bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circ-ERC2 Is Involved in Melatonin Synthesis by Regulating the miR-125a-5p/MAT2A Axis
Authors: Guo Hai-Xiang , Zheng Yi , Zhao Guo-Kun , Wang Hao-Qi , Yu Song , Gao Fei , Zhang Jia-Bao , Zhang Yong-Hong , Yuan Bao
Published: December 2022

The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in the pineal gland is highly conserved in vertebrates. Melatonin levels are always elevated at night. Acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) is the last enzyme in the regulation of melatonin biosynthesis (N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine-melatonin). S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is an important methyl donor in mammals and can be used as a substrate for the synthesis of melatonin. Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) catalyzes the synthesis of SAM from methionine and ATP and has a circadian rhythm. CircRNA is an emerging type of endogenous noncoding RNA with a closed loop. Whether circRNAs in the pineal gland can participate in the regulation of melatonin synthesis by binding miRNAs to target mat2a as part of the circadian rhythm is still unclear. In this study, we predicted the targeting relationship of differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs based on the results of rat pineal RNA sequencing. Mat2a siRNA transfection confirmed that mat2a is involved in the synthesis of melatonin. Circ-ERC2 and miR-125a-5p were screened out by software prediction, dual-luciferase reporter experiments, cell transfection, etc. Finally, we constructed a rat superior cervical ganglionectomy model (SCGx), and the results showed that circ-ERC2 could participate in the synthesis of melatonin through the miR-125a-5p/MAT2A axis. The results of the study revealed that circ-ERC2 can act as a molecular sponge of miR-125a-5p to regulate the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland by targeting mat2a. This experiment provides a basis for research on the circadian rhythm of noncoding RNA on pineal melatonin secretion.
Integrative Application of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Provides Insights into Unsynchronized Growth in Sea Cucumber (Stichopus monotuberculatus)
Authors: Ma Bo , Liu Yang , Pan Wenjie , Li Zhuobo , Ren Chunhua , Hu Chaoqun , Luo Peng
Published: December 2022

Ever-increasing consumer demand for sea cucumbers mainly leads to huge damage to wild sea cucumber resources, including Stichopus monotuberculatus, which in turn exerts negative impacts on marine environments due to the lack of ecological functions performed by sea cucumbers. Aquaculture of sea cucumbers is an effective way to meet consumer demand and restore their resources. Unsynchronous growth is a prominent problem in the aquaculture of sea cucumbers which has concealed unelucidated molecular mechanisms until now. In this study, we carried out an integrative analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics on fast-growing (SMF) and slow-growing (SMS) groups of S. monotuberculatus cultured in the same environmental conditions. The results revealed that a total of 2054 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, which are mainly involved in fat digestion and absorption, histidine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. 368 differential metabolites (DMs) were screened out between the SMF group and the SMS group; these metabolites are mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, pyrimidine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. The integrative analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics of S. monotuberculatus suggested that the SMF group had a higher capacity for lipid metabolism and protein synthesis, and had a more frequent occurrence of apoptosis events, which are likely to be related to coping with environmental stresses. The results of this study provide potential values for the aquaculture of sea cucumbers which may promote their resource enhancement.
Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Menopausal, and Anti-Cancer Effects of Lignans and Their Metabolites
Authors: Jang Won Young , Kim Mi-Yeon , Cho Jae Youl
Published: December 2022

Since chronic inflammation can be seen in severe, long-lasting diseases such as cancer, there is a high demand for effective methods to modulate inflammatory responses. Among many therapeutic candidates, lignans, absorbed from various plant sources, represent a type of phytoestrogen classified into secoisolariciresionol (Seco), pinoresinol (Pino), matairesinol (Mat), medioresinol (Med), sesamin (Ses), syringaresinol (Syr), and lariciresinol (Lari). Lignans consumed by humans can be further modified into END or ENL by the activities of gut microbiota. Lignans are known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, together with activity in estrogen receptor-dependent pathways. Lignans may have therapeutic potential for postmenopausal symptoms, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and psychological disorders. Moreover, the antitumor efficacy of lignans has been demonstrated in various cancer cell lines, including hormone-dependent breast cancer and prostate cancer, as well as colorectal cancer. Interestingly, the molecular mechanisms of lignans in these diseases involve the inhibition of inflammatory signals, including the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. Therefore, we summarize the recent in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the biological effects of various lignans, focusing on their values as effective anti-inflammatory agents.
An Overlooked Hepcidin–Cadmium Connection
Authors: Płonka Dawid , Wiśniewska Marta D. , Peris-Díaz Manuel D. , Krężel Artur , Bonna Arkadiusz M. , Bal Wojciech
Published: December 2022

Hepcidin (DTHFPICIFCCGCCHRSKCGMCCKT), an iron-regulatory hormone, is a 25-amino-acid peptide with four intramolecular disulfide bonds circulating in blood. Its hormonal activity is indirect and consists of marking ferroportin-1 (an iron exporter) for degradation. Hepcidin biosynthesis involves the N-terminally extended precursors prepro-hepcidin and pro-hepcidin, processed by peptidases to the final 25-peptide form. A sequence-specific formation of disulfide bonds and export of the oxidized peptide to the bloodstream follows. In this study we considered the fact that prior to export, reduced hepcidin may function as an octathiol ligand bearing some resemblance to the N-terminal part of the α-domain of metallothioneins. Consequently, we studied its ability to bind Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions using the original peptide and a model for prohepcidin extended N-terminally with a stretch of five arginine residues (5R-hepcidin). We found that both form equivalent mononuclear complexes with two Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions saturating all eight Cys residues. The average affinity at pH 7.4, determined from pH-metric spectroscopic titrations, is 1010.1 M−1 for Zn(II) ions; Cd(II) ions bind with affinities of 1015.2 M−1 and 1014.1 M−1. Using mass spectrometry and 5R-hepcidin we demonstrated that hepcidin can compete for Cd(II) ions with metallothionein-2, a cellular cadmium target. This study enabled us to conclude that hepcidin binds Zn(II) and Cd(II) sufficiently strongly to participate in zinc physiology and cadmium toxicity under intracellular conditions.
Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Saturated Annulated Nitrogen-Containing Polycyclic Compounds
Authors: Kirsanov Victor Yu. , Rakhimova Elena B.
Published: December 2022

This review is devoted to the analysis of works published over the past 20 years on the chemistry of saturated annulated nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds, the molecules of which consist of four, five, six, and seven cycles, and contain from one to eight endocyclic nitrogen atoms.
Smartphone Usage before and during COVID-19: A Comparative Study Based on Objective Recording of Usage Data
Authors: Chemnad Khansa , Alshakhsi Sameha , Almourad Mohamed Basel , Altuwairiqi Majid , Phalp Keith , Ali Raian
Published: December 2022

Most studies that claimed changes in smartphone usage during COVID-19 were based on self-reported usage data, e.g., that collected through a questionnaire. These studies were also limited to reporting the overall smartphone usage, with no detailed investigation of distinct types of apps. The current study investigated smartphone usage before and during COVID-19. Our study used a dataset from a smartphone app that objectively logged users’ activities, including apps accessed and each app session start and end time. These were collected during two periods: pre-COVID-19 (161 individuals with 77 females) and during COVID-19 (251 individuals with 159 females). We report on the top 15 apps used in both periods. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for the inferential analysis. The results revealed that the time spent on smartphones has increased since COVID-19. During both periods, emerging adults were found to spend more time on smartphones compared to adults. The time spent on social media apps has also increased since COVID-19. Females were found to spend more time on social media than males. Females were also found to be more likely to launch social media apps than males. There has also been an increase in the number of people who use gaming apps since the pandemic. The use of objectively collected data is a methodological strength of our study. Additionally, we draw parallels with the usage of smartphones in contexts similar to the COVID-19 period, especially concerning the limitations on social gatherings, including working from home for extended periods. Our dataset is made available to other researchers for benchmarking and future comparisons.
Therapeutic Properties of Vanadium Complexes
Authors: Sharfalddin Abeer A. , Al-Younis Inas M. , Mohammed Hamdoon A. , Dhahri Manel , Mouffouk Fouzi , Abu Ali Hijazi , Anwar Md. Jamir , Qureshi Kamal A. , Hussien Mostafa A. , Alghrably Mawadda , Jaremko Mariusz , Alasmael Noura , Lachowicz Joanna Izabela , Emwas Abdul-Hamid
Published: December 2022

Vanadium is a hard, silver-grey transition metal found in at least 60 minerals and fossil fuel deposits. Its oxide and other vanadium salts are toxic to humans, but the toxic effects depend on the vanadium form, dose, exposure duration, and route of intoxication. Vanadium is used by some life forms as an active center in enzymes, such as the vanadium bromoperoxidase of ocean algae and nitrogenases of bacteria. The structure and biochemistry of vanadate resemble those of phosphate, hence vanadate can be regarded as a phosphate competitor in a variety of biochemical enzymes such as kinases and phosphatases. In this review, we describe the biochemical pathways regulated by vanadium compounds and their potential therapeutic benefits for a range of disorders including type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and microbial pathology.
Manganese(II) Bromide Compound with Diprotonated 1-Hydroxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzimidazole: Dual Emission and the Effect of Proton Transfers
Authors: Berezin Alexey S. , Selivanov Boris , Danilenko Andrey , Sukhikh Aleksandr , Komarovskikh Andrey
Published: December 2022

An organic–inorganic cation–anion manganese(II) tetrabromide compound with diprotonated 1-hydroxy-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzimidazole, [H3L][MnBr4][H2O], has been synthesized and investigated. The compound has a few possible pathways for proton transfers, which play an important role in the observed luminescence, optical, and magnetic properties. The proton transfers result in the appearance of two-band luminescence. One band is caused by the Mn(II) d-d transitions. The other band is caused by the transition from the triplet state of organic cation and the d-d transition of manganese(II) coupled through {[H3L]}-{[MnBr4]}-{[H2O]} vibrations. The optical absorption spectra of [H3L][MnBr4][H2O] indicate the presence of two direct and one indirect band transitions. The reason for the two-band luminescence and complex optical absorption in [H3L][MnBr4][H2O] were additionally considered using the DFT calculations.
Development of a Cryopreservation Technique for Xenogeneic Kidney Grafts: Evaluation Using a Mouse Model
Authors: Takamura Tsuyoshi , Nagashima Hiroshi , Matsunari Hitomi , Yamanaka Shuichiro , Saito Yatsumu , Kinoshita Yoshitaka , Fujimoto Toshinari , Matsumoto Kei , Nakano Kazuaki , Okano Hirotaka James , Kobayashi Eiji , Yokoo Takashi
Published: December 2022

To align the xeno-metanephros and renal progenitor cell timing for transplantation treatments, cryopreservation techniques and an efficient transportation of regenerated renal products such as xeno-metanephroi and renal progenitor cells should be established. Therefore, we propose a novel method of xenogeneic regenerative medicine for patients with chronic kidney disease by grafting porcine fetal kidneys injected with human renal progenitor cells. To develop a useful cryopreserve system of porcine fetal kidney and human renal progenitor cells, we examined the cryopreservation of a fetal kidney implanted with renal progenitor cells in a mouse model. First, we developed a new method for direct cell injection under the capsule of the metanephros using gelatin as a support for unzipped fetal kidneys. Then, we confirmed in vitro that the nephrons derived from the transplanted cells were regenerated even after cryopreservation before and after cell transplantation. Furthermore, the cryopreserved chimeric metanephroi grew, and regenerated nephrons were observed in NOD. We confirmed that even in cryopreserved chimeric metanephroi, transplanted cell-derived nephrons as well as fresh transplants grew.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Outcomes in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Batsiou Anastasia , Mantzios Petros , Piovani Daniele , Tsantes Andreas G. , Kopanou Taliaka Paschalia , Liakou Paraskevi , Iacovidou Nicoletta , Tsantes Argirios E. , Bonovas Stefanos , Sokou Rozeta
Published: December 2022

The impact of COVID-19 on pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is still not clear and the knowledge acquired over the last 2 years is still evolving. This study aims to investigate the risk and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with PIBD. A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted to identify studies published up until September 2022. Out of the 475 articles screened, 14 studies were included in the review. Of the 4006 children with PIBD included, 390 (9.7%) tested positive for COVID-19. Among those with COVID-19, 5.9% (0–16.7%) needed hospitalization, 0.6% (0–1%) were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and no deaths were reported. Among the included studies, only four presented details regarding patients’ symptoms, with 21% (0–25%) presenting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. An association between PIBD activity or specific treatment and COVID-19 outcome could not be established. The prevalence of COVID-19 in patients with PIBD was low; therefore, the initial concerns regarding higher infection risk and worse prognosis in this population are not supported by the currently available data. Further research is needed to determine the natural history of the infection and the optimal treatment for these patients. Much is still unclear and additional studies should be performed in order to optimize prevention and care for this special group of patients.
Becoming a Teenager after Early Surgical Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Repair: Longitudinal Biopsychological Data on Mental Health and Maternal Involvement
Authors: Lang Laura , Gerlach Jennifer , Plank Anne-Christine , Purbojo Ariawan , Cesnjevar Robert A. , Kratz Oliver , Moll Gunther H. , Eichler Anna
Published: December 2022

Beside somatic strains of congenital heart diseases (CHD), affected children often show developmental impairments in the long term. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart defect and early surgical repair is associated with positive somatic outcomes. However, psychological adjustment is of lifelong relevance. We investigated 24 children with a surgically-corrected isolated VSD and their mothers from primary school (6–9 years) to adolescence (10–14 years) and compared them to controls. Both times, mothers reported child internalizing/externalizing problems, mothers and children rated child quality of life, and children performed neurodevelopmental tests. Adolescents also rated internalizing/externalizing problems themselves, and their hair cortisol levels were analyzed. Maternal anxiety and proactive parenting behavior were considered as moderators. Results revealed no group differences in child neurodevelopment (language, cognition), externalizing problems, and cortisol levels at any time. In reports from mothers, internalizing problems (depression, anxiety) were elevated in children with a VSD at both times—when mothers reported anxiety symptoms themselves. In adolescent reports, VSD patients’ quality of life was increased and internalizing problems were decreased—proactive parenting behavior went along with decreased symptoms in VSD-affected adolescents and with increased symptoms in controls. The findings pronounce the crucial role of parenting behavior and the influence of maternal anxieties on child mental health after surgical VSD repair and might highlight the need for parent-centered interventions.
Pressure Pain Threshold of the Upper Trapezius Trigger Point: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Baseline Values and Their Modification after Physical Therapy
Authors: Geri Tommaso , Botticchio Alice , Rossettini Giacomo , Pournajaf Sanaz , Pellicciari Leonardo , Di Antonio Stefano , Castaldo Matteo
Published: December 2022

Background: Myofascial trigger points (TrP) are diagnosed upon the presence of clinical signs among which hypersensitivity is considered one of the most important. The detection of the pressure pain threshold (PPT) is used to quantify the degree of hypersensitivity. However, there is a lack of normative data about how hypersensitive a TrP is. Therefore, the objective was to quantify the PPT for myofascial TrP in the upper trapezius muscle and its modification after manual or instrumental physical therapy interventions. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted among three databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and PEDro). Two independent reviewers conducted the electronic search and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Eleven studies with a high-risk bias indicated that the PPT at TrP sites was 105.11 kPa lower (95% CI: −148.93; −61.28) at active TrP sites (Chi-squared = 1.07, df = 1 (p = 0.30), I2 = 7%) compared to the PPT of the upper trapezius muscles of healthy subjects. In addition, the PPT of TrP was also lower than the reference values coming from the pain-free population. Moreover, the PPT increased after both manual and instrumental treatment by 28.36 kPa (95% CI: 10.75; 45.96) and 75.49 kPa (95% CI: 18.02; 132.95), respectively. Conclusions: The results of the present study show that TrP has a decreased PPT when compared to healthy muscles and that physical therapy may increase the PPT. However, the clinical relevance of this decreased PPT needs to be further elucidated. Further, the high risk of bias in all the retrieved studies undermines the validity of the results.
Phase 1 and 2 Randomized Clinical Studies Determine Lack of Efficacy for Anti-IL-17C Antibody MOR106 in Moderate–Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Thaçi Diamant , Singh Dave , Lee Mark , Timmis Helen , Jacobs Dominique , Passier Paul , Rohrer Susanne , Beetens Johan , Phung De , Sondag Eric , Babic Goran , Würth Guido , Kloepfer Pia , Härtle Stefan , Hüttner Silke
Published: December 2022

Interleukin 17C (IL-17C) modulates epithelial inflammation and has a possible role in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathology. Four randomized clinical studies (Phase 1 and 2) investigated the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile of the anti-IL-17C monoclonal antibody MOR106 for up to 12 weeks (NCT03568071: n = 207 adults with moderate–severe AD; NCT03689829 Part 1: n = 32 healthy males; NCT03689829 Part 2: n = 44 adults with moderate–severe AD; and NCT03864627: n = 76 adults with moderate–severe AD). In these studies, MOR106 was either administered intravenously (i.v.) every 2 or 4 weeks at doses between 1–10 mg/kg, or subcutaneously (s.c.), either as a single dose or doses every 2 weeks at 320 mg. Overall, MOR106 was well-tolerated, and the safety profile was consistent with monoclonal antibodies approved for AD. Bioavailability following s.c. dosing was 55%, and steady-state drug levels were reached at 2–4 weeks. Ongoing studies were terminated following a futility analysis of the Phase 2 placebo-controlled dose-finding study (NCT03568071) due to a low probability for achieving the primary efficacy endpoint. Cumulatively, MOR106 demonstrated ineffectiveness for the treatment of AD, but its safety and pharmacokinetic characteristics warrant further drug development in other indications. Funding: sponsored by Galapagos NV; funded by Novartis AG.
A Theranostic Approach in SIRT: Value of Pre-Therapy Imaging in Treatment Planning
Authors: d’Abadie Philippe , Walrand Stephan , Lhommel Renaud , Hesse Michel , Jamar François
Published: December 2022

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is one of the treatment options for liver tumors. Microspheres labelled with a therapeutic radionuclide (90Y or 166Ho) are injected into the liver artery feeding the tumor(s), usually achieving a high tumor absorbed dose and a high tumor control rate. This treatment adopts a theranostic approach with a mandatory simulation phase, using a surrogate to radioactive microspheres (99mTc-macroaggregated albumin, MAA) or a scout dose of 166Ho microspheres, imaged by SPECT/CT. This pre-therapy imaging aims to evaluate the tumor targeting and detect potential contraindications to SIRT, i.e., digestive extrahepatic uptake or excessive lung shunt. Moreover, the absorbed doses to the tumor(s) and the healthy liver can be estimated and used for planning the therapeutic activity for SIRT optimization. The aim of this review is to evaluate the accuracy of this theranostic approach using pre-therapy imaging for simulating the biodistribution of the microspheres. This review synthesizes the recent publications demonstrating the advantages and limitations of pre-therapy imaging in SIRT, particularly for activity planning.
Acute Pancreatitis Associated with Atypical Bacterial Pneumonia: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Graf Gwendolyn , Vassalli Giulia A. M. , Kottanattu Lisa , Bianchetti Mario G. , Agostoni Carlo , Milani Gregorio P. , Lava Sebastiano A. G. , Faré Pietro B. , Janett Simone
Published: December 2022

Background: Extra-pulmonary features sometimes occur in association with atypical bacterial pneumonia and include neurologic manifestations, diarrhea, rashes, altered liver enzymes, or kidney injury, among other conditions. Acute pancreatitis has been associated with atypical pneumonias since 1973. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature in the Excerpta Medica, National Library of Medicine, and Web of Science databases. We retained 27 reports published between 1973 and 2022 describing subjects with an otherwise unexplained pancreatitis temporally associated with an atypical pneumonia. Results: The reports included 33 subjects (19 males, and 14 females; 8 children and 25 adults) with acute pancreatitis temporally associated with atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 18), Legionella species (n = 14), or Coxiella burnetii (n = 1). Approximately 90% of patients (n = 29) concurrently presented with respiratory and pancreatic diseases. No cases associated with Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydophila psittaci, or Francisella species were found. Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis has been associated with various infectious agents. The present review documents the association with atypical pneumonia induced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella species, and Coxiella burnetii.
Comparison of Current International Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia
Authors: Aygun Sevda , Tokgozoglu Lale
Published: December 2022

The dyslipidemia guidelines of the three major societies have been revised recently in light of new evidence. LDL-C is the primary target in the ESC, AHA/ACC/Multisociety and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines. These guidelines uniformly recommend intensifying lipid-lowering treatment with increased risk; however, the risk estimation systems are different across the guidelines. The ESC guidelines have LDL-C goals which have become more stringent over the years and advocate the use of statin and, if necessary, non-statin therapies to obtain these goals. AHA/ACC/Multisociety guidelines have LDL-C thresholds and advocate combination therapy less liberally and for selected patients. All three guidelines acknowledge the importance of shared decision making. Despite some divergent approaches and recommendations, the main principles and messages are the same across the guidelines. To combat the epidemic of cardiovascular disease, our focus should be not on the differences but on implementing the guidelines in our region.
Pediatric Migraine: Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Raieli Vincenzo , Sciruicchio Vittorio
Published: December 2022

The WHO recognizes migraine as one of the most disabling diseases [...]
Global Hemostasis Potential in COVID-19 Positive Patients Performed on St-Genesia Show Hypercoagulable State
Authors: Buffart Beverly , Demulder Anne , Fangazio Marco , Rozen Laurence
Published: December 2022

Background: At the dawn of the pandemic, severe forms of COVID-19 were often complicated by thromboembolisms. However, routine laboratory tests cannot be used to predict thromboembolic events. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential value of the thrombin generation test (TGT) in predicting hypercoagulability and thrombotic risk in the aforementioned set of patients. Methods: The study panel comprised 52 patients divided into two groups (26 COVID-19 positive and 26 COVID-19 negative); COVID-19-positive patients were further grouped in “severe” (n = 11) and “non-severe” (n = 15) categories based on clinical criteria. The routine blood tests and TGT of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All 26 COVID-19-positive patients showed decreased lymphocyte, monocyte and basophil counts and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) compared with control patients. Conversely, we did not observe statistically significant differences between severe and non-severe patients despite anecdotal variations in the distribution patterns. TGT without thrombomodulin (TM) addition showed statistically significant differences in the thrombin peak heights between COVID-19-positive and negative patients. After addition of TM, peak height, Endogenous Thrombin Potential (ETP) and velocity index were increased in all COVID-19-positive patients while the percentage of inhibition of ETP was reduced. These trends correlated with the severity of disease, showing a greater increase in peak height, ETP, velocity index and a drastic reduction in the percentage of ETP inhibition in more severely affected patients. Conclusions: Our data suggest that all COVID-19 patients harbor a hypercoagulable TGT profile and that this is further pronounced in severely affected patients.
Revision Rates and Associated Risk Factors after Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Walter Nike , Lowenberg David W. , Kurtz Steven M. , Alt Volker , Lau Edmund C. , Rupp Markus
Published: December 2022

This study aims at answering the following questions (1) How high is the revision rate after osteoarthritis-, and rotator cuff-related compared to proximal humerus fracture (PHF)-related shoulder arthroplasty? (2) What are the associated risk factors for a revision after shoulder arthroplasty? Shoulder arthroplasty procedures occurring between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019 were identified from the Medicare database. First, revision rates for PHF patients and age- and sex-matched non-fracture patients, grouped into osteoarthritis-related and rotator cuff-related arthroplasty, were compared. Second, revision rates between total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty after PHF were compared. Semiparametric Cox regression was applied, incorporating 23 demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic covariates, to investigate risk factors for revision surgery. Between the considered time period from 2009 through 2019, a total number of 47,979 PHFs was identified. A shoulder arthroplasty procedure was performed in n = 2639 (5.5%, 95%CI: 4.8–6.1) of the cases. The five-year survivorship of the implant was 96.3 (95%CI: 93.8–97.9) after hemiarthroplasty and 96.1% (05%CI: 94.2–97.3) after total shoulder arthroplasty. To compare the revision rates, n = 14,775 patients with osteoarthritis and n = 4268 patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, who received a shoulder arthroplasty, served as a non-fracture control group. Patients receiving a rotator cuff-related arthroplasty were more likely to require a revision compared to patients treated for osteoarthritis (HR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.04–1.44, p = 0.018). Identified significant risk factors for revision surgery after shoulder arthroplasty included age ≤ 75 years, male sex, and osteoporosis. High implant survival was found for hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of PHF in elderly patients. The risk of revision surgery was elevated in patients receiving a rotator cuff-related arthroplasty as well as in patients with osteoporosis, male patients and patients older than 75 years.
Creating Three-Dimensional Templates of Smiling and Pouting Faces for Different Sex- and Age Groups
Authors: Schutte Hilde , Muradin Marvick S. M. , Bielevelt Freek , ten Harkel Timen C. , Speksnijder Caroline M. , Rosenberg Antoine J. W. P.
Published: December 2022

Smile appearance has a major psychological impact. Orthognathic surgery, which has harmonizing results on skeletal structures, can negatively influence the smile appearance due to soft tissue effects. To enhance the aesthetic effects of orthognathic surgery on soft tissues, reference models for large parts of the hospital’s adherent area are called for. This study aims to create average facial models for different sex and age groups in two facial exercises: maximum closed smile, and pouting. These models were created using coherent point drift and Procrustes algorithms in MATLAB. Principal component analysis was performed, and of 20 surgical landmarks, the in-group variation using standard deviation was calculated. Three distances were analyzed: nasal width, philtral width, and mouth width. To correct for facial size, these distances were analyzed as a ratio of intercanthal width. In total, 328 healthy subjects were included in the study. Subjects were grouped by sex, and in age categories spanning four years each, with an adult group with all ages >16 years. For both smiling and pouting faces, all ratios increased with ageing. These templates and data can benefit facial surgeons, to obtain an expected outcome according to the age of the patient.
A Multicenter, Investigator-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Calf Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Program on Walking Performance in Peripheral Artery Disease: The ELECTRO-PAD Study Protocol
Authors: Le Faucheur Alexis , Jéhannin Pierre , Chanteau Adrien , Blanc-Petitjean Pauline , Donnelly Alan , Hoffmann Clément , Henni Samir , Bura-Rivière Alessandra , Kaladji Adrien , Lanéelle Damien , Mahé Guillaume
Published: December 2022

This paper describes a currently on-going multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy of calf neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on changes in maximal walking distance in people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), compared with a non-intervention control-group. This study (NCT03795103) encompasses five participating centers in France. PAD participants with a predominant claudication at the calf level and a maximal treadmill walking distance ≤300 m are randomized into one of the two groups: NMES group or Control group. The NMES program consists of a 12-week program of electrical stimulations at the calf-muscle level. The primary outcome of the study is the change in maximal treadmill walking distance at 12 weeks. Main secondary outcomes include changes in the pain-free treadmill walking distance; 6 min total walking distance; global positioning system (GPS)-measured outdoor walking capacity; daily physical activity level by accelerometry; self-reported walking impairment; self-reported quality of life; ankle-brachial index; and skin microvascular function, both at the forearm and calf levels. Recruitment started in September 2019 and data collection is expected to end in November 2022.
Chagas Heart Disease: Beyond a Single Complication, from Asymptomatic Disease to Heart Failure
Authors: Montalvo-Ocotoxtle Isis G. , Rojas-Velasco Gustavo , Rodríguez-Morales Olivia , Arce-Fonseca Minerva , Baeza-Herrera Luis A. , Arzate-Ramírez Arturo , Meléndez-Ramírez Gabriela , Manzur-Sandoval Daniel , Lara-Romero Mayra L. , Reyes-Ortega Antonio , Espinosa-González Patricia , Palacios-Rosas Erika
Published: December 2022

Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in developing countries. It is estimated that 6 to 7 million people worldwide are infected, and it is predicted that it will be responsible for 200,000 deaths by 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Chagas disease (CD) as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), which must be acknowledged and detected in time, as it remains a clinical and diagnostic challenge in both endemic and non-endemic regions and at different levels of care. The literature on CC was analyzed by searching different databases (Medline, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO) from 1968 until October 2022. Multicenter and bioinformatics trials, systematic and bibliographic reviews, international guidelines, and clinical cases were included. The reference lists of the included papers were checked. No linguistic restrictions or study designs were applied. This review is intended to address the current incidence and prevalence of CD and to identify the main pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of CC.
Delivery of Melittin as a Lytic Agent via Graphene Nanoparticles as Carriers to Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Daniluk Karolina , Lange Agata , Pruchniewski Michał , Małolepszy Artur , Sawosz Ewa , Jaworski Sławomir
Published: December 2022

Melittin, as an agent to lyse biological membranes, may be a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer. However, because of its nonspecific actions, there is a need to use a delivery method. The conducted research determined whether carbon nanoparticles, such as graphene and graphene oxide, could be carriers for melittin to breast cancer cells. The studies included the analysis of intracellular pH, the potential of cell membranes, the type of cellular transport, and the expression of receptor proteins. By measuring the particle size, zeta potential, and FT-IT analysis, we found that the investigated nanoparticles are connected by electrostatic interactions. The level of melittin encapsulation with graphene was 86%, while with graphene oxide it was 78%. A decrease in pHi was observed for all cell lines after administration of melittin and its complex with graphene. The decrease in membrane polarization was demonstrated for all lines treated with melittin and its complex with graphene and after exposure to the complex of melittin with graphene oxide for the MDA-MB-231 and HFFF2 lines. The results showed that the investigated melittin complexes and the melittin itself act differently on different cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). It has been shown that in MDA-MD-231 cells, melittin in a complex with graphene is transported to cells via caveolin-dependent endocytosis. On the other hand, the melittin–graphene oxide complex can reach breast cancer cells through various types of transport. Other differences in protein expression changes were also observed for tumor lines after exposure to melittin and complexes.
Polycaprolactone Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane with Sustained Chlorohexidine Release Capability against Oral Pathogens
Authors: Chen Zi-Jian , Lv Jia-Cheng , Wang Zhi-Guo , Wang Fei-Yu , Huang Ren-Huan , Zheng Zi-Li , Xu Jia-Zhuang , Wang Jing
Published: December 2022

Multiple-pathogen periodontal disease necessitates a local release and concentration of antibacterial medication to control inflammation in a particular location of the mouth cavity. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively load and deliver medicine/antibiotics to treat numerous complex bacterial infections. This study developed chlorhexidine (CHX)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber membranes with controlled release properties as periodontal dressings to prevent or treat oral disorders. Electrostatic spinning was adopted to endow the nanofiber membranes with a high porosity, hydrophilicity, and CHX loading capability. The release of CHX occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. The CHX/PCL nanofiber membranes exhibited good biocompatibility with human periodontal ligament stem cells, with cell viability over 85% in each group via CCK-8 assay and LIVE/DEAD staining; moreover, the good attachment of the membrane was illustrated by scanning electron microscopy imaging. Through the agar diffusion assay, the nanofiber membranes with only 0.075 wt% CHX exhibited high antibacterial activity against three typical oral infection-causing bacteria: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Prevotella intermedia. The results indicated that the CHX/PCL nanofiber holds great potential as a periodontal dressing for the prevention and treatment periodontal disorders associated with bacteria.
A Spintronic 2M/7T Computation-in-Memory Cell
Authors: Jafari Atousa , Münch Christopher , Tahoori Mehdi
Published: December 2022

Computing data-intensive applications on the von Neumann architecture lead to significant performance and energy overheads. The concept of computation in memory (CiM) addresses the bottleneck of von Neumann machines by reducing the data movement in the computing system. Emerging resistive non-volatile memory technologies, as well as volatile memories (SRAM and DRAM), can be used to realize architectures based on the CiM paradigm. In this paper, we propose a hybrid cell design to provide the opportunity for CiM by combining the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and the conventional 6T-SRAM cell. The cell performs CiM operations based on stateful in-array computation, which has better scalability for multiple operands compared with stateless computation in the periphery. Various logic operations such as XOR, OR, and IMP can be performed with the proposed design. In addition, the proposed cell can also operate as a conventional memory cell to read and write volatile as well as non-volatile data. The obtained simulation results show that the proposed CiM-A design can increase the performance of regular memory architectures by reducing the delay by 8 times and the energy by 13 times for database query applications consisting of consecutive bitwise operations with minimum overhead.
Prediction of Operation Time of Container Ship at Berth under Uncertain Factors Based on a Hybrid Model Combining PCA and ELM Optimized by IPSO
Authors: Li Zhaohui , Wang Lin , Piao Wenjia , Jia Hao , Dong Shan , Zhang Jiehan
Published: December 2022

With the rapid development of global trade, the turnover of shipping containers has increased rapidly. How to use port resources reasonably and efficiently has become one of the main challenges that ports need to deal with when planning for the future. In order to develop scientific and efficient berth plans to improve operational efficiency and service level, this paper proposes a hybrid prediction model based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) optimized by Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO), namely, the PCA-IPSO-ELM model. After assessing the uncertain factors influencing the operation time of the container ship at berth, this work reduces the dimensionality of the investigational data by the PCA method. Aiming to solve easy premature convergence of the traditional particle swarm algorithm, this paper introduces an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm via dynamic adjustment of nonlinear parameters. This improved particle swarm algorithm is mainly used to optimize the weights and thresholds of the extreme learning machine. Thus, a PCA-IPSO-ELM model which aims to forecast the operation time of a container ship at berth, is constructed. Using the historical operation data of the Tianjin Port Container Shipping Company as the prediction sample, this PCA-IPSO-ELM model is compared and assessed with traditional models. The results show that compared with other models, the PCA-IPSO-ELM prediction model has the characteristics of high prediction accuracy, fast running rate and strong stability, and it has a higher coefficient of determination and a better fitting degree.
Deep Learning-Based Signal Detection for Underwater Acoustic OTFS Communication
Authors: Zhang Yuzhi , Zhang Shumin , Wang Bin , Liu Yang , Bai Weigang , Shen Xiaohong
Published: December 2022

Orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) is a novel two-dimensional (2D) modulation technique that provides reliable communications over time- and frequency-selective channels. In underwater acoustic (UWA) channel, the multi-path delay and Doppler shift are several magnitudes larger than wireless radio communication, which will cause severe time- and frequency-selective fading. The receiver has to recover the distorted OTFS signal with inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI). The conventional UWA OTFS receivers perform channel estimation explicitly and equalization to detect transmitted symbols, which requires prior knowledge of the system. This paper proposes a deep learning-based signal detection method for UWA OTFS communication, in which the deep neural network can recover the received symbols after sufficient training. In particular, it cascades a convolutional neural network (CNN) with skip connections (SC) and a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network to perform signal recovery. The proposed method extracts feature information from received OTFS signal sequences and trains the neural network for signal detection. The numerical results demonstrate that the SC-CNN-BiLSTM-based OTFS detection method performs with a lower bit error rate (BER) than the 2D-CNN, FC-DNN, and conventional signal detection methods.
Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk Assessment in the Sediment Cores of the Wetlands in Southern Thailand
Authors: Pradit Siriporn , Noppradit Prakrit , Jitkaew Panisara , Sengloyluan Karnda , Kobkeatthawin Thawanrat , Laerosa Araf , Sirivithayapakorn Sanya
Published: December 2022

The concentration and distribution of trace metals were determined in sediment cores from the Khuan Khi Sian wetland, Thailand. The sediment cores were collected from seven stations in the dry and wet seasons in 2022. The concentration of Pb, As, and Cd in the dry season were in the range 0.00–60.16, 0.00–6.68, and 0.00–0.92 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively. Meanwhile, the concentration of Pb, As, and Cd in the wet season were in the range 0.00–12.12, 0.00–3.86, and 0.00–0.92 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively. The vertical profiles of metal concentrations in core sediment show a general increase from bottom to top. Average concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments of the Khuan Khi Sian wetland are found to be lower than the sediment quality guideline. In the sediment cores, only As in the dry season exceeded the U.S. EPA standard. The calculated enrichment factor (EF) and the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicate that the sediments were moderately polluted with As in some locations. According to the Ri analysis, Pb was low risk but the criteria of ecological risk of As and Cd are considerable and they are considered high risk. This is potentially due to agricultural activities and land use around the wetland areas and municipalities. The concentration of As and Cd should be of concern and subject to regular monitoring.
Design and Dynamic Analysis of a Novel Large-Scale Barge-Type Floating Offshore Wind Turbine with Aquaculture Cage
Authors: Zhai Yuting , Zhao Haisheng , Li Xin , Shi Wei
Published: December 2022

In this study, a novel large-scale barge-type floating offshore wind turbine with an aquaculture cage (LSBT-FOWT-AC) in a water depth of 100 m is designed through fully coupled analysis using the SESAM tool to support the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 10 MW wind turbine. The intact stability and natural period of motion of the newly designed LSBT-FOWT-AC are evaluated based on the DNV rules and standards. Then, the dynamic responses of the LSBT-FOWT-AC under various sea conditions are studied. The motion of the LSBT-FOWT-AC platform is considerably affected by waves, and its motion response is within a reasonable range even under the extreme sea conditions of the 100-year return period. By analyzing the results of the out-of-plane bending moment of root of blade 1 (RootMyc1), it can be seen that the rotor frequency (1P) has a visible influence on the wind turbine. Through the analysis of dynamic response statistics of the LSBT-FOWT-AC structure by the single variable method of environmental loads, it is found that wind force exerts the greatest impact on the dynamic response compared to the wave-excitation force and current drag force.
Characteristic and Relative Environmental Risk of Disinfection by Products Associated with Simple Glucose or Naturally Occurring Algal Organic Matter as Tested in Ballast Water Treatment System
Authors: Jang Pung-Guk , Cha Hyung-Gon , Jang Min-Chul , Hyun Bonggil , Choi Tae Seob , Kang Younseok , Shin Kyoungsoon
Published: December 2022

To prevent the invasion of alien species, the International Maritime Organization and the United States Costal Guard require that a ballast water management system (BWMS) be installed on ships to treat the ballast water before discharging it. BWMS technologies use active substances, which create disinfection by-products (DBPs) during ballast water treatment. This study compared the characteristics of DBPs generated in the treatment of commercial glucose with those of algal organic matter (AOM) derived from field-collected phytoplankton using NaOCl as the active substance. During the treatment of AOM, a greater variety and higher concentrations of DBPs were generated than for glucose. For AOM in freshwater, bromoform and dibromoacetic acid were dominant because of the bromine ions present in the phytoplankton. During the treatment of glucose, the ratio of the predicted environmental concentration to the predicted no-effect concentration of dibromoacetonitrile and chloropicrin exceeded 1, indicating a potential environmental risk. Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing showed that the chronic toxicity of phytoplankton and the total DBP concentration were highest in marine water with AOM. In addition, the results of WET testing suggested that the concentrations of haloacetic acids (HAAs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs) were important indicators for the evaluation of environmental risk. Therefore, to evaluate the risk of DBPs in international ports where phytoplankton outbreaks frequently occur, it is important to monitor not only the total DBP concentration but also the total HAA and HAN concentrations.