bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coronary heart disease and gut microbiota: A bibliometric and visual analysis from 2002 to 2022
Authors: Long Dan , Mao Chenhan , Zhang Xinyue , Liu Yaxuan , Shangguan Xueli , Zou Menglong , Zhu Ying , Wang Xindong
Published: September 2022

Background

Existing studies have indicated that gut microbiota is closely related to the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease(CHD). Gut microbiota and its metabolites may be important diagnostic markers for CHD in the future and are expected to become new targets for the prevention and treatment of CHD. However, the current studies exploring the link between CHD and gut microbiota are miscellaneous and poorly targeted, without bibliometric analysis available.

Objective

The purpose of this research was to perform a bibliometric and visual analysis of published papers on the relationship between CHD and gut microbiota. The study also sought to identify principal authors, institutions, and countries to analyze the research status and trends of gut microbiota research in the field of CHD.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched for publications on CHD and gut microbiota between 2002 and 2022. CiteSpace 5.8. R1, VOSviewer 1.6.16, and Microsoft Excel 2019 software tools were utilized to perform this bibliometric analysis and visualization.

Results

There were 457 qualified publications found in total, with the annual number of publications increasing. The United States dominated in this field. Hazen, Stanley l was the author of the most papers. Cleveland Clinic published the most papers of any institution. The six main clusters’ specific characteristics were discovered through analysis of the co-occurrence of keywords: inflammation, diet, trimethylamine n-oxide, metabolism, cardiovascular disease, and myocardial infarction. Newly emerging research has focused predominantly on gut microbiota metabolites and recent strategies for intervention in coronary atherosclerosis.

Conclusion

These results provided a useful perspective on current research and future prospects for the research on the link between CHD and gut microbiota, which may help researchers to select suitable collaborators and facilitate their research to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of CHD, including the causes, prevention, and treatment.
Prognostic value of plasma adipokine chemerin in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Wang Bo , Kou Wenxin , Ji Shuya , Shen Rongrong , Ji Hongwei , Zhuang Jianhui , Zhao Yifan , Li Bo , Peng Wenhui , Yu Xuejing , Li Hailing , Xu Yawei
Published: September 2022

Background

Adipokine chemerin was proven to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), but its prognostic implications in CAD remain unclear.

Methods

This study consists of two parts, one is a basic study and the other is a clinical cohort study. First, we investigated the differential expression of six adipokines in the atherosclerotic mice model compared to mice with milder degrees of atherosclerosis and mice without atherosclerosis using microarray data. We then examined the potential of chemerin as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in a CAD cohort. A total of 152 patients were enrolled in our study, including 77 patients with angiographically proven CAD and 75 control subjects without cardiovascular disease. Plasma adipokine chemerin levels were measured in all patients, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were followed up, including ischemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, revascularization, and cardiovascular death.

Results

In the aortas of atherosclerotic mice, chemerin expression was up-regulated compared to control mice. The plasma chemerin levels of CAD patients were higher than those of non-CAD patients (128.93 ± 37.06 vs. 109.85 ± 27.47 mmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001). High chemerin levels were an independent predictor of CAD (β = 2.702, 95% CI, 1.344–5.431, P = 0.001). We followed up with patients for a median duration of 5.5 years (3.9–5.6). The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients in the high chemerin group had a significantly higher risk of MACEs than the low chemerin group in patients with CAD (log-rank P = 0.003), not with non-CAD (Log-rank P = 0.120). Furthermore, Cox multivariate analysis revealed that high chemerin levels were an independent predictor of MACEs (HR 2.267; 95% CI, 1.139–4.515; P = 0.020). Finally, the cellular study showed that chemerin is predominantly expressed in PBMC-derived macrophages.

Conclusion

Plasma chemerin levels were increased in the CAD patients, and a high chemerin level increased the risk of MACEs in CAD patients.
Slope deformation monitoring and early identification of disasters in debris flow source area of Baini River, Dongchuan District, China
Authors: Zhang Xiaolun , Gan Shu , Yuan Xiping , Zong Huilin , Wu Xuequn
Published: September 2022

Dongchuan District is one of the most densely distributed regions of geological disasters in the world. Geological disasters such as debris flows and landslides are serious threats to the lives and property safety of local people. Slope deformation monitoring and early identification of geological disasters in debris flow source areas are of great significance for disaster prevention and reduction. In this study, the time-series Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) technique was used to detect the deformation in the source area of the Baini river debris flow. The deformation rate in the middle part of the three-sided mountain is the largest, the average deformation rate is about 30 mm/year. The deformation rate of the lower and upper part of the mountain is slightly lower, but the deformation is creeping constantly, and obvious tensile cracks faced the river valley in the upper. The production and living areas of residents in 8 villages around the debris flow source area are constantly deformed, and there are different degrees of landslide risk. This study provides a scientific basis and reference for early identification, deformation analysis, disaster prevention and mitigation of geological disasters in the Xiaojiang Basin.
Strontium isotope and element constraints on the paleoenvironment of the latest Ediacaran in the Sichuan Basin, southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Zhou Gang , Zhang Pengyuan , He Yuan , Wei Zhifu , Wang Gen , Zhang Ting , He Wei , Ma He , Zhu Chenxi , Wei Jingyi , Ma Xueyun , Yu Xiaoli , Li Shangkun , Li Lun , Wang Yongli
Published: September 2022

The Ediacaran–Cambrian period witnessed episodic extinctions, oxygenation of seawaters, Cambrian explosions, and tectonic events. However, compared with the various high-resolution geochemical records of the early–middle Ediacaran and Cambrian, the available geochemical record of the latest Ediacaran (551–542 Ma) is scarce (especially the strontium isotope and elements), which leads to the ambiguous interpretation of the paleoenvironment of the latest Ediacaran. Therefore, we conducted measurements of strontium isotopes and elemental content of a continuous series of carbonate samples from the Dengying Formation of Well PT1, located in the Sichuan Basin, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, in order to constrain the paleoenvironment of the latest Ediacaran. Strict sample screening was used to ensure that the isotopes and elements were not affected by diagenesis. Our analyses show that the environment and geochemical records of the seawater were controlled by tectonic activities, especially the Gondwana assembly. The global strontium isotope correlation indicates that the Sichuan Basin was a restricted basin (high 87Sr/86Sr values, ∼0.7090), which can be attributed to the existence of a submarine high. Under the background of oxic environment, there were two episodes of anoxic expansion. During the initial stage, the stable terrigenous detrital input and oxic environment provided the prerequisite for the emergence of aerobic organisms in the restricted platform. Then, the decreasing sea level and intense tectonic activities improved the terrigenous detrital input with higher 87Sr/86Sr values (∼0.7095), which stimulated the emergence of aerobic organisms, further resulting in the first episode of anoxic environment. Lastly, a global transgressive resulted in a high sea level, and thus, the Sichuan Basin changed to an open platform. The exchange with extensive oceans led to the increased paleoproductivity, which consumed oxygen and nutrients, further resulting in the second episode of anoxic environment. Thus, the restriction degree, eustatic variations, and the terrigenous detrital input affected the biological evolution and redox conditions.
A multi-model fitting algorithm for extracting a fracture network from microseismic data
Authors: Yu Jeongmin , Joo Yonghwan , Kim Byoung-Yeop
Published: September 2022

Fractures are increasingly employed in tectonic movement and earthquake risk analyses. Because fracture connectivity influences fluid flow pathways and flow rates, fractures are studied to evaluate sites for CO2 sequestration, radioactive waste storage and disposal, petroleum production, and geothermal energy applications. Discrete fracture networks are an effective method for imaging fractures in three-dimensional geometric models and for analyzing the fluid behavior that cause movements in fracture zones. Microseismic event monitoring data can be used to analyze the event source mechanisms and the geometry, distribution, and orientation of the fractures generated during the event. This study proposes a method for simultaneously imaging multi-fracture networks using microseismic monitoring data. The random sample consensus and propose, expand, and re-estimate labels algorithms commonly used in multi-model fitting were integrated to produce an upgraded method that accommodates geophysical data for faster and more accurate simultaneous multi-fracture model imaging within a point cloud. The accuracy of the method was improved using circular calculation and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise, such that the estimated fracture orientations correspond well to those at the actual locations. The proposed algorithm was applied to synthetic data to assess the impact of considering orientation and outlier data on the model results. The errors in the results when considering orientation were 1.32% and 0.83% for the strike and dip angles, respectively, and those without considering were 20.23% and 24.63% respectively. In addition, the errors in the results obtained from data containing many outliers were 1.89% and 1.64% for the strike and dip angles, respectively. Field microseismic data were also used to depict fractures representing the dominant orientation, and the errors of the strike and dip angle estimates were 2.89% and 2.83%, respectively. These results demonstrate the suitability of the algorithm for fast and accurate field data modeling.
Magmatic to hydrothermal conditions in the transition from the A-type Pikes Peak granite (Colorado) to its related pegmatite
Authors: Fonseca Teixeira Ludmila Maria , Troch Juliana , Allaz Julien , Bachmann Olivier
Published: September 2022

Fluid exsolution in magmas is a process that, in many silicic upper crustal reservoirs, starts at relatively low crystallinities (near liquidus), and precedes the precipitation of many ore bodies, including pegmatites. As any magmatic system approaches its solidus, the amount of the exsolved fluid phase increases and becomes progressively dominant over melt, allowing local over pressurization and the generation of pegmatitic pods/dykes. Such pegmatitic bodies show several features that point to both magmatic and hydrothermal environments, linking those realms and providing a unique opportunity to document and understand the magmatic-hydrothermal transition within silicic magmatic systems. We studied the 1.1 Ga classic A-type Pikes Peak granite (Colorado, United States) and one of its many internally-hosted pegmatites, the Wellington Lake pegmatite, to investigate the changes that occur within a granitic system as it crosses its theoretical water-saturated solidus and continues crystallizing beyond it. Textural and geochemical analyses of quartz, plagioclase, and K-feldspar minerals, as well as fluid inclusion studies, demonstrate this magmatic to hydrothermal transition in the granite and the pegmatite. Different thermometers (Ti-in-quartz, 2-feldspars, fluid inclusions) document the temperature evolution of the granitic system, from >850°C for the hottest magmatic minerals to <400°C for the pegmatite core. The magmatic-hydrothermal transition is recorded by plagioclase and quartz rims that yield temperatures well below the traditionally inferred haplogranite solidus. In the pegmatite, the magmatic-hydrothermal transition is observed between the graphic granite wall zone, which shows homogeneous quartz geochemical signatures at near-solidus conditions (700–670°C), and the intermediate zone, which crystallized at much colder temperatures (470–420°C). Although a significant process, our calculations suggest that subsolidus precipitation from exsolved, solute-rich magmatic fluids represent less than 20% of the total volume of the granite.
Zebrafish and Medaka as model organisms for climate change research: Global literature scientometric analysis
Authors: Nor Azra Mohamad , Mohd Noor Mohd Iqbal , Pau Tan Min , Dawood Mahmoud , Amin Muhammad , Zekker Ivar , Fuad Abdullah Muhammad , Abd Latif Zulkiflee , Pardi Faezah
Published: September 2022

Determining how climate change affects aquatic organisms, such as fish is vital, since this could directly or indirectly impact food and protein sources that are important for human nutrition. Thus, identifying suitable organisms for studying the impacts of climate change on aquatic species is essential. It is most effective to select model organisms for climate change study and determine how each organism might adapt within the diversity of organisms present. This study aimed to review the current development and frontiers of climate change’s model organism based on the literature. We conducted a scientometric analysis by differentiating between publications on different model species, the number and origin of authors and affiliations involved, the citation analysis, and the most common keywords used. Increased publication numbers for Zebrafish and Medaka were detected during the analysis of the networks. Our results showed that both species are among the most important aquatic model organisms for climate change related research. Furthermore, we found that these model organisms, especially the Zebrafish are becoming increasingly important towards climate change related studies, because of their simple anatomy and established biological studies. Our analysis could be on the forefront for disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, policymakers, and to the public worldwide for future contribution to the community resources preservation.
Does organizational citizenship behavior predict organizational commitment of employees in higher educational institutions?
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Ngoc-Duy , Tran Vi Dieu , Le Dong Nguyen-Thanh
Published: September 2022

Many studies have been conducted in organizations on the topics of organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). However, there is a shortage of these topics in higher education institutions in the Asian context. Therefore, this article attempts to fill this literature gap. The study examines the influence of organizational citizenship behavior on organizational commitment in the higher education sector in Vietnam. It analyzes the effect of OCB components on three aspects of organizational commitment: affective commitment, normative commitment, and continuance commitment. A self-administered survey was collected from 301 employees working for 21 higher education institutions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the structural equation was analyzed by using Smart PLS-SEM. The results establish that OCB components such as helping, sportsmanship, loyalty, individual initiative, compliance, civic virtue, and self-development influence organizational commitment. Furthermore, “helping” demonstrated the most substantial effect on organizational commitment. The research also found a difference in organizational commitment between groups of respondents based on age and educational level. However, the research was restricted to Ho Chi Minh City universities and future research could broaden the sample size to vocational colleges as well as other Asian contexts. Theoretical contributions, practical implications, and future research directions are discussed.
Changes in aging-induced kidney dysfunction in mice based on a metabolomics analysis
Authors: Jiao Danli , Qi Li , Hu Li , Hu Dan , Li Xiao , Li Guona , Li Zheying , Liu Shimin , Zhao Chen , Wu Huangan
Published: September 2022

Kidney dysfunction is particularly important in systemic organ injuries caused by aging. Metabolomics are utilized in this study to explore the mechanism of kidney dysfunction during aging by the identification of metabolites and the characterization of metabolic pathways. We analyzed the serum biochemistry and kidney histopathology of male Kunming mice aged 3 months and 24 months and found that the aged mice had inflammatory lesions, aggravated fibrosis, and functional impairment. A high-resolution untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that the endogenous metabolites in the kidneys and urine of the mice were significantly changed by 25 and 20 metabolites, respectively. A pathway analysis of these differential metabolites revealed six key signaling pathways, namely, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, purine metabolism, the citrate cycle [tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle], histidine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. These pathways are involved in amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, and these can lead to immune regulation, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress damage, cellular dysfunction, and bioenergy disorders, and they are closely associated with aging and kidney insufficiency. We also screened nine types of sensitive metabolites in the urine as potential biomarkers of kidney dysfunction during the aging process to confirm their therapeutic targets in senior-induced kidney dysfunction and to improve the level of risk assessment for senile kidney injury.
Studies on a widely-recognized snail model species (Lymnaea stagnalis) provide further evidence that vertebrate steroids do not have a hormonal role in the reproduction of mollusks
Authors: Fodor István , Schwarz Tamar , Kiss Bence , Tapodi Antal , Schmidt János , Cousins Alex R. O. , Katsiadaki Ioanna , Scott Alexander P. , Pirger Zsolt
Published: September 2022

Experiments were carried out to determine whether, as with other mollusks that have been studied, the snail,Lymnaea stagnalis, can absorb, esterify and store vertebrate steroids that are present in the water. We also carried out experiments to determine whether neural tissues of the snail could be immunohistochemically stained with an antibody to human aromatase (a key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of testosterone [T] to 17β-estradiol [E2]); and, if so, to determine the significance of such staining. Previous studies on other mollusks have reported such staining and have proposed this as decisive evidence that mollusks have the same steroid synthesis pathway as vertebrates. We found that snails absorb, esterify and retain esterified T, E2, progesterone and ethinyl-estradiol (albeit with an absorption rate about four times slower, on a weight basis, than the mussel,Mytilus edulis). We also found that not only anti-human aromatase, but also anti-human nuclear progesterone receptor (nPR) and anti-human gonadotropin-releasing hormone antibodies immunohistochemically stained snail neural cells. However, further experiments, involving gel electrophoretic separation, followed by immunostaining, of proteins extracted from the neural tissue, found at least two positively-stained bands for each antibody, none of which had masses matching the human proteins to which the antibodies had been raised. The anti-aromatase antibody even stained the 140 kDA ladder protein used as a molecular weight marker on the gels. Mass spectrometric analysis of the bands did not find any peptide sequences that corresponded to the human proteins. Our findings confirm that the presence of vertebrate-like sex steroids in molluscan tissues is not necessarily evidence of endogenous origin. The results also show that immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against human proteins are grossly non-specific and likely to have little or no value in studying steroid synthesis or activity in mollusks. Our conclusions are consistent with the fact that genes for aromatase and nPR have not been found in the genome of the snail or of any other mollusk. Our overarching conclusion, from this and our previous studies, is that the endocrinology of mollusks is not the same as that of humans or any other vertebrates and that continuing to carry out physiological and ecotoxicological studies on mollusks on the basis of this false assumption, is an unconscionable waste of resources.
Characteristics of adipocytokine expression by local fat depots of the heart: Relationship with the main risk factors for cardio-vascular diseases
Authors: Gruzdeva Olga V. , Dyleva Yulia A. , Belik Ekaterina V. , Sinitsky Maxim Yu. , Kozyrin Kiril A. , Barbarash Olga L.
Published: September 2022

In our study we investigated the relationships between adipocytokines in adipose tissue (AT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors; (2) Methods: fat tissue biopsies were obtained from 134 patients with stable CAD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 120 patients undergoing aortic or mitral valve replacement. Adipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous (SAT), epicardial (EAT), and perivascular AT (PVAT) samples, and cultured for 24 h, after which gene expression of adipocytokines in the culture medium was determined; (3) Results: men showed reduced ADIPOQ expression in EAT and PVAT, LEP expression in PVAT, and LEPR expression in SAT and PVAT compared to women. Men also exhibited higher SAT and lower PVAT IL6 than women. Meanwhile, dyslipidemia associated with decreased ADIPOQ expression in EAT and PVAT, LEPR in EAT, and IL6 in PVAT. Arterial hypertension (AH) associated with low EAT and PVAT ADIPOQ, and high EAT LEP, SAT, as well as PVAT LEPR, and IL6 in SAT and EAT. ADIPOQ expression decreased with increased AH duration over 20 years against an increased LEP background in ATs. Smoking increased ADIPOQ expression in all ATs and increased LEP in SAT and EAT, however, decreased LEPR in PVAT. Patients 51–59 years old exhibited the highest EAT and PVAT LEP, IL-6, and LEPR expression compared to other age groups; (4) Conclusions: decreased EAT ADIPOQ expression against an increased pro-inflammatory IL6 background may increase atherogenesis and contribute to CAD progression in combination with risk factors including male sex, dyslipidemia, and AH.
Application of knowledge graph in power system fault diagnosis and disposal: A critical review and perspectives
Authors: Chen Qian , Li Qiang , Wu Jiyang , Mao Chizu , Peng Guangqiang , Wang Dianchu
Published: September 2022

Knowledge graph (KG) has good knowledge expression ability and interpretation, and its application to power system fault diagnosis and disposal can effectively integrate data of the whole life cycle of equipment and form a novel knowledge-driven operation and maintenance management mode. This is crucial to assist dispatchers in fault disposal and effectively improve the power system emergency handling capability and dispatch intelligence level. This paper conducts a systematic review and summary of the application of KG in power system fault diagnosis and disposal, so as to provide an adequate and comprehensive guide for further research in this field. Firstly, the definition, status, and classification of KGs are systematically described, and the general process of KG construction is sorted out. Secondly, the basic framework, construction process, key technologies, and typical practices of KG for power system fault diagnosis and disposal are summarized and reviewed in detail. Ultimately, several challenges, opportunities, and perspectives of KG in this field are carefully presented.
Spatial Spillover Effects Promote the Overall Improvement of Urban Competitiveness: Evidence of SDM in Asian Cities
Authors: Liu Cheyuan , Peng Michael Yao-Ping , Gong Weijin
Published: September 2022

The competitiveness of a city is in the process of competitive development. This study uses the Spatial Dubin Model (SDM) technique to explore the influencing factors and spatial spillover effects of the economic competitiveness of 565 cities in Asia. The study finds that the factor spillover bandwidth affecting the improvement of urban competitiveness is primarily concentrated in the range of 1,000 km. Furthermore, with a maximum elasticity value of roughly 11.6%, a city’s spatial spillover effect is a crucial factor in selecting strategies for enhancing its competitiveness level. Financial services, industrial structure, and human resources all have an influence on the level of urban competitiveness. Therefore, in order to better improve the level of regional urban competitiveness, one is to improve the overall level of factors affecting urban competitiveness and enhance the competitiveness of the city itself; the other is to enhance the flow of factors between regions and make full use of the space of factors Spillover effects enhance the level of regional competitiveness; the third is to enhance the spatial interaction between regions and use the externality of urban competitiveness to achieve an overall improvement in the level of regional competitiveness.
Lake Victoria’s bounty: A case for riparian countries’ blue economic investment
Authors: Nyamweya C. S. , Nyaboke H. M. , Aura C. M. , Momanyi K. N. , Mlaponi E. , Odoli C. O. , Njiru J. M.
Published: September 2022

People residing in Lake Victoria’s basin and riparian countries benefit from ecosystem services provided by the lake. However, the lake’s resources, particularly fish, are under threat from pressures caused by humans such as overfishing, alien species invasion, rising eutrophication, and climate change. In this assessment, we look at how to maximize the lake’s benefits through product diversification, value addition, and sustainable use of its fisheries. We show that minimizing post-harvest losses of the silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea), locally known as Dagaa, will provide more high-quality fish for human consumption, while significantly increasing fishing earnings. Furthermore, by utilizing biowaste (frames, skin, and fish mouth), revenues from Nile perch could be increased up to thrice. Furthermore, if fishing could target maximum sustainable yield (MSY), landings of Nile perch and Dagaa could increase significantly in the long run. These, combined with investments in other areas such as lacustrine tourism and recreation, as well as fish cage culture, can help the Lake Victoria region’s blue economy expand.
National poverty alleviation strategy and policy regulation exemption: A quasi-natural experiment based on the green credit guidelines
Authors: Wang Wei , Ma Jingjuan , Li Sihai , Liu Lin
Published: September 2022

This paper evaluates the real effects of the environmental policy at the firm level. Using the promulgation of the “Green Credit Guidelines" and national poverty alleviation strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, we find that:1) the Guidelines significantly inhibit the scale and maturity of debt financing for polluting companies; 2) the participation of enterprises in poverty alleviation efforts can effectively offset the restraining influence of the Guidelines. Our results are robust for parallel trend assumption and propensity score matching estimation. Further, we find that state-owned enterprises have decreased more significantly. These results indicate that the national poverty alleviation strategy could play a role in debt financing for polluting companies. Thus providing timely implications for regulators concerned with environmental protection.
Complement system-related genes in stomach adenocarcinoma: Prognostic signature, immune landscape, and drug resistance
Authors: Tong Xiaoxia , Yang Xiaohu , Tong Xiaojuan , Zhai Dong , Liu Yonglei
Published: September 2022

Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract, and its survival predictors are critical for precision medicine but have not been fully investigated. The complement system is a complex multistep cascade at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity, which augments the function of antibodies and phagocytes. This study aimed to construct and validate a CSRG signature based on TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) STAD dataset and revalidated it in an external GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) STAD cohort. Subsequently, we assessed the association of risk levels with the stromal and immune cell infiltration level in STAD using the ESTIMATE, single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCP-counter) algorithm. It was found that the CSRG signature, based on three genes (SERPINE1, PROC, and CFHR3), was significantly and independently associated with the OS in TCGA STAD patients (p < 0.001). Subsequently, we found that the high-risk STAD harbors more immune cell infiltration than the low-risk group, and the ESTIMATE results indicated that there exists a more stromal component in the tumor microenvironment of the high-risk groups. Compared to the low-risk group, the high-risk STAD patients had higher expressions of marker genes for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and showed higher sensitivity to the chemotherapy agents (rapamycin, nilotinib, 5-fluorouracil, axitinib, DMOG, and JNK inhibitor VIII). The prognostic value of the CSRGs was further validated by nomogram plots, which revealed that it was superior to tumor TNM and pathologic stage. Finally, the three expression levels were evaluated in GES-1, HGC27, and AGS cells by qRT-PCR.
The new general biological property of stem-like tumor cells Part I. Peculiarities of the process of the double-stranded DNA fragments internalization into stem-like tumor cells
Authors: Ritter Genrikh S. , Dolgova Evgeniya V. , Petrova Daria D. , Efremov Yaroslav R. , Proskurina Anastasia S. , Potter Ekaterina A. , Ruzanova Vera S. , Kirikovich Svetlana S. , Levites Evgeniy V. , Taranov Oleg S. , Ostanin Alexandr A. , Chernykh Elena R. , Kolchanov Nikolay A. , Bogachev Sergey S.
Published: September 2022

Stem-like tumor cells of ascites carcinoma Krebs-2 and Epstein-Barr virus–induced B-lymphoma were shown to possess the innate capability of binding and internalizing the TAMRA-labeled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) probe. The process of binding and internalizing is rather complicated and composed of the following successive stages: 1) initiating electrostatic interaction and contact of a negatively charged dsDNA molecule with a positively charged molecule(s) on the surface of a stem-like tumor cell; 2) binding of the dsDNA probe to a tumor stem cell surface protein(s) via the formation of a strong chemical/molecular bond; and 3) the very internalization of dsDNA into the cell. Binding of DNA to cell surface proteins is determined by the presence of heparin/polyanion-binding sites within the protein structure, which can be competitively blocked by heparin and/or dextran sulfate, wherein heparin blocks only the binding, while dextran sulfate abrogates both binding and internalization. The abrogation of internalization by dextran sulfate implies the role of scavenger receptors in this process. Cells were shown to uptake DNA in amounts constituting ∼0.008% of the haploid genome. Inhibitors of caveolae-dependent internalization abrogate the DNA uptake in Krebs-2 cells, and inhibitors of the clathrin/caveolar mechanism block the internalization in B-lymphoma cells. In the present report, it is shown for the first time that in contrast to the majority of committed tumor cells, stem-like tumor cells of Krebs-2 and B-lymphoma carry a general positive charge on their surface.
Prognostic analysis of m6A-related lncRNAs as potential biomarkers in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinom
Authors: Shi Guodong , Wang Junjie , Wang Weiqi , Chen Min , Liu Xiaoxuan , Zheng Yufan , Fu Yi , Wang Minghua , Zhang Xiaojie
Published: September 2022

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) patients had no obvious symptoms at early stage and poor postoperative survival. Therefore, the establishment of an iCCA prognostic prediction model to carry out refined management of iCCA patients is expected to improve the survival of the iCCA patient population. In this paper, we analyzed the expression profiling data of patients from 32 iCCA tissues and eight paracancerous tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Perl software was used to separate M6A-related genes and lncRNAs from expression matrix files obtained from the TCGA database. The differentially expressed lncRNAs in the iCCA samples and the normal samples were screened out by differential analysis using the R package limma, and the m6A-related lncRNAs were further screened by Pearson correlation analysis. WGCNA clustering analysis constructs a random network to extract the module genes most related to iCCA, and take the intersection of differentially expressed lncRNAs related to m6A. Univariate Cox screening was performed for the intersection lncRNAs that had significant influence on the prognosis of iCCA patients, and further screening was performed by LASSO method and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Risk model was constructed and prognostic ability was evaluated according to risk score. In conclusion, we identified four m6A-related lncRNAs with potential prognostic value in iCCA, and established a novel m6A-related lncRNA-based prognostic model, which can be used as an independent prognostic factor to predict the prognosis of clinical patients.
Interactions between the gut microbiota-derived functional factors and intestinal epithelial cells – implication in the microbiota-host mutualism
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Ali Syed Azmal , Yan Fang
Published: September 2022

Mutual interactions between the gut microbiota and the host play essential roles in maintaining human health and providing a nutrient-rich environment for the gut microbial community. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) provide the frontline responses to the gut microbiota for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Emerging evidence points to commensal bacterium-derived components as functional factors for the action of commensal bacteria, including protecting intestinal integrity and mitigating susceptibility of intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, IECs have been found to communicate with the gut commensal bacteria to shape the composition and function of the microbial community. This review will discuss the current understanding of the beneficial effects of functional factors secreted by commensal bacteria on IECs, with focus on soluble proteins, metabolites, and surface layer components, and highlight the impact of IECs on the commensal microbial profile. This knowledge provides a proof-of-concept model for understanding of mechanisms underlying the microbiota-host mutualism.
Large-scale bulk RNA-seq analysis defines immune evasion mechanism related to mast cell in gliomas
Authors: Chen Rui , Wu Wantao , Liu Tao , Zhao Yihan , Wang Yifan , Zhang Hao , Wang Zeyu , Dai Ziyu , Zhou Xiaoxi , Luo Peng , Zhang Jian , Liu Zaoqu , Zhang Li-Yang , Cheng Quan
Published: September 2022

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the immune cells have an emerging role in controlling anti-tumor immune responses and tumor progression. The comprehensive role of mast cell in glioma has not been illustrated yet. In this study, 1,991 diffuse glioma samples were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). xCell algorithm was employed to define the mast cell-related genes. Based on mast cell-related genes, gliomas were divided into two clusters with distinct clinical and immunological characteristics. The survival probability of cluster 1 was significantly lower than that of cluster 2 in the TCGA dataset, three CGGA datasets, and the Xiangya cohort. Meanwhile, the hypoxic and metabolic pathways were active in cluster 1, which were beneficial to the proliferation of tumor cells. A potent prognostic model based on mast cell was constructed. Via machine learning, DRG2 was screened out as a characteristic gene, which was demonstrated to predict treatment response and predict survival outcome in the Xiangya cohort. In conclusion, mast cells could be used as a potential effective prognostic factor for gliomas.
Delivery of antigen to porcine dendritic cells by fusing antigen with porcine dendritic cells targeting peptide
Authors: Xia Tian , Wang Ning , Tang Yuqing , Gao Yueyi , Gao Chong , Hao Jianhui , Jiang Yanping , Wang Xiaona , Shan Zhifu , Li Jiaxuan , Zhou Han , Cui Wen , Qiao Xinyuan , Tang Lijie , Wang Li , Li Yijing
Published: September 2022

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that can recognize, capture, and process antigens. Fusing molecules targeting DCs with antigens can effectively improve the efficiency with which antigens are recognized and captured by DCs. This targeting strategy can be used for vaccine development to effectively improve the efficiency of antigen recognition and capture by DCs. The targeting sequence of porcine cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4), which binds porcine DCs, was identified in this study. Recombinant Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) expressing CTLA4-6aa (LYPPPY) and CTLA4-87aa fused to the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) protective antigen core neutralizing epitope (COE) were used to evaluate the ability of the two targeting motifs to bind the B7 molecule on DCs. Our results demonstrate that CTLA4-6aa could bind porcine DCs, and recombinant Lactobacillus expressing the CTLA4-6aa captured by porcine DCs was more efficient than those expressing CTLA4-87aa. In addition, the expression of DC markers, toll-like receptors, and cytokines was significantly higher in the 6aa-COE/L. reuteri-stimulated porcine DCs compared to DCs treated with 87aa-COE/L. reuteri (p<0.01) and recombinant Lactobacillus expressing CTLA4-6aa enhanced the ability of porcine DCs to activate T-cell proliferation. Our analysis of the protein structure revealed that CTLA4-87aa contains intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which may have weakened the intermolecular force between the residues on porcine CTLA4 and that on B7. In conclusion, recombinant Lactobacillus expressing CTLA4-6aa were more efficiently captured by porcine DCs and had a stronger ability to promote DC maturation and enhance T-cell proliferation. The LYPPPY motif is the optimal sequence for binding to porcine DCs. Piglets immunized with recombinant Lactobacillus showed that recombinant Lactobacillus expressing CTLA4-6aa induced significant levels of anti-PEDV-specific IgG and IgA antibody responses. Our study may promote research on DC-targeting strategies to enhance the effectiveness of porcine vaccines.
Are neurodegenerative diseases associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease? A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Cui Guanghui , Li Shaojie , Ye Hui , Yang Yao , Huang Qiuyue , Chu Yingming , Shi Zongming , Zhang Xuezhi
Published: September 2022

Background

Several studies have shown that neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease [PD] and Alzheimer’s disease [AD]) are associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the causality and direction of their associations remain unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR) studies have explored the causal effects of IBD on PD and AD. However, only a few studies examined this reverse association. Thus, this study aimed to explore whether there are causal associations of genetically predicted PD and AD with IBD, using a two-sample MR study.

Methods

Summary statistics for IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD) were derived from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis, which included the International IBD Genetics Consortium and the UK IBD Genetics Consortium (n=59,957). Genetic variants associated with the largest meta-analysis of GWAS of PD (n=1,474,097) and AD (n=455,258) were used as instrumental variables. We used multiple methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), MR-Egger regression, weighted mode, and Robust Adjusted Profile Score (RAPS) methods, to estimate the effects of genetically predicted PD and AD on IBD. To confirm the validity of the analysis, we also evaluated the pleiotropic effects, heterogeneity, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis that drive causal associations.

Results

The results of the IVW method, WM, and RAPS showed that genetically predicted PD was significantly associated with an increased risk of UC (odds ratio [OR]IVW=1.068, ORWM=1.107, ORRAPS=1.069, all P<0.05). Additionally, we found that there were significant associations of genetically predicted PD with CD (ORIVW=1.064, ORRAPS=1.065, all P<0.05) and IBD (ORIVW=1.062, ORRAPS=1.063, all P<0.05) using the IVW method and RAPS. However, there was no significant causal evidence of genetically predicted AD in IBD, UC, or CD among all MR methods. In all MR analyses, there were no horizontal pleiotropy (all P>0.05), or statistical heterogeneity. The sensitivity analysis results of the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis showed that the causal effect estimations of genetically predicted PD and AD on IBD were robust.

Conclusions

Our MR study corroborated a causal association between genetically predicted PD and IBD but did not support a causal effect of genetically predicted AD on IBD. More animal experiments or population-based observational studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms of PD and IBD.
Female offspring gestated in hypothyroxinemia and infected with human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) suffer a more severe infection and have a higher number of activated CD8+ T lymphocytes
Authors: Funes Samanta C. , Ríos Mariana , Fernández-Fierro Ayleen , Rivera-Pérez Daniela , Soto Jorge A. , Valbuena José R. , Altamirano-Lagos María J. , Gómez-Santander Felipe , Jara Evelyn L. , Zoroquiain Pablo , Roa Juan C. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Riedel Claudia A.
Published: September 2022

Maternal thyroid hormones (THs) are essential for the appropriate development of the fetus and especially for the brain. Recently, some studies have shown that THs deficiency can also alter the immune system development of the progeny and their ability to mount an appropriate response against infectious agents. In this study, we evaluated whether adult mice gestated under hypothyroxinemia (Hpx) showed an altered immune response against infection with human metapneumovirus (hMPV). We observed that female mice gestated under Hpx showed higher clinical scores after seven days of hMPV infection. Besides, males gestated under Hpx have higher lung viral loads at day seven post-infection. Furthermore, the female offspring gestated in Hpx have already reduced the viral load at day seven and accordingly showed an increased proportion of activated (CD71+and FasL+) CD8+T cells in the lungs, which correlated with a trend for a higher histopathological clinical score. These results support that T4deficiency during gestation might condition the offspring differently in males and females, enhancing their ability to respond to hMPV.
The cardiometabolic conditions of psoriatic disease
Authors: Toussirot Eric , Gallais-Sérézal Irène , Aubin François
Published: September 2022

Psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), together known as psoriatic disease (PsD), are immune-mediated diseases with a chronic and relapsing course that affect the skin, the joints or both. The pathophysiology of PsO is complex and involves abnormal expression of keratinocytes and infiltration of the skin with dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils and T lymphocytes. Around 30% of patients with PsO develop arthritis with axial and/or peripheral manifestations. Both PsO and PsA share similar Th1- and Th17-driven inflammation, with increased production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23 in the skin and the synovial membrane. PsD is associated with a high burden of cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular (CV) complications as compared to the general population. These comorbidities share common immunopathogenic pathways linked to systemic inflammation, and are associated with the extent and severity of the disease. Morever, they can influence treatment outcomes in PsD. In this short review, we summarize the available evidence on the epidemiology, clinical aspects and mechanisms of cardiometabolic conditions in patients with PsD. We also discuss the impact of targeted treatments such as methotrexate and biological agents on these cardiometabolic conditions.
Integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic analyses identify a leukotriene synthesis-related M2 macrophage gene signature that predicts prognosis and treatment vulnerability in gliomas
Authors: Ji Hang , Liu Zhihui , Wang Nan , Jin Jiaqi , Zhang Jiheng , Dong Jiawei , Wang Fang , Yan Xiuwei , Gong Qin , Zhao Hongtao , Sun Haogeng , Li Yongzhe , Hu Shaoshan , You Chao
Published: September 2022

The pathological implications of tumor-associated macrophages in the glioma microenvironment have been highlighted, while there lacks a gene signature to characterize the functional status and clinical implications of these cells. Comprehensive bioinformatics approaches were employed to develop an M2 macrophage-associated gene signature at bulk-tumor and single-cell levels and explore immunological and metabolic features. Consequently, the PI3K pathway and fatty acid metabolism were correlated with the M2 fraction. Further distilling the pathway members resulted in a leukotriene synthesis-related gene signature (Macro index), including PIK3R5, PIK3R6, ALOX5, ALOX5AP, and ALOX15B, that was primarily expressed by monocytes/macrophages. Increased Macro index predicted IL13-induced macrophages, and was associated with T-cell dysfunction at both transcriptional and epigenetic levels and predicted an unfavorable outcome. Besides, the Macro index was proportional with PAI1 at the protein level, with high levels of the latter suggesting a decreased progression-free interval of glioblastoma. Notably, the monocytes/macrophages in the glioma environment contribute to the expression of immune checkpoints and the Macro index predicts glioma responsiveness to anti-PD1 treatment. Together, our study proposed a leukotriene synthesis-related M2 macrophage gene signature, which may provide insights into the role of these cells in the glioma microenvironment and facilitate individually tailored therapeutic strategies for the disease.