bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on hepatic fibrosis and steatosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Peipei , Tan Ying , Hao Zhenning , Xu Weilong , Zhou Xiqiao , Yu Jiangyi
Published: March 2023

Objective

Clinical trials have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are closely associated with hepatic fibrosis and steatosis by FibroScan. This paper aimed at evaluating the effects of SGLT2i on hepatic fibrosis and steatosis, which are presented as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database were searched for randomized clinical trials from database establishment to 30 November 2022 with no language restrictions. The risk of bias was evaluated by Collaboration Handbook. Software Stata 17 and Review Manager (version 5.3) were used for meta-analysis.

Results

A total of eight articles including 686 patients were included. Compared with the control group, our results showed that SGLT2i could lower levels of LSM [MD = −0.82, 95%CI (−1.38, −0.25), p = 0.005] and CAP [MD = −12.80, 95%CI (−20.57, −5.03), p = 0.001]. Further subgroup analyses indicated that SGLT2i presented more advantages on longer treatment duration and more serious steatosis in decreasing LSM. For CAP, SGLT2i exhibited a clear advantage in subgroup analyses of longer treatment duration, younger people, dapagliflozin, worse fibrosis, and steatosis.

Conclusion

SGLT2i could reduce LSM and CAP in contrast to other antihyperglycemic drugs. However, the included studies are not definitive, and well-designed, more multi-centered, blinded randomized clinical trials are warranted to definitively establish reliable evidence.
Two-stage robust optimization of regional integrated energy systems considering uncertainties of distributed energy stations
Authors: Zong Xuanjun , Yuan Yue
Published: March 2023

For a regional integrated energy system (RIES) composed of an energy supply network and distributed energy station, the uncertainty of distributed photovoltaic (PV) output and the fluctuation of various loads pose significant challenges to the stability of system operation and the accuracy of optimal scheduling. In order to enhance the operational reliability of regional integrated energy systems and reduce the impact of photovoltaic and load uncertainties on distributed energy stations, this study proposes robust optimization method of regional integrated energy systems that takes into account the uncertainty of the distributed energy station. First, the regional integrated energy system is divided into an upper electric-gas energy supply network and a lower distributed energy station. The upper model mainly realizes energy transmission, while the lower model is a two-stage robust optimization model of distributed energy stations in the form of min–max–min, which mainly realizes flexible energy supply of different types of energy. Then, the lower two-stage robust optimization model is simplified and solved using a column and constraint generation (CCG) algorithm. After that, an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is used to solve the upper and lower models of the regional integrated energy system, and the solution scale is reduced while ensuring the correlation between the energy transmission network and the distributed energy stations. Finally, a test example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method. It follows from simulation results that the robust optimization method can effectively reduce the instability of the system operation caused by uncertainty factors and improve the system’s anti-interference ability, and in addition, systems with high penetration levels of photovoltaic output will benefit more from robust optimization.
Water narratives in local newspapers within the United States
Authors: Sweitzer Matthew D. , Gunda Thushara , Gilligan Jonathan M.
Published: March 2023

Sustainable use of water resources continues to be a challenge across the globe. This is in part due to the complex set of physical and social behaviors that interact to influence water management from local to global scales. Analyses of water resources have been conducted using a variety of techniques, including qualitative evaluations of media narratives. This study aims to augment these methods by leveraging computational and quantitative techniques from the social sciences focused on text analyses. Specifically, we use natural language processing methods to investigate a large corpus (approx. 1.8M) of newspaper articles spanning approximately 35 years (1982–2017) for insights into human-nature interactions with water. Focusing on local and regional United States publications, our analysis demonstrates important dynamics in water-related dialogue about drinking water and pollution to other critical infrastructures, such as energy, across different parts of the country. Our assessment, which looks at water as a system, also highlights key actors and sentiments surrounding water. Extending these analytical methods could help us further improve our understanding of the complex roles of water in current society that should be considered in emerging activities to mitigate and respond to resource conflicts and climate change.
Road network analyses elucidate hidden road flooding impacts under accelerating sea level rise
Authors: Mitchell Molly , Hendricks Jessica , Schatt Daniel
Published: March 2023

Introduction: As sea level rises and coastal communities simultaneously grow, road flooding has the potential to significantly disrupt travel along road networks and make houses, businesses, and critical facilities difficult to reach. The impacts of tidal and storm surge flooding on roadways present challenging social and economic considerations for all coastal jurisdictions. Maintenance, public and private accessibility, evacuation routes, emergency services are just a few of the common themes local governments are beginning to address for low-lying roadways currently known to flood. Continuation of these services allows a community to thrive, to maintain or increase its tax base, and to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizenry.

Methods: A traditional approach to analyzing road flood overlays flooding areas on roadways and focuses only on impacts within the actual zone of inundation. However, road flooding can also cut-off access to non-flooded roads and properties, closing the transportation corridor into or out of their downstream dwelling/service areas and other areas that may be impacted. In this study, we examined changing road inaccessibility under accelerating sea level rise for urban and rural localities.

Results: Inaccessibility of roads and properties increased nearly twice as much as would be suggested by the length of flooded roads. Overall vulnerability of a locality was primarily dependent on its elevation; however, the redundancy of the road network appears to affect the rate at which properties became inaccessible. Areas with complex and redundant road networks-maintained access to coastal properties longer, suggesting increased resilience in the near term.

Discussion: Road inaccessibility will impact property values and emergency response times but understanding the connection between flooding areas and inaccessible properties allows prioritization of road upgrades, improving overall coastal resilience.
C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat allele tagging SNPs: Associations with ALS risk and longevity
Authors: Kaivola Karri , Pirinen Matti , Laaksovirta Hannu , Jansson Lilja , Rautila Osma , Launes Jyrki , Hokkanen Laura , Lahti Jari , Eriksson Johan G. , Strandberg Timo E. , FinnGen  , Tienari Pentti J.
Published: March 2023

C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion is a common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The C9orf72 locus may harbor residual risk outside the hexanucleotide repeat expansion, but the evidence is conflicting. Here, we first compared 683 unrelated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases and 3,196 controls with Finnish ancestry to find best single nucleotide polymorphisms that tag the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion and intermediate-length alleles. Rs2814707 was the best tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms for intermediate-length alleles with ≥7 repeats (p = 5 × 10−307) and rs139185008 for the hexanucleotide repeat expansion (p = 7 × 10−114) as well as alleles with ≥20 repeats. rs139185008*C associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after removing cases with the hexanucleotide repeat expansion, especially in the subpopulation homozygous for the rs2814707*T (p = 0.0002, OR = 5.06), which supports the concept of residual amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk at the C9orf72 haplotypes other than the hexanucleotide repeat expansion. We then leveraged Finnish biobank data to test the effects of rs2814707*T and rs139185008*C on longevity after removing individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / frontotemporal dementia diagnoses. In the discovery cohort (n = 230,006), the frequency of rs139185008*C heterozygotes decreased significantly with age in the comparisons between 50 and 80 years vs. >80 years (p = 0.0005) and <50 years vs. >80 years (p = 0.0001). The findings were similar but less significant in a smaller replication cohort (2-sided p = 0.037 in 50–80 years vs. >80 years and 0.061 in <50 years vs. >80 years). Analysis of the allele frequencies in 5-year bins demonstrated that the decrease of rs139185008*C started after the age of 70 years. The hexanucleotide repeat expansion tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms decreasing frequency with age suggests its’ association with age-related diseases probably also outside amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / frontotemporal dementia.
Characterization of chromatin accessibility patterns in different mouse cell types using machine learning methods at single-cell resolution
Authors: Xu Yaochen , Huang FeiMing , Guo Wei , Feng KaiYan , Zhu Lin , Zeng Zhenbing , Huang Tao , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: March 2023

Chromatin accessibility is a generic property of the eukaryotic genome, which refers to the degree of physical compaction of chromatin. Recent studies have shown that chromatin accessibility is cell type dependent, indicating chromatin heterogeneity across cell lines and tissues. The identification of markers used to distinguish cell types at the chromosome level is important to understand cell function and classify cell types. In the present study, we investigated transcriptionally active chromosome segments identified by sci-ATAC-seq at single-cell resolution, including 69,015 cells belonging to 77 different cell types. Each cell was represented by existence status on 20,783 genes that were obtained from 436,206 active chromosome segments. The gene features were deeply analyzed by Boruta, resulting in 3897 genes, which were ranked in a list by Monte Carlo feature selection. Such list was further analyzed by incremental feature selection (IFS) method, yielding essential genes, classification rules and an efficient random forest (RF) classifier. To improve the performance of the optimal RF classifier, its features were further processed by autoencoder, light gradient boosting machine and IFS method. The final RF classifier with MCC of 0.838 was constructed. Some marker genes such as H2-Dmb2, which are specifically expressed in antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells or macrophages), and Tenm2, which are specifically expressed in T cells, were identified in this study. Our analysis revealed numerous potential epigenetic modification patterns that are unique to particular cell types, thereby advancing knowledge of the critical functions of chromatin accessibility in cell processes.
Period poverty and mental health of menstruators during COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons and implications for the future
Authors: Rohatgi Aishwarya , Dash Sambit
Published: March 2023

Menstruation is a naturally occurring phenomenon; however, millions of adolescent girls and women, as well as nonbinary persons who bleed every month, are deprived of menstruating safely and respectfully. Those belonging to marginalized sections face the brunt of lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities; affordable menstrual supplies; and inequitable distribution of menstrual health education and are victims of period poverty. Their preexisting suffering was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively affected the mental health of those menstruating. Adolescent girls and women in communities found it persistently challenging to access and afford menstrual products while deprived of menstrual hygiene education. These put them under immense stress and elevated financial liability, predisposing them to period poverty. Interventions addressing period poverty rely on mustering collective community voices and deploying adequate policy tools. All the efforts and solutions must provide social and financial protection nets and psychological aid through mental health support groups. It is core to drive menstrual health equity for all menstruators, irrespective of who they are, what they do, and where they live.
“I can be pro-abortion and pro-birth”: Opportunities and challenges for full spectrum care among doulas in Georgia
Authors: Lindsey Alyssa , Narasimhan Subasri , Sayyad Ayeesha , Turner Daria , Mosley Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2023

Background

The work of full spectrum doulas (i.e., non-medically trained care workers offering support before, during, and after pregnancy including abortion)—is increasingly important as abortion access decreases across the U.S. Few studies have examined the work of community-based doulas in restrictive abortion settings or how they might further incorporate full spectrum care. As part of the community-engaged mixed methods Georgia Doula Study, this analysis examines the scope of work of community-based doulas regarding full spectrum and abortion services, doula opinions on full spectrum and abortion work, and potential barriers and facilitators for full spectrum doula care in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.

Methods

From October 2020 to February 2022, the team recruited 20 community-based doulas with 8 who provide full spectrum services including abortion. Surveys covered demographics, doula scope of work, family planning attitudes, and abortion stigma. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. In-depth interviews further explored those topics. They were de-identified and thematically analyzed using a semi-deductive approach.

Results

The findings are organized around five themes: (1) doulas of all kinds center reproductive autonomy; (2) abortion doulas play important roles in reproductive autonomy; (3) doulas have mixed feelings about contraceptive counseling; (4) abortion doulas provide diverse services carrying numerous benefits in a stigmatized environment; and (5) abortion doulas experience challenges including stigma but they offer solutions. All but two doulas in this study were interested in learning how to incorporate contraception and abortion services in their current scope of work, and most participants supported the role of full spectrum doulas.

Conclusion

This analysis highlights the experiences of abortion and full spectrum doulas, reactions of the larger doula community to those services, and facilitators and barriers to full spectrum doula care in a restrictive abortion setting. There are urgent needs and opportunities for full spectrum doulas to offer life-protecting services to pregnant people across the U.S. and globally. Coordination efforts for U.S. abortion care post-Roe v. Wade must include community-based doulas, who are largely open to aiding abortion clients through education, connection to care, and emotional support.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors as potential sensitizers of adoptive T cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liang Linjun , Wang Xiaoyan , Huang Shuying , Chen Yanwei , Zhang Peng , Li Liang , Cui Yong
Published: March 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high-incidence malignant tumor worldwide and lacks effective treatment options. Targeted drugs are the preferred recommendations for the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunotherapy is a breakthrough in the systemic treatment of malignant tumors, including HCC. However, either targeted therapy or immunotherapy alone is inefficient and has limited survival benefits on part of HCC patients. Investigations have proved that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have regulatory effects on the tumor microenvironment and immune response, which are potential sensitizers for immunotherapy. Herein, a combination therapy using TKIs and immunotherapy has been explored and demonstrated to improve the effectiveness of treatment. As an effective immunotherapy, adoptive T cell therapy in solid tumors is required to improve tumor infiltration and killing activity which can be possibly achieved by combination with TKIs.
Chitosan oligosaccharide improves ovarian granulosa cells inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Xie Qi , Hong Wenli , Li Yuan , Ling Shuyi , Zhou Ziqiong , Dai Yuqing , Wu Wenbo , Weng Ruoxin , Zhong Zhisheng , Tan Jun , Zheng Yuehui
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, which is one of the main causes of anovulatory infertility. Even though the rapidly developed assisted reproductive technology (ART) could effectively solve fertility problems, some PCOS patients still have not obtained satisfactory clinical outcomes. The poor quality of oocytes caused by the abnormal follicular development of PCOS may directly contribute to the failure of ART treatment. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) are the most closely related cells to oocytes, and changes in their functional status have a direct impact on oocyte formation. Previous studies have shown that changes in the ovarian microenvironment, like oxidative stress and inflammation, may cause PCOS-related aberrant follicular development by impairing the physiological state of the GCs. Therefore, optimizing the ovarian microenvironment is a feasible method for enhancing the development potential of PCOS oocytes.

Methods

In this study, we first detected the expression of inflammatory-related factors (TGF-β1, IL-10, TNFα, IL-6) and oxidative stress-related factors (HIF-1α and VEGFA), as well as the proliferation ability and apoptosis level of GCs, which were collected from control patients (non-PCOS) and PCOS patients, respectively. Subsequently, human ovarian granulosa cell line (KGN) cells were used to verify the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on GCs, as well as to investigate the optimal culture time and concentration of COS. The optimal culture conditions were then used to culture GCs from PCOS patients and control patients.

Results

The results showed that GCs from PCOS patients exhibited obvious inflammation and oxidative stress and significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, COS can increase the expression of anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β1 and IL-10) and decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (TNFα and IL-6), as well as promote the proliferation of GCs. Moreover, we found that COS can reduce the level of reactive oxygen species in GCs under oxidative stress by inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α and VEGFA and by suppressing the apoptosis of GCs induced by oxidative stress.

Conclusion

We find that inflammation and oxidative stress exist in the GCs of PCOS patients, and COS can reduce these factors, thereby improving the function of GCs.
Abnormally primed CD8 T cells: The Achilles’ heel of CHB
Authors: Chen Xiaoqing , Liu Xue , Jiang Yichao , Xia Ningshao , Liu Chao , Luo Wenxin
Published: March 2023

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a significant public health challenge, and more than 250 million people around world are infected with HBV. The clearance of HBV with virus-specific CD8 T cells is critical for a functional cure. However, naïve HBV-specific CD8 T cells are heavily hindered during the priming process, and this phenomenon is closely related to abnormal cell and signal interactions in the complex immune microenvironment. Here, we briefly summarize the recent progress in understanding the abnormal priming of HBV-specific CD8 T cells and some corresponding immunotherapies to facilitate their functional recovery, which provides a novel perspective for the design and development of immunotherapy for chronic HBV infection (CHB). Finally, we also highlight the balance between viral clearance and pathological liver injury induced by CD8 T-cell activation that should be carefully considered during drug development.
IgA-producing B cells in lung homeostasis and disease
Authors: Bertrand Youri , Sánchez-Montalvo Alba , Hox Valérie , Froidure Antoine , Pilette Charles
Published: March 2023

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant Ig in mucosae where it plays key roles in host defense against pathogens and in mucosal immunoregulation. Whereas intense research has established the different roles of secretory IgA in the gut, its function has been much less studied in the lung. This review will first summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge on the distribution and phenotype of IgA+ B cells in the human lung in both homeostasis and disease. Second, it will analyze the studies looking at cellular and molecular mechanisms of homing and priming of IgA+ B cells in the lung, notably following immunization. Lastly, published data on observations related to IgA and IgA+ B cells in lung and airway disease such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or chronic rhinosinusitis, will be discussed. Collectively it provides the state-of-the-art of our current understanding of the biology of IgA-producing cells in the airways and identifies gaps that future research should address in order to improve mucosal protection against lung infections and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Intrahepatic infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells and mononuclear phagocyte is associated with idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury
Authors: Yang Hyun , Han Ji Won , Lee Jae Jun , Lee Ahlim , Cho Sung Woo , Rho Pu Reun , Kang Min-Woo , Jang Jeong Won , Jung Eun Sun , Choi Jong Young , Sung Pil Soo , Bae Si Hyun
Published: March 2023

Background

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is caused by the interplay among drugs, their metabolites, and the host immune response. The characterization of infiltrated immune cells in the liver may improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of idiosyncratic DILI. This study investigated the phenotypes and clinical implications of liver-infiltrating immune cells in idiosyncratic DILI.

Methods

From January 2017 to June 2021, 53 patients with idiosyncratic DILI who underwent liver biopsy were prospectively enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry analyses were performed on the biopsy specimens. Serum levels of CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and soluble CD163 were measured. A multivariate cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate predictors of DILI resolution within 30 days.

Results

The numbers of intrahepatic T cells and mononuclear phagocytes were positively correlated with serum levels of total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the model of end-stage liver disease score. The frequency of activated CD8+ T cells among liver-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in DILI livers was higher than that in healthy livers. Notably, the percentages of activated intrahepatic CD8+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes in DILI livers showed a positive correlation with ALT. Additionally, serum CXCL10 level was positively correlated with intrahepatic T cell infiltration and ALT, and soluble CD163 level was positively correlated with intrahepatic mononuclear phagocyte infiltration and ALT. Thirty-six patients (70.6%) were treated with steroids. In multivariate analysis, total bilirubin and steroid use independently influenced DILI resolution within 30 days.

Conclusions

Activated CD8+ T cells and mononuclear phagocyte are associated with liver injury caused by drugs. Therefore, we suggest that steroids are a potential treatment option for idiosyncratic DILI.
Revisiting targeted therapy and immunotherapy for advanced cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Du Jiajia , Lv Xing , Zhang Zunyi , Huang Zhiyong , Zhang Erlei
Published: March 2023

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare and aggressive type of malignant tumor. In the past few years, there has been an increase in the incidence of CCA. Surgery is the only effective treatment but is only suitable for a small percentage of patients. Comprehensive treatment is the normal therapy for terminal CCA patients, depending basically on gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy. In the past decade, the emergence of next-generation sequencing technology can be used for the identification of important molecular features of CCA, and several studies have demonstrated that different CCA subtypes have unique genetic aberrations. Targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (EGFR2) are emerging targeted therapies. In addition, researches have indicated that immunotherapy has a key function in CCA. There is ongoing research on programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors (PD-1), chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) and tumor-infiltrating leukocyte (TILs). Researches have shown that targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and conventional chemotherapy in CCA had certain mechanistic links, and the combination of those can greatly improve the prognosis of advanced CCA patients. This study aimed to review the research progress of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for CCA.
Distribution and physical–biological controls of dimethylsulfide in the western tropical Indian Ocean during winter monsoon
Authors: Liang Shi-Mei , Zhai Xing , Li Cheng-Xuan , Xin Ming , Sun Ping , Liu Xuan-Li , Liu Lin , Wang Bao-Dong
Published: March 2023

New field observation on distribution, turnover, and sea–air flux of three dimethylated sulfur compounds (dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethylsulfoniopropionate, and dimethylsulfoxide) in the western tropical Indian Ocean (WTIO; 4°N–10°S, 61°–65°E) were conducted under the major Global Change and Air–Sea Interaction Program during the 2021/2022 Northeast Monsoon (December 21, 2021 to January 11, 2022). Significantly high surface concentrations of DMS were identified in the region of the Seychelles–Chagos Thermocline Ridge (SCTR; 5°–10°S). This occurred because the shallow thermocline/nitracline and associated upwelling fueled biological production of DMS in the subsurface, which was brought to the surface through vertical mixing. The calculated sea–air DMS flux was also significantly strong in the SCTR region during the Northeast Monsoon owing to combination of high wind speed and high surface concentration of DMS. This finding is similar to results obtained previously during the Southwest Monsoon, suggesting that the SCTR region is an area of active DMS emission during both the Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon. Microbial consumption was the dominant pathway of DMS removal, accounting for 74.4% of the total, whereas the processes of photolysis (17.7%) and ventilation (7.9%) were less important. Future work should be undertaken in the WTIO to establish how DMS emission is linked to aerosol properties and climate change.
Spatiotemporal distributions of air-sea CO2 flux modulated by windseas in the Southern Indian Ocean
Authors: Sun Huiying , Zheng Kaiwen , Yu Jing , Zheng Hao
Published: March 2023

The Southern Indian Ocean is a major reservoir for rapid carbon exchange with the atmosphere, plays a key role in the world’s carbon cycle. To understand the importance of anthropogenic CO2 uptake in the Southern Indian Ocean, a variety of methods have been used to quantify the magnitude of the CO2 flux between air and sea. The basic approach is based on the bulk formula—the air-sea CO2 flux is commonly calculated by the difference in the CO2 partial pressure between the ocean and the atmosphere, the gas transfer velocity, the surface wind speed, and the CO2 solubility in seawater. However, relying solely on wind speed to measure the gas transfer velocity at the sea surface increases the uncertainty of CO2 flux estimation. Recent studies have shown that the generation and breaking of ocean waves also significantly affect the gas transfer process at the air-sea interface. In this study, we highlight the impact of windseas on the process of air-sea CO2 exchange and address its important role in CO2 uptake in the Southern Indian Ocean. We run the WAVEWATCH III model to simulate surface waves in this region over the period from January 1st 2002 to December 31st 2021. Then, we use the spectral partitioning method to isolate windseas and swells from total wave fields. Finally, we calculate the CO2 flux based on the new semiempirical equation for gas transfer velocity considering only windseas. We found that after considering windseas’ impact, the seasonal mean zonal flux (mmol/m2·d) increased approximately 10%-20% compared with that calculated solely on wind speed in all seasons. Evolution of air-sea net carbon flux (PgC) increased around 5.87%-32.12% in the latest 5 years with the most significant seasonal improvement appeared in summer. Long-term trend analysis also indicated that the CO2 absorption capacity of the whole Southern Indian Ocean gradually increased during the past 20 years. These findings extend the understanding of the roles of the Southern Indian Ocean in the global carbon cycle and are useful for making management policies associated with marine environmental protection and global climatic change mitigation.
Evaluation of the specificity of an intradermal test with recombinant tuberculosis allergen in Bacillus Calmette–Guérin-vaccinated healthy volunteers
Authors: Vasilyeva Irina A. , Aksenova Valentina A. , Kazakov Alexey V. , Kiseleva Yulia Y. , Maryandyshev Andrey O. , Dolzhenko Elena N. , Abramchenko Anna V. , Klevno Nadejda I. , Glebov Konstantin A. , Panova Anna E. , Petrova Larisa Y. , Sheikis Elena G. , Seregina Inna V. , Nikishova Elena I. , Doktorova Natalia P. , Samoilova Anastasia G.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The tuberculin skin test has significant limitations for use in individuals vaccinated with BCG. The presence in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the RDI region, which is absent in the genome of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and most non-tuberculous mycobacteria, made it possible to develop new skin tests, which include a skin test with a recombinant tuberculosis allergen [RTA (Diaskintest®, JSC Generium, Russia)]. Diaskintest has shown high diagnostic performance in clinical trials and in conditions of high prevalence of tuberculosis infection. In 2021, the Russia was excluded from the WHO list of high TB burden countries, which makes relevant an assessment of the specificity of the RTA test under conditions of low epidemiologic risk for tuberculosis to confirm the high specificity of the test.

Study objective

To assess the specificity of Diaskintest in the regions of the Russian Federation with low epidemiologic risk for tuberculosis.

Methods

A multicenter, open-label, prospective study was conducted, which included 150 healthy volunteers aged 18–30 years old, vaccinated with BCG, who were not at risk of tuberculosis, from regions with low epidemiologic risk (Oryol region, Ryazan region, and Arkhangelsk region). During the study, 4 visits were scheduled for each participant: [Visit 0 (screening), Visit 1, Visit 2 (in 72 h) and Visit 3 (in 28 days)]. All participants, who excluded active and latent tuberculosis infection, underwent a test with RTA. To assess the safety of RTA tests, all systemic and local adverse events that occurred during 28 days were recorded. The trial was filed in the NIH clinical trials database ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05203068).

Results

In individuals with a negative T-SPOT.TB test, the specificity of the RTA test was 97% (95% CI: 92–99%) with a cut-off of >0 mm. The study findings confirm data 2009: 100.00 (95% CI: 94–100). When evaluating the safety of the RTA test during 28 days of follow-up, the participants did not report local and systemic adverse reactions that had a causal relationship with the RTA test.

Conclusion

Diaskintest is highly specific and safe, therefore it is a valuable tool as a screening test for early detection of tuberculosis.
Case report: Acinetobacter baumannii septic arthritis in an immunocompetent infant
Authors: Liao Yi , Xiao Jiapeng , Fang Feng , Zhou Hua , Liu Lingling , Liu Xinglou
Published: March 2023

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative coccobacilli, mainly causing nosocomial infections with poor prognosis, especially in patients with prolonged hospitalization or antibiotics administration. A. baumannii pneumonia is the most common clinical form and usually occurs in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. However, septic arthritis caused by A. baumannii is rarely reported. In this report, we describe a case of A. baumannii septic arthritis combined with incomplete Kawasaki disease in an infant. The child's chief complaint was a 2-week intermittent fever with poor response to antibiotics. Initial physical examination revealed swollen lymph nodes in the neck, pharynx congestion, and the appearance of rashes. Combined with laboratory tests, the diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease was considered. After administration of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids, the child's fever improved and periungual desquamation appeared simultaneously. Swelling of the right knee occurred 5 days after the fever improved and imaging tests of MRI and ultrasound suggested the existence of infection. A diagnosis of septic arthritis was established subsequently, and arthroscopy was carried out. A. baumannii was finally identified by metagenomics next-generation sequencing of joint draining fluid for pathogenic microorganisms. Treatment with meropenem was then started. The patient eventually recovered and was discharged from the hospital after 23 days of treatment with meropenem. Although A. baumannii is not a common bacterium of septic arthritis, this rare infection can still occur in infants. Early diagnosis, pathogenic identification, and target antibiotic treatment are important to reduce the occurrence of joint sequelae.
The role of secure instant messaging applications in medical education: Evaluating student satisfaction in a case-based learning program using Siilo
Authors: Shahar Tali , Tadmor Offer , Dior Uri , Porat Shay , Safrai Myriam , Ezra Yosef , Kabiri Doron
Published: March 2023

Background

Instant messaging applications for mobile phones have recently grown in popularity among medical personnel, including both physicians and medical students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education was largely transferred to virtual platforms, making such applications an increasingly important tool for medical education. “Siilo” is a secure instant messaging application that was designed for medical professionals, and offers several advantages over other instant messaging services that are vital for its use in medical settings, including information security, data encryption, and a built-in blurring tool to maintain patient privacy. In addition, Siilo allows for the creation of individual folders for each case, enabling users to conduct separate discussions about multiple patients simultaneously.

Objective

To evaluate student satisfaction in a case-based learning program using Siilo as a medical education tool in improving student learning outcomes and motivation.

Methods

A case-based learning program was conducted with 24 fifth-year medical students using Siilo to evaluate its effectiveness as a medical education tool. The program was evaluated through the use of pre- and post-program questionnaires and focus group discussions to assess student satisfaction.

Results

The majority of students (83.3%) were highly satisfied with the Siilo platform and felt that it enhanced their learning experience, and a majority of students (79.1%) reported that the program was highly effective. Students reported that the platform was easy to use and provided a clear and organized way to follow discussions about cases. The focus group discussions further revealed that students appreciated the real-time communication and felt that the use of Siilo helped to improve the quality of communication and collaboration during the learning process. The use of Siilo as a medical education tool was found to contribute to positive relationships between doctors and students and improve student motivation for learning and outcomes.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that Siilo can be a valuable resource for medical education, particularly due to its secure and convenient features, which are well-suited for use in medical settings. The use of Siilo in a case-based learning program was found to be effective in improving student satisfaction and learning outcomes and contributed to positive relationships between doctors and students. These results highlight the potential for utilizing mobile instant messaging apps as a tool for enhancing clinical teaching in medical education.
Gut microbiota is a potential factor in shaping phenotypic variation in larvae and adults of female bumble bees
Authors: Guo Baodi , Tang Jiao , Ding Guiling , Mashilingi Shibonage K. , Huang Jiaxing , An Jiandong
Published: March 2023

Host symbionts are often considered an essential part of the host phenotype, influencing host growth and development. Bumble bee is an ideal model for investigating the relationship between microbiota and phenotypes. Variations in life history across bumble bees may influence the community composition of gut microbiota, which in turn influences phenotypes. In this study, we explored gut microbiota from four development stages (early-instar larvae, 1st instar; mid-instar larvae, 5th instar; late-instar larvae, 9th instar; and adults) of workers and queens in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris using the full-length 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed that morphological indices (weight and head capsule) were significantly different between workers and queens from 5th instar larvae (p < 0.01). The alpha and beta diversities of gut microbiota were similar between workers and queens in two groups: early instar and mid instar larvae. However, the alpha diversity was significantly different in late instar larvae or adults. The relative abundance of three main phyla of bacteria (Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes) and two genera (Snodgrassella and Lactobacillus) were significantly different (p < 0.01) between workers and queens in late instar larvae or adults. Also, we found that age significantly affected the microbial alpha diversity as the Shannon and ASVs indices differed significantly among the four development stages. Our study suggests that the 5th instar larval stage can be used to judge the morphology of workers or queens in bumble bees. The key microbes differing in phenotypes may be involved in regulating phenotypic variations.
Bifidobacterium-derived short-chain fatty acids and indole compounds attenuate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating gut-liver axis
Authors: Yoon Sang Jun , Yu Jeong Seok , Min Byeong Hyun , Gupta Haripriya , Won Sung-Min , Park Hee Jin , Han Sang Hak , Kim Byung-Yong , Kim Kyung Hwan , Kim Byoung Kook , Joung Hyun Chae , Park Tae-Sik , Ham Young Lim , Lee Do Yup , Suk Ki Tae
Published: March 2023

Emerging evidences about gut-microbial modulation have been accumulated in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated the effect of Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum on the NAFLD pathology and explore the molecular mechanisms based on multi-omics approaches. Human stool analysis [healthy subjects (n = 25) and NAFLD patients (n = 32)] was performed to select NAFLD-associated microbiota. Six-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were fed a normal chow diet (NC), Western diet (WD), and WD with B. breve (BB) or B. longum (BL; 109 CFU/g) for 8 weeks. Liver/body weight ratio, histopathology, serum/tool analysis, 16S rRNA-sequencing, and metabolites were examined and compared. The BB and BL groups showed improved liver histology and function based on liver/body ratios (WD 7.07 ± 0.75, BB 5.27 ± 0.47, and BL 4.86 ± 0.57) and NAFLD activity scores (WD 5.00 ± 0.10, BB 1.89 ± 1.45, and BL 1.90 ± 0.99; p < 0.05). Strain treatment showed ameliorative effects on gut barrier function. Metagenomic analysis showed treatment-specific changes in taxonomic composition. The community was mainly characterized by the significantly higher composition of the Bacteroidetes phylum among the NC and probiotic-feeding groups. Similarly, the gut metabolome was modulated by probiotics treatment. In particular, short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites were reverted to normal levels by probiotics, whereas bile acids were partially normalized to those of the NC group. The analysis of gene expression related to lipid and glucose metabolism as well as the immune response indicated the coordinative regulation of β-oxidation, lipogenesis, and systemic inflammation by probiotic treatment. BB and BL attenuate NAFLD by improving microbiome-associated factors of the gut-liver axis.
Diversity and function of soybean rhizosphere microbiome under nature farming
Authors: Agyekum Dominic V. A. , Kobayashi Tatsuyuki , Dastogeer Khondoker M. G. , Yasuda Michiko , Sarkodee-Addo Elsie , Ratu Safirah T. N. , Xu Qicong , Miki Takaaki , Matsuura Eri , Okazaki Shin
Published: March 2023

Nature farming is a farming system that entails cultivating crops without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The present study investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of soybean grown in conventional and nature farming soils using wild-type and non-nodulating mutant soybean. The effect of soil fumigant was also analyzed to reveal its perturbation of microbial communities and subsequent effects on the growth of soybean. Overall, the wild-type soybean exhibited a better growth index compared to mutant soybean and especially in nature farming. Nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi colonization were higher in plants under nature farming than in conventionally managed soil; however, fumigation drastically affected these symbioses with greater impacts on plants in nature farming soil. The rhizosphere microbiome diversity in nature farming was higher than that in conventional farming for both cultivars. However, the diversity was significantly decreased after fumigation treatment with a greater impact on nature farming. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that nature farming and conventional farming soil harbored distinct microbial communities and that soil fumigation significantly altered the communities in nature farming soils but not in conventional farming soils. Intriguingly, some beneficial microbial taxa related to plant growth and health, including Rhizobium, Streptomyces, and Burkholderia, were found as distinct microbes in the nature farming soil but were selectively bleached by fumigant treatment. Network analysis revealed a highly complex microbial network with high taxa connectivity observed under nature farming soil than in conventional soil; however, fumigation strongly broke it. Overall, the results highlighted that nature farming embraced higher microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial soil microbes with a complex and interconnected network structure, and also demonstrated the underlying resilience of the microbial community to environmental perturbations, which is critical under nature farming where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not applied.
Multiple functions of stress granules in viral infection at a glance
Authors: Guan Yuelin , Wang Yan , Fu Xudong , Bai Guannan , Li Xue , Mao Jianhua , Yan Yongbin , Hu Lidan
Published: March 2023

Stress granules (SGs) are distinct RNA granules induced by various stresses, which are evolutionarily conserved across species. In general, SGs act as a conservative and essential self-protection mechanism during stress responses. Viruses have a long evolutionary history and viral infections can trigger a series of cellular stress responses, which may interact with SG formation. Targeting SGs is believed as one of the critical and conservative measures for viruses to tackle the inhibition of host cells. In this systematic review, we have summarized the role of SGs in viral infection and categorized their relationships into three tables, with a particular focus on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, we have outlined several kinds of drugs targeting SGs according to different pathways, most of which are potentially effective against SARS-CoV-2. We believe this review would offer a new view for the researchers and clinicians to attempt to develop more efficacious treatments for virus infection, particularly for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Associations of soil bacterial diversity and function with plant diversity in Carex tussock wetland
Authors: Li Yan , Shi Chuanqi , Wei Dan , Ding Junnan , Xu Nan , Jin Liang , Wang Lei
Published: March 2023

Some species of Carex can form tussocks, which are usually distributed in valleys and flood plains. The soil microbial community diversity and function of micro–habitats formed by tussocks are associated with plant diversity, and research on these associations can guide Carex tussock wetland restoration. In this study, we selected tussock wetlands dominated by Carex appendiculata, including natural wetlands (NW), artificially restored wetlands (ARW), and naturally restored wetlands (NRW), and investigated plant diversity. Soil samples were collected from the quadrats of each sample plot with the maximum (ma), median (me), and minimum (mi) plant Shannon index values, and high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the bacterial community composition, diversity, and functions. The plant diversity indexes of neither ARW nor NRW significantly differed from that of NW, but the companion species in NRW were hygrophytes and mesophytes, in contrast to only hygrophytes serving as companion species in NW and ARW. The soil bacterial communities at the operational taxonomic unit level of the nine quadrats with different plant Shannon index values significantly (p < 0.01) differed. The relative abundances of the dominant phyla (Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes) and the dominant genera (Geobacter, Sideroxydans, and Clostridium except for unassigned genera) significantly (p < 0.05) differed under the different levels of plant diversity. The plant Shannon index, soil moisture content, total organic carbon, N, and P were significantly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) correlated with the bacterial Shannon index. The phylogenetic diversity of the bacterial community in NW was significantly (p < 0.0001) different from those in ARW and NRW, and that in ARW was also significantly (p < 0.05) different from that in NRW. The functional groups of bacterial communities associated with plant diversity. In the NWme, ARWme, and NRWme bacterial communities, the relative proportions of functional groups related to soil N cycle were higher, but those related to soil S and C cycles were lower. Considering the rehabilitation of both plant and microbial communities, the methods used for establishing the ARW are recommended for Carex tussock wetland restoration.