bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plectranthus ecklonii Benth: A Comprehensive Review Into its Phytochemistry and Exerted Biological Activities
Authors: Antão Ana Ribeirinha , Bangay Gabrielle , Domínguez-Martín Eva María , Díaz-Lanza Ana María , Ríjo Patrícia
Published: December 2021

Ethnopharmacological Relevance:Plectranthus genus (Lamiaceae family) contain several species with acknowledged ethnopharmacological uses, such as, for gastrointestinal and respiratory-related problems, due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The bioactivity of isolated medicinal compounds from this genus justifies the increased interest in recent times for species of Plectranthus, placing them in the spotlight for natural product drug development.

Aim of the study: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on the biological activities of Plectranthus ecklonii Benth. As such, the aim of this review was three-fold: 1) to summarize the chemical compounds isolated from P. ecklonii; 2) to collate the biological activities and mechanisms of action of these compounds from in vitro studies; and 3) to evaluate the documented uses and potential applications of this species, in order to postulate on the direction of pharmaceutical uses of this species.

Materials and methods: An extensive database retrieval was performed using the electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The search criteria consisted of the keywords “Plectranthus ecklonii”, “Plectranthus ecklonii + review”, “Plectranthus ecklonii + diterpenes” or “Plectranthus ecklonii + abietanes”, “ecklonii + parviflorone D”, searched individually and as combinations. Eligibility criteria were set out and titles in English, Portuguese and Spanish were reviewed, with all references included dating from 1970 to 2021. A total of 169 papers were selected and included. Chemical structures were drawn using ChemDraw 20.0, CID numbers were searched in PubChem and the PRISMA diagram was created using PowerPoint 2012.

Results: To date, a total of 28 compounds have been isolated from P. ecklonii, including diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids. Most focused on the antimicrobial action of its constituents, although compounds have demonstrated other bioactivities, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor. The most recent studies emphasize the diterpenoids, particularly parviflorone D, with the help of nanotechnology.

Conclusions: The widespread ethnobotanical and traditional uses of P. ecklonii can be scientifically justified by a range of biological activities, demonstrated by isolated secondary metabolites. These bioactivities showcase the potential of this species in the development of economically important active pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly in anticancer therapy.
Biejiajian Pill Promotes the Infiltration of CD8+ T Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating the Expression of CCL5
Authors: Yang Xuemei , Sun Jialing , Wen Bin , Wang Yu , Zhang Mingjia , Chen Weicong , Zhao Wenting , He Chunyu , Zhong Xiaodan , Liu Yang , Li Tong , Sun Haitao , He Songqi
Published: December 2021

Tumor-infiltrating CD8+T lymphocytes are mostly associated with a favorable prognosis in numerous cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Biejiajian Pill (BJJP) is a common type of traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used in the treatment of HCC in China. Previous studies showed that BJJP suppressed the growth of HCC cells both in vivo and in vitro, by exerting direct cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. The present study demonstrated that in addition to direct cytotoxicity, BJJP inhibits the growth of tumor cells by promoting the infiltration of CD8+T cells into the tumor in H22-bearing mice. Mechanistically, chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) was identified as one of the most highly expressed chemokines by tumor cells in vivo after treatment with BJJP. Additionally, CCL5 was knocked down in H22 cells and the results showed that knockdown of the gene significantly impaired the infiltration of CD8+T cells in vivo. Furthermore, the effects of BJJP on human HCC cell lines were assessed in vitro. Similarly, cells treated with BJJP had higher expression of CCL5 mRNA, which was consistent with increased levels of CCL5 protein in human tumor cells. These findings provide new insights into the anticancer effects of BJJP, which regulated the expression of CCL5 and the infiltration of CD8+T cells. The results, therefore, suggest that BJJP has great potential application in clinical practice.
DrugHybrid_BS: Using Hybrid Feature Combined With Bagging-SVM to Predict Potentially Druggable Proteins
Authors: Gong Yuxin , Liao Bo , Wang Peng , Zou Quan
Published: December 2021

Drug targets are biological macromolecules or biomolecule structures capable of specifically binding a therapeutic effect with a particular drug or regulating physiological functions. Due to the important value and role of drug targets in recent years, the prediction of potential drug targets has become a research hotspot. The key to the research and development of modern new drugs is first to identify potential drug targets. In this paper, a new predictor, DrugHybrid_BS, is developed based on hybrid features and Bagging-SVM to identify potentially druggable proteins. This method combines the three features of monoDiKGap (k = 2), cross-covariance, and grouped amino acid composition. It removes redundant features and analyses key features through MRMD and MRMD2.0. The cross-validation results show that 96.9944% of the potentially druggable proteins can be accurately identified, and the accuracy of the independent test set has reached 96.5665%. This all means that DrugHybrid_BS has the potential to become a useful predictive tool for druggable proteins. In addition, the hybrid key features can identify 80.0343% of the potentially druggable proteins combined with Bagging-SVM, which indicates the significance of this part of the features for research.
Circulating Exosomal miRNAs as Novel Biomarkers Perform Superior Diagnostic Efficiency Compared With Plasma miRNAs for Large-Artery Atherosclerosis Stroke
Authors: Niu Mengying , Li Hong , Li Xu , Yan Xiaoqian , Ma Aijun , Pan Xudong , Zhu Xiaoyan
Published: December 2021

Recently, exosomal miRNAs have been reported to be associated with some diseases, and these miRNAs can be used for diagnosis and treatment. However, diagnostic biomarkers of exosomal miRNAs for ischemic stroke have rarely been studied. In the present study, we aimed to identify exosomal miRNAs that are associated with large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke, the most common subtype of ischemic stroke; to further verify their diagnostic efficiency; and to obtain promising biomarkers. High-throughput sequencing was performed on samples from 10 subjects. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed on exosomes and plasma in the discovery phase (66 subjects in total) and the validation phase (520 subjects in total). We identified 5 candidate differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-369-3p, miR-493-3p, miR-379-5p, miR-1296-5p, and miR-1277-5p) in the discovery phase according to their biological functions, 4 of which (miR-369-3p, miR-493-3p, miR-379-5p, and miR-1296-5p) were confirmed in the validation phase. These four exosomal miRNAs could be used to distinguish LAA samples from small artery occlusion (SAO) samples, LAA samples from atherosclerosis (AS) samples, and LAA samples from control samples and were superior to plasma miRNAs. In addition, composite biomarkers achieved higher area under the curve (AUC) values than single biomarkers. According to our analysis, the expression levels of exosomal miR-493-3p and miR-1296-5p were negatively correlated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. The four identified exosomal miRNAs are promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of LAA stroke, and their diagnostic efficiency is superior to that of their counterparts in plasma.
Synergistic Effect of Proteinase Activity by Purification and Identification of Toxic Protease From Nemopilema nomurai
Authors: Yu Chunlin , Li Rongfeng , Yin Xiujing , Yu Huahua , Li Pengcheng
Published: December 2021

Scyphozoan Nemopilema nomurai envenomation is an unresolved threat to human health in Asian waters. Nemopilema nomurai venom metalloproteinases show important toxicities in skin damage and inflammation, but there is still no purified protein for further studies. In this study, high proteinase activity fractions in tentacle autolysis were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow, and Superdex 75 chromatography successively. Purification was guided by azocasein hydrolysis activity and SDS-PAGE. The final products were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Four elution peaks purified by Superdex 75 chromatography had multiple protein bands but did not show proteinase activity. These fractions would recover proteinase activity after mixing again. Regulation mechanisms were speculated as binding metalloproteinase regulator or disaggregating metalloproteinase inhibitor by LC-MS/MS analysis. For the first time, a synergistic effect in N. nomurai proteinase activity was found in the purification process.
Activation of Nrf2 by Lithospermic Acid Ameliorates Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury by Promoting Phosphorylation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase α (AMPKα)
Authors: Zhang Min , Wei Li , Xie Saiyang , Xing Yun , Shi Wenke , Zeng Xiaofeng , Chen Si , Wang Shasha , Deng Wei , Tang Qizhu
Published: December 2021

Background: As a plant-derived polycyclic phenolic carboxylic acid isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, lithospermic acid (LA) has been identified as the pharmacological management for neuroprotection and hepatoprotection. However, the role and mechanism of lithospermic acid in the pathological process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury are not fully revealed.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were subjected to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) surgery and pretreated by LA (50 mg/kg, oral gavage) for six consecutive days before operation. The in vitro model of hypoxia reoxygenation (HR) was induced by hypoxia for 24 h and reoxygenation for 6 h in H9C2 cells, which were subsequently administrated with lithospermic acid (100 μM). Nrf2 siRNA and dorsomorphin (DM), an inhibitor of AMPKα, were used to explore the function of AMPKα/Nrf2 in LA-mediated effects.

Results: LA pretreatment attenuates infarct area and decreases levels of TnT and CK-MB in plasm following MI/R surgery in mice. Echocardiography and hemodynamics indicate that LA suppresses MI/R-induced cardiac dysfunction. Moreover, LA ameliorates oxidative stress and cardiomyocytes apoptosis following MI/R operation or HR in vivo and in vitro. In terms of mechanism, LA selectively activates eNOS, simultaneously increases nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of Nrf2 and promotes Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in vivo and in vitro, while cardioprotection of LA is abolished by pharmacological inhibitor of AMPK or Nrf2 siRNA in H9C2 cells.

Conclusion: LA protects against MI/R-induced cardiac injury by promoting eNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling via phosphorylation of AMPKα.
Empirical Formulas of Shear Modulus and Damping Ratio for Geopolymer-Stabilized Coarse-Grained Soils
Authors: Wang Shengnian , Gao Xinqun , Ma Wei , Li Guoyu , Shi Chong , Zhang Peng
Published: December 2021

The contribution of gravel fraction on the maximum shear modulus (Gmax), dynamic shear modulus ratio (G/Gmax), and damping ratio (λ) of cementitious coarse-grained soils has not been fully understood yet. Large-scale triaxial cyclic tests for geopolymer-stabilized coarse-grained soils (GSCGSs) were conducted with different volumetric block proportions (VBPs) under various confining pressures (CPs) for investigating their dynamic behaviors and energy dissipation mechanisms. Results indicate that the Gmax of GSCGS increases linearly with VBPs but nonlinearly with CP. High VBPs will probably result in a gentle decrease in G/Gmax and a rapid increase in normalized λ (λnor), while the opposite is the case for a high CP. With the shear strain amplitude being normalized, the G/Gmax and λnor are distributed in a narrow band with low dispersion and thus can be well-described by empirical functions of the normalized shear strain amplitude.
Physical Intuition to Improve Electronic Properties of Thermoelectrics
Authors: Lim Wei Yang Samuel , Zhang Danwei , Duran Solco Samantha Faye , Tan Xian Yi , Tan Chee Kiang Ivan , Xu Jianwei , Suwardi Ady
Published: December 2021

Thermoelectrics convert heat to electricity and vice versa. They are of technological importance in cooling and energy harvesting. Their performances are defined by figure of merit, zT. Decades of studies have largely focused on the development of novel and advanced materials reaching higher performance in devices. To date, the lack of sufficiently high-performance thermoelectrics, especially among Earth-abundant and lightweight materials, is one of the reasons why there is no broad commercial application of thermoelectric devices yet. This challenge is due to the complex correlations of parameters that make up the zT. Theoretical estimation can reveal the optimal charge carrier concentration, which can provide a good idea of doping compositions. Depending on the material characteristics, decoupling these intercorrelated parameters could be viable. Broadly speaking, increasing carrier mobility, inducing a large fluctuation in density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level, and lowering the lattice thermal conductivity lead to better thermoelectric performance. In this mini review, we provide a broad picture of electronic property optimization for thermoelectric materials. This work will be a useful guide to quickly take readers to the forefront of thermoelectric research.
Automated Classification of Breast Cancer Cells Using High-Throughput Holographic Cytometry
Authors: Chen Cindy X. , Park Han Sang , Price Hillel , Wax Adam
Published: December 2021

Holographic cytometry is an ultra-high throughput quantitative phase imaging modality that is capable of extracting subcellular information from millions of cells flowing through parallel microfluidic channels. In this study, we present our findings on the application of holographic cytometry to distinguishing carcinogen-exposed cells from normal cells and cancer cells. This has potential application for environmental monitoring and cancer detection by analysis of cytology samples acquired via brushing or fine needle aspiration. By leveraging the vast amount of cell imaging data, we are able to build single-cell-analysis-based biophysical phenotype profiles on the examined cell lines. Multiple physical characteristics of these cells show observable distinct traits between the three cell types. Logistic regression analysis provides insight on which traits are more useful for classification. Additionally, we demonstrate that deep learning is a powerful tool that can potentially identify phenotypic differences from reconstructed single-cell images. The high classification accuracy levels show the platform’s potential in being developed into a diagnostic tool for abnormal cell screening.
Generation, Transmission and Application of Orbital Angular Momentum in Optical Fiber: A Review
Authors: Ma Minghao , Lian Yudong , Wang Yulei , Lu Zhiwei
Published: December 2021

Optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) has become a hot research topic because of its unique properties due to its spiral distribution of phases. The production and transmission of OAM has also become a necessary condition for effective use of OAM. As an optical waveguide with good propagation properties, optical fibers are used in optical systems supporting OAM. This paper introduces the OAM generation and transmission system based on fiber, summarizes the current photonic crystal fiber, ring core fiber, fiber grating and other all-fiber systems that can support OAM modes, and explains some experimental principles. Finally, an outlook on OAM generation or transmission devices for all-fiber systems is presented, providing a useful reference for future related research.
Effect of Wearing Surgical Face Masks During Exercise: Does Intensity Matter?
Authors: Poon Eric Tsz-Chun , Zheng Chen , Wong Stephen Heung-Sang
Published: December 2021

Face masks are widely recommended as means of controlling the coronavirus disease outbreak. This study aimed to examine the physiological and perceptual responses of wearing surgical face masks while exercising at different intensities. Thirteen healthy young adults (mean age, 21.9 ± 1.4 years) conducted randomized crossover trials with or without a surgical face mask. In each trial, participants completed an incremental treadmill protocol, with three 6-min stages (light, moderate, and vigorous at 25, 50, and 75% maximal oxygen uptake, respectively). Physiological outcomes (heart rate, blood lactate, and oxygen saturation level), perceived exertion and discomfort feeling were assessed. No significant differences were observed in physiological outcomes with or without masks at different exercise intensities (p > 0.05). However, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was significantly higher when exercising vigorously (mask: 15.5 ± 1.5 vs. no-mask: 14.2 ± 2.1, p < 0.05). Participants wearing masks reported marked discomfort, such as feeling hot, humid, and breathing resistance. Although face mask-wearing during exercise may not have detrimental effects on major physiological parameters, it can increase perceived exertion level and discomfort when the exercise intensity exceeds a certain threshold. Therefore, healthcare professionals should cautiously evaluate each person’s ability to exercise while wearing a mask and tailor their prescription accordingly.
The Importance of Perceived Procedural Justice Among Defendants With a Non-Western Background Involved in Dutch Criminal Cases
Authors: Ansems Lisa F. M. , van den Bos Kees , Mak Elaine
Published: December 2021

This study aims to put perceived procedural justice to a critical test in the context of Dutch criminal court hearings. To that end, we surveyed 198 criminal defendants to examine whether their perceptions of procedural fairness were significantly associated with trust in judges and intentions to protest against judicial rulings, among other variables. We also examine the possibility that sometimes unfair procedures may have nice aspects, because they offer opportunities to attribute negative outcomes to external causes. Previous studies conducted in different settings support this line of reasoning by showing that associations between perceived procedural justice and other variables are sometimes attenuated or even reversed, particularly when people feel strongly evaluated. The current study takes these insights into the novel context of Dutch criminal court hearings by focusing on defendants with a non-Western ethnic-cultural background. Some of these defendants may feel negatively evaluated by society, which can manifest as a high level of perceived discrimination. Thus, we examine whether the associations between perceived procedural justice and important other variables may be attenuated or reversed depending on respondents’ perceptions of everyday discrimination and their outcome judgments. Our results revealed significant associations between perceived procedural justice on the one hand and trust in judges and protest intentions on the other hand, which remained intact regardless of perceptions of everyday discrimination and outcome judgments. Hence, even in this real-life courtroom context, procedural justice was a relevant concern. Taken together, our findings support the importance of perceived procedural justice, even when it is put to a critical test.
Does Influencers Popularity Actually Matter? An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Influencers on Body Satisfaction and Mood Among Young Chinese Females: The Case of RED (Xiaohongshu)
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxiao , Zhu Wuchang , Sun Shaojing , Chen Jingxi
Published: December 2021

Many studies have linked idealized body image on social media to negative psychological well-being among young females. However, social media influencers’ imagery has not attracted much research attention in either the Western or the Asian context. This study aimed to experimentally investigate the impact of high versus low popular social media influencer images on young Chinese females’ body satisfaction and mood. The participants were 420 female RED users (aged 18–35) who were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) the influencer-high group (idealized imagery alongside high engagement metrics); (2) the influencer-low group (the same idealized imagery adjusted for low engagement metrics); or (3) a control set of nature images. The results revealed that the groups exposed to influencer imagery had lower body satisfaction and more negative mood than the control group (nature images). Notably, this comparison showed no significant difference between the low-influencer and high-influencer groups in body satisfaction and mood. Additionally, this effect was moderated by individuals’ self-discrepancy between personal ideals and their own bodies. That is, exposure to idealized body images does not always produce harmful effects. For those with lower self-discrepancy, idealized body posts somewhat positively affected their body satisfaction. The current research contributes to the media effect literature by providing critical new insights into the study of body image in the context of China.
Hong Kong Children’s School Readiness in Times of COVID-19: The Contributions of Parent Perceived Social Support, Parent Competency, and Time Spent With Children
Authors: Lau Eva Yi Hung , Li Jian-Bin
Published: December 2021

School readiness is an important but challenging issue of child development, especially during COVID-19 when most of the traditional offline activities that could promote school readiness (e.g., on-site visit) have been canceled. There is a gap between the knowledge needed to promote children’s school readiness in times of pandemic and the limited understanding of this topic so far. This gap could be particularly concerning in the social contexts where examinations are stressed and educational competition is high (e.g., Hong Kong). In this study, we examined how well children were ready for primary school, the extent to which parent perceived social support was related to children’s school readiness, and whether parent competence and their time spent with children would moderate the said link. A cross-sectional design survey with total population sampling (supplemented with convenience sampling) was conducted. Massive e-mails were sent to all kindergartens in Hong Kong inviting them to join the study by distributing the survey link to the parents of their K3 students. A total of 643 Hong Kong parents whose children were about to transition to primary school (87.1% mother) participated, answering measures specifically designed for this study online about how well they thought their children were ready for school, their competence to help with children’s school transition, and how much time they spent with children. Data were analyzed with PROCESS macro (model 3) in SPSS. The results found that most parents considered that their children were not fully ready for school, especially in terms of academic skills, self-management, and mental preparation. Furthermore, moderation analyses showed that after controlling for a number of demographic variables, parent perceived social support was positively related to better school readiness in children and this link was jointly moderated by parent competence and time spent with children. Specifically, children were rated most ready when parent perceived stronger social support, felt more competent, and spent more time with children. By contrast, the link between perceived social support and children’s school readiness was insignificant for parent who felt more competent but spent less time with children. Implications of how to enhance children’s school readiness are discussed.
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Potential Biomarker for Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Seo Chai Lee , Park Jin Young , Park Jaesub , Kim Hesun Erin , Cho Jaehwa , Seok Jeong-Ho , Kim Jae-Jin , Shin Cheung Soo , Oh Jooyoung
Published: December 2021

Background: Recognition and early detection of delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is essential to improve ICU outcomes. To date, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), one of inflammatory markers, has been proposed as a potential biomarker for brain disorders related to neuroinflammation. This study aimed to investigate whether NLR could be utilized in early detection of delirium in the ICU.

Methods: Of 10,144 patients who admitted to the ICU, 1,112 delirium patients (DE) were included in the current study. To compare among inflammatory markers, NLR, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) counts were obtained: the mean NLR, CRP levels, and WBC counts between the initial day of ICU admission and the day of initial delirium onset within DE were examined. The inflammatory marker of 1,272 non-delirium patients (ND) were also comparatively measured as a supplement. Further comparisons included a subgroup analysis based on delirium subtypes (non-hypoactive vs. hypoactive) or admission types (elective vs. emergent).

Results: The NLR and CRP levels in DE increased on the day of delirium onset compared to the initial admission day. ND also showed increased CRP levels on the sixth day (the closest day to average delirium onset day among DE) of ICU admission compared to baseline, while NLR in ND did not show significant difference over time. In further analyses, the CRP level of the non-hypoactive group was more increased than that of the hypoactive group during the delirium onset. NLR, however, was more significantly increased in patients with elective admission than in those with emergent admission.

Conclusion: Elevation of NLR was more closely linked to the onset of delirium compared to other inflammatory markers, indicating that NLR may play a role in early detection of delirium.
Magnetic Seizure Therapy Compared to Electroconvulsive Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Jiang Jiangling , Li Jin , Xu Yuanhong , Zhang Bin , Sheng Jianhua , Liu Dengtang , Wang Wenzheng , Yang Fuzhong , Guo Xiaoyun , Li Qingwei , Zhang Tianhong , Tang Yingying , Jia Yuping , Daskalakis Zafiris J. , Wang Jijun , Li Chunbo
Published: December 2021

Background: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a potential alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, reports on the use of MST for patients with schizophrenia, particularly in developing countries, which is a main indication for ECT, are limited.

Methods: From February 2017 to July 2018, 79 inpatients who met the DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia were randomized to receive 10 sessions of MST (43 inpatients) or ECT (36 inpatients) over the course of 4 weeks. At baseline and 4-week follow-up, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) were used to assess symptom severity and cognitive functions, respectively.

Results: Seventy-one patients who completed at least half of the treatment protocol were included in the per-protocol analysis. MST generated a non-significant larger antipsychotic effect in terms of a reduction in PANSS total score [g = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.30, 0.63] and response rate [relative risk (RR) = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.83–2.39]. Twenty-four participants failed to complete the cognitive assessment as a result of severe psychotic symptoms. MST showed significant less cognitive impairment over ECT in terms of immediate memory (g = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.63–1.89), language function (g =1.14, 95% CI = 0.52–1.76), delayed memory (g = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.16–1.35), and global cognitive function (g = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.45–1.68). The intention-to-treat analysis generated similar results except for the differences in delayed memory became statistically insignificant. Better baseline cognitive performance predicted MST and ECT response.

Conclusions: Compared to bitemporal ECT with brief pulses and age-dose method, MST had similar antipsychotic efficacy with fewer cognitive impairments, indicating that MST is a promising alternative to ECT as an add-on treatment for schizophrenia.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02746965.
Modeling Heterogeneous Brain Dynamics of Depression and Melancholia Using Energy Landscape Analysis
Authors: Regonia Paul Rossener , Takamura Masahiro , Nakano Takashi , Ichikawa Naho , Fermin Alan , Okada Go , Okamoto Yasumasa , Yamawaki Shigeto , Ikeda Kazushi , Yoshimoto Junichiro
Published: December 2021

Our current understanding of melancholic depression is shaped by its position in the depression spectrum. The lack of consensus on how it should be treated—whether as a subtype of depression, or as a distinct disorder altogethe—interferes with the recovery of suffering patients. In this study, we analyzed brain state energy landscape models of melancholic depression, in contrast to healthy and non-melancholic energy landscapes. Our analyses showed significant group differences on basin energy, basin frequency, and transition dynamics in several functional brain networks such as basal ganglia, dorsal default mode, and left executive control networks. Furthermore, we found evidences suggesting the connection between energy landscape characteristics (basin characteristics) and depressive symptom scores (BDI-II and SHAPS). These results indicate that melancholic depression is distinguishable from its non-melancholic counterpart, not only in terms of depression severity, but also in brain dynamics.
A Comparison of COVID-19 Stigma and AIDS Stigma During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Li Manyun , Long Jiang , Wang Xuyi , Liao Yanhui , Liu Yueheng , Hao Yuzhu , Wu Qiuxia , Zhou Yanan , Wang Yingying , Wang Yunfei , Wang Qianjin , Ma Yuejiao , Chen Shubao , Liu Tieqiao
Published: December 2021

Objective: To understand the current situation of stigmatizing attitudes toward Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China and compare it with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: Convenient sampling and vignette-based methods were used to recruit participants on WeChat. A demographic form and adopted stigma scale were used to collect participants' demographic information and stigmatizing attitudes toward COVID-19 and AIDS.

Results: A total of 13,994 questionnaires were included in this study. A high portion of participants tend to avoid contact with individuals affected with COVID-19 (74.3%) or AIDS (59.0%), as well as their family members (70.4% for COVID-19 and 47.9% for AIDS). About half of the participants agreed that affected persons could not only cause problems to their own family but also have adverse effects on others (59.6% and 55.6% for COVID-19, 56.9 and 47.0% for AIDS). The agreements with statements about perceived stigma were similar but slightly higher than those about personal stigma in both COVID-19 and AIDS. Participants' agreements with all statements regarding personal and perceived stigma attitudes between COVID-19 and AIDS were all statistically significant (p < 0.001). Participants obtained COVID-19-related information mainly from social media (91.3%) and newspaper or television (77.1%) during the epidemic, and 61.0% of them thought information from newspapers or television was the most reliable.

Conclusion: Several similarities and differences of people's attitude toward COVID-19 and AIDS were found. Avoidance, blame, and secondary discrimination to diagnosed persons and their surrounding persons were the main representations of COVID-19-related stigma. Stigma of COVID-19 had less moral link but more public panic. Experience from HIV-related stigma reduction and prevention can be applied to reduce COVID-19-related stigma.
Schizophrenia Increases Variability of the Central Antioxidant System: A Meta-Analysis of Variance From MRS Studies of Glutathione
Authors: Palaniyappan Lena , Sabesan Priyadharshini , Li Xuan , Luo Qiang
Published: December 2021

Patients with schizophrenia diverge in their clinical trajectories. Such diverge outcomes may result from the resilience provided by antioxidant response system centered on glutathione (GSH). Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has enabled the precise in vivo measurement of intracortical GSH; but individual studies report highly variable results even when GSH levels are measured from the same brain region. This inconsistency could be due to the presence of distinct subgroups of schizophrenia with varying GSH-levels. At present, we do not know if schizophrenia increases the interindividual variability of intracortical GSH relative to matched healthy individuals. We reviewed all 1H-MRS GSH studies in schizophrenia focused on the Anterior Cingulate Cortex published until August 2021. We estimated the relative variability of ACC GSH levels in patients compared to control groups using the variability ratio (VR) and coefficient of variation ratio (CVR). The presence of schizophrenia significantly increases the variability of intracortical GSH in the ACC (logVR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03–0.21; log CVR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.06–0.23). Insofar as increased within-group variability (heterogeneity) could result from the existence of subtypes, our results call for a careful examination of intracortical GSH distribution in schizophrenia to seek redox-deficient and redox-sufficient subgroups. An increase in GSH variability among patients also indicate that the within-group predictability of adaptive response to oxidative stress may be lower in schizophrenia. Uncovering the origins of this illness-related reduction in the redox system stability may provide novel treatment targets in schizophrenia.
Cardiovascular Risk, Obesity, and Sociodemographic Indicators in a Brazilian Population
Authors: Moreira Nayla Cristina do Vale , Mdala Ibrahimu , Hussain Akhtar , Bhowmik Bishwajit , Siddiquee Tasnima , Fernandes Virgínia Oliveira , Montenegro Renan M. , Meyer Haakon E.
Published: December 2021

Background and Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally and in Brazil. Evidence suggests that the risk of CVDs differs by race/ethnicity. Scarce information exists about the association between CVD risk, obesity indicators and sociodemographic characteristics in the Brazilian population.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the CVD risk following the Framingham risk score in relation to the population's sociodemographic profile. Further, we examined the association between anthropometric markers and risk of CVDs.

Methods: A total of 701 subjects aged ≥20 years from North-eastern Brazil were recruited randomly to participate in a population-based, cross-sectional survey. Age-adjusted data for CVD risk, sociodemographic characteristics, and anthropometric indices were assessed, and their relationships examined.

Results: High CVD risk (Framingham risk score ≥10%) was observed in 18.9% of the population. Males (31.9 vs. 12.5%) and older subjects (age ≥45 years: 68.9% vs. age <45 years: 4.2%) had significantly higher risk of CVDs, whereas those employed in manual labor showed lower risk (7.6 vs. 21.7%). Central obesity measures like waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were more strongly associated with predicted CVD risk than body mass index.

Conclusions: Our population had a high risk of CVDs using the Framingham risk score. Cost-effective strategies for screening, prevention and treatment of CVDs may likely reduce disease burden and health expenditure in Brazil. Central obesity measures were strongly associated with predicted CVD risk and might be useful in the clinical assessment of patients. Follow-up studies are warranted to validate our findings.
Value and Cost Savings From Access to Multi-disciplinary Rehabilitation Services After Severe Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: Lorenz Laura S. , Doonan Michael
Published: December 2021

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a major global public health problem and source of disability. A major contributor to disability after severe ABI is limited access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation, despite evidence of sustained functional gains, improved quality of life, increased return-to-work, and reduced need for long-term care. A societal model of value in rehabilitation matches patient and family expectations of outcomes and system expectations of value for money. A policy analysis of seven studies (2009–2019) exploring outcomes and cost-savings from access to multi-disciplinary rehabilitation identified average lifetime savings of $1.50M per person, with costs recouped within 18 months.

Recommendations: Increase access to multi-disciplinary rehabilitation following severe ABI; strengthen prevention focus; increase access to case management; support return-to-work; and systematically collect outcome and cost data.
Determinants of Intention to Use Artificial Intelligence-Based Diagnosis Support System Among Prospective Physicians
Authors: Tran Anh Quynh , Nguyen Long Hoang , Nguyen Hao Si Anh , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Vu Linh Gia , Zhang Melvyn , Vu Thuc Minh Thi , Nguyen Son Hoang , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Roger C. M. , Ho Cyrus S. H.
Published: December 2021

Background: This study aimed to develop a theoretical model to explore the behavioral intentions of medical students to adopt an AI-based Diagnosis Support System.

Methods: This online cross-sectional survey used the unified theory of user acceptance of technology (UTAUT) to examine the intentions to use an AI-based Diagnosis Support System in 211 undergraduate medical students in Vietnam. Partial least squares (PLS) structural equational modeling was employed to assess the relationship between latent constructs.

Results: Effort expectancy (β = 0.201, p < 0.05) and social influence (β = 0.574, p < 0.05) were positively associated with initial trust, while no association was found between performance expectancy and initial trust (p > 0.05). Only social influence (β = 0.527, p < 0.05) was positively related to the behavioral intention.

Conclusions: This study highlights positive behavioral intentions in using an AI-based diagnosis support system among prospective Vietnamese physicians, as well as the effect of social influence on this choice. The development of AI-based competent curricula should be considered when reforming medical education in Vietnam.
Combined Effects of Proton Radiation and Simulated Microgravity on the Cell Viability and ALP Activity of Murine Osteoblast Cells
Authors: Ma Liqiu , Kong Fuquan , Gong Yihao , Wang Qiaojuan , Liu Jiancheng , Sui Li
Published: December 2021

Proton radiation (PR) and microgravity (μG) are two key factors that impact living things in space. This study aimed to explore the combined effects of PR and simulated μG (SμG) on bone function. Mouse embryo osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1) were irradiated with proton beams and immediately treated with SμG for 2 days using a three-dimensional clinostat. All samples were subjected to cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and transcriptome assays. The results showed that cell viability decreased with increasing doses of PR. The peak ALP activity after PR or SμG alone was lower than that obtained with the non-treatment control. No difference in cell viability or ALP activity was found between 1 Gy PR combined with SμG (PR-SμG) and PR alone. However, 4 Gy PR-SμG resulted in decreased cell viability and ALP activity compared with those obtained with PR alone. Furthermore, Gene Ontology analysis revealed the same trend. These results revealed that PR-SμG may lead to reductions in the proliferation and differentiation capacities of cells in a dose-dependent manner. Our data provide new insights into bone-related hazards caused by multiple factors, such as PR and μG, in the space environment.
Is Hemoglobin Concentration a Linear Predictor of Mortality in Older Adults From Chinese Longevity Regions?
Authors: Ren Jiaojiao , Wang Zhenghe , Zhang Yujie , Zhang Peidong , Zhou Jianmeng , Zhong Wenfang , Wang Xing , Gao Pingming , Shi Xiaoming , Mao Chen
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The association patterns of hemoglobin (HB) concentrations with mortality among the longevity older adults are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship among older adults form Chinese longevity regions.

Methods: We included 1,785 older adults aged ≥65 years (mean age, 86.7 years; 1,002 women, 783 men) from the community-based Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and Cox models with restricted cubic spline.

Results: In total, 999 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 5.4 years from 2011 to 2017. Restricted cubic spline analysis found no non-linear association between HB concentrations and all-cause mortality after a full adjustment for covariates among the older adults form longevity regions (p > 0.05 for non-linearity). The risk for all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the groups with HB concentration of <11.0 g/dL (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.10–1.70) and 11.0–12.0 g/dL (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01–1.54); the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the groups with HB concentration ≥14.0 g/dL (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60–0.97) compared with the reference group (13.0–13.9 g/dL).

Conclusions: Among older adults form Chinese longevity regions, HB concentrations were found to be inversely and linearly associated with all-cause mortality. Further prospective intervention trials are needed to confirm whether higher HB concentrations had a lower risk of mortality in these older adults.
Sex Differences in Large Artery Stiffness: Implications for Cerebrovascular Dysfunction and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kehmeier Mackenzie N. , Walker Ashley E.
Published: December 2021

Two in every three Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses are females, calling attention to the need to understand sexual dimorphisms with aging and neurodegenerative disease progression. Dysfunction and damage to the vasculature with aging are strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease. With aging there is an increase in stiffness of the large elastic arteries, and this stiffening is associated with cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear how the deleterious effects of arterial stiffness may differ between females and males. While environmental, chromosomal, and sex hormone factors influence aging, there is evidence that the deficiency of estrogen post-menopause in females is a contributor to vascular aging and Alzheimer’s disease progression. The purpose of this mini review is to describe the recent developments in our understanding of sex differences in large artery stiffness, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and cognitive impairment, and their intricate relations. Furthermore, we will focus on the impact of the loss of estrogen post-menopause as a potential driving factor for these outcomes. Overall, a better understanding of how sex differences influence aging physiology is crucial to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Developing a Conversational Agent’s Capability to Identify Structural Wrongness in Arguments Based on Toulmin’s Model of Arguments
Authors: Mirzababaei Behzad , Pammer-Schindler Viktoria
Published: December 2021

This article discusses the usefulness of Toulmin’s model of arguments as structuring an assessment of different types of wrongness in an argument. We discuss the usability of the model within a conversational agent that aims to support users to develop a good argument. Within the article, we present a study and the development of classifiers that identify the existence of structural components in a good argument, namely a claim, a warrant (underlying understanding), and evidence. Based on a dataset (three sub-datasets with 100, 1,026, 211 responses in each) in which users argue about the intelligence or non-intelligence of entities, we have developed classifiers for these components: The existence and direction (positive/negative) of claims can be detected a weighted average F1 score over all classes (positive/negative/unknown) of 0.91. The existence of a warrant (with warrant/without warrant) can be detected with a weighted F1 score over all classes of 0.88. The existence of evidence (with evidence/without evidence) can be detected with a weighted average F1 score of 0.80. We argue that these scores are high enough to be of use within a conditional dialogue structure based on Bloom’s taxonomy of learning; and show by argument an example conditional dialogue structure that allows us to conduct coherent learning conversations. While in our described experiments, we show how Toulmin’s model of arguments can be used to identify structural problems with argumentation, we also discuss how Toulmin’s model of arguments could be used in conjunction with content-wise assessment of the correctness especially of the evidence component to identify more complex types of wrongness in arguments, where argument components are not well aligned. Owing to having progress in argument mining and conversational agents, the next challenges could be the developing agents that support learning argumentation. These agents could identify more complex type of wrongness in arguments that result from wrong connections between argumentation components.
Effectiveness of Lymphedema Prevention Programs With Compression Garment After Lymphatic Node Dissection in Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Nadal Castells Maria J. , Ramirez Mirabal Eliot , Cuartero Archs Jordi , Perrot Gonzalez Jean C. , Beranuy Rodriguez Marta , Pintor Ojeda Alberto , Bascuñana Ambros Helena
Published: December 2021

Background: Patients with breast cancer who undergo axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) are at risk of developing lymphedema, which can negatively impact quality of life. Lymphedema prevention programs, which primarily consist of educational content and exercise, have been shown to reduce the incidence of lymphedema. The addition of compression garments (CG) may increase the effectiveness of these programs.

Aim: We aimed to determine whether adding a compression garment to a conventional lymphedema prevention program could improve treatment effectiveness.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Seventy patients who had undergone ALND for breast cancer were randomized to receive conventional preventative therapy (control arm, n = 35) consisting of a 1-hour educational session and a 12-week exercise program or the same therapy plus upper limb CGs (experimental arm, n = 35). Patients in the experimental arm were instructed to wear the CG ≥ 8 h/day for the first 3 months after surgery and 2 h/day thereafter.

Results: At 2-years, the overall incidence of lymphedema in the two groups was 12.3%, with no significant differences between the conventional and experimental arms (12.5 vs. 12.1%). In the experimental arm, the incidence of lymphedema was significantly lower (p = 0.02) in patients who used the CGs daily as recommended compared to patient who did not adhere to this treatment recommendation. Neither exercise (p = 0.518) nor education alone decreased the incidence of lymphedema. Adherence decreased over time.

Conclusions: The findings of this RCT show that health education, preventive exercise programs, and patient adherence to therapeutic recommendations all play an important role in preventing lymphedema.

Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: Our data demonstrated that the use of a compression garment during the first 3 months after axillary node dissection may reduce the likelihood of lymphedema in high-risk patients.