bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Sun Luqiang , Yao Junpeng , Luo Fangli , Chen Shuai , Qin Di , Hou Yujun , Wang Lu , Li Ying
Published: March 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements with complex pathogenesis. Due to its high prevalence and reoccurring symptoms, it seriously impacts patients’ quality of life. One of the causes of IBS is turbulence of gastrointestinal motility and intestinal secretion due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which includes the sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, and enteric nervous system. Current research has proven that acupuncture, a traditional Chinese therapy, is useful and effective for treating IBS. The ANS is a key pathway for bidirectional information transmission between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, which plays an important role in IBS treatment with acupuncture. Research on the mechanisms of acupuncture for IBS is receiving more attention, and the use of contemporary methods has made significant progress. Evidence suggests that acupuncture may mitigate the negative consequences of IBS, as seen by reduced inflammatory signaling, neurotransmitter levels in the colon and central neural tissues, and a balanced gut flora. We reviewed and discussed acupuncture's possible mechanisms of action for IBS treatment via the ANS, including modulation of gastrointestinal motility, improvement of visceral hypersensitivity, and innervation of the gut-brain-microbiota axis. Our review demonstrates the available evidence for acupuncture treatment of IBS in clinical settings; however, we also observed that the relationship between the ANS and the gut-brain-microbiota axis is unclear, and further research is needed.
Wei Chang An pill alleviates 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition process
Authors: Qi Yaxin , Wang Meng , Chai Lijuan , Zhang Min , Jia Sitong , Wichai Nuttapong , Wang Lin , Wang Yujing , Song Jixiang , Zhang Han , Wang Yi , Zhang Peng , Miao Lin
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of Wei Chang An pill (WCA) on ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods:

A 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC model was established, and WCA was administered orally for 1 week. Body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI) score, and colon mucosa damage index (CMDI) score were recorded. Cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells was evaluated to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of WCA and its active ingredients. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers E-cadherin and vimentin in rat UC and WCA groups, and in Caco-2 cells stimulated with conditioned medium (CM) from THP-1 cells, with or without LPS or WCA.

Results:

WCA significantly inhibited body weight loss, decreased DAI and CMDI scores, blocked colon length shortening, and improved histological damage in UC rats. Furthermore, both myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and cytokine expression in UC tissues were significantly suppressed by WCA as well. In THP-1 cells, the mRNA expression of interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) was significantly suppressed by WCA and its active ingredients. E-cadherin expression in UC rats and CM-stimulated Caco-2 cells was downregulated and vimentin expression was upregulated, whereas both were blocked when administered with WCA.

Conclusions:

Our data showed that WCA alleviated UC progression by inhibiting inflammation-induced EMT progression.

Graphical abstract:

http://links.lww.com/AHM/A56
Subretinal Fluid associated with Drusenoid Pigment Epithelial Detachment
Authors: Cho Han Joo , Jeon Young Joon , Yoon Wontae , Lee Jihyun , Kim Jaemin , Kim Chul Gu , Kim Jong Woo
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

To analyze the clinical characteristics of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (PED) with subretinal fluid (SRF) and to evaluate the impact of SRF on the long-term visual and anatomical outcomes.

Methods:

Forty-seven eyes with drusenoid PED (47 patients) who completed more than 24 months follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Intergroup comparisons of the visual and anatomical outcomes with and without SRF were made.

Results:

The mean duration of follow-up was 32.9 ± 18.7 months. The group with drusenoid PED with SRF (14 eyes) showed significantly higher PED height (468 ± 130 µm vs. 313 ± 88 µm, P < 0.001), larger PED diameter (2328 ± 953 µm vs. 1227 ± 882 µm, P < 0.001), and larger PED volume (1.88 ± 1.73 mm3 vs. 1.12 ± 1.35 mm3, P = 0.021) than that in the group with drusenoid PED without SRF (33 eyes) at baseline. No significant intergroup difference was found regarding the best-corrected visual acuity at the final visit. In addition, the incidence of complete retinal pigment epithelial and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA; 21.4%) and the development of macular neovascularization (MNV; 7.1%) for the group with drusenoid PED with SRF showed no difference compared to those (39.4% for cRORA development and 9.1% for MNV development) with drusenoid PED without SRF.

Conclusion:

The size, height, and volume of drusenoid PED were associated with the development of SRF. The SRF in drusenoid PED did not affect the visual prognosis or the development of macular atrophy during long-term follow-up.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Teenage Homicide Incidence- A Retrospective Review of Teenage Homicides in Maryland from 2018-2021.docx
Authors: Sabet Azm Sahel , Shuster Benjamin , Jennings Breanna
Published: March 2023

  

In March of 2020 the CDC confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Maryland, after which major metropolitan areas observed an increase in violent crime, including homicide. Homicides in the United States disproportionately affect minorities, and previous research also indicates that increased economic deprivation and social disorganization correlates with increased rates of homicide. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic disparities and may have magnified existing disparities in homicide rates. Few studies have examined the incidence of teenage homicides throughout the United States, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. 

We conducted a retrospective case review of homicides involving youth between the ages 13-19 from 2018 to 2021 with the aim of assessing if COVID-19 affected rates of youth homicide.

A total of 230 teenage homicides occurred in Maryland from 2018 to 2021 with 113 cases during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (2018/2019) and 117 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020/2021). The majority of teenage homicide victims were African American male. More than 83% and 79% of victims were African American in 2018/2019 and 2020/2021, respectively. Victims were also predominantly male (90% in 2018/2019, and 88% in 2020/2021). Maryland has a population of approximately 6 million people and is made up of 23 counties and Baltimore City. More than 64% teenage homicides occurred in Baltimore city (N=108) and Prince George's County (N=44). While the average victim age did not vary considerably between 2018/2019 (17.8 years) and 2020/2021 (17.5 years), the percentage of cases involving victims ages 13-15 more than doubled from 5.3% of cases in 2018/2019 to 12% of cases in 2020/2021. The majority of teenage homicide cases were due to firearm injuries, but during the Covid-19 pandemic we saw a rise in violence involving sharp objects such as knives. The incidence of teenage homicide did not change considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, although we did observe a trend toward younger males who were African American. Individuals of every stratum—be it age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status—can be involved in incidents of homicide, but those who fall within certain criteria tend to be more at risk of being involved in these violent crimes. Strategies in identifying these at-risk groups can shed light on the root cause of youth violence and aid in possible prevention tactics. 
Novel Port Placement in Robotic-assisted DIEP Flap Harvest Improves Visibility and Bilateral DIEP Access: Early Controlled Cohort Study
Authors: Tsai Chun-Yi , Kim Bong-Sung , Kuo Wen-Ling , Liu Keng-Hao , Chang Tommy Nai-Jen , Cheong David Chon-Fok , Huang Jung-Ju
Published: March 2023

To minimize the donor site damage, robotic-assisted DIEP (RA-DIEP) flap harvest was suggested recently. Present robotic approaches favor port placement which either do not allow a bilateral DIEP flap harvest through the same ports or necessitate additional scars. Herein, we propose a modification of port configuration.

In a retrospective controlled cohort study, RA-DIEP and conventional DIEP surgeries were compared. The perforator and pedicle were conventionally visualized until the level behind the rectus abdominis muscle. Next, the robotic system was installed to dissect the retro-muscular pedicle. We assessed patient age, BMI, history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and additional surgical time. The ARS incision length was measured. Pain was quantified by the visual analogue scale. Donor site complications were assessed.

Thirteen RA-DIEP flaps (11 unilateral, 2 bilateral) and 87 conventional DIEP flaps were harvested without flap loss. The bilateral DIEP flaps were raised without re-adjustments of the ports. The mean time for pedicle dissection was 53.2 ± 13.4 min. The ARS incision length was significantly shorter in the RA-DIEP group (2.67 ± 1.13 cm vs 8.14 ± 1.69, 304.87 % difference, p < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in postoperative pain (day 1: 1.9 ± 0.9 vs 2.9 ± 1.6, p = 0.094; day 2: 1.8 ± 1.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.5, p = 0.319; day 3: 1.6 ± 0.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.3, p = 0.444).

Preliminary results show that our RA-DIEP approach is safe and allows dissection of bilateral RA-DIEP flaps with short ARS incision length.
Minimally Invasive Versus Open Liver Resections for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Berardi Giammauro , Ivanics Tommy , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Ratti Francesca , Sposito Carlo , Nebbia Martina , D’Souza Daniel M. , Pascual Franco , Tohme Samer , D’Amico Francesco Enrico , Alessandris Remo , Panetta Valentina , Simonelli Ilaria , Del Basso Celeste , Russolillo Nadia , Fiorentini Guido , Serenari Matteo , Rotellar Fernando , Zimitti Giuseppe , Famularo Simone , Hoffman Daniel , Onkendi Edwin , Lopez-Ben Santiago , Caula Celia , Rompianesi Gianluca , Chopra Asmita , Abu Hilal Mohammed , Torzilli Guido , Corvera Carlos , Alseidi Adnan , Helton Scott , Troisi Roberto I. , Simo Kerri , Conrad Claudius , Cescon Matteo , Cleary Sean , Kwon Choon H. D. , Ferrero Alessandro , Ettorre Giuseppe M. , Cillo Umberto , Geller David , Cherqui Daniel , Serrano Pablo E. , Ferrone Cristina , Mazzaferro Vincenzo , Aldrighetti Luca , Kingham T. Peter
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To compare minimally invasive (MILR) and open liver resections (OLRs) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

Background:

Liver resections for HCC on MS are associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality. No data on the minimally invasive approach in this setting exist.

Material and Methods:

A multicenter study involving 24 institutions was conducted. Propensity scores were calculated, and inverse probability weighting was used to weight comparisons. Short-term and long-term outcomes were investigated.

Results:

A total of 996 patients were included: 580 in OLR and 416 in MILR. After weighing, groups were well matched. Blood loss was similar between groups (OLR 275.9±3.1 vs MILR 226±4.0, P=0.146). There were no significant differences in 90-day morbidity (38.9% vs 31.9% OLRs and MILRs, P=0.08) and mortality (2.4% vs 2.2% OLRs and MILRs, P=0.84). MILRs were associated with lower rates of major complications (9.3% vs 15.3%, P=0.015), posthepatectomy liver failure (0.6% vs 4.3%, P=0.008), and bile leaks (2.2% vs 6.4%, P=0.003); ascites was significantly lower at postoperative day 1 (2.7% vs 8.1%, P=0.002) and day 3 (3.1% vs 11.4%, P<0.001); hospital stay was significantly shorter (5.8±1.9 vs 7.5±1.7, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in overall survival and disease-free survival.

Conclusions:

MILR for HCC on MS is associated with equivalent perioperative and oncological outcomes to OLRs. Fewer major complications, posthepatectomy liver failures, ascites, and bile leaks can be obtained, with a shorter hospital stay. The combination of lower short-term severe morbidity and equivalent oncologic outcomes favor MILR for MS when feasible.
Distal Pancreatectomy With En Bloc Celiac Axis Resection (DP-CAR) for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Loos Martin , Khajeh Elias , Mehrabi Arianeb , Kinny-Köster Benedict , Al-Saeedi Mohammed , Berchtold Christoph , Hoffmann Katrin , Schneider Martin , Eslami Pegah , Feisst Manuel , Hinz Ulf , Hackert Thilo , Büchler Markus W.
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To determine perioperative and oncologic outcomes after distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac axis (DP-CAR).

Background:

DP-CAR can be used in a selective group of patients to resect locally advanced pancreatic cancer involving the celiac axis or common hepatic artery without arterial reconstruction by preserving retrograde blood flow via the gastroduodenal artery to the liver and stomach.

Methods:

We analyzed all consecutive patients who had undergone DP-CAR between May 2003 and April 2022 at a tertiary hospital specialized in pancreatic surgery and present one of the largest single-center studies.

Results:

A total of 71 patients underwent DP-CAR. Additional venous resection (VR) of the mesenterico-portal axis was performed in 31 patients (44%) and multivisceral resection (MVR) in 42 patients (59%). Margin-free (R0) resection was achieved in 40 patients (56%). The overall 90-day mortality rate was 8.4% for the entire patient cohort. After a cumulated experience of 16 cases, the 90-day mortality dropped to 3.6% in the following 55 patients. Extended procedures with (+) additional MVR with or without (+/−) VR resulted in higher major morbidity (Clavien–Dindo ≥IIIB; standard DP-CAR: 19%; DP-CAR + MVR +/− VR: 36%) and higher 90-day mortality (standard DP-CAR: 0%; DP-CAR + MVR +/− VR: 11%). Median overall survival after DP-CAR was 28 months.

Conclusions:

DP-CAR is a safe and effective procedure but requires experience. Frequently, surgical resection has to be extended with MVR and VR to accomplish tumor resection, which results in promising oncologic outcomes. However, extended resections were associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
The effect of estradiol during the early stages of osteoclast differentiation is associated with the accumulation of phosphorylated p53 in mitochondria and the inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism
Authors: Marques-Carvalho Adriana , Silva Beatriz , Pereira Francisco B. , Kim Ha-Neui , Almeida Maria , Sardão Vilma A.
Published: March 2023

Estrogen deficiency increases bone resorption and is a major contributor to osteoporosis. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of estrogen on osteoclasts remain unclear. This study aimed at elucidating the early metabolic effects of RANKL – the essential cytokine for osteoclastogenesis – and 17-beta-estradiol (E2) on osteoclast progenitor cells, using RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and bone marrow-derived macrophages as biological models. RANKL stimulated complex I activity, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and mitochondria-derived ATP production, as early as 3 to 6 h. This up-regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics was associated with an increased capacity to oxidize TCA cycle substrates, fatty acids, and amino-acids. E2inhibited all effects of RANKL on mitochondria metabolism. In the presence of RANKL, E2also decreased cell number and stimulated the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway, detected as early as 3h. Surprisingly, the pro-apoptotic effects of E2were associated with an accumulation of p392S-p53 in mitochondria. These findings elucidate early effects of RANKL on osteoclast progenitor metabolism and suggest novel p53-mediated mechanisms that contribute to postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Elite women's clubs in the 1930s across three Australian states: a prosopographical study
Authors: May Josephine
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the clubs and club memberships of 491 elite women in three eastern Australian states in the 1930s. It is the second part of a descriptive analysis of these women's biographical sketches in Who's Who-type collections, now out of copyright, published in Australia in the 1930s: Victoria (1934), New South Wales (1936) and Queensland (1939).

Design/methodology/approach

Using mixed methods within a prosopographical approach, described fully in the first paper on these data, this is mainly a quantitative analysis. After the numbers of club memberships of the women are given and compared on a state-by-state basis, a taxonomy of five main types of clubs was created and the clubs and club memberships listed for each of them. The five types are: (1) social and cultural clubs; (2) sporting clubs; (3) imperial, national and patriotic clubs; (4) professional clubs; and (5) service and educational clubs. The paper then explores the similarities and variations at the state level in the women's club memberships across the five types. It should be noted that the article does not include charities to which the women contributed because they required a separate typology and analysis to be taken up elsewhere.

Findings

The paper frames women's clubs as informal educative networks where women were able to acquire the knowledge and skills in modernity for effective participation in the public sphere. The analysis shows that three-quarters of the 491 women were members of one club or more. Overall, the women listed 340 separate clubs with 1,029 memberships across the five types. The state-by-state analysis giving lists of clubs, and numbers of memberships per club in each type, enumerated variations of women's clubs at the state level. Overall, the analysis suggests that the “club habit” for such women was a substantial historical phenomenon at this time.

Originality/value

This is the first study to encompass women's club memberships across three Australian states. Quantification of women's involvement in clubs has proved difficult, however, by using a prosopographical approach, this study creates a unique quantitative picture of the club data contained in 491 elite women's biographical sketches from the 1930s.
THE HOUSING/FINANCIAL COMPLEX IN SPAIN: After the 2008 Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Bonshoms‐Guzmán Jordi
Published: March 2023

The 2008 global financial crisis prompted a tectonic shift in the Spanish model, which was based on a debt‐driven homeownership society. In the aftermath of the financial crash, the restructuring of the real estate and financial market through intervention of the Spanish government has been a privileged object of urban analysis, with scholars researching the role of the Management Company for Assets Arising from Bank Reorganization (SAREB) and Spanish real estate investment trusts (REITs) in deleveraging the overhang of nonperforming mortgages from banks. This focus has nonetheless led to neglect of the central role of privately funded asset management companies (AMCs) in Spain, which have not figured highly in urban discussions about post‐2008‐financial‐crisis housing restructuring. In this article, which emanates from a larger study examining the re‐setting of relations between real estate and financial actors in Spain, I argue that research should pay more attention to the role of privately funded AMCs. I contend that AMCs function as the operational infrastructures of financialization on behalf of investment funds, as they transform nonperforming mortgages into income‐producing assets in the housing sector. Analyses of the role of AMCs also help us better understand the role of Spanish REITs owned by investment funds. Through a detailed examination of the Spanish institutional structure that links housing with financial channels, and by introducing the key role of AMCs at the nexus of such a link, in this article I outline the operations of the emerging housing/financial complex in Spain in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
The effects of patient out‐of‐pocket costs on insulin use among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes with Medicare Advantage insurance—2014–2018
Authors: McAdam‐Marx Carrie , Ruiz‐Negron Natalia , Sullivan Jane M. , Tucker Jamie M.
Published: March 2023

Objective

To identify the association between insulin out‐of‐pocket costs (OOPC) and adherence to insulin in Medicare Advantage (MA) patients.

Data Sources and Study Setting

The study is based on Optum Labs Data Warehouse, a longitudinal, real‐world data asset with de‐identified administrative claims and electronic health record data.

Study Design

Using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses, we identified the likelihood of patients with diabetes having ≥60 consecutive days between an expected insulin fill date and the actual fill date (refill lapse) by OOPC, categorized by $0, >$0–$20 (reference), >$20–$35, >$35–$50, and > $50 per 30‐day supply.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

The study included MA enrollees with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and prescription claims for insulin between 2014 and 2018.

Principal Findings

Those with average insulin OOPC per 30‐day supply >$35 or $0 were more likely to have an insulin refill lapse versus OOPC of >$0 to $20, with odds ratios ranging 1.18 (95% CI 1.13–1.22) to 1.74 (95% CI 1.66–1.83) depending on OOPC group and diabetes type.

Conclusions

Capping average insulin OOPC at $35 per 30‐day supply may help avoid cost‐related insulin non‐adherence in MA patients; efforts to address non‐cost barriers to medication adherence remain important.
The association of race and ethnicity on obstetric patients’ COVID‐19 outcomes: A summary of current literature
Authors: Mathew Dave M. , Ampatey Nicole A. , Aaronson Jaime A. , Samuels Jon D. , McCullough Danielle , White Robert S.
Published: March 2023

Amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, evidence suggests racial and ethnic disparities in COVID‐19‐related outcomes. Given these disparities, it is important to understand how such patterns may translate to high‐risk cohorts, including obstetric patients. A PubMed search was performed to identify studies assessing pregnancy, neonatal, and other health‐related complications by race or ethnicity in obstetric patients with COVID‐19 infection. Forty articles were included in our analysis based on novelty, relevance, and redundancy. These articles revealed that Black and Hispanic obstetric patients present an increased risk for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and maternal mortality; racial and ethnic minority patients, particularly those of Black and Asian backgrounds, are at increased risk for hospitalization and ICU admission; racial and ethnic minority groups, in particular Black patients, have an increased risk for mechanical ventilation; Black and Hispanic patients are more likely to experience dyspnea; Hispanic patients showed higher rates of pneumonia; and Black patients present an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There is conflicting literature on the relationship between race and ethnicity and various pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Several factors may underly the racial and ethnic disparities observed in the obstetric population, including biological mechanisms and social determinants of health.
Paediatric negative appendicectomy rates at a regional Western Australian Centre: a five‐year cohort study
Authors: Behrendorff Natasha , Palan Ranesh , McKitterick Tommy , Cover Jacinta
Published: March 2023

Background

In acute appendicitis, decision‐making around operative intervention for paediatric patients differs from adults due to a higher weight placed on clinical assessment and reduced rates of cross‐sectional imaging. In regional settings, non‐paediatric emergency doctors, general surgeons, and radiologists usually assess and manage this patient group. Differences have been observed in paediatric negative appendicectomy rates between general and paediatric centres.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed, identifying paediatric patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy at the Southwest Health Campus (Bunbury, Western Australia) from 2017 to 2021. The primary outcome measure was histopathology confirming the absence of transmural inflammation of the appendix. In addition, clinical, biochemical and radiological data were collected to identify predictors of negative appendicectomy (NA). Secondary outcome measures were hospital length‐of‐stay and post‐operative complication rates.

Results

Four hundred and twenty‐one patients were identified, of which 44.9% had a negative appendicectomy. Statistically significant associations between female gender, white cell count less than 10 × 109, neutrophil ratio less than 75%, low CRP and NA were observed. NA was not associated with a lower risk of re‐admission or complications compared with appendicectomy for appendicitis.

Conclusions

Our centre's NA rate is higher than that observed in the literature at both non‐paediatric and paediatric surgical centres. NA has similar morbidity risk to appendicectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis and offers a timely reminder that diagnostic laparoscopy in children is not benign.
Decomposing the changes in poverty: Poverty line and distributional effects
Authors: Aristondo Oihana , D'Ambrosio Conchita , Lasso de la Vega Casilda
Published: March 2023

When measuring poverty in developed countries, the poverty line used to identify the poor is usually relative and set as a percentage of the median (or of the mean) of the total income. In consequence, when poverty is analyzed over a period of time, changes in the poverty level depend on the impact of evolving standards. To eliminate this effect, sometimes, an anchored poverty line is used. Furthermore, changes in the mean of the distribution and in the inequality among the poor may also affect the poverty levels. This note proposes a decomposition of the changes in poverty as the sum of four terms. The first two reflect the impact in poverty of changes in living standards and the other two measure the effect of the distributional growth and redistribution. This decomposition will help policymakers in the implementation of a more specific antipoverty agenda. An application with data from the European Union Survey on Income and Living Conditions shows the potential of the decomposition proposed.
Identification and characterization of odorant‐binding protein genes in the brown‐winged green bug, Plautia stali
Authors: Taniai Kiyoko , Suetsugu Yoshitaka , Miyazawa Mitsuhiro
Published: March 2023

The brown‐winged green bug, Plautia stali Scott (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a major pest in orchards in Japan and Korea. Large numbers of adults are attracted by aggregation pheromone [methyl (E,E,Z)‐2,4,6‐decatrienoate] and cause extensive damage to the fruit. To identify olfactory‐related genes in P. stali, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) of adult antennae. Among the 27299 contigs, 16 putative odorant‐binding protein (OBP) genes were identified and designated as PstaOBP1–16, including 10 classic (i.e., containing six conserved cysteines) and six Plus‐C (i.e., containing more than six cysteines) OBP genes. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) revealed that four genes (PstaOBP1, 3, 6, and 7) were strongly expressed in the antennae. PstaOBP2 was detected throughout the insect body, with higher expression in the antennae, stylet, and tarsus. The remaining OBP genes were expressed in very small amounts. PstaOBP1, which showed the highest expression in adult antennae, was expressed in Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani & Chalmers cells and the recombinant protein was subjected to a ligand‐binding competitive assay. PstaOBP1 bound to methyl (E,E,Z)‐2,4,6‐decatrienoate with high affinity. Of the other 26 compounds tested, hinokitiol and tropolone bound strongly to PstaOBP1. Hinokitiol is an odor component of hinoki cypress, a host tree of P. stali. Electrophysiological responses to methyl (E,E,Z)‐2,4,6‐decatrienoate and hinokitiol were detected using adult P. stali antennae. Combined, these results suggest that PstaOBP1 is involved in P. stali responses to pheromone and host plant volatiles.
Are perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) getting larger or smaller in Swedish lakes?
Authors: Kerstin Holmgren , Petersson Erik
Published: March 2023

Space‐for‐time approaches are often used to indicate current or future changes over time. A European gillnet standard facilitates spatial‐scale comparisons of fish communities in European lakes. Fish size was generally lower and densities higher in warmer lakes, but less is known about trends over decadal time scales. We analysed the size of European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in 2121 Swedish lakes sampled during 1996–2021. The aim was to test whether size changed over time, and whether trends were similar in southern and northern regions. We analysed mean length and occurrence or relative abundance of size classes from the smallest (<100 mm) to the largest individuals (≥350 mm), and length at 1 and 5 years. The large data set was used to find general trends over time within regions, and within‐lake trends were tested for 40 time‐series lakes. The mean length of perch decreased in the southern and increased in the northern region. The proportion of the smallest perch increased in the southern, but not in the northern region. The most general trend was an increasing occurrence and proportion of the largest‐sized perch in both regions in the large dataset. The average trends in the southern region of the large dataset also appeared as predominant trends within time‐series lakes, although opposite trends occurred within some lakes in each region. This study also revealed that perch size at age 1 often increased within lakes over time, while more variable trends were found for size at age 5. The duration of the growth season has generally increased during the time frame of the present study, while other changes may differ between lakes in the same region. We recommend more studies based on time series of fish monitoring, including studies on possible reasons for the increased occurrence of very large perch in Swedish lakes.
IKZF1plus alterations are not associated with outcomes in Philadelphia‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients enrolled in the FBMTG ALL/MRD2008 trial
Authors: Ito Yoshikiyo , Ozawa Hidetoshi , Eto Tetsuya , Miyamoto Toshihiro , Kamimura Tomohiko , Ogawa Ryosuke , Uchida Naoyuki , Wake Atsusi , Fujisaki Tomoaki , Ohno Yuju , Takase Ken , Okumura Hirokazu , Takamatsu Yasushi , Kawano Noriaki , Akashi Koichi , Nagafuji Koji
Published: March 2023

Objective

The prognostic significance of IKZF1plus in adult Philadelphia‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) patients had remained to be clarified.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicenter study, the ALL/MRD2008 trial, and investigated the clinical significance of IKZF1plus.

Results

From December 2008 to November 2013, 38 untreated Ph+ ALL patients were enrolled. At the end of the induction, 97.4% of patients (37/38) achieved complete hematological remission, with MRD‐negativity of 48.6% (18/37). There were 19 patients with IKZF1plus, 13 with IKZF1 deletion alone (ΔIKZF1) and 4 with no IKZF1 deletions (no ΔIKZF1). The probability of 3‐year DFS and OS in these Ph+ ALL patients were 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 33–65) and 55% (95% CI, 38–69), respectively. There was no significant difference between IKZF1plus, ΔIKZF1, and no ΔIKZF1 in DFS (47%, 54%, 75% [p = .63]) or OS (47%, 62%, NA [p = .39]).

Conclusions

We revealed no relationship between IKZF1plus status and survival outcomes in Ph+ ALL patients treated with imatinib/dasatinib combination chemotherapy. Further investigations are warranted to clarify the prognostic significance of IKZF1plus in adult Ph+ ALL patients.
Familial adult myoclonus epilepsy: Clinical findings, disease course, and comorbidities
Authors: Giraldez Beatriz G. , Serratosa José M. , Striano Salvatore , Ikeda Akio , Striano Pasquale , Coppola Antonietta
Published: March 2023

Familial adult myoclonus epilepsy (FAME) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by the association of myoclonic tremor and epilepsy mainly with onset in adulthood. The clinical course is non‐progressive or slowly progressive, as epilepsy is commonly controlled with appropriate antiseizure medication and individuals have a normal life expectancy. However, the myoclonus severity increases with age and leads to some degree of disability in the elderly. Because the non‐coding repeat expansions responsible for FAME are not detected by routine genetic tests being used at this time, a clinical diagnosis accompanied by neurophysiological testing remains essential to guide the geneticist on the selection of the specific genetic technique.
Global mangrove root production, its controls and roles in the blue carbon budget of mangroves
Authors: Arnaud Marie , Krause Stefan , Norby Richard J. , Dang Thuong Huyen , Acil Nezha , Kettridge Nicholas , Gauci Vincent , Ullah Sami
Published: March 2023

Mangroves are among the most carbon‐dense ecosystems worldwide. Most of the carbon in mangroves is found belowground, and root production might be an important control of carbon accumulation, but has been rarely quantified and understood at the global scale. Here, we determined the global mangrove root production rate and its controls using a systematic review and a recently formalised, spatially explicit mangrove typology framework based on geomorphological settings. We found that global mangrove root production averaged ~770 ± 202 g of dry biomass m−2 year−1 globally, which is much higher than previously reported and close to the root production of the most productive tropical forests. Geomorphological settings exerted marked control over root production together with air temperature and precipitation (r2 ≈ 30%, p < .001). Our review shows that individual global changes (e.g. warming, eutrophication, drought) have antagonist effects on root production, but they have rarely been studied in combination. Based on this newly established root production rate, root‐derived carbon might account for most of the total carbon buried in mangroves, and 19 Tg C lost in mangroves each year (e.g. as CO2). Inclusion of root production measurements in understudied geomorphological settings (i.e. deltas), regions (Indonesia, South America and Africa) and soil depth (>40 cm), as well as the creation of a mangrove root trait database will push forward our understanding of the global mangrove carbon cycle for now and the future. Overall, this review presents a comprehensive analysis of root production in mangroves, and highlights the central role of root production in the global mangrove carbon budget.
Association between glucose tolerance and mortality among Japanese community‐dwelling older adults aged over 75 years: 12‐year observation of the Tosa Longitudinal Aging Study
Authors: Tatsuno Mai , Wada Taizo , Kato Emiko , Hirayama Kiichi , Fujisawa Michiko , Kimura Yumi , Ishimoto Yasuko , Hirosaki Mayumi , Nose Mitsuhiro , Yamada Chika , Kohori‐Segawa Hiromi , Kasahara Yoriko , Yamamoto Naomune , Okumiya Kiyohito , Matsubayashi Kozo , Sakamoto Ryota
Published: March 2023

Aim

Although the relationship between impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and mortality has been investigated in diverse populations, few studies have focused on older populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between glucose tolerance and overall mortality among populations aged ≥75 years.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Tosa Longitudinal Aging Study, a community‐based cohort survey conducted in Kochi, Japan. According to the results of a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test conducted in 2006, the participants were classified into four categories: normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG)/IGT, newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM), and known diabetes mellitus (KDM). The primary endpoint was overall mortality. Differences in overall mortality among the four categories were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

During a median of 11.5 years of observation, 125 deaths of the 260 enrolled participants were recorded. The cumulative overall survival rate was 0.52, and the survival rates of NGT, IFG/IGT, NDM, and KDM were 0.48, 0.49, 0.49, and 0.25, respectively (log‐rank test, P = 0.139). Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality in the IFG/IGT and NDM groups compared with the NGT group were 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–1.58) and 1.11 (95% CI, 0.56–2.22), while mortality in the KDM group was significantly higher than that in the NGT group (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.35–4.37).

Conclusion

Mortality did not differ significantly between the IFG/IGT, NDM, and NGT groups, but was higher in the KDM group than in the NGT group. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 341–347.
The Hunsrück Slate Konservat‐Lagerstätte
Authors: Wilkin Jack T. R.
Published: March 2023

The Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate in western Germany is world‐famous for its exceptionally preserved and beautiful fossils. What makes this Konservat‐Lagerstätte so fascinating is its unique style of pyritization that has perfectly captured an entire ecosystem, from delicate echinoderms with preserved soft tissues to the Lovecraftian Mimetaster.
Implantable defibrillator‐detected heart failure status predicts ventricular tachyarrhythmias
Authors: Compagnucci Paolo , Casella Michela , Bianchi Valter , Franculli Fabio , Vitali Francesco , Santini Luca , Savarese Gianluca , Santobuono Vincenzo Ezio , Chianese Raffaele , Lavalle Carlo , Amellone Claudia , Pecora Domenico , Calvanese Raimondo , Stronati Giulia , Santoro Amato , Ziacchi Matteo , Campari Monica , Valsecchi Sergio , Calò Leonardo , Guerra Federico , Dello Russo Antonio
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The prediction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators is difficult with available clinical tools. We sought to assess whether in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction with defibrillators, physiological sensor‐based HF status, as summarized by the HeartLogic index, could predict appropriate device therapies.

Methods

Five hundred and sixty‐eight consecutive HF patients with defibrillators (n = 158, 28%) or cardiac resynchronization therapy‐defibrillators (n = 410, 72%) were included in this prospective observational multicenter analysis. The association of both HeartLogic index and its physiological components with defibrillator shocks and overall appropriate therapies was assessed in regression and time‐dependent Cox models.

Results

Over a follow‐up of 25 (15–35) months, 122 (21%) patients received an appropriate device therapy (shock, n = 74, 13%), while the HeartLogic index crossed the threshold value (alert, HeartLogic ≥ 16) 1200 times (0.71 alerts/patient‐year) in 370 (65%) subjects. The occurrence of ≥1 HeartLogic alert was significantly associated with both appropriate shocks (Hazard ratios [HR]: 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–3.97, p = .003), and any appropriate defibrillator therapies. In multivariable time‐dependent Cox models, weekly IN‐alert state was the strongest predictor of appropriate defibrillator shocks (HR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.73–5.01, p < .001) and overall therapies. Compared with stable patients, patients with appropriate shocks had significantly higher values of HeartLogic index, third heart sound amplitude, and resting heart rate 30–60 days before device therapy.

Conclusion

The HeartLogic index is an independent dynamic predictor of appropriate defibrillator therapies. The combined index and its individual physiological components change before the arrhythmic event occurs.
A precise analysis of the relative contribution of UVA1 and visible light colour domains in solar light‐induced skin pigmentation
Authors: Marionnet Claire , Piffaut Virginie , Sasai Jun , Jouni Hussein , Nouveau Stephanie , Roudot Angelina , Planel Emilie , Gillant Flavie , Tricaud Caroline , Duteil Luc , Bernerd Francoise
Published: March 2023

Background

Solar light induces or aggravates hyperpigmentation issues. The contribution of UVA1, as well as visible light (VL), especially high‐energy blue‐violet visible (HEV) light, is now clearly established.

Objectives

This work aimed at determining the relative contribution of UVA1, HEV and VL wavelength bands and their sub‐domains in pigmentation induction.

Methods

Two clinical studies using solar simulators equipped with specific bandpass physical filters were carried out. Volunteers (FSPT III‐IV) were exposed on the back to UVA1 + HEV (350–450 nm), UVA1 (350–400 nm), HEV (400–450 nm) or part of UVA1 + HEV (370–450 nm) in Study 1 (n = 27) and to VL (400–700 nm), HEV (400–450 nm), Blue (400–500 nm), Green (500–600 nm) and Green+Red (500–700 nm) domains in Study 2 (n = 25). Pigmentation level was assessed by visual scoring and colorimetry at different time points postexposure, up to Day 43.

Results

Induced pigmentation was detected in all exposed conditions, peaking at 2 h and thereafter progressively decreasing but remaining persistent up to Day 43. In Study 1, UVA1 showed an additive effect with HEV, with a significant contribution coming from the Longest UVA1 rays (370–400 nm). Study 2 demonstrated that 24 h postexposure, the Blue domain accounted for 71% of VL‐induced pigmentation, the HEV one for 47%, the Green one for 37% and the Green+Red one for 36%, confirming no significant effect for Red light.

Conclusions

Altogether, these results underline the need for UVA1 photoprotection up to 400 nm and highlight the importance of protecting the skin from solar VL wavelengths and especially from HEV, Blue and Green light, to limit induced pigmentation.
Low birthweight newborns in Vanuatu: A longitudinal follow‐up study
Authors: Garae Annette , Vangana Caleb , Orelly Thyna , Leodoro Basil , Pulsan Francis , Duke Trevor
Published: March 2023

Aim

Medical care and technology have increased the survival of low birthweight babies (LBW), but especially in low‐ and middle‐income settings the longer term thriving of such babies is not assured because of their fragility, limited services and difficult access after discharge from hospital. In Vanuatu, a Pacific nation of dispersed islands, improving LBW outcomes and survival remains a significant challenge. In this study, we prospectively document the survival, developmental and nutritional outcomes of a cohort of LBW over the first year of life. We also explored the mother's experiences of caring for an LBW baby in hospital and at home.

Methods

A prospective descriptive cohort study of 49 newborns weighing less than 2.5 kg, born between April and August 2019. Data were recorded on their hospital stay, and they were followed up at 6 and 12 months post‐discharge and outcomes recorded. Developmental milestones were assessed using the Denver Developmental Screening Test, using milestones appropriate for corrected age. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify experiences and challenges the mothers faced in caring for their LBW baby.

Results

The mean birthweight was 1800 g at 35 weeks gestation (between 2nd and 9th centile). At 6 months of age the median weight was 6.5 kg (9th centile) and at 12 months it was 7.8 kg (9th centile). Three infants died in the first 6 months post‐discharge. By 12 months of age, the proportion of infants who had achieved milestones of social and emotional (90%), language and communication (97%), cognition (85%) and motor (69%) development. One had evidence of retinopathy, and 19 had clinical anaemia. Mothers identified several stressors that they attributed as risk factors for premature delivery and outlined the difficulties and isolation of caring for an LBW baby.

Conclusions

It is vital that all LBW babies are followed up in the years after discharge: nutritional, developmental and general health outcomes were generally good; however, post‐discharge deaths are more common in this group than in the general population. Equally important is the support for mothers of LBW babies to achieve better outcomes.
Higher expression of Th1/Th2‐related cytokines in the intestine of Wistar rats with ligature‐induced periodontitis
Authors: de Mello‐Neto João Martins , Elangovan Gayathiri , Ervolino Edilson , Johnson Newell Walter , Gustafsson Anders , da Silva Figueredo Carlos Marcelo
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of ligature‐induced periodontitis (LIP) on histopathological and immunological outcomes in the colon of Wistar rats.

Background

It has been repeatedly shown that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at higher risk of developing periodontitis and presenting worse oral health than non‐IBD patients. However, whether the chronic inflammatory process around teeth contributes to the pathophysiology of IBD needs to be further explored.

Materials and Methods

Thirteen Wistar rats were allocated into LIP (n = 7) and controls (n = 6). Half of the colon was processed for histopathological analyses and immunohistochemical (CD45); the other half was homogenized for immunological analyses. Periodontal destruction was confirmed by measuring the distance from the cementum‐enamel junction to the mandible's apical position of the mesial interproximal bone. The immunological analyses were performed with the Bio‐Plex Th1/Th2 assay.

Results

There was a significantly higher interproximal bone loss in LIP compared to controls. The LIP group showed a moderate infiltrate of inflammatory cells, predominantly mononucleated cells in the intestinal tissues. There was significantly higher expression of GM‐CSF, IFN‐γ, IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐12 (p70), IL‐13, and TNF‐α in the intestinal tissues of LIP group compared to controls.

Conclusion

Ligature‐induced periodontitis was associated with an overexpression of Th1/Th2‐related cytokines in the colon of Wistar rats.
Silicon ameliorates clubroot responses in canola (Brassica napus): A “multi‐omics”‐based investigation into possible mechanisms
Authors: Sarkar Ananya , Kisiala Anna , Adhikary Dinesh , Basu Urmila , Emery R. J. Neil , Rahman Habibur , Kav Nat N. V.
Published: March 2023

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin, results in severe yield losses in Brassica crops, including canola. Silicon (Si) mitigates several stresses and enhances plant resistance to phytopathogens. We investigated the effects of Si on clubroot disease symptoms in canola at two concentrations of Si, Si: soil in 1: 100 w/w (Si1.0) and Si: soil in 1:200 w/w (Si0.5) under greenhouse conditions. In addition, the effects of Si on P. brassicae‐induced gene expression, endogenous levels of phytohormones and metabolites were studied using “omics” approaches. Si application reduced clubroot symptoms and improved plant growth parameters. Gene expression analysis revealed increased transcript‐level responses in Si1.0 compared to Si0.5 plants at 7‐, 14‐, and 21‐days post‐inoculation (dpi). Pathogen‐induced transcript‐level changes were affected by Si treatment, with genes related to antioxidant activity (e.g., POD, CAT), phytohormone biosynthesis and signalling (e.g., PDF1.2, NPR1, JAZ, IPT, TAA), nitrogen metabolism (e.g., NRT, AAT), and secondary metabolism (e.g., PAL, BCAT4) exhibiting differential expression. Endogenous levels of phytohormones (e.g., auxin, cytokinin), a majority of the amino acids and secondary metabolites (e.g., glucosinolates) were increased at 7 dpi, followed by a decrease at 14‐ and 21‐dpi due to Si‐treatment. Stress hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) also decreased at the later time points in Si0.5, and Si1.0 treated plants. Si appears to improve clubroot symptoms while enhancing plant growth and associated metabolic processes, including nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.