bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ThSCSP_12: Novel Effector in Tilletia horrida That Induces Cell Death and Defense Responses in Non-Host Plants
Authors: Shu Xinyue , Yin Desuo , Liang Juan , Xu Deze , Jiang Yuqi , Xiang Ting , Wang Yuxuan , Jiao Chunhai , Li Ping , Zheng Aiping , Wang Aijun
Published: November 2022

The basidiomycete fungus Tilletia horrida causes rice kernel smut (RKS), a crucial disease afflicting hybrid-rice-growing areas worldwide, which results in significant economic losses. However, few studies have investigated the pathogenic mechanisms and functions of effectors in T. horrida. In this study, we found that the candidate effector ThSCSP_12 caused cell necrosis in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. The predicted signal peptide (SP) of this protein has a secreting function, which is required for ThSCSP_12 to induce cell death. The 1- 189 amino acid (aa) sequences of ThSCSP_12 are sufficient to confer it the ability to trigger cell death in N. benthamiana. The expression of ThSCSP_12 was induced and up-regulated during T. horrida infection. In addition, we also found that ThSCSP_12 localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of plant cells and that nuclear localization of this protein is required to induce cell death. Furthermore, the ability of ThSCSP_12 to trigger cell death in N. benthamiana depends on the (RAR1) protein required for Mla12 resistance but not on the suppressor of the G2 allele of Skp1 (SGT1), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), or somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK3). Crucially, however, ThSCSP_12 induced a defense response in N. benthamiana leaves; yet, the expression of multiple defense-related genes was suppressed in response to heterologous expression in host plants. To sum up, these results strongly suggest that ThSCSP_12 operates as an effector in T. horrida–host interactions.
Investigating the Role of Endothelial Glycogen Synthase Kinase3α/β in Atherogenesis in Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice
Authors: Mastrogiacomo Lauren , Werstuck Geoff H.
Published: November 2022

Risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) are associated with inflammation and endothelial activation. Activated endothelial cells (ECs) express adhesion proteins that recruit monocytes to the subendothelial layer initiating plaque development. Understanding the mechanism(s) by which ECs increase adhesion protein expression will facilitate the development of therapies aimed at preventing CVD progression and mortality. Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3α/β are constitutively active kinases which have been associated with many cellular pathways regulating cell viability and metabolism. While roles for myeloid GSK3α/β in the development of atherosclerosis have been established, there is limited knowledge on the potential roles of endothelial GSK3α/β. With the use of Cre recombinase technology, GSK3α/β was knocked out of both ECs and macrophages (Tie2Cre GSK3α/βfl/fl LDLR−/−). A bone marrow transplant was used to replenish GSK3α/β in the myeloid lineage allowing the assessment of an endothelial-selective GSK3α/β knockout (BMT Tie2Cre GSK3α/βfl/fl LDLR−/−). In both models, adhesion protein expression, macrophage recruitment and plaque volume were reduced in GSK3α knockout mice. GSK3β knockout had no significant effect. Results from this study are the first to suggest a pro-atherogenic role of endothelial GSK3α and support existing evidence for targeting GSK3α in the treatment of atherosclerotic CVD.
Tissue Reactions and Mechanism in Cardiovascular Diseases Induced by Radiation
Authors: Liu Xiao-Chang , Zhou Ping-Kun
Published: November 2022

The long-term survival rate of cancer patients has been increasing as a result of advances in treatments and precise medical management. The evidence has accumulated that the incidence and mortality of non-cancer diseases have increased along with the increase in survival time and long-term survival rate of cancer patients after radiotherapy. The risk of cardiovascular disease as a radiation late effect of tissue damage reactions is becoming a critical challenge and attracts great concern. Epidemiological research and clinical trials have clearly shown the close association between the development of cardiovascular disease in long-term cancer survivors and radiation exposure. Experimental biological data also strongly supports the above statement. Cardiovascular diseases can occur decades post-irradiation, and from initiation and development to illness, there is a complicated process, including direct and indirect damage of endothelial cells by radiation, acute vasculitis with neutrophil invasion, endothelial dysfunction, altered permeability, tissue reactions, capillary-like network loss, and activation of coagulator mechanisms, fibrosis, and atherosclerosis. We summarize the most recent literature on the tissue reactions and mechanisms that contribute to the development of radiation-induced cardiovascular diseases (RICVD) and provide biological knowledge for building preventative strategies.
ONT-Based Alternative Assemblies Impact on the Annotations of Unique versus Repetitive Features in the Genome of a Romanian Strain of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bologa Alexandru Marian , Stoica Ileana , Ratiu Attila Cristian , Constantin Nicoleta Denisa , Ecovoiu Alexandru Al.
Published: November 2022

To date, different strategies of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) have been developed in order to understand the genome structure and functions. However, the analysis of genomic sequences obtained from natural populations is challenging and the biological interpretation of sequencing data remains the main issue. The MinION device developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) is able to generate long reads with minimal costs and time requirements. These valuable assets qualify it as a suitable method for performing WGS, especially in small laboratories. The long reads resulted using this sequencing approach can cover large structural variants and repetitive sequences commonly present in the genomes of eukaryotes. Using MinION, we performed two WGS assessments of a Romanian local strain of Drosophila melanogaster, referred to as Horezu_LaPeri (Horezu). In total, 1,317,857 reads with a size of 8.9 gigabytes (Gb) were generated. Canu and Flye de novo assembly tools were employed to obtain four distinct assemblies with both unfiltered and filtered reads, achieving maximum reference genome coverages of 94.8% (Canu) and 91.4% (Flye). In order to test the quality of these assemblies, we performed a two-step evaluation. Firstly, we considered the BUSCO scores and inquired for a supplemental set of genes using BLAST. Subsequently, we appraised the total content of natural transposons (NTs) relative to the reference genome (ISO1 strain) and mapped the mdg1 retroelement as a resolution assayer. Our results reveal that filtered data provide only slightly enhanced results when considering genes identification, but the use of unfiltered data had a consistent positive impact on the global evaluation of the NTs content. Our comparative studies also revealed differences between Flye and Canu assemblies regarding the annotation of unique versus repetitive genomic features. In our hands, Flye proved to be moderately better for gene identification, while Canu clearly outperformed Flye for NTs analysis. Data concerning the NTs content were compared to those obtained with ONT for the D. melanogaster ISO1 strain, revealing that our strategy conducted to better results. Additionally, the parameters of our ONT reads and assemblies are similar to those reported for ONT experiments performed on various model organisms, revealing that our assembly data are appropriate for a proficient annotation of the Horezu genome.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Protects Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against Streptococcus agalatiae Infection
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Li Qi , Huang Yongxiong , Xu Zhou , Chen Xinjin , Jiang Baijian , Huang Yu , Jian Jichang
Published: November 2022

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a member of secretin/glucagon family, is involved in a variety of biological activities such as gut motility, immune responses, and carcinogenesis. In this study, the VIP precursor gene (On-VIP) and its receptor gene VIPR1 (On-VIPR1) were identified from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and the functions of On-VIP in the immunomodulation of Nile tilapia against bacterial infection were investigated and characterized. On-VIP and On-VIPR1 contain a 450 bp and a 1326 bp open reading frame encoding deduced protein of 149 and 441 amino acids, respectively. Simultaneously, the transcript of both On-VIP and On-VIPR1 were highly expressed in the intestine and sharply induced by Streptococcus agalatiae. Moreover, the positive signals of On-VIP and On-VIPR1 were detected in the longitudinal muscle layer and mucosal epithelium of intestine, respectively. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated several immune functions of On-VIP, including reduction of P65, P38, MyD88, STAT3, and AP1, upregulation of CREB and CBP, and suppression of inflammation. Additionally, in vivo experiments proved that On-VIP could protect Nile tilapia from bacterial infection and promote apoptosis and pyroptosis. These data lay a theoretical basis for further understanding of the mechanism of VIP guarding bony fish against bacterial infection.
A Cyclic Multi-Stage Implementation of the Full-Waveform Inversion for the Identification of Anomalies in Dams
Authors: Alalade Muyiwa , Reichert Ina , Köhn Daniel , Wuttke Frank , Lahmer Tom
Published: November 2022

For the safe and efficient operation of dams, frequent monitoring and maintenance are required. These are usually expensive, time consuming, and cumbersome. To alleviate these issues, we propose applying a wave-based scheme for the location and quantification of damages in dams. To obtain high-resolution “interpretable” images of the damaged regions, we drew inspiration from non-linear full-multigrid methods for inverse problems and applied a new cyclic multi-stage full-waveform inversion (FWI) scheme. Our approach is less susceptible to the stability issues faced by the standard FWI scheme when dealing with ill-posed problems. In this paper, we first selected an optimal acquisition setup and then applied synthetic data to demonstrate the capability of our approach in identifying a series of anomalies in dams by a mixture of reflection and transmission tomography. The results had sufficient robustness, showing the prospects of application in the field of non-destructive testing of dams.
Larval-Transcriptome Dynamics of Ectropis grisescens Reveals Differences in Virulence Mechanism between Two EcobNPV Strains
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Mei Yang , Li Hong , Tang Meijun , He Kang , Xiao Qiang
Published: November 2022

The biological insecticide, Ectropis obliqua nucleopolyhedrovirus (EcobNPV), has been applied to control the major tea-pest Ectropis grisescens. Previously, the virus strain EcobNPV-QF4 showed higher a mortality rate (58.2% vs. 88.2%) and shorter median lethal-time (13.9 d vs. 15.4 d) on E. grisescens than the strain EcobNPV-QV. However, the mechanism of the difference in virulence between the two strains remains unclear. Using the leaf-disc method, we detected the virulence of the two strains on 3rd-instar larvae, and found that median lethal-dose (LD50) of EcobNPV-QF4 is 55-fold higher than that of EcobNPV-QV (4.35 × 108 vs. 7.89 × 106). Furthermore, fourteen larva transcriptomes of E. grisescens were subsequently sequenced at seven time-points after ingestion of the two virus strains, yielding 410.72 Gb of raw reads. Differential gene-expression analysis shows that 595, 87, 27, 108, 0, 12, and 290 genes were up-regulated in EcobNPV-QF4 at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 36 h and 48 h post ingestion (hpi), while 744, 68, 152, 8, 1, 0, 225 were down-regulated. KEGG enrichment showed that when the virus first invades (eats the leaf-discs), EcobNPV-QF4 mainly affects pathways such as ribosome (p-value = 2.47 × 10−29), and at 48 hpi EcobNPV-QF4, causes dramatic changes in the amino-acid-synthesis pathway and ribosome pathway (p-value = 6.94 × 10−13) in E. grisescens. Among these, thirteen key genes related to immunity were screened. The present study provides the first ever comprehensive analysis of transcriptional changes in E. grisescens after ingestion of the two strains of EcobNPV.
Subcellular-Level Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism Response in the Fat Body of the German Cockroach Fed Abamectin
Authors: Yang Lin-Yu , Yang Xiao-Jie , Zhao Zi-Shun , Zhang Qi-Lin
Published: November 2022

Mitochondria are the leading organelle for energy metabolism. The toxic effects of environmental toxicants on mitochondrial morphology, energy metabolism, and their determination of cell fate have already been broadly studied. However, minimal research exists on effects of environmental toxicants such as pesticides on mitochondrial energy metabolism at in vitro subcellular level, particularly from an omics perspectives (e.g., metabolomics). Here, German cockroach (Blattella germanica) was fed diets with (0.01 and 0.001 mg/mL) and without abamectin, and highly purified fat body mitochondria were isolated. Swelling measurement confirmed abnormal mitochondrial swelling caused by abamectin stress. The activity of two key mitochondrial energy metabolism-related enzymes, namely succinic dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, was significantly affected. The metabolomic responses of the isolated mitochondria to abamectin were analyzed via untargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomics technology. Fifty-two differential metabolites (DMs) were identified in the mitochondria between the 0.001 mg/mL abamectin-fed and the control groups. Many of these DMs were significantly enriched in pathways involved in ATP production and energy consumption (e.g., oxidative phosphorylation, TCA cycle, and pentose phosphate pathway). Nineteen of the DMs were typically related to energy metabolism. This study is valuable for further understanding mitochondrial toxicology under environmental toxicants, particularly its subcellular level.
Metrological Characterization of a CO2 Laser-Based System for Inscribing Long-Period Gratings in Optical Fibers
Authors: Valencia-Garzón Sebastian , Reyes-Vera Erick , Galvis-Arroyave Jorge , Montoya Jose P. , Gomez-Cardona Nelson
Published: November 2022

A CO2 laser-based system was studied and implemented to produce asymmetric long period fiber gratings (LPFG) with a large attenuation peak, high reproducibility, and high stability. The first half of this study provides a mathematical uncertainty model of the CO2 laser-based approach that takes into account various mechanical and thermal effects that impact this production technique. This is the first time that metrological analysis and modeling are performed on the CO2 laser-based engraving technique. Following that, the engraved system’s quality was assessed using a microscopic approach to confirm mechanical characteristics such as grating period, engraved spot width, and penetration depth, demonstrating that, if the thermal and mechanical components of the overall system are correctly managed, it is feasible to have very low inaccuracy. Lastly, the LPFG performance as temperature and strain sensors was tested, and the findings show that they had good linearity in both circumstances. Thus, the temperature sensor had a maximal sensitivity of 58 pm/°C when measuring temperature changed from 20 to 97 °C, but the strain sensor had sensitivity of 43 pm/με when measuring strain variations from 5.59 to 25 με. As a result, the model and results presented in this paper can be utilized to create a platform for the metrological management of lengths involved in the process of manufacturing LPFGs, devices that are widely employed in the creation of sensors and communications devices.
A Multi-Center, Prospective Observational Study to Investigate the Safety, Compliance, and Efficacy of Omethyl QTlet Soft Capsule
Authors: Ki You-Jeong , Han Sang-Jin , Cha Tae-Joon , Lee Jae Hyuk , Seo Eui Kyo , Yang Jae Won , Hwang Won Min , Jin Dong Kyu , Park Joo-Hyun , Ryu Han Young , Park Chang Gyu , Lee Jun Hong , Choi Si Wan , Cho Eun Jeong , Kim Weon
Published: November 2022

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be effective in lowering triglyceride (TG) levels; however, tolerability issues arise due to the large size of the pills. The purpose of this study was to examine the safety, compliance, and efficacy of Omethyl QTlet soft capsules (OQCs). This multi-center, prospective, observational study evaluated the safety, compliance, and efficacy of OQCs. Patients with hypertriglyceridemia with a history of omega-3 fatty acid intake were enrolled in this study and were prescribed OQCs (2 g–4 g/day) for eight weeks. All adverse events (AEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded for safety evaluation. Adherence to treatment was assessed using questionnaires, and efficacy was assessed by changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels after eight weeks from baseline. The convenience of taking medication was analyzed for 580 patients, and the efficacy test was performed for 563 patients. The AE and ADR rates were 8.2% and 5.7%, respectively. There were only two SAEs. Of the patients, 55.8% responded that the OQC improved medication convenience, and mean changes in TG, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C from baseline to eight weeks were −37.88 mg/dL, −11.56 mg/dL, −5.55 mg/dL, and −10.87 mg/dL, respectively (p-values < 0.001). In patients who had previously taken omega-3 fatty acids, OQCs showed safety and efficacy in lowering TG, and it was confirmed that compliance with medicine also improved compared to omega-3 fatty acids.
Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Adamgammadex with Sugammadex for Reversal of Rocuronium-Induced Neuromuscular Block: Results of a Phase II Clinical Trial
Authors: Jiang Yingying , Zhang Yujun , Zhu Zhaoqiong , Huang Yidan , Zhou Dachun , Liu Jingchen , Li Chaoyu , Chen Xiangdong , Kang Dingxin , Wang Shoushi , Liu Jin , Liu Bin , Zhang Wensheng
Published: November 2022

This current phase II clinical trial was to compare the effect and safety of adamgammadex, a new cyclodextrin-based selective relaxant binding agent, with sugammadex to reverse rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. Patients were randomised to receive adamgammadex (4 or 6 mg kg−1) or sugammadex (2 mg kg−1, as a positive control group) at the reappearance of the second twitch (T2) in response to TOF stimulation. The standard safety data were collected. The 4 mg kg−1 (n = 16) and 6 mg kg−1 (n = 20) adamgammadex- and 2 mg kg−1 (n = 20) sugammadex-induced recovery time of TOF ratio to 0.9 were 2.3, 1.6, and 1.5 min, respectively (p = 0.49). The 4 mg kg −1 adamgammadex-induced median recovery time was longer than that of 2 mg kg−1 sugammadex (p = 0.01), and there was no difference between the 6 mg kg −1 adamgammadex group and 2 mg kg−1 sugammadex group (p = 0.32). Then, the number of patients who experienced adverse events (AEs) was 6, 11, and 14 for adamgammadex at 4, 6 mg kg−1 and sugammadex at 2 mg kg−1, respectively. The treatment emergent AEs that occurred more than twice were detailed as follows: incision site pain, hypotension, emesis, fever, throat pain, blood bilirubin increase, abnormal T-wave of ECG, dizziness, incision site swelling, postoperative fever, expectoration, and nausea. For drug-related AEs, the increased urine acetone bodies and first-degree atrioventricular block were observed in two patients from sugammadex group. Then, the previously reported AEs were not observed in this study, including anaphylaxis, haemorrhage, recurarization, abnormal basic vital signs, or lengthened QRS intervals and QT intervals. Adamgammadex was found to be effective for reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block as sugammadex.
Reliability of Monothermal Caloric Test as Screening Test of Vestibular System
Authors: Alhabib Salman F. , Saliba Issam
Published: November 2022

This retrospective study completed at a tertiary care center aimed to assess the monothermal caloric test (MCT) as a screening test, using the bithermal caloric test (BCT) as a reference. Additionally, it attempts to measure the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of a fixed inter-auricular difference (IAD) value for both cold and warm stimuli using water irrigation. Medical records of 259 patients referred for vestibular symptoms who underwent BCT with water irrigation were reviewed. Patients with bilateral vestibular weakness and caloric tests using air irrigation were excluded. BCT showed 40.9% unilateral weakness. Two formulas were used to determine the monothermal caloric asymmetry (MCA-1 and MCA-2). The measurement of agreement Kappa between the two formulas in comparison with BCT revealed moderate agreement at 0.54 and 0.53 for hot and cold stimulation, respectively. The monothermal warm stimulating test (MWST) using MCA-2 showed better results, with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 91%, PPV of 83.1%, and NPV of 89.2%. Thirty-four patients had horizontal spontaneous nystagmus (HSN) with a mean velocity of 2.25°/s. These patients showed better sensitivity but lower specificity after adjustment of HSN using the MCA-2 formula at warm temperatures. Therefore, they should complete the caloric test with cold irrigation to perform the BCT. MCT is efficient as a screening test if the warm stimulus is used with the MCA-2 formula fixed at 25%. If present, HSNs should be adjusted. Negative IAD (normal) in the absence or presence of adjusted HSN or slow-phase eye velocity ≤ 6°/s at each right and left warm stimulation should be accomplished by the BCT.
Leveraging Machine Learning Techniques to Forecast Chronic Total Occlusion before Coronary Angiography
Authors: Shi Yuchen , Zheng Ze , Liu Yanci , Wu Yongxin , Wang Ping , Liu Jinghua
Published: November 2022

Background: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains the most challenging procedure in coronary artery disease (CAD) for interventional cardiology. Although some clinical risk factors for CAD have been identified, there is no personalized prognosis test available to confidently identify patients at high or low risk for CTO CAD. This investigation aimed to use a machine learning algorithm for clinical features from clinical routine to develop a precision medicine tool to predict CTO before CAG. Methods: Data from 1473 CAD patients were obtained, including 1105 in the training cohort and 368 in the testing cohort. The baseline clinical characteristics were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors that impact the diagnosis of CTO. A CTO predicting model was established and validated based on the independent predictors using a machine learning algorithm. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the model. Results: The CTO prediction model was developed with the training cohort using the machine learning algorithm. Eight variables were confirmed as ‘important’: gender (male), neutrophil percentage (NE%), hematocrit (HCT), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), ejection fraction (EF), troponin I (TnI), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). The model achieved good concordance indices of 0.724 and 0.719 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: An easy-to-use tool to predict CTO in patients with CAD was developed and validated. More research with larger cohorts are warranted to improve the prediction model, which can support clinician decisions on the early discerning CTO in CAD patients.
Myocarditis Related to COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Molina-Ramos Ana , Gómez-Moyano Elisabeth , Rodríguez-Capitán Jorge , Angullo-Gómez María , Gallardo-Jiménez Patricia , Pérez de Pedro Iván , Valiente de Santis Lucía , Pérez-Villardón Beatriz , Piñero-Uribe Isabel , Mora-Robles Javier , Becerra-Muñoz Víctor , Jiménez-Navarro Manuel
Published: November 2022

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has been a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19, myocarditis is a disease to be taken into consideration. Myocarditis, in general, is related to a poor prognosis. However, the epidemiology and prognosis of myocarditis related to COVID-19 are currently unknown. While vaccination against COVID-19 is of great benefit at a public health level, the risk of myocarditis should be considered in the context of the global benefits of vaccination. In this narrative review, we will summarize the etiopathogenic bases, the epidemiology, the clinical manifestations, the course, diagnosis, prognosis, and the treatment of myocarditis related to SARS-CoV-2, as well as myocarditis secondary to mRNA vaccines.
Intraoperative Appearance of Endosalpingiosis: A Single-Center Experience of Laparoscopic Findings and Systematic Review of Literature
Authors: Burla Laurin , Kalaitzopoulos Dimitrios Rafail , Mrozek Anna , Eberhard Markus , Samartzis Nicolas
Published: November 2022

Background: Endosalpingiosis is assumed to be the second most common benign peritoneal pathology after endometriosis in women. Although recent studies indicate a significant association with gynecologic malignancies, many underlying principles remain unclear. This work aimed to systematically describe the intraoperative appearance of endosalpingiosis. Methods: Data and intraoperative videos of patients with histologically verified endosalpingiosis were retrospectively reviewed. The main outcome measures were macroscopic phenotype and anatomical distribution. Additionally, a systematic review searching PubMed (Medline) and Embase was conducted. Results: In the study population (n = 77, mean age 40.2 years (SD 16.4)), the mean size of lesions was 3.6 mm and the main visual pattern was vesicular (62%). The most frequent localization was the sacrouterine ligaments (24.7%). In the systematic review population (n = 1174 (210 included studies overall), mean age 45.7 years (SD 14.4)), there were 99 patients in 90 different studies with adequate data to assess the appearance of the lesions. The mean size of the lesions was 48.5 mm, mainly with a cystic visual pattern (49.5%). The majority of the lesions affected the ovaries (23.2%), fallopian tubes (20.4%), or lymph nodes (18.5%). Comparing this study to the literature population, the main differences concerned the size (p < 0.001) and main visual patterns (p < 0.001) of lesions. Conclusions: The usual intraoperative findings of endosalpingiosis appeared less impressive than described in the literature. In our study population, lesions of a few millimeters in size with a vesicular appearance were mostly seen, most frequently in the sacrouterine ligament area. Intraoperative recognition by the gynecologic surgeon and histologic diagnosis should play an important role in further understanding this entity, scientifically and clinically.
Traumatic Brain Injury during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemics in Slovenia: A Single Center Study
Authors: Laufer Kevin , Petek Karina , Rakusa Sofia , Rakusa Matej , Rakusa Martin , Cretnik Andrej
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a significant impact on the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of TBI patients before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.; (2) Methods: We analyzed depicted data from existing medical records on sex, age, mechanism of injury, clinical performance at admission and discharge, neuroimaging, laboratory values at admission, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and referrals after discharge from the traumatology department for all adult patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and a year before. Variables were compared using the Chi-square or t-test between both groups.; (3) Results: Most patients had mild (n = 477), followed by moderate (11) and severe (11) TBI. Mild TBI was less frequent during the SARS-CoV-2 period (n = 174 vs. n = 303). The incidence of high falls increased during the SARS-CoV-2 period (14.5% vs. 24.7%; p < 0.05) in the group with mild TBI. Patients had similar mean Glasgow Coma Scales (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scales-Extended (GOSE), and glucose levels at admission before and during the pandemic. Serum ethanol levels were significantly lower during the SARS-CoV-2 period (1.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L vs. 0.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L; p < 0.001). At discharge, the mean GCS was significantly lower (14.7 ± 1.8 vs. 14.1 ± 0.5; p < 0.05) for patients treated during the SARS-CoV-2 period than before the SARS-CoV-2 period. There were no differences in GOSE; (4) Conclusions: our results demonstrated a significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the frequency, mechanism, and consequences of TBI, and may help improve care for our patients.
The Evolution and Developing Importance of Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Congenital Cardiac Anomalies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mamalis Marios , Bedei Ivonne , Schoennagel Bjoern , Kording Fabian , Reitz Justus G. , Wolter Aline , Schenk Johanna , Axt-Fliedner Roland
Published: November 2022

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a reliable method, with a complementary role to Ultrasound (US) Echocardiography, that can be used to fully comprehend and precisely diagnose congenital cardiac malformations. Besides the anatomical study of the fetal cardiovascular system, it allows us to study the function of the fetal heart, remaining, at the same time, a safe adjunct to the classic fetal echocardiography. MRI also allows for the investigation of cardiac and placental diseases by providing information about hematocrit, oxygen saturation, and blood flow in fetal vessels. It is crucial for fetal medicine specialists and pediatric cardiologists to closely follow the advances of fetal cardiac MRI in order to provide the best possible care. In this review, we summarize the advance in techniques and their practical utility to date.
Tear and Plasma Levels of Cytokines in Patients with Uveitis: Search for Active Disease Biomarkers
Authors: García-Onrubia Luis , Mateos Olivares Milagros , García-Vázquez Carmen , Enríquez-de-Salamanca Amalia , Cocho Lidia , Herreras Cantalapiedra José María
Published: November 2022

Uveitis accounts for up to 20% of blindness in Europe, making the development of new non-invasive biomarkers which could help in its management a field of interest. It has been hypothesised that tear levels of cytokines and chemokines could be used as a potential biomarker in patients with anterior uveitis, and this could be correlated with their concentration in plasma. Therefore, we measured twelve cytokines/chemokines in tear and plasma samples of 22 patients diagnosed with active anterior uveitis. Levels of these molecules in tears and plasma were compared and associated with the degree of activity of the uveitis. It is notable that the percentage of tear interleukin (IL)-6 detection was significantly reduced in the inactive phase (p < 0.05). However, the tear concentration in epidermal growth factor (EGF), fractalkine, IL-8, IL-1RA, interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10/CXCL10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-6, comparing the active and inactive period, was not statistically different. Apart from the tear VEGF levels, the cytokine/chemokine concentration in tears in the active/inactive phase was statistically different (p < 0.05) from the counterpart levels in plasma. In conclusion, no isolated cytokine/chemokine in the tears has been found in a concentration which could be used as a potential biomarker of disease activity and treatment response.
Study on Anhydrous Proton Conduction in Imidazole–Collagen Composite
Authors: Furuseki Tomoki , Teranishi Shotaro , Matsuo Yasumitsu
Published: November 2022

Recently, hydrogen-fuel cells have attracted attention as an environmentally friendly next-generation energy device. Very recently, biomaterials such as collagen and chitin have realized proton conductivity via water bridges under humidity condition, and the fabrication of fuel cells using biomaterials is possible. However, the fuel cell electrolyte via water has demerits, such as the complication of fuel cell instruments and the operating temperature limit. Therefore, fuel cell electrolytes without humidified conditions are desired. In the present work, we have synthesized an anhydrous proton conductor using imidazole and collagen, which are biomaterials, and investigated the anhydrous proton conductivity in imidazole–collagen composites. It was found that an imidazole–collagen composite is a high-proton conductor above 10−3 S/m and above 200 °C without the humidified condition compared with other anhydrous bio-proton conductors such as the hydroxyapatite–collagen composite. Moreover, the motional narrowing of the 1H-NMR line width reveals that the proton conductivity is realized in the temperature region from 120 to 200 °C. In addition, the DTA measurement and the impedance analyses reveal that the imidazole–collagen composite film undergoes the phase transition at 120 °C. Furthermore, the proton conductivity in the imidazole–collagen composite strongly depends on n, which is the imidazole concentration per collagen molecule and takes a maximum at n = 2.0. In addition, the proton conductivity perpendicular to the collagen fiber is approximately ten times higher than that parallel to the collagen fiber. From these results, it can be deduced that the proton conductivity in the imidazole–collagen composite is caused by breaking and rearranging the hydrogen bonds of the collagen side chain with the imidazole molecule formed between the collagen fibers.
Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Fungi Associated with Mangifera indica from Yunnan, China
Authors: Yang Er-Fu , Karunarathna Samantha C. , Dai Dong-Qin , Stephenson Steven L. , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Al-Rejaie Salim , Xiong Yin-Ru , Promputtha Itthayakorn , Samarakoon Milan C. , Tibpromma Saowaluck
Published: November 2022

During investigations of saprobic fungi associated with mango (Mangifera indica) in Baoshan and Honghe of Yunnan Province (China), fungal taxa belonging to the orders Botryosphaeriales, Calosphaeriales, Chaetothyriales, Diaporthales, and Xylariales were recorded. Morphological examinations coupled with phylogenetic analyses of multigene sequences (ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α, rpb1, rpb2, β-tubulin and CAL) were used to identify the fungal taxa. A new genus viz. Mangifericola, four new species viz. Cyphellophora hongheensis, Diaporthe hongheensis, Hypoxylon hongheensis, and Mangifericola hongheensis, four new host and geographical records viz. Aplosporella artocarpi, Hypomontagnella monticulosa, Paraeutypella citricola and Pleurostoma ootheca, and two new collections of Lasiodiplodia are reported.
Effects of Trichoderma atroviride SG3403 and Bacillus subtilis 22 on the Biocontrol of Wheat Head Blight
Authors: Liu Hongyi , Li Tingting , Li Yaqian , Wang Xinhua , Chen Jie
Published: November 2022

Wheat head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the major wheat diseases in the world; therefore, it is very significant to develop an effective and environmentally friendly microbial fungicide against it. Trichoderma atroviride and Bacillus subtilis are widely applied biocontrol microorganisms with separate advantages; however, little work has been conducted for synergistically elevating the effects of biocontrol and plant promotion through the co-cultivation of the two microorganisms. Our study demonstrated that T. atroviride SG3403 is compatible with B. subtilis 22. The co-culture metabolites contained a group of antagonistic compounds which were able to inhibit F. graminearum growth and increase the activities of pathogen G protein and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) as compared with axenic culture metabolites. Additionally, the co-culture metabolites enabled us to more significantly decrease the production of gibberellin (GA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) from F. graminearum, which disorganized the subcellular structure, particularly the cytoplasm of F. graminearum hyphae, relative to the axenically cultured metabolites. Furthermore, the seed-coating agent made by the co-culture had significant effects against F. graminearum infection by triggering the expression of host plant defensive genes, including PR1, PR3, PR4, PR5, ACS, and SOD. It is suggested that jasmonic acid and ethylene (JA/ET) signaling might dominate wheat’s induced systemic resistance (ISR) against wheat head blight. A dry, powdered bio-seed coating agent containing the co-culture mixtures was confirmed to be a bioavailable formulation that can be applied to control wheat head blight. Taken together, the co-culture’s metabolites or the metabolites and living cells might provide a basis for the further development of a new kind of microbial bio-fungicide in the future.
Exploring Cryptococcus neoformans CYP51 and Its Cognate Reductase as a Drug Target
Authors: Ruma Yasmeen N. , Keniya Mikhail V. , Monk Brian C.
Published: November 2022

Cryptococcus remains a leading cause of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised people. Resistance to azole drugs has imposed a further challenge to the effective treatment of such infections. In this study, the functional expression of full-length hexahistidine-tagged Cryptococcus neoformans CYP51 (CnCYP51-6×His), with or without its cognate hexahistidine-tagged NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CnCPR-6×His), in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae host system has been used to characterise these enzymes. The heterologous expression of CnCYP51-6×His complemented deletion of the host CYP51 and conferred increased susceptibility to both short-tailed and long-tailed azole drugs. In addition, co-expression of CnCPR-6×His decreased susceptibility 2- to 4-fold for short-tailed but not long-tailed azoles. Type 2 binding of azoles to CnCYP51-6×His and assay of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase activity confirmed that the heterologously expressed CnCYP51 and CnCPR are functional. The constructs have potential as screening tools and use in structure-directed antifungal discovery.
Texture-Based Neural Network Model for Biometric Dental Applications
Authors: Saleh Omnia , Nozaki Kosuke , Matsumura Mayuko , Yanaka Wataru , Miura Hiroyuki , Fueki Kenji
Published: November 2022

Background: The aim is to classify dentition using a novel texture-based automated convolutional neural network (CNN) for forensic and prosthetic applications. Methods: Natural human teeth (n = 600) were classified, cleaned, and inspected for exclusion criteria. The teeth were scanned with an intraoral scanner and identified using a texture-based CNN in three steps. First, through preprocessing, teeth images were segmented by extracting the front-facing region of the teeth. Then, texture features were extracted from the segmented teeth images using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) method. Finally, deep learning-based enhanced CNN models were used to identify these images. Several experiments were conducted using five different CNN models with various batch sizes and epochs, with and without augmented data. Results: Based on experiments with five different CNN models, the highest accuracy achieved was 0.8 and the precision was 0.8 with a loss value of 0.9, a batch size of 32, and 250 epochs. A comparison of deep learning models with different parameters showed varied accuracy between the different classes of teeth. Conclusion: The accuracy of the point-based CNN method was promising. This texture-identification method will pave the way for many forensic and prosthodontic applications and will potentially help improve the precision of dental biometrics.
The Presence of Psoriasis, Metabolic Syndrome and Their Combination Increases the Serum Levels of CRP and CD5L but Not sCD200R1 and sTLR2 in Participants
Authors: Holmannova Drahomira , Borsky Pavel , Andrys Ctirad , Krejsek Jan , Cermakova Eva , Fiala Zdenek , Hamakova Kvetoslava , Svadlakova Tereza , Parova Helena , Rehacek Vit , Poctova Gabriela , Borska Lenka
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are chronic inflammatory conditions associated with the dysregulation of immune system reactivity. The inflammatory processes of both diseases have not yet been fully characterized, and the evaluation of proteins/markers that could be involved in their pathogenesis is of great importance. We selected four markers: CRP, sCD200R1, CD5L, and sTLR2; in particular, sCDR2001 has not yet been measured in the context of psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: In the study, 64 controls and 43 patients with psoriasis with or without a metabolic syndrome were enrolled. The levels of selected markers were measured using ELISA kits. Results: CRP levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients, especially in the subgroup of patients with MetS compared to nonMetS patients (p < 0.01). sCD200R1 and sTLR2 were not significantly different between groups and subgroups; however, CD200R1 levels were slightly higher in both control groups compared to both groups of patients. CD5L levels were significantly higher in patients with MetS compared to nonMets patients (p < 0.02). We also evaluated the correlations between parameters in controls and patients’ groups, as well as in subgroups. Correlations between BMI and CRP were found in all groups and subgroups. Other correlations were group- and subgroup-specific. For example, in the patients’ group, CD5L correlated with sCD200R1 (p < 0.05) and in MetS controls, with age (p < 0.03). Conclusion: The results show that the presence of systemic inflammation associated with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome and their combination alters the expression of specific molecules, especially CRP and CD5L, which were significantly increased in patients with psoriasis and a metabolic syndrome compared to controls without metabolic syndromes. Correlations between CRP and BMI in all groups suggest that overweight and obesity increase the intensity of inflammation and potentiate CD5L expression. In contrast, levels of molecules that may limit inflammation were not increased in psoriasis and metabolic syndrome subjects (they were non-significantly lower compared with healthy controls), which may reflect the chronic nature of both diseases and the exhaustion of inhibitory mechanisms.
Pakistan Zoo Visitors’ Perceptions toward Zoos and Large Native Carnivores
Authors: Ali Abid , Mehmood Sehrish , Ullah Ishtiaq , Fernandez Eduardo J. , Khan Muhammad Numan , Ullah Mujeeb , Saleem Kiran , Osama Muhammad , Shahzad Fahad , Spooner Sarah L.
Published: November 2022

A primary goal of zoos is to educate their visitors about global conservation efforts. Studying visitors’ perceptions and attitudes towards captive and wild endangered species helps target conservation messaging. This is especially important in countries, such as Pakistan, where hunting and human–wildlife conflict pose the greatest threats to species. While there have been some studies about Pakistan’s rural communities’ perceptions, few studies have examined the perceptions of Pakistan’s zoo visitors. We present data from exit surveys (n = 304) collected at three of the largest zoos in Pakistan (Lahore: an established zoo, Peshawar: a newly built zoo, and Jungle Kingdom: a theme park and zoo). Zoo location was a significant predictor for a range of attitudes, suggesting that the way a zoo presents itself strongly impacts visitor perceptions. Perceptions of learning were influenced by high biodiversity appreciation but a low confidence in knowledge about animals. Support for keeping animals in captivity was most likely when animal welfare was perceived as good and amongst respondents who valued biodiversity. Zoo-goers, regardless of location, demonstrated high levels of interest in animals and environmental concerns. However, the primary visit motivator was spending time with family and friends.
Quantifying the Impact of Urban Sprawl on Green Total Factor Productivity in China: Based on Satellite Observation Data and Spatial Econometric Models
Authors: Jiang Lei , Chen Yuan , Zha Hui , Zhang Bo , Cui Yuanzheng
Published: November 2022

Worsening environmental effects caused by the rapid large-scale urban expansion in most Chinese cities is a worrying trend. In response, China is advocating an economic transition from rapid (raw growth) to a high-quality development model that incorporates negative environmental consequences. Green total factor productivity (GTFP) is regarded as one of the important approaches for measuring high-quality development. Hence, the aim of this research is to quantify the impact of urban sprawl on GTFP using remote sensing data and spatial econometric models. The primary findings of this study are as follows. (1) The urban sprawl index presents a decreasing trend from 2005 to 2016, indicating that urbanization has slowed; (2) The GTFP scores of Chinese cities are not randomly distributed and thus present significant spatial spillovers; and (3) The results of spatial lag models reveal that spatial spillover of GTFP is significant and positive. In other words, increases in GTFP in neighboring cities promotes GTFP improvements in nearby cities. We also find that the impact of urban sprawl on GTFP is significant and negative, indicating that rapid urban expansion is a contributor to decreased GTFP growth in China. Moreover, urban sprawl has a negative effect on technical change and efficiency change. The main findings can provide policy makers in Chinese cities with scientific foundations to design and implement effective measures to improve GTFP.
Metagenomic Characterization of Multiple Genetically Modified Bacillus Contaminations in Commercial Microbial Fermentation Products
Authors: D’aes Jolien , Fraiture Marie-Alice , Bogaerts Bert , De Keersmaecker Sigrid C. J. , Roosens Nancy H. C. J. , Vanneste Kevin
Published: November 2022

Genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) are frequently employed for manufacturing microbial fermentation products such as food enzymes or vitamins. Although the fermentation product is required to be pure, GMM contaminations have repeatedly been reported in numerous commercial microbial fermentation produce types, leading to several rapid alerts at the European level. The aim of this study was to investigate the added value of shotgun metagenomic high-throughput sequencing to confirm and extend the results of classical analysis methods for the genomic characterization of unauthorized GMM. By combining short- and long-read metagenomic sequencing, two transgenic constructs were characterized, with insertions of alpha-amylase genes originating from B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis, respectively, and a transgenic construct with a protease gene insertion originating from B. velezensis, which were all present in all four investigated samples. Additionally, the samples were contaminated with up to three unculturable Bacillus strains, carrying genetic modifications that may hamper their ability to sporulate. Moreover, several samples contained viable Bacillus strains. Altogether these contaminations constitute a considerable load of antimicrobial resistance genes, that may represent a potential public health risk. In conclusion, our study showcases the added value of metagenomics to investigate the quality and safety of complex commercial microbial fermentation products.