bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compound Biejia-Ruangan tablet as an adjunctive therapy to entecavir for chronic hepatitis B complicated with hepatic fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xu Yong-hong , Xue Chuan
Published: August 2022

Background:

The compound Biejia-Ruangan tablet (CBRT), as an adjunctive therapy to entecavir, is a potential treatment for hepatic fibrosis (HF) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV). However, the present study yielded inconsistent results. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we comprehensively investigated the efficacy and safety of CBRT as an adjunctive modality to entecavir for the treatment of HBV infection complicated with HF.

Methods:

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wangfang databases through April 1, 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect and safety of CBRT as an adjunctive modality to entecavir for HBV complicated with HF. The primary outcomes were biochemical parameters of serum hyaluronic acid, laminin (LN), pretype-III collagen (PC-III), and type IV collagen (IV-C). The secondary outcomes were liver function indices of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBiL) levels, total effect rate, and occurrence rate of adverse events. Two researchers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software.

Results:

Eight RCTs involving 747 patients were included. Compared with entecavir monotherapy, CBRT as an adjunctive therapy to entecavir exerted more encouraging effect in serum levels of hyaluronic acid (mean difference [MD] = –28.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –43.82 to –12.47; P < .001), LN (MD = –29.46; 95% CI: –50.69 to –8.23; P < .001), PC-III (MD = –11.83; 95% CI: –19.43 to –4.23; P < .001), and IV-C (MD = –19.62; 95% CI: –29.76 to –9.49; P < .001); levels of serum ALT (MD = –16.83; 95% CI: –26.30 to –7.36; P < .001), AST (MD = –20.52; 95% CI: –33.11 to –7.93; P < .001), and TBiL (MD = –7.54; 95% CI: –11.58 to –3.49; P < .001); and total effect rate (odds ratio = 3.53; 95% CI: 1.71–7.29; P < .001). Meta-analysis results also showed that CBRT as an adjunctive therapy to entecavir had a lower occurrence rate of adverse events (odds ratio = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.22–1.34; P < .001) than entecavir alone.

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that CBRT as an adjunctive modality to entecavir may benefit HBV patients complicated with HF. High-quality RCTs are needed to confirm the current findings in the future.
Comparison of mortality and its causes in patients with complicated systemic lupus erythematosus on hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis: A meta-analysis
Authors: Gou Wenjun , Tuo Yan Hong
Published: August 2022

Background:

Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Ten percent to 20% of patients with SLE progress to end-stage renal disease and would require renal replacement therapy or renal transplantation. In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare mortality and the causes of mortality in patients with complicated SLE who were treated on hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods:

Cochrane Central, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, and http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for studies that compared HD versus PD in patients with SLE. The RevMan software version 5.4 (RevMan software, Cochrane Collaborations, United Kingdom) was used to analyze data. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q and the I
2 statistical tests. In this analysis, a random effects model was used during data assessment. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the results following analysis.

Results:

A total number of 3405 SLE participants were included in this analysis, whereby 2841 were assigned to HD and 564 participants were assigned to PD. In patients with SLE who were on dialysis, our analysis showed that the risk of mortality was similar with HD and PD (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.45–1.07; P = .10). When the cause of mortality was analyzed, cardiovascular death (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.31–1.31; P = .22), death due to infection (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.47–1.17; P = .20), death due to a respiratory cause (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.18–6.21; P = .95), cause of death due to SLE flare up (RR, 2.54; 95% CI, 0.39–16.37; P = .33), and other causes of death (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.35–1.77; P = .57) were not significantly different with HD and PD.

Conclusion:

This current analysis showed that in SLE patients who required dialysis, the risk of mortality between HD and PD was similar, and the causes of death including cardiovascular, infective, respiratory, SLE flare up, and other causes were not significantly different. Therefore, both dialysis methods were tolerable in these patients with SLE. Further studies with larger data would be required to confirm this hypothesis.
Telehealth to Improve Perinatal Care Access
Authors: Stanley Angela Y. , Wallace Jerrol B.
Published: August 2022

The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate of peer countries. Since 1935, the maternal mortality risk among Black women has remained three to four times higher than that of White women. Perinatal health care is not available in all areas, which limits the access for certain groups. Many women in the United States live in maternity care deserts with no access to obstetric providers, whereas others live in areas with very limited access. One way to bridge the gap between effective perinatal care and access to care is use of telehealth. Telehealth allows health care providers to communicate directly with patients that cannot physically be seen in a clinic or hospital. Telehealth is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as an alternate mode to deliver prenatal and postpartum services. The potential for telehealth services as part of perinatal care to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality by improving access to care is presented.
A Rare Case of Fatal Thyroid Hemorrhage After Fine-Needle Aspiration
Authors: Bonsignore Alessandro , Drommi Martina , Frigiolini Francesca , Roncallo Anna , Ventura Francesco , Buffelli Francesca , Fulcheri Ezio
Published: August 2022

Sudden death due to massive hemorrhage after a mini-invasive ambulatory diagnostic procedure is extremely rare. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules is very safe, displaying a low rate of complications, all of which mild and often self-limiting. In few cases do these complications necessitate surgical decompression, and rarely does FNA of a thyroid nodule lead to the death of the patient.

We report a case of sudden death caused by respiratory insufficiency after compression of the vascular and nervous structures of the neck and obstruction of the upper airways by hemorrhages dissecting the thyroidal and perithyroidal tissues in a 78-year-old woman. These hemorrhages were the result of vascular lacerations caused during diagnostic FNA of a nodule suspected of malignancy. In such cases, it is important to conduct a complete autopsy and histological analysis to ascertain the origin of massive hemorrhage involving the structures of the neck and to attribute the cause of death to the aforementioned procedure. The forensic pathologist must bear in mind that even extremely small damage, such as that produced by a fine needle, may cause a fatal hemorrhage in subjects with a subverted anatomo-pathological picture (such as, for example, the massive fibrosis of an organ).
Safety and Feasibility of 1-Repetition Maximum (1-RM) Testing in Children and Adolescents With Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Pontiff Mattie , Moreau Noelle G.
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to standardize 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) testing procedures and evaluate the safety and feasibility of these procedures in youth with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods:

Youth with CP completed 1-RM testing on a leg press.

Results:

Mean absolute, adjusted, and normalized 1-RM loads were 262.4 ± 161.3 lb, 127.0 ± 80.2 lb, and 1.28 ± 0.51, respectively, and 67% were able to successfully lift the same or heavier load after a single failure. Cessation of testing after 1 failed attempt resulted in a 19.0% underestimation of the 1-RM.

Conclusions:

1-RM testing in youth with CP is safe and feasible. Multiple attempts at a failed load should be provided to prevent underestimation in strength. The 1-RM test provides a more accurate strength assessment, which will improve the dosing for resistance training in youth with CP.
H151, A SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITOR OF STING AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC IN INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA–REPERFUSION INJURY
Authors: Kobritz Molly , Borjas Timothy , Patel Vihas , Coppa Gene , Aziz Monowar , Wang Ping
Published: August 2022

Background

Intestinal ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a severe disease associated with high mortality. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an intracellular protein that is activated by cytosolic DNA and is implicated in I/R injury, resulting in transcription of type I interferons (IFN-α and IFN-β) and other proinflammatory molecules. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP), a damage-associated molecular pattern, induces STING activation. H151 is a small molecule inhibitor of STING that has not yet been studied as a potential therapeutic. We hypothesize that H151 reduces inflammation, tissue injury, and mortality after intestinal I/R. Methods: In vitro, RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with H151 then stimulated with recombinant murine (rm) CIRP, and IFN-β levels in the culture supernatant were measured at 24 hours after stimulation. In vivo, male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60-minute intestinal ischemia via superior mesenteric artery occlusion. At the time of reperfusion, mice were intraperitoneally instilled with H151 (10 mg/kg BW) or 10% Tween-80 in PBS (vehicle). Four hours after reperfusion, the small intestines, lungs, and serum were collected for analysis. Mice were monitored for 24 hours after intestinal I/R to assess survival. Results: In vitro, H151 reduced rmCIRP-induced IFN-β levels in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, intestinal levels of pIRF3 were increased after intestinal I/R and decreased after H151 treatment. There was an increase in serum levels of tissue injury markers (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase) and cytokine levels (interleukin 1β, interleukin 6) after intestinal I/R, and these levels were decreased after H151 treatment. Ischemia-reperfusion–induced intestinal and lung injury and inflammation were significantly reduced after H151 treatment, as evaluated by histopathologic assessment, measurement of cell death, chemokine expression, neutrophil infiltration, and myeloperoxidase activity. Finally, H151 improved the survival rate from 41% to 81% after intestinal I/R. Conclusions: H151, a novel STING inhibitor, attenuates the inflammatory response and reduces tissue injury and mortality in a murine model of intestinal I/R. H151 shows promise as a potential therapeutic in the treatment of this disease.
Is Laparoscopy Underutilized for Sigmoid Volvulus?
Authors: Nguyen Scott H. , Tavares Kelli , Chinn Ashley , Russell Dylan , Gillern Suzanne , Yheulon Christopher
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly prevalent. However, the majority of colectomies for volvulus are still performed via an open technique. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a difference in outcomes between laparoscopic and open procedures for sigmoid volvulus.

Materials and Methods:

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and colectomy-targeted procedure databases were queried from 2013 to 2018. Patients undergoing partial colectomy without ileal resection for the indication of volvulus were compared based on approach (planned laparoscopic vs. planned open). The 2 groups were propensity score matched for perioperative variables. A subgroup analysis was performed comparing unplanned laparoscopic conversion to open (CTO) with planned open procedures. The primary outcomes were overall morbidity, mortality, and length of stay.

Results:

Total 2493 patients were identified. Four hundred ninety-two cases began laparoscopically (20%), of which 391 were completed laparoscopically (79%). Laparoscopic approach was associated with longer operative times (133 vs. 104 min, P<0.001). Laparoscopic approach was associated with decreased overall morbidity (OR: 0.71, 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93) and decreased length of stay when >7 days (OR: 0.70, 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.94). On subgroup analysis, there was no difference in outcomes when comparing unplanned CTO to planned open approach.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic approach is used in a fraction of cases for colonic volvulus. When utilized, the majority are completed without CTO. Laparoscopy is associated with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. Even with unplanned conversion to open, there is no difference in outcomes compared against planned open procedures. Surgeons should consider the utilization of laparoscopy for colonic volvulus.
Transcystic Choledochoscopy Utilizing a Disposable Choledochoscope: How We Do It
Authors: Campbell John , Pryor Aurora , Docimo Salvatore
Published: August 2022

Background:

Biliary disease is common occurrence and can make up a large portion of the practice of a general surgeon. Choledocholithasis is a common entity amongst those with biliary disease. Although modern trends favor endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and other imaging modalities for the diagnosis and management of choledocholithiasis, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is likely underutilized.

Methods:

A literature summary utilizing a PUBMED search was performed to provide an up-to-date account regarding the latest data on LCBDE. A video identifying and explaining the critical components of a LBCDE procedure is provided.

Results:

LCBDE is an underutilized procedure which offers equivalent clinical outcomes compared with ERCP along with a shorter length of stay and reduced costs. LCBDE is also noted to be an effective option for common bile duct stones in the setting of altered anatomy, such as a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Conclusion:

Although modern trends favor ERCP and other imaging modalities for the diagnosis and management of choledocholithiasis, LCBDE is likely underutilized by surgeons. LCBDE can provide many benefits to patients including avoidance of additional procedures, shorter length of stay, higher success rates, and less costs. Out video should act is a guide for those surgeons interested in implementation LCBDE in their practice.
Mathematical modelling of oxygen transport in a muscle-on-chip device
Authors: Hardman David , Nguyen Manh-Louis , Descroix Stéphanie , Bernabeu Miguel O.
Published: August 2022

Muscle-on-chip devices aim to recapitulate the physiological characteristics of
in vivo
muscle tissue and so maintaining levels of oxygen transported to cells is essential for cell survival and for providing the normoxic conditions experienced
in vivo
. We use finite-element method numerical modelling to describe oxygen transport and reaction in a proposed three-dimensional muscle-on-chip bioreactor with embedded channels for muscle cells and growth medium. We determine the feasibility of ensuring adequate oxygen for muscle cell survival in a device sealed from external oxygen sources and perfused via medium channels. We investigate the effects of varying elements of the bioreactor design on oxygen transport to optimize muscle tissue yield and maintain normoxic conditions. Successful co-culturing of muscle cells with motor neurons can boost muscle tissue function and so we estimate the maximum density of seeded neurons supported by oxygen concentrations within the bioreactor. We show that an enclosed bioreactor can provide sufficient oxygen for muscle cell survival and growth. We define a more efficient arrangement of muscle and perfusion chambers that can sustain a predicted 50% increase in maximum muscle volume per perfusion vessel. A study of simulated bioreactors provides functions for predicting bioreactor designs with normoxic conditions for any size of perfusion vessel, muscle chamber and distance between chambers.
Cohnella herbarum sp. nov., isolated from wild grass fermentation broth
Authors: Won Miyoung , Lee Shin Ae , Hong Seung-Beom , Han Byeong-Hak , Kwon Soon-Wo
Published: August 2022

A novel strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, motile, endospore-forming, white-coloured bacterium, designated strain MFER-1T, was isolated from a fermented liquor of wild grasses sampled in the Republic of Korea. The respiratory quinone of strain MFER-1T was menaquinone-7 and its major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (55.3 %), iso-C16 : 0 (17.5 %) and C16 : 0 (12.1 %). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids and an unidentified phospholipid. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MFER-1T showed similarity of 98.1 % to ‘Cohnella cholangitidis’ 1 605-214T and below 98.0 % sequence similarity to the other

Cohnella

species. The phylogenomic tree indicated that strain MFER-1T formed a reliable cluster with several

Cohnella

species. The estimated genome size of strain MFER-1T was 8.52 Mb. Genomic DNA G+C content was 50.7mol%. The orthologous average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and amino acid identity values of strain MFER-1T with the most closely related species ‘Cohnella cholangitidis’ 1 605-214T were 78.7, 23.0 and 79.6 %, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, strain MFER-1T should represent a novel species of the genus

Cohnella

, for which the name Cohnella herbarum sp. nov. is proposed, with strain MFER-1T (=KACC 21 257T=NBRC 114 628T) as the type strain.
Kazachstania surinensis f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast species isolated from Thai traditional fermented food
Authors: Punyauppa-path Sukrita , Punyauppa-path Prasongsom , Tingthong Suriya , Sakpuntoon Varunya , Khunnamwong Pannida , Limtong Savitree , Srisuk Nantana
Published: August 2022

Seven yeast strains (UBIF12-1, UBFB13-1, SRFS56-3, SRFS57-2, SKFS62-1, SKFS66-1 and SKFS67-1) representing a single anamorphic novel yeast species were isolated from traditional Thai fermented foods in Ubon Ratchathani, Surin and Sisaket in the northeast part of Thailand. The results of analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that the seven strains showed zero to one nucleotide substitutions in the sequences of the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene, and zero to four nucleotide substitutions in the ITS region. Kazachstania humilis CBS 5658T was the most closely-related species, but with 0.7–0.9% nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene, and 2.0–2.2% nucleotide substitution in the ITS region. The results of a phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated ITS and D1/D2 regions confirmed that the seven strains represented a single species of the genus Kazachstania distinct from the other recognized species of the genus. Furthermore, the morphological, biochemical and physiological properties of the seven strains not only indicated that they represented members of the genus Kazachstania, but that they were separated from K. humilis and K. pseudohumilis, the two most closely related species in the phylogenetic tree. Therefore, the seven strains were identified as representing a novel species, for which we propose the name Kazachstania surinensis f.a., sp. nov. The holotype is TBRC 15053T (isotype: SRFS57-2 and PYCC 9021). The MycoBank number of the novel species is 841892.
Psychological mechanisms of offset analgesia: The effect of expectancy manipulation
Authors: Szikszay Tibor M. , Adamczyk Wacław M. , Panskus Janina , Heimes Lotte , David Carolin , Gouverneur Philip , Luedtke Kerstin
Published: August 2022

A frequently used paradigm to quantify endogenous pain modulation is offset analgesia, which is defined as a disproportionate large reduction in pain following a small decrease in a heat stimulus. The aim of this study was to determine whether suggestion influences the magnitude of offset analgesia in healthy participants. A total of 97 participants were randomized into three groups (hypoalgesic group, hyperalgesic group, control group). All participants received four heat stimuli (two constant trials and two offset trials) to the ventral, non-dominant forearm while they were asked to rate their perceived pain using a computerized visual analogue scale. In addition, electrodermal activity was measured during each heat stimulus. Participants in both intervention groups were given a visual and verbal suggestion about the expected pain response in an hypoalgesic and hyperalgesic manner. The control group received no suggestion. In all groups, significant offset analgesia was provoked, indicated by reduced pain ratings (p < 0.001) and enhanced electrodermal activity level (p < 0.01). A significant group difference in the magnitude of offset analgesia was found between the three groups (F[2,94] = 4.81, p < 0.05). Participants in the hyperalgesic group perceived significantly more pain than the hypoalgesic group (p = 0.031) and the control group (p < 0.05). However, the electrodermal activity data did not replicate this trend (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that suggestion can be effective to reduce but not increase endogenous pain modulation quantified by offset analgesia in healthy participants.
Modeling genotype × environment interaction for single- and multi-trait genomic prediction in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Cuevas Jaime , Reslow Fredrik , Crossa Jose , Ortiz Rodomiro
Published: August 2022

In this study we extend research on genomic prediction (GP) to polysomic polyploid plant species with the main objective to investigate single trait (ST) versus multi-trait (MT) for multi-environment (ME) models for the combination of three locations in Sweden (Helgegården [HEL], Mosslunda [MOS], Umeå [UM]) over two year-trials (2020, 2021) of 253 potato cultivars and breeding clones for five tuber weight traits and two tuber flesh quality characteristics. This research investigated the GP of four genome-based prediction models with genotype ×environment interactions (GE): (1) single trait reaction norm model (M1), (2) single trait model considering covariances between environments (M2), (3) single trait M2 extended to include a random vector that utilizes the environmental covariances (M3) and (4) multi-trait model with GE (M4). Several prediction problems were analyzed for each of the GP accuracy of the four models. Results of the prediction of traits in HEL, the high yield potential testing site in 2021, show that the best predicted traits were tuber flesh starch (%), weight of tuber above 60 or below 40 mm in size, and total tuber weight. In terms of GP, accuracy model M4 gave the best prediction accuracy in three traits, namely tuber weight of 40–50 or above 60 mm in size, and total tuber weight and very similar in the starch trait. For MOS in 2021, the best predictive traits were starch, weight of tuber above 60, 50–60, or below 40 mm in size, and total tuber weight. MT model M4 was the best GP model based on its accuracy when some cultivars are observed in some traits. For GP accuracy of traits in UM in 2021, the best predictive traits were weight of tuber above 60, 50–60, or below 40 mm in size and the best model was MT M4 followed by models ST M3 and M2.
Neutrophils prime unique transcriptional responses in intestinal organoids during infection with nontyphoidalSalmonella entericaserovars
Authors: Lawrence Anna-Lisa E. , Berger Ryan P. , Hill David R. , Huang Sha , Yadagiri Veda K. , Bons Brooke , Fields Courtney , Knight Jason S. , Wobus Christiane E. , Spence Jason R. , Young Vincent B. , Abuaita Basel H. , O’Riordan Mary X.
Published: August 2022

Nontyphoidal strains ofSalmonella entericaare a major cause of foodborne illnesses and infection with these bacteria result in inflammatory gastroenteritis. Neutrophils are a dominant immune cell type found at the site of infection inSalmonella-infected individuals, but how they regulate infection outcome is not well understood. Here we used a co-culture model of primary human neutrophils and human intestinal organoids to probe the role of neutrophils during infection with two of the most prevalentSalmonellaserovars:Salmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis and Typhimurium. Using a transcriptomics approach, we identified a dominant role for neutrophils in mounting differential immune responses including production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. We also identified specific gene sets that are induced by neutrophils in response to Enteritidis or Typhimurium infection. By comparing host responses to these serovars, we uncovered differential regulation of host metabolic pathways particularly induction of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways during Typhimurium infection and suppression of RNA metabolism during Enteritidis infection. Together these findings provide insight into the role of human neutrophils in modulating different host responses to pathogens that cause similar disease in humans.

Importance

Nontyphoidal serovars ofSalmonella entericaare known to induce robust neutrophil recruitment in the gut during early stages of infection, but the specific role of neutrophils in regulating infection outcome of different serovars is poorly understood. Due to differences in human infection progression compared to small animal models, characterizing the role of neutrophils during infection has been challenging. Here we used a co-culture model of human intestinal organoids with human primary neutrophils to study the role of neutrophils during infection of human intestinal epithelium. Using a transcriptomics approach, we define neutrophil-dependent reprogramming of the host response toSalmonella, establishing a clear role in amplifying pro-inflammatory gene expression. Additionally, the host response driven by neutrophils differed between two similar nontyphoidalSalmonellaserovars. These findings highlight the importance of building more physiological infection models to replicate human infection conditions to study host responses specific to individual pathogens.
Retrotransposons facilitates tissue specific horizontal transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells
Authors: Cinar Munevver , Martinez-Medina Lourdes , Puvvula Pavan K. , Arakelyan Arsen , Vardarajan Badri N. , Anthony Neil , Nagaraju Ganji P. , Park Dongkyoo , Feng Lei , Sheff Faith , Mosunjac Marina , Saxe Debra , Flygare Steven , Alese Olatunji B. , Kaufman Jonathan , Lonial Sagar , Sarmiento Juan , Lossos Izidore S. , Vertino Paula M. , Lopez Jose A. , El-Rayes Bassel , Bernal-Mizrachi Leon
Published: August 2022

A variety of organisms have been shown to have altered physiology or developed pathology due to gene transfer, but mammals have never been shown to do so. Here, we show that circulating tumor DNA (ct) can promote cell-specific horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between human cancer cells and explain the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Once ctDNA enters the host cell, it migrates to the nucleus and integrates into the cell’s genome, thereby transferring its genetic information. We determine that retrotransposons of the ERVL, SINE, and LINE families are necessary for cell targeting and the integration of ctDNA into host DNA. Using chemically synthesized retrotransposons, we found that AluSp and MER11C reproduced multiple myeloma’s (MM) ctDNA’s cell targeting and integration into MM cells. We also discovered that ctDNA might, as a result of HGT, influence the treatment response of multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer models. Overall, this is the first study to show that retrotransposon-directed HGT can promote genetic material transfer in cancer. There is, however, a broader impact of our findings than just cancer since cell-free DNA has also been found in physiological and other pathological conditions as well. Furthermore, with the discovery of transposons-mediated tissue-specific targeting, a new avenue for the delivery of genes and therapies will emerge.
A genomic timescale for placental mammal evolution
Authors: Foley Nicole M. , Mason Victor C. , Harris Andrew J. , Bredemeyer Kevin R. , Damas Joana , Lewin Harris A. , Eizirik Eduardo , Gatesy John ,   Zoonomia Consortium, Springer Mark S. , Murphy William J.
Published: August 2022

The precise pattern and timing of speciation events that gave rise to all living placental mammals remain controversial. We provide a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of genetic variation across an alignment of 241 placental mammal genome assemblies, addressing prior concerns regarding limited genomic sampling across species. We compared neutral genome-wide phylogenomic signal using concatenation and coalescent-based approaches, interrogated phylogenetic variation across chromosomes and analyzed extensive catalogs of structural variants. Interordinal relationships exhibit relatively low rates of phylogenomic conflict across diverse datasets and analytical methods. Conversely, X-chromosome versus autosome conflicts characterize multiple independent clades that radiated during the Cenozoic. Genomic timetrees reveal an accumulation of cladogenic events before and immediately following the KPg boundary implying important roles for Cretaceous continental vicariance and the KPg extinction in the placental radiation.

One-Sentence Summary

A comprehensive whole genome phylogeny of extant placental mammals reveals timing and patterns of ordinal diversification.
Mouse SAS-6 is required for centriole formation in embryos and integrity in embryonic stem cells
Authors: Grzonka Marta , Bazzi Hisham
Published: August 2022

Cell division fidelity is crucial for stem cell propagation and the maintenance of pluripotency. Centrosomes, which organize the mitotic spindle microtubules to ensure proper bipolar cell division, have a core of a pair of centrioles that duplicate once per cell cycle. At the onset of centriole biogenesis, SAS-6 forms a cartwheel structure, which is the precursor for the forming procentrioles. SAS-6 is essential for centriole formation in human cell lines and other organisms. However, the functions of SAS-6 in mouse stem cells remain to be elucidated. Here, we report thatSas-6-null mouse embryos lack centrioles, activate the mitotic surveillance cell death pathway and arrest at mid-gestation. In contrast, SAS-6 is not strictly required for centriole formation in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)in vitro, but is still important to regulate centriole length, symmetry and ability to template cilia. Remarkably, centrioles appeared after just one day of culture ofSas-6-null blastocysts, from which mESCs are normally derived. Finally, the number of cells with centrosomes is drastically decreased upon the exit from a pluripotent state. Collectively, our data suggest a differential requirement for mouse SAS-6 in centriole formation or integrity depending on the cellular context, and highlight the robustness of mESCs in using SAS-6-independent centriole-duplication pathways.
Fission yeast Dis1 is an unconventional TOG/XMAP215 that induces microtubule catastrophe to drive chromosome pulling
Authors: Murase Yuichi , Yamagishi Masahiko , Okada Naoyuki , Toya Mika , Yajima Junichiro , Hamada Takahiro , Sato Masamitsu
Published: August 2022

The shortening of microtubules attached to kinetochores is the driving force of chromosome movement during cell division. Specific kinesins are believed to shorten microtubules but are dispensable for viability in yeast, implying the existence of additional factors responsible for microtubule shortening. Here, we demonstrate that Dis1, a TOG/XMAP215 ortholog in fission yeast, promotes microtubule shortening to carry attached chromosomes. Although TOG/XMAP215 orthologs are generally accepted as microtubule polymerases, Dis1 promoted microtubule catastrophe in vitro and in vivo. Notably, microtubule catastrophe was promoted when the tip was attached to kinetochores, as they steadily anchored Dis1 at the kinetochore-microtubule interface. Engineered Dis1 oligomers artificially tethered at a chromosome arm region induced the shortening of microtubules in contact, frequently pulling the chromosome arm towards the vicinity of spindle poles in meiocytes. Thus, unlike Alp14 and other TOG/XMAP215 orthologs, Dis1 plays an unconventional role in promoting microtubule catastrophe, thereby driving chromosome movement.
‘Targeting’ the Search: An Upgraded Structural and Functional Repository of Antimicrobial Peptides for Biofilm Studies (B-AMP v2.0) with a Focus on Biofilm Protein Targets
Authors: Ravichandran Shashank , Avatapalli Sai Supriya , Narasimhan Yatindrapravanan , Kaushik Karishma S , Yennamalli Ragothaman M
Published: August 2022

Bacterial biofilms, often as multispecies communities, are recalcitrant to conventional antibiotics, making the treatment of biofilm infections a challenge. There is a push towards developing novel anti-biofilm approaches, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with activity against specific biofilm targets. In previous work, we developed Biofilm-AMP, a structural and functional repository of AMPs for biofilm studies (B-AMP v1.0) with more than 5000 structural models of AMPs and a vast library of AMP annotations to existing biofilm literature. In this study, we present an upgraded version of B-AMP, with a focus on existing and novel bacterial biofilm targets. B-AMP v2.0 hosts a curated collection of 2502 biofilm protein targets across 473 bacterial species, with structural protein models and functional annotations from PDB, UniProt, and PubMed databases. The biofilm targets can be searched for using the name of the source organism, and function and type of protein, and results include designated Target IDs (unique to B-AMP v2.0), UniProt IDs, 3D predicted protein structures, PDBQT files, pre-defined protein function, and relevant scientific literature. To present an example of the combined applicability of both, the AMP and biofilm target libraries in the repository, we present two case studies. In the first case study, we expand an in silico pipeline to evaluate AMPs against a single biofilm target in the multidrug resistant, bacterial pathogen Corynebacterium striatum, using 3D protein-peptide docking models from previous work and Molecular Dynamics simulations (∼1.18 µs). In the second case study, we build an in silico pipeline to identify candidate AMPs (using AMPs with both anti-Gram positive and anti-Gram negative activity) against two biofilm targets with a common functional classification in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, widely-encountered bacterial co-pathogens. With its enhanced structural and functional capabilities, B-AMP v2.0 serves as a comprehensive resource for AMP investigations related to biofilm studies. B-AMP v2.0 is freely available at https://b-amp.karishmakaushiklab.com and will be regularly updated with structural models of AMPs and biofilm targets, as well as 3D protein-peptide interaction models for key biofilm-forming pathogens.
Synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging with large field of view and high resolution using micro-scanning method
Authors: Sun Rui , Wang Yanping , Zhang Jie , Deng Tijian , Yi Qiru , Yu Bei , Huang Mei , Li Gang , Jiang Xiaoming
Published: August 2022

In synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging, the imaging field of view and spatial resolution are mutually restricted, which makes it impossible to have both a large field of view and high resolution when carrying out experiments. Constructing an oversampled image through the micro-scanning method and using the deconvolution algorithm to eliminate the point spread function introduced by pixel overlap can increase the resolution under a fixed imaging field of view, thereby improving the ratio of the field of view to the spatial resolution. In this paper, numerical simulation and synchrotron radiation experiments are carried out with a different number of micro-scanning steps. In numerical simulation experiments only affected by the image pixel size, as the number of micro-scanning steps increases, the ability of the oversampled image with deconvolution to improve the resolution is stronger. The achievable resolution of the oversampled image with deconvolution is basically the same as that of the sample image. In the synchrotron radiation experiments, the resolution of the oversampled image with deconvolution in the 2 × 2 mode is significantly improved. However, as the number of micro-scanning steps increases, the resolution improvement is limited, or even no longer improved. Finally, by analyzing the results of numerical simulation and synchrotron radiation experiments, three factors (four other factors affecting the resolution besides the camera resolution, translational accuracy of micro-scanning, and the signal-to-noise ratio of projections) affecting the micro-scanning method are proposed and verified by experiments.
Pure discrete spectrum and regular model sets on some non-unimodular substitution tilings
Authors: Lee Jeong-Yup
Published: August 2022

Substitution tilings with pure discrete spectrum are characterized as regular model sets whose cut-and-project scheme has an internal space that is a product of a Euclidean space and a profinite group. Assumptions made here are that the expansion map of the substitution is diagonalizable and its eigenvalues are all algebraically conjugate with the same multiplicity. A difference from the result of Lee et al. [Acta Cryst. (2020), A76, 600–610] is that unimodularity is no longer assumed in this paper.
Stock liquidity and the accrual anomaly
Authors: Cheng Zhuo (June) , Fang Jing (Bob)
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study examines the effect of stock liquidity on the magnitude of the accrual anomaly.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the relation—both time-series and cross-sectional—between stock liquidity and the magnitude of the accrual anomaly and use the 2001 minimum tick size decimalization as a quasi-experiment to establish causality.

Findings

There is both cross-sectional and time-series evidence that stock liquidity is negatively related to the magnitude of the accrual anomaly. Moreover, the extent to which investors overestimate the persistence of accruals decreases with stock liquidity. Results from a difference-in-differences analysis conducted using the 2001 minimum tick size decimalization as a quasi-experiment suggest that the effect of stock liquidity on the accrual anomaly is causal. The findings of this study are consistent with the enhancing effect of stock liquidity on pricing efficiency.

Originality/value

The study's findings are well aligned with the mispricing-based explanation for the accrual anomaly, suggesting that the improvement in market-wide stock liquidity drives the contemporaneous decline in the magnitude of the accrual anomaly, at least to a great extent.
Are individual risky behaviours relevant to healthcare allocation decisions? An exploratory study
Authors: Pinho Micaela , Durão Natércia , Zahariev Boyan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The problematic surrounding patients' prioritization decisions are currently at the centre of political leaders' concerns. How to define whom to treat when there are not enough resources to treat everybody is the key question. This exploratory study aims to investigate the views of Bulgarian citizens regarding the relevance of the information concerning eight individual health-related behaviours in priority setting decisions: smoking, excess of alcohol, illegal drug use, overweight/obesity, speed driving, extreme sports practice, unsafe sex and overuse of internet and/or mobile devices.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a questionnaire where 322 respondents faced hypothetical rationing dilemmas comprising option pairs of the eight risky behaviours. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were performed to define the penalization of each of the risky behaviours and to test for the association between this penalization and the respondent's health habits and sociodemographic characteristics.

Findings

Most respondents would refuse to grant access to healthcare based on patients' personal responsibility for the disease. Nevertheless, respondents were more willing to consider illegal drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, engagement in unsafe sex behaviours and smoking. Respondent's own interest or advantage seems to be somehow relevant in explaining the penalization of risk behaviours in priority setting.

Practical implications

This study shows that most respondents support the lottery criterion and thus do not want to see lifestyle prioritization in action.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to awaken attention to the impact that personal responsibility for health may have on intergenerational access to healthcare in Bulgaria.
Drivers of behavioral intention among non-Muslims toward halal cosmetics: evidence from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore
Authors: Septiarini Dina Fitrisia , Ratnasari Ririn Tri , Salleh Marhanum Che Mohd , Herianingrum Sri , Sedianingsih Sedianingsih
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the halal brand image, halal logo and halal awareness of non-Muslim customers on attitude and behavioral intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative survey approach to 400 respondents consisting of 400 non-Muslim millennials in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore who have to buy halal cosmetics two years later. The sampling technique is purposive sampling. The analysis technique used in this study is structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study showed that halal logo, halal awareness and halal brand image have an effect on customer attitude. Then, the halal logo, halal awareness and halal brand image have an influence on behavioral intention. The existence of this positive signal has provided a great opportunity for businesses to make profits by meeting the demand for the halal market. Consumption of halal cosmetics produced by manufacturers attracts many non-Muslim consumers because of the safety, comfort and cleanliness of product ingredients, which of them must be given by the halal product, especially for cosmetics.

Research limitations/implications

This study broadens the understanding of the attitudes and behavioral intentions of non-Muslim consumers toward halal cosmetic products. Furthermore, this research has provided a deeper interpretation of non-Muslim understanding of halal logos, halal brand images and halal awareness which have been minimal in research studies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature related to the behavioral intentions of millennial non-Muslim consumers for halal cosmetics. Therefore, respondents in the study were specific, that is, non-Muslims who are millennial generation in the Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore context.
Coordinating a reverse supply chain under stochastic demand and uncertain quality of returned products
Authors: Giri Bibhas Chandra , Dey Sushil Kumar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of greening and promotional effort dependent stochastic market demand on the remanufacturer's and the collector's profits when the quality of used products for remanufacturing is uncertain in a reverse supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model is developed to obtain optimal profits for the remanufacturer, the collector and the whole supply chain. Both the centralized and decentralized scenarios are considered. To motivate the collector through profit enhancement, the remanufacturer designs a cost-sharing contract. Through numerical examples and sensitivity analysis, the consequences of greenness and promotional effort on optimal profits are investigated.

Findings

The results show that the remanufacturer gets benefited from greening and promotional effort enhancement. However, a higher value of minimum acceptable quality level decreases the profits of the manufacturer and the collector. A cost-sharing contract coordinates the supply chain and improves the remanufacturer's and the collector's profits. Besides green innovation, remanufacturing mitigates the harmful effects of waste in the environment.

Originality/value

Two different viewpoints of remanufacturing are considered here – environmental sustainability and economic sustainability. This paper considers a reverse supply chain with a remanufacturer who remanufactures the used products collected by the collector. The quality of used products is uncertain, and customer demand is stochastic, green and promotional effort sensitive. These two types of uncertainty with green and promotional effort sensitive customer demand differs the current paper from the existing literature.
A research framework to analyse visual persuasion of photographs in sustainability reports
Authors: Chong Sabrina , Momin Mahmood , Narayan Anil
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a theoretically informed and analytically rigorous research framework that sustainability researchers could use or further develop to examine visually persuasive messages in photographs.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the theoretical constructs of Peirce’s (1991) visual semiotic system of icon, index and symbol and Aristotle’s (1984) persuasive appeals of ethos, pathos and logos, the authors propose a research methodology that provides an explicit step-by-step guidance to examine visually persuasive messages in sustainability-related photographs. The sustainability-related photographs in The Coca-Cola Company’s 2018 Business and Sustainability Report are examined to illustrate the application of the framework.

Findings

This paper develops a research framework and provides empirical evidence of the use of the framework to enhance the understanding of visually persuasive messages depicted in photographs.

Practical implications

The proposed framework serves as a springboard for further research into visually persuasive messages.

Originality/value

The research framework of visual persuasion is novel and can be used by sustainability researchers to analyse photographs in corporate reports. It can be extended/modified to capture visual representations in different contexts and other disciplines as well.
Effect of local‐ and landscape‐scale factors on the distribution of the spring‐dependent species Geothelphusa dehaani and larval Anotogaster sieboldii
Authors: Hirano Yuna , Kobayashi Miho , Hashimoto Yuka , Kato Hiroki , Nishihiro Jun
Published: August 2022

Knowledge of the effects of local‐ and landscape‐scale environmental factors is indispensable for the conservation of wetland biodiversity. We surveyed the distribution and abundance of two spring‐dependent invertebrates, the Japanese freshwater crab Geothelphusa dehaani and larvae of dragonfly Anotogaster sieboldii, at 37 spring‐fed wetlands in the Lake Inba watershed, Japan. The relationships among local factors (water temperature, channel‐water velocity, substrate type, and abundance of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii), a landscape‐scale factor (the percentage of permeable surface in catchment; PPSC), and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of each species were analyzed using path analyses. PPSC indirectly affected the CPUE of both G. dehaani and A. sieboldii via different processes. For G. dehaani, PPSC affected the CPUE via a positive effect on channel‐water velocity and substrate composition in the wetland. On the other hand, PPSC positively affected the CPUE of A. sieboldii by decreasing the summer water temperature. Red swamp crayfish had no significant direct effects on either species, although we found a significant negative effect of channel‐water velocity on the distribution of red swamp crayfish. For conservation of these spring‐dependent species, we suggest preserving the area of permeable surface in the watershed in order to maintain flow velocity and low water temperature in wetlands.