bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In silico identification of novel antimicrobial peptides from the venom gland transcriptome of the spider Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772)
Authors: Shin Min Kyoung , Hwang In-Wook , Jang Bo-Young , Bu Kyung-Bin , Yoo Jung Sun , Sung Jung-Suk
Published: July 2023

As the emergence and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains have resulted in a global crisis, there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit inhibitory activity against a wide spectrum of pathogens and can be utilized as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. In this study, two novel AMPs were identified from the venom transcriptome of the spider Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) using in silico methods, and their antimicrobial activity was experimentally validated. Aranetoxin-Ab2a (AATX-Ab2a) and Aranetoxin-Ab3a (AATX-Ab3a) were identified by homology analysis and were predicted to have high levels of antimicrobial activity based on in silico analysis. Both peptides were found to have antibacterial effect against Gram-positive and -negative strains, and, in particular, showed significant inhibitory activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. In addition, AATX-Ab2a and AATX-Ab3a inhibited animal and vegetable fungal strains, while showing low toxicity to normal human cells. The antimicrobial activity of the peptides was attributed to the increased permeability of microbial membranes. The study described the discovery of novel antibiotic candidates, AATX-Ab2a and AATX-Ab3a, using the spider venom gland transcriptome, and validated an in silico-based method for identifying functional substances from biological resources.
Age-related changes in layer II immature neurons of the murine piriform cortex
Authors: Ghibaudi Marco , Marchetti Nicole , Vergnano Elena , La Rosa Chiara , Benedetti Bruno , Couillard-Despres Sebastien , Farioli-Vecchioli Stefano , Bonfanti Luca
Published: July 2023

The recent identification of a population of non-newly born, prenatally generated “immature” neurons in the layer II of the piriform cortex (cortical immature neurons, cINs), raises questions concerning their maintenance or depletion through the lifespan. Most forms of brain structural plasticity progressively decline with age, a feature that is particularly prominent in adult neurogenesis, due to stem cell depletion. By contrast, the entire population of the cINs is produced during embryogenesis. Then these cells simply retain immaturity in postnatal and adult stages, until they “awake” to complete their maturation and ultimately integrate into neural circuits. Hence, the question remains open whether the cINs, which are not dependent on stem cell division, might follow a similar pattern of age-related reduction, or in alternative, might leave a reservoir of young, undifferentiated cells in the adult and aging brain. Here, the number and features of cINs were analyzed in the mouse piriform cortex from postnatal to advanced ages, by using immunocytochemistry for the cytoskeletal marker doublecortin. The abundance and stage of maturation of cINs, along with the expression of other markers of maturity/immaturity were investigated. Despite a marked decrease in this neuronal population during juvenile stages, reminiscent of that observed in hippocampal neurogenesis, a small amount of highly immature cINs persisted up to advanced ages. Overall, albeit reducing in number with increasing age, we report that the cINs are present through the entire animal lifespan.
Novel application of robot-guided stereotactic technique on biopsy diagnosis of intracranial lesions
Authors: Feng Yan , Yaming Wang , Yongzhi Shan , Penghu Wei , Hong Wang , Xiaotong Fan , Changming Wang , Sichang Chen , Guoguang Zhao
Published: July 2023

Introduction

This study was performed to examine whether there is a link between the application of three types of robot-guided stereotactic biopsy techniques and the diagnostic rate of intracranial lesion biopsy.

Methods

The study involved 407 patients who underwent robot-guided stereotactic intracranial lesion biopsy at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021. Age, sex, lesion characteristics, lesion distribution, surgical method, and target path depth were assessed for their impact on the biopsy diagnostic rate.

Results

The patients’ mean age was 42.1 years (range, 6 months–82 years). All patients underwent robot-assisted stereotactic brain biopsy using one of three different systems: a ROSA robotic system (n=35), the CAS-R-2 (n=65), or the REMEBOT domestic robotic system (n=307). No significant difference was found in the diagnostic rate of positive histopathological findings or the mean time of surgery among the three biopsy modalities. The diagnostic rate was 93.86%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, sex, and biopsy modality did not affect the diagnostic rate n>0.05), whereas enhancing lesions and smaller-volume lesions (≤l cm3) were significantly correlated with the diagnostic rate (p = 0.01). Lesions located in the suprasellar and pineal regions were significantly associated with the negative diagnostic rate (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The presence of enhancing lesions, lesion location, and lesion volume significantly affected the diagnostic rate of brain biopsy. Age, sex, lesion depth, and biopsy modality did not significantly affect the diagnostic rate. All three procedures had high safety and effectiveness.
Safety and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning in adult moyamoya disease patients undergoing revascularization surgery: a pilot study
Authors: Yang Heng , Hu Zhenzhen , Gao Xinjie , Su Jiabin , Jiang Hanqiang , Yang Shaoxuan , Zhang Qing , Ni Wei , Gu Yuxiang
Published: July 2023

Background and purpose

Revascularization surgery for patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) is very complicated and has a high rate of postoperative complications. This pilot study aimed to prove the safety and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) in adult MMD patients undergoing revascularization surgery.

Methods

A total of 44 patients with MMD were enrolled in this single-center, open-label, prospective, parallel randomized study, including 22 patients assigned to the sham group and 22 patients assigned to the RIC group. The primary outcome was the incidence of major neurologic complications during the perioperative period. Secondary outcomes were the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge, at 90 days post-operation, and at 1 year after the operation. The outcome of safety was the incidence of adverse events associated with RIC. Blood samples were obtained to monitor the serum concentrations of cytokines (VEGF, IL-6).

Results

No subjects experienced adverse events during RIC intervention, and all patients could tolerate the RIC intervention in the perioperative period. The incidence of major neurologic complications was significantly lower in the RIC group compared with the control group (18.2% vs. 54.5%, P = 0.027). The mRS score at discharge in the RIC group was also lower than the control group (0.86 ± 0.99 vs. 1.18 ± 1.22, P = 0.035). In addition, the serum IL-6 level increased significantly at 7 days after bypass surgery in the control group and the serum level of VEGF at 7 days post-operation in the RIC group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of RIC by reducing perioperative complications and improving cerebral blood flow in adult MMD patients undergoing revascularization surgery. Thus, RIC seems to be a potential treatment method for MMD.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05860946.
Research landscape and emerging trends of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: He Siyi , Liang Qingchun , Zhu Jie , Wang Chen , Lin Xiafei , Wu Duozhi , Zhang Wenqi , Lin Guanwen , Wang Zhihua
Published: July 2023

Background

Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) is a common and serious complication in diabetes and has a high impact on the lives of both individuals and society. Although a number of research has focused on DACD in the past two decades, there is no a study to systematically display the knowledge structure and development of the field. Thus, the present study aimed to show the landscape and identify the emerging trends of DACD research for assisting researchers or clinicians in grasping the knowledge domain faster and easier and focusing on the emerging trends in the field.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science database for all DACD-related studies between 2000 and 2022. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using the VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Histcite, and R bibliometric package, revealing the most prominent research, countries, institutions, authors, journals, co-cited references, and keywords.

Results

A total of 4,378 records were selected for analysis. We found that the volume of literature on DACD has increased over the years. In terms of the number of publications, the USA ranked first. The most productive institutions were the University of Washington and the University of Pittsburgh. Furthermore, Biessels GJ was the most productive author. Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Diabetes Care, and Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience had the most publications in this field. The keywords“dementia,” “alzheimers-disease,” “cognitive impairment” and “diabetes” are the main keywords. The burst keywords in recent years mainly included “signaling pathway” and “cognitive deficit.”

Conclusion

This study systematically illustrated advances in DACD over the last 23 years. Current findings suggest that exploring potential mechanisms of DACD and the effect of anti-diabetes drugs on DACD are the hotspots in this field. Future research will also focus on the development of targeted drugs that act on the DACD signaling pathway.
Transcriptional control of embryonic and adult neural progenitor activity
Authors: Singh Niharika , Siebzehnrubl Florian A. , Martinez-Garay Isabel
Published: July 2023

Neural precursors generate neurons in the embryonic brain and in restricted niches of the adult brain in a process called neurogenesis. The precise control of cell proliferation and differentiation in time and space required for neurogenesis depends on sophisticated orchestration of gene transcription in neural precursor cells. Much progress has been made in understanding the transcriptional regulation of neurogenesis, which relies on dose- and context-dependent expression of specific transcription factors that regulate the maintenance and proliferation of neural progenitors, followed by their differentiation into lineage-specified cells. Here, we review some of the most widely studied neurogenic transcription factors in the embryonic cortex and neurogenic niches in the adult brain. We compare functions of these transcription factors in embryonic and adult neurogenesis, highlighting biochemical, developmental, and cell biological properties. Our goal is to present an overview of transcriptional regulation underlying neurogenesis in the developing cerebral cortex and in the adult brain.
Temporal course of attention bias toward emotional faces in individuals with autistic traits: an eye-movement study
Authors: Meng Chunyan , Li Taolin , Wang Jing
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Similar attention patterns have been found in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autistic traits (ATs). The Intense World Theory and previous studies suggest that individuals with ASD may demonstrate a vigilance-avoidance attention pattern toward emotional faces. However, the attention patterns in individuals with ATs remain unclear. Therefore, this study employs eye-tracking technology to examine the characteristics and temporal course of attention bias toward emotional faces in individuals with ATs.

Methods

The Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) was used to evaluate the level of ATs among 2,502 college students. A total of 50 participants were selected from the 2,502 college students: 25 high-AQ group participants were randomly selected from the 10% of individuals with the highest AQ scores. Similarly, 25 low-AQ group participants were randomly selected from the 10% of participants with the lowest AQ scores. All selected participants completed an eye-tracking study while performing a dot-probe task with emotional faces (positive-neutral, negative-neutral, and negative–positive). By analyzing data from different time periods, the attention bias and time course of individuals with ATs toward emotional faces were investigated.

Results

The results show that compared to the low-AQ group, the high-AQ group detected negative faces faster in the early stages of emotional face processing. As the presentation time of emotional faces increased (at the 2–3 s mark), the fixation scores for negative-neutral faces of the high-AQ group were less than 0.5, which was significantly lower than those of the low-AQ group. Meanwhile, the high-AQ group showed brief attentional avoidance toward positive emotion at 3–4 s in the positive-neutral trials, indicating that the high-AQ group exhibited attention avoidance to both negative and positive faces during the middle and later stages of emotional processing.

Conclusion

This study suggests that individuals with ATs display a vigilance-avoidance pattern toward emotional faces. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of attention in persons with ATs and further supports the Intense World Theory.
HDAC-6 inhibition ameliorates the early neuropathology in a mouse model of Krabbe disease
Authors: Braz Sandra O. , Morgado Marlene M. , Pereira Marta I. , Monteiro Ana C. , Golonzhka Olga , Jarpe Matthew , Brites Pedro , Sousa Monica M. , Nogueira-Rodrigues Joana
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In Krabbe disease (KD), mutations in β-galactosylceramidase (GALC), a lysosomal enzyme responsible for the catabolism of galactolipids, leads to the accumulation of its substrates galactocerebroside and psychosine. This neurologic condition is characterized by a severe and progressive demyelination together with neuron-autonomous defects and degeneration. Twitcher mice mimic the infantile form of KD, which is the most common form of the human disease. The Twitcher CNS and PNS present demyelination, axonal loss and neuronal defects including decreased levels of acetylated tubulin, decreased microtubule stability and impaired axonal transport.

Methods

We tested whether inhibiting the α-tubulin deacetylase HDAC6 with a specific inhibitor, ACY-738, was able to counteract the early neuropathology and neuronal defects of Twitcher mice.

Results

Our data show that delivery of ACY-738 corrects the low levels of acetylated tubulin in the Twitcher nervous system. Furthermore, it reverts the loss myelinated axons in the sciatic nerve and in the optic nerve when administered from birth to postnatal day 9, suggesting that the drug holds neuroprotective properties. The extended delivery of ACY-738 to Twitcher mice delayed axonal degeneration in the CNS and ameliorated the general presentation of the disease. ACY-738 was effective in rescuing neuronal defects of Twitcher neurons, stabilizing microtubule dynamics and increasing the axonal transport of mitochondria.

Discussion

Overall, our results support that ACY-738 has a neuroprotective effect in KD and should be considered as an add-on therapy combined with strategies targeting metabolic correction.
Association between frequency of breakfast consumption and cardiometabolic risk in Peruvian university teachers, 2019–2020
Authors: Saintila Jacksaint , Baquedano-Santana Laura E. , Calizaya-Milla Yaquelin E. , Ramos-Vera Cristian , Barrientos Antonio Serpa , Carranza-Esteban Renzo F.
Published: July 2023

Background

Although the relationship between health status and dietary intake has been extensively studied in the general population, there is a lack of research that has specifically examined the association between frequency of breakfast consumption and cardiometabolic risk in university teachers.

Objective

To determine the association between the frequency of breakfast consumption and cardiometabolic risk in university teachers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 176 teachers from a private university located in the eastern region of Lima, Peru (Mage: 37.0 years; SD: 0.8, range: 24–59 years). The study was conducted during the period from December 2019 to February 2020. Information was collected on anthropometric and biochemical parameters and frequency of breakfast consumption. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore the association between frequency of breakfast with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and biochemical variables.

Results

The highest prevalence of excess body weight (44.4%) was observed in those who consumed breakfast 0 to 2 days/week, but without statistical differences. Those who reported Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 160 mg/dL were 77% less likely to fall into the 3–5 day/week breakfast frequency category than those who reported a regular frequency of breakfast (6 to 7 days/week) (Adjusted OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.73; p < 0.05). In addition, teachers who reported a breakfast frequency of 3 to 5 days/week were 83% more likely to have a glucose concentration < 110 mg/dL compared to those who consumed breakfast of 6 to 7 days/week (Adjusted OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.75; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Skipping breakfast for an extended period of time can have detrimental effects on cardiometabolic health. Promoting the benefits of breakfast could be a health message of great public health interest.
BAT6026, a novel anti-OX40 antibody with enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity effect for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Liang Shizhong , Zheng Dandan , Liu Xiong , Mei Xiong , Zhou Congcong , Xiao Cuizhen , Qin Chao , Yue Haitao , Lin Jian , Liu Cuihua , Li Shengfeng , Yu Jin-Chen
Published: July 2023

OX40 (CD134), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is a widely studied costimulatory immune checkpoint. Several OX40 agonistic antibodies are in the clinical stage for cancer treatment, among which PF-04518600 is the leader and currently in phase II trial. It has been recognized that one potential mode of action for anti-OX40 antibodies is the deletion of intratumoral Tregs. Thus, a novel human anti-OX40 antibody, BAT6026, was generated with enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) via fucose deletion to strengthen its Treg depletion activity. This characteristic of BAT6026 differentiates it from other previously reported anti-OX40 antibodies in the field of tumor therapy. The affinity of BT6026 to OX40 was 0.28nM, approximately 8 times stronger than that of PF-04518600. BAT6026 effectively competed for the binding of ligand OX40L to OX40, whereas PF-04518600 only partially competed. Moreover, compared to PF-04518600, BAT6026 activated T cells more effectively when clustered by FcγRs engagement and stimulated SEB-pretreated PBMCs to secrete IL-2 cytokines in vitro. In addition, BAT6026 demonstrated stronger anti-tumor activity than PF-04518600 in an OX40-humanized mouse MC38 tumor model. BAT6026 also showed a significantly synergistic effect on tumor inhibition when combined treatment with PD-1 antibody. Analysis of tumor-infiltrating T cells revealed that BAT6026 treatment significantly reduced Treg cells and increased CD8+ T cells in tumor. Preclinical safety assessment in non-human primates demonstrated a good safety profile for BAT6026. Together these data warrant further development of BAT6026 into clinical trials for patients with cancer.
Quality indicators: completeness, validity and timeliness of cancer registry data contributing to the European Cancer Information System
Authors: Giusti Francesco , Martos Carmen , Negrão Carvalho Raquel , Van Eycken Liesbet , Visser Otto , Bettio Manola
Published: July 2023

Population-based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) are tasked with collecting high-quality data, important for monitoring cancer burden and its trends, planning and evaluating cancer control activities, clinical and epidemiological research and development of health policies. The main indicators to measure data quality are validity, completeness, comparability and timeliness. The aim of this article is to evaluate the quality of PBCRs data collected in the first ENCR-JRC data call, dated 2015.

Methods

All malignant tumours, except skin non-melanoma, and in situ and uncertain behaviour of bladder were obtained from 130 European general PBCRs for patients older than 19 years. Proportion of cases with death certificate only (DCO%), proportion of cases with unknown primary site (PSU%), proportion of microscopically verified cases (MV%), mortality to incidence (M:I) ratio, proportion of cases with unspecified morphology (UM%) and the median of the difference between the registration date and the incidence date were computed by sex, age group, cancer site, period and PBCR.

Results

A total of 28,776,562 cases from 130 PBCRs, operating in 30 European countries were included in the analysis. The quality of incidence data reported by PBCRs has been improving across the study period. Data quality is worse for the oldest age groups and for cancer sites with poor survival. No differences were found between males and females. High variability in data quality was detected across European PBCRs.

Conclusion

the results reported in this paper are to be interpreted as the baseline for monitoring PBCRs data quality indicators in Europe along time.
The roles of phospholipase C-β related signals in the proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis of malignant tumors, and the corresponding protective measures
Authors: Wu Yu-Nuo , Su Xing , Wang Xue-Qin , Liu Na-Na , Xu Zhou-Wei
Published: July 2023

PLC-β is widely distributed in eukaryotic cells and is the key enzyme in phosphatidylinositol signal transduction pathway. The cellular functions regulated by its four subtypes (PLC-β1, PLC-β2, PLC-β3, PLC-β4) play an important role in maintaining homeostasis of organism. PLC-β and its related signals can promote or inhibit the occurrence and development of cancer by affecting the growth, differentiation and metastasis of cells, while targeted intervention of PLC-β1-PI3K-AKT, PLC-β2/CD133, CXCR2-NHERF1-PLC-β3, Gαq-PLC-β4-PKC-MAPK and so on can provide new strategies for the precise prevention and treatment of malignant tumors. This paper reviews the mechanism of PLC-β in various tumor cells from four aspects: proliferation and differentiation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis and protective measures.
Prevalence and related factors of epilepsy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gong Chao , Liu Annan , Lian Beibei , Wu Xixi , Zeng Pei , Hao Chaoli , Wang Bobo , Jiang Zhimei , Pang Wei , Guo Jin , Zhou Shaobo
Published: July 2023

Objective

To study the worldwide prevalence and associated factors of epilepsy in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to analyze the differences between various subgroups.

Method

We identified all potential studies on the prevalence of epilepsy in children and adolescents with CP from PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. The search time was from the establishment of the database to November 2022. Randomized effects meta-analysis models were used to calculate the prevalence of epilepsy in CP. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were utilized to further explore heterogeneity between articles and prevalence disparities between subgroups. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to investigate potential publication bias.

Results

Seventy-two articles, comprising 53,969 children and adolescents with CP, were included in this study. The results indicated a total epilepsy prevalence of 38.0% (95% CI: 34.8%–41.2%) in CP. The prevalence of epilepsy was 46.4% (95% CI: 41.4%–51.5%) in clinical sample-based studies and 31.6% (95% CI: 28.7%–34.5%) in population-based studies. Meta-regression demonstrated that the sample source, neonatal seizure, family history of epilepsy, EEG or cranial imaging abnormalities, intellectual/cognitive impairment, and topographical types of CP were heterogeneous contributors to the epilepsy prevalence in CP.

Conclusion

Approximately one-third of children and adolescents with CP have epilepsy, and the sample source can significantly impact the total prevalence of epilepsy. Neonatal seizures, family history of epilepsy, EEG abnormalities, cranial imaging abnormalities, severe intellectual disability, and quadriplegia may be contributing factors to epilepsy comorbid in CP. Further study is required to verify the strength of these associations with epilepsy. This study aids in identifying the clinical characteristics of young people with CP at risk of developing epilepsy, which may assist clinicians in the early prevention and diagnosis of epilepsy within this population.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=367766, identifier CRD42022367766.
A journey towards pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy and its training: a narrative review
Authors: Scarallo Luca , Russo Giusy , Renzo Sara , Lionetti Paolo , Oliva Salvatore
Published: July 2023

Background and aims

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in pediatric setting has unique features and, therefore, requires an approach that is tailored to pediatric practice. There is still heterogeneity between training programs worldwide in terms of duration, number of procedures and assessment during and at the end of the training process.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review aiming to describe and summarize the existing literature on the various training methods for pediatric GI endoscopy to highlight the significance of specific pediatric endoscopy training.

Results

Simulation-based tools have been implemented in several training programs, providing a safer learning environment for trainees, especially in their earlier stages of training. Assessment of competence is gradually shifting from the sole evaluation of procedural numbers towards the development of more reliable and valid tools that can accurately measure technical competence. Despite such seismic shift, there is still a need for a standardized and comprehensive pediatric-oriented endoscopy curriculum that incorporates acquisition of procedural skills education and is built on the current competency-based model of training. All the above must sink their roots in trainees and to ensure that the endoscopists of tomorrow are capable of delivering high quality of care for children undergoing endoscopy.

Conclusion

It is crucial to parallelly focus on the way trainers teach trainees. In this context, the implementation of “train the trainers” courses has improved important quality meters in GI endoscopy. Future research should put the focus on the potential subsequent favorable benefits of these changes on child health.
Long-term sedation with remimazolam besylate versus propofol in critically ill patients during invasive mechanical ventilation: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized non-inferior trial
Authors: Yang Xiaobo , Tang Yun , Du Ruofei , Yu Yuan , Xu Jiqian , Zhang Jiancheng , Liu Hong , Zou Xiaojing , Ren Lehao , Yuan Shiying , Shang You
Published: July 2023

Background: Remimazolam besylate is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine that can potentially be a safe and effective sedative in intensive care units. This study aims to assess whether remimazolam besylate is not inferior to propofol in maintaining mild-to-moderate sedation in critically ill patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation.

Methods and analysis: This is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, propofol-controlled, non-inferiority study. Eligible patients are randomly assigned to receive remimazolam besylate or propofol in a 1:1 ratio to maintain a Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale score between −3 and 0. When patients are under-sedated, rescue sedation of dexmedetomidine is added. The primary outcome is the percentage of time in the target sedation range. The secondary outcomes are hours free from the invasive ventilator in 7 days, successful extubation in 7 days, and weaning time, the length of intensive care unit stay, the length of hospital stay, and mortality in 28 days. Modified intention-to-treat and safety analysis is performed.

Clinical trial registration number:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05555667.
Bibliometric analysis of evolutionary trends and hotspots of super-enhancers in cancer
Authors: Tang Zhen-Chu , Qu Qiang , Teng Xin-Qi , Zhuang Hai-Hui , Xu Wei-Xin , Qu Jian
Published: July 2023

Introduction: In the past decade, super-enhancer (SE) has become a research hotspot with increasing attention on cancer occurrence, development, and prognosis. To illustrate the hotspots of SE in cancer research and its evolutionary tendency, bibliometric analysis was carried out for this topic.

Methods: Literature published before Dec 31, 2022, in WOSCC, was systematically classified, and Citespace, bibliometric.com/app, and GraphPad Prism analyzed the data.

Results: After screening out inappropriate documents and duplicate data, 911 publications were selected for further bibliometric analysis. The top five research areas were Oncology (257, 28.211%), Cell Biology (210, 23.052%), Biochemistry Molecular Biology (209, 22.942%), Science Technology Other Topics (138, 15.148%), and Genetics Heredity (132, 14.490%). The United States of America (United States) has the highest number of documents (462, 50.71%), followed by China (303, 33.26%). Among the most productive institutions, four of which are from the United States and one from Singapore, the National University of Singapore. Harvard Medical School (7.68%) has the highest percentage of articles. Young, Richard A, with 32 publications, ranks first in the number of articles. The top three authors came from Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research as a research team. More than two-thirds of the research are supported by the National Institutes of Health of the United States (337, 37.654%) and the United States Department of Health Human Services (337, 37.654%). And “super enhancer” (525), “cell identity” (258), “expression” (223), “cancer” (205), and “transcription factor” (193) account for the top 5 occurrence keywords.

Discussion: Since 2013, SE and cancer related publications have shown a rapid growth trend. The United States continues to play a leading role in this field, as the top literature numbers, affiliations, funding agencies, and authors were all from the United States, followed by China and European countries. A high degree of active cooperation is evident among a multitude of countries. The role of SEs in cell identity, gene transcription, expression, and inhibition, as well as the relationship between SEs and TFs, and the selective inhibition of SEs, have received much attention, suggesting that they are hot issues for research.
Characterisation of the transient mixing behaviour of evaporating near-critical droplets
Authors: Steinhausen Christoph , Gerber Valerie , Stierle Rolf , Preusche Andreas , Dreizler Andreas , Gross Joachim , Weigand Bernhard , Lamanna Grazia
Published: July 2023

With technical progress, combustion pressures have been increased over the years, frequently exceeding the critical pressure of the injected fluids. For conditions beyond the critical point of the injected fluids, the fundamental physics of mixing and evaporation processes is not yet fully understood. In particular, quantitative data for validation of numerical simulations and analytical models remain sparse. In previous works, transient speed of sound studies applying laser-induced thermal acoustics (LITA) have been conducted to investigate the mixing behaviour in the wake of an evaporating droplet injected into a supercritical atmosphere. LITA is a seedless, non-intrusive measurement technique capable of direct speed of sound measurements within these mixing processes. The used setup employs a high-repetition-rate excitation laser source and, therefore, allows the acquisition of time-resolved speed of sound data. For the visualisation of the evaporation process, measurements are accompanied by direct, high-speed shadowgraphy. In the present work, the measured speed of sound data are evaluated by applying an advection-controlled mixing assumption to estimate both the local mole fraction and mixing temperature. For this purpose, planar spontaneous Raman scattering results measured under the same operating conditions are evaluated using an advection-controlled mixing assumption with the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state. Successively, the resulting concentration–temperature field is used for the estimation of local mixture parameters from the detected speed of sound data. Moreover, models using the PC-SAFT equation of state and the NIST database for the computation of the speed of sound are compared. The investigations indicate a classical two-phase evaporation process with evaporative cooling of the droplet. The subsequent mixing of fluid vapour and ambient gas also remains subcritical in the direct vicinity of the droplet.
Combined hydrodynamic and control analysis on optimal kinematic parameters for bio-inspired autonomous underwater vehicle manoeuvring
Authors: Wright Marvin , Xiao Qing , Zhu Qiang
Published: July 2023

To investigate the manoeuvring performance of a body-caudal fin robot fish, a numerical framework combining computational fluid dynamics and multi-body dynamics with a closed-loop control algorithm was established in this study. Within this framework, we modelled a body-caudal fin swimmer as a multi-body system with the shape of a NACA0012 hydrofoil. The manoeuvring performance was investigated by using different curvature magnitudes and distributions along the centre line (the curvature is defined by means of a curvature envelop function as part of the general body undulation equation). To characterize the turning performance, a new parameter named cost of manoeuvring (CoM) is proposed. This parameter provides a combined assessment of the turning radius, linear and angular velocity components, and power. It is found that when the body curvature is introduced, the swimmer switches from straight-line swimming to quasi-steady turning at a constant speed. Further investigations were conducted to study contributions of head and tail deformations on the turning performance by comparing predominantly head and tail curved envelopes. Results reveal that a tail-dominated envelope improves performance, whereas a head-dominated envelope has a negative effect.
Designing plant flavonoids: harnessing transcriptional regulation and enzyme variation to enhance yield and diversity
Authors: Jiang Lina , Gao Yifei , Han Leiqin , Zhang Wenxuan , Fan Pengxiang
Published: July 2023

Plant synthetic biology has emerged as a powerful and promising approach to enhance the production of value-added metabolites in plants. Flavonoids, a class of plant secondary metabolites, offer numerous health benefits and have attracted attention for their potential use in plant-based products. However, achieving high yields of specific flavonoids remains challenging due to the complex and diverse metabolic pathways involved in their biosynthesis. In recent years, synthetic biology approaches leveraging transcription factors and enzyme diversity have demonstrated promise in enhancing flavonoid yields and expanding their production repertoire. This review delves into the latest research progress in flavonoid metabolic engineering, encompassing the identification and manipulation of transcription factors and enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, as well as the deployment of synthetic biology tools for designing metabolic pathways. This review underscores the importance of employing carefully-selected transcription factors to boost plant flavonoid production and harnessing enzyme promiscuity to broaden flavonoid diversity or streamline the biosynthetic steps required for effective metabolic engineering. By harnessing the power of synthetic biology and a deeper understanding of flavonoid biosynthesis, future researchers can potentially transform the landscape of plant-based product development across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, ultimately benefiting consumers worldwide.
Global capitalism crisis fueling coups and instability in Africa
Authors: Alhinho Júlia
Published: July 2023

In this paper, I try to show that the recent surge of coups in Africa, like past surges, rather than resulting from cultural factors, is closely linked with the cyclic crisis of capitalism to which Africa is especially vulnerable, compounded by inadequate decolonization and by structural adjustment programs imposed by the leaders of economic globalization. Looking into the instances of coups in the African continent over the past 50 years and the history of global capitalism, I try to show that there is a pattern of coups matching capitalism crisis. I will look into the example of Guinea-Bissau to show this linkage between crisis and coups and the incidental and adaptive role of the military and political elites in the context of economic globalization. Political instability and violent takeover of political authority in Africa and beyond- are, therefore, a symptom of what has gone wrong with neoliberal globalization. Like Rodrik, I conclude that this has placed humanity before the trilemma: economic globalization, democracy and national sovereignty cannot be achieved simultaneously. To overcome it, there is a need for unfettered public debate on what form of global governance we want.
The mediating role of diabetes stigma and self-efficacy in relieving diabetes distress among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Xing Shuping , Liu Yeling , Zhang Hua , Li Bin , Jiang Xinjun
Published: July 2023

Background

Patients with diabetes mellitus often suffer from diabetes distress. Social support and certain psychological factors potentially influence diabetes distress, but studies exploring the mechanisms underlying these relationships are scarce.

Objectives

To reveal the associations between social support, diabetes stigma, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes distress among patients with type 2 diabetes and the underlying mechanisms linking these variables.

Design and methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study was adopted and a sample of 431 patients with type 2 diabetes was investigated. Social support, diabetes stigma, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes distress were surveyed with the Perceived Social Support Scale, Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale, and Diabetes Distress Scale, respectively. The hypothesized model was verified using structural equation modeling.

Results

Social support and diabetes stigma had direct associations with diabetes distress. Diabetes stigma mediated the association between social support and diabetes distress, and the association between diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes distress. Diabetes stigma and self-efficacy exerted a chain mediation effect on the association between social support and diabetes distress.

Conclusion

Social support and diabetes stigma were significant predictors of diabetes distress. Diabetes stigma and self-efficacy play essential mediating roles in relieving diabetes distress. This can provide guidance for the development of evidence- and theory-based interventions. Culturally sensitive interventions that aim to provide ongoing social support, decrease diabetes stigma, and enhance self-efficacy have the potential to relieve diabetes distress.
Hope, optimism, and pessimism as predictors of positive and negative psychological changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovak adults
Authors: Jurišová Erika , Pivková Lucia , Ráczová Lucia , Sollár Tomáš , Romanová Martina
Published: July 2023

Background and objectives

Positive and negative changes in outlook represent psychological changes that are the results of the cognitive processing of stressful and traumatic events by an individual. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the level of occurrence and types of positive and negative changes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in Slovakia and (2) to study the role of personality factors such as hope (dispositional and perceived) and life orientation (optimism and pessimism) in the prediction of positive and negative changes in adults during the fourth pandemic wave.

Methods

A Short Form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CiOQ-S), the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS), the Perceived Hope Scale (PHS), and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) were administered. The research sample consisted of 102 participants, whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years (Mage = 38.90, SD = 14.28). The research design was quantitative, exploratory, and confirmatory.

Results

In total, 95% of participants reported positive changes related to COVID-19. Concurrently, up to 70% of these participants also reported negative changes from the impact of the pandemic. Only 25% of participants reported positive changes without noticing any negative perception of the consequences of the pandemic. Overall, 68% of participants reported negative changes related to COVID-19. Only 29% of participants reported negative changes without noticing any positive perception of the consequences of the pandemic. In total, up to 86% of participants agreed with experienced psychological changes (positive or negative) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The high prevalence of positive changes along with the relatively high prevalence of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic outline the question of whether reported positive changes represent real or illusory growth. Optimism and pessimism were found to be significant independent predictors of positive changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope was identified as a significant independent predictor of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A theory-based and data-driven approach to promoting physical activity through message-based interventions
Authors: Catellani Patrizia , Biella Marco , Carfora Valentina , Nardone Antonio , Brischigiaro Luca , Manera Marina Rita , Piastra Marco
Published: July 2023

Objective

We investigated how physical activity can be effectively promoted with a message-based intervention, by combining the explanatory power of theory-based structural equation modeling with the predictive power of data-driven artificial intelligence.

Methods

A sample of 564 participants took part in a two-week message intervention via a mobile app. We measured participants’ regulatory focus, attitude, perceived behavioral control, social norm, and intention to engage in physical activity. We then randomly assigned participants to four message conditions (gain, non-loss, non-gain, loss). After the intervention ended, we measured emotions triggered by the messages, involvement, deep processing, and any change in intention to engage in physical activity.

Results

Data analysis confirmed the soundness of our theory-based structural equation model (SEM) and how the emotions triggered by the messages mediated the influence of regulatory focus on involvement, deep processing of the messages, and intention. We then developed a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) that incorporated the SEM model and the message frame intervention as a structural backbone to obtain the best combination of in-sample explanatory power and out-of-sample predictive power. Using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approach, we then developed an automated, fast-profiling strategy to quickly select the best message strategy, based on the characteristics of each potential respondent. Finally, the fast-profiling method was integrated into an AI-based chatbot.

Conclusion

Combining the explanatory power of theory-driven structural equation modeling with the predictive power of data-driven artificial intelligence is a promising strategy to effectively promote physical activity with message-based interventions.
Effects of exercise/physical activity on fear of movement in people with spine-related pain: a systematic review
Authors: Jadhakhan Ferozkhan , Sobeih Raghip , Falla Deborah
Published: July 2023

Background

Kinesiophobia (i.e., fear of movement) can be an important contributor for ongoing pain and disability in people with spine-related pain. It remains unclear whether physical activity interventions/exercise influence kinesiophobia in this population. A systematic review was therefore conducted to synthesize the available evidence on whether physical activity interventions/exercise influence kinesiophobia in people with chronic non-specific spine-related pain.

Methods

The study protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42021295755). The following databases were systematically searched from inception to 31 January 2022 and updated on 22 June 2023: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ZETOC, PROSPERO and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were randomized or non-randomized controlled studies investigating adults aged ≥18 years, reporting the effect of exercise or physical activity on kinesiophobia in individuals with chronic non-specific spine-related pain. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROB2 tool and evidence certainty via Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results

Seventeen studies from seven countries involving a total of 1,354 individuals were selected for inclusion. The majority of studies (n = 13) involved participants with chronic low back pain (LBP), and Pilates was the most common form of exercise evaluated. Most of the studies reported a positive direction of effect in favor of exercise reducing kinesiophobia when compared to a control group. There was moderate to high risk of bias among the studies and the overall certainty of the evidence was very low.

Conclusion

This review supports the use of exercise for reducing kinesiophobia in people with chronic LBP albeit with very low certainty of evidence; Pilates (especially equipment-based) was shown to be effective as were strengthening training programmes. There was limited evidence available on the effects of exercise on kinesiophobia for people with chronic neck or thoracic pain and further research is required.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=295755