bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Degree of Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction is not Different in GBA-Related and Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Case-Control Instrumental Evaluation
Authors: Giannini Giulia , Minardi Raffaella , Barletta Giorgio , Cani Ilaria , Cecere Annagrazia , Baldelli Luca , Fiorentino Alessia , Guaraldi Pietro , Sambati Luisa , Capellari Sabina , Cortelli Pietro , Carelli Valerio , Calandra-Buonaura Giovanna 
Published: February 2024

Background: Increased prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic failure might play a key role on Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression of glucocerebrosidase gene ( GBA)-mutated patients, determining a malignant phenotype of disease in these patients. Objective: To objectively characterize, for the first time, the cardiovascular autonomic profile of GBA-mutated patients compared to idiopathic PD patients by means of cardiovascular reflex tests (CRTs). Methods: This is a case-control (1 : 2) study on PD patients belonging to well-characterized prospective cohorts. For each PD patient carrying GBA variants, two idiopathic PD patients, matched for sex and disease duration at CRTs, were selected. Patients recruited in these cohorts underwent a complete clinical and instrumental evaluation including specific autonomic questionnaires, CRTs and extensive genetic analysis. Results: A total of 23 GBA-PD patients (19 males, disease duration 7.7 years) were included and matched with 46 non-mutated PD controls. GBA-mutated patients were younger than controls (59.9±8.1 vs. 64.3±7.2 years, p = 0.0257) and showed a more severe phenotype. Despite GBA-mutated patients reported more frequently symptoms suggestive of orthostatic hypotension (OH) than non-mutated patients (39.1% vs 6.5%, p = 0.001), the degree of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, when instrumentally assessed, did not differ between the two groups, showing the same prevalence of neurogenic OH, delayed OH and cardiovascular reflex impairment (pathological Valsalva maneuver). Conclusion: GBA-PD patients did not show different instrumental cardiovascular autonomic pattern than non-mutated PD. Our findings suggested that symptoms suggestive of OH should be promptly investigated by clinicians to confirm their nature and improve patient care and management.
Relevance of the Development of Dental <i>In situ</i> Implant for Post-resection Therapy (Review)
Authors: Pomytkina M. V. , Bakhrushina E. O. , Sakharova P. S. , Konogorova P. D. , Demina N. B. 
Published: February 2024

Introduction. The problem of pain relief after surgery is relevant in modern dentistry, as pain control is an important part of treatment. In addition to anesthesia, there are other problems of post-resection therapy such as bleeding from the wound and inflammation. Modern dental practice does not have a targeted delivery system or a medical product with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic or hemostatic action, which ensures high adherence of patients to the ongoing post-resection therapy.Text. To solve this problem, it can be proposed to develop an in situ implant – a dosage form that is formed directly at the injection site, in the alveolar socket. Targeted delivery system has advantages: no need to use a medical dressing material; no risk of secondary contamination; dosing accuracy and target delivery to the lesion locus; high mucoadhesion to the site of application; the duration of the active ingredient release and others. The purpose of the review is to substantiate the possibility and relevance of developing a new in situ implant system for use in dental post-resection practice. The study was conducted on the main databases of publications (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and others), and patent search database on materials published from 2000 to the present. The study describes the currently existing in situ systems for dental problems, which could be a prototype of systems for delivering an anesthetic directly to the tooth socket, the polymers used to create them and the possibility of releasing drugs, and also characterizes existing drugs for the pain relief (applied both locally and for systemic action), in comparison with in situ systems, which have certain advantages and great potential for development.Conclusion. Based on the results of the work, a conclusion about the possibility of pharmaceutical development of dental in situ implants was made, and the most promising polymers for phase transition in the alveolar socket were identified.
Fabrication of cellulose nanocrystals/carboxymethyl cellulose/zeolite membranes for methylene blue dye removal: understanding factors, adsorption kinetics, and thermodynamic isotherms
Authors: Ibrahim Mostafa Ahmed , Salama Ahmed , Zahran Fouad , Abdelfattah Mohamed Saleh , Alsalme Ali , Bechelany Mikhael , Barhoum Ahmed 
Published: February 2024

This study introduces environmentally-friendly nanocellulose-based membranes for AZO dye (methylene blue, MB) removal from wastewater. These membranes, made of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), zeolite, and citric acid, aim to offer eco-friendly water treatment solutions. CNCs, obtained from sugarcane bagasse, act as the foundational material for the membranes. The study aims to investigate both the composition of the membranes (CMC/CNC/zeolite/citric acid) and the critical adsorption factors (initial MB concentration, contact time, temperature, and pH) that impact the removal of the dye. After systematic experimentation, the optimal membrane composition is identified as 60% CNC, 15% CMC, 20% zeolites, and 5% citric acid. This composition achieved a 79.9% dye removal efficiency and a 38.3 mg/g adsorption capacity at pH 7. The optimized membrane exhibited enhanced MB dye removal under specific conditions, including a 50 mg adsorbent mass, 50 ppm dye concentration, 50 mL solution volume, 120-min contact time, and a temperature of 25°C. Increasing pH from neutral to alkaline enhances MB dye removal efficiency from 79.9% to 94.5%, with the adsorption capacity rising from 38.3 mg/g to 76.5 mg/g. The study extended to study the MB adsorption mechanisms, revealing the chemisorption of MB dye with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Chemical thermodynamic experiments determine the Freundlich isotherm as the apt model for MB dye adsorption on the membrane surface. In conclusion, this study successfully develops nanocellulose-based membranes for efficient AZO dye removal, contributing to sustainable water treatment technologies and environmental preservation efforts.
Development of early maturing salt-tolerant rice variety KKL(R) 3 using a combination of conventional and molecular breeding approaches
Authors: Saminadane Thirumeni , Geddam Sathyadevi , Krishnaswamy Paramasivam , Jothiganapathy Karthick , Tamilselvan Anandhan , Ramadoss Bharathi Raja , Sri Hari Reddy Patil , Singh Uma Shankar , Singh Rakesh Kumar , Platten John Damien , Gregorio Glenn B. , Singh Nagendra Kumar , Bisht Deepak Singh , Kota Suneetha , Ponnuvel Senguttuvel , Guntupalli Padmavathi 
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Soil salinity poses a severe threat to rice production, resulting in stunted growth, leaf damage, and substantial yield losses. This study focuses on developing an early maturing seedling stage salinity tolerant rice variety by integrating conventional breeding methods with marker assisted breeding (MAB) approaches.Methods: Seedling-stage salinity tolerance Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) “Saltol” from the salt-tolerant parent FL478 was introduced into the high-yielding but salt-sensitive rice variety ADT 45. This was achieved through a combination of conventional breeding and MAB. The breeding process involved rigorous selection, screening, and physiological parameter assessments.Results: KKL(R) 3 (KR 15066) identified as the top performing Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL), consistently demonstrating maximum mean grain yields under both salinity (3435.6 kg/ha) and normal (6421.8 kg/ha) conditions. In comparison to the early maturing, salt-tolerant national check variety CSR 10, KKL(R) 3 exhibited a substantial yield increase over 50%.Discussion: The notable improvement observed in KKL(R) 3 positions it as a promising variety for release, offering a reliable solution to maximize yields, ensure food security, and promote agricultural sustainability in both saline and non-saline environments. The study highlights the effectiveness of MAB in developing salt-tolerant rice varieties and emphasizes the significance of the Saltol QTL in enhancing seedling stage salinity tolerance. The potential release of KKL(R) 3 has the capacity to revolutionize rice production in salt affected regions, providing farmers with a reliable solution to maximize yields and contribute to food security while ensuring agricultural sustainability.
A SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine fused to the chemokine MIP-3α elicits sustained murine antibody responses over 12 months and enhanced lung T-cell responses
Authors: Gordy James Tristan , Hui Yinan , Schill Courtney , Wang Tianyin , Chen Fengyixin , Fessler Kaitlyn , Meza Jacob , Li Yangchen , Taylor Alannah D. , Bates Rowan E. , Karakousis Petros C. , Pekosz Andrew , Sachithanandham Jaiprasath , Li Maggie , Karanika Styliani , Markham Richard B. 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated enhanced efficacy of vaccine formulations that incorporate the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 3α (MIP-3α) to direct vaccine antigens to immature dendritic cells. To address the reduction in vaccine efficacy associated with a mutation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutants, we have examined the ability of receptor-binding domain vaccines incorporating MIP-3α to sustain higher concentrations of antibody when administered intramuscularly (IM) and to more effectively elicit lung T-cell responses when administered intranasally (IN).MethodsBALB/c mice aged 6–8 weeks were immunized intramuscularly or intranasally with DNA vaccine constructs consisting of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain alone or fused to the chemokine MIP-3α. In a small-scale (n = 3/group) experiment, mice immunized IM with electroporation were followed up for serum antibody concentrations over a period of 1 year and for bronchoalveolar antibody levels at the termination of the study. Following IN immunization with unencapsulated plasmid DNA (n = 6/group), mice were evaluated at 11 weeks for serum antibody concentrations, quantities of T cells in the lungs, and IFN-γ- and TNF-α-expressing antigen-specific T cells in the lungs and spleen.ResultsAt 12 months postprimary vaccination, recipients of the IM vaccine incorporating MIP-3α had significantly, approximately threefold, higher serum antibody concentrations than recipients of the vaccine not incorporating MIP-3α. The area-under-the-curve analyses of the 12-month observation interval demonstrated significantly greater antibody concentrations over time in recipients of the MIP-3α vaccine formulation. At 12 months postprimary immunization, only recipients of the fusion vaccine had concentrations of serum-neutralizing activity deemed to be effective. After intranasal immunization, only recipients of the MIP-3α vaccine formulations developed T-cell responses in the lungs significantly above those of PBS controls. Low levels of serum antibody responses were obtained following IN immunization.ConclusionAlthough requiring separate IM and IN immunizations for optimal immunization, incorporating MIP-3α in a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine construct demonstrated the potential of a stable and easily produced vaccine formulation to provide the extended antibody and T-cell responses that may be required for protection in the setting of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Without electroporation, simple, uncoated plasmid DNA incorporating MIP-3α administered intranasally elicited lung T-cell responses.
Human metapneumovirus respiratory infection affects both innate and adaptive intestinal immunity
Authors: Sepúlveda-Alfaro Javiera , Catalán Eduardo A. , Vallejos Omar P. , Ramos-Tapia Ignacio , Madrid-Muñoz Cristóbal , Mendoza-León María J. , Suazo Isidora D. , Rivera-Asin Elizabeth , Silva Pedro H. , Alvarez-Mardones Oscar , Castillo-Godoy Daniela P. , Riedel Claudia A. , Schinnerling Katina , Ugalde Juan A. , Soto Jorge A. , Bueno Susan M. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Melo-Gonzalez Felipe 
Published: February 2024

IntroductionRespiratory infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, mainly in children, immunocompromised people, and the elderly. Several respiratory viruses can induce intestinal inflammation and alterations in intestinal microbiota composition. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is one of the major respiratory viruses contributing to infant mortality in children under 5 years of age worldwide, and the effect of this infection at the gut level has not been studied.MethodsHere, we evaluated the distal effects of HMPV infection on intestinal microbiota and inflammation in a murine model, analyzing several post-infection times (days 1, 3, and 5). Six to eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally with HMPV, and mice inoculated with a non-infectious supernatant (Mock) were used as a control group.ResultsWe did not detect HMPV viral load in the intestine, but we observed significant changes in the transcription of IFN-γ in the colon, analyzed by qPCR, at day 1 post-infection as compared to the control group. Furthermore, we analyzed the frequencies of different innate and adaptive immune cells in the colonic lamina propria, using flow cytometry. The frequency of monocyte populations was altered in the colon of HMPV -infected mice at days 1 and 3, with no significant difference from control mice at day 5 post-infection. Moreover, colonic CD8+ T cells and memory precursor effector CD8+ T cells were significantly increased in HMPV-infected mice at day 5, suggesting that HMPV may also alter intestinal adaptive immunity. Additionally, we did not find alterations in antimicrobial peptide expression, the frequency of colonic IgA+ plasma cells, and levels of fecal IgA. Some minor alterations in the fecal microbiota composition of HMPV -infected mice were detected using 16s rRNA sequencing. However, no significant differences were found in β-diversity and relative abundance at the genus level.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first report describing the alterations in intestinal immunity following respiratory infection with HMPV infection. These effects do not seem to be mediated by direct viral infection in the intestinal tract. Our results indicate that HMPV can affect colonic innate and adaptive immunity but does not significantly alter the microbiota composition, and further research is required to understand the mechanisms inducing these distal effects in the intestine.
Age-dependent acquisition of IgG antibodies to Shigella serotypes—a retrospective analysis of seroprevalence in Kenyan children with implications for infant vaccination
Authors: Kapulu Melissa C. , Muthumbi Esther , Otieno Edward , Rossi Omar , Ferruzzi Pietro , Necchi Francesca , Acquaviva Alessandra , Martin Laura B. , Orindi Benedict , Mwai Kennedy , Kibet Hillary , Mwanzu Alfred , Bigogo Godfrey M. , Verani Jennifer R. , Mbae Cecilia , Nyundo Christopher , Agoti Charles N. , Nakakana Usman Nasir , Conti Valentino , Bejon Philip , Kariuki Samuel , Scott J. Anthony G. , Micoli Francesca , Podda Audino 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundShigellosis mainly affects children under 5 years of age living in low- and middle-income countries, who are the target population for vaccination. There are, however, limited data available to define the appropriate timing for vaccine administration in this age group. Information on antibody responses following natural infection, proxy for exposure, could help guide vaccination strategies.MethodsWe undertook a retrospective analysis of antibodies to five of the most prevalent Shigella serotypes among children aged &lt;5 years in Kenya. Serum samples from a cross-sectional serosurvey in three Kenyan sites (Nairobi, Siaya, and Kilifi) were analyzed by standardized ELISA to measure IgG against Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri 1b, 2a, 3a, and 6. We identified factors associated with seropositivity to each Shigella serotype, including seropositivity to other Shigella serotypes.ResultsA total of 474 samples, one for each participant, were analyzed: Nairobi (n = 169), Siaya (n = 185), and Kilifi (n = 120). The median age of the participants was 13.4 months (IQR 7.0–35.6), and the male:female ratio was 1:1. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) for each serotype increased with age, mostly in the second year of life. The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies increased with age except for S. flexneri 6 which was high across all age subgroups. In the second year of life, there was a statistically significant increase of antibody GMCs against all five serotypes (p = 0.01–0.0001) and a significant increase of seroprevalence for S. flexneri 2a (p = 0.006), S. flexneri 3a (p = 0.006), and S. sonnei (p = 0.05) compared with the second part of the first year of life. Among all possible pairwise comparisons of antibody seropositivity, there was a significant association between S. flexneri 1b and 2a (OR = 6.75, 95% CI 3–14, p &lt; 0.001) and between S. flexneri 1b and 3a (OR = 23.85, 95% CI 11–54, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionChildren living in low- and middle-income settings such as Kenya are exposed to Shigella infection starting from the first year of life and acquire serotype-specific antibodies against multiple serotypes. The data from this study suggest that Shigella vaccination should be targeted to infants, ideally at 6 or at least 9 months of age, to ensure children are protected in the second year of life when exposure significantly increases.
Radiomics analysis based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for differentiating early stage of cervical cancer
Authors: Wu Feng , Zhang Rui , Li Feng , Qin Xiaomin , Xing Hui , Lv Huabing , Li Lin , Ai Tao 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveTo investigate the performance of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—based radiomics models in differentiating early stage of cervical cancer (Stage I-IIa vs. IIb-IV).MethodsOne hundred patients with cervical cancer who underwent preoperative MRI between June 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Training (n = 70) and testing cohorts (n = 30) were assigned by stratified random sampling. The clinical and pathological features, including age, histological subtypes, tumor grades, and node status, were compared between the two cohorts by t-test or chi-square test. Radiomics features were extracted from each volume of interest (VOI) on T2-weighted images (T2WI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. The data balance of the training cohort was resampled by synthesizing minority oversampling techniques. Subsequently, the adiomics signatures were constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm and minimum-redundancy maximum-relevance with 10-fold cross-validation. Logistic regression was applied to predict the cervical cancer stages (low [I-IIa]) and (high [IIb–IV] FIGO stages). The receiver operating characteristic curve (area under the curve [AUC]) and decision curve analysis were used to assess the performance of the radiomics model.ResultsThe characteristics of age, histological subtypes, tumor grades, and node status were not significantly different between the low [I-IIa] and high [IIb–IV] FIGO stages (p &gt; 0.05 for both the training and test cohorts). Three models based on T2WI, ADC maps, and the combined were developed based on six radiomics features from T2WI and three radiomics features from ADC maps, with AUCs of 0.855 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.777–0.934) and 0.823 (95% CI, 0.727–0.919), 0.861 (95% CI, 0.785–0.936) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.701–0.918), 0.934 (95% CI, 0.884–0.984) and 0.902 (95% CI, 0.832–0.972) in the training and test cohorts.ConclusionThe radiomics models combined T2W and ADC maps had good predictive performance in differentiating the early stage from locally advanced cervical cancer.
Mendelian randomization analysis reveals an independent causal relationship between four gut microbes and acne vulgaris
Authors: Wu Yujia , Wang Xiaoyun , Wu Wenjuan , Yang Jiankang 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundNumerous studies have suggested a correlation between gut microbiota and acne vulgaris; however, no specific causal link has been explored.Materials and methodsTo investigate the possible causal relationship between gut microbiota and acne vulgaris, this study employed a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistic. Initially, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized to identify the specific gut microflora responsible for acne vulgaris. We used the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method as the main MR analysis method. Additionally, we assessed heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy, while also examining the potential influence of individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the analysis results. In order to eliminate gut microbiota with reverse causal associations, we conducted reverse MR analysis. Multivariate Mendelian randomization analysis (MVMR) was then employed to verify the independence of the causal associations. Finally, we performed SNP annotation on the instrumental variables of independent gut microbiota and acne vulgaris to determine the genes where these genetic variations are located. We also explored the biological functions of these genes through enrichment analysis.ResultThe IVW method of forward MR identified nine gut microbes with a causal relationship with acne vulgaris (p &lt; 0.05). The findings from the sensitivity analysis demonstrate the absence of heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy, and leave-one-out analysis indicates that the results are not driven by a single SNP. Additionally, the Reverse MR analysis excluded two reverse-correlated pathogenic gut microbes. And then, MVMR was used to analyze seven gut microbes, and it was found that Cyanobacterium and Family XIII were risk factors for acne vulgaris, while Ruminococcus1 and Ruminiclostridium5 were protective factors for acne vulgaris. After conducting biological annotation, we identified six genes (PLA2G4A, FADS2, TIMP17, ADAMTS9, ZC3H3, and CPSF4L) that may be associated with the pathogenic gut microbiota of acne vulgaris patients. The enrichment analysis results indicate that PLA2G4A/FADS2 is associated with fatty acid metabolism pathways.ConclusionOur study found independent causal relationships between four gut microbes and acne vulgaris, and revealed a genetic association between acne vulgaris patients and gut microbiota. Consider preventing and treating acne vulgaris by interfering with the relative content of these four gut microbes.