bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Six-month periodic fasting does not affect somatosensory nerve function in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Kender Zoltan , von Rauchhaupt Ekaterina , Schwarz Daniel , Tsilingiris Dimitrios , Schimpfle Lukas , Bartl Hannelore , Longo Valter D. , Bendszus Martin , Kopf Stefan , Herzig Stephan , Heiland Sabine , Szendroedi Julia , Sulaj Alba 
Published: May 2023

Background and aimCurrent strategies for preventing diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) are limited mainly to glucose control but rapid decrease of glycemia can lead to acute onset or worsening of DSPN. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of periodic fasting on somatosensory nerve function in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Study design and methodsSomatosensory nerve function was assessed in thirty-one patients with T2D (HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.3% [61.4 ± 14.3 mmol/mol]) before and after a six-month fasting-mimicking diet (FMD; n=14) or a control Mediterranean diet (M-diet; n=17). Neuropathy disability score (NDS), neuropathy symptoms score (NSS), nerve conduction velocity and quantitative sensory testing (QST) were analyzed. 6 participants of the M-Diet group and 7 of the FMD group underwent diffusion-weighted high-resolution magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) of the right leg before and after the diet intervention.ResultsClinical neuropathy scores did not differ between study groups at baseline (64% in the M-Diet group and 47% in the FMD group had DSPN) and no change was found after intervention. The differences in sensory NCV and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) of sural nerve were comparable between study groups. Motor NCV of tibial nerve decreased by 12% in the M-Diet group (P=0.04), but did not change in the FMD group (P=0.39). Compound motor action potential (CMAP) of tibial nerve did not change in M-Diet group (P=0.8) and increased in the FMD group by 18% (P=0.02). Motor NCV and CMAP of peroneal nerve remained unchanged in both groups. In QST M-diet-group showed a decrease by 45% in heat pain threshold (P=0.02), FMD group showed no change (P=0.50). Changes in thermal detection, mechanical detection and mechanical pain did not differ between groups. MRN analysis showed stable fascicular nerve lesions irrespective of the degree of structural pathology. Fractional anisotropy and T2-time did not change in both study groups, while a correlation with the clinical degree of DSPN could be confirmed for both.ConclusionsOur study shows that six-month periodic fasting was safe in preserving nerve function and had no detrimental effects on somatosensory nerve function in T2D patients.Clinical trial registrationhttps://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00014287, identifier DRKS00014287.
Clinical characteristics and primary outcomes of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and central diabetes insipidus
Authors: Chen Xin , Zhang Shuo , Peng Xia , Shi Xiaoxiao , Wu Haiting , Wen Yubing , Qin Yan , Tian Xinping , Zhu Huijuan , Chen Limeng 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionAnti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is characterized by systemic small-vessel vasculitis and may rarely present as central diabetes insipidus (CDI). In this study, we aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with AAV-associated CDI.MethodsThis was a nested case-control study where AAV patients with CDI at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were followed from January 2012 to April 2022. Case-control matching with AAV patients without CDI was performed (1:5), and participants were matched by age, sex, and AAV classification. We collected clinical data every 3–6 months and conducted a literature review using PubMed to identify relevant articles published from 1983–2022.ResultsAmong 1203 hospitalized AAV patients, 16 patients with CDI were included (1.3%). The average age was 49 years, and men accounted for 56.3%. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) accounted for 87.5% of patients. AAV patients with CDI had more ear, nose, and throat (ENT) (81.3%) involvement and less renal impairment than those in the control group (P&lt;0.05). After a mean follow-up of four years, 50% of patients were in remission from AAV, 37.5% relapsed, and 12.5% died. Our literature review suggested that patients in Asian countries tend to be older men and have higher myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) positivity than those in Western countries. Furthermore, proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) positivity may predict disease recurrence.DiscussionAAV patients with CDI had more ENT involvement and a higher eGFR. MPO-ANCA positivity is more commonly observed in Asian countries than Western countries, and PR3-ANCA positivity may predict recurrence.
Grain size and mineralogical constraints on leaching in the bottom ashes from municipal solid waste incineration: a comparison of five plants in northern Italy
Authors: Mantovani Luciana , De Matteis Chiara , Tribaudino Mario , Boschetti Tiziano , Funari Valerio , Dinelli Enrico , Toller Simone , Pelagatti Paolo 
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Bottom ashes (BA) from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) are currently classified by the European Waste Catalogue as industrial non-hazardous waste. To promote their reuse, identification and characterization of the heavy metal-bearing phases (both glass and minerals), as well as their weathering behavior, must be addressed for what concern the chemical composition, mineralogical phases, and in high concentrations and pollutants’ mobility. An important point to be noted is whether the results from a given plant can be generalized.Materials and methods: In this work, BA from five waste-to-energy (WtE) plants in northern Italy were sorted based on different grain sizes. The area showed similar MSW production, collected from a culturally homogeneous area, and similar collection management. For each grain size, a mineralogical, chemical, and physical characterization was carried out using XRF, XRD, TGA, and the leaching test.Results and discussion: We found that for major elements, the average chemical composition of the incinerators is similar, with some differences in minor elements. Ferrara (FE) and Forlì-Cesena (FC) BA show portlandite, higher ettringite, and less amorphous than the Torino (TO), Parma (PR), and Piacenza (PC) BA. This affects the pH, the release, and toxicity of the leachates. In FE and FC ashes, ettringite is insoluble, and we not only have low sulfate but also Ni and Ba beyond reglementary limits, suggesting that Ni and Ba are present as hydroxides with portlandite, which are soluble. In TO, PR, and PC, Cr and sulfates are beyond limits, suggesting that Cr comes from dissolution in ettringite. Cu and Cl are always beyond limits; the dissolution of chlorides accounts for only 30%–35% of the global Cl leachate. We observe that in the assessment of the potential toxicity of the ashes, mineralogy has a higher effect than the bulk chemical composition. Grain size sorting, although useful together with other techniques, is not by itself able to comply with the PTE risk level.Conclusion: The findings contribute to the development of efficient treatment strategies for BA, highlighting the need for a more thorough investigation to understand composition and properties and to find innovative ways to reuse, promoting the circular economy and sustainable waste management practices.
Remediation of grassland subsidence and reduction of land occupation with tailings backfill technology: a case study of lead-zinc mine in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Chen Xinzheng , Guo Lijie , Zhou Yabo , Xu Wenyuan , Zhao Yue 
Published: May 2023

The mining industry provides essential mineral resources for human society’s development. However, this industry generates a large quantity of waste material while rapidly extracting valuable elements from ore, such as processed tailings. The existence of mined voids will cause surface subsidence, and the surface stockpiling of tailings and waste rocks occupy a large amount of land and the risk of Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) failure. This paper proposes tailings backfill technology to mitigate surface subsidence and provides an alternative disposal method for tailings generated during ore extraction. Tailings backfill technology prepares the slurry by adding a certain amount of cementitious material into the tailings and transporting it to the underground goaf through a pipeline. The backfill slurry could then gradually build up its strength during the hydration of. Cementitious material. A case study of a lead-zinc mine in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China using tailings backfill technology was introduced in detail to solve the problems of grassland collapse caused by mine excavation and environmental damage due to tailings disposal. Spread test and rheological test were carried out to study the flow characteristics of filling slurry and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of backfill was tested as well. The result illustrates that the spread of the filling slurry with a solid content between 72% and 76% and cement-tailings ratio between 1:4 and 1:8 is greater than 14 cm, and the UCS of backfill is above 1 MPa. The research shows that the tailings backfill technology recycles tailings waste while mitigating surface grassland subsidence and land occupation of waste disposal. Tailings backfill technology can significantly reduce tailings discharge or even achieve no discharge. A leaching test for heavy metal element classification of the backfill sample was carried out. The results show that the heavy metal detection indicators meet the environmental protection standard requirements and will not cause secondary environmental pollution. Therefore, tailings backfill technology can realize green and efficient management of mine waste and has great application and promotion prospects.
Understory functional groups and fire history but not experimental warming drive tree seedling performance in unmanaged boreal forests
Authors: Jessen Maria-Theresa , Krab Eveline J. , Lett Signe , Nilsson Marie-Charlotte , Teuber Laurenz , Wardle David A. , Dorrepaal Ellen 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionSurvival and growth of tree seedlings are key processes of regeneration in forest ecosystems. However, little is known about how climate warming modulates seedling performance either directly or in interaction with understory vegetation and post-fire successional stages.MethodsWe measured survival (over 3 years) and growth of seedlings of three tree species (Betula pubescens, Pinus sylvestris, and Picea abies) in a full-factorial field experiment with passive warming and removal of two plant functional groups (feather moss and/or ericaceous shrubs) along a post-fire chronosequence in an unmanaged boreal forest.ResultsWarming had no effect on seedling survival over time or on relative biomass growth. Meanwhile, moss removal greatly increased seedling survival overall, while shrub removal canceled this effect for B. pubescens seedlings. In addition, B. pubescens and P. sylvestris survival benefitted most from moss removal in old forests (&gt;260 years since last fire disturbance). In contrast to survival, seedling growth was promoted by shrub removal for two out of three species, i.e., P. sylvestris and P. abies, meaning that seedling survival and growth are governed by different understory functional groups affecting seedling performance through different mechanism and modes of action.DiscussionOur findings highlight that understory vegetation and to a lesser extent post-fire successional stage are important drivers of seedling performance while the direct effect of climate warming is not. This suggests that tree regeneration in future forests may be more responsive to changes in understory vegetation or fire regime, e.g., indirectly caused by warming, than to direct or interactive effects of rising temperatures.
Comprehensively prognostic and immunological analysis of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 in pan-cancer and identification in pancreatic carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Dandan , Jiang Zhenhong , Hu Jianping , Sun Xiaoyun , Zheng Yan , Shen Yang 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundSnail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2) is a transcription factor that induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition in neoplastic epithelial cells. It is closely related to the progression of various malignancies. However, the significance of SNAI2 in human pan-cancer is still largely unknown.MethodsThe Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases were taken to examine the SNAI2 expression pattern in tissues and cancer cells. The link between SNAI2 gene expression levels and prognosis, as well as immune cell infiltration, was investigated using the Kaplan-Meier technique and Spearman correlation analysis. We also explored the expression and distribution of SNAI2 in various tumor tissues and cells by the THPA (Human Protein Atlas) database. We further investigated the relationship between SNAI2 expression levels and immunotherapy response in various clinical immunotherapy cohorts. Finally, the immunoblot was used to quantify the SNAI2 expression levels, and the proliferative and invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells was determined by colony formation and transwell assays.ResultsWe discovered heterogeneity in SNAI2 expression in different tumor tissues and cancer cell lines by exploring public datasets. The genomic alteration of SNAI2 existed in most cancers. Also, SNAI2 exhibits prognosis predictive ability in various cancers. SNAI2 was significantly correlated with immune-activated hallmarks, cancer immune cell infiltrations, and immunoregulators. It’s worth noting that SNAI2 expression is significantly related to the effectiveness of clinical immunotherapy. SNAI2 expression was also found to have a high correlation with the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes and DNA methylation in many cancers. Finally, the knockdown of SNAI2 significantly weakened the proliferative and invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells.ConclusionThese findings suggested that SNAI2 could be used as a biomarker in human pan-cancer to detect immune infiltration and poor prognosis, which provides a new idea for cancer treatment.
Influence of bariatric surgery on the peripheral blood immune system of female patients with morbid obesity revealed by high-dimensional mass cytometry
Authors: Gihring Adrian , Gärtner Fabian , Mayer Laura , Roth Aileen , Abdelrasoul Hend , Kornmann Marko , Elad Leonard , Knippschild Uwe 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionObesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation, altered levels of adipocytokines, and impaired regulation of gastrointestinal hormones. Secreted, these factors exert immunostimulatory functions directly influencing peripheral immune cells.MethodsIn the realm of this study, we aimed to investigate the composition and activation status of peripheral blood immune cells in female patients with morbid obesity compared to lean controls using high-dimensional mass cytometry. Besides, we also assessed the influence of bariatric surgery with respect to its ability to reverse obesity-associated alterations within the first-year post-surgery.ResultsPatients with morbid obesity showed typical signs of chronic inflammation characterized by increased levels of CRP and fibrinogen. Apart from that, metabolic alterations were characterized by increased levels of leptin and resistin as well as decreased levels of adiponectin and ghrelin compared to the healthy control population. All these however, except for ghrelin levels, rapidly normalized after surgery with regard to control levels. Furthermore, we found an increased population of monocytic CD14+, HLA-DR-, CD11b+, CXCR3+ cells in patients with morbid obesity and an overall reduction of the HLA-DR monocytic expression compared to the control population. Although CD14+, HLA-DR-, CD11b+, CXCR3+ decreased after surgery, HLA-DR expression did not recover within 9 – 11 months post-surgery. Moreover, compared to the control population, patients with morbid obesity showed a perturbed CD4+ T cell compartment, characterized by a strongly elevated CD127+ memory T cell subset and decreased naïve T cells, which was not recovered within 9 – 11 months post-surgery. Although NK cells showed an activated phenotype, they were numerically lower in patients with morbid obesity when compared to healthy controls. The NK cell population further decreased after surgery and did not recover quantitatively within the study period.ConclusionsOur results clearly demonstrate that the rapid adaptions in inflammatory parameters and adipocytokine levels that occur within the first year post-surgery do not translate to the peripheral immune cells. Apart from that, we described highly affected, distinct immune cell subsets, defined as CD127+ memory T cells and monocytic CD14+, HLA-DR, CD11b+, CXCR3+ cells, that might play a significant role in understanding and further decoding the etiopathogenesis of morbid obesity.
Biomarkers detected in cord blood predict vaccine responses in young infants
Authors: Baloh Carolyn H. , Venturi Guglielmo M. , Fischer Bernard M. , Sadder Liane S. , Kim-Chang Julie J. , Chan Cliburn , De Paris Kristina , Yin Li , Aldrovandi Grace M. , Goodenow Maureen M. , Sleasman John W. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionFactors influencing vaccine immune priming in the first year of life involve both innate and adaptive immunity but there are gaps in understanding how these factors sustain vaccine antibody levels in healthy infants. The hypothesis was that bioprofiles associated with B cell survival best predict sustained vaccine IgG levels at one year.MethodsLongitudinal study of plasma bioprofiles in 82 term, healthy infants, who received standard recommended immunizations in the United States, with changes in 15 plasma biomarker concentrations and B cell subsets associated with germinal center development monitored at birth, soon after completion of the initial vaccine series at 6 months, and prior to the 12-month vaccinations. Post vaccination antibody IgG levels to Bordetella pertussis, tetanus toxoid, and conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) were outcome measures.ResultsUsing a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression model, cord blood (CB) plasma IL-2, IL-17A, IL-31, and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were positively associated with pertussis IgG levels at 12 months, while CB plasma concentrations of APRIL and IL-33 were negatively associated. In contrast, CB concentrations of sCD14 and APRIL were positively associated with sustained tetanus IgG levels. A separate cross-sectional analysis of 18 mother/newborn pairs indicated that CB biomarkers were not due to transplacental transfer, but rather due to immune activation at the fetal/maternal interface. Elevated percentages of cord blood switched memory B cells were positively associated with 12-month HiB IgG levels. BAFF concentrations at 6 and 12 months were positively associated with pertussis and HiB IgG levels respectively.DiscussionSustained B cell immunity is highly influenced by early life immune dynamics beginning prior to birth. The findings provide important insights into how germinal center development shapes vaccine responses in healthy infants and provide a foundation for studies of conditions that impair infant immune development.
CD16+ monocytes are involved in the hyper-inflammatory state of Prader-Willi Syndrome by single-cell transcriptomic analysis
Authors: Xu Yunyun , Hou Xu , Guo Honglin , Yao Zhenyu , Fan Xiude , Xu Chao , Li Guimei , Wang Yanzhou , Sun Yan , Gao Ling , Song Yongfeng , Zhao Jiajun 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundPatients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a reduced life expectancy due to inflammation-related disease including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Abnormal activation of peripheral immune system is postulated as a contributor. However, detailed features of the peripheral immune cells in PWS have not been fully elucidated.MethodsSerum inflammatory cytokines were measured in healthy controls (n=13) and PWS patients (n=10) using a 65- multiplex cytokine assays. Changes of the peripheral immune cells in PWS was assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and high-dimensional mass cytometry (CyTOF) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from PWS patients (n=6) and healthy controls (n=12).ResultsPWS patients exhibited hyper-inflammatory signatures in PBMCs and monocytes were the most pronounced. Most inflammatory serum cytokines were increased in PWS, including IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-12p70, and TNF-α. The characteristics of monocytes evaluated by scRNA-seq and CyTOF showed that CD16+ monocytes were significantly increased in PWS patients. Functional pathway analysis revealed that CD16+ monocytes upregulated pathways in PWS were closely associated with TNF/IL-1β- driven inflammation signaling. The CellChat analysis identified CD16+ monocytes transmitted chemokine and cytokine signaling to drive inflammatory process in other cell types. Finally, we explored the PWS deletion region 15q11–q13 might be responsible for elevated levels of inflammation in the peripheral immune system.ConclusionThe study highlights that CD16+ monocytes contributor to the hyper-inflammatory state of PWS which provides potential targets for immunotherapy in the future and expands our knowledge of peripheral immune cells in PWS at the single cell level for the first time.
A novel precision-serology assay for SARS-CoV-2 infection based on linear B-cell epitopes of Spike protein
Authors: Lundin Samuel B. , Kann Hanna , Fulurija Alma , Andersson Björn , Nakka Sravya S. , Andersson Lars-Magnus , Gisslén Magnus , Harandi Ali M. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the need for serology diagnostics with improved accuracy. While conventional serology based on recognition of entire proteins or subunits thereof has made significant contribution to the antibody assessment space, it often suffers from sub-optimal specificity. Epitope-based, high-precision, serology assays hold potential to capture the high specificity and diversity of the immune system, hence circumventing the cross-reactivity with closely related microbial antigens.MethodsWe herein report mapping of linear IgG and IgA antibody epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein in samples from SARS-CoV-2 exposed individuals along with certified SARS-CoV-2 verification plasma samples using peptide arrays.ResultsWe identified 21 distinct linear epitopes. Importantly, we showed that pre-pandemic serum samples contain IgG antibodies reacting to the majority of protein S epitopes, most likely as a result of prior infection with seasonal coronaviruses. Only 4 of the identified SARS-CoV-2 protein S linear epitopes were specific for SARS-CoV-2 infection. These epitopes are located at positions 278-298 and 550-586, just proximal and distal to the RBD, as well as at position 1134-1156 in the HR2 subdomain and at 1248-1271 in the C-terminal subdomain of protein S. To substantiate the applicability of our findings, we tested three of the high-accuracy protein S epitopes in a Luminex assay, using a certified validation plasma sample set from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. The Luminex results were well aligned with the peptide array results, and correlated very well with in-house and commercial immune assays for RBD, S1 and S1/S2 domains of protein S.ConclusionWe present a comprehensive mapping of linear B-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 protein S, that identifies peptides suitable for a precision serology assay devoid of cross-reactivity. These results have implications for development of highly specific serology test for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other members of the coronaviridae family, as well as for rapid development of serology tests for future emerging pandemic threats.