bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Add‐on Alpha‐Lipoic Acid on Migraine Prophylaxis in an Adolescent Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Puliappadamb Haridas Mundot , Satpathy Amit Kumar , Mishra Biswa Ranjan , Maiti Rituparna , Jena Monalisa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractNutraceuticals like alpha‐lipoic acid (ALA) may have potential benefits as prophylactic agents for adolescent migraine, with fewer adverse events than existing medications. The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of add‐on ALA for prophylaxis in adolescent migraine. A randomized, open‐label, add‐on clinical trial was conducted with 60 adolescent migraineurs, who were randomized to receive flunarizine or flunarizine with an add‐on ALA. A clinical evaluation of the frequency and severity of migraine, responder rate, Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS) scoring, serum thiol, and serum calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) was performed both at baseline and following 12 weeks of treatment. The frequency of acute attacks of migraine decreased significantly (P = .001) in the test group compared with the control group. The responder rate was found to be significantly higher (80%) in the test group than in the control group (33.3%) (P = .001). The mean monthly migraine headache days in the test group showed a significant reduction (−7.7 days, 95%CI −9.1 to −6.3 days; P = .010). The severity of acute migraine attacks (mild, moderate, severe) also showed a significant reduction in the test group (P = .001). PedMIDAS scores showed significant improvement in the test group (P = .021), in comparison with the control group. Serum thiol levels were significantly increased in the test group (18 mmol/L, 95%CI 13.5 to 36.1 mmol/L; P = .001). Serum CGRP levels showed a significant reduction with adjunctive ALA therapy (−122.4 pg/mL, 95%CI −142.3 to −89.0 pg/mL; P = .006). Add‐on ALA with flunarizine as a prophylactic agent for migraine in adolescents can improve clinical outcomes by improving clinical and biochemical parameters.
Correlations of PCSK9 and LDLR Gene Polymorphisms and Serum PCSK9 Levels With Atherosclerosis and Lipid Metabolism in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
Authors: Cui Jun , Qiu Yuxiang , Kang Ningsu , Lu Jianxun , Zheng Lu 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis study is aimed at investigating the correlations of PCSK9 and LDLR gene polymorphisms as well as serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels with atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). A single nucleotide polymorphism at the E670G locus of the PCSK9 gene and the rs688 locus of the LDLR gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. All study subjects’ blood lipid (triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL‐C], and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL‐C]) concentrations and lipoprotein(a) and PCSK9 levels were measured. The differences in blood lipid levels between different genotypes of the E670G locus of the PCSK9 gene and the rs688 locus of the LDLR gene in patients on maintenance HD with atherosclerosis were compared. Patients on maintenance HD with atherosclerosis at the E670G locus of the PCSK9 gene AG + GG genotype had higher levels of TG, TC, LDL‐C, and lipoprotein(a) than the AA genotype, and lower levels of HDL‐C than the AA genotype. Patients on maintenance HD with atherosclerosis at the rs688 locus of the LDLR gene CT + TT genotype had higher levels of TG, TC, LDL‐C, and lipoprotein(a) than the CC genotype, and lower levels of HDL‐C than the CC genotype. Serum PCSK9 contents in patients on maintenance HD with atherosclerosis were positively correlated with lipid indices (TG, TC, LDL‐C, and lipoprotein(a)) and carotid ultrasound indices (intima‐media thickness and resistance index), and negatively correlated with HDL‐C, maximum systolic blood flow velocity, and minimum diastolic blood flow velocity (all P < .05).
Longitudinal studies of child mental disorders in the general population: A systematic review of study characteristics
Authors: Bogdan Theodora , Xie Weiyi , Talaat Habeba , Mir Hafsa , Venkataraman Bhargavi , Banfield Laura E. , Georgiades Katholiki , Duncan Laura 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionLongitudinal studies of child mental disorders in the general population (herein study) investigate trends in prevalence, incidence, risk/protective factors, and sequelae for disorders. They are time and resource intensive but offer life‐course perspectives and examination of causal mechanisms. Comprehensive syntheses of the methods of existing studies will provide an understanding of studies conducted to date, inventory studies, and inform the planning of new longitudinal studies.MethodsA systematic review of the research literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO was conducted in December 2022 for longitudinal studies of child mental disorders in the general population. Records were grouped by study and assessed for eligibility. Data were extracted from one of four sources: a record reporting study methodology, a record documenting child mental disorder prevalence, study websites, or user guides. Narrative and tabular syntheses of the scope and design features of studies were generated.ResultsThere were 18,133 unique records for 487 studies—159 of these were eligible for inclusion. Studies occurred from 1934 to 2019 worldwide, with data collection across 1 to 68 time points, with 70% of studies ongoing. Baseline sample sizes ranged fromn = 151 to 64,136. Studies were most frequently conducted in the United States and at the city/town level. Internalizing disorders and disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders were the most frequently assessed mental disorders. Of studies reporting methods of disorder assessment, almost all used measurement scales. Individual, familial and environmental risk and protective factors and sequelae were examined.ConclusionsThese results summarize characteristics of existing longitudinal studies of child mental disorders in the general population, provide an understanding of studies conducted to date, encourage comprehensive and consistent reporting of study methodology to facilitate meta‐analytic syntheses of longitudinal evidence, and offer recommendations and suggestions for the design of future studies. Registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/73HSW.
Tumour extracellular vesicles induce neutrophil extracellular traps to promote lymph node metastasis
Authors: Su Xin , Brassard Ariane , Bartolomucci Alexandra , Dhoparee‐Doomah Iqraa , Qiu Qian , Tsering Thupten , Rohanizadeh Ramin , Koufos Olivia , Giannias Betty , Bourdeau France , Feng Lixuan , Messina‐Pacheco Julia , Leo Sabrina , Sangwan Veena , Quail Daniela , Tankel James , Spicer Jonathan , Burnier Julia Valdemarin , Bailey Swneke Donovan , Ferri Lorenzo , Cools‐Lartigue Jonathan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLymph nodes (LNs) are frequently the first sites of metastasis. Currently, the only prognostic LN assessment is determining metastatic status. However, there is evidence suggesting that LN metastasis is facilitated by the formation of a pre‐metastatic niche induced by tumour derived extracellular vehicles (EVs). Therefore, it is important to detect and modify the LN environmental changes. Earlier work has demonstrated that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can sequester and promote distant metastasis. Here, we first confirmed that LN NETs are associated with reduced patient survival. Next, we demonstrated that NETs deposition precedes LN metastasis and NETs inhibition diminishes LN metastases in animal models. Furthermore, we discovered that EVs are essential to the formation of LN NETs. Finally, we showed that lymphatic endothelial cells secrete CXCL8/2 in response to EVs inducing NETs formation and the promotion of LN metastasis. Our findings reveal the role of EV‐induced NETs in LN metastasis and provide potential immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities that may occur early in the metastatic cascade.
Comprehensive characterization of human brain‐derived extracellular vesicles using multiple isolation methods: Implications for diagnostic and therapeutic applications
Authors: Zhang Zhengrong , Yu Kaiwen , You Yang , Jiang Peizhou , Wu Zhiping , DeTure Michael A. , Dickson Dennis W. , Ikezu Seiko , Peng Junmin , Ikezu Tsuneya 
Published: August 2023

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular communication and promising biomarkers and therapeutics in the central nervous system (CNS). Human brain‐derived EVs (BDEVs) provide a comprehensive snapshot of physiological changes in the brain's environment, however, the isolation of BDEVs and the comparison of different methods for this purpose have not been fully investigated. In this study, we compared the yield, morphology, subtypes and protein cargo composition of EVs isolated from the temporal cortex of aged human brains using three established separation methods: size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), phosphatidylserine affinity capture (MagE) and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation (SG‐UC). Our results showed that SG‐UC method provided the highest yield and collected larger EVs compared to SEC and MagE methods as assessed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Quantitative tandem mass‐tag (TMT) mass spectrometry analysis of EV samples from three different isolation methods identified a total of 1158 proteins, with SG‐UC showing the best enrichment of common EV proteins with less contamination of non‐EV proteins. In addition, SG‐UC samples were enriched in proteins associated with ATP activity and CNS maintenance, and were abundant in neuronal and oligodendrocytic molecules. In contrast, MagE samples were more enriched in molecules related to lipoproteins, cell‐substrate junction and microglia, whereas SEC samples were highly enriched in molecules related to extracellular matrix, Alzheimer's disease and astrocytes. Finally, we validated the proteomic results by performing single‐particle analysis using the super‐resolution microscopy and flow cytometry. Overall, our findings demonstrate the differences in yield, size, enrichment of EV cargo molecules and single EV assay by different isolation methods, suggesting that the choice of isolation method will have significant impact on the downstream analysis and protein discovery.
Clinical and haematological characteristics of 38 individuals with Hb G‐Makassar in Malaysia
Authors: Esa Ezalia , Mohamad Ahmad Sabry , Hamzah Roszymah , Hamid Faidatul Syazlin Abdul , Aziz Nur Aisyah , Sevaratnam Veena , Sathar Jameela , Chen Guo , Yasin Norafiza Mohd 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHaemoglobin (Hb) G‐Makassar is a rare Hb variant. It presents a diagnostic challenge as it imitates sickle Hb (Hb S) in standard electrophoresis and high‐performance liquid chromatography assays requiring DNA analysis to confirm diagnosis. Both have point mutations in codon 6, exon 1 in the β‐globin (HBB) gene with different pathogenicities. This study describes the clinical phenotype, haematology and genotype of Hb G‐Makassar. Clinical and laboratory data of 38 cases of Hb G‐Makassar over 8 years were analysed. Hb G‐Makassar was confirmed by a direct sequencing of HBB gene and co‐inheritance of α‐thalassaemia determined through multiplex gap‐PCR and multiplex Amplification Refractory Mutation System polymerase chain reaction. All cases were Malays, predominantly from Terengganu (n = 20, 52.6%). There were 14 (36.8%) males and 24 (63.2%) females with median age of 25 years. Majority (n = 33, 86.8%) had features of thalassaemia trait with mean ± SD for Hb, mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) as 13.21 g/dL ± 1.69, 73.06 ± 4.48 fL and 24.71 ± 1.82 pg, respectively. None had evidence of haemolysis or thromboembolic complications. Six genotypes were identified; ßG‐Makassar/ß,αα/αα (n = 19, 50.0%), ßG‐Makassar/ßE,αα/αα (n = 4, 10.5%), ßG‐Makassar/ßNewYork,αα/αα (n = 1, 2.6%), ßG‐Makassar/ß,αα/‐α (n = 11, 28.9%), ßG‐Makassar/ß,αα/αAdanaα (n = 2, 5.3%) and ßG‐Makassar/ß,αα/–SEA (n = 1, 2.6%). The ßG‐Makassar/ß,αα/αα showed that features of thalassaemia trait with mean ± SD for Hb, MCV and MCH were 13.74 g/dL ± 2.40, 76.18 ± 6.02 fL and 25.79 ± 2.41 pg, respectively. This is the largest study reporting a significant number of Hb G‐Makassar in Malaysia. Although the mutation is similar to Hb S, the phenotype is benign.
Description of the neuroanatomy of the brachial plexus in South American lizards. Phylogenetic implications
Authors: Navarro Exequiel Alejandro , Quipildor Matias , Quinteros Sebastián 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFew studies considered the anatomy of the nerve plexuses and musculature associated with them in ectothermic sauropsids. Based on differentiated Sudan Black B staining and conventional dissections, we describe the neuroanatomy of the brachial plexus, its main associated nerves, and muscles. For that, representatives of the genera Diplolaemus, Liolaemus, Phymaturus, and Tropidurus were selected. Based on this, potentially useful characters for phylogenetic analysis were described. Our results show that the brachial plexus can be formed by four, five, or six nerve branches. The brachial flexor trunk, circumflex, interosseous, median, radial, subscapulocoracoid, supracoracoid, and ulnar nerves were identified. Regarding the muscles innervated by the main nerves, the following muscles were identified: biceps brachii, deltoideus scapularis, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, pectoralis, serratus thoracis, trapezius, triceps longus caudalis, and triceps longus lateralis. Phylogenetic analyzes revealed 31 potential synapomorphies. There exists evidence that neuroanatomy studies in a phylogenetic context could provide useful information helping to elucidate the relationships between taxonomic groups.
Molecular and immune signatures, and pathological trajectories of fatal COVID‐19 lungs defined by in situ spatial single‐cell transcriptome analysis
Authors: Das Arun , Meng Wen , Liu Zhentao , Hasib Md Musaddaqul , Galloway Hugh , Ramos da Silva Suzane , Chen Luping , Sica Gabriel L. , Paniz‐Mondolfi Alberto , Bryce Clare , Grimes Zachary , Sordillo Emilia M. , Cordon‐Cardo Carlos , Rivera Karla Paniagua , Flores Mario , Chiu Yu‐Chiao , Huang Yufei , Gao Shou‐Jiang 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDespite intensive studies during the last 3 years, the pathology and underlying molecular mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the spatial single‐cell molecular and cellular features of postmortem COVID‐19 lung tissues using in situ sequencing (ISS). We detected 10 414 863 transcripts of 221 genes in whole‐slide tissues and segmented them into 1 719 459 cells that were mapped to 18 major parenchymal and immune cell types, all of which were infected by SARS‐CoV‐2. Compared with the non‐COVID‐19 control, COVID‐19 lungs exhibited reduced alveolar cells (ACs) and increased innate and adaptive immune cells. We also identified 19 differentially expressed genes in both infected and uninfected cells across the tissues, which reflected the altered cellular compositions. Spatial analysis of local infection rates revealed regions with high infection rates that were correlated with high cell densities (HIHD). The HIHD regions expressed high levels of SARS‐CoV‐2 entry‐related factors including ACE2, FURIN, TMPRSS2 and NRP1, and co‐localized with organizing pneumonia (OP) and lymphocytic and immune infiltration, which exhibited increased ACs and fibroblasts but decreased vascular endothelial cells and epithelial cells, mirroring the tissue damage and wound healing processes. Sparse nonnegative matrix factorization (SNMF) analysis of niche features identified seven signatures that captured structure and immune niches in COVID‐19 tissues. Trajectory inference based on immune niche signatures defined two pathological routes. Trajectory A primarily progressed with increased NK cells and granulocytes, likely reflecting the complication of microbial infections. Trajectory B was marked by increased HIHD and OP, possibly accounting for the increased immune infiltration. The OP regions were marked by high numbers of fibroblasts expressing extremely high levels of COL1A1 and COL1A2. Examination of single‐cell RNA‐seq data (scRNA‐seq) from COVID‐19 lung tissues and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) identified similar cell populations consisting mainly of myofibroblasts. Immunofluorescence staining revealed the activation of IL6‐STAT3 and TGF‐β‐SMAD2/3 pathways in these cells, likely mediating the upregulation of COL1A1 and COL1A2 and excessive fibrosis in the lung tissues. Together, this study provides a spatial single‐cell atlas of cellular and molecular signatures of fatal COVID‐19 lungs, which reveals the complex spatial cellular heterogeneity, organization, and interactions that characterized the COVID‐19 lung pathology.
Drought metrics and temperature extremes over the Okavango River basin, southern Africa, and links with the Botswana high
Authors: Moses Oliver , Blamey Ross C. , Reason Chris J. C. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe Okavango River Basin (ORB), including the World Heritage site Okavango Delta, is a region of high biodiversity projected to suffer increased early summer drying under climate change. Little work has been done on drought over this sensitive region. Here, various drought metrics are analysed over the ORB. These include a cumulative drought intensity index, based on the product of maximum temperature anomaly and maximum duration of a dry spell, and the Standardized Precipitation‐Evapotranspiration Index. Strong gradients in dry spell and hot day frequencies shift south over the ORB from August to November as the tropical rain‐belt moves increasingly south of the equator, the Congo Air Boundary declines and the Botswana High strengthens and moves southwestwards. By December, the tropical gradient in dry spell frequencies has vanished while that across the Limpopo River and southern ORB region, where the Botswana High is centred, is prominent. sub‐seasonal analyses highlight October–November 2013–2021 as particularly dry and hot over the Okavango Delta region. This dry and hot epoch appears related to a stronger and southward shifted Botswana High and reduced low‐level moisture convergence. On interannual scales, strong relationships were found with the Botswana High and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The early summer shows a strong drying‐warming trend, related to a significant strengthening of the Botswana High. These trends, together with the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 projected early summer drying over southern Africa, may impact severely on the sensitive ecosystems of the ORB and on agriculture, with important implications for the management of agricultural activities, water resources and biodiversity.
Gender and Artistic Creativity: The Perspectives and Experiences of Eminent Female Visual Artists
Authors: Ginis Katrina , Stewart Sandra Elizabeth , Kronborg Leonie 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTThe historically male‐dominated discourse encompassing artistic creativity has often failed to acknowledge the voices and contributions of women. Female artists continue to face barriers in terms of accessing opportunities, attaining positions of prominence, and earning potential, in comparison with their male counterparts. This inequality is deleterious to female artists and society. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationship between artistic creativity and gender, with a particular emphasis on elite female artistic exemplars. The present qualitative study utilized in‐depth semi‐structured interviews, in accordance with the methodology of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, to explore the role of gender in relation to artistic creativity among 10 eminent Australian female visual artists. Findings indicated that participants were affected detrimentally by gender‐based inequality on personal, professional, and sociocultural levels. Their experiences as women, however, also inspired and informed their artistic creativity aesthetically and conceptually. The findings challenge patriarchal conceptualizations of the “male artistic genius” by presenting a female‐focused counternarrative. Implications for educating, supporting, and empowering current and emerging female artists to excel are discussed.
Effect of microwave‐vacuum drying on the physicochemical properties of a functional tomato snack bar
Authors: Gul Muhammed Rasim , Ince Alev Emine , Ozel Baris , Uslu Aymelek Kubra , Çetin Melis , Mentes Duygu , Sumnu Servet Gulum , Oztop Mecit Halil 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDTomato is an indispensable ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. Reformulation of traditional Mediterranean products to increase the adherence of consumers is becoming popular. In this study, a tomato snack bar enriched with olive powder and pea protein was developed by using microwave‐vacuum drying. Formulations also included tomato powder (TP) and low‐methoxylated pectin (LMP) as a structuring agent.RESULTSThe moisture content of microwave‐vacuum‐dried samples varied in the range 13.6–19.8% and water activity (aw) values were ~0.6. LMP and TP concentrations affected the color of microwave‐vacuum‐dried samples. However, the color mainly changed in conventionally dried samples due to browning. In microwave‐vacuum‐dried samples, lycopene content decreased with increasing LMP, but increased with increasing TP. Textural properties of microwave‐vacuum‐dried snack bars increased with increasing LMP and TP.CONCLUSIONBoth texture and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that there was a network formation due to the contribution of protein and pectin; however, the type of interaction was highly dependent on the drying mechanism. Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry data showed that microwave‐vacuum‐dried samples had a more uniform water distribution. Besides its time and energy efficiency, microwave‐vacuum drying improved the color and textural properties of tomato snack bars compared to conventionally dried ones. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Effects of elevated temperature and microplastic exposure on growth and predatory performance of a freshwater fish
Authors: D'Avignon Geneviève , Wang Duncan , Reid Heather B. , Gregory‐Eaves Irene , Ricciardi Anthony 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFreshwater ecosystems are increasingly exposed to co‐occurring anthropogenic stressors that can alter food web interactions and organismal life histories. We examined the individual and combined effects of climate warming and microplastic pollution on the growth rate and predatory performance of an invasive freshwater fish, the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus). In temperature‐controlled chambers, we exposed 160 juvenile gobies to one of six scenarios over 37 d, combining three environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics (63–75 μm polyethylene microbeads) with two temperature regimes representing contemporary (18°C) and projected mean summer maxima (26°C) in their current range in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River basin. Exposure to elevated temperature reduced the growth and predatory performance of round gobies. Their decline in predatory performance was greatest at the highest microplastic concentration, regardless of temperature. The effects of environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations on the growth and performance of gobies were weaker than the effects of thermal stress. Given that the round goby is an abundant and widely distributed bottom‐dwelling fish in nearshore areas of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River basin, its responses to these co‐occurring stressors could have cascading effects on food webs.