bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture improved hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced NAFLD rats by regulating intestinal microbiota
Authors: Wang Haiying , Wang Qiang , Liang Cuimei , Pan Liang , Hu Hui , Fang Hongjuan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundIntestinal dysbiosis has been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Acupuncture has been shown to have beneficial effects on NAFLD, but the mechanism is not yet clear. This study explores the potential beneficial effects of acupuncture on intestinal microbiota in NAFLD.MethodsAn NAFLD model in Sprague Dawley rats was established using a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10  weeks. NAFLD rats were randomly divided into control, model, and acupuncture groups. Following acupuncture treatment over 6 weeks, automated biochemical analysis was used to measure serum lipid metabolism parameters, including levels of alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The level of serum inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The characteristics of steatosis were evaluated using quantitative computed tomography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Oil Red O staining in the liver, while the intestinal microbiota was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsAcupuncture decreased the systemic inflammatory response, ameliorated dyslipidemia, and improved liver function indexes in NAFLD model rats. Tomography and staining indicated that acupuncture reduced steatosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver. 16S rRNA analysis showed that acupuncture reduced the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, increased the abundance of microbiota, including Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Prevotellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Blautia, norank_f_Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Bacteroides, and Prevotella_9, and decreased the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014. Correlation analysis suggested a close correlation between lipid metabolism, inflammation factors, hepatic steatosis, and the changed intestinal microbiota.ConclusionAcupuncture can significantly improve lipid metabolism and the systemic inflammatory response in HFD-induced NAFLD rats, potentially by regulating intestinal microbiota composition.
Genetic characterization of human adenoviruses in patients using metagenomic next-generation sequencing in Hubei, China, from 2018 to 2019
Authors: Fang Bin , Lai Juan , Liu Yongfeng , Yu Tian-tian , Yu Xiao , Li Xiang , Dong Lijun , Zhang Xin , Yang Wei , Yan Qin , Sun Lei , Liu Lin-lin 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize the genomic epidemiology of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in Hubei, China, using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).MethodsIn total, 25 HAdV-positive samples collected from 21 pediatric patients were sequenced and subjected to mNGS using the NextSeq 550 and GenoLab M sequencing platforms. The metagenomic data were assembled de novo for molecular typing, phylogenetic and recombination analyzes.ResultsWe assembled 50 HAdV genomes, 88% (22/25) genomes from GenoLab M, and 84% (21/25) genomes from NextSeq 550 have perfect alignments to reference genomes with greater than 90%. The most fully assembled 25 genomes were categorized into 7 HAdV genotypes, the most abundant of which were HAdV-B3 (9/25) and HAdV-C2 (6/25). Phylogenetic analyzes revealed that the newly isolated HAdV-B3 strains diverged into separate clusters according to their genotypes. Vigilance is needed that HAdV-B3 isolates have begun to form new distinct clusters. High nucleotide identity was observed in the whole genome level within the same HAdV genotypes, while marked differences of three capsid genes across HAdV genotypes were noted. The high nucleotide diversity regions were concordant with the reported hypervariable regions. Further, three recombinant strains were identified: S64 and S71 originated from the parental strains HAdV-B14 and HAdV-B11, and S28 originated from HAdV-C1, HAdV-C5, and HAdV-CBJ113. GenoLab M and NextSeq 550 showed comparable performance with respect to data yield, duplication rate, human ratio, and assembly completeness.ConclusionThe sequencing quality and assembly accuracy showed that mNGS assembled genomes can be used for subsequently HAdV genotyping and genomic characterization. The high nucleotide diversity of capsid genes and high frequency of recombination events has highlighted the necessity for HAdV epidemiological surveillance in China.
Retinal fingerprints of ALS in patients: Ganglion cell apoptosis and TDP-43/p62 misplacement
Authors: Pediconi Natalia , Gigante Ylenia , Cama Silvia , Pitea Martina , Mautone Lorenza , Ruocco Giancarlo , Ghirga Silvia , Di Angelantonio Silvia 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neuron function. Although ophthalmic deficits are not considered a classic symptom of ALS, recent studies suggest that changes in retinal cells, similar to those in the spinal cord motor neurons, have been observed in postmortem human tissues and animal models.MethodsIn this study, we examined by immunofluorescence analysis the retinal cell layers of sporadic ALS patients in post-mortem retinal slices. We evaluated the presence of cytoplasmic TDP-43 and SQSTM1/p62 aggregates, activation of the apoptotic pathway, and microglia and astrocytes reactivity.ResultsWe found in the retinal ganglion cell layer of ALS patients the increase of mislocalized TDP-43, SQSTM1/p62 aggregates, activation of cleaved caspase-3, and microglia density, suggesting that retinal changes can be used as an additional diagnostic tool for ALS.DiscussionThe retina is considered part of the central nervous system, and neurodegenerative changes in the brain may be accompanied by structural and possibly functional changes in the neuroretina and ocular vasculature. Therefore, using in vivo retinal biomarkers as an additional diagnostic tool for ALS may provide an opportunity to longitudinally monitor individuals and therapies over time in a noninvasive and cost-effective manner.
Necessity and timing of angioplasty in acute large-vessel occlusion strokes due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease: A cohort analysis with data from the angel-ACT registry
Authors: Deng Yiming , Yao Yunchu , Tong Xu , Yin Yue , Wang Anxin , Zhang Yijun , Jia Baixue , Huo Xiaochuan , Luo Gang , Ma Ning , Mo Dapeng , Song Ligang , Sun Xuan , Gao Feng , Chen Duanduan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThe effects of angioplasty on intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD)-related acute large-vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) are unknown. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of angioplasty or stenting for ICAD-related LVOS and the optimal treatment duration.MethodsPatients with ICAD-related LVOS from a prospective cohort of the Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Work Flow Improvement of Acute Ischemia Stroke registry were classified as follows: the early intraprocedural angioplasty and/or stenting (EAS) group was defined as the strategy using angioplasty or stenting without mechanical thrombectomy (MT) or one attempt of MT; the non-angioplasty and/or stenting (NAS) group, MT procedure without any angioplasty; and the late intraprocedural angioplasty and/or stenting (LAS) group, using same angioplasty techniques following two or more passes of MT. The primary endpoint was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days. Other efficacy outcomes included mRS scores 0–1, mRS 0–2, and successful recanalization. Death within 90 days, and symptomatic ICH were safety endpoints. We use propensity score method to diminish the effect of treatment-selection bias. The odds ratio of recanalization rate and mRS score among EAS, NAS, and LAS groups were examined by unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis among unweighted samples and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) samples.ResultsWe divided 475 cases into three groups. Functional outcomes at 90 days were better in the EAS group than in the NAS and LAS groups. The proportion of mRS 0–1, mRS 0–2, and successful recanalization cases were the highest in the EAS group. However, after IPTW, mortality rate among the three groups were similar (EAS vs. NAS vs. LAS: 19.0 vs. 18.1 vs. 18.7%, p = 0.98) as well as symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 24 h however, mortality rate and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage among the three groups were similar. Logistic regression analysis in unweighted samples and IPTW samples both showed that EAS group had better outcomes. IPTW-adjusted logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the EAS group had better outcomes (mRS 0–1) than the NAS group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34–0.88, p = 0.01) and LAS (aOR, 0.39; 95% CI: 0.22–0.68, p = 0.001).ConclusionsAngioplasty and/or stenting should be performed at an early stage for ICAD-related acute LVOS.RegistrationURL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03370939.
Influence of the constraint-induced method of constraint-induced movement therapy on improving lower limb outcomes after stroke: A meta-analysis review
Authors: Zhang Jing , Feng Hongsheng , Lin Jinpeng , Zhai Hua , Shen Xia 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundConstraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) targeting the lower limb function uses various methods. The influence of CIMT methods on lower limb outcomes after stroke has rarely been examined.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine CIMT effects on lower limb outcomes and explore the influence of CIMT methods on treatment effects after stroke, with other potential factors considered as covariates.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Academic Search PremierviaEBSCOHost, and PEDro databases were searched until September 2022. We included randomized control trials with CIMT targeting the lower limb function and dosage-matched active control. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of each study. Hedges' g was used to quantify the effect size of CIMT on outcomes compared to the active control. Meta-analyses were conducted across all studies. A mixed-variable meta-regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of CIMT methods on treatment effects after stroke, with other potential factors considered as covariates.ResultsTwelve eligible randomized controlled trials with CIMT were included in the meta-analysis, where 10 trials were with a low risk of bias. A total of 341 participants with stroke were involved. For the treatment effects on the lower limb function, CIMT showed a moderate short-term effect size [Hedges' g = 0.567;P&gt; 0.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.203–0.931], but a small and insignificant long-term effect size (Hedges' g = 0.470;P&gt; 0.05; 95%CI: −0.173 to 1.112), compared with conventional treatment. The CIMT method of using a weight strapped around the non-paretic leg and the ICF outcome category of the movement function were identified as significant factors contributing to the heterogeneity of short-term effect sizes across studies (β = −0.854 and 1.064, respectively,R2= 98%,P&gt; 0.05). Additionally, using a weight strapped around the non-paretic leg had a significant contribution to the heterogeneity of long-term effect sizes across studies as well (β = −1.000,R2= 77%,P&gt; 0.05).ConclusionConstraint-induced movement therapy is superior to conventional treatment for improvement of lower limb function in the short-term but not in the long-term. The CIMT method of using a weight strapped around a non-paretic leg contributed negatively to the treatment effect, and therefore might not be recommended.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021268681.
The association between blood pressure variability and perihematomal edema after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Sondag Lotte , Wolsink Axel , Jolink Wilmar M. T. , Voigt Sabine , van Walderveen Marianne A. A. , Wermer Marieke J. H. , Klijn Catharina J. M. , Schreuder Floris H. B. M. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundPerihematomal edema (PHE) after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is associated with clinical deterioration, but the etiology of PHE development is only partly understood.AimsWe aimed to investigate the association between systemic blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) and formation of PHE.MethodsFrom a multicenter prospective observational study, we selected patients with sICH who underwent 3T brain MRI within 21 days after sICH, and had at least 5 BP measurements available in the first week after sICH. Primary outcome was the association between coefficient of variation (CV) of systolic BP (SBP) and edema extension distance (EED) using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for age, sex, ICH volume and timing of the MRI. In addition, we investigated the associations of mean SBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), their CVs with EED and absolute and relative PHE volume.ResultsWe included 92 patients (mean age 64 years; 74% men; median ICH volume 16.8 mL (IQR 6.6–36.0), median PHE volume 22.5 mL (IQR 10.2–41.4). Median time between symptom onset and MRI was 6 days (IQR 4–11), median number of BP measurements was 25 (IQR 18–30). Log-transformed CV of SBP was not associated with EED (B = 0.050, 95%-CI −0.186 to 0.286, p = 0.673). Furthermore, we found no association between mean SBP, mean and CV of MAP and EED, nor between mean SBP, mean MAP or their CVs and absolute or relative PHE.DiscussionOur results do not support a contributing role for BPV on PHE, suggesting mechanisms other than hydrostatic pressure such as inflammatory processes, may play a more important role.
Evidence of clinical efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of N-butylphthalide in the treatment of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Song Huiping , Yue Aochun , Zhou Xudong , Han Wei , Li Qin 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveBased on network meta-analysis (NMA) and network pharmacology approaches, we explored the clinical efficacy of different regimens, and clarified the pharmacological mechanisms of N-butylphthalide (NBP) in the treatment of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP).MethodsFirstly, NMA was conducted to obtain the ranking of the efficacy of different regimens for the treatment of DEACMP. Secondly, the drug with a relatively high efficacy ranking was selected and its mechanism of treatment for DEACMP was identified through a network pharmacology analysis. By the use of protein interaction and enrichment analysis, the pharmacological mechanism was predicted, and molecular docking was subsequently carried out to verify the reliability of the results.ResultsA total of 17 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1293 patients and 16 interventions were eventually included in our analysis from NMA. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) + NBP significantly increased mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Barthel index (BI) scores; NBP + dexamethasone (DXM) was the most effective treatment in improving the activity of daily living (ADL) scores; NBP significantly decreased national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores; Xingzhi-Yinao granules (XZYN) had more advantages in improving Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores, translational direct current stimulation (tDCS) had a significant effect in improving P300 latency and P300 amplitude and Kinnado + Citicoline had the most obvious effect in improving malondialdehyde (MDA). Meanwhile, by network pharmacology analysis, 33 interaction genes between NBP and DEACMP were obtained, and 4 of them were identified as possible key targets in the process of MCODE analysis. 516 Gene ontology (GO) entries and 116 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) entries were achieved by enrichment analysis. Molecular docking showed that NBP had good docking activity with the key targets.ConclusionThe NMA screened for regimens with better efficacy for each outcome indicator in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment. NBP can stably bind ALB, ESR1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, and other targets, and may play a role in neuroprotection for patients with DEACMP by modulating Lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Impact of dataset size and long-term ECoG-based BCI usage on deep learning decoders performance
Authors: Śliwowski Maciej , Martin Matthieu , Souloumiac Antoine , Blanchart Pierre , Aksenova Tetiana 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionIn brain-computer interfaces (BCI) research, recording data is time-consuming and expensive, which limits access to big datasets. This may influence the BCI system performance as machine learning methods depend strongly on the training dataset size. Important questions arise: taking into account neuronal signal characteristics (e.g., non-stationarity), can we achieve higher decoding performance with more data to train decoders? What is the perspective for further improvement with time in the case of long-term BCI studies? In this study, we investigated the impact of long-term recordings on motor imagery decoding from two main perspectives: model requirements regarding dataset size and potential for patient adaptation.MethodsWe evaluated the multilinear model and two deep learning (DL) models on a long-term BCI &amp; Tetraplegia (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02550522) clinical trial dataset containing 43 sessions of ECoG recordings performed with a tetraplegic patient. In the experiment, a participant executed 3D virtual hand translation using motor imagery patterns. We designed multiple computational experiments in which training datasets were increased or translated to investigate the relationship between models' performance and different factors influencing recordings.ResultsOur results showed that DL decoders showed similar requirements regarding the dataset size compared to the multilinear model while demonstrating higher decoding performance. Moreover, high decoding performance was obtained with relatively small datasets recorded later in the experiment, suggesting motor imagery patterns improvement and patient adaptation during the long-term experiment. Finally, we proposed UMAP embeddings and local intrinsic dimensionality as a way to visualize the data and potentially evaluate data quality.DiscussionDL-based decoding is a prospective approach in BCI which may be efficiently applied with real-life dataset size. Patient-decoder co-adaptation is an important factor to consider in long-term clinical BCI.
Examining resting-state network connectivity in children exposed to perinatal maternal adversity using anatomically weighted functional connectivity (awFC) analyses; A preliminary report
Authors: Ayyash Sondos , Sunderji Aleeza , Gallant Heather D. , Hall Alexander , Davis Andrew D. , Pokhvisneva Irina , Meaney Michael J. , Silveira Patricia Pelufo , Sassi Roberto B. , Hall Geoffrey B. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionEnvironmental perturbations during critical periods can have pervasive, organizational effects on neurodevelopment. To date, the literature examining the long-term impact of early life adversity has largely investigated structural and functional imaging data outcomes independently. However, emerging research points to a relationship between functional connectivity and the brain’s underlying structural architecture. For instance, functional connectivity can be mediated by the presence of direct or indirect anatomical pathways. Such evidence warrants the use of structural and functional imaging in tandem to study network maturation. Accordingly, this study examines the impact of poor maternal mental health and socioeconomic context during the perinatal period on network connectivity in middle childhood using an anatomically weighted functional connectivity (awFC) approach. awFC is a statistical model that identifies neural networks by incorporating information from both structural and functional imaging data.MethodsResting-state fMRI and DTI scans were acquired from children aged 7–9 years old.ResultsOur results indicate that maternal adversity during the perinatal period can affect offspring’s resting-state network connectivity during middle childhood. Specifically, in comparison to controls, children of mothers who had poor perinatal maternal mental health and/or low socioeconomic status exhibited greater awFC in the ventral attention network.DiscussionThese group differences were discussed in terms of the role this network plays in attention processing and maturational changes that may accompany the consolidation of a more adult-like functional cortical organization. Furthermore, our results suggest that there is value in using an awFC approach as it may be more sensitive in highlighting connectivity differences in developmental networks associated with higher-order cognitive and emotional processing, as compared to stand-alone FC or SC analyses.
Exploiting embryonic niche conditions to grow Wilms tumor blastema in culture
Authors: Wojcik Heather M. , Lovvorn Harold N. , Hollingshead Melinda , Pierce Janene , Stotler Howard , Murphy Andrew J. , Borgel Suzanne , Phelps Hannah M. , Correa Hernan , Perantoni Alan O. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionWilms Tumor (WT), or nephroblastoma, is the most common pediatric kidney cancer. Most WTs display a “favorable” triphasic histology, in which the tumor is comprised of blastemal, stromal, and epithelial cell types. Blastemal predominance after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or diffuse anaplasia (“unfavorable” histology; 5-8%) portend a worse prognosis. Blastema likely provide the putative cancer stem cells (CSCs), which retain molecular and histologic features characteristic of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), within WTs. NPCs arise in the metanephric mesenchyme (MM) and populate the cap mesenchyme (CM) in the developing kidney. WT blastemal cells, like NPCs, similarly express markers, SIX2 and CITED1. Tumor xenotransplantation is currently the only dependable method to propagate tumor tissue for research or therapeutic screening, since efforts to culture tumors in vitro as monolayers have invariably failed. Therefore, a critical need exists to propagate WT stem cells rapidly and efficiently for high-throughput, real-time drug screening.MethodsPreviously, our lab developed niche conditions that support the propagation of murine NPCs in culture. Applying similar conditions to WTs, we assessed our ability to maintain key NPC "stemness" markers, SIX2, NCAM, and YAP1, and CSC marker ALDHI in cells from five distinct untreated patient tumors.ResultsAccordingly, our culture conditions maintained the expression of these markers in cultured WT cells through multiple passages of rapidly dividing cells.DiscussionThese findings suggest that our culture conditions sustain the WT blastemal population, as previously shown for normal NPCs. As a result, we have developed new WT cell lines and a multi-passage in vitro model for studying the blastemal lineage/CSCs in WTs. Furthermore, this system supports growth of heterogeneous WT cells, upon which potential drug therapies could be tested for efficacy and resistance.