bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro performance of Lifetech IBS Angel™ (iron-based bioresorbable scaffold) stents during overdilation for use in pediatric patients
Authors: Bjorkman Kurt , Maldonado Jennifer R. , Saey Stephanie , McLennan Daniel
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess the mechanical performance of the Lifetech IBS Angel stents during overdilation as is often required in pediatric applications; including time of first fracture, foreshortening, and the type of fracturing that occurs.

Materials and methods

In vitro testing was performed and repeated for each stent three times under physiologic conditions with continuous audiovisual imaging allowing for post-testing evaluations. Assessment of sheath fit was also completed.

Results

A total of 47 stents on monorail system were overdilated to complete fracture after passing through either a 4 or 5 French sheath. First strut fracture occurred in 4 and 6 mm stents when they reached greater than 50% overexpansion. Larger stents could achieve at least 30% increased diameter prior to first strut fracture. No fragmentation of any of the stents was seen throughout testing.

Conclusion

The IBS Angel has thin struts allowing for a lower profile with increased maneuverability and use with smaller sheaths. Embolization potential of strut fragments was not seen. Increased diameter well beyond design parameters was seen in all with acceptable foreshortening.
Case report: Recurrent severe mitral regurgitation due to ruptured artificial chords after transapical Neochord mitral valve repair
Authors: Zhou Mi , Un Ka-chun , Wong Chun Ka , Wong On Yat , Siu David Chung Wah , Yin Lixue , Chan Daniel Tai-leung , Lam Simon Cheung Chi
Published: November 2022

Transapical Neochord mitral valve repair has been proven to be a technically safe procedure to correct primary mitral regurgitation (MR). Recurrent MR due to ruptured artificial chords is rare. Here, we present 2 cases of recurrent severe MR due to the detached or partially ruptured artificial chords after the Neochord procedure.
Differential diagnostic value of plain CT scan in adrenal adenoma and non-adenoma: A two-center control study of mean attenuation value, minimum attenuation value, and CT histogram
Authors: Han Zhijiang , Wu Mengwei , Wei Peiying , Zhu Hanlin , Zhang Xiaohan , Ding Zhongxiang , Zhang Ming
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To investigate the value of mean attenuation value (AVmean), minimum attenuation value (AVmin), and CT histogram (CTH) for the differential diagnosis of adrenal adenoma and non-adenoma in two medical centers.

Methods

The plain CT data of 403 cases of adrenal adenoma and 141 cases of non-adenoma in center A were retrospectively analyzed, and compared with data of 86 cases of adenoma and 71 cases of non-adenoma in center B. All cases were confirmed by pathology or clinical follow-up. The diagnostic efficacy of AVmean ≤ 10 Hounsfield units (HU), AVmin ≤ 0 HU, and CTH negative pixels ≥ 10% for adrenal adenoma, and AVmin and CTH for adenoma with AVmean > 10Hu were compared between the two medical centers.

Results

In medical centers A and B, the AUC of AVmean for the differential diagnosis of adenoma and non-adenoma was 0.956 and 0.956, respectively, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were, 0.591 and 0.663, 1.000 and 1.000, 0.697, and 0.815, respectively, when the threshold was ≤ 10 HU. The AUC of AVmin was 0.941 and 0.958, respectively, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.869 and 0.826, 0.986, and 0.972, 0.899, and 0.892, respectively, when the threshold was ≤ 0 HU. The AUC of CTH negative pixels was 0.948 and 0.952, respectively, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.759 and 0.674, 1.000 and 1.000, 0.822, and 0.822, respectively, when the threshold was ≥ 10%. Among adenoma with AVmean >10 HU, the best threshold of AVmin in center A and center B were -0.250HU and 2.375HU, and the corresponding AUC, sensitivity and specificity were 0.858 and 0.846, 0.691 and 0.586, 0.986 and 0.958; the best threshold of CTH in center A and center B were 0.895% and 0.775%, and the corresponding AUC, sensitivity and specificity were 0.873 and 0.822, 0.818 and 0.724, 0.837 and 0.915.

Conclusion

AVmean, AVmin, and CTH are all important parameters for differentiating adrenal adenoma from non-adenoma. Even for adenomas with AVmean > 10 HU, AVmin and CTH still had high diagnostic efficiency. The three parameters are complementary, assisting clinicians to develop personalized treatments.
Numerical study on the heat transfer characteristics of a liquid lead–bismuth eutectic in a D-type channel
Authors: Liu Hong , Zhang Zhigang , Du Haisu , Cong Tenglong
Published: November 2022

A printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) can offer superior performance in area concentration and heat transfer efficiency. A PCHE with a liquid lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) and supercritical carbon dioxide as working media can use these materials as intermediate heat exchangers in lead–bismuth eutectic-cooled reactors to reduce facility size and improve economy. To ensure the reliability of a numerical simulation for a liquid LBE in PCHE channels, the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a liquid LBE were investigated in a single D-type channel. The existing turbulent Prandtl number (Prt) models and the shear‒stress transport (SST) k−ω model were evaluated first by using experimental liquid metal data. Then, a suitable Prt model was proposed for the numerical simulation of the liquid LBE. Finally, the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the liquid LBE were studied in D-type straight channels and D-type zigzag channels. The study presented the effects of flow velocity, wall heat flux, equivalent diameter and zigzag channel angle on the flow resistance and heat transfer characteristics. Meanwhile, a heat transfer correlation suitable for a D-type straight channel was also proposed. The research results in this paper lay a good foundation for the development of PCHEs with an LBE as the working fluid.
Case Report: Novel pathogenic variant in NFIX in two sisters with Malan syndrome due to germline mosaicism
Authors: Langley Elizabeth , Farach Laura S. , Mowrey Kate
Published: November 2022

Malan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in NFIX with less than 100 cases reported thus far. NFIX is important for stem cell proliferation, quiescence, and differentiation during development and its protein plays a role in replication, signal transduction, and transcription. As a result of pathogenic variants, symptoms of Malan syndrome include overgrowth, intellectual disability, speech delay, and dysmorphic features. Currently, the recurrence risk for this disorder is indicated at less than 1%, standard for de novo autosomal dominant disorders. Herein, we report an additional set of sisters with the same novel pathogenic variant in NFIX and clinical features consistent with Malan syndrome providing evidence of germline mosaicism. Considering the rarity of this condition in conjunction with three previous reports of germline mosaicism, it is worthwhile to investigate and re-evaluate the proper recurrence risk for this condition. This discovery would be paramount for family planning and genetic counseling practices in families with affected individuals.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus for the treatment of diarrhea
Authors: Carona Anthony , Jacobson David , Hildebolt Charles F. , Qureshi Waqar , Rowland Kevin C.
Published: November 2022

Background and aims

Probiotics are widely used and prescribed to address a host of health issues. Despite evidence that different probiotic bacteria have differing therapeutic mechanisms of action, many probiotics are prescribed indiscriminately, with little research to support the use of specific formulations for a given ailment. Further investigation is required to assess the efficacy of one commonly prescribed probiotic formulation Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (helveticus) – for the treatment of diarrhea. This review seeks to assess whether administration of probiotics composed of L.acidophilus and L. bulgaricus (helveticus) are more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms of diarrhea.

Methods

A systematic search of randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of combination L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus in the treatment of diarrhea by any cause was conducted and captured all available studies (n = 2411). After application of exclusion criteria, four studies were identified as suitable for inclusion. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for the proportion of cases with diarrhea in the placebo group and the treatment group. To assess differences in proportions between the placebo and treatment groups, a generalized linear model assessment was performed.

Results

Analyses revealed the overall proportion of cases with diarrhea in the treatment group, 36 participants who had diarrhea out of 91 total, was only 3.5% lower than the overall proportion in the placebo group, 44 participants who had diarrhea out of 105 total.(P = 0.508), with our considering that the 3.5 lower percentage to be of little or no clinical importance.

Conclusion

Existing literature suggests little or no clinical benefit of a L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus probiotic formulation for the treatment of diarrhea, highlighting the need for more research or re-evaluation of its widespread use.
Association between systemic rheumatic diseases and dementia risk: A meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Yao-Chin , Lin Muh-Shi , Huang Abel Po-Hao , Wu Chieh-Chen , Kung Woon-Man
Published: November 2022

Background and aims

Epidemiological studies have been conducted on the relationship between systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) and dementia. Therefore, we focused on determining the extent of alliances bounded by SRDs, along with the risk of dementia.

Materials and methods

Two independent reviewers assessed all studies retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases between January 1, 2000 and November 30, 2021. Only observational studies that estimated the possibility of dementia in participants with SRD were considered. The random-effects model was applied to forecast pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated using the Q and I2 statistics. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Funnel plots were used to calculate the risk of bias.

Results

Seventeen observational studies with 17,717,473 participants were recruited. Our findings showed that among the participants with SRDs, those with osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren’s syndrome were highly related to an elevated risk of dementia (pooled RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.15–1.49, p<0.001; pooled RR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.19–1.73, p<0.001; and pooled RR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.14–1.39, p<0.001, respectively). However, participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were not associated with an increased risk of dementia (pooled RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.90–1.07, p<0.001).

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated an increased dementia risk among SRDs participants, except for RA.
Exploring the Association Between Resilience and Quality of Life Among Glaucoma Patients: Sleep Disturbance as a Mediating Factor
Authors: Peng Qinqi , Qu Bo , Sznajder Kristin K. , Chen Qiongli , Fu Jiahui , He Shan , Yang Xiaoshi
Published: November 2022

Background

Patients with glaucoma may experience many symptoms such as blindness, which seriously affect their quality of life (QoL). Resilience is playing a vital role in enhancing the QoL and well-being of patients with chronic diseases. In addition, sleep disturbance is common in patients with glaucoma, leading to a decline in their QoL. However, there is a dearth of research on whether sleep disturbance plays a mediating role between resilience and QoL among glaucoma patients.

Objective

The aim of this study is to explore the role of sleep disturbance in the relationship between resilience and QoL among glaucoma patients.

Methods

From July to December 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 215 glaucoma patients in an ophthalmic hospital in Liaoning Province. Hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted to examine the factors related to QoL and to test the hypothesis that sleep disturbance mediates the relationship between resilience and QoL among glaucoma patients.

Results

The average QoL score among glaucoma patients was 43.85 ± 14.97 as reported by the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) scale, where a higher scores indicating a poorer QoL. Resilience was found to be linked with a lower QoL score (P < 0.01), while sleep disturbance was associated with a higher QoL score (P < 0.01). When sleep disturbance was included in the model as partial mediator, the path coefficients for the association between resilience and QoL score was significantly decreased (a*b = −0.1, BCa95% CI: −0.154∼−0.045).

Conclusion

Findings of this study reflected that QoL among glaucoma patients in China was poor. Resilience was found to be an important positive factor, which could result in the improvement of QoL. Furthermore, sleep disturbance mediated the relationship between resilience and QoL among patients with glaucoma, thereby reducing the positive impact of resilience on QoL in glaucoma patients. Efforts to improve QoL among glaucoma patients may benefit from interventions that enhance the levels of resilience and promote healthy sleep.
A thermo-alkali stable and detergent compatible processive β-1,4-glucanase from Himalayan Bacillus sp. PCH94
Authors: Thakur Vikas , Singh Dharam
Published: November 2022

Present study reports a novel and robust GH9 processive endoglucanase β-1,4-glucanase from Bacillus sp. PCH94 (EGaseBL) with thermo-alkali stable properties. The EGaseBL gene was cloned in pET-28b(+) and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The recombinant protein was purified 94-fold with a yield of 67.8%. The biochemical characterization revealed an active enzyme at a wide pH (4.0–10.0) and temperature (4–100°C). It showed a Km and Vmax of 1.10 mg/ml and 208.24 IU/mg, respectively, using β-glucan as a substrate. The EGaseBL showed dual activities for endoglucanase (134.17 IU/mg) and exoglucanase (28.76 IU/mg), assayed using substrates β-glucan and Avicel, respectively. The enzyme is highly stable in neutral and alkaline pH and showed a half-life of 11.29 h, and 8.31 h in pH 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. The enzyme is also compatible with commercial detergents (Tide, Surf, Ghadi, Raj, and Healing tree) of the Indian market and retained > 85% enzyme activity. Concisely, robustness, extreme functionality, and detergent compatibility endorse EGaseBL as a potential bioresource for the detergent industry, in addition to its implications for the bioethanol industry.

Highlights

– Cloning, expression, and purification of putative novel GH9 family β-1,4-glucanase.

– Processive endoglucanase with CBM3 domain and bi-functional (endo/exo) activity.

– Broad pH-temperature active and stable enzyme.

– Compatible with commercial detergent powders.
Biological relevance of ZNF224 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its implication IN NF-kB pathway regulation
Authors: Catapano Rosa , Sepe Leandra , Toscano Elvira , Paolella Giovanni , Chiurazzi Federico , Barbato Serafina Patrizia , Bruzzese Dario , Arianna Rosa , Grosso Michela , Romano Simona , Romano Maria Fiammetta , Costanzo Paola , Cesaro Elena
Published: November 2022

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease, whose presentation and clinical course are highly variable. Identification of novel prognostic factors may contribute to improving the CLL classification and providing indications for treatment options. The zinc finger protein ZNF224 plays a key role in cell transformation, through the control of apoptotic and survival pathways. In this study, we evaluated the potential application of ZNF224 as a novel marker of CLL progression and therapy responsiveness. To this aim, we analyzed ZNF224 expression levels in B lymphocytes from CLL patients at different stages of the disease and in patients showing different treatment outcomes. The expression of ZNF224 was significantly increased in disease progression and dramatically decreased in patients in complete remission after chemotherapy. Gene expression correlation analysis performed on datasets of CLL patients revealed that ZNF224 expression was well correlated with that of some prognostic and predictive markers. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis coupled ZNF224 to NF-κB pathway, and experimental data demonstrated that RNA interference of ZNF224 reduced the activity of the NF-κB survival pathway in CLL cells. Consistently with a pro-survival role, ZNF224 knockdown raised spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CLL patients. Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of ZNF224 in the survival of CLL cells via NF-κB pathway modulation, and also suggest ZNF224 as a prognostic and predictive molecular marker of CLL disease.
Average reward rates enable motivational transfer across independent reinforcement learning tasks
Authors: Aberg Kristoffer C. , Paz Rony
Published: November 2022

Outcomes and feedbacks on performance may influence behavior beyond the context in which it was received, yet it remains unclear what neurobehavioral mechanisms may account for such lingering influences on behavior. The average reward rate (ARR) has been suggested to regulate motivated behavior, and was found to interact with dopamine-sensitive cognitive processes, such as vigilance and associative memory encoding. The ARR could therefore provide a bridge between independent tasks when these are performed in temporal proximity, such that the reward rate obtained in one task could influence performance in a second subsequent task. Reinforcement learning depends on the coding of prediction error signals by dopamine neurons and their downstream targets, in particular the nucleus accumbens. Because these brain regions also respond to changes in ARR, reinforcement learning may be vulnerable to changes in ARR. To test this hypothesis, we designed a novel paradigm in which participants (n = 245) performed two probabilistic reinforcement learning tasks presented in interleaved trials. The ARR was controlled by an “induction” task which provided feedback with a low (p = 0.58), a medium (p = 0.75), or a high probability of reward (p = 0.92), while the impact of ARR on reinforcement learning was tested by a second “reference” task with a constant reward probability (p = 0.75). We find that performance was significantly lower in the reference task when the induction task provided low reward probabilities (i.e., during low levels of ARR), as compared to the medium and high ARR conditions. Behavioral modeling further revealed that the influence of ARR is best described by models which accumulates average rewards (rather than average prediction errors), and where the ARR directly modulates the prediction error signal (rather than affecting learning rates or exploration). Our results demonstrate how affective information in one domain may transfer and affect motivated behavior in other domains. These findings are particularly relevant for understanding mood disorders, but may also inform abnormal behaviors attributed to dopamine dysfunction.
The mean diffusivity of forceps minor is useful to distinguish amnestic mild cognitive impairment from mild cognitive impairment caused by cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Zhang Yue , Lin Lu , Feng Mengmeng , Dong LingYan , Qin Yiren , Su Huan , Zhou Zheping , Dai Hui , Wang Yueju
Published: November 2022

Objectives

In recent years, the desire to make a more fine-grained identification on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has become apparent, the etiological diagnosis of MCI in particular. Nevertheless, new methods for the etiological diagnosis of MCI are currently insufficient. The objective of this study was to establish discriminative measures for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) and MCI caused by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

Materials and methods

In total, 20 normal controls (NCs), 33 a-MCI patients, and 25 CSVD-MCI patients performed comprehensive neuropsychological assessments concerning global cognitive function and five cognitive domains as well as magnetic resonance imaging scan with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Diffusion parameters including fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity of 20 major white matter metrics were obtained by ROI-based analyses. The neuropsychological tests and diffusion measurements were compared and binary logistic regression was used to identify the best differential indicator for the two MCI subgroups. The discriminating power was calculated by receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment group showed significant impairment in memory and language function, while CSVD-MCI group revealed more deficits in multi-cognitive domains of memory, language, attention and executive function than controls. Compared to the a-MCI, CSVD-MCI was significantly dysfunctional in the executive function. The CSVD-MCI group had decreased fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity values throughout widespread white matter areas. CSVD-MCI presented more severe damage in the anterior thalamic radiation, forceps major, forceps minor and right inferior longitudinal fasciculus compared with a-MCI group. No significant neuropsychological tests were found in the binary logistic regression model, yet the DTI markers showed a higher discriminative power than the neuropsychological tests. The Stroop test errors had moderate potential (AUC = 0.747; sensitivity = 76.0%; specificity = 63.6%; P = 0.001; 95% CI: 0.617–0.877), and the mean diffusivity value of forceps minor demonstrated the highest predictive power to discriminate each MCI subtype (AUC = 0.815; sensitivity = 88.0%; specificity = 72.7%; P < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.698–0.932).

Conclusion

The mean diffusivity of forceps minor may serve as an optimal indicator to differentiate between a-MCI and CSVD-MCI.
Altered sensorimotor processing in irritable bowel syndrome: Evidence for a transdiagnostic pathomechanism in functional somatic disorders
Authors: Schröder Lena , Regnath Franziska , Glasauer Stefan , Hackenberg Anna , Hente Juliane , Weilenmann Sonja , Pohl Daniel , von Känel Roland , Lehnen Nadine
Published: November 2022

Objective

A recent hypothesis suggests that functional somatic symptoms are due to altered information processing in the brain, with rigid expectations biasing sensorimotor signal processing. First experimental results confirmed such altered processing within the affected symptom modality, e.g., deficient eye-head coordination in patients with functional dizziness. Studies in patients with functional somatic symptoms looking at general, trans-symptomatic processing deficits are sparse. Here, we investigate sensorimotor processing during eye-head gaze shifts in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to test whether processing deficits exist across symptom modalities.

Methods

Study participants were seven patients suffering from IBS and seven age- and gender-matched healthy controls who performed large gaze shifts toward visual targets. Participants performed combined eye-head gaze shifts in the natural condition and with experimentally increased head moment of inertia. Head oscillations as a marker for sensorimotor processing deficits were assessed. Bayes statistics was used to assess evidence for the presence or absence of processing differences between IBS patients and healthy controls.

Results

With the head moment of inertia increased, IBS patients displayed more pronounced head oscillations than healthy controls (Bayes Factor 10 = 56.4, corresponding to strong evidence).

Conclusion

Patients with IBS show sensorimotor processing deficits, reflected by increased head oscillations during large gaze shifts to visual targets. In particular, patients with IBS have difficulties to adapt to the context of altered head moment of inertia. Our results suggest general transdiagnostic processing deficits in functional somatic disorders.
Gyrification in relation to cortical thickness in the congenitally blind
Authors: Arend Isabel , Yuen Kenneth , Yizhar Or , Chebat Daniel-Robert , Amedi Amir
Published: November 2022

Greater cortical gyrification (GY) is linked with enhanced cognitive abilities and is also negatively related to cortical thickness (CT). Individuals who are congenitally blind (CB) exhibits remarkable functional brain plasticity which enables them to perform certain non-visual and cognitive tasks with supranormal abilities. For instance, extensive training using touch and audition enables CB people to develop impressive skills and there is evidence linking these skills to cross-modal activations of primary visual areas. There is a cascade of anatomical, morphometric and functional-connectivity changes in non-visual structures, volumetric reductions in several components of the visual system, and CT is also increased in CB. No study to date has explored GY changes in this population, and no study has explored how variations in CT are related to GY changes in CB. T1-weighted 3D structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired to examine the effects of congenital visual deprivation in cortical structures in a healthy sample of 11 CB individuals (6 male) and 16 age-matched sighted controls (SC) (10 male). In this report, we show for the first time an increase in GY in several brain areas of CB individuals compared to SC, and a negative relationship between GY and CT in the CB brain in several different cortical areas. We discuss the implications of our findings and the contributions of developmental factors and synaptogenesis to the relationship between CT and GY in CB individuals compared to SC. F.
Exosomal noncoding RNAs in central nervous system diseases: biological functions and potential clinical applications
Authors: Wang Zhong-Yu , Wen Zeng-Jin , Xu Hai-Ming , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yin-Feng
Published: November 2022

Central nervous system (CNS) disease is a general term for a series of complex and diverse diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), CNS tumors, stroke, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Interneuron and neuron-glia cells communicate with each other through their homeostatic microenvironment. Exosomes in the microenvironment have crucial impacts on interneuron and neuron-glia cells by transferring their contents, such as proteins, lipids, and ncRNAs, constituting a novel form of cell-to-cell interaction and communication. Exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), regulate physiological functions and maintain CNS homeostasis. Exosomes are regarded as extracellular messengers that transfer ncRNAs between neurons and body fluids due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of exosomal ncRNAs in CNS diseases, including prospective diagnostic biomarkers, pathological regulators, therapeutic strategies and clinical applications. We also provide an all-sided discussion of the comparison with some similar CNS diseases and the main limitations and challenges for exosomal ncRNAs in clinical applications.
Efficacy and safety of fermented Prunus mume vinegar on fatigue improvement in adults with unexplained fatigue: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Choi Jung In , Lee Ye Li , Lee Sang Yeoup
Published: November 2022

Background

The accumulation of fatigue leads to reduced physical, emotional, psychological, and social functions.

Objectives

Fermented Prunus mume vinegar (PV) improves fatigue in animals; however, studies in humans have not been conducted. We aimed to examine the effects and safety of consuming fermented PV for 8 weeks on fatigue indices in adults with unexplained fatigue while considering the placebo effect.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in adults of >19 years, who were diagnosed with unexplained fatigue for at least 1 month. Eighty participants were randomly assigned to receive daily 70 mL of fermented PV (2.56 mg/g, chlorogenic acid, and 15.3 mg/g, citric acid) or a placebo for 8 weeks. At baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the participants were visited for blood tests (liver enzyme, glucose, creatinine, lactate, malondialdehyde [MDA], and creatine kinase [CK]) and questionnaires (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS], fatigue visual analog scale [VAS], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], the Korean version of the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument [BEPSI-K], EQ-5D-3L, and EQ-VAS]).

Results

Fermented PV supplementation for 8 weeks did not remarkably improve the fatigue indices when compared to placebo. Additionally, differences in fatigue VAS, BDI, BEPSI-K, EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS, lactate, CK, and MDA concentrations between the groups were not observed. However, FSS had positively correlated with fatigue VAS, BDI, and BEPSI-K, whereas it was negatively correlated with EQ-5D-3L and EQ-VAS at the baseline and 8 weeks. None of the participants reported adverse events.

Conclusion

The efficacy of fermented PV did not exceed the efficacy of placebo in adults with unexplained fatigue.

Clinical trial registration

[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04319692].
Covalent organic polymer induces apoptosis of liver cancer cells via photodynamic and photothermal effects
Authors: Xu Wenze , Zhang Mengfan , Wang Wenhui , Wang Manzhou , Li Bingjie , Li Hao , Kuang Donglin , Liang Chao , Ren Jianzhuang , Duan Xuhua
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the photodynamic and photothermal effects of the supramolecular material Purp@COP and to test the anti-cancer effect on HepG2 cells in vitro.

Materials and methods

Purp@COP is a covalent organic polymer (COP) with robust tailoring heteroatom incorporation, plentiful pore structure, and multiple functions similar to the metal–organic framework (MOF). Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was cultured with Purp@COP for 24 h and treated with near-infrared 808-nm laser 1 W/cm2 for 10 min. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, live–dead cell fluorescence staining, and Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining flow cytometry were performed to detect the viability, proliferation, and apoptosis of the HepG2 cells.

Results

The supramolecular material Purp@COP exhibited significant photothermal performance under near-infrared 808-nm laser irradiation in vitro. With the treatment of Purp@COP and near-infrared 808-nm laser irradiation on HepG2 cells, cell viability and colony formation capacity were decreased, and the number and proportion of apoptotic cells were increased.

Conclusions

The supramolecular material Purp@COP has both photothermal and photodynamic effects and can significantly induce cancer cell death and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro.
Changes in prenatal testing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Handley Sara C. , Ledyard Rachel , Lundsberg Lisbet S. , Passarella Molly , Yang Nancy , Son Moeun , McKenney Kathryn , Greenspan Jay , Dysart Kevin , Culhane Jennifer F. , Burris Heather H.
Published: November 2022

Objective

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery, including prenatal care. The study objective was to assess if timing of routine prenatal testing changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Retrospective observational cohort study using claims data from a regional insurer (Highmark) and electronic health record data from two academic health systems (Penn Medicine and Yale New Haven) to compare prenatal testing timing in the pre-pandemic (03/10/2018–12/31/2018 and 03/10/2019–12/31/2019) and early COVID-19 pandemic (03/10/2020–12/31/2020) periods. Primary outcomes were second trimester fetal anatomy ultrasounds and gestational diabetes (GDM) testing. A secondary analysis examined first trimester ultrasounds.

Results

The three datasets included 31,474 pregnant patients. Mean gestational age for second trimester anatomy ultrasounds increased from the pre-pandemic to COVID-19 period (Highmark 19.4 vs. 19.6 weeks; Penn: 20.1 vs. 20.4 weeks; Yale: 18.8 vs. 19.2 weeks, all p < 0.001). There was a detectable decrease in the proportion of patients who completed the anatomy survey <20 weeks' gestation across datasets, which did not persist at <23 weeks' gestation. There were no consistent changes in timing of GDM screening. There were significant reductions in the proportion of patients with first trimester ultrasounds in the academic institutions (Penn: 57.7% vs. 40.6% and Yale: 78.7% vs. 65.5%, both p < 0.001) but not Highmark. Findings were similar with multivariable adjustment.

Conclusion

While some prenatal testing happened later in pregnancy during the pandemic, pregnant patients continued to receive appropriately timed testing. Despite disruptions in care delivery, prenatal screening remained a priority for patients and providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pediatric cardiac services in Sudan: Achievements, challenges, and future perspectives (2004–2021)
Authors: Ali Sulafa , Medani Mohamed Eamin A.M.E.
Published: November 2022

Pediatric cardiology (PC) is a rapidly advancing specialty addressing a large population of children as well as adults with congenital heart disease. It requires huge technical and financial resources; therefore, establishing, maintaining, and developing such services in limited resource settings are challenging. A PC program that includes clinical aspects, echocardiography, diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery, and rheumatic heart disease control was established in Sudan in 2004. There are currently three public centers with facilities to evaluate and treat children with heart disease: two in Khartoum and one in Wad Medani. Major obstacles include the shortage of trained personnel and operation rooms, the deficiency of intensive care facilities, and the financial burden of interventional procedures. This paper details the establishment and progress of the program, its challenges, potential solutions, and future perspectives for PC programs in Sudan and African countries.
A bibliometric analysis of the recent advances in diazepam from 2012 to 2021
Authors: Zhang Ming , Kou Lin , Qin Yaya , Chen Junwen , Bai Dazhang , Zhao Li , Lin Hongyu , Jiang Guohui
Published: November 2022

Background: Diazepam is a classic benzodiazepine drug that has been widely used for disorders such as anxiety, sleep disorders, and epilepsy, over the past 59 years. The study of diazepam has always been an important research topic. However, there are few bibliometric analyses or systematic studies in this field. This study undertook bibliometric and visual analysis to ascertain the current status of diazepam research, and to identify research hotspots and trends in the past 10 years, to better understand future developments in basic and clinical research.

Methods: Articles and reviews of diazepam were retrieved from the Web of Science core collection. Using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software, countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords in the field were visually analyzed.

Results: A total of 3,870 publications were included. Diazepam-related literature had high volumes of publications and citations. The majority of publications were from the USA and China. The highest number of publications and co-citations, among the authors, was by James M Cook. Epilepsia and the Latin American Journal of Pharmacy were the journals with the most publications on diazepam and Epilepsia was the most frequently cited journal. Through a comprehensive analysis of keywords and references, we found that current research on diazepam has focused on its mechanism of action, application in disease, pharmacokinetics, risk, assessment, and management of use, status epilepticus, gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAR), intranasal formulation, gephyrin, and that ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) is the current research hotspot.

Conclusion: Research on diazepam is flourishing. We identified research hotspots and trends in diazepam research using bibliometric and visual analytic methods. The clinical applications, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and assessment and management of the use of diazepam are the focus of current research and the development trend of future research.
A putative 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase is involved in the virulence, carbohydrate metabolism, biofilm formation, twitching halo, and osmotic tolerance in Acidovorax citrulli
Authors: Lee Jongchan , Lee Jeongwook , Cho Yongmin , Choi Junhyeok , Han Sang-Wook
Published: November 2022

Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is a gram-negative bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) disease in cucurbit crops including watermelon. However, despite the great economic losses caused by this disease worldwide, Ac-resistant watermelon cultivars have not been developed. Therefore, characterizing the virulence factors/mechanisms of Ac would enable the development of effective control strategies against BFB disease. The 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase (BdpM) is known to participate in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways. However, the roles of the protein have not been characterized in Ac. To elucidate the functions of BdpmAc (Bdpm in Ac), comparative proteomic analysis and diverse phenotypic assays were conducted using a bdpmAc knockout mutant (bdpmAc:Tn) and a wild-type strain. The virulence of the mutant to watermelon was remarkably reduced in both germinated seed inoculation and leaf infiltration assays. Moreover, the mutant could not grow with fructose or pyruvate as a sole carbon source. However, the growth of the mutant was restored to levels similar to those of the wild-type strain in the presence of both fructose and pyruvate. Comparative proteomic analyses revealed that diverse proteins involved in motility and wall/membrane/envelop biogenesis were differentially abundant. Furthermore, the mutant exhibited decreased biofilm formation and twitching halo size. Interestingly, the mutant exhibited a higher tolerance against osmotic stress. Overall, our findings suggest that BdpmAc affects the virulence, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, biofilm formation, twitching halo size, and osmotic tolerance of Ac, suggesting that this protein has pleiotropic properties. Collectively, our findings provide fundamental insights into the functions of a previously uncharacterized phosphoglycerate mutase in Ac.
Challenges to Levelling Up: Post-COVID precarity in “left behind” Stoke-on-Trent
Authors: Etherington David , Jones Martin , Telford Luke
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic both revealed and intensified the United Kingdom's (UK) regional inequalities. The UK is widely recognised as one of the most regionally unbalanced nations in the developed world, with many “left behind” places across the North and Midlands like Stoke-on-Trent falling way behind parts of London and the Southeast of England in terms of living standards in the neoliberal era. Since 2019 the UK Government have promised to “Level Up” the UK, culminating in the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper in 2022. This pinpointed the need to raise living standards, opportunity, and prosperity across the UK, with Stoke identified as a priority area. Primarily utilising qualitative case study data (N = 15) provided by Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent (CASNS), this article explicates how there are myriad challenges to the Levelling Up strategy in Stoke. Suffering from a historical legacy of the loss of its ceramics and manufacturing industries, the paper outlines how the city-region contains a structural cocktail of disadvantage including low paid jobs, welfare erosion, indebtedness, destitution, and food insecurity. The article closes by discussing the implications of these structural problems for the Government's Levelling Up agenda, suggesting that only a transformative shift in both allocated resources and neoliberal spatial development will regional imbalances be adequately addressed in places like Stoke-on-Trent.
Gender differences in the subjective well-being of older adult learners in China
Authors: Shi Xiaowei , Li Yuan , Sun Lixin , Yu Yong , Zhou Shiyu
Published: November 2022

The trend of the feminization of the aging population in China is accelerating, and the differences in the subjective well-being of older adults are becoming more and more obvious. This study combines gender theory with gender differences as an entry point, based on 436 survey data, and examines effects and differences between learning engagement on the subjective well-being of older Chinese learners by gender. The study found the following: learning can enhance the subjective well-being of older people; there were significant differences in the subjective well-being of older adult learners by gender in two dimensions, namely, physical and mental health experience and adaptation satisfaction experience; and the positive effect of learning engagement on subjective well-being of female older adults was more pronounced and thus had a stronger effect on their subjective well-being. In addition, the gender equality of older adults’ learning participation and gender differences in learning needs are further explored based on the gender theory perspective, and this gives suggestions for enhancing older adult learners’ subjective well-being.
The interior environment design for entrepreneurship education under the virtual reality and artificial intelligence-based learning environment
Authors: Li Wangting , Xue Zhijing , Li Jiayi , Wang Hongkai
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship education has attracted more and more attention from society. To this end, it is necessary to gradually transform the traditional teaching mode into a new type of teaching that is more innovative, practical, and inclusive and in line with entrepreneurship education. The focus of the teaching mode change is on the optimization of the teaching environment. For this purpose, a method derived from distributed virtual reality (DVR) technology is specially designed. It refers to the fact that multiple users can join together through a computer network and participate in a virtual space at the same time to experience the virtual experience together. Based on this, the distributed 3D interior design is innovatively proposed. The innovation is mainly reflected in the application of VR technology, which is different from traditional software design. According to the functions and needs of the entrepreneurship teaching environment, first, the distributed feature information is collected, and second, the corresponding color image model is constructed by the fusion method, and edge contour detection and corresponding feature data extraction are carried out for the distributed image. Using a Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) color decomposition method, the pixel feature decomposition of spatially distributed image color is performed. And the feature reorganization of the 3D point cloud is combined to optimize the color space and color features of the combined design. On this basis, the distributed 3D interior design system is designed with VR and visual simulation technology. Finally, the Three-Dimensional Studio Max (3ds MAX) is used to establish 3D modeling, and the modeling software Multigen Creator is adopted to carry out the hierarchical structural design. The test results manifest that the Normalized Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and information saturation of the distributed 3D interior design are reduced by 0.2 compared with the traditional design, the time overhead is shortened to one-sixth of the original, and the effect is more in line with the design requirements. It is hoped that this design method can provide new ideas and new perspectives for the optimization of the entrepreneurship teaching environment.
Measuring child coping in times of societal crises: Pilot development, reliability, as well as mental health and meaning mindset convergent validity of the children’s crisis coping scale (3Cs)
Authors: Armstrong Laura L. , Potter Catherine L.
Published: November 2022

To date, there are no brief child self-report coping measures for the pandemic and other major societal events resulting in social or learning disruptions for children. Ignoring the voice of children can ultimately result in programs or services that fail to meet their needs. Thus, a child self-report measure called the 3Cs (Children’s Crisis Coping) was developed and underwent pilot evaluation. This measure was designed in collaboration with key stakeholders using a Knowledge Translation-Integrated development framework. Some of the primary concerns that were relevant in the literature for the development of a pandemic coping measure included stress, worries, loneliness, and unpredictable school changes. The completed 4-item measure, grounded in these concerns, demonstrated good internal consistency reliability, as well as convergent validity with mental health and meaning mindset. A Second Wave Positive Psychology framework is presented concerning a spiritual concept called “meaning mindset” and it’s association with positive societal crisis coping (i.e., pandemic coping in the present study).
How can implementation intentions be used to modify gambling behavior?
Authors: St Quinton Tom
Published: November 2022

Problem gambling can cause significant harm, yet rates of gambling continue to increase. Many individuals have the motivation to stop gambling but are unable to transfer these positive intentions into successful behavior change. Implementation intentions, which are goal-directed plans linking cues to behavioral responses, can help bridge the gap between intention and many health behaviors. However, despite the strategy demonstrating popularity in the field of health psychology, its use in the area of gambling research has been limited. This mini review illustrates how implementation intentions can be used to facilitate change in gambling behavior. Adopting the strategy could help reduce the number of people with gambling problems.
Electroconvulsive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A retrospective study
Authors: Li Kun , Long Jiang , Deng Wei , Cheng Bochao , Wang Jiaojian
Published: November 2022

Background

Chronic mental diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are associated with a high disability rate. Some patients still do not improve their symptoms even with adequate cognitive-behavioral therapy and drug treatment. In the treatment of OCD, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not considered a neuromodulation modality with sufficient evidence.

Objective

This retrospective study aimed to determine the efficacy and associated risk factors of ECT in OCD patients.

Materials and methods

The study included 21 OCD patients who underwent ECT at a high-volume center in China between January 2009 and December 2020. The demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients were assessed using descriptive statistics. Based on Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement scale, patients were categorized into response and non-response groups. Clinical and demographic characteristics of two groups of patients were compared.

Results

An analysis of 21 patients was conducted. In total, 12 patients (57.1%) responded to ECT, 11 patients (52.4%) reported side effects, and an average of 7 ECT sessions were administered. In terms of demographic, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. It is noteworthy that the non-response group reported more depression and schizophrenia related disorders comorbidities than the response group (χ2 = 6.252, P = 0.041).

Conclusion

The effectiveness of ECT in treating OCD is limited, especially in patients with refractory symptoms. Comorbidity with other mental disorders may affect the efficacy of ECT.