bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prebiotic properties of isomaltooligosaccharides from cassava as a potential ingredient in high-protein drinks for athletes
Authors: Keawyok Kridsada , Waree Warakorn , Jodnak Supavadee 
Published: March 2023

Background: Studies show that prebiotics can improve the health of athletes. Isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) is a food ingredient containing prebiotic properties.Objectives: The purpose of the study is to examine the prebiotic properties of isomaltooligosaccharides based on digestibility of in vitro under-simulated upper-gut conditions and a prebiotic activity score. Additionally, the study explores the potential to use IMO as an ingredient for high protein drinks.Methods: IMO powder from cassava starch was prepared through enzymatic methods. The prebiotic properties of IMO were evaluated based on in vitro digestibility and a prebiotic activity score. Researchers assessed the digestibility of in vitro in simulated upper-gastrointestinal-tract conditions, consisting of mouth digestion, gastric digestion, and small-intestine digestion. The study calculated the probiotic activity score according to the number of growing beneficial and harmful bacteria. Finally, researchers determined the potential to use IMO as an ingredient for developing high-protein drink products.Results:The digestion of IMO by simulated salivary fluid using human salivary α-amylase for 2 min, artificial human gastric juice at pH 2.0 for two hours, intestinal fluid with pancreatic α-amylase (0.75 unit/mL), and pancreatic lipase (1.6 unit/mL) for two hours with a pH of 6.9 and a temperature of 37 oC were 1.54±0.33%, 9.19±0.64%, and 33.27±4.09%, respectively. Comparing the results with commercial isomaltooligosaccharide (cIMO), researchers found that the percentage of digestion differed significantly. Prebiotic activity scores of IMO for L. rhamnosus LGG®, L. paracasei CASEI 431®, L. acidophilus LA 5, B. longum DSM 219, B. animalis subsp. BB12® and B. bifidum BB536 were 0.477±0.07, 2.197±0.58, -0.058±0.16, 1.660±0.63, 0.801±0.59 and 1.179±0.05, respectively. Notably, the results were not significant when compared to cIMO. Researchers measured the nutritional formula in a high-protein drink containing IMO at 40 g (30 g protein) and the total serving at 148 kcal. For macronutrient distribution, the ratio of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in the product is 81:19:0. Micronutrients were added, comprising of 0-50% Thai RDI. Finally, the product also met relevant standards for the microbial quality of food products in powdered form. Conclusion:IMO from cassava was partially resistant to in vitro digestion under simulated upper-gastrointestinal conditions and promoted the growth of probiotic bacteria. Moreover, powdered IMO can be used as an ingredient for high-protein drink products.Keywords: prebiotic, probiotic, high protein drinking, athletes, IMO
Effect of different pelvic-drop exercises on hip muscles activity in patients with gluteus medius weakness
Authors: Baik Seung-Min , Lee Ji-Hyun 
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND: Pelvic-drop exercise (PD) is unilateral weight-bearing exercise that is frequently performed in rehabilitation sessions because its easy application can trigger moderate-to-high gluteus medius (Gmed) activity. Hip rotation has been applied to effectively facilitate Gmed activity during exercise. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of PD with three different hip rotations on Gmed, tensor fasciae latae (TFL), gluteus maximus (Gmax) activity, and Gmed:TFL activity ratio in patients with Gmed weakness. METHODS: Eighteen subjects with Gmed weakness participated. Subjects performed three different forms of PD with neutral hip, hip internal rotation, and hip external rotation position. Surface electromyography was performed to quantify the activity of Gmed, TFL, and Gmax. RESULTS: PD with hip internal rotation showed significantly greater Gmed activity than with neutral hip and hip external rotation ([Formula: see text] 0.005 and [Formula: see text] 0.007, respectively). TFL also showed significantly greater activity during PD with hip interna rotation than neutral hip ([Formula: see text] 0.002). There were no significant differences in Gmax activity ([Formula: see text] 0.095) and Gmed:TFL activity ratio ([Formula: see text] 0.254) among different forms of PD. CONCLUSIONS: PD with hip internal rotation is recommended to stimulate greater Gmed activity while preserving Gmed:TFL muscle activity ratio.
Making a Difference: Canadian Women Writers and the Fiction of Social Change
Authors: Gerson Carole 
Published: March 2023

In January 1944, when the influential Toronto critic William Arthur Deacon lamented the absence of a Canadian “equivalent of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’” because Canadians are “still pioneering, still afraid of ourselves intellectually and emotionally,”[1] little did he know that a significant candidate was on the horizon. Gwethalyn Graham’s second novel, Earth and High Heaven, which appeared later that year, launched an analysis of anti-Semitism that was quickly embraced by cultural arbiters and the general public in both Canada and the United States. This essay situates the production and reception history of Graham’s book in relation to other novels by English-Canadian women writers that advocated for social change, and offers cases studies of the three most widely disseminated works that used the power of fiction to marshal empathy: Marshall Saunders’s Beautiful Joe (1894), Graham’s Earth and High Heaven (1944) and Joy Kogawa’s Obasan (1981).

[1]W.A. Deacon, “Gearing the Arts in Canada to Postwar Nation-Building,” Globe and Mail, 1 January 1944: 13.
APPLICATION OF PLACKETT-BURMAN DESIGN FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A BETAMETHASONE SUSPENSION FOR INJECTION FORMULATION
Authors: YERLİKAYA Fırat , ARSLAN Aslihan , ARABACI Burak , GENCER Pelin , NEMUTLU Emirhan 
Published: March 2023

Objective: In this study, a quality-by-design (QbD) approach was used to develop a betamethasone suspension for injection formulation and to investigate the possible effects of formulation and process variables on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the formulation.
Material and Method: It was determined that the CQAs of the formulation were particle size distribution, viscosity, sedimentation time, density and assay of active substances and preservatives, considering the quality target product profile (QTPP). Potential risk factors that may affect the CQAs of the formulation were identified using an Ishikawa diagram, and a six-factor, two-level Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to statistically investigate the effects of selected formulation and process variables. The prepared formulations were tested, and variance and multiple linear regression analyses were performed with the acquired data
Result and Discussion: As a result of the one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression analyses, the established statistical models for the assay of methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate, and viscosity were found to be significant, the established models for other independent variables were not significant. The concentration of carmellose calcium and filter type was found to be the most significant formulation and process variables. In conclusion, this study showed that understanding the formulation and process variables that may affect the CQAs of injectable suspension formulations with a QbD approach could be useful for formulation development and optimization.
Surface decorated quantum dots: Synthesis, properties and role in herbal therapy
Authors: Baig Mirza Shahed , Suryawanshi Ravikiran Maheshrao , Zehravi Mehrukh , Mahajan Hitendra S. , Rana Ritesh , Banu Ahemadi , Subramanian Muthukumar , Kaundal Amit Kumar , Puri Sachin , Siddiqui Falak A. , Sharma Rohit , Khan Sharuk L. , Chen Kow-Tong , Emran Talha Bin 
Published: March 2023

Quantum dots are the serendipitous outcome of materials research. It is the tiny carbonaceous nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 1 to 10 nm. This review is a brief discussion of the synthesis, properties, and biomedical applicability of quantum dots, especially in herbal therapy. As quantum dots are highly polar, they can be surface decorated with several kinds of polar functionalities, such as polymeric molecules, small functional molecules, and so on. The review also consists of the basic physical and optical properties of quantum dots and their excitation―dependent properties in the application section. We focus on therapeutics, where quantum dots are used as drugs or imaging probes. Nanoprobes for several diagnostics are quite new in the biomedical research domain. Quantum dot―based nanoprobes are in high demand due to their excellent fluorescence, non-bleaching nature, biocompatibility, anchoring feasibility for several analytes, and fast point―of―care sensibility. Lastly, we also included a discussion on quantum dot―based drug delivery as phytomedicine.
USP8 inhibition regulates autophagy flux and controls Salmonella infection
Authors: Santelices John , Ou Mark , Maegawa Gustavo H. B. , Hercik Kamil , Edelmann Mariola J. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionUbiquitination is an important protein modification that regulates various essential cellular processes, including the functions of innate immune cells. Deubiquitinases are enzymes responsible for removing ubiquitin modification from substrates, and the regulation of deubiquitinases in macrophages during infection with Salmonella Typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica remains unknown.MethodsTo identify deubiquitinases regulated in human macrophages during bacterial infection, an activity-based proteomics screen was conducted. The effects of pharmacological inhibition of the identified deubiquitinase, USP8, were examined, including its impact on bacterial survival within macrophages and its role in autophagy regulation during Salmonella infection.ResultsSeveral deubiquiitnases were differentially regulated in infected macrophages. One of the deubiquitinases identified was USP8, which was downregulated upon Salmonella infection. Inhibition of USP8 was associated with a decrease in bacterial survival within macrophages, and it was found to play a distinct role in regulating autophagy during Salmonella infection. The inhibition of USP8 led to the downregulation of the p62 autophagy adaptor.DiscussionThe findings of this study suggest a novel role of USP8 in regulating autophagy flux, which restricts intracellular bacteria, particularly during Salmonella infection.
Case report: Aggressive progression of acute heart failure due to juvenile tuberculosis-associated Takayasu arteritis with aortic stenosis and thrombosis
Authors: Xuan Wenjie , Wang Zhaoling , Lin Jinjing , Zou Lixia , Xu Xisheng , Yang Xinghui , Xu Yiping , Zhang Yan , Zheng Qi , Xu Xuefeng , Lu Meiping 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundTakayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic granulomatous vasculitis with unknown pathophysiology. TA with severe aortic obstruction has a poor prognosis. However, the efficacy of biologics and appropriate timing of surgical intervention remain controversial. We report a case of tuberculosis (TB)-associated TA with aggressive acute heart failure (AHF), pulmonary hypertension (PH), thrombosis, and seizure, who failed to survive after surgery.Case presentationA 10-year-old boy who developed a cough with chest tightness, shortness of breath, hemoptysis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, PH, and increased C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was hospitalized at the pediatric intensive care unit of our hospital. He had strongly positive purified protein derivative skin test and interferon-gamma release assay result. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed occlusion of proximal left subclavian artery and stenosis of descending aorta and upper abdominal aorta. His condition did not improve after administration of milrinone, diuretics, antihypertensive agents, and intravenous methylprednisolone pulse followed by oral prednisone. Intravenous tocilizumab was administered for five doses, followed by two doses of infliximab, but his HF worsened, and CTA on day 77 showed complete occlusion of the descending aorta with large thrombus. He had a seizure on day 99 with deterioration of renal function. Balloon angioplasty and catheter-directed thrombolysis were performed on day 127. Unfortunately, the child's heart function continued to deteriorate and died on day 133.ConclusionTB infection may be related to juvenile TA. The biologics, thrombolysis, and surgical intervention failed to achieve the anticipated effect in our case with aggressive AHF due to severe aortic stenosis and thrombosis. More studies are needed to determine the role of biologics and surgery in such dire cases.
The risk of long-term cardiometabolic disease in women with premature or early menopause: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Jiajun , Jin Xueshan , Liu Wenbin , Chen Wanying , Wang Lan , Feng Ziyi , Huang Jieming 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundTransition into menopause is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether the association exists between premature menopause (defined as age at menopause 40 years) or early menopause (defined as age at menopause 40–45 years) and CVD or cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this review was to comprehensively evaluate and meta-analyze the most reliable evidence about the relationship between menopausal age and the risk of long-term cardiometabolic disease.MethodsA comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases from inception to October 1, 2022, for titles and abstracts with a restriction to English language papers led to the discovery of the studies. Data are expressed as the Hazard Ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The degree of heterogeneity was measured using the I-square (I2) index.Results921,517 participants from 20 cohort studies published between 1998 and 2022 were considered. Compared to women with menopause at age &gt;45 years, women with premature menopause (PM) or early menopause (EM) had a higher risks of type 2 diabetes (RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08–1.62; RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.91–1.36, respectively), hyperlipidemia (RR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.39; RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02–1.33, respectively), coronary heart disease (RR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.22–1.91; RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07–1.32, respectively), stroke (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02–1.58; RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.97–1.32, respectively) and total cardiovascular event (RR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.16–1.60; RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.97–1.35, respectively). No difference was found for hypertension in PM or EM women (RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89–1.07; RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.91–1.04, respectively). Additionally, we also found that PM women, but not EM women, were linked with an increased risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. However, this is not in line with the conclusion that both PM and EM had a higher risk of total stroke.ConclusionWomen with PM or EM have a higher risk of developing long-term CVD, compared to women with menopause at age &gt;45 years. Therefore, we recommend early lifestyle interventions (e.g., maintaining a healthy lifestyle) and medical treatments (e.g., timely initiation of menopausal hormone therapy) to decrease the risk of cardiometabolic disease in early or premature menopausal women.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO, identifier CRD42022378750
Establishment of a nomogram model for acute chest pain triage in the chest pain center
Authors: Yan Na , Wei Ling , Li Zhiwei , Song Yu 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading life-threatening disease in the emergency department (ED), so rapid chest pain triage is important. This study aimed to establish a clinical prediction model for the risk stratification of acute chest pain patients based on the Point-of-care (POC) cardiac troponin (cTn) level and other clinical variables.MethodsWe conducted a post-hoc analysis of the database from 6,019 consecutive patients (excluding prehospital-diagnosed non-cardiac chest pain patients) attending a local chest pain center (CPC) in China between October 2016 and January 2019. The plasma concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured using a POC cTnI (Cardio Triage, Alere) assay. All the eligible patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts by a 7:3 ratio. We performed multivariable logistic regression to select variables and build a nomogram based on the significant predictive factors. We evaluated the model's generalization ability of diagnostic accuracy in the validation cohort.ResultsWe analyzed data from 5,397 patients that were included in this research. The median turnaround time (TAT) of POC cTnI was 16 min. The model was constructed with 6 variables: ECG ischemia, POC cTnI level, hypotension, chest pain symptom, Killip class, and sex. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the training and validation cohorts was 0.924 and 0.894, respectively. The diagnostic performance was superior to the GRACE score (AUC: 0.737).ConclusionA practical predictive model was created and could be used for rapid and effective triage of acute chest pain patients in the CPC.
Factors contributing to morning rain in the upper Río Chagres Basin, Panamá
Authors: Ishizaki Noriko N. , Nakaegawa Tosiyuki , Pinzón Reinhardt , Sasaki Hidetaka 
Published: March 2023

The Upper Chagres River Basin plays an important role in the stable operation of the Panama Canal. Previous studies have shown that there is a salient regional difference in the diurnal variation of precipitation in the basin. Precipitation during the rainy season peaks in the early afternoon throughout the basin, but precipitation is also observed in the morning at sites in the northern part of the basin. However, the cause of this is not clear due to limited ground observation. To address this issue, we conducted dynamical downscaling experiments with a horizontal grid spacing of 5 and 2 km and nested in a global atmospheric model with horizontal grid spacing of approximately 20 km. The results showed that the 2 km convection-permitting model successfully reproduced regional differences in observed diurnal variations. The downscaled results indicated that intensified low-level northeasterly winds over the southern Caribbean Sea triggered favorable conditions for morning rain with an orographic effect under the seaside coastal regime in the western Caribbean Sea. This is in contrast to precipitation peaks in the early afternoon under a landside coastal regime.
Impact of COVID-19 during pregnancy on placental pathology, maternal and neonatal outcome – A cross-sectional study on anemic term pregnant women from a tertiary care hospital in southern India
Authors: Surekha M. V. , Suneetha N. , Balakrishna N. , Putcha Uday Kumar , Satyanarayana K. , Geddam J. J. Babu , Sreenu Pagidoju , Tulja B. , Mamidi Raja Sriswan , Rutter Guy A. , Meur Gargi 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may cause adverse maternal, neonatal and placental outcomes. While tissue hypoxia is often reported in COVID-19 patients, pregnant women with anemia are suspected to be more prone to placental hypoxia-related injuries.MethodsThis hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August-November 2021, during COVID-19 second wave in India. Term pregnant women (N=212) admitted to hospital for delivery were enrolled consecutively. Since hospital admission mandated negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 virus, none had active infection. Data on socio-demography, COVID-19 history, maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Pre-delivery maternal and post-delivery cord blood samples were tested for hematological parameters and SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Placentae were studied for histology.ResultsOf 212 women, 122 (58%) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, but none reported COVID-19 history; 134 (63.2%) were anemic. In seropositive women, hemoglobin (p=0.04), total WBC (p=0.009), lymphocytes (p=0.005) and neutrophils (p=0.02) were significantly higher, while ferritin was high, but not significant and neutrophils to lymphocytes (p=0.12) and platelets to lymphocytes ratios (p=0.03) were lower. Neonatal outcomes were similar. All RBC parameters and serum ferritin were significantly lower in anemic mothers but not in cord blood, except RDW that was significantly higher in both, maternal (p=0.007) and cord (p=0.008) blood from seropositive anemic group compared to other groups. Placental histology showed significant increase in villous hypervascularity (p=0.000), dilated villous capillaries (p=0.000), and syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.02) in seropositive group, typically suggesting placental hypoxia. Maternal anemia was not associated with any histological parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of placental histopathological adverse outcomes showed strong association with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity but not with maternal anemia. When adjusted for several covariates, including anemia, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity emerged as independent risk factor for severe chorangiosis (AOR 8.74, 95% CI 3.51-21.76, p&lt;0.000), dilated blood vessels (AOR 12.74, 95% CI 5.46-29.75, p&lt;0.000), syncytiotrophoblasts (AOR 2.86, 95% CI 1.36-5.99, p=0.005) and villus agglutination (AOR 9.27, 95% CI 3.68-23.32, p&lt;0.000).ConclusionAsymptomatic COVID-19 during pregnancy seemed to be associated with various abnormal placental histopathologic changes related to placental hypoxia independent of maternal anemia status. Our data supports an independent role of SARS-CoV-2 in causing placental hypoxia in pregnant women.
Racial differences in the associations between adiposity, placental growth hormone and inflammatory cytokines in pregnant women
Authors: Williams Camille Y. , Wylie Amanda , Ghobrial Verina , Coe Christopher L. , Short Sarah J. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity among women of child-bearing age has contributed to an increased risk of pregnancy complications with a disproportional impact on women of lower socioeconomic status and among certain racial groups. In particular, socio-demographic and historical factors have resulted in higher rates of premature births and small-for-gestational age infants among Black women, which may be associated with placental function during pregnancy. The current study investigated the influence of maternal pre-pregnancy adiposity and race on the associations between inflammatory proteins, placental growth hormone (PGH), and infant birthweight. This information was collected for a subsample of 109 participants (Black, n = 39 vs. White, n = 70) from the Brain and Early Experiences (BEE) study.MethodsSerum samples were acquired late in the second trimester to assess PGH levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Participant questionnaire responses provided information on pre-pregnancy BMI, health, race, educational attainment, and infant birthweight. Bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression models were utilized to evaluate associations by race between preconception adiposity, inflammatory markers and PGH.ResultsAfter controlling for covariates including maternal age and education, gestational age, and fetal sex, regression models indicated that pre-pregnancy BMI was negatively associated with PGH (β=-0.42, p&lt;0.05) and IL-8 was positively associated with PGH (β=0.35, p&lt;0.05) among the Black mothers only; neither were significantly associated with PGH in the White mothers. When extending models to birth outcomes, BMI was positively associated with birthweight corrected for gestational age (BWz) (β=0.24, p&lt;0.05) and educational attainment was negatively associated with BWz (β=0.28, p&lt;0.05) for infants of White women. In contrast, neither variable was predictive of BWz for infants of Black mothers.ConclusionFuture work is needed to investigate racial differences in the association between adiposity and placental functioning, which are likely to contribute to differential effects on pregnancy outcomes and fetal growth.