bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Where Have All the Writers Gone? Art and Vision in DeLillo’s Later Works
Authors: Barrett Laura
Published: May 2024

In Mao II (1991), acclaimed writer Bill Gray laments that “what terrorists gain, novelists lose. The degree to which they influence mass consciousness is the extent of our decline as shapers of sensibility and thought” (157). That novel also chronicles a profound anxiety about the loss of writers’ powers in the face of the increased influence of visual culture. It is significant, then, that Mao II is also the last DeLillo novel in which novelists play a central role, and by Underworld, writers in the conventional sense have all but disappeared. Words are still important, of course, but primarily embodied by the controversial improvisations of Lenny Bruce or the stylized graffiti of Moonman 157. Subsequent novels yield an even bleaker terrain for the writer who doesn’t even bother to show up. Even the spareness of DeLillo’s prose in the past twenty years suggests that the written word is obsolete. This chapter argues, however, that the writer’s role has not disappeared so much as it has been subsumed in the consciousness of the novels’ protagonists, whose perceptions of and responses to the overwhelmingly visual culture of the twenty-first century constitute the books we read.
The Polish-Lithuanian legacy of Sir Thomas More in the rediscovered plays and playbills of the eighteenth century
Authors: Rzegocka Jolanta
Published: May 2024

The life and execution of Sir Thomas More, humanist writer and Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII Tudor, has captured the imagination of both Elizabethan and Continental playwrights. The article discusses the cultural context as well as the form and structure of a 1736 playbill, Messis immortalium trophaeorum ex triumphalibus palmis, Thomae Mori cancellarii Angliae (Wrocław Ossolineum Library, XVIII – 15241. IV), originally from Zamoyski Academy; and a newly discovered 1765 manuscript play, Morus Angliae Cancellarius tragedia (Vilnius University Library, MS F3-1118), from the Jesuit College in Lwów, both from the early modern Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The article argues that specific representations of More’s life and martyrdom in the Jesuit theatre of Poland-Lithuania can be explained and analyzed in the light of the political traditions and multi-denominational religious life of the Commonwealth up to its partitions in the second half of the eighteenth century. They raise interesting questions regarding the balance of spiritual and secular concerns, and creatively link Thomas More’s story with the Commonwealth’s political culture to offer moral and ethical exemplars for the young.
The politics of Thomas More's A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation
Authors: Slack Kevin
Published: May 2024

Thomas More's early writings provide both a defense of his vocation in politics and a political theory for a Christian polity, attempting to harmonize Christendom with the best practicable political order. But More's A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation reflects upon this vocation in light of the anti-Christian political order. He uses the specter of Turkish tyranny sweeping into Hungary to reflect on the open persecution of Christians. Where other scholars have focused on the pedagogy, history, and theology of More's Dialogue, this paper focuses on its political teachings. More shows his readers the essence of political tribulation, the necessity of supplementing pagan philosophy and virtue with a distinctly Christian courage, and how the Christian citizen should behave in the face of death. The Christian's virtue is the source of his comfort and the bulwark for Christendom's final victory.
Circular economy awareness and motivations in the furniture industry: İnegöl as a microcosm of global south dynamics
Authors: Bayraktaroğlu Serkan , Soylu Hayriye Yasemin
Published: May 2024

This study examines the distinctive characteristics of circular economy (CE) transitions in the Global South with the aim of elucidating the complex dynamics. The furniture cluster in İnegöl, Türkiye, is employed as a case study. A circular economy awareness survey is employed to illustrate the current perspective of the industry. In total, 40 companies from the cluster were reached, and the results were analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Furthermore, a semi-structured interview was conducted with a key figure within the ecosystem to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers and motivations for potential CE transitions. The study’s key findings reveal that companies operating in the Global South have less awareness of the coverage of CE with applications confined to waste reduction and energy efficiency in comparison to the Global North. Additionally, new design and innovation efforts are not identified among the expected benefits related to implementing CE. This paper highlights the fact that exporting companies from the Global South may face challenges for sustaining their competitive advantage in EU markets, particularly after the 2026 Net Zero CO2 Plan due to their limited understanding of CE.
Imagining what you intend
Authors: Langland-Hassan Peter
Published: May 2024

If we are free to imagine what we choose, this is likely because our intentions determine what we are imagining.  However, in a recent article, Munro and Strohminger (2021) argue that, in some cases of imagistic imagining, our intentions do not determine what we are imagining.  They offer examples where, intuitively, a person intends to imagine one thing but, due to the causal source of the image used, imagine another.  This paper acknowledges the challenge posed by these cases while arguing on several grounds that, when present, intentions nevertheless always suffice to determine the object of one’s imaginings.  I conclude by explaining how intentions could fix the objects of episodic rememberings in much the same way as they do for imaginings, thereby bolstering the case that remembering is a kind of imagining.
MXenes-polymer nanocomposites for biomedical applications: fundamentals and future perspectives
Authors: Parajuli D.
Published: May 2024

The article discusses the promising synergy between MXenes and polymers in developing advanced nanocomposites with diverse applications in biomedicine domains. MXenes, possessing exceptional properties, are integrated into polymer matrices through various synthesis and fabrication methods. These nanocomposites find applications in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, and environmental remediation. They offer improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects in drug delivery, enhanced sensitivity and specificity in imaging and diagnostics, and effectiveness in water purification and pollutant removal. The perspective also addresses challenges like biocompatibility and toxicity, while suggesting future research directions. In totality, it highlights the transformative potential of MXenes-polymer nanocomposites in addressing critical issues across various fields.
Relationship between gut microbiota and the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review
Authors: Ma Sheng , Wang Yuping , Ji Xiaoxia , Dong Sunjuan , Wang Shengnan , Zhang Shuo , Deng Feiying , Chen Jingxian , Lin Benwei , Khan Barkat Ali , Liu Weiting , Hou Kaijian
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of gestational diabetes mellitus characterized by insulin resistance and abnormal function of pancreatic beta cells. In recent years, genomic association studies have revealed risk and susceptibility genes associated with genetic susceptibility to GDM. However, genetic predisposition cannot explain the rising global incidence of GDM, which may be related to the increased influence of environmental factors, especially the gut microbiome. Studies have shown that gut microbiota is closely related to the occurrence and development of GDM. This paper reviews the relationship between gut microbiota and the pathological mechanism of GDM, in order to better understand the role of gut microbiota in GDM, and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical application of gut microbiota in the treatment of related diseases.

Methods

The current research results on the interaction between GDM and gut microbiota were collected and analyzed through literature review. Keywords such as "GDM", "gut microbiota" and "insulin resistance" were used for literature search, and the methodology, findings and potential impact on the pathophysiology of GDM were systematically evaluated.

Results

It was found that the composition and diversity of gut microbiota were significantly associated with the occurrence and development of GDM. Specifically, the abundance of certain gut bacteria is associated with an increased risk of GDM, while other changes in the microbiome may be associated with improved insulin sensitivity. In addition, alterations in the gut microbiota may affect blood glucose control through a variety of mechanisms, including the production of short-chain fatty acids, activation of inflammatory pathways, and metabolism of the B vitamin group.

Discussion

The results of this paper highlight the importance of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of GDM. The regulation of the gut microbiota may provide new directions for the treatment of GDM, including improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control through the use of probiotics and prebiotics. However, more research is needed to confirm the generality and exact mechanisms of these findings and to explore potential clinical applications of the gut microbiota in the management of gestational diabetes. In addition, future studies should consider the interaction between environmental and genetic factors and how together they affect the risk of GDM.
Manuka honey as a non-antibiotic alternative against Staphylococcus spp. and their small colony variant (SCVs) phenotypes
Authors: Onyango Laura A. , Liang Jiawei
Published: May 2024

The antibiotic resistance (ABR) crisis is an urgent global health priority. Staphylococci are among the problematic bacteria contributing to this emergency owing to their recalcitrance to many clinically important antibiotics. Staphylococcal pathogenesis is further complicated by the presence of small colony variants (SCVs), a bacterial subpopulation displaying atypical characteristics including retarded growth, prolific biofilm formation, heightened antibiotic tolerance, and enhanced intracellular persistence. These capabilities severely impede current chemotherapeutics, resulting in chronic infections, poor patient outcomes, and significant economic burden. Tackling ABR requires alternative measures beyond the conventional options that have dominated treatment regimens over the past 8 decades. Non-antibiotic therapies are gaining interest in this arena, including the use of honey, which despite having ancient therapeutic roots has now been reimagined as an alternative treatment beyond just traditional topical use, to include the treatment of an array of difficult-to-treat staphylococcal infections. This literature review focused on Manuka honey (MH) and its efficacy as an anti-staphylococcal treatment. We summarized the studies that have used this product and the technologies employed to study the antibacterial mechanisms that render MH a suitable agent for the management of problematic staphylococcal infections, including those involving staphylococcal SCVs. We also discussed the status of staphylococcal resistance development to MH and other factors that may impact its efficacy as an alternative therapy to help combat ABR.
Social interactions offset the detrimental effects of digital media use on children's vocabulary
Authors: Kucker Sarah C. , Schneider Julie M.
Published: May 2024

Young children's rapid vocabulary growth during the first few years is supported by input during social interactions with caregivers and, increasingly, from digital media. However, the amount of exposure to both sources can vary substantially across socioeconomic classes, and little is known about how social interactions and digital media use together predict vocabulary in the first few years of life. The current study takes a first step toward examining whether increased social interactions with other individuals may buffer the potentially detrimental effects of digital media use on language among a socioeconomically diverse sample. 305 caregivers of children between 17 and 30-months completed questionnaires about their family demographics, their child's technology use, and the child's daily routines and social interactions. Findings suggest children who experience fewer human interactions and greater technology exposure have smaller vocabularies than their peers who socialize more and use less technology, and this disparity becomes greater as children get older. Moreover, the number of social interactions moderates the link between SES, digital media, and vocabulary such that the negative impact of digital media on vocabulary for children from low SES households can be offset with increased social interactions. Together, this suggests that increasing the amount of human interactions may serve as a protective factor for vocabulary outcomes in a world where digital media use is prominent.
Decentralized micro-energy storage capacity sharing within the residential community: an enhanced uniform price-based bidding framework
Authors: Cui Kun , Fan Kai , Zhao Yong , Chi Ming
Published: May 2024

“Sharing economy” refers to a transformative socio-economic phenomenon where individuals or institution with idle resources transfer the right to use resources for economic compensation. With the widespread adoption of distributed photovoltaic generation and energy storage (ES) device in residential communities, there is a growing interest in establishing a suitable platform for residential users to share their ES capacity with community shared equipment controllers (CSECs). This paper proposes a local ES capacity sharing market, and presents the market trading process, pricing and allocation rules using an iterative uniform-price bidding mechanism Acknowledging the selfish-interest of both RUs and CSECs, we introduce the resource management organization (RMO) as a regulated third-party organization responsible for administering the market. To evaluate the proposed scheme, we conduct case studies based on real-life data from Pecan Street. The numerical experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of our approach.
Shaping the future of conservation: a model for restoring oxbows in Iowa and beyond
Authors: Wilke Karen , Rust Andrew , Weissenfluh Darrick , Iddings Brandon , Wulf Shane
Published: May 2024

Oxbows, once an abundant and natural feature of the landscape, have been nearly eliminated due to the effects of the Anthropocene, consequently impacting water quality, flood storage capacity, and the wildlife that depend on this habitat. These depressional basins within floodplains naturally accumulate sediment over time, but the sedimentation rate of oxbows over the last 100 years has greatly increased. The primary sources of sediment are from human activity, including erosion from agricultural fields and urban developments, drainage alterations, precipitation changes associated with climate change, and disconnection from their rivers and natural river hydraulics. Outlined in this manuscript is a step-by-step guide for restoring oxbows, based on 20 years of experience and lessons learned implementing oxbow restorations in Iowa on first-, second-, and third-order streams. Our goal is to provide conservation services providers and others interested in restoring degraded oxbows with the tools and expertise to confidently restore oxbows to achieve conservation goals.
Dengue virus exploits autophagy vesicles and secretory pathways to promote transmission by human dendritic cells
Authors: Cloherty Alexandra P. M. , Rader Anusca G. , Patel Kharishma S. , Eisden Tracy-Jane T. H. D. , van Piggelen Sterre , Schreurs Renée R. C. E. , Ribeiro Carla M. S.
Published: May 2024

Dengue virus (DENV), transmitted by infected mosquitoes, is a major public health concern, with approximately half the world’s population at risk for infection. Recent decades have increasing incidence of dengue-associated disease alongside growing frequency of outbreaks. Although promising progress has been made in anti-DENV immunizations, post-infection treatment remains limited to non-specific supportive treatments. Development of antiviral therapeutics is thus required to limit DENV dissemination in humans and to help control the severity of outbreaks. Dendritic cells (DCs) are amongst the first cells to encounter DENV upon injection into the human skin mucosa, and thereafter promote systemic viral dissemination to additional human target cells. Autophagy is a vesicle trafficking pathway involving the formation of cytosolic autophagosomes, and recent reports have highlighted the extensive manipulation of autophagy by flaviviruses, including DENV, for viral replication. However, the temporal profiling and function of autophagy activity in DENV infection and transmission by human primary DCs remains poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that mechanisms of autophagosome formation and extracellular vesicle (EV) release have a pro-viral role in DC-mediated DENV transmission. We show that DENV exploits early-stage canonical autophagy to establish infection in primary human DCs. DENV replication enhanced autophagosome formation in primary human DCs, and intrinsically-heightened autophagosome biogenesis correlated with relatively higher rates of DC susceptibility to DENV. Furthermore, our data suggest that viral replication intermediates co-localize with autophagosomes, while productive DENV infection introduces a block at the late degradative stages of autophagy in infected DCs but not in uninfected bystander cells. Notably, we identify for the first time that approximately one-fourth of DC-derived CD9/CD81/CD63+ EVs co-express canonical autophagy marker LC3, and demonstrate that DC-derived EV populations are an alternative, cell-free mechanism by which DCs promote DENV transmission to additional target sites. Taken together, our study highlights intersections between autophagy and secretory pathways during viral infection, and puts forward autophagosome accumulation and viral RNA-laden EVs as host determinants of DC-mediated DENV infection in humans. Host-directed therapeutics targeting autophagy and exocytosis pathways thus have potential to enhance DC-driven resistance to DENV acquisition and thereby limit viral dissemination by initial human target cells following mosquito-to-human transmission of DENV.
Structural and functional characterization of IgG- and non-IgG-based T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies
Authors: Mohan Nishant , Ayinde Safiat , Peng Hanjing , Dutta Shraboni , Shen Yi , Falkowski Vincent M. , Biel Thomas G. , Ju Tongzhong , Wu Wen Jin
Published: May 2024

Bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies are a growing class of therapeutics with numerous molecules being tested in clinical trials and, currently, seven of them have received market approval. They are structurally complex and function as adaptors to redirect the cytotoxicity of T cells to kill tumor cells. T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies can be generally divided into two categories: IgG/IgG-like and non-IgG-like formats. Different formats may have different intrinsic potencies and physiochemical properties, and comprehensive studies are needed to gain a better understanding of how the differences in formats impact on structural and functional characteristics. In this study, we designed and generated bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies with IgG-like (DVD-Ig) and non-IgG (BiTE) formats. Both target the same pair of antigens (EGFR and CD3) to minimize the possible influence of targets on functional characterization. We performed a side-by-side comparison to assess differences in the physiochemical and biological properties of these two bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies using a variety of breast and ovarian cancer cell-based functional assays to delineate the structural–functional relationships and anti-tumor activities/potency. We found that the Fc portion of T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies can significantly impact antigen binding activity, potency, and stability in addition to eliciting different mechanisms of action that contribute the killing of cancer cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis increases the risk of heart failure: results from the cross-sectional study in the US population and mendelian randomization analysis in the European population
Authors: Kadier Kaisaierjiang , Dilixiati Diliyaer , Zhang Xu , Li Huan , Kuang Lirong , Huang Jian , Cai Xintian , Ling Tao , Kong Fanqi , Liu Xiaozhu
Published: May 2024

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Among its various complications, heart failure (HF) has been recognized as the second leading cause of cardiovascular death in RA patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between RA and HF using epidemiological and genetic approaches

Methods

The study included 37,736 participants from the 1999-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Associations between RA and HF in the US population were assessed with weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to establish the causal relationship between the two variables. The primary analysis method utilized was inverse variance weighting (IVW). Additionally, horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity were assessed to account for potential confounding factors. In cases where multiple independent datasets were accessible during MR analysis, we combined the findings through a meta-analytical approach.

Results

In observational studies, the prevalence of HF in combination with RA reached 7.11% (95%CI 5.83 to 8.39). RA was positively associated with an increased prevalence of HF in the US population [odds ratio (OR):1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.47-2.54, P < 0.0001]. In a MR analysis utilizing a meta-analytical approach to amalgamate the results of the IVW method, we identified a significant causal link between genetically predicted RA and a heightened risk of HF (OR = 1.083, 95% CI: 1.028-1.141; P = 0.003). However, this association was not deemed significant for seronegative RA (SRA) (OR = 1.028, 95% CI: 0.992-1.065; P = 0.126). These findings were consistent across sensitivity analyses and did not indicate any horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusion

RA correlates with an elevated prevalence of HF within the US population. Furthermore, genetic evidence derived from European populations underscores a causal link between RA and the risk of HF. However this association was not significant in SRA.
High expression of BTN3A1 is associated with clinical and immunological characteristics and predicts a poor prognosis in advanced human gliomas
Authors: Kone Abdou-samad , Ghouzlani Amina , Qandouci Ahmed , Issam Salah Nour el Imane , Bakoukou Yann , Lakhdar Abdelhakim , Karkouri Mehdi , Badou Abdallah
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Gliomas represent the most prevalent and aggressive tumors within the central nervous system. Despite the current standard treatments, the median survival time for glioblastoma patients remains dismal, hovering around 14 months. While attempts have been made to inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4/CD80-CD86 axes through immunotherapy, the outcomes have yet to demonstrate significant efficacy. The immune checkpoint Butyrophilin 3A1 (BTN3A1) can either be involved in advantageous or detrimental function depending on the cancer type.

Methods

In our study, we utilized a Moroccan cohort to delve into the role of BTN3A1 in gliomas. A transcriptomic analysis was conducted on 34 patients, which was then corroborated through a protein analysis in 27 patients and validated using the TCGA database (n = 667).

Results

Our results revealed an elevated expression of BTN3A1 in glioblastoma (grade 4), as evidenced in both the TCGA database and our cohort of Moroccan glioma patients. Within the TCGA cohort, BTN3A1 expression was notably higher in patients with wild-type IDH. We observed a positive correlation between BTN3A1 expression and immune infiltration of B cells, CD8+ T cells, naive CD4+ T cells, and M2 macrophages. Patients exhibiting increased BTN3A1 expression also presented elevated levels of TGF‐β, IL‐10, and TIM‐3 compared to those with reduced BTN3A1 expression. Notably, patients with high BTN3A1 expression were associated with a poorer prognosis than their counterparts with lower expression.

Conclussion

Our findings suggest that BTN3A1 might promote the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Consequently, targeting BTN3A1 could offer novel therapeutic avenues for the management of advanced gliomas.
Reintroduction of self-facilitating feedbacks could advance subtidal eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration in the Dutch Wadden Sea
Authors: Rehlmeyer Katrin , Franken Oscar , van der Heide Tjisse , Holthuijsen Sander J. , Meijer Kasper J. , Olff Han , Lengkeek Wouter , Didderen Karin , Govers Laura L.
Published: May 2024

Extensive subtidal eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows (~150 km2) once grew in the Dutch Wadden Sea, supporting diverse species communities, but disappeared in the 1930s and have been absent ever since. Identifying the most critical bottlenecks for eelgrass survival is a crucial first step for reintroduction through active restoration measures. Seagrasses are ecosystem engineers, inducing self-facilitating feedbacks that ameliorate stressful conditions. Consequently, once seagrass, including its self-facilitating feedbacks, is lost, reintroduction can be challenging. Therefore, we aimed to test whether 1) sediment stabilization and 2) hydrodynamic stress relief would facilitate eelgrass survival in a field experiment replicated at two sites in the Dutch Wadden Sea. We induced feedbacks using biodegradable root-mimicking structures (BESE-elements) and sandbag barriers. Root mimics had a significant positive effect, increasing the chances of short-term survival by +67% compared to controls. Contrary to our expectations, barriers decreased short-term survival probabilities by -26%, likely due to hydrodynamic turbulence created by the barrier edges, leading to high erosion rates (-14 cm). Site selection proved crucial as short-term survival was entirely negated on one of the two study sites after five weeks due to high floating and epiphytic macroalgae loads. No long-term survival occurred, as plants died at the other site two weeks later. Overall, we found that sediment stabilization by root-mimicking structures was promising, whereas manipulating hydrodynamic forces using sandbag barriers had adverse effects. A mechanistic understanding of transplant failures is required before attempting large-scale restoration. Our study indicates that for seagrass restoration in the Wadden Sea, one should carefully consider 1) the reintroduction of positive feedbacks through restoration tools, 2) donor population choice and transplantation timing, and 3) site selection based on local biotic and abiotic conditions. Optimizing these restoration facets might lower additive stress to a degree that allows long-term survival.
Characterizing dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients in the oligotrophic Kuroshio Current off eastern Taiwan during warm seasons
Authors: Hung Jia-Jang , Tsai Sheng-Hsian , Lin Yen-Hui , Hsiang Zhi-Ying
Published: May 2024

This study conducted sensitive and precise analyses of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) concentrations and trace concentrations of nitrate and nitrite (N+N) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in seawater. The methods were applied to investigate the distributions and controls of N+N, SRP, DON, and DOP in the oligotrophic Kuroshio Current (KC) area off eastern Taiwan during warm seasons. The water in the studied area was classified into four major types: typical Kuroshio water (KW), KW influenced by the East China Sea water, KC influenced by the South China Sea (SCS) water, and KW influenced by the SCS water and river plumes, which is confined to the coastal zone. Nutrient distributions in KC revealed very low N+N (0.002−0.40 μM) and SRP (0.015−0.125 μM) concentrations but high DON (<8 μM) and DOP (<0.3 μM) concentrations above the nutricline depth, which accounted for >80% of TDN and TDP, respectively; theses concentrations can primarily be attributed to strong, permanent surface stratification. Among the water types, KW had the lowest N+N, SRP, DON, and DOP concentrations but greatest chlorophyll maximum depth and nutricline depth, except for in locations influenced by island-induced upwelling. The concentrations of all nutrients increased by various degrees in the other water types, which was attributed to the exchange and mixing of different water masses and coastal uplift of subsurface waters. KW was not only highly oligotrophic but also N+N-limited reflected from very low [N+N]/[SRP] ratio (0.02−0.15) in the mixed layer (ML). Overall, the N+N limitation and high nitrate anomaly value (N*: 2.47 ± 0.16 μM) above the nutricline depth strongly indicate prevailing N2 fixation at the surface of KW. Very high DON/DOP ratio in KW (16.9−69.1) probably resulted from the release of N-rich organic nutrients from phytoplankton including N2 fixers at the surface and faster recycling of DOP than DON in deep waters. Persistent coastal uplift of subsurface water occurs everywhere over the shore-side region of the KC, resulting in increasing surface concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a. Overall, the aforementioned physical and biogeochemical processes determined the upper-ocean distributions of nutrient species in warm seasons.
The investigation of the role of oral-originated Prevotella-induced inflammation in childhood asthma
Authors: Yan Tongtong , Bao Yuling , Cao Shuyuan , Jiang Ping , Zhang Zhan , Li Lei , Kang Yulin , Wu Qian
Published: May 2024

Background and objectives

The oral and gut microbiota play significant roles in childhood asthma pathogenesis. However, the communication dynamics and pathogenic mechanisms by which oral microbiota influence gut microbiota and disease development remain incompletely understood. This study investigated potential mechanisms by which oral-originated gut microbiota, specifically Prevotella genus, may contribute to childhood asthma etiology.

Methods

Oral swab and fecal samples from 30 asthmatic children and 30 healthy controls were collected. Microbiome composition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics. Genetic distances identified potential oral-originated bacteria in asthmatic children. Functional validation assessed pro-inflammatory properties of in silico predicted microbial mimicry peptides from enriched asthma-associated species. Fecal metabolome profiling combined with metagenomic correlations explored links between gut microbiota and metabolism. HBE cells treated with Prevotella bivia culture supernatant were analyzed for lipid pathway impacts using UPLC-MS/MS.

Results

Children with asthma exhibited distinct oral and gut microbiota structures. Prevotella bivia, P. disiens, P. oris and Bacteroides fragilis were enriched orally and intestinally in asthmatics, while Streptococcus thermophilus decreased. P. bivia, P. disiens and P. oris in asthmatic gut likely originated orally. Microbial peptides induced inflammatory cytokines from immune cells. Aberrant lipid pathways characterized asthmatic children. P. bivia increased pro-inflammatory and decreased anti-inflammatory lipid metabolites in HBE cells.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of Prevotella transfer from oral to gut microbiota in childhood asthma. Prevotella’s microbial mimicry peptides and effects on lipid metabolism contribute to disease pathogenesis by eliciting immune responses. Findings offer mechanistic insights into oral-gut connections in childhood asthma etiology.
Testosterone increases the virulence traits of uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Wu Rongrong , Pettersson Carolina , Demirel Isak
Published: May 2024

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans. Testosterone negatively impacts UTIs by affecting the immune response, leading to higher susceptibility of chronic cystitis in individuals with elevated testosterone levels, regardless of gender. Current research is mostly focused on how testosterone affects the host response to UPEC, but not so much is known about how testosterone directly affect UPEC virulence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of testosterone exposure on the virulence of UPEC. We found that testosterone directly increases UPEC growth, endotoxin release and biofilm formation. We also found that testosterone-stimulated CFT073 increased colonization and invasion of bladder epithelial cells. Testosterone-stimulated CFT073 also increased the release of IL-1β and LDH from bladder epithelial cells. Additionally, by using a Caenorhabditis elegans survival assay we also showed that testosterone decreased the survival of CFT073 infected C. elegans worms. Taken together, our findings show that testosterone directly increases the virulence traits of UPEC.
A preliminary study on the application of electrical impedance tomography based on cerebral perfusion monitoring to intracranial pressure changes
Authors: Yan Xiaoheng , Wang Yu , Li Weichen , Zhu Mingxu , Wang Weice , Xu Canhua , Li Kun , Liu Benyuan , Shi Xuetao
Published: May 2024

Background

In intracranial pathologic conditions of intracranial pressure (ICP) disturbance or hemodynamic instability, maintaining appropriate ICP may reduce the risk of ischemic brain injury. The change of ICP is often accompanied by the change of intracranial blood status. As a non-invasive functional imaging technique, the sensitivity of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to cerebral hemodynamic changes has been preliminarily confirmed. However, no team has conducted a feasibility study on the dynamic detection of ICP by EIT technology from the perspective of non-invasive whole-brain blood perfusion monitoring. In this study, human brain EIT image sequence was obtained by in vivo measurement, from which a variety of indicators that can reflect the tidal changes of the whole brain impedance were extracted, in order to establish a new method for non-invasive monitoring of ICP changes from the level of cerebral blood perfusion monitoring.

Methods

Valsalva maneuver (VM) was used to temporarily change the cerebral blood perfusion status of volunteers. The electrical impedance information of the brain during this process was continuously monitored by EIT device and real-time imaging was performed, and the hemodynamic indexes of bilateral middle cerebral arteries were monitored by transcranial Doppler (TCD). The changes in monitoring information obtained by the two techniques were compared and observed.

Results

The EIT imaging results indicated that the image sequence showed obvious tidal changes with the heart beating. Perfusion indicators of vascular pulsation obtained from EIT images decreased significantly during the stabilization phase of the intervention (PAC: 242.94 ± 100.83, p < 0.01); perfusion index which reflects vascular resistance increased significantly in the stable stage of intervention (PDT: 79.72 ± 18.23, p < 0.001). After the intervention, the parameters gradually returned to the baseline level before compression. The changes of EIT indexes in the whole process are consistent with the changes of middle cerebral artery velocity related indexes shown in TCD results.

Conclusion

The EIT image combined with the blood perfusion index proposed in this paper can reflect the decrease of cerebral blood flow under the condition of increased ICP in real time and intuitively. With the advantages of high time resolution and high sensitivity, EIT provides a new idea for non-invasive bedside measurement of ICP.
The relationship between caffeine consumption and colon cancer prevalence in a nationally representative population
Authors: Qu Yuhua , Cheng Yulu , Chen Fengming
Published: May 2024

Aims

This study examines the correlation between caffeine consumption and the prevalence of colon cancer.

Methods

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2001 to 2014, we applied weighted logistic regression to evaluate the association between caffeine consumption and the prevalence of colon cancer. This analysis accounted for variables including age, gender, race, education, poverty income ratio, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and diabetes. The findings were expressed as weighted odds ratios (ORs) with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to exam the dose-dependent relationship.

Results

The study included 27,637 participants, of which 144 were diagnosed with colon cancer and 27,493 served as controls. Individuals in the highest quartile (Q4) of caffeine consumption (Q4) displayed a significantly increased risk of colon cancer compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1), with a weighted OR of 2.00 (95% CI: 1.11–3.59; p = 0.022). Additionally, restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a significant correlation between higher caffeine intake and increased colon cancer risk, with an overall association p-value of 0.007.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a potential relationship between higher levels of caffeine consumption and an increased risk of colon cancer. The dose–response relationship suggests a notable correlation at higher caffeine intake levels. Further investigations are warranted to confirm these results and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms.
The effect of prebiotic and probiotic food consumption on anxiety severity: a nationwide study in Korea
Authors: Tae Hyejin , Kim Tae-Suk
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Over the past decade, research has reported that diet and gut health affect anxiety symptoms through changes in the gut microbiota. Therefore, the introduction of prebiotic and probiotic food favorable for the intestinal microbiota is necessary to improve the mental health of the host. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of prebiotic and probiotic foods to lowering anxiety symptoms using a large, nationwide population-based database.

Materials and methods

The study population included 4,317 individuals 19 to 64 years of age who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII-3, 2019–2021). A food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate prebiotic and probiotic food consumption. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7-item scale (GAD-7) assessed the severity of anxiety symptoms. The effect of prebiotic and probiotic food consumption on anxiety severity was analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

Results

Anxiety symptom severity was significantly lower in the highest prebiotic and/or probiotic food consumption tertiles compared to the lowest food consumption tertile. We also found a sex difference in the odds ratio for anxiety symptoms. The consumption of prebiotic food was significantly associated with the highest odds of anxiety among both men and women. However, probiotic food had a significant beneficial effect on lowering anxiety symptoms in men but not in women.

Conclusion

Our finding suggests that prebiotic and probiotic food consumption might confer a beneficial influence on anxiety symptoms. Further research is required for a deeper understanding into the mechanisms of the positive effects of prebiotics and probiotics on anxiety.
Robotic distal gastrectomy using a novel pre-emptive supra-pancreatic approach without duodenal transection in the dissection of D2 lymph nodes for gastric cancer
Authors: Xie Jianming , Yang Jiabin , Wang Meixiao , Yin Yongfang , Yan Zhilong
Published: May 2024

Background

Robot-assisted surgery has shown remarkable progress as a minimally invasive procedure for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection and the conventional approach in terms of perioperative feasibility and short-term surgical outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection using the da Vinci Xi robotic system between December 2021 and April 2023 and categorized them into two groups for comparison. Patients treated using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach (observation group) were compared with those who received the conventional approach (control group). Employing one-to-one propensity score matching, we evaluated the postoperative morbidity and short-term outcomes in these two distinct groups to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel surgical technique.

Results

This study enrolled 131 patients: 70 in the observation group and 61 in the control group. After propensity score matching, the operative times were significantly longer in the control group than in the observation group (229.10 ± 33.96 vs. 174.84 ± 18.37, p <0.001). The mean blood loss was lower in the observation group than in the control group (25.20 ± 11.18 vs. 85.00 ± 38.78, p <0.001). Additionally, the observation group exhibited a higher number of retrieved lymph nodes, including suprapyloric, perigastric, and superior pancreatic lymph nodes (28.69 ± 5.48 vs. 19.21 ± 2.89, p <0.001; 4.98 ± 1.27 vs. 4.29 ± 1.21, p = 0.012; 10.52 ± 2.39 vs. 5.50 ± 1.62, p <0.001; 6.26 ± 2.64 vs. 5.00 ± 1.72, p = 0.029). Drain amylase levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (30.08 ± 33.74 vs. 69.14 ± 66.81, p <0.001).

Conclusion

This study revealed that using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection in the dissection of D2 lymph nodes for gastric cancer is a safe and feasible procedure in terms of surgical outcomes.
Cell proliferation and carcinogenesis: an approach to screening for potential human carcinogens
Authors: Cohen Samuel M.
Published: May 2024

Cancer arises from multiple genetic errors occurring in a single stem cell (clonality). Every time DNA replicates, mistakes occur. Thus, agents can increase the risk of cancer either by directly damaging DNA (DNA-reactive carcinogens) or increasing the number of DNA replications (increased cell proliferation). Increased cell proliferation can be achieved either by direct mitogenesis or cytotoxicity with regenerative proliferation. Human carcinogens have a mode of action of DNA reactivity, immunomodulation (mostly immunosuppression), increased estrogenic activity (mitogenesis), or cytotoxicity and regeneration. By focusing on screening for these four effects utilizing in silico, in vitro, and short-term in vivo assays, a biologically based screening for human chemical carcinogens can be accomplished with greater predictivity than the traditional 2-year bioassay with considerably less cost, less time, and the use of fewer animals.
Sitagliptin ameliorates L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis via modulating inflammatory cytokines expression and combating oxidative stress
Authors: Eltahir Heba M. , Elbadawy Hossein M. , Almikhlafi Mohannad A. , Alalawi Ali M. , Aldhafiri Ahmed J. , Alahmadi Yaser M. , Al thagfan Sultan S. , Albadrani Muayad , M Eweda Saber , Abouzied Mekky M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition that resolves spontaneously, but occasionally, develops into systemic inflammation, organ failure and mortality. Oxidative stress and activation of inflammatory pathways represent major players in AP pathogenesis. Current management of AP relies on attenuating injuries to the pancreas and putting the inflammatory process under control. In this study, we investigated the role of sitagliptin in modulating L-arginine-induced AP in rats.

Methods

Swiss rats were subdivided into a healthy control group, AP group (a single dose of L-arginine 250 mg/100 g, intraperitoneal), and sitagliptin + L-arginine-treated group (10 mg sitagliptin/kg body weight/day, orally). Sitagliptin treatment started 1 hour after L-arginine injection and continued for 3days. Biochemical and histopathological investigations were performed on serum and tissue samples collected from test animals.

Results

L-arginine increased pancreatic meyloperoxidase and serum amylase- and lipase activities and serum levels of TNF-α, LT-α, IFN-γ, IL-1α/β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-15. AP animals showed elevated MDA and NO and decreased GSH and serum calcium levels. Histopathological changes were observed by H&E staining. Sitagliptin treatment significantly ameliorated these biochemical and histological changes diminishing the signs of AP.

Conclusion

Sitagliptin treatment was effective in ameliorating L-arginine-induced AP which can be regarded to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.
Plant beta-turnover rather than nestedness shapes overall taxonomic and phylogenetic beta-diversity triggered by favorable spatial–environmental conditions in large-scale Chinese grasslands
Authors: Yao Zhenyu , Xin Yue , Ma Zhaoxia , Zhao Liqing , Mu Wenkui , Guo Jianying , Ali Arshad
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Although it is widely acknowledged that biodiversity maintains plant community assembly processes, exploring the patterns and drivers of beta-diversity (β-diversity; species variation among local plant communities) has received much less attention compared to alpha-diversity (α-diversity; species variation within a local plant community). Here, we aim to examine the patterns and spatial–environmental drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity, and their components such as species turnover and nestedness, in large-scale Leymus chinensis grassland communities.

Methods

We collected plant community data from 166 sites across widely distributed L. chinensis communities in northern China, and then calculated the taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity indices (overall, turnover and nestedness) using a pairwise dissimilarity approach. To assess the effects and to explain the variation in the patterns of β-diversity, we collected data on geospatial, climate and soil conditions. We applied descriptive statistics, Mental correlations, and multiple linear regression models to assess the patterns and spatial–environmental drivers of β-diversity.

Results

The β-turnover, as compared to β-nestedness, exhibited a predominant influence, constituting 92.6% of the taxonomic β-diversity and 80.4% of the phylogenetic β-diversity. Most of the spatial–environmental variables were significantly positively correlated with the overall taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity and β-turnover, but not with β-nestedness. Climatic factors such as MAP and MAT were the strongest predictors of both taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity and β-turnover. The variance partitioning analysis showed that the combined effects of spatial and environmental factors accounted for 19% and 16% of the variation in the taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity (overall), 17% and 12% of the variation in the β-turnover, and 7% and 1% of the variation in the β-nestedness, respectively, which were higher than independent effects of either spatial or environmental factors.

Discussion

At larger spatial scales, the turnover component of β-diversity may be associated with the species complementarity effect, but dominant or functionally important species can vary among communities due to the species selection effect. By incorporating β-diversity into grassland management strategies, we can enhance the provision of vital ecosystem services that bolster human welfare, serving as a resilient barrier against the adverse effects of climate change at regional and global scales.