoma
Authors: Magalhães Letícia Fernanda de , Almeida Gabrielle Souza , Mosquini Juliany da Costa Estral , Silva Emanuelle Toneto Souza , Ferreira Lavínia Chixaro de Sousa , Henz Fernanda Kokkonen , Leite Cleber Queiroz , Romani Ana Maria , Santos Brian França dos
Published: July 2022

Em primeira análise, é válido ressaltar que o osteossarcoma é uma patologia cancerígena, caracterizada pela dor progressiva dos ossos e por vezes das partes moles, podendo resultar em fraturas ósseas. Tal moléstia, não tem especificidade de grupos de pessoas para ocorrência, mas prevalece em homens, sendo raro o desenvolvimento de sintomas sistêmicos. A biópsia é o principal exame para confirmação diagnóstica, com auxílio de exames de imagem. O tratamento é baseado em quimioterapia, e a intervenção cirúrgica para retirada do tumor também é uma opção, a depender do caso. Outrossim, por vezes, está indicada a amputação do membro acometido, avaliando-se a gravidade da situação. O esclarecimento do quadro clínico para a família, bem como para o paciente são primordiais, devendo-se enfatizar a importância do acompanhamento psicológico. Diante disso, existem casos de osteossarcomas metastáticos, em que a terapia baseia-se apenas em cuidados paliativos, para alívio dos sintomas, oferecendo dignidade no enfrentamento do processo de saúde-doença e assim, proporcionando ao enfermo a melhor qualidade de vida possível até o fim de seus dias e dando suporte a família no momento do luto.
Ultrasound assessment of the morphology and severity of mitral insufficiency
Authors:   Postgraduate Institute for Public Health Workers under Health Ministry of Khabarovsk Krai, Glazun L.O. , Shcherbataya E.P. ,   Postgraduate Institute for Public Health Workers under Health Ministry of Khabarovsk Krai
Published: July 2022

The article describes in detail the mechanisms of anatomical and functional changes in the mitral valve that cause its insufficiency. Modern recommendations on diagnostic criteria and assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation are given. Attention is drawn to the need for an integrated approach to diagnosis, integrating data on morphological changes in the valve, Doppler criteria and the degree of hemodynamic disorders
Multifaced allergies: gastrointestinal manifestations of food allergy in children. Issues of diagnosis and management
Authors:   Postgraduate Institute for Public Health Workers under Health Ministry of Khabarovsk Krai, Tarasevich V.Yu.
Published: July 2022

The manifestations of food allergies are varied. They affect not only the skin, which pediatricians are traditionally accustomed to, but also the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. A typical scenario for the development of gastrointestinal manifestations of food allergy in infants fully reproduces that observed in functional and organic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Infantile colic may be the first manifestation of an atopic disease. Therefore, the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal allergy for pediatricians is important. There is both hyper- and underdiagnosis of the gastrointestinal form of allergy. This is primarily due to the fact that the immunopathological mechanism of gastrointestinal allergy is diverse and includes both IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated variants. At the same time, the clinical symptoms almost resemble manifestations of the functional pathology of the gastrointestinal tract and there are no elevated IgE levels. The main method of differential diagnosis is only the elimination of the food product and, conversely, the appearance of symptoms after its return (provocation). Therefore, it is necessary that pediatricians have a clear understanding that the basis of diagnosis is not only clinical symptoms, but the response to diet therapy
Surgical safety in a multidisciplinary hospital: the current status and prospects
Authors:   The Khabarovsk Krai Clinical Hospital  No.1 named after professor S.I. Sergeev, Teryaev S.A. , Topalov K.P. ,   Postgraduate Institute for Public Health Workers under Health Ministry of Khabarovsk Krai, Razvin S.B. ,   The Khabarovsk Krai Clinical Hospital  No.1 named after professor S.I. Sergeev
Published: July 2022

The article outlines surgical safety issues in the treatment of patients in a multidisciplinary hospital. The results of a comparative analysis of surgical treatment of patients in 20 years (2001-2020) are set out. The levels of hospital mortality, including postoperative mortality, are compared with the results of pathological examinations
AN INVESTIGATION OF SHARED SIGNS AND XENOGRAPHS IN MAYA WRITING
Authors: Worm Danbo Rosa-Maria
Published: July 2022

Mesoamerican writing systems exhibit a great many salient differences and yet a closer scrutiny equally reveals a number of structural continuities between essential deep-seeded features. Several signs in the various signatories exhibit formal graphic similarities and show great continuity in use and function, which attests to extensive and prolonged contact between the users of the distinct writing systems of Mesoamerica. With this paper, I aim to contribute to our understanding of the presence of xenographs in Maya writing by exploring key examples of shared signs for their typographic, typological or semantical function, using the framework of lexical borrowing as analytical analogy.
POST COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGIES: REVITALIZING SAUNG ANGKLUNG UDJO BUSINESS MODEL
Authors: Prianti Diani Mustika , Fahmi Idqan , Hannan Sufrin
Published: July 2022

Saung Angklung Udjo is one of the cultural tourism objects and attractions in Bandung. Saung Angklung Udjo is currently facing competition issues, such as the growth of various tourism businesses in Bandung and decreasing level of public awareness of culture, especially Sundanese culture. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of the tourism industry as well as the behavior of consumers or tourists who have adapted to new normal conditions. This research aims to formulate a new business model which can be used as a business development strategy for Saung Angklung Udjo in the future. This descriptive qualitative research used purposive sampling as the technique of determining respondents, based on Business Model Canvas (BMC) approach, which was equipped with SWOT analysis and Blue Ocean Strategy (BOSS). The findings showed that creating a hydroponic nursery center by utilizing vacant land, collaborating with various modern art communities, adapting the creative process of Angklung performance videos, and running e-tourism programs will attract broader customer segments (generation Z and millennials), as well as more, deserve of the revenue stream. This research still has many limitations, in terms of research objects there are still many that can be examined, such as service quality, customer satisfaction, cost analysis.
Development of Learning Media for Formalin Test Teaching Aids To Increase Interest in Learning and Chemical Literacy of Smk Students
Authors: Istiqomah Istiqomah , Permanasari Anna , Pursitasari Indarini Dwi
Published: July 2022

This study aims to produce formalin test props as a learning aid to increase student interest in learning and chemical literacy of SMK students. The Research and Development method used in this study was a Four D (4D) design. The results of the development were examined for effectiveness through research involving 30 students majoring in Multi-media at Amaliah Vocational School. Testing the effectiveness of teaching aids in supporting the achievement of interest in learning and chemical literacy was carried out using the pre- experimental method. The teaching aids were validated by three lecturers consisting of expert lecturers. The instruments used include teaching aids validation instruments, learning observation formats, student response questionnaires, and chemical literacy test questions. The results of the development show that the teaching aids have met the requirements in terms of relevance, pedagogic, technical, originality and aesthetics. Furthermore, it was found that the use of teaching aids in learning could increase students' interest in learning and chemical literacy on average in the high category.
Morphological and Biochemical Investigation of the Healing Effects of Exercise on High Fat Diet Induced Kidney and Bladder Damage
Authors: AÇIKEL ELMAS Merve , BİNGÖL ÖZAKPINAR Özlem , KOLGAZİ Meltem , ŞENER Göksel , ERCAN Feriha
Published: July 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of swimming training on renal and bladder damage caused by a highfat diet (HFD) using morphological and biochemical measurements.

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were fed either standard chow (CONT, 6% fat) or HFD (45% fat) for 18 weeks, these rats were divided into two subgroups at the last 6 weeks of the experiment. The exercise groups (CONT+EXC, HFD+EXC) were trained daily swimming sessions (1 h per day for 5 days/week) during the last 6 weeks. Kidney and bladder samples were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination at the end of experiment. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by biochemically.

Results: Regular morphology of the renal cortex and bladder mucosa was observed in the CONT and CONT +EXC groups. Degenerated renal corpuscles and proximal tubules in the kidney and degenerated urothelium with leaky tight junctions and mast cell increase in the bladder mucosa were observed in the HFD group. Ameliorated renal cortex and bladder mucosa were observed in the HFD+EXC group. In addition, malondialdehyde, glutathione, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were also consistent with the histological findings.

Conclusion: HFD-induced renal and bladder damage may be related to increased oxidative damage. It was observed that the histological damage and altered oxidative stress parameters could be reversed by swimming training, and it is thought that moderate swimming exercise may play a role in regulating oxidative stress.
Acute Surge of Atypical Memory and Plasma B-Cell Subsets Driven by an Extrafollicular Response in Severe COVID-19
Authors: Lee Taeseob , Kim Yuri , Kim Hyun Je , Ha Na-Young , Lee Siyoung , Chin BumSik , Cho Nam-Hyuk
Published: July 2022

Background

Despite the use of vaccines and therapeutics against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this severe disease has been a critical burden on public health, whereas the pathogenic mechanism remains elusive. Recently, accumulating evidence underscores the potential role of the aberrant B-cell response and humoral immunity in disease progression, especially in high-risk groups.

Methods

Using single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing analysis, we investigated transcriptional features of B-cell population in peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients and compared them, according to clinical severity and disease course, against a public B-cell dataset.

Results

We confirmed that acute B cells differentiate into plasma cells, particularly in severe patients, potentially through enhanced extrafollicular (EF) differentiation. In severe groups, the elevated plasma B-cell response displayed increased B-cell receptor (BCR) diversity, as well as higher levels of anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti–SARS-CoV-2) spike antibodies in plasma, than those in moderate cases, suggesting more robust and heterogeneous plasma cell response in severe COVID-19 patients. Trajectory analysis identified a differentiation pathway for the EF B-cell response from active naïve to atypical memory B cells (AM2), in addition to the emergence of an aberrant plasma cell subset (PC2), which was associated with COVID-19 progression and severity. The AM2 and PC2 subsets surged in the acute phase of the severe disease and presented multiple inflammatory features, including higher cytokine expression and humoral effector function, respectively. These features differ from other B-cell subsets, suggesting a pathogenic potential for disease progression.

Conclusion

The acute surge of AM2 and PC2 subsets with lower somatic hypermutation and higher inflammatory features may be driven by the EF B-cell response during the acute phase of severe COVID-19 and may represent one of the critical drivers in disease severity.
Zidebactam restores sulbactam susceptibility against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates
Authors: Cedano Jose , Baez Michelle , Pasteran Fernando , Montaña Sabrina Daiana , Ra Grace , Fua Venjaminne , Corso Alejandra , Tolmasky Marcelo E. , Bonomo Robert A. , Ramírez María Soledad
Published: July 2022

Carbapenems are commonly used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Unfortunately, carbapenem resistance is increasingly reported in many gram-negative bacteria, especially Acinetobacter baumannii. Diazabicyclooctane (DBO) β-lactamase inhibitors, such as avibactam (AVI), when combined with sulbactam successfully restore sulbactam susceptibility against certain carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) isolates. In the present study, we tested zidebactam, a novel DBO with an additional mechanism of action, in combination with sulbactam against CRAB isolates, including strains that exhibited resistance against sulbactam/avibactam combination. A panel of 43 geographically and genetically distinct CRAB isolates recovered from different hospitals and containing different mechanisms of resistance were included in the present study. We also tested three reference strains (AB0057, AB5075, and AYE). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for sulbactam (range 0.12–512 mg/l) and sulbactam plus 4 mg/l zidebactam were performed using microdilution according to CLSI Standards. A decrease ≥2 dilutions in sulbactam MICs was observed in 84% of the isolates when tested in combination with zidebactam. The sulbactam/zidebactam combination was able to restore sulbactam susceptibility in 91% of the isolates, including isolates that were resistant to sulbactam/avibactam combination. These data encouraged us to further explore sulbactam/zidebactam in other experimental models especially against CRAB isolates resistant to other DBOs.
Bioinformatics and In Silico Findings Uncover Bio-Targets of Calycosin Against Heart Failure and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Xu Hongyuan , Qin Jingru , Qin Lixiu , Guo Chao , Yang Bin
Published: July 2022

Background

Heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are life-threatening diseases. However, existing clinical drugs to treat HF complicated with DM are relatively limited. In this study, we performed a viable bioinformatics strategy combining network pharmacology and molecular docking to identify potential anti-HF and -DM targets and therapeutic mechanisms of calycosin, a functional phytoestrogen.

Methods

Web-based databases were used to collect candidate genes/targets of calycosin and HF/DM and then identify the hub bio-targets of calycosin against HF/DM. Using the online-available database, all functional processes and signaling pathways of calycosin against HF/DM were screened and identified before further visualization.

Results

All potential bio-targets of calycosin and HF/DM were collected, and 20 hub targets of calycosin against HF/DM were identified. Interestingly, molecular docking findings indicated that mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK1), β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), and homologue-1 (ABL1) may be potent pharmacological targets of calycosin against HF/DM. In addition, all primary molecular functions of calycosin against HF/DM were identified, including regulating protein binding, ubiquitination, and the metabolic process. Furthermore, the top molecular pathways of calycosin against HF/DM were revealed, including cardiomyocyte and chemokine signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Our bioinformatics analysis uncovered the network targets and therapeutic mechanisms of calycosin against HF/DM. For the first time, the current in silico findings revealed that the identified hub targets may be used to screen and treat HF/DM.
Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin and Its Associations With Bone Mineral Density, Bone Turnover Markers, and Prevalence of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Xu Yang , Shen Li , Liu Lianyong , Zhang Zhenlin , Hu Weiwei
Published: July 2022

Objective

Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is one form of osteocalcin lacking full carboxylation, which plays an important role in bone homeostasis, glucose homeostasis, and energy metabolism. Our aim is to obtain the profile of serum ucOC level according to gender and age and explore its associations with bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers (BTMs), and prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the Chinese population.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study with 900 subjects, composed of 431 men and 469 women. Clinical information was collected, and BMD values of the lumbar spine (L1–4), left femoral neck, and total hip were scanned. Biochemical markers including hepatic and renal function, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, procollagen type 1 N-propeptide (P1NP) β-CrossLaps of type I collagen-containing cross-linked C-telopeptide (β-CTX) intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and ucOC were measured.

Results

We found that the median ucOC level was higher in men than women [men, 2.6 ng/ml; women, 1.6 ng/ml; p < 0.001]. The profile according to age showed that ucOC levels were the lowest at the age of 40–49 years in both men [2.55 ng/ml (95% CI = 1.96–3.13 ng/ml)] and women [1.57 ng/ml (95% CI = 1.12–2.03 ng/ml)]; in patients younger than 49 years, they decreased with age; then over 50 years, they quickly increased. Furthermore, we found that a higher ucOC level was correlated with lower BMD values at the lumbar spine (men, r = −0.128, p = 0.013; women, r = −0.321, p < 0.001), femoral neck (men, r = −0.095, p = 0.062; women, r = −0.260, p < 0.001), and total hip (men, r = −0.123, p = 0.015; women, r = −0.209, p < 0.001) and higher P1NP (men, r = 0.307, p < 0.001; women, r = 0.239, p < 0.001) and β-CTX (men, r = 0.169, p = 0.001; women, r = 0.354, p < 0.001) levels in both men and women. Furthermore, we also showed that a 1 − SD increase in ucOC was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.63 and 1.70 for having osteopenia or osteoporosis in men and women, respectively (men, 95% CI = 1.25–2.13, p = 0.004; women, 95% CI = 1.19–2.42, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

We first revealed the profile of serum ucOC levels according to gender and age in the Chinese population and demonstrated the associations of ucOC with BMD and BTMs and the risk of prevalent osteopenia or osteoporosis. Our findings provide a clue to elucidate the function of ucOC in bone metabolism.
Prediabetes Induces More Severe Acute COVID-19 Associated With IL-6 Production Without Worsening Long-Term Symptoms
Authors: Bonyek-Silva Icaro , Cerqueira-Silva Thiago , Nunes Sara , Machado Antônio Fernando Araújo , Cruz Márcio Rivison Silva , Pereira Blenda , Estrela Leilane , Silva Jéssica , Isis Ananda , Barral Aldina , Oliveira Pablo Rafael Silveira , Khouri Ricardo , Serezani C. Henrique , Brodskyn Cláudia , Caldas Juliana Ribeiro , Barral-Netto Manoel , Boaventura Viviane , Tavares Natalia Machado
Published: July 2022

Aims

Pre-existing conditions, such as age, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, constitute known risk factors for severe COVID-19. However, the impact of prediabetes mellitus (PDM) on COVID-19 severity is less clear. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of PDM in the acute and long-term phases of COVID-19.

Materials and methods

We compared inflammatory mediators, laboratory and clinical parameters and symptoms in COVID-19 patients with prediabetes (PDM) and without diabetes (NDM) during the acute phase of infection and at three months post-hospitalization.

Results

Patients with PDM had longer hospital stays and required intensive care unit admission more frequently than NDM. Upon hospitalization, PDM patients exhibited higher serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is related to reduced partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood, oxygen saturation (SpO2) and increased COVID-19 severity. However, at three months after discharge, those with PDM did not exhibit significant alterations in laboratory parameters or residual symptoms; however, PDM was observed to influence the profile of reported symptoms.

Conclusions

PDM seems to be associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19, as well as higher serum levels of IL-6, which may constitute a potential biomarker of severe COVID-19 risk in affected patients. Furthermore, while PDM correlated with more severe acute-phase COVID-19, no long-term worsening of sequelae was observed.
Metabolic Characteristics and M2 Macrophage Infiltrates in Invasive Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Lin Kunzhe , Zhang Jianping , Lin Yinghong , Pei Zhijie , Wang Shousen
Published: July 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic differences between invasive and non-invasive nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), determine the expression of an M2 macrophage marker in NFPAs, and analyze the effects of metabolic changes in invasive NFPAs on M2 macrophage infiltrates.

Methods

Tissue samples of NFPAs from patients who underwent transsphenoidal or craniotomy surgery from January 2021 to August 2021 were collected. NFPA tissues were analyzed based on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry non-targeted metabolomics platform, and immunohistochemical staining for M2 macrophage marker CD206 was performed.

Results

We evaluated 15 invasive and 21 non-invasive NFPAs. A total of 22 metabolites were identified through non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Among them, the expression of 1-octadecanol, inosine 5’-monophosphate, adenosine 5’-monophosphate, guanosine 5’-monophosphate, creatinine, desmosterol, taurine, hypotaurine, lactic acid, and succinic acid was upregulated in invasive NFPAs, while that of 1-oleoylglycerol, arachidonic acid, cis-11-eicosenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, glyceric acid, hypoxanthine, linoleic acid, lysine, oleic acid, uracil, valine, and xanthine was downregulated. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that the number of CD206-positive cells was higher in invasive NFPAs than in non-invasive NFPAs.

Conclusion

Invasive and non-invasive NFPAs showed distinct metabolite profiles. The levels of succinic acid and lactic acid were higher in invasive NFPAs, and the high expression of the M2 macrophage marker was verified in invasive NFPAs.
Circulating MicroRNAs as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Lingli , Wen Yan , Li Zimeng , Wu Nan , Wang Qing
Published: July 2022

Objective

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common diabetic microvascular complication and a major cause of acquired vision loss. Finding effective biomarkers for the early identification and diagnosis of DR is crucial. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the accuracy of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the diagnosis of DR via a meta-analysis of previously published diagnostic studies. This study has been registered on the PROSPERO website, with the number CRD42022323238.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China Wanfang database, and China Knowledge Network database to identify relevant articles published from the time of database creation to April 10, 2022. Stata 14.0 software was used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic ratio (DOR), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the accuracy of miRNAs in the diagnosis of DR. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran-Q test and I2 statistic for quantitative analysis. The random-effect model was selected due to significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis and regression analysis were also performed to determine the potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

We included 25 articles detailing 52 studies with 1987 patients with DR and 1771 non-DR controls. The findings demonstrated overall sensitivity (0.82, 95% CI: 0.78 ~ 0.85), specificity (0.84, 95% CI: 0.81 ~ 0.86), PLR (5.0, 95% CI: 4.2 ~ 5.9), NLR (0.22, 95% CI: 0.18 ~ 0.26), and the area under the summary ROC curve (0.90, 95% CI: 0.87 ~ 0.92). Furthermore, we performed subgroup analysis and found that panels of multiple miRNAs could enhance the pooled sensitivity (sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values were 0.89, 0.87, and 0.94, respectively).

Conclusion

The meta-analysis showed that miRNAs can be used as potential diagnostic markers for DR, with high accuracy of diagnoses observed with the detection of miRNAs in plasma and serum.
Influence of Jet on Aerosol Retention by Pool Scrubbing Under Multihole Injector
Authors: Li Yuxiang , Wu Yan , Cao Xuewu
Published: July 2022

In severe nuclear power plant accidents, when the containment is in a serious challenging state, the gas mixture in the containment can be injected into the spent fuel pool through the multihole injector by the containment depressurization measure, to reduce the risk of containment overpressure failure and the release of radioactivity to the environment. The pool scrubbing efficiency of aerosol under the jet regime is studied on the small-scale aerosol pool scrubbing facility, focusing on the influence of mass flux, steam fraction, submergence, particle diameter, and pool initial temperature on the aerosol decontamination factor (DF). The results show that under the jet regime, the DF value is significantly greater than that in the bubble regime and the effect of jet flow on the mechanism of steam condensation and aerosol removal of the rising zone is weak under the conditions explored. DF increases with the increase of mass flux owing to the droplet interception and inertial collision aerosol removal mechanisms. Because the high pool temperature weakens the aerosol removal by steam condensation, DF decreases with the increase of initial pool temperature under the conditions explored. Based on the experimental data and the analysis of the removal mechanism under the jet regime, an empirical model of aerosol DF considering mass flux, steam fraction, pool temperature, submergence, and particle size is established and verified by the international experiments. The proposed model can be used to calculate DF in the process of containment overpressure discharge.
A Novel Bi-LSTM-Based Method for Thevenin Equivalent Parameter Identification
Authors: Li Chengyu , Yu Jilai , Lv Jiaxin
Published: July 2022

Insufficient power system operation data sets hinder the extensive application of various artificial intelligence algorithms. The solution of the Thevenin equivalent parameters especially depends on the power flow data of the grid. This article proposes a Kirchhoff circuit law-based power flow sample generation method, which can overcome the operation state observation difficulty and power flow calculation complexity of the power system. To a large extent, the quality of the sample determines the effect of the machine learning algorithm. This method is different in mechanism from traditional power flow calculations, which is applied to generate the state-based power flow sample data sets by using Kirchhoff circuit laws instead of the iterative calculation of power flow starting from the initial value. In this way, the efficiency of power system sample generation required by machine learning algorithms is enhanced significantly. Besides, this article finds the power characteristic parameter suitable for Thevenin’s equivalent parameter machine learning, that is, the load power differential ratio. A clustering method suitable for the Bi-LSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory) model for processing power state samples, which can improve learning performance, was studied. The case studies demonstrate the sample generation efficiency of this method and verify the learning effect of the Bi-LSTM algorithm.
Comparing Transcriptomes Reveals Key Metabolic Mechanisms in Superior Growth Performance Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Chen Binglin , Xiao Wei , Zou Zhiying , Zhu Jinglin , Li Dayu , Yu Jie , Yang Hong
Published: July 2022

Metabolic capacity is intrinsic to growth performance. To investigate superior growth performance in Nile tilapia, three full-sib families were bred and compared at the biochemical and transcriptome levels to determine metabolic mechanisms involved in significant growth differences between individuals under the same culture environment and feeding regime. Biochemical analysis showed that individuals in the higher growth group had significantly higher total protein, total triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high- and low-density lipoproteins, but significantly lower glucose, as compared with individuals in the lower growth group. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed 536 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated, and 622 DEGs were downregulated. These genes were significantly enriched in three key pathways: the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, and cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism. Conjoint analysis of these key pathways and the biochemical parameters suggests that Nile tilapia with superior growth performance have higher ability to consume energy substrates (e.g., glucose), as well as higher ability to biosynthesize fatty acids and cholesterol. Additionally, the fatty acids biosynthesized by the superior growth performance individuals were less active in the catabolic pathway overall, but were more active in the anabolic pathway, and might be used for triglyceride biosynthesis to store excess energy in the form of fat. Furthermore, the tilapia with superior growth performance had lower ability to convert cholesterol into bile acids, but higher ability to convert it into sterols. We discuss the molecular mechanisms of the three key metabolic pathways, map the pathways, and note key factors that may impact the growth of Nile tilapia. The results provide an important guide for the artificial selection and quality enhancement of superior growth performance in tilapia.
Application of Bidirectional Generative Adversarial Networks to Predict Potential miRNAs Associated With Diseases
Authors: Xu Long , Li Xiaokun , Yang Qiang , Tan Long , Liu Qingyuan , Liu Yong
Published: July 2022

Substantial evidence has shown that microRNAs are crucial for biological processes within complex human diseases. Identifying the association of miRNA–disease pairs will contribute to accelerating the discovery of potential biomarkers and pathogenesis. Researchers began to focus on constructing computational models to facilitate the progress of disease pathology and clinical medicine by identifying the potential disease-related miRNAs. However, most existing computational methods are expensive, and their use is limited to unobserved relationships for unknown miRNAs (diseases) without association information. In this manuscript, we proposed a creatively semi-supervised model named bidirectional generative adversarial network for miRNA-disease association prediction (BGANMDA). First, we constructed a microRNA similarity network, a disease similarity network, and Gaussian interaction profile kernel similarity based on the known miRNA–disease association and comprehensive similarity of miRNAs (diseases). Next, an integrated similarity feature network with the full underlying relationships of miRNA–disease pairwise was obtained. Then, the similarity feature network was fed into the BGANMDA model to learn advanced traits in latent space. Finally, we ranked an association score list and predicted the associations between miRNA and disease. In our experiment, a five-fold cross validation was applied to estimate BGANMDA’s performance, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9319 and a standard deviation of 0.00021 were obtained. At the same time, in the global and local leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV), the AUC value and standard deviation of BGANMDA were 0.9116 ± 0.0025 and 0.8928 ± 0.0022, respectively. Furthermore, BGANMDA was employed in three different case studies to validate its prediction capability and accuracy. The experimental results of the case studies showed that 46, 46, and 48 of the top 50 prediction lists had been identified in previous studies.
Comparison by Age of the Local Interferon Response to SARS-CoV-2 Suggests a Role for IFN-ε and -ω
Authors: Pierangeli Alessandra , Gentile Massimo , Oliveto Giuseppe , Frasca Federica , Sorrentino Leonardo , Matera Luigi , Nenna Raffaella , Viscido Agnese , Fracella Matteo , Petrarca Laura , D’Ettorre Gabriella , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Midulla Fabio , Antonelli Guido , Scagnolari Carolina
Published: July 2022

Children generally develop a mild disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection whereas older adults are at risk of developing severe COVID-19. Recent transcriptomic analysis showed pre-activated innate immunity in children, resulting in a more effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 response upon infection. To further characterize age-related differences, we studied type I and III interferon (IFN) response in SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected individuals of different ages. Specifically, levels of expression of type I (IFN-α, -β, -ε and -ω), type III (IFN-λ1, -λ2 and -λ3) IFNs and of the IFN-stimulated genes, ISG15 and ISG56 were quantified in nasopharyngeal cells from diagnostic swabs. Basal transcription of type I/III IFN genes was highest among children and decreased with age. Among SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, only IFN-ε and -ω levels were significantly higher in children and young adults whereas ISGs were overexpressed in infected adults. The occurrence of symptoms in children and the need for hospitalization in adults were associated to higher transcription of several IFN genes. Starting from a pre-activated transcription level, the expression of type I and III IFNs was not highly up-regulated in children upon SARS-CoV-2 infection; young adults activated IFNs’ transcription at intermediate levels whereas older adults were characterized by higher ISGs and lower IFN-ε and -ω relative expression levels. Overall, our findings contribute to recognize components of a protective IFN response as a function of age, in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.