bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Aortic Abscess Associated with Psoas Abscess: A Case Report
Authors: Selki Kudret , Demir Mehmet Cihat , Boğan Mustafa
Published: March 2023

In this article, we report a case in which a psoas abscess opened into the aneurysmatic abdominal aorta, and abscess formation was observed in the aortic lumen containing a stent. A 57-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with a complaint of abdominal pain. During the abdominal examination of the patient, tenderness and defense were detected in the right lower quadrant. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) angiography of the abdominal aorta was ordered because the patient had a history of previous stenting and right lower quadrant deficiency. In the right iliopsoas muscle, there was an increase in size suggestive of abscess formation with air densities. The diameter of the ascending aorta was 44 mm. At the level of the descending thoracic aortic bifurcation, an aneurysmatic appearance was noted in a segment of approximately 140 mm extending to the proximities of both main iliac arteries, and USG showed air in the wall in the aneurysmatic section and mural wall thickening with thrombus. In this case, although the abscess eroded the aneurysmatic aortic wall, acute bleeding did not develop due to the presence of a stent. We wanted to share the rare image on computed tomography (massive air-fluid level around the stent in the aortic lumen), especially in our case with the medical literature.
Augmented Reality: New Approach in Distance Education Studentsâ€™ Learning Process
Authors: Marisa Marisa , Prabowo Suryo , Dhini Bachriah Fatwa , Aji Kristina Anugerah
Published: March 2023

The Educational Technology Study Program of Universitas Terbuka offers online practical courses. However, students face difficulties to complete their learning objectives in these courses. This study aims to provide appropriate media and adequate learning experiences for distance education students using augmented reality. Design of this study uses ADDIE model.  Population of this study are students and tutors in 20 regional offices. The results showed that augmented reality media in online tutorials was quite effective in providing learning experiences. Augmented reality can bring reality into classroom for distance education students and assist them practice their courses. Even so, students still face obstacles in using the media, namely the incompatibility of student devices with the media, and minimum required tools to produce instructional video program. Therefore, a synchronous learning session between students and tutor is necessary.
A Qualitative Study of Digital Teaching Resources Integration Into University Biology Courses
Authors: Martinez Ram , Bejoc Annalie , Tabada Aimee
Published: March 2023

Faculty and students of science courses at the university level are in a rapid transition from the usual face-to-face to the digital technology-based classes. The new normal teaching integrating digital technology have become burdensome to a few faculties, and yet to some it has become a challenge and quickly pursued training to learn things quickly. Unfortunately, many of the technologies has changed teaching and learning into a certain degree. This study focused on how the quality and character of teaching have been impacted by the integration of digital technology into Biology courses. Faculty and BSc Biology students were purposively selected and interviewed using an inclusion criteria. Audio-recorded interviews on Zoom transcribed manually were thematically analyzed. First cycle coding was done using Nvivo. Evaluation codes, were utilized during the second cycle coding using NVivo. Emerged codes from the evaluative perspective of the researchers and qualitative commentary provided a systematic collection of information of activities related to digital integration, characteristics and outcomes which provided judgment, improve effectiveness, and/or inform decisions about future development plans, programs, and policies. Codes were scored with corresponding magnitude. Positive/negative signs were further used to indicate whether a theme positively/negatively affected respondents, then tabulated and analyzed. The result showed that digital technology integration was significantly correlated with faculty and studentsâ€™ attributes such as age, computer gaming experience. Biology courses need the essential alignment like the TPACK framework and advanced didactics. Digital technologies integration has been plainly limited the effects of teaching as conventional education models need to embrace changes brought about by the pandemic in the post-industrial decline
DESVELAR CONCEITOS, ENSINAR E APRENDER DESENHO
Authors: Bandeira Denise
Published: March 2023

Aponta-se um breve percurso histórico do ensino de desenho, desde suas práticasnas Academias até a inclusão desta disciplina nos currí­culos das escolas de arte. Apresentam-seargumentos, manuais e métodos sobre o ensino de desenho, retomando a trí­ade "atitude-práticadesconstrução" .Como contraponto a este panorama, discute-se uma proposta do ensino dedesenho da maneira com vem sendo aplicado na disciplina optativa de Desenho no curso deArtes Visuais da FAP. Além disso, são comentadas as relações entre a produção de desenhodos alunos, com o uso da Internet e a disseminação das propostas em um blog.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: desenho; ensino de arte; ensino de desenho; novas mí­dias.
A ARQUITETURA ECLÉTICA E A MODERNIZAÇÃO DA PAISAGEM URBANA BRASILEIRA
Authors: Bonametti João Henrique
Published: March 2023

Este trabalho tem como objeto de estudo a investigação da paisagem urbana brasileiracomo produto da arquitetura eclética do iní­cio do século XX, principalmente as intervençõespaisagí­sticas e urbaní­sticas nas cidades do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo. Tendo o ecletismo comoparâmetro artí­stico estruturador da paisagem urbana, detecta os efeitos produzidos pela arquiteturaeclética na construção de espaços livres eou revitalização dos antigos; como ocorreu este processo equais as suas causas e conseqüências.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Arquitetura, paisagem urbana, ecletismo, intervenções.
PIANO FUNCIONAL NA UNIVERSIDADE : CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE MÉTODOS E FINALIDADES
Authors: Chueke Zélia
Published: March 2023

A finalidade da disciplina piano-funcional (por vezes em grupo) na universidade éfreqüentemente mal compreendida. O primeiro conceito que deve ser esclarecido é o de que fazermúsica e tocar piano são duas habilidades distintas; a conexão ideal entre as duas nem sempreacontece, constituindo a meta principal do ensino de piano em todos os ní­veis. Este trabalho pretendedemonstrar de que forma o ensino de piano em grupo pode ajudar na formação de futurosprofissionais da música, independentemente de seu futuro como pianistas.PALAVRAS-CHAVE : piano em grupo ; estratégias pedagógicas ; ensino de instrumento.
PESQUISA QUALITATIVA EM MUSICOLOGIA HISTÓRICA: IMPORTÂNCIA DE INFORMAÇÕES SECUNDÁRIAS REVELADAS EM ENTREVISTAS REALIZADAS PELO AUTOR ENTRE 1990-2000
Authors: Carlini Álvaro
Published: March 2023

Em entrevistas efetuadas entre 1990-2000 observou-se a presença de diversasinformações significantes para a melhor compreensão de aspectos da história da música no Brasil, emparticular, a do século XX. Neste artigo são apresentados trechos ainda inéditos de entrevistas,atualmente reconsiderados em sua importância histórica. São excertos de algumas das entrevistasrealizadas por mim naquele perí­odo que revelam aspectos relacionados a: José Bento Faria Ferraz(1912-2005), ex-secretário particular de Mário de Andrade; dados sobre à presença de músicosprofissionais na implantação da Antroposofia no Brasil; e informações relacionadas às orquestras decinemas mudos no Estado de São Paulo, referências de atuação para músicos instrumentistas até finsda década de 1920. Pretende-se, dessa maneira, colaborar no estudo de áreas da Musicologia Histórica,promovendo a ampliação temática de pesquisas acadêmicas nesta área.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Entrevistas (pesquisa qualitativa); Musicologia Histórica; Brasil séculoXX.
O GESTO ENTRE DOIS UNIVERSOS: A NOÇÃO DE GESTUS NO TEATRO DE BERTOLT BRECHT E NO CIMENA DOS CORPOS DE GILES DELEUZE
Authors: Gaspar Neto Francisco de Assis
Published: March 2023

Este artigo pretende trabalhar a noção de Gestus no encontro entre o teatro deBertolt Brecht e o cinema dos corpos de Gilles Deleuze. Enquanto para Brecht o Gestus ésocial, para Deleuze ele é igualmente estético, musical e pictórico. Entretanto, as duasnoções dizem respeito ao corpo e seus gestos suspenso entre dois universos dí­spares, emum casamento contra-natura. Mostraremos que essa indecidibilidade é a essência de umteatro que afirma as multiplicidades, resistindo aos modelos canônicos de representação.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: gestus, teatro, ritornelo, criação.
CORPO E DANÇA COMO LUGARES DE CORPONECTIVIDADE METAFÓRICA
Authors: Rengel Lenira Peral
Published: March 2023

Com corpo (uma pessoa) se dá o movimento de textos... – múltiplos. No corpometáforas e demais figuras de linguagem são procedimentos operativos – corponectivos. Comcorpo que dança: modos de escrita, lí­nguas singulares (atuando além das especificidades de umafala) se dão em pluralidade de agenciamentos, possibilitados pelas linguagens... – múltiplas. Comdança: articulações das Artes do Corpo, das Ciências Cognitivas e da Lí­ngua como sendopróprias. Nas artes: diálogos teóricospráticos (sem hí­fen, enquanto gume afiado). Corpo e dança,lugares de transdisciplinaridade.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: corpo, dança, corponectividade, procedimento metafórico.
SEU BOMFIM: POTÊNCIA E IMAGEM NO TEATRO FÍSICO
Authors: Silva Eliana Rodrigues , Rocha Rosemeri
Published: March 2023

Este artigo reflete sobre questões relacionadas ao corpo e a dramaturgia no Teatro Fí­sico,especificamente sobre como que se dá a discussão entre texto dramático e fisicalidade do ator-criador,nos modos de criação de "Seu Bomfim," de Fábio Vidal. O texto também propõe pontuar algunsconceitos da autora Cecí­lia Salles sobre processo de criação, relacionando-os com os procedimentosadotados. Os elementos mobilizadores na criação da corporalidade interconectam-se num sistema emrede a partir da memória, do inacabamento, das redes culturais e dos espaços de criação.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: imagem corporal; teatro fí­sico; processo de criação.
Gravura contemporânea: gravações e impressões entre cheios e vazios
Authors: Blauth Lurdi
Published: March 2023

Este estudo aborda conceitos básicos da gravura e suas possibilidades de gravação e de impressão, enfocando a relação entre cheios e vazios, cujos procedimentos técnicos são oriundos da gráfica tradicional. A incorporação de meios alternativos e a aproximação com outras linguagens provocam deslocamentos em suas delimitações, gerando novas significações e reflexões poéticas. Apresentam-se obras de artistas que dialogam com a produção artí­stica pessoal, enfocando a utilização do elemento fogo na produção de imagens.Palavras-chave: gravura contemporânea, vazio, cheio, gravação, impressão.
Juegos espaciales en Romeu e Julieta dei Grupo Galpão
Authors: Dias Marina Simone
Published: March 2023

Este trabajo analiza el montaje Romeu e Julieta, dei Grupo Galpão, lectura popular y contemporánea de la historia de los amantes de Verona, de Shakespeare, a partir dei texto espectacular, es decir, dei conjunto de signos textuales, visuales y espaciales. EI foco dei análisis es el uso dei espacio como elemento dramatúrgico fundamental: la interrelación entre espacio, texto y demás lenguajes implicados en la construcción dei sentido de la obra, tanto en representaciones en espacios escénicos convencionales como alternativos.Palabras-claves: Teatro, Escenografí­a, Grupo Galpão, Shakespeare.
"Para que servem as estrelas?": um estudo sobre as interfaces do teatro-dança
Authors: Scialom Melina
Published: March 2023

O artigo visa expor uma experiência teórico-prática que culminou na criação de um espetáculo de teatro-dança. A busca de uma dramaturgia na dança levou ao estudo das convenções do teatro e da dança, em paralelo à exploração do cinema e da literatura. Através da aplicação da Coreodramaturgia (de Joana Lopes), o uso dos jogos (arcaicos e dramáticos) possibilitou um olhar prático, poético e criativo sobre as teorias de base das Artes Cênicas.Palavras-chave: dança, teatro, dramaturgia, jogos
A Epistemologia do Não, também nos dias de hoje
Authors: Fabres Paola Mayer
Published: March 2023

O presente artigo traz como pauta uma discussão sobre a exposição "Um firme e vibrante NÃO", organizada pela Galeria Ecarta na cidade de Porto Alegre, em 2014, de forma a analisar a retórica polí­tica que permeia pelos trabalhos exibidos, contemplando desde obras históricas das décadas de 1970, até poéticas de contestação atuais. A partir da exposição, é possí­vel estabelecer uma reflexão sobre uma parcela da produção alternativa conceitual no brasil, apresentada, principalmente, sob a forma de impressos de artistas, e a relação dialética dessa produção com as problemáticas tratadas pelos jovens artistas da contemporaneidade.
Análise do Barroco e seus desdobramentos: atemporalidade e intersemiose
Authors: Santana Olímpio Pinheiro
Published: March 2023

Este ensaio, fruto de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, engloba os desdobramentos da pintura barroca, com ênfase temática na representação da carne. Primeiramente, identificamos a atemporalidade do Barroco, em seguida, destacamos a influência de Rubens na obra de Watteau. Estabelecemos diálogos temáticos entre uma pintura de Lucian Freud e uma obra de Watteau, ressaltamos as similaridades técnicas deste pintor ingês com Rembrandt e Francis Bacon. Analisamos um nu feminino do brasileiro Anderson Santos, a visceralidade da obra de Adriana Varejão e sua influência por Rembrandt. Levantamos pontos comuns entre Rembrandt e Francis Bacon. As obras de arte em foco foram tomadas como objeto de intersemiose, onde manteve-se um diálogo com a literatura de William Shakespeare, Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Mário Quintana, Ernesto Sábato e Umberto Eco. No final do trabalho há considerações sobre alguns problemas da arte contemporânea.
Eosinophilic esophagitis-associated epithelial remodeling may limit esophageal carcinogenesis
Authors: Fuller Annie D. , Karami Adam L. , Kabir Mohammad Faujul , Klochkova Alena , Jackson Jazmyne L. , Mu Anbin , Tan Yinfei , Klein-Szanto Andres J. , Whelan Kelly A.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Under homeostatic conditions, esophageal epithelium displays a proliferation/differentiation gradient that is generated as proliferative basal cells give rise to suprabasal cells then terminally differentiated superficial cells. This proliferation/differentiation gradient is often perturbed in esophageal pathologies. Basal cell hyperplasia may occur in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which acid from the stomach enters the esophagus, or eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging form of food allergy. While GERD is a primary risk factor for esophageal cancer, epidemiological data suggests that EoE patients do not develop esophageal cancer.

Methods

In order to investigate the impact of EoE and esophageal cancer specifically on the cellular landscape of esophageal epithelium, we perform single cell RNA-sequencing in murine models of EoE and esophageal cancer, specifically esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We further evaluate modules of co-expressed genes in EoE- and ESCC-enriched epithelial cell clusters. Finally, we pair EoE and ESCC murine models to examine the functional relationship between these pathologies.

Results

In mice with either EoE or ESCC, we find expansion of cell populations as compared to normal esophageal epithelium. In mice with EoE, we detect distinct expansion of 4 suprabasal populations coupled with depletion of 2 basal populations. By contrast, mice with ESCC display unique expansion of 2 basal populations and 1 suprabasal population, as well as depletion of 2 suprabasal populations. Senescence, glucocorticoid receptor signaling, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor pathways are associated with EoE-enriched clusters while pathways associated with cell proliferation and metabolism are identified in ESCC-enriched clusters. Finally, our in vivo data demonstrate that exposure to EoE inflammation limits tumor burden of esophageal carcinogenesis.

Discussion

Our findings provide the first functional investigation of the relationship between EoE and esophageal cancer and suggest that esophageal epithelial remodeling events occurring in response to EoE inflammation may limit esophageal carcinogenesis. This investigation may have future implications for leveraging allergic inflammation-associated alterations in epithelial biology to prevent and/or treat esophageal cancer.
Interactions between animal temperament and exposure to endophytic tall fescue: Effects on cell-mediated and humoral immunity in beef heifers
Authors: Altman A.W. , Adams A. A. , McLeod K. R. , Vanzant E. S.
Published: March 2023

Two experiments (n=12 Angus heifers/experiment) investigated influences of animal temperament, as indicated by exit velocity (EV; determined at weaning) and consumption of toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue seed on peripheral lymphocyte production of interferon-γ. Heifers were selected from calves born on the University of Kentucky’s C. Oran Little Research Center. In experiment 1, calves were randomly selected from 50 heifers within a single calf crop. In experiment 2, calves with the 6 fastest and 6 slowest EV in the subsequent year’s calf crop were selected. In both experiments, heifers were assigned to either high or low EV treatments based on relative ranking, and endophyte treatments (toxic endophyte-infected, E+, or endophyte-free, E-, fescue seed) were balanced by body weight. Rations were restricted to 1.8 x NEm and common diet was top-dressed with fescue seed each morning. Experiment 1 had four phases (pre-endophyte treatment/thermoneutral, increased room temperature, increased room temperature/endophyte treatment, and post-endophyte/thermoneutral) and experiment 2 had two phases (increased room temperature/endophyte treatment and thermoneutral). During endophyte treatment phases, heifers were fed their respective treatment seed. During all other phases, all heifers received E- seed. In experiment 1, proportions of lymphocytes producing interferon-γ were decreased in E+ heifers during the heat/endophyte phase (P=0.03) whereas during the subsequent thermoneutral period this response was greater in high, compared with low, EV heifers on E- treatment, with no difference observed among E+ heifers (interaction P=0.08). Also during the recovery phase, average lymphocyte production of interferon-γ was higher in E+ heifers (P=0.01). Consistent with experiment 1 findings, during the recovery period of experiment 2, endophyte exposure increased the per cell production of interferon-γ (P<0.01). In this experiment, the difference was of sufficient magnitude to result in a concomitant increase (P=0.03) in total interferon-γ production during that period. These results indicate peripheral lymphocyte production of interferon-γ can be influenced by both EV and endophyte exposure following periods of increased ambient temperature humidity indices, though there was minimal indication of interactions between temperament and alkaloid exposure. This may imply that cattle with high exit velocities and those previously exposed to toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue are better poised against cell-mediated challenges.
Biomechanical factors in the open gingival embrasure region during the intrusion of mandibular incisors: A new model through finite element analysis
Authors: Zhang Yubohan , Gao Jie , Wang Xu , Wang Jihong , Zhang Xu , Fang Shishu , Wang Wei , Ma Yanning , Jin Zuolin
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Open gingival embrasure (OGE) is a common complication in adults following clear aligner therapy and the influence of gingival or alveolar bone biotype on OGE is of great concern. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of patients with clearaligner therapy and the clinical methods to distinguish the gingival biotype of patients being invasive, it is difficult to carry out clinical studies on the gingival or alveolar bone biotype of the OGE. In the meanwhile, the detailed biomechanics of the occurrence of OGE remains unknown. The goal of this study was to establish a new model to simulate the virtual space region, namely, the OGE region, to investigate the relationship between alveolar bone biotype and the occurrence of OGE, and explore potential biomechanical factors related to OGE.

Methods: The OGE region in the interproximal space was established using a filler with a very low modulus of elasticity (1 × 10−6 MPa). To illustrate the biomechanics of OGE more exhaustively, a line was created at the top of the alveolar crest along the proximal tooth root. FEA was then used to analyze the biomechanics of the surrounding tissues, the OGE region and the line at the top of the alveolar crest along the proximal tooth root of the central incisor under two different labial bone thicknesses (thick and thin) with an axial inclination of 80°, 90° and 100°.

Results: During intrusion of the incisors in clear aligner therapy, as inclination increased or bone tissue became thinner, the stress in the surrounding tissues [tooth root, alveolar crest, and periodontal ligament (PDL)] was greater. In the OGE region and interproximal alveolar crest, the strain increased with increasing inclination and labial bone thinning. The results from the line at the top of the alveolar crest along the proximal tooth root showed more detailed biomechanics: In all groups, stress and strain were focused on the mesial-labial alveolar crest. Interestingly, our results also demonstrated that when OGE occurs, other complications may arise, including root resorption and bone dehiscence.
Light energy transduction in liposome-based artificial cells
Authors: Albanese Paola , Mavelli Fabio , Altamura Emiliano
Published: March 2023

In this work we review the latest strategies for the bottom-up assembly of energetically autonomous artificial cells capable of transducing light energy into chemical energy and support internalized metabolic pathways. Such entities are built by taking inspiration from the photosynthetic machineries found in nature which are purified and reconstituted directly in the membrane of artificial compartments or encapsulated in form of organelle-like structures. Specifically, we report and discuss recent examples based on liposome-technology and multi-compartment (nested) architectures pointing out the importance of this matter for the artificial cell synthesis research field and some limitations and perspectives of the bottom-up approach.
Mechanism exploration and prognosis study of Astragali Radix-Spreading hedyotis herb for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics approaches and molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Guo Junfeng , Zhao Yuting , Wu Xuanyu , Li Ganggang , Zhang Yuwei , Song Yang , Du Quanyu
Published: March 2023

Background: Herb pair of Astragali Radix (AR) and Spreading Hedyotis Herb (SH) has been frequently prescribed in clinical for the treatment of lung cancer owing to its favorable efficacy. Yet, the mechanism under the therapeutic effects remained unveiled, which has limited its clinical applications, and new drug development for lung cancer.

Methods: The bioactive ingredients of AR and SH were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database, with the targets of obtained components predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. Genes related to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were acquired from GeneCards, OMIM and CTD databases, with the hub genes of LUAD screened by CTD database. The intersected targets of LUAD and AR-SH were obtained by Venn, with David Database employed to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Survival analysis of the hub genes of LUAD was carried out using TCGA-LUAD dataset. Molecular docking of core proteins and active ingredients was performed by Auto-Dock Vina software, followed by molecular dynamics simulations of protein-ligand complexes with well-docked conformations.

Results: 29 active ingredients were screened out with 422 corresponding targets predicted. It is revealed that AR-SH can act on various targets such as EGFR, MAPK1, and KARS by ursolic acid (UA), Astragaloside IV(ASIV), and Isomucronulatol 7,2′-di-O-glucoside (IDOG) to alleviate the symptoms of LUAD. Biological processes involved are protein phosphorylation, negative regulation of apoptotic process, and pathways involved are endocrine resistance, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, PI3K-Akt, and HIF-1 pathway. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the binding energy of most of the screened active ingredients to proteins encoded by core genes was less than −5.6 kcal/mol, with some active ingredients showing even lower binding energy to EGFR than Gefitinib. Three ligand-receptor complexes including EGFR-UA, MAPK1-ASIV, and KRAS-IDOG were found to bind relatively stable by molecular dynamics simulation, which was consistent with the results of molecule docking.

Conclusion: We suggested that the herb pair of AR-SH can act on targets like EGFR, MAPK1 and KRAS by UA, ASIV and IDOG, to play a vital role in the treatment and the enhancement of prognosis of LUAD.
The relationship between HMGB1 and autophagy in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications
Authors: Yang Kun , Cao Feng , Wang Weili , Tian Zhenyu , Yang Lu
Published: March 2023

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and has become the third leading threat to human health after cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is closely associated with diabetes. Under normal physiological conditions, autophagy promotes cellular homeostasis, reduces damage to healthy tissues and has bidirectional effects on regulating diabetes. However, under pathological conditions, unregulated autophagy activation leads to cell death and may contribute to the progression of diabetes. Therefore, restoring normal autophagy may be a key strategy to treat diabetes. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a chromatin protein that is mainly present in the nucleus and can be actively secreted or passively released from necrotic, apoptotic, and inflammatory cells. HMGB1 can induce autophagy by activating various pathways. Studies have shown that HMGB1 plays an important role in insulin resistance and diabetes. In this review, we will introduce the biological and structural characteristics of HMGB1 and summarize the existing knowledge on the relationship between HMGB1, autophagy, diabetes, and diabetic complications. We will also summarize potential therapeutic strategies that may be useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.
Identification and immuno-infiltration analysis of cuproptosis regulators in human spermatogenic dysfunction
Authors: Zhao Ming , Yu Wen-Xiao , Liu Sheng-Jing , Deng Ying-Jun , Zhao Zi-Wei , Guo Jun , Gao Qing-He
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Cuproptosis seems to promote the progression of diverse diseases. Hence, we explored the cuproptosis regulators in human spermatogenic dysfunction (SD), analyzed the condition of immune cell infiltration, and constructed a predictive model.

Methods: Two microarray datasets (GSE4797 and GSE45885) related to male infertility (MI) patients with SD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We utilized the GSE4797 dataset to obtain differentially expressed cuproptosis-related genes (deCRGs) between SD and normal controls. The correlation between deCRGs and immune cell infiltration status was analyzed. We also explored the molecular clusters of CRGs and the status of immune cell infiltration. Notably, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify the cluster-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Moreso, gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was performed to annotate the enriched genes. Subsequently, we selected an optimal machine-learning model from four models. Finally, nomograms, calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and the GSE45885 dataset were utilized to verify the predictions’ accuracy.

Results: Among SD and normal controls, we confirmed that there are deCRGs and activated immune responses. Through the GSE4797 dataset, we obtained 11 deCRGs. ATP7A, ATP7B, SLC31A1, FDX1, PDHA1, PDHB, GLS, CDKN2A, DBT, and GCSH were highly expressed in testicular tissues with SD, whereas LIAS was lowly expressed. Additionally, two clusters were identified in SD. Immune-infiltration analysis showed the existing heterogeneity of immunity at these two clusters. Cuproptosis-related molecular Cluster2 was marked by enhanced expressions of ATP7A, SLC31A1, PDHA1, PDHB, CDKN2A, DBT, and higher proportions of resting memory CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model based on 5-gene was built, which showed superior performance on the external validation dataset GSE45885 (AUC = 0.812). Therefore, the combined nomogram, calibration curve, and DCA results demonstrated the accuracy of predicting SD.

Conclusion: Our study preliminarily illustrates the relationship between SD and cuproptosis. Moreover, a bright predictive model was developed.
The regulatory role of microRNAs in common eye diseases: A brief review
Authors: Benavides-Aguilar Javier A. , Morales-Rodríguez Jonathan I. , Ambriz-González Héctor , Ruiz-Manriquez Luis M. , Banerjee Antara , Pathak Surajit , Duttaroy Asim K. , Paul Sujay
Published: March 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, small non-coding RNA molecules (∼21 nucleotides) that regulate numerous biological processes, including developmental timing, hematopoiesis, organogenesis, apoptosis, cell differentiation, and proliferation either by mRNA degradation or translation repression. Since eye physiology requires a perfect orchestration of complex regulatory networks, an altered expression of key regulatory molecules such as miRNAs potentially leads to numerous eye disorders. In recent years, comprehensive progress has been made in demonstrating the precise roles of miRNAs, emphasizing their potential use in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of chronic human diseases. Thus, this review explicitly illustrates the regulatory roles of miRNAs in four common eye disorders, such as cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and uveitis, and their application in disease management.
Thromboinflammatory response is increased in pancreas transplant alone versus simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation and early pancreas graft thrombosis is associated with complement activation
Authors: Rydenfelt Kristina , Kjøsen Gisle , Horneland Rune , Ludviksen Judith Krey , Jenssen Trond Geir , Line Pål-Dag , Tønnessen Tor Inge , Mollnes Tom Eirik , Haugaa Håkon , Pischke Søren Erik
Published: March 2023

Background

Pancreas transplant alone (PTA) recipients are more affected by pancreas graft thrombosis, and graft loss compared to simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) recipients. The pathophysiology is unknown, but an increased immune response has been suggested in the PTA recipients. In this observational study, we compared perioperative thromboinflammation between PTA (n=32) and SPK (n=35) recipients, and between PTA recipients with (n=14) versus without (n=18) early graft thrombosis.

Methods

We measured C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma markers of activated coagulation and complement, and cytokines preoperatively and daily during the first postoperative week.

Results

Preoperatively, coagulation and complement activation markers were comparable between PTA and SPK recipients, while cytokine concentrations were higher in SPK recipients (TNF, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α; all p<0.05). On the first postoperative day, PTA recipients had higher coagulation activation, measured as thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), than SPK recipients (p=0.008). In the first postoperative week, PTA recipients showed higher relative cytokine release (IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF, IP-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1α; all p<0.05) while SPK recipients showed higher absolute cytokine concentrations (TNF, IL-1ra, IL-8, MIP-1α, and IL-4; all p<0.05). PTA and SPK recipients showed similar terminal complement complex (TCC, sC5b-9) activation. On the first postoperative day, TCC (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.5] for 0.1 CAU/ml increase, p=0.02) and CRP (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.3] for 10 mg/L increase, p=0.04) were associated with an increased risk of early graft thrombosis. TCC was specific for graft thrombosis, while CRP increased with several complications. PTA recipients with compared to those without graft thrombosis had higher TCC pre- (p=0.04) and postoperatively (p=0.03).

Conclusion

The relative increase in postoperative thromboinflammatory response was more pronounced in PTA recipients. Complement activation was associated with an increased risk of graft thrombosis. This study indicates that innate immune activation rather than elevated levels may affect early postoperative pancreas graft thrombosis.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01957696, identifier NCT01957696
The crosslinks between ferroptosis and autophagy in asthma
Authors: Lv Xiaodi , Tang Weifeng , Qin Jingjing , Wang Wenqian , Dong Jingcheng , Wei Ying
Published: March 2023

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process capable of degrading various biological molecules and organelles via the lysosomal pathway. Ferroptosis is a type of oxidative stress-dependent regulated cell death associated with the iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The crosslinks between ferroptosis and autophagy have been focused on since the dependence of ferroptosis on autophagy was discovered. Although the research and theories on the relationship between autophagy and ferroptosis remain scattered and fragmented, the crosslinks between these two forms of regulated cell death are closely related to the treatment of various diseases. Thereof, asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease has a tight connection with the occurrence of ferroptosis and autophagy since the crosslinked signal pathways may be the crucial regulators or exactly regulated by cells and secretion in the immune system. In addition, non-immune cells associated with asthma are also closely related to autophagy and ferroptosis. Further studies of cross-linking asthma inflammation with crosslinked signaling pathways may provide us with several key molecules that regulate asthma through specific regulators. The crosslinks between autophagy and ferroptosis provide us with a new perspective to interpret and understand the manifestations of asthma, potential drug discovery targets, and new therapeutic options to effectively intervene in the imbalance caused by abnormal inflammation in asthma. Herein, we introduce the main molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, autophagy, and asthma, describe the role of crosslinks between ferroptosis and autophagy in asthma based on their common regulatory cells or molecules, and discuss potential drug discovery targets and therapeutic applications in the context of immunomodulatory and symptom alleviation.
Virulence capacity of different Aspergillus species from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Chen Biao , Qian Guocheng , Yang Zhiya , Zhang Ning , Jiang Yufeng , Li Dongmei , Li Renzhe , Shi Dongmei
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The opportunistic filamentous fungus Aspergillus causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) that often turns into a fatal infection in immunocompromised hosts. However, the virulence capacity of different Aspergillus species and host inflammation induced by different species in IPA are not well understood.

Methods

In the present study, host inflammation, antimicrobial susceptibilities and virulence were compared among clinical Aspergillus strains isolated from IPA patients.

Results

A total of 46 strains were isolated from 45 patients with the invasive infection, of which 35 patients were diagnosed as IPA. Aspergillus flavus was the dominant etiological agent appearing in 25 cases (54.3%). We found that the CRP level and leukocyte counts (elevated neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes, and reduced lymphocytes) were significantly different in IPA patients when compared with healthy individuals (P < 0.05). Antifungal susceptibilities of these Aspergillus isolates from IPA showed that 91%, 31%, 14%, and 14% were resistant to Fluconazole, Micafungin, Amphotericin B and Terbinafine, respectively. The survival rate of larvae infected by A. flavus was lower than larvae infected by A. niger or A. fumigatus (P < 0.05).

Discussion

Aspergillus flavus was the dominant clinical etiological agent. Given the prevalence of A. flavus in our local clinical settings, we may face greater challenges when treating IPA patients.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase and neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Yu Xin , Liu Meng-Meng , Zheng Cai-Yun , Liu Yu-Tong , Wang Zhuo , Wang Zhan-You
Published: March 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
Deciphering the role of QPCTL in glioma progression and cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Liu Yu’e , Lu Shaojuan , Sun Yihong , Wang Fei , Yu Shibo , Chen Xi , Wu Lei-lei , Yang Hui , Shi Yufeng , Zhao Kaijun
Published: March 2023

Background

Glioma is the most lethal and most aggressive brain cancer, and currently there is no effective treatment. Cancer immunotherapy is an advanced therapy by manipulating immune cells to attack cancer cells and it has been studied a lot in glioma treatment. Targeting the immune checkpoint CD47 or blocking the CD47-SIRPα axis can effectively eliminate glioma cancer cells but also brings side effects such as anemia. Glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL) catalyzes the pyroglutamylation of CD47 and is crucial for the binding between CD47 and SIRPα. Further study found that loss of intracellular QPCTL limits chemokine function and reshapes myeloid infiltration to augment tumor immunity. However, the role of QPCTL in glioma and the relationship between its expression and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Deciphering the role of QPCTL in glioma will provide a promising therapy for glioma cancer immunotherapy.

Methods

QPCTL expression in glioma tissues and normal adjacent tissues was primarily analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and further validated in another independent cohort from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA). The relationships between QPCTL expression and clinicopathologic parameters and overall survival (OS) were assessed using multivariate methods and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. And the proteins network with which QPCTL interacted was built using the online STRING website. Meanwhile, we use Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to investigate the relationships between QPCTL expression and infiltrated immune cells and their corresponding gene marker sets. We analyzed the Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) including GO/KEGG and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) based on QPCTL-high and -low expression tumors.

Results

In contrast to normal tissue, QPCTL expression was higher in glioma tumor tissue (p < 0.05). Higher QPCTL expression was closely associated with high-grade malignancy and advanced tumor stage. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated the overall survival of glioma patients with higher QPCTL expression is shorter than those with lower QPCTL expression (p < 0.05). Glioma with QPCTL deficiency presented the paucity of infiltrated immune cells and their matching marker sets. Moreover, QPCTL is essential for glioma cell proliferation and tumor growth and is a positive correlation with glioma cell stemness.

Conclusion

High QPCTL expression predicts high grades of gliomas and poor prognosis with impaired infiltration of adaptive immune cells in the tumor microenvironment as well as higher cancer stemness. Moreover, targeting QPCTL will be a promising immunotherapy in glioma cancer treatment.
Uncommon association between vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and ocular complications
Authors: Cherecheanu Matei Popa , Romanitan Mihaela Oana , Pirvulescu Ruxandra , Iancu Raluca , Garhöfer Gerhard , Iancu George , Cherecheanu Alina Popa , Zemba Mihail , Vasile Victor , Simonov Andrei , Branisteanu Daniel
Published: March 2023

Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) represent a group of rare inherited disorders that affect connective tissues. There are 13 types of disease, most of them affecting joints or skin; symptoms usually include loose joints, joint pain, stretchy velvety skin, abnormal scar formation. However, the most serious type of disease is vascular EDS (vEDS), or EDS type 4 because patients may suffer vessels dissections or internal organs lesions, followed by bleeding, which endangers patient’s life, but also thromboembolic events. We present two clinical cases of vEDS managed in our clinic in 1 year distance. In both cases, patients were active young persons (in their thirties, and respectively, twenties), both with multiple non-traumatic vascular dissections, and severe ocular complications: arterio-venous fistula with massive exophthalmia, and central retinal artery occlusion, respectively. Both cases were challenging since the life of the patients were threatened by their condition. However, in both cases, prompt treatment and finding the right trigger of the ocular pathology and vascular injuries helped doctors to provide proper and prompt medical care, in order to prevent future similar events to happen and to preserve a good quality of life for these patients.
The evolution of morphological development is congruent with the species phylogeny in the genus Streptomyces
Authors: Wang Min , Li Cong-Jian , Zhang Zhen , Li Pan-Pan , Yang Ling-Ling , Zhi Xiao-Yang
Published: March 2023

As the canonical model organism to dissect bacterial morphological development, Streptomyces species has attracted much attention from the microbiological society. However, the evolution of development-related genes in Streptomyces remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the distribution of development-related genes, thus indicating that the majority of these genes were ubiquitous in Streptomyces genomes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic topologies of related strict orthologous genes were compared to the species tree of Streptomyces from both concatenation and single-gene tree analyses. Meanwhile, the reconciled gene tree and normalization based on the number of parsimony-informative sites were also employed to reduce the impact of phylogenetic conflicts, which was induced by uncertainty in single-gene tree inference based merely on the sequence and the bias in the amount of phylogenetic information caused by variable numbers of parsimony-informative sites. We found that the development-related genes had higher congruence to the species tree than other strict orthologous genes. Considering that the development-related genes could also be tracked back to the common ancestor of Streptomyces, these results suggest that morphological development follows the same pattern as species divergence.
Association between salivary microbiota and renal function in renal transplant patients during the perioperative period
Authors: Xiang Xuyu , Peng Bo , Liu Kai , Wang Tianyin , Ding Peng , Li Hao , Zhu Yi , Ming Yingzi
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Renal transplantation is an effective treatment for the end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, how salivary microbiota changes during perioperative period of renal transplant recipients (RTRs) has not been elucidated.

Methods

Five healthy controls and 11 RTRs who had good recovery were enrolled. Saliva samples were collected before surgery and at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed.

Results

There was no significant difference in the composition of salivary microbiota between ESRD patients and healthy controls. The salivary microbiota of RTRs showed higher operational taxonomic units (OTUs) amount and greater alpha and beta diversity than those of ESRD patients and healthy controls, but gradually stabilized over time. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Tenericutes and Spirochaetes was about ten times different from ESRD patients or healthy controls for RTRs overall in time. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Patescibacteria, Leptotrichiaceae and Streptococcaceae was correlated with serum creatinine (Scr) after renal transplantation.

Discussion

In short, salivary microbiota community altered in the perioperative period of renal transplantation and certain species of salivary microbiota had the potential to be a biomarker of postoperative recovery.
Fountain of youth—Targeting autophagy in aging
Authors: Danics Lea , Abbas Anna Anoir , Kis Balázs , Pircs Karolina
Published: March 2023

As our society ages inexorably, geroscience and research focusing on healthy aging is becoming increasingly urgent. Macroautophagy (referred to as autophagy), a highly conserved process of cellular clearance and rejuvenation has attracted much attention due to its universal role in organismal life and death. Growing evidence points to autophagy process as being one of the key players in the determination of lifespan and health. Autophagy inducing interventions show significant improvement in organismal lifespan demonstrated in several experimental models. In line with this, preclinical models of age-related neurodegenerative diseases demonstrate pathology modulating effect of autophagy induction, implicating its potential to treat such disorders. In humans this specific process seems to be more complex. Recent clinical trials of drugs targeting autophagy point out some beneficial effects for clinical use, although with limited effectiveness, while others fail to show any significant improvement. We propose that using more human-relevant preclinical models for testing drug efficacy would significantly improve clinical trial outcomes. Lastly, the review discusses the available cellular reprogramming techniques used to model neuronal autophagy and neurodegeneration while exploring the existing evidence of autophagy’s role in aging and pathogenesis in human-derived in vitro models such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons (iPSC-neurons) or induced neurons (iNs).