bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Five Types of HPV Genotypes Causing Anogenital Warts (Condyloma Acuminatum) Using PCR-Tm Analysis Technology
Authors: Wu Lixia , Wang Weifeng , Zhang Jie , Wu Xuan , Chen Yan , Gu Xiaoping , Shao Huaqing , Li Hongsheng , Liu Weiwei
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Condyloma acuminatum (CA) is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. We established a high-throughput, simple, low-cost, and accurate HPV-typing assay (polymerase chain reaction-melting temperature [PCR-Tm] analysis) to detect HPV in CA.

Materials and Methods

We detected 280 cervical scraping samples, including positive samples of HPV-6 (26), HPV-11 (12), HPV-16 (22), HPV-42 (18), HPV-43 (25), HPV-multiple (19), HPV- other type (58), and HPV-negative samples (100). All samples were compared by PCR-Tm analysis and a flow fluorescence hybridization assay. Sequencing was used to confirm the results of the PCR-Tm analysis.

Results

PCR-Tm analysis was specific for each genotype (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, HPV-42, and HPV-43). The sensitivity of the PCR-Tm analysis assay for each genotype was 103, 103, 103, 103, and 102 copies/reaction, respectively. Most of the 158 samples, including 58 HPV-other type positive and 100 HPV-negative samples tested by the flow fluorescence hybridization assay, were tested negative by PCR-Tm analysis. For the 122 remaining samples, 26 HPV-6, 12 HPV-11, 22 HPV-16, 18 HPV-42, 25 HPV-43, and 19 multiple HPV infections were detected through PCR-Tm analysis. In total, 25 HPV-6, 12 HPV-11, 21 HPV-16, 18 HPV-42, 25 HPV-43, and only 10 multiple HPV infections were detected by the flow fluorescence hybridization assay. The kappa coefficient for the analysis of PCR-Tm analysis and flow fluorescence hybridization assay was 0.940 (P < 0.0001), and the 95% confidence interval of the kappa coefficient was 90.3–97.7%.

Conclusion

PCR-Tm analysis enabled the detection of HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, HPV-42, and HPV-43, including single and multiple infections.
Epidemiologic and Genomic Analysis of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Epidemic in the Nebraska Region of the United States, March 2020–2021
Authors: Siedlik Jacob A. , Watson Cynthia J. , Raine Morgan A. , Cheng Anne V. , Goering Richard V. , Stessman Holly A. F. , Belshan Michael
Published: May 2022

COVID-19 emerged at varying intervals in different regions of the United States in 2020. This report details the epidemiologic and genetic evolution of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first year of the epidemic in the state of Nebraska using data collected from the Creighton Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) health system. Statistical modelling identified age, gender, and previous history of diabetes and/or stroke as significant risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients. In parallel, the viral genomes of over 1,000 samples were sequenced. The overall rate of viral variation in the population was 0.07 mutations/day. Genetically, the first 9 months of the outbreak, which include the initial outbreak, a small surge in August and a major outbreak in November 2020 were primarily characterized by B.1. lineage viruses. In early 2021, the United Kingdom variant (B.1.1.7 or alpha) quickly became the dominant variant. Notably, surveillance of non-consensus variants detected B.1.1.7 defining mutations months earlier in Fall 2020. This work provides insights into the regional variance and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the Nebraska region during the first year of the pandemic.
A Case Report and Review of the Literature: Infectious Aneurysm Formation in the Pulmonary Arteries—A Rare but Perilous Sequela of Persisting Infection With Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Ruwisch Jannik , Fischer Bettina , Häbel Lea , Laenger Florian , Bollmann Benjamin-Alexander
Published: May 2022

Septic aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are rare conditions, with few cases having been reported worldwide. They are assumed to result from septic emboli that cause a local inflammatory reaction of the arterial wall, ultimately leading to degenerative changes. We report the case of a 63-year-old female patient presenting with Klebsiella pneumoniae urosepsis and first diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, who developed a life-threatening infectious pulmonary artery aneurysm secondary to bacteremia with Klebsiella pneumoniae. The patient required a lobectomy due to pulmonary hemorrhage. We review the clinical hallmarks of Klebsiella pneumoniae related septic pulmonary embolic disease and summarize currently known risk factors for the development of infectious aneurysmatic disease including diabetes mellitus and other states of immunosuppression. The featured case aims to increase the awareness for this seldom but life-threatening complication of infectious diseases such as Klebsiella pneumoniae urosepsis.
Novel Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets for Ischemic Stroke: A Focus on Gut Microbiota
Authors: Bao Zeyu , Zhang Zeyu , Zhou Guoyang , Zhang Anke , Shao Anwen , Zhou Feng
Published: May 2022

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke with limited treatment options. Although the pathological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of ischemic stroke have been comprehensively studied, no effective therapies were translated into clinical practice. Gut microbiota is a complex and diverse dynamic metabolic ecological balance network in the body, including a large number of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. The composition, quantity and distribution in gut microbiota are found to be associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as individual immune abnormalities, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. New insight suggests that ischemic stroke may lead to changes in the gut microbiota and the alterations of gut microbiota may determine stroke outcomes in turn. The link between gut microbiota and stroke is expected to provide new perspectives for ischemic stroke treatment. In this review, we discuss the gut microbiota alterations during ischemic stroke and gut microbiota-related stroke pathophysiology and complications. Finally, we highlight the role of the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke and summarize the microbiome-based treatment options that can improve the recovery of stroke patients.
Potential Embolic Sources Differ in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source According to Age: A 15-Year Study
Authors: Hou Yan , Elmashad Ahmed , Staff Ilene , Alberts Mark , Nouh Amre
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Understanding the potential embolic source in young patients with ESUS may improve the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Hypothesis

Potential embolic sources (PES) differ in young vs. older patients with ESUS, and, therefore, not all patients with ESUS have the same risk profile for stroke recurrence.

Methods

Young patients (age 18-49) with ESUS, who were admitted to our stroke center from 2006 to 2019, were identified retrospectively and matched with next consecutive older patients (age 50–99) with ESUS by admission date. PES were categorized as atrial cardiopathy, AFib diagnosed during follow-up, left ventricular disease (LVD), cardiac valvular disease (CVD), PFO or atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), and arterial disease. Patients, who had cancer or thrombophilia, were excluded. The type and number of PES and stroke recurrence rates were determined and compared between young and older patients.

Results

In young patients (55.3% women, median age 39 years), the most common PES was PFO/ASA, and the rate of other PES was low (2–7%). Half of the young patients (54.1%) had a single PES, only 10% had multiple PES, and 35.3% of young patients did not have any PES identified. In older patients (41.7% women, median age 74 years), the 3 most common PES were atrial cardiopathy (38.1%), LVD (35.7%), and arterial disease (23.8%). Nearly half of older patients (42.9%) had multiple PES. The rate of stroke recurrence tended to be lower in young patients as compared to older patients (4.9 vs. 11.4%, p = 0.29). During a median follow-up of 3 years, only 3 young patients (4.9%) had a recurrent stroke, and two of them had unclosed PFO. There were no recurrent strokes among young patients with no PES identified.

Conclusions

It was noted that PES differ in patients with ESUS according to age and differences in recurrence. PFO is the only common PES in young patients with ESUS. Future studies prospectively evaluating PES in both age groups are needed.
Long-Term Stability of Blood Serum Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Feasibility Study
Authors: van der Horn Harm Jan , Visser Koen , Bijzet Johan , Vos Pieter , van der Naalt Joukje , Jacobs Bram
Published: May 2022

Few studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) have investigated the stability of blood serum biomarkers after long-term storage at low temperatures. In the current feasibility study we analyzed acute phase serum samples from patients with mild TBI as well as patients with moderate and severe TBI that were collected more than 10 years ago (old samples). We were particularly interested in mild TBI, because injury effects are more subtle in this category as compared to moderate-severe TBI. Therefore, the primary objective was to find out whether several biomarkers were still detectable for these patients. Additionally, we examined whether biomarker levels varied as a function of injury severity. For comparison, we also analyzed samples from an ongoing mTBI cohort (new samples) and healthy controls. Samples were treated with care and were not being subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. We measured concentrations of interleukins (IL6 and 10) and brain specific markers (total tau, UCH-L1, GFAP, and NF-L). No significant differences in biomarker concentrations were found between old and new mild TBI samples. For IL6, IL10, and UCH-L1 higher concentrations were found in moderate and severe TBI as compared to mild TBI. In conclusion, our study shows that long-term storage does not rule out the detection of meaningful biomarker concentrations in patients with TBI, although further research by other laboratories is warranted.
Application of the Willis Covered Stent in the Treatment of Blood Blister-Like Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Fang Wei , Yu Jia , Liu Yufeng , Sun Peng , Yang Zijian , Zhao Zhenwei , He Yue , Deng Jianping , Zhang Tao
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Willis covered stent (WCS) in the treatment of ruptured blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) of the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Method

The clinical data of 16 patients consecutively treated with WCSs from December 2015 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data and angiographic findings were analyzed by two experienced neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons, including age, sex, Hunt and Hess (H&H) grade at admission, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, aneurysm size, and location, the diameter of the patent artery in proximal and distal ends, stent size, rate of aneurysm occlusion, procedure-related complications, and follow-up.

Results

All the 16 patients (five males, 11 females) with ICA BBAs underwent WCS deployment successfully. The median age was 49 years (range, 29–72). All patients had complete aneurysm occlusion on immediate postoperative angiography. Anterior choroidal artery (AChA) was occluded in one patient accidentally while no obvious neurological dysfunction was observed. However, this patient underwent subarachnoid hemorrhage 1 day after the treatment; endoleak and aneurysm recurred, and the patient died 10 days later. Therefore, the effective rate of WCS treatment was 93.8% (15/16), and procedure-related complications rate was 6.3% (1/16). Moreover, one patient was urgently treated because of accidental aneurysm rupture after anesthesia, and external ventricular drainage was then performed postoperatively. Another patient developed coma and hemiplegia 3 days after treatment, with emergency angiography showing in-stent thrombosis and ICA occlusion which was recanalized with arterial rt-PA thrombolysis; the patient recovered completely. The clinical follow-up period was 3–30 months in 14 patients. The mRS scores were 0 in 12 patients (85.7%) and 4 in 1 case (7.1%), while 1 patient (7.1%) died 6 months postoperatively for unknown reasons. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 13 patients, and no recurrence was observed. However, ICA occlusion without neurological deficit was observed in one patient.

Conclusion

Based on careful preoperative evaluation, appropriate WCS size selection, and precise surgical operation, WCSs may provide an alternative and effective solution for blood BBAs via aneurysm isolation and ICA reconstruction immediately; However, further follow-up studies with larger samples are required.
Adolescent Alcohol and Stress Exposure Rewires Key Cortical Neurocircuitry
Authors: Sicher Avery R. , Duerr Arielle , Starnes William D. , Crowley Nicole A.
Published: May 2022

Human adolescence is a period of development characterized by wide ranging emotions and behavioral risk taking, including binge drinking (Konrad et al., 2013). These behavioral manifestations of adolescence are complemented by growth in the neuroarchitecture of the brain, including synaptic pruning (Spear, 2013) and increases in overall white matter volume (Perrin et al., 2008). During this period of profound physiological maturation, the adolescent brain has a unique vulnerability to negative perturbations. Alcohol consumption and stress exposure, both of which are heightened during adolescence, can individually and synergistically alter these neurodevelopmental trajectories in positive and negative ways (conferring both resiliency and susceptibility) and influence already changing neurotransmitter systems and circuits. Importantly, the literature is rapidly changing and evolving in our understanding of basal sex differences in the brain, as well as the interaction between biological sex and life experiences. The animal literature provides the distinctive opportunity to explore sex-specific stress- and alcohol- induced changes in neurocircuits on a relatively rapid time scale. In addition, animal models allow for the investigation of individual neurons and signaling molecules otherwise inaccessible in the human brain. Here, we review the human and rodent literature with a focus on cortical development, neurotransmitters, peptides, and steroids, to characterize the field’s current understanding of the interaction between adolescence, biological sex, and exposure to stress and alcohol.
Single Extracellular Vesicle Analysis Using Flow Cytometry for Neurological Disorder Biomarkers
Authors: Ali Moussa Houda Yasmine , Manaph Nimshitha , Ali Gowher , Maacha Selma , Shin Kyung Chul , Ltaief Samia M. , Gupta Vijay , Tong Yongfeng , Ponraj Janarthanan , Salloum-Asfar Salam , Mansour Said , Al-Shaban Fouad A. , Kim Hyung-Goo , Stanton Lawrence W. , Grivel Jean-Charles , Abdulla Sara A. , Al-Shammari Abeer R. , Park Yongsoo
Published: May 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane vesicles released from cells to the extracellular space, involved in cell-to-cell communication by the horizontal transfer of biomolecules such as proteins and RNA. Because EVs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), circulating through the bloodstream and reflecting the cell of origin in terms of disease prognosis and severity, the contents of plasma EVs provide non-invasive biomarkers for neurological disorders. However, neuronal EV markers in blood plasma remain unclear. EVs are very heterogeneous in size and contents, thus bulk analyses of heterogeneous plasma EVs using Western blot and ELISA have limited utility. In this study, using flow cytometry to analyze individual neuronal EVs, we show that our plasma EVs isolated by size exclusion chromatography are mainly CD63-positive exosomes of endosomal origin. As a neuronal EV marker, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is highly enriched in EVs released from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived cortical neurons and brain organoids. We identified the subpopulations of plasma EVs that contain NCAM using flow cytometry-based individual EV analysis. Our results suggest that plasma NCAM-positive neuronal EVs can be used to discover biomarkers for neurological disorders.
Does Machine Understanding Require Consciousness?
Authors: Pepperell Robert
Published: May 2022

This article addresses the question of whether machine understanding requires consciousness. Some researchers in the field of machine understanding have argued that it is not necessary for computers to be conscious as long as they can match or exceed human performance in certain tasks. But despite the remarkable recent success of machine learning systems in areas such as natural language processing and image classification, important questions remain about their limited performance and about whether their cognitive abilities entail genuine understanding or are the product of spurious correlations. Here I draw a distinction between natural, artificial, and machine understanding. I analyse some concrete examples of natural understanding and show that although it shares properties with the artificial understanding implemented in current machine learning systems it also has some essential differences, the main one being that natural understanding in humans entails consciousness. Moreover, evidence from psychology and neurobiology suggests that it is this capacity for consciousness that, in part at least, explains for the superior performance of humans in some cognitive tasks and may also account for the authenticity of semantic processing that seems to be the hallmark of natural understanding. I propose a hypothesis that might help to explain why consciousness is important to understanding. In closing, I suggest that progress toward implementing human-like understanding in machines—machine understanding—may benefit from a naturalistic approach in which natural processes are modelled as closely as possible in mechanical substrates.
Serum Anti-BRAT1 is a Common Molecular Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Cancers and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Hu Liubing , Liu Jiyue , Shimada Hideaki , Ito Masaaki , Sugimoto Kazuo , Hiwasa Takaki , Zhou Qinghua , Li Jianshuang , Shen Si , Wang Hao
Published: May 2022

Atherosclerosis (AS) and cancers are major global causes of mortality and morbidity. They also share common modifiable pathogenesis risk factors. As the same strategies used to predict AS could also detect certain cancers, we sought novel serum antibody biomarkers of cancers in atherosclerotic sera sampled by liquid biopsy. Using serological antigen identification by cDNA expression cloning (SEREX) and western blot, we screened and detected the antigens BRCA1-Associated ATM Activator 1 (BRAT1) and WD Repeat Domain 1 (WDR1) in the sera of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Amplified luminescence proximity homogeneous assay-linked immunosorbent assay (AlphaLISA) established the upregulation of serum BRAT1 antibody (BRAT1-Abs) and WDR1 antibody (WDR1-Abs) in patients with AS-related diseases compared with healthy subjects. ROC and Spearman’s correlation analyses showed that BRAT1-Abs and WDR1-Abs could detect AS-related diseases. Thus, serum BRAT1-Abs and WDR1-Abs are potential AS biomarkers. We used online databases and AlphaLISA detection to compare relative antigen and serum antibody expression and found high BRAT1 and BRAT1-Abs expression in patients with GI cancers. Significant increases (> 0.6) in the AUC for BRAT1-Ab vs. esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer suggested that BRAT1-Ab exhibited better predictive potential for GI cancers than WDR1-Ab. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between BRAT1-Ab groups (P = 0.12). Nevertheless, a log-rank test disclosed that the highest serum BRAT1-Ab levels were associated with poor ESCC prognosis at 5–60 weeks post-surgery. We validated the foregoing conclusions by comparing serum BRAT1-Ab and WDR1-Ab levels based on the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients with ESCC. Multiple statistical approaches established a correlation between serum BRAT1-Ab levels and platelet counts. BRAT1-Ab upregulation may enable early detection of AS and GI cancers and facilitate the delay of disease progression. Thus, BRAT1-Ab is a potential antibody biomarker for the diagnosis of AS and GI cancers and strongly supports the routine clinical application of liquid biopsy in chronic disease detection and diagnosis.
Non-Invasive Diagnostic Test for Advanced Fibrosis in Adolescents With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Mosca Antonella , Della Volpe Luca , Alisi Anna , Veraldi Silvio , Francalanci Paola , Maggiore Giuseppe
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifaceted disease that includes a wide spectrum of liver damage. The presence and the degree of fibrosis are considered important factors for the prognosis of NAFLD and in predicting the risk of developing cirrhosis. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of four fibrosis scores (aspartate aminotransferase/Platelet Index [APRI], FIB-4, NAFLD Fibrosis Score [NFS], and Hepamet) in predicting different degrees of fibrosis among children with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Methods

About 286 adolescents [mean age 14.3 years ± 2.5; 154 (53.6%) males], referred between January 2014 and December 2019, with biopsy-proven NAFLD were enrolled.

Results

About 173 (60.4%) patients presented fibrosis at histological analysis. In particular: 140 (49.3%) patients had F = 1, 31 (10.8%), had F = 2 and 2 (0.66%) had F = 3. APRI (AUROC 0.619, 95% CI 0.556–0.679) and Hepamet (AUROC 0.778, 95% CI 0.722–0.828) scores had significant (p < 0.001) accuracy to distinguish subjects with fibrosis; while NFS and FIB-4 had not. APRI had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 62.77% (95% CI 57.96–67.35) and an negative predictive value (NPV) of 52.01% (95% CI 46.54–57.43); Hepamet a PPV of 63.24% (95% CI 59.95–66.41) and an NPV of 61.29% (52.9–69.01).

Conclusions

Our study showed that Hepamet and APRI perform better than NFS and FIB-4 for identifying fibrosis in patients with NAFLD, but do not have PPVs so high to be considered diagnostic. Therefore, they cannot be employed, in children, for a certain diagnosis of fibrosis or its progression and cannot replace liver biopsy as the gold diagnostic standard. It is, therefore, necessary to continue to research and develop new markers of exclusive fibrosis.
N-Acetylcysteine for the Management of Non-Acetaminophen Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sanabria-Cabrera Judith , Tabbai Sara , Niu Hao , Alvarez-Alvarez Ismael , Licata Anna , Björnsson Einar , Andrade Raul J. , Lucena M. Isabel
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare adverse reaction to drugs and other xenobiotics. DILI has different grades of severity and may lead to acute liver failure (ALF), for which there is no effective therapy. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been occasionally tested for the treatment of non-acetaminophen drug-induced ALF. However, limited evidence for its efficacy and safety is currently available. Our aim was to elucidate the benefit and safety of NAC in DILI and evaluate its hepatoprotective effect.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the management and prevention focused on NAC in idiosyncratic DILI. The main outcomes included mortality due to DILI, time to normalization of liver biochemistry, transplant-free survival, and adverse events. We included clinical trials and observational studies, either prospective or retrospective.

Results: A total of 11 studies were included after literature screening. All studies had different methodologies, and some of them had important risk of bias that may lead to interpreting their findings with caution. The majority of the studies proved NAC efficacy in a cohort of patients with ALF due to different etiologies, where DILI represented a subgroup. NAC seemed to improve transplant-free survival; however, its benefit was inconclusive in terms of overall survival. With regard to safety, NAC showed an adequate safety profile. In prevention studies, NAC showed a possible hepatoprotective effect; however, this finding is limited by the lack of studies and presence of bias.

Conclusion: NAC treatment seems to have some benefit in non-acetaminophen drug-induced liver failure patients with acceptable safety; however, due to the lack of evidence and limitations detected across studies, its benefit must be corroborated in clinical trials with adequate methodology.
Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Real World Retrospective Study
Authors: Zheng Zhuangzhuang , Liu Zijing , Zhang Haifeng , Guo Xiao , Jia Xiaojing , Wang Jianfeng , Meng Lingbin , Xin Ying , Jiang Xin
Published: May 2022

Background and Purpose: Apatinib is a novel antiangiogenic agent that can target vascular endothelial cell growth factor 2. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib mesylate in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the real world.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 178 patients with advanced HCC who had been treated with apatinib mesylate from January 2017 to March 2020. The primary outcome indexes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcome indexes were overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and incidence of treatment-related adverse reactions.

Results: Univariate analysis showed that patients with third-line treatment (p <0.001), alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/ml (p <0.05), distant metastasis (p <0.05), portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) (p <0.05), and apatinib monotherapy (p <0.001) had shorter survival. Multivariate analysis confirmed that third-line drugs, PVTT, and combination therapy were independent prognostic factors for PFS in all patients. Univariate analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores (p <0.05), line of apatinib (p <0.001), AFP (p <0.001), tumor progression (p <0.05), PVTT (p <0.05), and combination therapy (p <0.001) may impact the OS. Multivariate analysis proved that AFP, PVTT, and combination therapy were independent prognostic factors for OS. The most common adverse reactions were secondary hypertension (29.21%), symptoms of fatigue (16.85%), hand and foot syndrome (16.29%), vomiting (14.04%), liver dysfunction (6.18%), and proteinuria (6.74%). Most of the adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2.

Conclusion: Apatinib mesylate is an effective treatment for advanced HCC, and its adverse reactions are relatively mild. Line of apatinib, PVTT, AFP level, and combination therapy were independent prognostic factors for patients with advanced HCC who were treated with apatinib.
Automatic and Label-Free Analysis of the Microstructure Feature Differences Between Normal Brain Tissue, Low-Grade, and High-Grade Gliomas Using the Combination of Multiphoton Microscopy and Image Analysis
Authors: Wu Zanyi , Wang Xingfu , Fang Na , Lin Yuanxiang , Zheng Liqin , Xue Yihui , Cai Shanshan , Chen Jianxin , Lin Ni , Kang Dezhi
Published: May 2022

Accurate intraoperative identification of gliomas is of utmost importance. This task often remains a challenge for the pathologist and neurosurgeon because of the absence of full intraoperative microstructure feature details of the tumor. Here, multiphoton microscopy (MPM), based on second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), is applied for label-free detecting the microstructure feature differences between normal brain tissue, low-grade, and high-grade gliomas. MPM can not only capture the difference of their qualitative microstructure features such as increased cellularity, nuclear atypia, microvascular proliferation, and necrosis that are significant for diagnosing and grading of glioma, but also visualize some additional features such as collagen deposition that cannot be seen by conventional methods. In addition, automated image analysis algorithms are developed to automatically and accurately calculate the quantitative diagnostic features: collagen content, the number and area of nuclei to further quantitatively analyze the microstructure features difference of collagen deposition, cellularity, and nuclear atypia between normal brain tissue, low-grade, and high-grade gliomas. With the development of two-photon fiberscope, combined MPM and image processing techniques may become an imaging tool for assisting intraoperatively diagnosing and grading gliomas.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase/Nitric Oxide System as a Biomarker for Stress and Ease Response in Fish: Implication on Na+ Homeostasis During Hypoxia
Authors: Peter M. C. Subhash , Gayathry R. , Peter Valsa S.
Published: May 2022

The cellular and organismal response to stressor-driven stimuli evokes stress response in vertebrates including fishes. Fishes have evolved varied patterns of stress response, including ionosmotic stress response, due to their sensitivity to both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Fishes that experience hypoxia, a detrimental stressor that imposes systemic and cellular stress response, can evoke disturbed ion homeostasis. In addition, like other vertebrates, fishes have also developed mechanisms to recover from the impact of stress by way of shifting stress response into ease response that could reduce the magnitude of stress response with the aid of certain neuroendocrine signals. Nitric oxide (NO) has been identified as a potent molecule that attenuates the impact of ionosmotic stress response in fish, particularly during hypoxia stress. Limited information is, however, available on this important aspect of ion transport physiology that contributes to the mechanistic understanding of survival during environmental challenges. The present review, thus, discusses the role of NO in Na+ homeostasis in fish particularly in stressed conditions. Isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are essential for the synthesis and availability of NO at the cellular level. The NOS/NO system, thus, appears as a unique molecular drive that performs both regulatory and integrative mechanisms of control within and across varied fish ionocytes. The activation of the inducible NOS (iNOS)/NO system during hypoxia stress and its action on the dynamics of Na+/K+-ATPase, an active Na+ transporter in fish ionocytes, reveal that the iNOS/NO system controls cellular and systemic Na+ transport in stressed fish. In addition, the higher sensitivity of iNOS to varied physical stressors in fishes and the ability of NO to lower the magnitude of ionosmotic stress in hypoxemic fish clearly put forth NO as an ease-promoting signal molecule in fishes. This further points to the signature role of the iNOS/NO system as a biomarker for stress and ease response in the cycle of adaptive response in fish.
The Exploitation of Orphan Legumes for Food, Income, and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Popoola Jacob Olagbenro , Aworunse Oluwadurotimi Samuel , Ojuederie Omena Bernard , Adewale Babasola Daniel , Ajani Oluwapelumi Comfort , Oyatomi Olaniyi Ajewole , Eruemulor Davelyne Ifechukwude , Adegboyega Taofeek Tope , Obembe Olawole Odun
Published: May 2022

Poverty, food, and nutrition insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have become major concerns in recent times. The effects of climate change, drought, and unpredictable rainfall patterns threaten food production and sustainable agriculture. More so, insurgency, youth restiveness, and politico-economic instability amidst a burgeoning population requiring a sufficient and healthy diet remain front-burner issues in the region. Overdependence on only a few major staple crops is increasingly promoting the near extinction of many crops, especially orphan legumes, which possess immense potentials as protein and nutritional security crops. The major staple crops are declining in yield partly to their inability to adapt to the continuously changing climatic conditions. Remarkably, the orphan legumes are climate-smart crops with enormous agronomic features which foster sustainable livelihood. Research efforts on these crops have not attained a reasonable comparative status with most commercial crops. Though many research organizations and scientists have made efforts to promote the improvement and utilization of these orphan legumes, there is still more to be done. These legumes’ vast genetic resources and economic utility are grossly under-exploited, but their values and promising impacts are immeasurable. Given the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) of zero hunger, improved nutrition, health, and sustainable agriculture, the need to introduce these crops into food systems in SSA and other poverty-prone regions of the world is now more compelling than ever. This review unveils inherent values in orphan legumes needing focus for exploitation viz-a-viz cultivation, commercialization, and social acceptance. More so, this article discusses some of the nutraceutical potentials of the orphan legumes, their global adaptability, and modern plant breeding strategies that could be deployed to develop superior phenotypes to enrich the landraces. Advanced omics technologies, speed breeding, as well as the application of genome editing techniques, could significantly enhance the genetic improvement of these useful but underutilized legumes. Efforts made in this regard and the challenges of these approaches were also discussed.
Distribution of Phasmarhabditis (Nematode: Rhabditidae) and Their Gastropod Hosts in California Plant Nurseries and Garden Centers
Authors: Schurkman Jacob , Tandingan De Ley Irma , Anesko Kyle , Paine Timothy , Mc Donnell Rory , Dillman Adler R.
Published: May 2022

Three species ofPhasmarhabditiswere recovered from 75 nurseries and garden centers in 28 counties in California during fall and winter 2012–2021. A total of 18 mollusk species were recovered, most of them invasive. Nematodes were identified by sequencing the D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU or 28S) rRNA. Based on these surveys,P. californicawas the most widespread species (37 isolates, 53.6% recovery); followed byP. hermaphrodita(26 isolates; 37.7% recovery);P. papillosaand a closely relatedP. papillosaisolate (6 isolates; 8.7% recovery). Nematode isolates were mainly collected from four invasive slugs (Deroceras reticulatum,D. laeve,Arion hortensisagg,Ambigolimax valentianus) and snails (Oxychilusspp. andDiscusspp.). Results suggest thatP. californicaandP. hermaphroditashare an ecological niche in Northern, Central, Coastal, and Southern California, north of Los Angeles County.
Co-fertilization of Sulfur and Struvite-Phosphorus in a Slow-Release Fertilizer Improves Soybean Cultivation
Authors: Valle Stella F. , Giroto Amanda S. , Guimarães Gelton G. F. , Nagel Kerstin A. , Galinski Anna , Cohnen Jens , Jablonowski Nicolai D. , Ribeiro Caue
Published: May 2022

Graphical Abstract
Transcriptome and Metabonomics Analysis Revealed the Molecular Mechanism of Differential Metabolite Production of Dendrobium nobile Under Different Epiphytic Patterns
Authors: Li Qingqing , Liu Chaobo , Huang Ceyin , Wang Mufei , Long Teng , Liu Jingyi , Shi Junhua , Shi Junli , Li Lin , He Yuqi , Xu De-Lin
Published: May 2022

The cultivation medium of Dendrobium nobile has an effect on the contents of its main medicinal components, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the callus, seedlings, rhizomes, and leaves of D. nobile were sequenced for the PacBio SMRT. The 2-year-old stems were selected for the Illumina sequencing and metabolome sequencing to analyze the genetic mechanism of metabolic differences under different epiphytic patterns. As a result, a total of 387 differential genes were obtained, corresponding to 66 differential metabolites. Different epiphytic patterns can induce a series of metabolic changes at the metabolome and transcriptome levels of D. nobile, including flavonoid metabolism, purine metabolism, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolic, and related regulatory genes include ALDH2B7, ADC, EPSPS-1, SHKA, DHAPS-1, GES, ACS1, SAHH, ACS2, CHLP, LOX2, LOX2.3, and CYP74B2. The results showed that the genetic mechanism of D. nobile under various epiphytic patterns was different. In theory, the content of metabolites under the epiphytic patterns of Danxia stone is higher, which is more suitable for field cultivation.
Transformation of Plant to Resource Acquisition Under High Nitrogen Addition Will Reduce Green Roof Ecosystem Functioning
Authors: Zhang Qinze , Hao Guang , Li Meiyang , Li Longqin , Kang Binyue , Yang Nan , Li Hongyuan
Published: May 2022

Ecosystem engineering, such as green roof, provides numerous key ecosystem functions dependent on both plants and environmental changes. In the recent years, global nitrogen (N) deposition has become a hot topic with the intensification of anthropogenic disturbance. However, the response of green roof ecosystems to N deposition is still not clear. To explore the effects of N addition on plant ecological strategy and ecosystem functioning (biomass), we conducted a 3-month N addition simulation experiment using 12 common green roof species from different growth forms on an extensive green roof in Tianjin, China. The experiment included three different N addition treatments (0, 3.5, and 10.5 gN m–2 year–1). We found that plants with the resource-acquisitive strategy were more suitable to survive in a high N environment, since both aboveground and belowground traits exhibited synergistic effects. Moreover, N addition indirectly decreased plant biomass, indicating that ecosystem functioning was impaired. We highlight that there is a trade-off between the survival of green roof species and keeping the ecosystem functioning well in the future N deposition. Meanwhile, these findings also provide insights into how green roof species respond to global climate change and offer important information for better managing and protecting similar ecosystem engineering in the background of high N deposition.
Potential Contributions of Behavior Analysis to Research on Pro-environmental Behavior
Authors: Wille Farina , Lange Florian
Published: May 2022

Large parts of contemporary research on pro-environmental behavior focus on mechanistic explanations and mental constructs. Exclusive reliance on this approach may hinder the search for novel solutions to conceptual problems, more powerful methods, and innovative behavior change interventions. Theoretical diversity, on the other hand, can render a field adaptive in its responses to crises and impasses. Against this background, we describe the complementary approach of behavior analysis and its potential contributions to problems of contemporary research on pro-environmental behavior. Behavior analysis (1) provides a consistent account of phenomena that are difficult to reconcile with the mechanistic perspective, (2) redirects the spotlight to context, (3) provides a framework and methodology for assessing behavior with actual environmental impact, and (4) could inspire the development of new intervention techniques. Based on these contributions, we conclude that behavior analysis could substantially enrich research on pro-environmental behavior.
The Relationship Between Empowering Motivational Climate in Physical Education and Social Adaptation of Senior High School Students: An Analysis of Chain Mediating Effect
Authors: Guo Kelei , Ma Qishuai , Yao Shujun , Liu Chao , Hui Zhen , Chen HuaSheng , Wen Pengfei
Published: May 2022

This study aims to contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying the association between empowering motivational climate in physical education and social adaptation among senior high school students, and has important implications for interventions that aim at improving social adaptation among senior high school students. Through the quota sampling, 1,526 students (average age = 17 years, SD = 0.714 years) who came from Anhui Province and met the requirements participated and completed the Empowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire in Physical Education (EMCQ-PE), the Physical Education Engagement Scale (PEES-S), the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) (Chinese version), and the Adolescent Social Adaptation Assessment Questionnaire (ASAAQ). For data analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, structural equation model test, and bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method were carried out in turn. The results showed that empowering motivational climate in physical education positively predicted social adaptation (β = 0.282, p < 0.01), empowering motivational climate in physical education positively predicted physical education engagement and emotional intelligence (β = 0.169, p < 0.01; β = 0.690, p < 0.01), physical education engagement positively predicted emotional intelligence and social adaptation (β = 0.591, p < 0.01; β = 0.058, p < 0.05), and emotional intelligence positively predicted social adaptation (β = 0.365, p < 0.01). Physical education engagement and emotional intelligence played a mediating role in empowering motivational climate in physical education and social adaptation, with a total mediating effect value of 0.251. This study shows that empowering motivational climate in physical education not only directly predicts social adaptation but also indirectly predicts social adaptation through the chain mediating effect of physical education engagement and emotional intelligence.
Substantial but Misunderstood Human Sexual Dimorphism Results Mainly From Sexual Selection on Males and Natural Selection on Females
Authors: Lassek William D. , Gaulin Steven J. C.
Published: May 2022

Human sexual dimorphism has been widely misunderstood. A large literature has underestimated the effect of differences in body composition and the role of male contest competition for mates. It is often assumed that sexually dimorphic traits reflect a history of sexual selection, but natural selection frequently builds different phenotypes in males and females. The relatively small sex difference in stature (∼7%) and its decrease during human evolution have been widely presumed to indicate decreased male contest competition for mates. However, females likely increased in stature relative to males in order to successfully deliver large-brained neonates through a bipedally-adapted pelvis. Despite the relatively small differences in stature and body mass (∼16%), there are marked sex differences in body composition. Across multiple samples from groups with different nutrition, males typically have 36% more lean body mass, 65% more muscle mass, and 72% more arm muscle than women, yielding parallel sex differences in strength. These sex differences in muscle and strength are comparable to those seen in primates where sexual selection, arising from aggressive male mating competition, has produced high levels of dimorphism. Body fat percentage shows a reverse pattern, with females having ∼1.6 times more than males and depositing that fat in different body regions than males. We argue that these sex differences in adipose arise mainly from natural selection on women to accumulate neurodevelopmental resources.
Disrupted Causal Connectivity Anchored on the Right Anterior Insula in Drug-Naive First-Episode Patients With Depressive Disorder
Authors: Xie Haiyan , Guo Qinger , Duan Jinfeng , Jia Xize , Zhou Weihua , Sun Haozhe , Fang Ping , Yang Hong
Published: May 2022

Object

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been demonstrated to be associated with abnormalities in neural networks. However, few studies examined information flow in the salience network (SN). This study examined abnormalities in the causal connectivity between the SN and whole brain in drug-naive first-episode patients with MDD in the resting state.

Methods

Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria, 23 drug-naive first-episode MDD patients and 20 matched healthy individuals were recruited and underwent a resting-state magnetic resonance scan. The acquired functional image data were preprocessed using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data analysis toolkit plus (RESTplus). Then, using the data processing & analysis for brain imaging (DPABI) software and a coefficient-based general component analysis method with the right anterior insula (rAI) as the region of interest (ROI), the causal connectivity of the SN with the whole brain and its correlation with cognitive and mental performance were examined in the resting state.

Results

(1) The MDD group showed a significantly higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score and significantly higher scores for anxiety, cognitive disturbance, and block factors compared with normal controls. (2) Compared with control: from whole brain to the rAI, the MDD group showed a lower causal connectivity in the left inferior frontal gyrus; from the rAI to the whole brain, the MDD group showed a lower causal connectivity in the right cingulate gyrus, the right precuneus, and extending to paracentral lobule but higher causal connectivity in the left inferior and middle frontal gyrus. (3) In the MDD group, from rAI to the whole brain, the causal connectivity values for the right cingulate gyrus/precuneus were negatively correlated with the score of Stroop Color-Word Test A, B, and C as well as interference times.

Conclusion

Our results indicated disrupted causal connectivity among the default mode network (DMN), the central executive network (CEN), and SN in drug-naive first-episode MDD patients. Especially, our results suggest a unique role for rAI in the ordered or hierarchical information processing, presumed to include bottom-up and top-down reciprocal influences among the three networks in MDD.