bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the relationship between physical and mental health conditions and gambling in England and Scotland
Authors: Taylor Isabel , Wardle Heather , Stoker Ben , Taylor Bea
Published: May 2021

This report examines the relationship between mental and physical health and gambling. The report focuses on adults aged 16 years and older in England and Scotland. The report also examined links between smoking and alcohol use and gambling. Samples were gathered from the 2012, 2015, and 2016 Gambling in England and Scotland Combined Data from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey datasets. The report found that people with mental health conditions were more likely to experience problem gambling if they gambled. As well, smoking was linked to risks of problem gambling.
DETERMINATION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY OF CLINICAL STRAINS OF S. AUREUS EXTRACTED FROM LOCUS MORBI AND OTHER BIOTOPES IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS
Authors:   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Dzhoraeva S.K. , Goncharenko V.V. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Shcherbakova Yu.V. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Shchogolyeva O.V. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine»
Published: May 2021

The objective: the study of genetic affinity of S. aureus strains isolated from patients with AD Materials and methods. Genetic variability of the 79 S. aureus isolates was evaluated according to the results of the RAPD-PCR study. Results. It was revealed a generally high genetic polymorphism of S. aureus. It was established that with an increase in the severity of АD, the monotypism of pathogen isolates grows (p ≤ 0,05) from three different genetic clusters in patients with AD with a mild disease course to only one cluster with a severe disease course. A high level of genetic affinity was established between S. aureus strains isolated from different biotopes from the same patients, which for strains isolated from the nasal mucosa and from locus morbi reached (79,5 ± 1,6)%, and for strains isolated from intact and affected skin are as increased from (75,1 ± 4,4)% to (98,8 ± 0,8)% in parallel with the increase in the severity of the disease course in patients with AD from mild to severe forms, respectively (p ≤ 0,05). Conclusions. Both the generally high genetic polymorphism of S. aureus strains isolated from allergodermatosеs patients and the high affinity of isolates from different biotopes of the same patient, justify the auto-origin of the strains of staphylococci colonizing locus morbi.
EFFICACY OF PIOGLITAZONE APPLICATION IN COMPLEX TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS PATIENTS WITH ACCOMPANYING ALIMENTARY OBESITY
Authors:   Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy, Emchenko Ya.A. , Ischejkin K.E. ,   Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy, Kaidashev I.P. ,   Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy
Published: May 2021

Relevance. Psoriasis is the common chronic genetically determined autoimmune polyetiological inflammatory disease with impaired epidermal proliferation, provoked by exogenous and endogenous factors, and manifested by erythematous and scaly elements, papules and plaques. Despite the significant prevalence of psoriasis and a large number of studies on this problem, there is still no single view on the pathogenesis of this dermatosis. To objectively understand the pathogenesis of psoriasis, it is necessary to take into account the insufficiently studied comorbidity of this pathology. Recently, an indisputable link between psoriasis and obesity has been proven. The scientific literature widely covers the issue of identical pathogenetic mechanisms of inflammatory processes in psoriasis and obesity. Given the current data on the role of systemic inflammation underlying the development of both psoriasis and obesity, the study of molecular mechanisms of its development and taking into account the role of proinflammatory nuclear transcription factors, thiazolidinediones are the pathogenetically justified drugs of choice for treatment of these diseases. The objective. To determine the effectiveness of the use of 45 mg of pioglitazone 1 time per day for 26 weeks in the complex treatment of patients with widespread psoriasis vulgaris of moderate severity with concomitant alimentary obesity of I–II degrees. Materials and research methods. Clinical and immunological studies of indicators of systemic inflammation. Results. the use of 45 mg pioglitazone for 26 weeks led to a decrease in systemic inflammation in terms of IL-33 by 83.7%, IL-6 by 72%, uch-CRP by 76.8% and the PASI index by 46.8% with repeated relapse diseases. Conclusions. Long-term use of 45 mg of pioglitazone in the complex treatment of patients with widespread psoriasis vulgaris of moderate severity with concomitant alimentary obesity of I–II degrees proved to be effective and contributed to a milder course of psoriasis with repeated relapse of the disease.
SKIN MANIFESTATIONS OF NEW CORONAVIRAL INFECTION COVID-19 CAUSED BY SARS-COV-2
Authors:   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Kutasevych Ya.F. , Oliinyk I.O. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Mashtakova I.O. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Namli I.E. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine», Vitkovska M.O. ,   SE «Institute of Dermatology and Venereology of NAMS of Ukraine»
Published: May 2021

The objective is to analyze skin lesions associated with coronavirus infection. Results. Based on literature data and clinical experience, the article presents the clinical and epidemiological features of skin lesions associated with coronavirus infection. Conclusions. Thus, the awareness of doctors about the skin symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection is critical to prevent misdiagnosis and timely adequate treatment.
The Baroque Era (From the Mid-16th to the Mid-18th Century). Collisions of Contrasts (conclusion)
Authors:   Saratov State L.V. Sobinov Conservatory, Demchenko Alexander I.
Published: May 2021

The essence of the cycle of essays published by the journal is that it provides with a maximal compactness of presentation a summary of the chief phenomena of world artistic culture, covered in general both from the point of view of the overall historical process and in relation to various types of artistic creativity (literature, the visual arts, architecture, music, theater and cinema). At the same time, the customary categorization according to national schools and the division into the separate arts with the genre specifi cation inherent in each of them is overcome, which meets the positive tendencies of globalization and provides a holistic view of artistic phenomena.
Naturalism in the Painting of the Leiden School and its Chief Representatives
Authors:   Saint Petersburg University, Sijia Liu
Published: May 2021

The article is devoted to Dutch art — the Leiden School in Holland in the 17th century. The author analyzes the defi nition, particularities and the theoretic foundations of the characteristics and the artistic legacy of the painters — the representatives of the Leiden school and also demonstrates the close connection between naturalism and the particularities of the paintings of the school’s adherents and the uniqueness of the works by such masters as Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Gerrit Dou and Frans van Mieris the Elder.
Retired Chinese Workers, Musical Education, and Participant-Observation in The Beijing Sunshine Wind Band Art Troupe
Authors:   College of Staten Island — City University of New York, Kaminski Joseph S.
Published: May 2021

The Beijing Sunshine Wind Band performs in community concerts in Beijing year round. The band began in 2007, founded by Lin Yi and her husband Zhao Yinglin. Lin Yi underwent cancer surgery in 1995 and recovered to form the band of around 100 retirees. Members begin musical training in retirement, and as adult learners practice hours gaining musical profi ciency. The music is Chinese and in jianpu numerical notation, but all of their instruments are Western woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The band performs at national events, museums and libraries, and toured Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau. Concert bands are civilian versions of military bands. Their marches include “The People’s Liberation Army March,” and lyrical songs such as “My Country” from a 1956 fi lm. Their performances draw revolutionary sentiments in suites such as The Red Detachment of Women, and the band performs songs from post-Mao decades, such as “Dare to Ask the Way,” from the television series Journey to the West. Trevor Herbert stated that concert bands serve communities as “rational recreation.” The goal of this article is show how a Chinese national concert band reached and created healthy lifestyles for retired workers recovering from cancer and other disabilities.
“Computer Arrangement”. Program of the Discipline for Visually Impaired Students
Authors:   Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Morozov Sergey A.
Published: May 2021

The article is devoted to the issues of instruction of computer arrangement to students with strong vision impairment. The author of the publication has developed the original methodology discussed in the article which refl ects the content-based and practical elements of the process of instructing music students with vision impairment the discipline of “Computer Musical Arrangement” at the Kursk Musical Boarding College for the Blind. The special conditions for realizing the process of instruction of the course of “Computer Musical Arrangement” adapted for blind and partially sighted, as well as the methodological recommendations compiled for the instructors who carry out the educational process in the specialized musical boarding college comprise the crucial moments of the research carried out by the author. The results of the work expounded in the article elucidate the paths for solving the problem connected with the search for new educational methodologies conducive to the process of rehabilitating invalid students with serious vision impairments, as well as the problems of their social adaptation in the cotemporary highly technological educational and artistic musical space.
The Musical Oeuvres of Alfred G. Schnittke
Authors:   Saratov State L.V. Sobinov Conservatory, Demchenko Alexander I.
Published: May 2021

The previous issues of the journal featured publications of lectures about such outstanding 20th century Russian composers as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofi ev, Nikolai Myaskovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Aram Khachaturian, Georgy Sviridov, and Rodion Shchedrin. This series is being continued with a lecture about the music of Alfred G. Schnittke. The fi rst part of the lecture (“National ‘Fermentations’ and Early Works”) examines the questions of the genesis of the composer’s personality and the initial stage of his artistic formation with a drastic reorientation from a traditional style to avant-garde experiment. The second part (“The Middle Period”) is devoted to Schnittke’s explorations in the direction of contacts with wide audiences, which went along various lines of democratization of his artistic approach. The conclusive part (“The Late Style”) is directed towards the composer’s immense contribution to the formation of the stylistic realities of the Postmodern aesthetics. During the course of the lecture’s exposition fragments of musical compositions are offered with recommended performances of them, in their sum providing a perception of the most substantial sides of Alfred G. Schnittke’s musical output.
Quality Assurance for Operating Room Illumination through Lean Six Sigma
Authors: Ozturkoglu Yucel , Kazancoglu Yigit , Sagnak Muhittin , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo
Published: May 2021

Since every mistake made in the healthcare industry can cause permanent harm or even death, some fundamental requirements should be considered when planning and designing operating rooms. Lighting is one of the most important ergonomic factors, especially for operating rooms. This paper investigates the integration of the lean approach and six sigma in measuring the efficiency of LED technology, which can also be regarded as a factor affecting the operating room efficiency. Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gage Control methods were applied to determine measurement variability in operating room illumination measurement process. Repeatability and reproducibility (%R&R) was found 12.89%. After calibration, %R&R value was found 8.21%, which implies that calibration helped reduce variability.
Do Early-Life Conditions Drive Variation in Senescence of Female Bighorn Sheep?
Authors: Pigeon Gabriel , Landes Julie , Festa-Bianchet Marco , Pelletier Fanie
Published: May 2021

The rate of senescence may vary among individuals of a species according to individual life histories and environmental conditions. According to the principle of allocation, changes in mortality driven by environmental conditions influence how organisms allocate resources among costly functions. In several vertebrates, environmental conditions during early life impose trade-offs in allocation between early reproduction and maintenance. The effects of conditions experienced during early life on senescence, however, remain poorly documented in wild populations. We examined how several early-life environmental conditions affected reproductive and survival senescence in wild bighorn sheep. We found long-term effects of high population density at birth, precipitations during the winter before birth, and temperature during the winter following birth that decreased survival after 7 years of age. High temperature during the first summer and autumn of life and high Pacific decadal oscillation decreased reproductive success at old ages. However, harsh early-life environment did not influence the rate of senescence in either survival or reproduction. Contrary to our expectation, we found no trade-off between reproductive allocation prior to senescence and senescence. Our results do show that early-life environmental conditions are important drivers of later survival and reproductive success and contribute to intra-specific variation in late-life fitness, but not aging patterns. These conditions should therefore be considered when studying the mechanisms of senescence and the determinants of variation in both survival and reproductive senescence at older ages.
Diagnostic Biomarker Hsa_circ_0126218 and Functioning Prediction in Peripheral Blood Monocular Cells of Female Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Bu Tianyi , Qiao Zhengxue , Wang Wenbo , Yang Xiuxian , Zhou Jiawei , Chen Lu , Yang Jiarun , Xu Jia , Ji Yanping , Wang Yini , Zhang Wenxin , Yang Yanjie , Qiu Xiaohui , Yu Yunmiao
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Although major depressive diroder (MDD) has brought huge burden and challenges to society globally, effective and accurate diagnoses and treatments remain inadequate. The pathogenesis that for women are more likely to suffer from depression than men needs to be excavated as well. The function of circRNAs in pathological process of depression has not been widely investigated. This study aims to explore potential diagnostic biomarker circRNA of female patients with MDD and to investigate its role in pathogenesis.

Methods

First, an expression profile of circRNAs in the peripheral blood monocular cells of MDD patients and healthy peripherals were established based on high-throughput sequencing analysis. In addition, the top 10 differentially expressed circRNAs were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR to explore diagnostic biomarkers. To further investigate the function of biomarkers in the pathogenesis of MDD, bioinformatics analysis on downstream target genes of the biomarkers was carried out.

Results

There is a mass of dysregulated circRNAs in PBMCs between female MDD patients and healthy controls. Among the top 10 differentially expressed circRNAs, hsa_circ_0126218 is more feasible as a diagnostic biomarker. The expression level of hsa_circ_0126218 displayed upregulation in patients with MDD and the area under the operating characteristic curve of hsa_circ_0126218 was 0.801 (95% CI 0.7226–0.8791, p < 0.0001). To explain the competing endogenous RNA role of hsa_circ_0126218 in the pathogenesis of female MDD, a hsa_circ_0126218-miRNA-mRNA network was established. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses stated that some of the enriched pathways downstream of hsa_circ_0126218 are closely related to MDD. Moreover, we established a protein-protein network to further screen out the hub genes (PIK3CA, PTEN, MAPK1, CDC42, Lyn, YES1, EPHB2, SMAD2, STAT1, and ILK). The function of hsa_circ_0126218 was refined by constructing a verified circRNA-predicted miRNA-hub gene subnetwork.

Conclusion

hsa_circ_0126218 can be considered as a new female MDD biomarker, and the pathogenesis of female MDD by the downstream regulation of hsa_circ_0126218 has been predicted. These findings may help further improve the early detection, effective diagnosis, convenient monitoring of complications, precise treatment, and timely recurrence prevention of depression.
Endoplasmic Reticulum–Mitochondria Contact Sites—Emerging Intracellular Signaling Hubs
Authors: Aoyama-Ishiwatari Saeko , Hirabayashi Yusuke
Published: May 2021

It has become apparent that our textbook illustration of singular isolated organelles is obsolete. In reality, organelles form complex cooperative networks involving various types of organelles. Light microscopic and ultrastructural studies have revealed that mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCSs) are abundant in various tissues and cell types. Indeed, MERCSs have been proposed to play critical roles in various biochemical and signaling functions such as Ca2+ homeostasis, lipid transfer, and regulation of organelle dynamics. While numerous proteins involved in these MERCS-dependent functions have been reported, how they coordinate and cooperate with each other has not yet been elucidated. In this review, we summarize the functions of mammalian proteins that localize at MERCSs and regulate their formation. We also discuss potential roles of the MERCS proteins in regulating multiple organelle contacts.
Current Advancements in Sactipeptide Natural Products
Authors: Chen Yunliang , Wang Jinxiu , Li Guoquan , Yang Yunpeng , Ding Wei
Published: May 2021

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a growing class of natural products that benefited from genome sequencing technology in the past two decades. RiPPs are widely distributed in nature and show diverse chemical structures and rich biological activities. Despite the various structural characteristic of RiPPs, they follow a common biosynthetic logic: a precursor peptide containing an N-terminal leader peptide and a C-terminal core peptide; in some cases,a follower peptide is after the core peptide. The precursor peptide undergoes a series of modification, transport, and cleavage steps to form a mature natural product with specific activities. Sactipeptides (Sulfur-to-alpha carbon thioether cross-linked peptides) belong to RiPPs that show various biological activities such as antibacterial, spermicidal and hemolytic properties. Their common hallmark is an intramolecular thioether bond that crosslinks the sulfur atom of a cysteine residue to the α-carbon of an acceptor amino acid, which is catalyzed by a rSAM enzyme. This review summarizes recent achievements concerning the discovery, distribution, structural elucidation, biosynthesis and application prospects of sactipeptides.
A Redox Cu(II)-Graphene Oxide Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode as a Cost-Effective and Versatile Sensing Platform for Electrochemical Label-Free Immunosensor and Non-enzymatic Glucose Sensor
Authors: Phetsang Sopit , Khwannimit Duangruedee , Rattanakit Parawee , Chanlek Narong , Kidkhunthod Pinit , Mungkornasawakul Pitchaya , Jakmunee Jaroon , Ounnunkad Kontad
Published: May 2021

A novel copper (II) ions [Cu(II)]-graphene oxide (GO) nanocomplex-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) is successfully developed as a versatile electrochemical platform for construction of sensors without an additionally external redox probe. A simple strategy to prepare the redox GO-modified SPCE is described. Such redox GO based on adsorbed Cu(II) is prepared by incubation of GO-modified SPCE in the Cu(II) solution. This work demonstrates the fabrications of two kinds of electrochemical sensors, i.e., a new label-free electrochemical immunosensor and non-enzymatic sensor for detections of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and glucose, respectively. Our immunosensor based on square-wave voltammetry (SWV) of the redox GO-modified electrode shows the linearity in a dynamic range of 1.0–500 pg.mL−1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.20 pg.mL−1 for the detection of IgG while non-enzymatic sensor reveals two dynamic ranges of 0.10–1.00 mM (sensitivity = 36.31 μA.mM−1.cm−2) and 1.00–12.50 mM (sensitivity = 3.85 μA.mM−1.cm−2) with a LOD value of 0.12 mM. The novel redox Cu(II)-GO composite electrode is a promising candidate for clinical research and diagnosis.
Triazole-Modified Peptidomimetics: An Opportunity for Drug Discovery and Development
Authors: Staśkiewicz Agnieszka , Ledwoń Patrycja , Rovero Paolo , Papini Anna Maria , Latajka Rafal
Published: May 2021

Peptidomimetics play a fundamental role in drug design due to their preferential properties regarding natural peptides. In particular, compounds possessing nitrogen-containing heterocycles have been intensively studied in recent years. The triazolyl moiety incorporation decreases the molecule susceptibility to enzymatic degradation, reduction, hydrolysis, and oxidation. In fact, peptides containing triazole rings are a typical example of peptidomimetics. They have all the advantages over classic peptides. Both efficient synthetic methods and biological activity make these systems an interesting and promising object of research. Peptide triazole derivatives display a diversity of biological properties and can be obtained via numerous synthetic strategies. In this review, we have highlighted the importance of the triazole-modified peptidomimetics in the field of drug design. We present an overview on new achievements in triazolyl-containing peptidomimetics synthesis and their biological activity as inhibitors of enzymes or against cancer, viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The relevance of above-mentioned compounds was confirmed by their comparison with unmodified peptides.
Plasma Protein Layer Concealment Protects Streptococcus pyogenes From Innate Immune Attack
Authors: Jagau Hilger , Packirisamy Swathi , Brandon Kyle , Herwald Heiko
Published: May 2021

Early recognition and elimination of invading pathogens by the innate immune system, is one of the most efficient host defense mechanisms preventing the induction of systemic complications from infection. To this end the host can mobilize endogenous antimicrobials capable of killing the intruder by perforating the microbial cell wall. Here, we show that Streptococcus pyogenes can shield its outer surface with a layer of plasma proteins. This mechanism protects the bacteria from an otherwise lytic attack by LL-37 and extracellular histones, allowing the bacteria to adjust their gene regulation to an otherwise hostile environment.
Reading About Us and Them: Moral but no Minimal Group Effects on Language-Induced Emotion
Authors: 't Hart Björn , Struiksma Marijn , van Boxtel Anton , van Berkum Jos J. A.
Published: May 2021

Many of our everyday emotional responses are triggered by language, and a full understanding of how people use language therefore also requires an analysis of how words elicit emotion as they are heard or read. We report a facial electromyography experiment in which we recorded corrugator supercilii, or “frowning muscle”, activity to assess how readers processed emotion-describing language in moral and minimal in/outgroup contexts. Participants read sentence-initial phrases like “Mark is angry” or “Mark is happy” after descriptions that defined the character at hand as a good person, a bad person, a member of a minimal ingroup, or a member of a minimal outgroup (realizing the latter two by classifying participants as personality “type P” and having them read about characters of “type P” or “type O”). As in our earlier work, moral group status of the character clearly modulated how readers responded to descriptions of character emotions, with more frowning to “Mark is angry” than to “Mark is happy” when the character had previously been described as morally good, butnotwhen the character had been described as morally bad. Minimal group status, however, did not matter to how the critical phrases were processed, with more frowning to “Mark is angry” than to “Mark is happy” across the board. Our morality-based findings are compatible with a model in which readers use their emotion systems to simultaneously simulate a character’s emotion and evaluate that emotion against their own social standards. The minimal-group result does not contradict this model, but also does not provide new evidence for it.
Active Gap Filling and Island Constraint in Processing the Mandarin “Gap-Type” Topic Structure
Authors: Dong Zhiyin , Rhodes Ryan , Hestvik Arild
Published: May 2021

There is a long-standing debate concerning whether Mandarin topic constructions are movement-derived and form a filler-gap dependency like the English-type topicalization. This ERP study explores this issue by testing whether island constraints, a diagnostic for movement, are actively observed during online processing of the Mandarin “gap-type” topic construction, an understudied area in Mandarin sentence processing research. Following the paradigm of Traxler and Pickering's 1996 study, we manipulated islandhood (relative clause island conditions vs. no island conditions) and plausibility, or whether the topic is a plausible object of the potential subcategorizing verb based on animacy fit (i.e., “greet a teacher” vs. “greet a file”) in a 2 × 2 design. We predict that any plausibility effect obtained for the non-island conditions would disappear for the island conditions if the parser observes the island constraint and avoids positing gaps inside an island. we observed a P600-previously found for animacy violations-for the non-island conditions but not for the island conditions. Additionally, we found a positive-going component occurring from 588 to 792 ms at the fronto-central site for the island condition at the potential gap site. While this novel ERP's interpretation is yet to be determined, it is unlikely to indicate any plausibility effect. Our findings suggest that the parser is sensitive to island constraints in online processing of the Mandarin “gap-type” topic structure, and lend support to the movement analysis for Mandarin topicalization.
The Value of Blood Urea Nitrogen in the Prediction of Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in an Older Population
Authors: Lan Qin , Zheng Liang , Zhou Xiaohui , Wu Hong , Buys Nicholas , Liu Zhongmin , Sun Jing , Fan Huimin
Published: May 2021

Background: High blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cardiac disease risks. However, no study has explored whether BUN can predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the healthy older population. This study aims to explore the incidence and risk factors of CVD among a healthy older population community in China.

Design and Methods: This study was designed as a cohort study with a 4-year follow-up. We recruited 5,000 older people among 137,625 residents of the Gaohang community. In the baseline, subjects were asked to participate in medical screening and biological tests, and answered survey questions. During the follow-up period (2014–2017), the researchers regularly tested the subjects' indicators and assessment scales. We monitored the occurrence of CVD and explored the relationship between BUN and CVD via a Cox regression analysis.

Results: During the follow-up, subjects were newly diagnosed with CVD including heart failure (HF), heart disease events, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and kidney disease. The Cox regression analysis found an association between baseline BUN and incident CVD in female subjects, with higher BUN associated with increased risk of AF in females and kidney disease in both male and females. No association was found between BUN and CVD in male subjects.

Conclusions: Current results indicate that BUN is a valuable predictive biomarker of CVD. A higher BUN level (>13.51 mg/dL) is associated with an increased occurrence of HF but a decreased occurrence of diabetes and metabolic symptoms in normal older females.
Regulatory T Cell-Related Gene Biomarkers in the Deterioration of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Xia Meng , Wu Qingmeng , Chen Pengfei , Qian Cheng
Published: May 2021

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have shown to be protective against the development of atherosclerosis, a major pathological cause for cardiovascular events. Here, we aim to explore the roles of Tregs-related genes in atherosclerosis deterioration.

Methods and Results: We downloaded the gene expression profile of 29 atherosclerotic samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus database with an accession number of GSE28829. The abundance of Tregs estimated by the CIBERSORT algorithm was negatively correlated with the atherosclerotic stage. Using the limma test and correlation analysis, a total of 159 differentially expressed Tregs-related genes (DETregRGs) between early and advanced atherosclerotic plaques were documented. Functional annotation analysis using the DAVID tool indicated that the DETregRGs were mainly enriched in inflammatory responses, immune-related mechanisms, and pathways such as complement and coagulation cascades, platelet activation, leukocyte trans-endothelial migration, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and so on. A protein-protein interaction network of the DETregRGs was then constructed, and five hub genes (PTPRC, C3AR1, CD53, TLR2, and CCR1) were derived from the network with node degrees ≥20. The expression patterns of these hub DETregRGs were further validated in several independent datasets. Finally, a single sample scoring method was used to build a gene signature for the five DETregRGs, which could distinguish patients with myocardial infarction from those with stable coronary disease.

Conclusion: The results of this study will improve our understanding about the Tregs-associated molecular mechanisms in the progression of atherosclerosis and facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers for acute cardiovascular events.
The Relationship of Dehydration and Body Mass Index With the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Chuda Anna , Kaszkowiak Marcin , Banach Maciej , Maciejewski Marek , Bielecka-Dabrowa Agata
Published: May 2021

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship of dehydration, body mass index (BMI) and other indices with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: The study included 113 patients [median age 64 years; 57.52% male] hospitalized due to HF. Baseline demographics, body mass analysis, echocardiographic results, key cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters, 6 min walk distance (6MWD) and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score were assessed.

Results: Of all patients, 23 (20.35%) had AF, and 90 (79.65%) had sinus rhythm (SR). Patients with AF were older (med. 66 vs. 64 years; p = 0.039), with higher BMI (32.02 vs. 28.51 kg/m2; p = 0.017) and percentage of fat content (37.0 vs. 27.9%, p = 0.014). They were more dehydrated, with a lower percentage of total body water (TBW%) (45.7 vs. 50.0%; p = 0.022). Clinically, patients with AF had more often higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (III vs. II; p < 0.001), shorter 6MWD (median 292.35 vs. 378.4 m; p = 0.001) and a lower KCCQ overall summary score (52.60 vs. 73.96 points; p = 0.002). Patients with AF had significantly lower exercise capacity as measured by peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) (0.92 vs. 1.26 mL/min, p = 0.016), peak VO2/kg (11 vs. 15 mL/kg/min; p < 0.001), and percentage of predicted VO2max (pp-peak VO2) (62.5 vs 70.0; p=0.010). We also found VE/VCO2 (med. 33.85 vs. 32.20; p = 0.049) to be higher and peak oxygen pulse (8.5 vs. 11 mL/beat; p = 0.038) to be lower in patients with AF than in patients without AF. In a multiple logistic regression model higher BMI (OR 1.23 per unit increase, p < 0.001) and higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) (OR 1.07 per unit increase, p = 0.03), lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (OR 0.74 per unit increase, p =0.03) and lower TBW% in body mass analysis (OR 0.90 per unit increase, p =0.03) were independently related to AF in patients with HF.

Conclusion: Increased volume of left atrium and right ventricular systolic dysfunction are well-known predictors of AF occurrence in patients with HF, but hydration status and increased body mass also seem to be important factors of AF in HF patients.
Geodynamic Setting and Cu-Ni Potential of Late Permian Xiwanggou Mafic-Ultramafic Rocks, East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, NW China
Authors: Zhang Jiandong , Yu Miao , Wang Hui , Li Bin , Feng Chengyou , Dick J. M. , Li Jinchao , Kong Huilei , Zhao Zhiyi
Published: May 2021

Several magmatic Cu–Ni sulfide deposits have recently been explored along the deep Middle Kunlun fault related to the extension of the East Kunlun orogenic belt in Qinghai Province, NW China. The Xiwanggou mafic–ultramafic rocks associated with Cu–Ni sulfide mineralization are first to be dated as late Permian compared to most of the deposits formed during late Silurian–early Devonian in this region. The Xiwanggou complexes located in the junction area between the East Kunlun and West Qinling belts, are composed of gabbros, olivine-gabbros, pyroxenites, olivine-pyroxenites, and peridotites. The Cu–Ni mineralization are mainly hosted in the olivine-pyroxenites and pyroxenites, whereas the sulfide-poor mineralization distributed in gabbros and olivine-gabbros. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of the gabbro and olivine-pyroxenite revealed their crystallized ages of 250.8 ± 0.8 Ma and 257.3 ± 0.7 Ma, respectively. The trace element characteristics of the Xiwanggou fertile mafic-ultramafic rocks shows the enrichments in Sr, Rb, Th, Ba and light rare earth elements, and depletions in Nb and Ta, which are associated with the slab derived fluid input and dehydration melting of amphiboles. Meanwhile, Sr–Nd and Hf isotopic compositions of the gabbro [εNd(t) = 0.66–1.18; εHf(t) = 5.2–12] and olivine-pyroxenite [εNd(t) = −1.09 – −0.43; εHf(t) = 5.4–17.7] show that the magma was mainly derived from the metasomatized portions of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) source in the mantle wedge. The magma primarily experienced dehydration melting processes of amphiboles and subsequently underwent hydrated melting in the overlying mantle wedge and relatively reduced background. The cool subduction process of the Anemaqen oceanic lithosphere maybe trigger large melting in the mantle wedge resulting in a relative low-Ni content in the melt. The transpressional windows formed by the right-lateral strike-slip shearing action of the Wenquan and South Kunlun faults in the South Kunlun forearc belt created a significant conduit for the magma ascending. The thermometer of Fe and Ni exchange between coexisting olivine and sulfide melt indicates the magma were yielded in a temperature range of ca. 1200–1300°C and an oxygen fugacity range of ca. –10.57 to –8.98 (log unit), which suggested that the parental magma of the Xiwanggou complex derived from a relatively reduced source favoring Ni relative to Fe in the melt. The intermediate sulfide segregation from the melt resulted in a medium tenor potential for the Xiwanggou complex.
Non-Coding RNAs and Extracellular Vehicles: Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Tie-Ning , Wang Wei , Huang Xin-Mei , Gao Shan-Yan
Published: May 2021

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. GDM has a considerable impact on health outcomes of the mother and offspring during pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. Although the exact mechanism regarding GDM remains unclear, numerous studies have suggested that non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding (lnc)RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs, were involved in the pathogenesis of GDM in which they played vital regulatory roles. Additionally, several studies have revealed that extracellular vehicles also participated in the pathogenesis of GDM, highlighting their important role in this disease. Considering the lack of effective biomarkers for the early identification of and specific treatment for GDM, non-coding RNAs and extracellular vehicles may be promising biomarkers and even targets for GDM therapies. This review provides an update on our understanding of the role of non-coding RNAs and extracellular vehicles in GDM. As our understanding of the function of lncRNAs and extracellular vehicles improves, the future appears promising for their use as potential biomarkers and treatment targets for GDM in clinical practice.
Levothyroxine Treatment and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older People With Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Pooled Individual Results of Two Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Zijlstra Laurien E. , Jukema J. Wouter , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Du Puy Robert S. , Poortvliet Rosalinde K. E. , Kearney Patricia M. , O’Keeffe Linda , Dekkers Olaf M. , Blum Manuel R. , Rodondi Nicolas , Collet Tinh-Hai , Quinn Terence J. , Sattar Naveed , Stott David J. , Trompet Stella , den Elzen Wendy P. J. , Gussekloo Jacobijn , Mooijaart Simon P.
Published: May 2021

Background

The cardiovascular effects of treating older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are uncertain. Although concerns have been raised regarding a potential increase in cardiovascular side effects from thyroid hormone replacement, undertreatment may also increase the risk of cardiovascular events, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective

To determine the effects of levothyroxine treatment on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults with SCH.

Methods

Combined data of two parallel randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials TRUST (Thyroid hormone Replacement for Untreated older adults with Subclinical hypothyroidism – a randomised placebo controlled Trial) and IEMO80+ (the Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age 80-plus thyroid trial) were analysed as one-stage individual participant data. Participants aged ≥65 years for TRUST (n=737) and ≥80 years for IEMO80+ (n=105) with SCH, defined by elevated TSH with fT4 within the reference range, were included. Participants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or levothyroxine, with titration of the dose until TSH level was within the reference range. Cardiovascular events and cardiovascular side effects of overtreatment (new-onset atrial fibrillation and heart failure) were investigated, including stratified analyses according to CVD history and age.

Results

The median [IQR] age was 75.0 [69.7–81.1] years, and 448 participants (53.2%) were women. The mean TSH was 6.38± SD 5.7 mIU/L at baseline and decreased at 1 year to 5.66 ± 3.3 mIU/L in the placebo group, compared with 3.66 ± 2.1 mIU/L in the levothyroxine group (p<0.001), at a median dose of 50 μg. Levothyroxine did not significantly change the risk of any of the prespecified cardiovascular outcomes, including cardiovascular events (HR 0.74 [0.41–1.25]), atrial fibrillation (HR 0.69 [0.32–1.52]), or heart failure (0.41 [0.13–1.35]), or all-cause mortality (HR 1.28 [0.54–3.03]), irrespective of history of CVD and age.

Conclusion

Treatment with levothyroxine did not significantly change the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, irrespective of a history of cardiovascular disease and age.

Clinical Trial Registration

[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT01660126] (TRUST); Netherlands Trial Register: NTR3851 (IEMO80+).
Effects of Window Films in Thermo-Solar Properties of Office Buildings in Hot-Arid Climates
Authors: Sedaghat Ahmad , Abbas Oloomi Seyed Amir , Malayer Mahdi Ashtian , Alkhatib Fadi , Sabri Farhad , Sabati Mohammad , Salem Hayder , Zafar Waqar Jan , Mostafaeipour Ali , Issakhov Alibek , Jahangiri Mehdi , Techato Kuaanan , Chowdhury Shahariar
Published: May 2021

The electricity consumption in residential/office buildings corresponded to 45% of the total annual electricity demand in hot-arid climates. This accounted for 27.2 TWh of electricity consumption with 14.2 MWh/capita/year in Kuwait. In this research, four offices in an educational building were equipped with a meteorological data logging system using temperature, humidity, and illuminance sensors. All four offices had double-glazed windows. Moreover, two offices were equipped with two types of commercially available window films. Two million data were stored in iCloud using Wi-Fi and an Internet of Things (IoT) system for the 3 months of June, July, and August 2019. In our previous published paper in Solar Energy, the results for June 2019 were analyzed using an explicit less accurate rational PDF function. Here, histograms and temperature/humidity are analyzed more accurately by numerical kernel density estimation (KDE) functions and compared for the two offices with/without 3M Neutral 20 window films for 3 months of June, July, and August 2019. Two floors of the same building consisting of 31 offices were also modeled and simulated in Design Builder to study energy saving and CO2 footprint reduction using various window films. Two floors of the same building consisting of 31 offices were also modeled and simulated to study energy saving and CO2 footprint reduction using various window films. The results of simulations for the month of July 2019 using SOL 101 and SOL 102 window films, respectively, showed that about 250 kg and 255 kg of production of CO2 could be reduced and energy saving counted for 416 and 422 kWh. Measurements from offices with 3M Neutral 20% and 3M Neutral 70% window films for the month of July 2019 indicated that the carbon footprint could be reduced by about 82 kg and 0.43 kg and energy saving counted for 147.11 and 0.71 kWh, respectively. It was observed that an annual energy saving and CO2 footprint reduction of 2.76% could be achieved using window films in a hot-arid climate.
The GWAS Analysis of Body Size and Population Verification of Related SNPs in Hu Sheep
Authors: Jiang Junfang , Cao Yuhao , Shan Huili , Wu Jianliang , Song Xuemei , Jiang Yongqing
Published: May 2021

Body size is an important indicator of growth and health in sheep. In the present study, we performed Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to detect significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with Hu sheep’s body size. After genotyping parental (G1) and offspring (G2) generation of the nucleus herd for meat production of Hu sheep and conducting GWAS on the body height, chest circumference, body length, tail length, and tail width of the two groups, 5 SNPs associated with body height and 4 SNPs correlated with chest circumference were identified at the chromosomal significance level. No SNPs were significantly correlated to body length, tail length, and width. Four out of the 9 SNPs were found to be located within the 4 genes. KITLG and CADM2 are considered as candidate functional genes related to body height; MCTP1 and COL4A6 are candidate functional genes related to chest circumference. The 9 SNPs found in GWAS were verified using the G3 generation of the nucleus herd for meat production. Nine products were amplified around the 9 sites, and 29 SNPs were found; 3 mutation sites, G > C mutation at 134 bp downstream of s554331, T > G mutation at 19 bp upstream of s26859.1, and A > G mutation at 81 bp downstream of s26859.1, were significantly correlated to the body height. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments showed that the 3 SNPs could significantly impact dual-luciferase and gene transcription activity.
Construction of Condition-Specific Gene Regulatory Network Using Kernel Canonical Correlation Analysis
Authors: Jeong Dabin , Lim Sangsoo , Lee Sangseon , Oh Minsik , Cho Changyun , Seong Hyeju , Jung Woosuk , Kim Sun
Published: May 2021

Gene expression profile or transcriptome can represent cellular states, thus understanding gene regulation mechanisms can help understand how cells respond to external stress. Interaction between transcription factor (TF) and target gene (TG) is one of the representative regulatory mechanisms in cells. In this paper, we present a novel computational method to construct condition-specific transcriptional networks from transcriptome data. Regulatory interaction between TFs and TGs is very complex, specifically multiple-to-multiple relations. Experimental data from TF Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing is useful but produces one-to-multiple relations between TF and TGs. On the other hand, co-expression networks of genes can be useful for constructing condition transcriptional networks, but there are many false positive relations in co-expression networks. In this paper, we propose a novel method to construct a condition-specific and combinatorial transcriptional network, applying kernel canonical correlation analysis (kernel CCA) to identify multiple-to-multiple TF–TG relations in certain biological condition. Kernel CCA is a well-established statistical method for computing the correlation of a group of features vs. another group of features. We, therefore, employed kernel CCA to embed TFs and TGs into a new space where the correlation of TFs and TGs are reflected. To demonstrate the usefulness of our network construction method, we used the blood transcriptome data for the investigation on the response to high fat diet in a human and an arabidopsis data set for the investigation on the response to cold/heat stress. Our method detected not only important regulatory interactions reported in previous studies but also novel TF–TG relations where a module of TF is regulating a module of TGs upon specific stress.