bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals and applications of metal nanoparticle- enhanced singlet oxygen generation for improved cancer photodynamic therapy
Authors: George Blassan P. , Chota Alexander , Sarbadhikary Paromita , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: July 2022

The introduction of nanotechnology in the field of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has proven to have great potential to overcome some of the challenges associated with traditional organic photosensitizers (PS) with respect to their solubility, drug delivery, distribution and site-specific targeting. Other focused areas in PDT involve high singlet oxygen production capability and excitability of PS by deep tissue penetrating light wavelengths. Owing to their very promising optical and surface plasmon resonance properties, combination of traditional PSs with plasmonic metallic nanoparticles like gold and silver nanoparticles results in remarkably high singlet oxygen production and extended excitation property from visible and near-infrared lights. This review summarizes the importance, fundamentals and applications of on plasmonic metallic nanoparticles in PDT. Lastly, we highlight the future prospects of these plasmonic nanoengineering strategies with or without PS combination, to have a significant impact in improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer PDT.
The application of photodynamic therapy in plastic and reconstructive surgery
Authors: Wu Min , Huang Xiaoyu , Gao Lu , Zhou Guoyu , Xie Feng
Published: July 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern clinical treatment paradigm with the advantages of high selectivity, non-invasiveness, rare side-effect, no obvious drug resistance and easy combination with other therapies. These features have endowed PDT with high focus and application prospects. Studies of photodynamic therapy have been expanded in a lot of biomedical and clinical fields, especially Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) the author major in. In this review, we emphasize the mechanism and advances in PDT related to the PRS applications including benign pigmented lesions, vascular malformations, inflammatory lesions, tumor and others. Besides, combined with clinical data analysis, the limitation of PDT and current issues that need to be addressed in the field of PRS have also been discussed. At last, a comprehensive discussion and outlooking represent future progress of PDT in PRS.
A Framework for Deciding How to Create and Evaluate Transcripts for Forensic and Other Purposes
Authors: Fraser Helen
Published: July 2022

Transcripts are used successfully in many areas of contemporary society. However, some uses of transcripts show systemic problems, with significant negative consequences. The key to finding effective solutions in these areas is to determine which factors contribute most strongly to the problems – which may be different from those to which they are commonly ascribed. This systematic review offers a conceptual framework for understanding the nature of transcripts in general, and the factors that contribute to a transcript's reliability and suitability for purpose. It then demonstrates how the framework can explain the (mostly) successful use of transcripts in two domains: court proceedings and linguistics research. Next, it uses the framework to examine two problematic cases: transcripts of forensic audio used as evidence in criminal trials, and transcripts of police interviews with suspects. A crucial observation is that, while it is common, and understandable, to focus on the transcriber as the source of problems with transcripts, transcription is actually a complex process involving practitioners in multiple roles, of which the transcriber role is not always the most important. Solving problems thus requires coordination of a range of factors. The analysis ends with practical suggestions for how to seek solutions for both the problematic areas reviewed, with attention to the role that linguistic science needs to play. The conclusion amplifies recent calls to consolidate transcription as a dedicated field of study within linguistics.
Gastrointestinal tract-based implicit measures for cognition, emotion and behavior
Authors: van Erp Jan B. F.
Published: July 2022

Implicit physiological measures such as heart rate and skin conductance convey information about someone's cognitive or affective state. Currently, gastrointestinal (GI) tract-based markers are not yet considered while both the organs involved as well as the microbiota populating the GI tract are bidirectionally connected to the brain and have a relation to emotion, cognition and behavior. This makes GI tract-based measures relevant and interesting, especially because the relation may be causal, and because they have a different timescale than current physiological measures. This perspective paper (1) presents the (mechanistic) involvement of the GI tract and its microbiota in emotion, cognition and behavior; (2) explores the added value of microbiome-based implicit measures as complementary to existing measures; and (3) sets the priorities to move forward. Five potential measures are proposed and discussed in more detail: bowel movement, short-chain fatty acids, tyrosine and tryptophan, GI tract flora composition, and cytokine levels. We conclude (1) that the involvement of the GI tract in emotion, cognition and behavior is undisputed, (2) that GI tract-based implicit measures are still in a conceptual phase of development but show potential and (3) that the first step to bring this field forward is to start validation studies in healthy humans and that are designed in the context of implicit measurements.
Naturally low biodiversity is getting a raw deal in the media
Authors: Procheş Şerban
Published: July 2022

While media usage has helped biodiversity gain a central spot in the contemporary conservation landscape, it is acknowledged that high biodiversity in itself is not always the best indication of conservation value. There are multiple reasons why low-biodiversity systems have to be valued. Such systems are easier to appreciate by the general public in their entirety, and also easier to study, with most model systems referring to low numbers of species. In remote and environmentally harsh settings, biodiversity can increase via biological invasion, which is usually perceived as a negative anthropogenic impact. Island systems, typically lower in biodiversity compared to continental settings, are, specifically thanks to the available niche space, laboratories of speciation and potentially macroevolutionary innovation. Although biodiversity hotspots are at the centre of global conservation efforts, coldspots have their own dynamics and conservation needs, generally poorly understood at this stage due to the high-biodiversity focus. Here, I discuss the media relevance and, where applicable, distortion, of these aspects. I conclude by recommending a local rather than global focus in the marketing of conservation, which could encourage an appreciation of naturally low biodiversity.
A nomogram for reduced cardiac function in postoperative acute type A aortic dissection patients with acute kidney injury undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy
Authors: Jiao Rui , Liu Maomao , Lu Xuran , Zhu Junming , Sun Lizhong , Liu Nan
Published: July 2022

Background

This study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict reduced cardiac function for acute kidney injury (AKI) patients who received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis. ATAAD patients with preoperative normal ejection fraction (EF) and postoperative AKI with CRRT admitted between January 2014 and November 2021 were included. The reduced cardiac function was defined as EF <50%. The data were analyzed by the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A diagnostic model was established by a nomogram, and its discriminative performance was validated by the received operating characteristic (ROC) curve and concordance (C) statistic. The calibration of the diagnostic model was tested by calibration curves and the HosmerLemeshow test. The clinical utility was evaluated by the decision curve analysis (DCA).

Result

In total, 208 patients were eligible for analysis, of which 98 patients with reduced cardiac function. The logistic regression analyses showed age ≥60 years old, history of coronary atherosclerotic disease, preoperative pericardial tamponade, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were risk factors for reduced cardiac function, which were further employed in the nomogram. As results, nomogram revealed a high predictive power (C statistic = 0.723, 0.654–0.792; the bootstrap-corrected concordance C statistic = 0.711, the area under the ROC curve = 0.723). The calibration curves showed good consistency between the predicted and the actual probabilities (calibration curve: Brier points = 0.208, Emax = 0.103, Eavg = 0.021; Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.476). DCA showed that the nomogram could augment net benefits and exhibited a wide range of threshold probabilities in the prediction of EF reduction.

Conclusion

This nomogram is an effective diagnostic model for predicting the reduced cardiac function in postoperative ATAAD patients with AKI undergoing CRRT and can be used to protect postoperative renal functions and facilitate patient-specific care after ATAAD surgery.
Urinary matrix Gla protein is associated with mortality risk in Flemish population: A prospective study
Authors: Wei Dongmei , Melgarejo Jesus , Vanassche Thomas , Van Aelst Lucas , Janssens Stefan , Verhamme Peter , Zhang Zhen-Yu
Published: July 2022

Background

Vascular calcification is strongly related to the risk of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) diseases. In vascular calcification, matrix Gla protein (MGP), a small vitamin K-dependent protein, is an important mineralization inhibitor. Recent studies showed that circulating MGP is associated with mortality risk. However, the longitudinal association between urinary excretion of MGP and all-cause mortality was not established.

Materials and methods

Urinary MGP was measured in 776 randomly recruited Flemish population (mean age: 51.2 years; 50.9% women) at baseline (during 2005–2010) using capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry. Plasma inactive MGP [desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP)] levels were quantified in 646 individuals by ELISA kits. Mortality status was ascertained through the Belgian Population Registry until 2016. The longitudinal association with mortality was determined by the multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models. The multivariate linear regression models were used to identify determinants of urinary MGP level.

Results

Over the 9.2 years, 47 (6.06%) participants died, including 15 CV deaths. For a doubling of urinary MGP, the hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.31 (95% CI: 1.01–1.69, P = 0.040) for all-cause mortality and 2.05 (95% CI: 1.11–3.79, P = 0.023) for CV mortality with adjustment for covariates, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine microalbumin. The addition of urinary MGP to the basic models improved the reclassification as suggested by the increased net reclassification improvement [64.01% (95% CI: 32.64–98.63)] and integrated discrimination improvement [2.33% (95% CI: 0.24–4.71)]. Circulating inactive MGP, total cholesterol, urine microalbumin, and smoking were significantly associated with urinary MGP levels (P ≤ 0.041), independent of sex and age.

Conclusion

Elevated urinary MGP was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and CV mortality and improved the risk reclassification for all-cause mortality. These findings suggested that urinary MGP might be useful in mortality risk assessment in the general population. However, these observations need to be replicated in larger studies with a longer follow-up time.
Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitor Assay and Expected Peak-Trough Levels of Dabigatran: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Liu Zhiyan , Mu Guangyan , Xie Qiufen , Zhang Hanxu , Jiang Jie , Xiang Qian , Cui Yimin
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Dabigatran concentrations monitoring are gaining importance of special situations, but limited data are available for the expected peak and trough levels. The hemoclot thrombin inhibitor (HTI) is dabigatran-calibrated quantitative determination of dabigatran concentration. This study aims to validate HTI assay as the quantification choice of dabigatran, and providing the expected peak and trough levels.

Materials and Methods

This is a multi-center methodology validate study, including seven hospitals from Beijing, Shanghai, Henan, Hunan, Chongqing, and Fujian. We retrospectively analyzed plasma samples taken from 118 healthy subjects and 183 patients receiving dabigatran. Dabigatran concentrations were measured with HTI assay and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Linear regression, Spearman correlation and Bland-Altman analysis were used in this study.

Results

The mean concentration ratio of HPLC-MS/MS and HTI assays was 1.03 and 0.98 at 2 and 12 h, and the acceptance ranges for both the ratio limit as well as the limit of agreement were met, suggesting good agreement between the HTI-derived plasma concentrations and HPLC-MS/MS. The reference detection range of single dose dabigatran 150 mg in healthy subjects was 33–159 ng/ml. About 500 blood samples were taken from 183 patients suggested that the expected peak and trough levels range of dabigatran 110 mg was about 95–196 and 36–92 ng/ml.

Conclusion

Hemoclot thrombin inhibitor assay can be a good quantitative detection method of dabigatran. Expected peak and trough levels provide a basis for the rational use of dabigatran, and provide important Asian population data for the update of the international clinical guidelines for hematological testing.

Clinical Trial Registration

[https://clinicaltrials.gov], identifier [NCT03161496].
The regulation of yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif and their roles in vascular endothelium
Authors: Zhang Wen , Li Qian-qian , Gao Han-yi , Wang Yong-chun , Cheng Min , Wang Yan-Xia
Published: July 2022

Normal endothelial function plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, while endothelial dysfunction causes the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its homolog transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) serve as crucial nuclear effectors in the Hippo signaling pathway, which are regulated by mechanical stress, extracellular matrix stiffness, drugs, and other factors. Increasing evidence supports that YAP/TAZ play an important role in the regulation of endothelial-related functions, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Herein, we systematically review the factors affecting YAP/TAZ, downstream target genes regulated by YAP/TAZ and the roles of YAP/TAZ in regulating endothelial functions, in order to provide novel potential targets and effective approaches to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Case report: Double-chambered right ventricle diagnosed in a middle-aged female with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial flutter: A rare case
Authors: Ge Junye , Hu Tong , Liu Yan , Wang Qian , Fan Guanqi , Liu Chuanzhen , Zhang Jun , Chen Shiming , Maduray Kellina , Zhang Yun , Chen Tongshuai , Zhong Jingquan
Published: July 2022

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital heart defect in adults, manifesting with progressive right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe the first case of DCRV coexisting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is complicated by atrial flutter. A middle-aged woman with recurrent symptomatic atrial flutter who had previously been diagnosed with biventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was admitted to our department. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance revealed asymmetrical interventricular septal hypertrophy, and abnormal muscle bundles within the right ventricle, generating an obstructive gradient. Genetic testing detected a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-associated mutation: MYH7, c.4135G > A, p. Ala1379Thr. A diagnosis of DCRV complicated by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial flutter was made. Surgical intervention was performed, which included radiofrequency ablation, removal of abnormal muscle bundles, and ventricular septal defect repair. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated the well-corrected right ventricular outflow tract. Free of early postoperative complications, the patient was discharged in sinus rhythm on the 11th day after the surgery. Unfortunately, the patient died from a sudden death 38 days following the surgery. In conclusion, the coexistence of DCRV with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in patients is an uncommon condition. The present case highlights the importance of diagnostic imaging in the management of this disorder.
Independent and joint association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and left ventricular mass index with heart failure risk in elderly diabetic patients with right ventricular pacing
Authors: Yu Yu , Huang Hao , Cheng Sijing , Deng Yu , Liu Xi , Gu Min , Chen Xuhua , Niu Hongxia , Cai Chi , Hua Wei
Published: July 2022

Background

Elevated levels of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are independent risk factors for heart failure (HF). In addition, right ventricular pacing (RVP) is an effective treatment strategy for bradyarrhythmia, but long-term RVP is associated with HF. However, there is limited evidence on the independent and combined association of NT-proBNP and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) with HF risk in elderly diabetic patients with long-term RVP.

Methods

Between January 2017 and January 2018, a total of 224 elderly diabetic patients with RVP at Fuwai Hospital were consecutively included in the study, with a 5-year follow-up period. The study endpoint was the first HF readmission during follow-up. This study aimed to explore the independent and joint relationship of NT-proBNP and LVMI with HF readmission in elderly diabetic patients with long-term RVP, using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

A total of 224 (11.56%) elderly diabetic patients with RVP were included in the study. During the 5-year follow-up period, a total of 46 (20.54%) patients suffered HF readmission events. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that higher levels of NT-proBNP and LVMI were independent risk factors for HF readmission [NT-proBNP: hazard risk (HR) = 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.10; LVMI: HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02–1.27]. The optimal cut-off point of NT-proBNP was determined to be 330 pg/ml by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Patients with NT-proBNP > 330 pg/ml and LVH had a higher risk of HF readmission compared to those with NT-proBNP ≤ 330 pg/ml and non-LVH (39.02% vs. 6.17%; HR = 7.72, 95% CI: 1.34–9.31, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In elderly diabetic patients with long-term RVP, NT-proBNP and LVMI were associated with the risk of HF readmission. Elevated NT-proBNP combined with LVH resulted in a significantly higher risk of HF readmission.
Patency and adverse outcomes of sequential vs. individual saphenous vein grafts in coronary artery bypass: A meta-analysis
Authors: Jiao He , Li Jinghui , Bai Yunpeng , Guo Zhigang
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies to compare the patency and adverse outcomes of sequential and individual saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for cohort studies. Endpoints for vein graft failure, perioperative and follow-up adverse events were extracted as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Statistical heterogeneity across the studies was examined using the I2 statistic. Potential of publication bias was evaluated quantitatively by the Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to assess the robustness of our outcomes.

Results

The 15 studies were analyzed, including 22,004 patients, 4,580 grafts, and seven different adverse events under individual or sequential CABG. The sequential group had inferior graft failure (RR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60–0.77) and long-term mortality (RR = 0.76; 95%CI, 0.61–0.95), but with an increased risk of perioperative repeat revascularization (RR = 1.58; 95%CI, 1.16–2.14) than the individual group.

Conclusion

Taken together, our analysis of the aggregated evidence comparing the sequential and individual saphenous vein grafts for coronary heart disease patients showed that the use of the sequential graft was associated with inferior graft failure and long-term mortality respectively, but with an increased risk of perioperative repeat revascularization. According to our study, both surgical techniques have their own advantages in efficacy and safety, and the selection of surgical techniques should be based on patients and surgeons. Sequential saphenous vein grafts should be more recommended to experienced surgeons in order to both reduce perioperative adverse events and improve long-term patency.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022326992.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of pre-emptive embolization of the aneurysm sac side branches and aneurysm sac coil embolization to improve the outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair
Authors: Wu Ye , Yin Jianhan , Hongpeng Zhang , Wei Guo
Published: July 2022

Objective

Previous reports have revealed a high incidence of type II endoleak (T2EL) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The incidence of T2EL after EVAR is reduced by pre-emptive embolization of aneurysm sac side branches (ASSB) and aneurysm sac coil embolization (ASCE). This study aimed to investigate whether different preventive interventions for T2EL were correlated with suppression of aneurysm sac expansion and reduction of the re-intervention rate.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE and Embase databases, and conference proceedings were searched to identify articles on EVAR with or without embolization. The study was developed in line with the Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes, and Study design principles and was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We used network meta-analysis based on multivariate random-effects meta-analysis to indirectly compare outcomes of different strategies for embolization during EVAR.

Results

A total of 31 studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative and quantitative syntheses. The included studies were published between 2001 and 2022 and analyzed a total of 18,542 patients, including 1,882 patients who received prophylactic embolization treatment during EVAR (experimental group) and 16,660 who did not receive prophylactic embolization during EVAR (control group). The effect of pre-emptive embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) (IMA-ASSB) in preventing T2EL was similar (relative risk [RR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–2.63) to the effects of non-selective embolization of ASSB (NS-ASSB) and ASCE (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.40–1.96). IMA-ASSB showed a better clinical effect in suppressing the aneurysm sac expansion (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09–2.25 compared with NS-ASSB; RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.16–5.56 compared with ASCE) and reducing the re-intervention rate (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.08–1.53 compared with NS-ASSB; RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.19–2.22 compared with ASCE). All prophylactic embolization strategies improved the clinical outcomes of EVAR.

Conclusion

Prophylactic embolization during EVAR effectively prevents T2EL, suppresses the aneurysm sac expansion, and reduces the re-intervention rate. IMA embolization demonstrated benefits in achieving long-term aneurysm sac stability and lowering the risk of secondary surgery. NS-ASSB more effectively reduces the incidence of T2EL, while IMA embolization alone or in combination with ASCE enhances the clinical benefits of EVAR. In addition, as network meta-analysis is still an indirect method based on a refinement of existing data, more studies and evidence are still needed in the future to establish more credible conclusions.
The monomeric C-reactive protein level is associated with the increase in carotid plaque number in patients with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis
Authors: Melnikov Ivan , Kozlov Sergey , Pogorelova Olga , Tripoten Maria , Khamchieva Leyla , Saburova Olga , Avtaeva Yuliya , Zvereva Maria , Matroze Evgeny , Kuznetsova Tatiana , Prokofieva Lyudmila , Balakhonova Tatiana , Gabbasov Zufar
Published: July 2022

The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) assay measures the level of the pentameric form of CRP in blood. Currently, there are no available assays measuring the level of the monomeric form of CRP (mCRP), produced at sites of local inflammation. We developed an assay measuring the mCRP level in blood plasma with functional beads for flow cytometry. The assay was used to measure the mCRP level in 80 middle-aged individuals with initially moderate cardiovascular SCORE risk. By the time of the mCRP measurement, the patients have been followed up for subclinical carotid atherosclerosis progression for 7 years. Ultrasound markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, which included plaque number (PN) and total plaque height (PH), were measured at baseline and at the 7th-year follow-up survey. Inflammatory biomarkers, including mCRP, hsCRP, inteleukin-6 (IL-6) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) level, were measured at the 7th-year follow-up survey. The median level of mCRP was 5.2 (3.3; 7.1) μg/L, hsCRP 1.05 (0.7; 2.1) mg/L, IL-6 0.0 (0.0; 2.8) pg/mL, VWF 106 (77; 151) IU/dL. In the patients with the mCRP level below median vs. the patients with the median mCRP level or higher, change from baseline in PN was 0.0 (0.0; 1.0) vs. 1.0 (1.0; 2.0) and PH 0.22 (−0.24; 1.91) mm vs. 1.97 (1.14; 3.14) mm, respectively (p < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratio for the formation of new carotid atherosclerotic plaques was 4.7 (95% CI 1.7; 13.2) for the patients with the median mCRP level or higher. The higher mCRP level is associated with the more pronounced increase in PN and PH in patients with normal level of traditional inflammatory biomarkers and initially moderate cardiovascular SCORE risk.
Fairness in Music Recommender Systems: A Stakeholder-Centered Mini Review
Authors: Dinnissen Karlijn , Bauer Christine
Published: July 2022

The performance of recommender systems highly impacts both music streaming platform users and the artists providing music. As fairness is a fundamental value of human life, there is increasing pressure for these algorithmic decision-making processes to be fair as well. However, many factors make recommender systems prone to biases, resulting in unfair outcomes. Furthermore, several stakeholders are involved, who may all have distinct needs requiring different fairness considerations. While there is an increasing interest in research on recommender system fairness in general, the music domain has received relatively little attention. This mini review, therefore, outlines current literature on music recommender system fairness from the perspective of each relevant stakeholder and the stakeholders combined. For instance, various works address gender fairness: one line of research compares differences in recommendation quality across user gender groups, and another line focuses on the imbalanced representation of artist gender in the recommendations. In addition to gender, popularity bias is frequently addressed; yet, primarily from the user perspective and rarely addressing how it impacts the representation of artists. Overall, this narrative literature review shows that the large majority of works analyze the current situation of fairness in music recommender systems, whereas only a few works propose approaches to improve it. This is, thus, a promising direction for future research.
Quantitative Comparison of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP/ABCG2) Expression and Function Between Maternal Blood-Brain Barrier and Placental Barrier in Mice at Different Gestational Ages
Authors: Fujita Arimi , Noguchi Saki , Hamada Rika , Shimada Tsutomu , Katakura Satomi , Maruyama Tetsuo , Sai Yoshimichi , Nishimura Tomohiro , Tomi Masatoshi
Published: July 2022

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is expressed by brain capillary endothelial cells and at the interface between two placental syncytiotrophoblast layers in rodents and serves to suppress drug distribution to the brain and the fetus. The purpose of the present study is to determine and compare the apparent impact of a single BCRP molecule on drug transfer between the maternal blood-brain barrier and placental barrier in pregnant mice at different gestation ages. BCRP protein was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Genistein or dantrolene was continuously administered to pregnant Bcrp−/− or wild-type (WT) mice, and the brain-to-plasma concentration ratio in the mother (Kp,brain) and the fetal-to-maternal ratio of plasma concentrations (Kp,fp) were determined. At gestational day 15.5 (GD15.5), the protein amount of BCRP at the murine placental barrier was estimated to be approximately three times higher than at the maternal blood-brain barrier, but the levels were approximately the same at GD17.5 due to the decline of placental BCRP expression during gestation. On the other hand, the values of Bcrp−/−/WT ratio of Kp,brain for genistein and dantrolene were 6.1 and 3.8, respectively, while the Kp,fp ratios were all less than 2.0. These results indicate that the apparent impact of a single placental BCRP molecule on the restriction of drug distribution is much less than that of a single brain BCRP molecule, probably because the function of placental BCRP is attenuated by bypass transfer through the connexin26 gap junctions between adjacent syncytiotrophoblast layers. The present study also found that the expression amount of BCRP protein at the human placental barrier formed by the monolayer of syncytiotrophoblasts was lower than that in mice, but this species difference appears to be functionally compensated by the murine-specific bypass route through gap junctions, at least in part.
Seismic Tomography and Earthquake Relocation in North China Craton From 2008 to 2017
Authors: Wu Bateer , Ma Tian
Published: July 2022

We present a newly developed three-dimensional seismic velocity model and high-precision earthquake relocations in North China using seismic data recorded by the National Earthquake Data Center of China from 2008 to 2017 through the double-difference tomography (tomoDD) method. The Vp model in the upper crust (below 15 km) generally agrees with those in previous studies, and it fits well with the geological structure. The result shows that the vast majority of earthquakes in North China occurred at the junction of the low-velocity zone (depression zone) and the high-velocity zone (uplift zone). This situation is difficult to change in the short term, so it is highly unlikely that another earthquake of the magnitude of 7.2 in Xingtai in 1966 and 6.2 in Zhangjiakou North in 1998 will occur in these areas in the near future. But in the Tangshan earthquake area, the situation is completely different. Our joint inversion results of 3D P-wave velocity structure and earthquake relocation show that there is a narrow low-velocity anomaly perpendicular to the surface at 20–25 km in the Tangshan area and there are no earthquakes in this anomaly area. The formation of this low-velocity zone is most likely due to the remnants of the delayed subduction of the Pacific plate to the Eurasian plate, and in the context of the Kobe earthquake in Japan, we believe that this anomaly will continue to erode the Tangshan subsurface structure and may cause strong earthquakes in the future. Our study provides the groundwork for future earthquake prevention and mitigation in North China.
Performance of CMIP6 HighResMIP Simulations on West African Drought
Authors: Ajibola Felix Olabamiji , Zhou Botao , Shahid Shamsuddin , Ali Md. Arfan
Published: July 2022

This study evaluated the performance of seven CMIP6 HighResMIP models in the simulations of drought over two sub-regions of West Africa: the Guinea coast and the Sahel during the historical period of 1985–2014, in terms of the potential evapotranspiration index (PET), climatic water availability (CWA), and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at three time scales (i.e., 1, 3, and 12 months). The Climate Research Unit (CRU) TS v4.03 datasets were used as the observation reference. The observation shows that the PET and CWA during August (i.e., the rainfall annual peak) were less than 30 and 200 mm/month over the Guinea coast, respectively. The corresponding values over the Sahel were 100 and -50 mm/month, respectively. A significant decreasing trend was observed in drought over the Guinea coast (except Nigeria) and the Sahel. The frequencies of extreme and severe droughts were observed over Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone during the historical period. The seven HighResMIP models show different behaviors in simulating all of the abovementioned observation features. Among all the simulations, the ENSEMBLE, ECMWF, and IPSL generally perform better in almost all the statistical indices used, although there are still biases that need to be resolved in the models.
Forecasts of the Warm-Sector Heavy Rainfall With a Warm Shear Pattern Over Coastal Areas of the Yangtze–Huaihe River in a Regional Business Forecast Model
Authors: Zhang Ling , Song Liuxian , Zhu Shoupeng , Guo Zhun , Wang Hongbin , Zhou Linyi , Chen Chaohui , Zhi Xiefei
Published: July 2022

Based on the observational hourly precipitation data and the ERA5 reanalysis datasets, the short-term forecasts of the warm-sector heavy rainfall with warm-type shear line (WRWS) events over the coastal areas of the Yangtze–Huaihe River (YHR) are investigated in the regional business model Precision Weather Analysis and Forecasting System (PWAFS). Evaluations and diagnoses are carried out via objective estimations and composition analyses for the rainy season of 2017. Results show that the short-term forecasts of PWAFS are characterized by considerable skills for WRWS events in the coastal areas of YHR in view of the object-based diagnostic evaluation, which, however, tend to generate the rain belts with northeast shift phases and weaker intensities. Meantime, the threat score results for WRWS-associated processes show that the model forecasting skill declines sharply as the precipitation intensity increases. Moreover, composition differences of the synoptic-scale thermodynamic characteristics between observations and forecast results are diagnosed to reveal the possible mechanisms of the short-term forecast biases toward WRWS. The zonal westerlies are overestimated in the model, while the southerlies are underestimated in the lower troposphere over coastal areas of YHR, leading to the northeastward shifted shear line and the absent moisture channel associated with the East China Sea at the boundary layer. Attributed to these atmospheric circulation biases, the accumulated warm and moist energy is weaker at the boundary layer, and hence, the short-term forecasts of the rain-belt location for WRWS over the YHR coastal areas have northeast shifting phases with weaker intensities of precipitation in forecasts of the regional business model PWAFS.
Behavior of large shaft sinking headframe subjected to uneven foundation settlement
Authors: Wang Bo , Liu Zhiqiang , Yuan Shuai
Published: July 2022

Deep mining is an inevitable trend in China and the world, for which the construction of deep and large vertical shafts is the primary task. A shaft sinking headframe is a basic structure for supporting various hoisting and sinking equipment during vertical shaft construction. The design of the shaft sinking headframe is challenging due to the significant differences in the geometry and working load compared to conventional steel structures. Recently, the effect of uneven foundation settlement on the shaft sinking headframe has been of great concern when sinking shafts by the freezing sinking method or in permafrost soil areas. In this study, finite element calculations were performed to investigate the mechanical behavior of the SA-3 shaft sinking headframe under uneven foundation settlement (0.001–0.006 L) and normal working-load conditions. The results indicate that the most unfavorable condition for the stress of members is the diagonal double foundation settlement, and in the view of the geometric offset, the most unfavorable condition is the same-side double foundation settlement. The corner members near the settled foundation were changed from a state of compression to tension. Uneven foundation settlement of less than 0.001 L is acceptable for the safety and service performance of the shaft sinking headframe. These criteria can be used for reference in engineering practice.
Distance Lesson Study in Mathematics: A Case Study of an Italian High School
Authors: Capone Roberto , Adesso Maria Giuseppina , Fiore Oriana
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic put teachers and students in virtual classrooms, necessitating the Lesson Study to be adapted to such a new context. In this paper, we investigate how the roles of teachers, observers, and students are changing, considering the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as the only medium of communication. The research methodology is based on the Documental Approach to Didactics, including Instrumental Genesis. It is a qualitative internal case study. The data was collected through video analysis. The Lesson Study (LS) methods were based on a cyclic model (co-planning, teaching, observation, debriefing, and revision), adapted to Distance Learning (DL). The topic is about Statistics, starting from the COVID-19 diffused data. The experimental work allowed us to observe the inter-connections between LS and DL. We deduced that ICT could be considered as a resource for the documental genesis, which generates processes aimed at social knowledge mediated by the teacher. We supposed that the observing phase was less invasive than during virtual experimentation. Nevertheless, the observers had difficulties understanding some students' and teachers' emotional aspects and analyzing the group activities. The technological resources were an added value for the LS. We present an LS methodology, entirely carried out through DL. The main value consists of showing both affordability and constraints of the DL with respect to the LS and vice versa.
Basic needs support and achievement emotions in daily research of life scientists considering academic positions
Authors: Meuleners Julia S. , Neuhaus Birgit J. , Eberle Julia
Published: July 2022

Emotions are a crucial factor in daily research of academic staff and, accordingly, affect scientific progress. Already before but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the strong connection between working conditions and work-related emotional states as antecedents for mental health of academic staff gained more and more attention. However, in depths investigations of researchers’ emotions in academia are still rare. In the highly competitive field of academia, experiencing the working environments as supportive may be an important influential factor for researchers’ emotions. On a structural level, academic positions may also be tied to different emotional experiences. Taking a Self-Determination Theory approach, we therefore investigate, whether a basic need-supportive environment (regarding perceived competence and autonomy support, and social relatedness to the scientific community) and the academic position (research assistants without leading responsibility and principle investigators with leading responsibility) predict activity-related achievement emotions (enjoyment, anger, frustration, and boredom) during daily research activities. However, measurements on basic needs support and achievement emotions tailored to the specific academic research context are lacking. Therefore, this study is aimed at developing fitted scales on these constructs. In a cross-sectional survey, we questionedN= 250 life scientists in 13 German universities. Results of multiple linear regression analyses suggest that supportive environments in academia were positively associated to the level of experienced enjoyment and negatively to the level of experienced frustration. Surprisingly, social relatedness to the scientific community does not affect frustration. Principle investigators report a more favorable emotional pattern with higher levels of enjoyment than research assistants. However, the level of experienced frustration was not affected by the academic position. The scales on anger and boredom seemed not to differentiate emotional experiences on these two negative achievement emotions in the research context accurately. Therefore, we needed to exclude anger and boredom from analyzes. Further research on these achievement emotions is needed. We discuss our findings on enjoyment and frustration and derive both theoretical and practical implications, taking an international and interdisciplinary perspective.
The Effect of Sleep Restriction, With or Without Exercise, on Skeletal Muscle Transcriptomic Profiles in Healthy Young Males
Authors: Lin Wentao , Saner Nicholas J. , Weng Xiquan , Caruana Nikeisha J. , Botella Javier , Kuang Jujiao , Lee Matthew J-C. , Jamnick Nicholas A. , Pitchford Nathan W. , Garnham Andrew , Bartlett Jonathan D. , Chen Hao , Bishop David J.
Published: July 2022

Background

Inadequate sleep is associated with many detrimental health effects, including increased risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These effects have been associated with changes to the skeletal muscle transcriptome, although this has not been characterised in response to a period of sleep restriction. Exercise induces a beneficial transcriptional response within skeletal muscle that may counteract some of the negative effects associated with sleep restriction. We hypothesised that sleep restriction would down-regulate transcriptional pathways associated with glucose metabolism, but that performing exercise would mitigate these effects.

Methods

20 healthy young males were allocated to one of three experimental groups: a Normal Sleep (NS) group (8 h time in bed per night (TIB), for five nights (11 pm – 7 am)), a Sleep Restriction (SR) group (4 h TIB, for five nights (3 am – 7 am)), and a Sleep Restriction and Exercise group (SR+EX) (4 h TIB, for five nights (3 am – 7 am) and three high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) sessions (performed at 10 am)). RNA sequencing was performed on muscle samples collected pre- and post-intervention. Our data was then compared to skeletal muscle transcriptomic data previously reported following sleep deprivation (24 h without sleep).

Results

Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated there was an increased enrichment of inflammatory and immune response related pathways in the SR group post-intervention. However, in the SR+EX group the direction of enrichment in these same pathways occurred in the opposite directions. Despite this, there were no significant changes at the individual gene level from pre- to post-intervention. A set of genes previously shown to be decreased with sleep deprivation was also decreased in the SR group, but increased in the SR+EX group.

Conclusion

The alterations to inflammatory and immune related pathways in skeletal muscle, following five nights of sleep restriction, provide insight regarding the transcriptional changes that underpin the detrimental effects associated with sleep loss. Performing three sessions of HIIE during sleep restriction attenuated some of these transcriptional changes. Overall, the transcriptional alterations observed with a moderate period of sleep restriction were less evident than previously reported changes following a period of sleep deprivation.
Potential Association Between Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Abuse and Pituitary Apoplexy: A Case Report
Authors: Andriuskeviciute Agne , Cossu Giulia , Ameti Adelina , Papadakis Georgios , Daniel Roy Thomas , Dunet Vincent , Messerer Mahmoud
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare, and potentially life-threatening condition, caused by hemorrhage or infarction into the pituitary gland with a rapid expansion of the contents of the sella turcica, associated with sudden intense headache, neurological and endocrinological deterioration. The identification of risk factors is crucial for prevention and optimal management. Herein we report a case of PA occurring 1 month after the initiation of anabolic androgenic steroid abuse for bodybuilding.

Case Report

A 40-year-old male patient presents with abrupt onset headache associated with left partial third cranial nerve palsy. The MRI shows a sellar lesion involving left cavernous sinus with a heterogenous anterior aspect of the lesion with hemorrhagic zones in favor of PA. Endocrine work-up shows high testosterone level in patient who was using exogenous testosterone without a medical prescription for a month.

Conclusion

We report a case of PA of a pituitary neuroendocrine tumor occurring shortly after AAS. The association between PA and AAS should be considered as a potential risk.
The Global Burden of Type 2 Diabetes Attributable to Tobacco: A Secondary Analysis From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Bai Jianjun , Shi Fang , Ma Yudiyang , Yang Donghui , Yu Chuanhua , Cao Jinhong
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Growing epidemiological studies have reported the relationship between tobacco and health loss among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to explore the secular trend and spatial distribution of the T2D burden attributable to tobacco on a global scale to better understand regional disparities and judge the gap between current conditions and expectations.

Methods

As a secondary analysis, we extracted data of tobacco-attributable T2D burden from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD). Joinpoint regression was adopted to determine the secular trend of age-standardized rates (ASR), with average annual percentage change (AAPC). Gaussian process regression (GPR) was used to explore the average expected relationship between ASRs and the socio-demographic index (SDI). Spatial autocorrelation was used to indicate if there is clustering of age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) with Moran’s I value. Multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) was to investigate the spatial distribution and scales of influencing factors in ASDR attributable to tobacco, with the regression coefficients for each influencing factor among 204 countries.

Results

Tobacco posed a challenge to global T2D health, particularly for the elderly and men from lower SDI regions. For women, mortality attributable to secondhand smoke was higher than smoking. A downward trend in age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of T2D attributable to tobacco was observed (AAPCs= -0.24; 95% CI -0.30 to -0.18), while the ASDR increased globally since 1990 (AAPCs= 0.19; 0.11 to 0.27). Oceania, Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia had the highest ASMRs and ASDRs, exceeding expectations based on the SDI. Also, “high-high” clusters were mainly observed in South Africa and Southeast Asian countries, which means a high-ASDR country is surrounded by high-ASDR neighborhoods in the above areas. According to MGWR model, smoking prevalence was the most sensitive influencing factor, with regression coefficients from 0.15 to 1.80.

Conclusion

The tobacco-attributable burden of T2D should be considered as an important health issue, especially in low-middle and middle-SDI regions. Meanwhile, secondhand smoke posed a greater risk to women. Regional disparities existed, with hot spots mainly concentrated in South Africa and Southeast Asian countries.