bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma calprotectin as a biomarker of ultrasound synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving IL-6 antagonists or JAK inhibitors
Authors: Frade-Sosa Beatriz , Ponce Andrés , Inciarte-Mundo José , Morlà Rosa , Ruiz-Esquide Viginia , Macías Laura , Azuaga Ana Belen , Ramirez Julio , Cañete Juan D. , Yague Jordi , Auge Josep M. , Gomez-Puerta José A. , Sanmarti Raimon
Published: September 2022

Objectives:

To analyse the accuracy of plasma calprotectin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving monoclonal antibodies against IL-6 receptors (anti-rIL-6) or JAK inhibitors (JAKis) in detecting ultrasound (US) synovitis and compare it with acute phase reactants [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and ESR].

Methods:

An observational cross-sectional study of RA patients receiving anti-rIL-6 (tocilizumab or sarilumab) or JAKi, (baricitinib or tofacitinib) was made. Plasma calprotectin for the diagnosis of US synovitis [synovial hypertrophy grade (SH) ⩾ 2 plus power Doppler signal (PD) ⩾ 1] was analysed using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs). The performance of ESR and hs-CRP was also studied. The three ROC curves were compared to determine which had the highest discriminatory power. Associations between plasma calprotectin and US scores were made using correlation analysis.

Results:

Sixty-three RA patients were included. Mean plasma calprotectin levels were significantly higher in patients with US synovitis than in those without (0.89 ± 0.85 vs 0.30 ± 0.12 μg/ml; p = 0.0003). A moderate correlation between calprotectin and all US scores (HS score Rho = 0.479; PD score Rho = 0.492; and global score Rho = 0.495) was found. The discriminatory capacity of plasma calprotectin showed an AUC of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.687–0.904). The AUC of hs-CRP and ESR was 0.721 and 0.564, respectively. hs-CRP serum levels showed a low positive correlation with the three US scores (Rho < 0.40). After analysis according to the drugs administered, the correlation disappeared in patients receiving anti-rIL-6.

Conclusion:

Plasma calprotectin may be a sensitive biomarker of synovial inflammation in RA patients treated with anti-rIL-6 or JAKi.
Experimental Study on the Inhibition of Bacteria and Algae by Jussiaea stipulacea Ohwi Extract
Authors: Shi Yulu , Zheng Yao , Bing Xuwen , Yuan Julin
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, plant allelopathy, as a new type of biological algal and/or bacterial inhibition technology, has attracted extensive attention. Eight substances were isolated and identified from Jussiaea stipulacea Ohwi, and five concentration gradients, as well as a control (0, 1.25, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg/L) were set, with three parallels in each group, and then sampled and detected at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. When the concentration was 50 mg/L, the inhibition rate of Anabaena was as high as 74.8%, 69.2%, and 70.7% for ursolic acid, kaempferol, and luteolin, respectively. Streptococcus iniae and Aeromonas hydrophila were cultured to a logarithmic phase, and their final concentrations reached 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.50, 31.25, 15.63, and 7.81 μg/mL. Luteolin and gallic acid showed an inhibitory effect on S iniae and A hydrophila at 1000 μg/mL. We found that allelochemicals also had a certain bacteriostatic effect, among which luteolin has great development potential.
Classification Systems for Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Systematic Review
Authors: Andriolo Luca , Solaro Luca , Altamura Sante Alessandro , Carey James L. , Zaffagnini Stefano , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

Objective

Aim of this systematic review was to describe all classification systems for knee osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions, evaluating their accuracy and reliability, as well as their use in the literature on knee OCD.

Design

A systematic review of the literature was performed in July 2021 on PubMed, WebOfScience, and Cochrane Collaboration (library) to describe all published classification systems for knee OCD lesions and quantify the use of these classifications in the literature.

Results

Out of 1,664 records, 30 studies on 33 OCD classifications systems were identified, describing 11 radiographic, 13 MRI, and 9 arthroscopic classifications. The search included 193 clinical studies applying at least one OCD classification, for a total of 7,299 knee OCD cases. Radiographic classifications were applied to 35.8%, MRI to 35.2%, and arthroscopic classifications to 64.2% of the included studies. Among these, in the last two decades, the International Cartilage Repair Society’s (ICRS) arthroscopic classification was the most described approach in studies on knee OCD. Overall, there is a lack of data on accuracy and reliability of the available systems.

Conclusions

Several classifications are available, with ICRS being the most used system over the time period studied. Arthroscopy allows to confirm lesion stability, but noninvasive imaging approaches are the first line to guide patient management. Among these, radiographic classifications are still widely used, despite being partially superseded by MRI, because of its capability to detect the earliest disease stages and to distinguish stable from unstable lesions, and thus to define the most suitable conservative or surgical approach to manage patients affected by knee OCD.

Level of evidence:

Systematic review, level IV.
Global Consciousness Predicts Behavioral Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence From 35 Cultures
Authors: Chen Sylvia Xiaohua , Ng Jacky C. K. , Hui Bryant P. H. , Au Algae K. Y. , Lam Ben C. P. , Wu Wesley C. H. , Pun Ngai , Beattie Peter , Welzel Christian , Liu James H.
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 has drastically changed human behaviors and posed a threat to globalism by spurring a resurgence of nationalism. Promoting prosocial behavior within and across borders is of paramount importance for global cooperation to combat pandemics. To examine both self-report and actual prosocial behavior, we conducted the first empirical test of global consciousness theory in a multinational study of 35 cultures ( N = 18,171 community adults stratified by age, gender, and region of residence). Global consciousness encompassed cosmopolitan orientation, identification with all humanity, and multicultural acquisition, whereas national consciousness reflected ethnic protection. Both global consciousness and national consciousness positively predicted perceived risk of coronavirus and concern about coronavirus, after controlling for interdependent self-construal. While global consciousness positively predicted prosocial behavior in response to COVID-19, national consciousness positively predicted defensive behavior. These findings shed light on overcoming national parochialism and provide a theoretical framework for the study of global unity and cooperation.
HCV-positive kidney transplant patients treated with direct-acting antivirals maintain stable medium-term graft function despite persistent reduction in tacrolimus trough levels
Authors: Rendina Maria , Paoletti Ernesto , Labarile Nunzia , Marra Antonella , Iannone Andrea , Castellaneta Antonino , Bussalino Elisabetta , Ravera Maura , Schena Antonio , Castellaneta Nicola M. , Barone Michele , Simone Simona , Gesualdo Loreto , Di Leo Alfredo
Published: September 2022

Background/aim:

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have improved the treatment of HCV-positive kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, their medium-term follow-up effects on graft function are conflicting. This study aimed to analyze how the interplay between DAAs, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), and HCV eradication impacts 12-month kidney graft function.

Methods:

This double-center retrospective study with a prospective follow-up enrolled 35 KTRs with HCV treated with DAAs for 12 weeks. We compared three parameters: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-h proteinuria, and CNI trough levels at three time points: baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 12 months later.

Results:

Kidney allograft function remained stable when comparing baseline and 12-month post-treatment values of eGFR (60.7 versus 57.8 ml/min; p = 0.28) and 24-h proteinuria (0.3 versus 0.2 g/24 h; p = 0.15), while tacrolimus (Tac) trough levels underwent a statistically significant decline (6.9 versus 5.4 ng/ml; p = 0.004). Using an ongoing triple Tac-based maintenance therapy as a conservative measure, a dose escalation of Tac was applied only in seven patients. No variation in CyA and mTOR levels was detected.

Conclusion:

DAA therapy is safe and effective in HCV-positive KTRs. It also produces a persistent significant reduction in Tac trough levels that does not influence graft function at 12 months.
Diagnosis of post-attenuation neurological signs syndrome in a cat with refractory status epilepticus and clinical response to therapeutic plasma exchange
Authors: Niemann Lisa , Beckmann Katrin , Iannucci Claudia , Wang Leandro Adriano , Vigani Alessio
Published: September 2022

Case summary

An 8-year-old female spayed British Shorthair cat that underwent surgical portosystemic shunt (PSS) attenuation developed progressive neurological signs 7 days postoperatively. Neurological signs progressed, despite medical management, and seizure activity became rapidly refractory to anticonvulsants. The diagnosis of post-attenuation neurological signs (PANS) was made based on the timing of the occurrence of clinical signs following surgery, absence of hyperammonaemia and suggestive MRI findings of the brain. The cat developed status epilepticus that required treatment with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation, from which the cat could not be effectively weaned without the recurrence of seizures. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was performed as a rescue therapy for PANS and associated refractory status epilepticus. A total of two plasma volumes were processed during one single TPE session. The seizure activity resolved immediately after the TPE session, the cat showed progressive improvement of neurological signs and remained stable thereafter. No significant complications associated with the TPE were observed. The cat was discharged 11 days after admission and was fully recovered.

Relevance and novel information

This is an unusual report of PANS diagnosed in a cat based on clinical and MRI findings. The cat developed refractory status epilepticus and had a positive outcome following TPE as rescue therapy. The MRI findings in this report could be useful for the diagnosis of PANS in cats. We speculate that TPE could be taken into consideration as a possible therapeutic intervention in PANS syndrome.
Severe pericardial effusion in a cat with peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia and incarcerated hepatic sarcoma
Authors: Ciaravolo Susan V , Dobson Elizabeth , Liffman Rebekah , Stickney Alison
Published: September 2022

Case summary

A 4-year-old female neutered domestic longhair cat was presented at a referral hospital for dyspnoea with a history of suspected pleural effusion. Thoracic ultrasonography demonstrated a large-volume pericardial effusion causing cardiac tamponade and a cystic mass within the pericardium. CT revealed a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) caused by a defect of the ventral diaphragm. Herniated contents consisted of the right lateral and caudate liver lobes, and an associated cystic hepatic mass. Ventral midline coeliotomy was performed for herniorrhaphy and partial pericardiectomy, together with lobectomy of the incarcerated liver mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry diagnosed a poorly differentiated hepatic sarcoma with inflammation and remodelling in the adjacent incarcerated liver parenchyma. The patient developed metastatic sarcoma 2 months after surgery and was euthanased as a result.

Relevance and novel information

Pericardial effusion causing cardiac tamponade is a previously unreported sequelae to PPDH in cats. Reports on the presence of malignancy in incarcerated liver are scarce and the location is not typical for a sarcoma in this species.
Osteomyelitis associated with Bartonella henselae infection in a young cat
Authors: Hui Jamie , Ryan Kirk A , Rademacher Nathalie , Neupane Pradeep , Breitschwerdt Edward B
Published: September 2022

Case summary

A 1-year-old male intact domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for acute onset non-weightbearing left forelimb lameness and generalized peripheral lymphadenopathy. CT identified a monostotic aggressive bone lesion with an incomplete fracture of the left radial metaphysis. Bone aspirates yielded osteoblasts with minimal nuclear atypia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a nodular spleen and lymphadenopathy; cytologically, both contained lymphoid hyperplasia. A urine histoplasma antigen test was negative. Bartonella henselae and Mycoplasma haemominutum DNA was amplified by PCR from peripheral blood. Indirect immunofluorescence documented strong B henselae immunoreactivity, with lower Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii and Bartonella koehlerae antibody titers. After the administration of doxycycline and pradofloxacin for suspected Bartonella-induced osteomyelitis, lameness resolved rapidly. Six-week post-treatment radiographs identified healing of the affected bone, and Bartonella species enrichment blood culture was negative. B henselae antibody titers decreased four-fold over a year, supporting seroreversion.

Relevance and novel information

B henselae is a flea-transmitted, host-adapted species, not previously implicated as a cause of osteomyelitis in cats. B henselae subclinical bacteremia is highly prevalent among cats; however, bacteremia has been associated with lymphadenopathy and febrile illness in cats. This report describes a unique clinical presentation in association with B henselae infection in a cat.
Brown tumor mimicking metastases—the late manifestation of hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Tram Louise , Kubik Magdalena , Kvist Jensen Kristina , Almasi Charlotte E
Published: September 2022

Brown tumors are uncommon manifestations of hyperparathyroidism (HPT) that without awareness are easily misdiagnosed as metastases. This short report highlights the importance of clinical context and clear communication between medical specialties when interpreting complex radiologic findings.
Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practice by Small-Scale Farming Households in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Kassa Bamlaku Ayenew , Abdi Abera Tilahun
Published: September 2022

Climate change is a global event that poses one of humanity’s most serious threats. Consequently, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to adapt to the effects of global climate change while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence farmers’ adoption of CSA practices in the Wondo Genet Woreda in southern Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed-methods approach with 213 randomly selected households (HHs). In the study, descriptive statistics, a composite score index, and an ordered logit regression model were used. Farmers’ awareness of CSA practices was high, which aided them in increasing farm income and farmland productivity. Tree planting, the use of organic manure, and the use of irrigation systems were the most CSA practices in the study area. Furthermore, the findings revealed that education, HH size, income, climate change perception, and farmland size all had statistically significant effects on farmers’ adoption of CSA. Meanwhile, the distance between the farm and the homestead had a negative and significant effect on the level of CSA adoption. Finally, socioeconomic factors should be considered when developing and implementing CSA programs for farmers.
Comprehensively strengthening and improving aesthetic education in a new era: An examination of the dance education major at the Beijing dance academy
Authors: Jin Jin , Snook Barbara
Published: September 2022

China has a proud history of dance excellence. Historically, dance education has focused on performance skills, therefore it is difficult for most people, to grasp that a dance education pedagogy can lead students in a creative and inclusive manner, where technically well performed ‘steps’ are not as important as the process. China is currently developing a modern system of dance education in schools, with a focus on the creative process while maintaining its highly valued Chinese characteristics. Western countries where dance education has long been included in their curricula, can still struggle with understanding that educational dance is much more than technically well performed steps. Change is complex, especially when dance is viewed by many as a performance only. This article outlines the difficulties in implementing a radically different dance curriculum to what has gone before. The Beijing Dance Academy provides the dance education major that other Universities look to when preparing dance education teachers in China. Our focus is therefore upon the dance education major offered there. We begin by outlining the history of dance education in China and continue by discussing the context and the complexity of change, before outlining the change and difficulties themselves.
Language-Independent Hearing Screening – Increasing the Feasibility of a Hearing Screening Self-Test at School-Entry
Authors: Van den Borre Elien , Denys Sam , Zupan Lea , de laat Jan A. P. M. , Božanić Urbančič Nina , van Wieringen Astrid , Wouters Jan
Published: September 2022

A tablet-based language-independent self-test involving the recognition of ecological sounds in background noise, the Sound Ear Check (SEC), was adapted to make it feasible for young children. Two experiments were conducted. The first experiment investigated the SEC‘s feasibility, as well as its sensitivity and specificity for detecting childhood hearing loss with a monaural adaptive test procedure. In the second experiment, the SEC sounds, noise, and test format were adapted based on the findings of the first experiment. The adaptations were combined with three test procedures, one similar to the one used in Experiment 1, one presenting the sounds dichotically in diotic noise, and one presenting all the sounds with a fixed signal-to-noise ratio and a stopping rule. Results in young children show high sensitivity and specificity to detect different grades of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (70–90%). When using an adaptive, monaural procedure, the test duration was approximately 6 min, and 17% of the results obtained were unreliable. Adaptive staircase analyses showed that the unreliable results probably occur due to attention/motivation loss. The test duration could be reduced to 3-4 min with adapted test formats without decreasing the test-retest reliability. The unreliable test results could be reduced from 17% to as low as 5%. However, dichotic presentation requires longer training, reducing the dichotic test format‘s feasibility.
Pilot of a Communication Program for Dementia Caregivers Using Improvisational Techniques
Authors: Howell Britteny M. , Piech Arianna , Wolfe Cohen
Published: September 2022

Background/Objectives: This paper is a brief report on a novel pilot program called Improv to Improve for family dementia caregivers to build resilience, communication skills, and improve social caregiving situations in order to reduce caregiver burden and low mood. Methods: We conducted a 6-week improv training for family caregivers including pre- and post-program evaluation of caregiver mood utilizing the Beck Depression Inventory and the Zarit Burden Interview and care-recipient symptoms with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Results: Six family caregivers participated in the pilot project and reported small improvements ( d = 0.28) in caregiver’s mood and significant improvements in care-recipient’s symptom severity and distress ( d = 0.50). Participants all reported agreeing or strongly agreeing with program satisfaction questions and found the training to be useful. Conclusions: These findings have implications for broader implementation of improvisational techniques for educating family dementia caregivers.
Impact of Patient Engagement on Healthcare Quality: A Scoping Review
Authors: Marzban Sima , Najafi Marziye , Agolli Arjola , Ashrafi Ensieh
Published: September 2022

Patient engagement (PE) is a well-known strategy introduced and implemented by pharmaceutical and medical device companies for patient compliance and adherence to treatment protocols during clinical trials and care processes. This can affect a wider range of outcomes such as the quality of treatment decisions and quality of care outcomes. Few studies have paid attention to it. The involvement of patient is one of the crucial stakeholders of health care in their treatment that makes controversial opinions about the potential outcomes of their engagement in various aspects of healthcare. This scoping review was conducted in 2022 to collect the results of PE. The search was performed in the MEDLINE and Web of Sciences databases. The selected documents were categorized and reported by the direct content analysis method. Out of 3974 published documents, 17 articles were selected. Findings are categorized into 4 groups: (1) Health outcome, (2) patient compliance, (3) self-efficiency, and (4) return on investment. PE can improve both treatment outcomes and consequently patient satisfaction and health, as well as the productivity of the service provider. However, increasing self-care and patient adherence are among the positive effects of this engagement on the patient, and return on investment is still a challenge for PE.
The uneven reaction to combat the COVID-19 pandemic: Geovisualizing of fever clinics in mainland China
Authors: Li Guoqi , Lv Zhuoshi , Wang Fahui , Chen Gang , Sun Wenjie , Shi Yuting , Liu Sijing
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unprecedented impacts on the world. Since its onset, China has established a network of fever clinics as an effective strategy to aggressively isolate and screen possible patients with COVID-19 symptoms. This study presents two fever clinic maps that visualize the uneven responses to the COVID-19 pandemic at the city level in mainland China. The maps highlight more resources in the southwest, northwest, east, and south China, and paucity in the far west parts of southwest and northwest China and in the north and northeast China.
Evolutionary Steps in the Development of a Patient-specific Temporomandibular Joint Prosthesis
Authors: Huys Stijn E.F. , Braem Annabel , De Meurechy Nikolas , Van de Sande Ruben , Vander Sloten Jos , Mommaerts Maurice Y.
Published: September 2022

Study Design

Descriptive study (/review containing supporting case studies).

Objective

The temporomandibular joint has some distinctive features that were not taken into account during the initial development of temporomandibular joint prostheses, such as laterotrusive movements that are necessary for the proper grinding of food as well as synchronous and congruent movements made in conjunction with the healthy, contralateral joint. The aim of this article is to describe the development of a novel type of TMJ prosthesis that optimizes temporomandibular joint replacement.

Methods

The development was initiated by using contemporary technologies like computer-aided design customization, additive manufacturing, and surface treatments. Biocompatibility, proper fixation, and wear resistance, being prerequisites for the longevity of prostheses, were investigated next. Individual variables (condylar path, condylar axis angle, Bennet shift) were introduced as the main basis for physiological movements with the restoration of all functions. Early post-operative results ranging from 1 month to 4.5 years (11 patients, average follow-up period was 23.3 months) were assessed.

Results

The experience with 16 individualized total joint replacements in 11 patients is presented. The 3-year follow-up results of two-patient detailed studies are discussed, which show evidence of the promising restoration of all mandibular movements, when preoperatively present.

Conclusions

By incorporating various innovative and novel features (scaffold for re-attachment of lateral pterygoid, patient-specific functional parametrization, saddle-like design for retention, …) into a novel TMJ prosthesis concept, a major advance in function-reconstructive temporomandibular joint replacement was achieved. Early in vivo results (1 year after surgery) showed promising outcomes, involving both high increases in mandibular movements and decreases in pain scores.
Managing pharmaceutical shortages during the COVID pandemic: An exploratory analysis of European collective and national government responses
Authors: Beck Matthias , Buckley Joan
Published: September 2022

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, pharmaceutical shortages were already recognised as a major policy problem by most, if not all, European governments; and virtually all European national governments today publicise official shortage lists. Policy making in the area has been centred on the national government level, which meant that the understanding, definition, and response to shortages has remained highly heterogeneous. When the advent of the COVID pandemic exacerbated shortages, this situation continued against a background of a weak collective European response. As part of their responses to COVID-shortages, the medicines regulators of European countries expanded the range of products pharmacies could manufacture, process and distribute as well as their procedural authority in issuing, handling and processing prescriptions. While these measures were fairly common across Europe and alleviated some bottlenecks or improved medicine access for some patient groups, other responses were highly individualistic and included export bans of certain medications as well as efforts to draw on veterinary supplies. Our own data analysis of officially recorded shortage data during the first COVID wave (to October 2020) indicates that countries that had prepared for these types of crisis and maintained an active policy stance (e.g. Germany and Norway) were more likely to encounter fewer shortages than others. We also note that there is no direct correlation between officially recorded numbers of shortages and the ways in which national governments responded to these – which indicates that cultural expectations also might have been a significant policy driver.
De novo annotation of lncRNA HOTAIR transcripts by long-read RNA capture-seq reveals a differentiation-driven isoform switch
Authors: Potolitsyna Evdokiia , Hazell Pickering Sarah , Tooming-Klunderud Ave , Collas Philippe , Briand Nolwenn
Published: September 2022

Background

LncRNAs are tissue-specific and emerge as important regulators of various biological processes and as disease biomarkers. HOTAIR is a well-established pro-oncogenic lncRNA which has been attributed a variety of functions in cancer and native contexts. However, a lack of an exhaustive, cell type-specific annotation questions whether HOTAIR functions are supported by the expression of multiple isoforms.

Results

Using a capture long-read sequencing approach, we characterize HOTAIR isoforms expressed in human primary adipose stem cells. We find HOTAIR isoforms population displays varied splicing patterns, frequently leading to the exclusion or truncation of canonical LSD1 and PRC2 binding domains. We identify a highly cell type-specific HOTAIR isoform pool regulated by distinct promoter usage, and uncover a shift in the HOTAIR TSS usage that modulates the balance of HOTAIR isoforms at differentiation onset.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the complexity and cell type-specificity of HOTAIR isoforms and open perspectives on functional implications of these variants and their balance to key cellular processes.
Quantitative and qualitative characterization of commercially available oral suspension of probiotic products containing Bacillus Clausii spores
Authors: Kharwar Akash , Bazaz Mohd Rabi , Dandekar Manoj P.
Published: September 2022

Probiotics contain beneficial live bacteria that confer several health benefits to the host. For the past 50 years, spore-forming Bacillus species have been used in the form of probiotics. Among these, Bacillus clausii strains are used for the management of acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. In the present work, we have evaluated the asserted label information on randomly chosen commercial Bacillus clausii spore suspension of probiotic products. The quality and number of viable bacteria were evaluated based on the colony count, antibiotic resistance, and hemolytic activity assays. The colony fingerprinting and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing techniques were used to confirm the presence of a univariate strain (Bacillus clausii). Our results corroborated the label count of 2 × 109 CFU/5 mL in BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, and TUFPRO® products. However, vegetative spore count was not found to match with the given label count in BENEGUT®, PROALANA-B®, β-LOCK®, and PROCILLUS® Bacillus clausii brands. In the hemolytic activity assay, except for β-LOCK®, the other 6 products showed gamma-hemolysis activity. Bacillus clausii isolated from all 7 probiotic products demonstrated resistance to several broad-spectrum antibiotics. The 16S rRNA gene-sequencing data detected genera of Bacillus and Bacillus clausii strain in the BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, PROALANA-B®, BENEGUT®, and TUFPRO® products; however, Ralstonia mannitolilytica and Paenibacillus dendritiformis species were identified in β-LOCK® and PROCILLUS®, respectively. As correct label information was observed only in BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, and TUFPRO® products, it is proposed that a more stringent quality check would minimize the possibility of mismatch concerning the label information.
Comparing complete organelle genomes of holoparasitic Christisonia kwangtungensis (Orabanchaceae) with its close relatives: how different are they?
Authors: Zhang Chi , Lin Qianshi , Zhang Jiayin , Huang Zihao , Nan Peng , Li Linfeng , Song Zhiping , Zhang Wenju , Yang Ji , Wang Yuguo
Published: September 2022

Background

Orobanchaceae is the only flowering plant family with species from free-living nonparasite, hemi-parasite to holoparasite, making it an ideal system for studying the evolution of parasitism. However, both plastid and mitochondrial genome have been sequenced in only few parasitic species in Orobanchaceae. Therefore, further comparative study is wanted to investigate the impact of holoparasitism on organelle genomes evolution between close relatives. Here, we sequenced organelle genomes and transcriptome of holoparasitic Christisonia kwangtungensis and compared it with its closely related groups to analyze similarities and differences in adaption strategies to the holoparasitic lifestyle.

Results

The plastid genome of C. kwangtungensis has undergone extensive pseudogenization and gene loss, but its reduction pattern is different from that of Aeginetia indica, the close relative of C. kwangtungensis. Similarly, the gene expression detected in the photosynthetic pathway of these two genera is different. In Orobanchaceae, holoparasites in Buchnereae have more plastid gene loss than Rhinantheae, which reflects their longer history of holoparasitism. Distinct from severe degradation of the plastome, protein-coding genes in the mitochondrial genome of C. kwangtungensis are relatively conserved. Interestingly, besides intracellularly transferred genes which are still retained in its plastid genome, we also found several horizontally transferred genes of plastid origin from diverse donors other than their current hosts in the mitochondrial genome, which probably indicate historical hosts.

Conclusion

Even though C. kwangtungensis and A. indica are closely related and share severe degradation of plastome, they adapt organelle genomes to the parasitic lifestyle in different ways. The difference between their gene loss and gene expression shows they ultimately lost photosynthetic genes but through different pathways. Our study exemplifies how parasites part company after achieving holoparasitism.
Understanding natural genetic variation for grain phytic acid content and functional marker development for phytic acid-related genes in rice
Authors: TP Muhammed Azharudheen , Kumar Awadhesh , Anilkumar Chandrappa , Sah Rameswar Prasad , Behera Sasmita , Marndi Bishnu Charan
Published: September 2022

Background

The nutritional value of rice can be improved by developing varieties with optimum levels of grain phytic acid (PA). Artificial low-PA mutants with impaired PA biosynthesis have been developed in rice through induced mutagenesis. However, low-PA mutant stocks with drastically reduced grain PA content have poor breeding potential, and their use in rice breeding is restricted due to their detrimental pleiotropic effects, which include decreased seed viability, low grain weight, and low seed yield. Therefore, it is necessary to take advantage of the natural variation in grain PA content in order to reduce the PA content to an ideal level without compromising the crop's agronomic performance. Natural genetic diversity in grain PA content has not been thoroughly examined among elite genetic stocks. Additionally, given grain PA content as a quantitative trait driven by polygenes, DNA marker-assisted selection may be required for manipulation of such a trait; however, informative DNA markers for PA content have not yet been identified in rice. Here we investigated and dissected natural genetic variation and genetic variability components for grain PA content in rice varieties cultivated in Eastern and North-Eastern India during the last 50 years. We developed novel gene-based markers for the low-PA-related candidate genes in rice germplasm, and their allelic diversity and association with natural variation in grain PA content were studied.

Results

A wide (0.3-2.8%), significant variation for grain PA content, with decade-wise and ecology-wise differences, was observed among rice varieties. Significant genotype x environment interaction suggested polygenic inheritance. The novel candidate gene-based markers detected 43 alleles in the rice varieties. The new markers were found highly informative as indicated by PIC values (0.11–0.65; average: 0.34) and coverage of total diversity. Marker alleles developed from two putative transporter genes viz., SPDT and OsPT8 were significantly associated with grain PA variation assayed on the panel. A 201 bp allele at the 3’ UTR of SPDT gene was negatively associated with grain PA content and explained 7.84% of the phenotypic variation. A rare allele in the coding sequence of OsPT8 gene was positively associated with grain PA content which explained phenotypic variation of 18.49%.

Conclusion

Natural variation in grain PA content is substantial and is mostly controlled by genetic factors. The unique DNA markers linked with PA content have significant potential as genomic resources for the development of low-PA rice varieties through genomics-assisted breeding procedures.
The synergistic mechanism of fibroblast growth factor 18 and integrin β1 in rat abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Guo Yilong , Wei Ren , He Yuan , Zhang Hongpeng , Deng Jianqing , Guo Wei
Published: September 2022

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysms have a high mortality rate. While surgery is the preferred treatment method, the biological repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms is being increasingly studied. We performed cellular and animal experiments to investigate the simultaneous function and mechanism of fibroblast growth factor 18 and integrin β1 in the biological repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Methods

Endothelial and smooth muscle cells of rat arteries were used for the cellular experiments. Intracellular integrin β1 expression was regulated through lentiviral transfection. Interventions with fibroblast growth factor 18 were determined according to the experimental protocol. Several methods were used to detect the expression of elastic fiber component proteins, cell proliferation, and migratory activity of endothelial and smooth muscle cells after different treatments. For animal experiments, abdominal aortic aneurysms were induced in rats by wrapping the abdominal aortae in sterile cotton balls soaked with CaCl2 solution. Fibroblast growth factor 18 was administered through tail vein injections. The local expression of integrin β1 was regulated through lentiviral injections into the adventitia of the abdominal aortic aneurysms. The abdominal aortae were harvested for pathological examinations and tensile mechanical tests.

Results

The expression of integrin β1 in endothelial and smooth muscle cells could be regulated effectively through lentiviral transfection. Animal and cellular experiments showed that fibroblast growth factor 18 + integrin β1 could improve the expression of elastic fiber component proteins and enhance the migratory and proliferative activities of smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Moreover, animal experiments showed that fibroblast growth factor 18 + integrin β1 could enhance the aortic integrity to withstand stretch of aortic aneurysm tissue.

Conclusion

Fibroblast growth factor 18 + integrin β1 improved the biological repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in rats by increasing the expression of elastic proteins, improving the migratory and proliferative abilities of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and improving aortic remodeling.
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary arterial systolic pressure ratio as a predictor of in-hospital mortality for acute heart failure
Authors: Naseem Mohamed , Alkassas Amr , Alaarag Ahmed
Published: September 2022

Background

Right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic factor in heart failure. Patients with impaired right ventricular function have a poorer prognosis. The ratio between a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is a simple non-invasive parameter that has shown a good correlation with invasively estimated right ventricle (RV)-pulmonary artery (PA) coupling. The current study aimed to determine the value of the non-invasive evaluation of RV-PA coupling using the TAPSE/PASP ratio in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Methods

We included 200 patients with (heart failure and reduced ejection fraction) HFrEF presented by acute heart failure. Echocardiographic evaluation for left ventricle systolic and diastolic function was performed at the time of admission. RV functions were evaluated by calculating the following (TAPSE, PSAP, TAPSE/PASP ratio). Data were analyzed to find the predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Results

The study cohort included two hundred consecutive patients who were hospitalized for a diagnosis of acute decompensation of chronic heart failure. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12%. TAPSE/PASP was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality (odd ratio = 3.470; 95% confidence interval, 1.240–9.705, p-value = 0.018) and (odd ratio = 18.813; 95% confidence interval, 1.974–179.275, p-value = 0.011) in univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses respectively. In ROC curve analysis, TAPSE/PASP with a cut-off value < 0.4 mm/mmHg had a sensitivity of 79.17, a specificity of 47.73, and an area under ROC curve = 0.666 for predicting in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

The non-invasive TAPSE/PASP ratio could be an independent predictor of mortality in HErEF patients presenting with acute heart failure.
Using social media data in diabetes care: bridging the conceptual gap between health providers and the network population
Authors: Wang Ru-Hsueh , Hong Yu-Wen , Li Chia-Chun , Li Siao-Ling , Liu Jenn-Long , Wu Chih-Hsing , Chiu Ching-Ju
Published: September 2022

Background

Patients with diabetes who have poor health literacy about the disease may exhibit poor compliance and thus subsequently experience more complications. However, the conceptual gap of diabetes between health providers and the general population is still not well understood. Decoding concerns about diabetes on social media may help to close this gap.

Methods

Social media data were collected from the OpView social media platform. After checking the quality of the data, we analyzed the trends in people’s discussions on the internet using text mining. The natural language process includes word segmentation, word counting and counting the relationships between the words. A word cloud was developed, and clustering analyses were performed.

Results

There were 19,565 posts about diabetes collected from forums, community websites, and Q&A websites in the summer (June, July, and August) of 2017. The three most popular aspects of diabetes were diet (33.2%), life adjustment (21.2%), and avoiding complications (15.6%). Most discussions about diabetes were negative. The negative/positive ratios of the top three aspects were avoiding complications (7.60), problem solving (4.08), and exercise (3.97). In terms of diet, the most popular topics were Chinese medicine and special diet therapy. In terms of life adjustment, financial issues, weight reduction, and a less painful glucometer were discussed the most. Furthermore, sexual dysfunction, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy were the most worrisome issues in avoiding complications. Using text mining, we found that people care most about sexual dysfunction. Health providers care about the benefits of exercise in diabetes care, but people are mostly concerned about sexual functioning.

Conclusion

A conceptual gap between health providers and the network population existed in this real-world social media investigation. To spread healthy diabetic education concepts in the media, health providers might wish to provide more information related to the network population’s actual areas of concern, such as sexual function, Chinese medicine, and weight reduction.
AbdomenNet: deep neural network for abdominal organ segmentation in epidemiologic imaging studies
Authors: Rickmann Anne-Marie , Senapati Jyotirmay , Kovalenko Oksana , Peters Annette , Bamberg Fabian , Wachinger Christian
Published: September 2022

Background

Whole-body imaging has recently been added to large-scale epidemiological studies providing novel opportunities for investigating abdominal organs. However, the segmentation of these organs is required beforehand, which is time consuming, particularly on such a large scale.

Methods

We introduce AbdomentNet, a deep neural network for the automated segmentation of abdominal organs on two-point Dixon MRI scans. A pre-processing pipeline enables to process MRI scans from different imaging studies, namely the German National Cohort, UK Biobank, and Kohorte im Raum Augsburg. We chose a total of 61 MRI scans across the three studies for training an ensemble of segmentation networks, which segment eight abdominal organs. Our network presents a novel combination of octave convolutions and squeeze and excitation layers, as well as training with stochastic weight averaging.

Results

Our experiments demonstrate that it is beneficial to combine data from different imaging studies to train deep neural networks in contrast to training separate networks. Combining the water and opposed-phase contrasts of the Dixon sequence as input channels, yields the highest segmentation accuracy, compared to single contrast inputs. The mean Dice similarity coefficient is above 0.9 for larger organs liver, spleen, and kidneys, and 0.71 and 0.74 for gallbladder and pancreas, respectively.

Conclusions

Our fully automated pipeline provides high-quality segmentations of abdominal organs across population studies. In contrast, a network that is only trained on a single dataset does not generalize well to other datasets.
Rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa: a multivariate non-linear decomposition modelling of Demographic and Health Survey data
Authors: Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Aboagye Richard Gyan , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Okyere Joshua , Mohammed Aliu , Chattu Vijay Kumar , Budu Eugene , Adoboi Faustina , Yaya Sanni
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Globally, the rate of caesarean deliveries increased from approximately 16.0 million in 2000 to 29.7 million in 2015. In this study, we decomposed the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

Data for the study were extracted from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of twenty-eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We included 160,502 women who had delivered in health facilities within the five years preceding the survey. A multivariate non-linear decomposition model was employed to decompose the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries. The results were presented using coefficients and percentages.

Results

The pooled prevalence of caesarean deliveries in the 28 countries considered in the study was 6.04% (95% CI = 5.21–6.88). Caesarean deliveries' prevalence was highest in Namibia (16.05%; 95% CI = 14.06–18.04) and lowest in Chad (1.32%; 95% CI = 0.91–1.73). For rural-urban disparities in caesarean delivery, the pooled prevalence of caesarean delivery was higher in urban areas (10.37%; 95% CI = 8.99–11.75) than rural areas (3.78%; 95% CI = 3.17-4.39) across the 28 countries. Approximately 81% of the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries were attributable to the differences in child and maternal characteristics. Hence, if the child and maternal characteristics were levelled, more than half of the rural–urban inequality in caesarean deliveries would be reduced. Wealth index (39.2%), antenatal care attendance (13.4%), parity (12.8%), mother’s educational level (3.5%), and health insurance subscription (3.1%) explained approximately 72% of the rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries.

Conclusion

This study shows significant rural–urban disparities in caesarean deliveries, with the disparities being attributable to the differences in child and maternal characteristics: wealth index, parity, antenatal care attendance, mother’s educational level, and health insurance subscription. Policymakers in the included countries could focus and work on improving the socioeconomic status of rural-dwelling women as well as encouraging antenatal care attendance, women's education, health insurance subscription, and family planning, particularly in rural areas.