bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of first step right atrial mapping (FRAM) on ablation duration and fluoroscopy exposure during cavotricuspid isthmus ablation of atrial flutter
Authors: Guan Fu , Saguner Ardan M. , Breitenstein Alexander , Wang Mia , Molitor Nadine , Brunckhorst Corinna , Wolber Thomas , Duru Firat 
Published: June 2023

AimTo investigate the clinical significance of right atrial mapping prior to cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation in patients with typical atrial flutter (AFL).MethodsClinical and ablation parameters were retrospectively assessed and compared in patients undergoing CTI ablation with or without a first-step right atrial mapping (FRAM) by using the CARTO 3D mapping system.ResultsCTI block by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was achieved in all 143 patients. In the FRAM group there was a shorter ablation duration and fluoroscopy exposure compared with the non-FRAM group. CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with higher ablation durations, more ablation applications and increased fluoroscopy exposure. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with longer ablation duration and more ablation applications. Furthermore, patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had longer ablation durations and more fluoroscopy exposure. One patient in the non-FRAM group developed cardiac effusion after ablation. None of the patients had recurrence after 6 months of follow-up.ConclusionsPatients with high BMI, high CHA2DS2-VASc score and reduced LVEF may benefit from the FRAM approach by reducing ablation duration, number of ablation applications and fluoroscopy exposure.
High-dimensional single-cell analysis unveils distinct immune signatures of peripheral blood in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Pan Yu , Gao Jianfeng , Lin Jiajing , Ma Yuan , Hou Zelin , Lin Yali , Wen Shi , Pan Minggui , Lu Fengchun , Huang Heguang 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The mechanism of such poor response is not completely understood.MethodsWe assessed T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and RNA expression at the single-cell level using high-dimensional sequencing of peripheral blood immune cells isolated from PDAC patients and from healthy human controls. We validated RNA-sequencing data by performing mass cytometry (CyTOF) and by measuring serum levels of multiple immune checkpoint proteins.ResultsWe found that proportions of T cells (CD45+CD3+) were decreased in PDAC patients compared to healthy controls, while proportion of myeloid cells was increased. The proportion of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and the level of cytotoxicity per cell were increased in PDAC patients, with reduced TCR clonal diversity. We also found a significantly enriched S100A9+ monocyte population and an increased level of TIM-3 expression in immune cells of peripheral blood in PDAC patients. In addition, the serum level of soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) was significantly higher in PDAC patients compared to the non-PDAC participants and correlated with worse survival in two independent PDAC cohorts. Moreover, sTIM-3 exhibited a valuable role in diagnosis of PDAC, with sensitivity and specificity of about 80% in the training and validation groups, respectively. We further established an integrated model by combining sTIM-3 and carbohydrate antigen 19- 9 (CA19-9), which had an area under the curve of 0.974 and 0.992 in training and validation cohorts, respectively.ConclusionOur RNA-seq and proteomic results provide valuable insight for understanding the immune cell composition of peripheral blood of patients with PDAC.
Is it possible to achieve an acceptable disease control by dietary therapy alone in Berardinelli Seip type 1? Experience from a case report
Authors: Cecchetti Carolina , Belardinelli Elisabetta , Dionese Paola , Teglia Rita , Fazzeri Roberta , D’ Apice M. Rosaria , Vestito Amanda , Pagotto Uberto , Gambineri Alessandra 
Published: June 2023

Background and objectiveSevere metabolic complications generally manifest at an early age in Berardinelli – Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) and their management is especially challenging. Nutritional intervention with low lipid diets is considered by experts to be fundamental in treating the disease when associated with medical therapy, however little is known about the beneficial effects of dietary interventions alone.AimTo underline the importance of a well-structured low-fat diet in BSCL patients.Methods and resultsA BSCL male patient strictly followed a hypocaloric hypolipemic diet (60% carbohydrates, 22% fats and 18% proteins) since clinical diagnosis at the age of one year. Interestingly, pharmacological interventions were not required at any point during the follow-up. Aged 16 years the patient was referred to our center. Biochemistry, hormonal evaluation, 75 mg oral glucose tolerance test, cardiac evaluation and abdominal ultrasound were performed, revealing no abnormalities. Genetic analysis and leptin dosage were carried out, confirming the diagnosis of BSCL type 1 (homozygosity for c.493-1G&gt;C pathogenic variant in AGPAT2 gene) and showing undetectable circulating levels of leptin (&lt; 0.2 mcg/L). Diet therapy alone was therefore maintained, scheduling follow-up visits every six months, with acceptable disease control ever since.ConclusionsThis report proves how a low-fat diet is of great help in the management of BSCL and its complications. In addition, a specific hypolipemic diet could be used alone as an effective treatment in selected cases with high compliance and, probably, a milder phenotype.
Primary culture and endocrine functional analysis of Leydig cells in ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)
Authors: Chu Xiaoya , Javed Aiman , Ashraf Muhammad Faizan , Gao Xiuge , Jiang Shanxiang 
Published: June 2023

Testicular Leydig cells (LCs) are the primary known source of testosterone, which is necessary for maintaining spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, the isolation, identification, and functional analysis of testosterone in duck LCs are still ambiguous. The aim of the present study was to establish a feasible method for isolating highly purified primary duck LCs. The highly purified primary duck LCs were isolated from the fresh testes of 2-month-old ducks via the digestion of collagenase IV and Percoll density gradient centrifugation; hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E), immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, ELISA, and radioimmunoassay were performed. Results revealed that the LCs were prominently noticeable in the testicular interstitium of 2-month-old ducks as compared to 6-month-old and 1-year-old ducks. Furthermore, IHC demonstrated that the cultured LCs occupied 90% area of the petri dish and highly expressed 3β-HSD 24 h after culture (hac) as compared to 48 and 72 hac. Additionally, ELISA and radioimmunoassay indicate that the testosterone level in cellular supernatant was highly expressed in 24 and 48 hac, whereas the testosterone level gradually decreased in 72 and 96 hac, indicating the primary duck LCs secrete testosterone at an early stage. Based on the above results, the present study has effectively developed a technique for isolating highly purified primary duck LCs and identified its biological function in synthesizing testosterone.
Growth history of hepatitis C virus among HIV/HCV co-infected patients in Guizhou Province
Authors: Yang Xiu-Cheng , Hong Zhang-Ping , Wang Yi , Meng Nan , Hu Yong , Xiong Qian-Yu , Qin Da-Wen , Shen Du , Yang Xing-Lin 
Published: June 2023

Background: The evolutionary and epidemiological history and the regional differences of various hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are complex. Our aim was to better understand the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of HCV among HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou Province. This information could contribute to improve HCV prevention and control strategies in Guizhou and surrounding provinces.Methods: The HCV RNA was extracted from the serum of HIV/HCV co-infected patients, and reverse transcription/nested PCR was performed to amplify nucleotide sequences of the C-E1 region. Then, the successfully amplified sequences were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The available C-E1 region reference sequences from the surrounding provinces of Guizhou (Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, and Sichuan) were retrieved in GenBank, and the evolutionary analysis by Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm was performed using BEAST software to reconstruct a phylogeographic tree in order to explore their migration patterns. Finally, the epidemiological history of HCV in the Guizhou region was retraced by reconstructing Bayesian skyline plots (BSPs) after excluding sequences from surrounding provinces.Results: Among 186 HIV/HCV co-infected patients, the C-E1 region sequence was successfully amplified in 177 cases. Phylogenetic analysis classified these sequences into six subtypes: 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, 6a, and 6n. Among them, subtype 6a was the most dominant strain (n = 70), followed by 3b (n = 55), 1b (n = 31), 3a (n = 11), 1a (n = 8), and 6n (n = 2). By reconstructing the phylogeographic tree, we estimated that the 6a strain in Guizhou mainly originated from Yunnan and Guangxi, while the 3b strain emerged due to transmission from the IDU network in Yunnan. Subtypes 1b, 3a, 3b, and 6a, as the major subtypes of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou, emerged and later grew more rapidly than the national average. Notably, BSPs of the currently prevalent HCV predominant strain subtype 6a in Guizhou have shown a rapid population growth since 2004. Although the growth rate slowed down around 2010, this growth has continued to date.Conclusion: Overall, despite the improvement and implementation of a series of HCV prevention and control policies and measures, a delayed growth pattern may indicate a unique history of the spread of 6a in Guizhou. Its trend as the dominant strain in Guizhou in recent years may continue to increase slowly over subsequent years.
Secondary immunoreaction in patients with neurosyphilis and its relevance to clinical outcomes
Authors: Fang Yaxiu , Wu Hong , Liu Guanghui , Li Ziang , Wang Dongmei , Ning Yuping , Pan Suyue , Hu Yafang 
Published: June 2023

Background and purposeSeveral reported cases of autoimmune conditions such as anti-NMDAR encephalitis and neuromyelitis optica (AQP4) have been considered to be potentially secondary to Treponema pallidum infection. Since the role of immune impairment in neurosyphilis is unclear, in this retrospective study, we examined the correlation of the immune impairment in patients with neurosyphilis with their clinical characteristics and outcomes.MethodsClinical information was collected from patients with neurosyphilis in our center from January 2019 to December 2021. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were subjected to indirect immunofluorescence tissue-based assay (IIF-TBA) on mouse brain sections and cell-based assay (CBA). The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of TBA-positive and-negative patients were compared.ResultsA total number of 81 patients diagnosed with neurosyphilis were included. The results of the CBA tests showed that three cases had anti-NMDAR, AQP4, or GAD65 antibodies, respectively. By TBA test, 38 patients (38/81, 46.9%) had positive immunostains, including staining of neuronal cells in 21 cases (21/38, 55.3%), glial cells in 11 cases (11/38, 28.9%), and neuronal and glial cells in six cases (6/38, 15.8%). We then compared the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes between the TBA-positive and-negative patients and found that TBA-positive staining was significantly correlated with syphilis antibody titers (p = 0.027 for serum and p = 0.006 for CSF) and head MRI abnormalities (p &lt; 0.001 for parenchymal abnormalities and p = 0.013 for white matter lesions). The cognitive prognosis of TBA-positive neurosyphilis patients was significantly worse than that of TBA-negative patients (p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe correlation between the TBA results and clinical data of our neurosyphilis patients imply the presence of secondary immune damage, which affected their prognosis. Therefore, TBA can be used as an additional biomarker for neurosyphilis patient prognosis.
Role of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk factors in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm progression
Authors: Gentiluomo Manuel , Corradi Chiara , Arcidiacono Paolo Giorgio , Crippa Stefano , Falconi Massimo , Belfiori Giulio , Farinella Riccardo , Apadula Laura , Lauri Gaetano , Bina Niccolò , Rizzato Cosmeri , Canzian Federico , Morelli Luca , Capurso Gabriele , Campa Daniele 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is lethal due to its late diagnosis and lack of successful treatments. A possible strategy to reduce its death burden is prevention. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursors of PDAC. It is difficult to estimate the incidence of IPMNs because they are asymptomatic. Two recent studies reported pancreatic cysts in 3% and 13% of scanned subjects. The possibility of identifying a subgroup of IPMN patients with a higher probability of progression into cancer could be instrumental in increasing the survival rate. In this study, genetic and non-genetic PDAC risk factors were tested in a group of IPMN patients under surveillance.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 354 IPMN patients enrolled in two Italian centres with an average follow-up of 64 months. With the use of DNA extracted from blood, collected at IPMN diagnosis, all patients were genotyped for 30 known PDAC risk loci. The polymorphisms were analysed individually and grouped in an unweighted polygenic score (PGS) in relation to IPMN progression. The ABO blood group and non-genetic PDAC risk factors were also analysed. IPMN progression was defined based on the development of worrisome features and/or high-risk stigmata during follow-up.ResultsTwo genetic variants (rs1517037 and rs10094872) showed suggestive associations with an increment of IPMN progression. After correction for multiple testing, using the Bonferroni correction, none of the variants showed a statistically significant association. However, associations were observed for the non-genetic variables, such as smoking status, comparing heavy smokers with light smokers (HR = 3.81, 95% 1.43–10.09, p = 0.007), and obesity (HR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.22–4.95, p = 0.012).ConclusionIn conclusion, this study is the first attempt to investigate the presence of shared genetic background between PDAC risk and IPMN progression; however, the results suggest that the 30 established PDAC susceptibility polymorphisms are not associated with clinical IPMN progression in a sample of 354 patients. However, we observed indications of cigarette smoking and body mass index (BMI) involvement in IPMN progression. The biological mechanism that could link these two risk factors to progression could be chronic inflammation, of which both smoking and obesity are strong promoters.
Stimulating the motor development of very premature infants: effects of early crawling training on a mini-skateboard
Authors: Dumuids-Vernet Marie-Victorine , Forma Vincent , Provasi Joëlle , Anderson David Ian , Hinnekens Elodie , Soyez Evelyne , Strassel Mathilde , Guéret Léa , Hym Charlotte , Huet Viviane , Granjon Lionel , Calamy Lucie , Dassieu Gilles , Boujenah Laurence , Dollat Camille , Biran Valérie , Barbu-Roth Marianne 
Published: June 2023

AimTo examine the effects of an early home-based 8-week crawling intervention performed by trained therapists on the motor and general development of very premature infants during the first year of life.MethodsAt term-equivalent age, immediately following discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we randomly allocated 44 premature infants born before 32 weeks' gestation without major brain damage to one of three conditions in our intervention study: crawling on a mini-skateboard, the Crawliskate (Crawli), prone positioning control (Mattress), or standard care (Control). The Crawli and Mattress groups received 5 min daily at-home training administered by trained therapists for 8 consecutive weeks upon discharge from the NICU. The outcomes of greatest interest included gross motor development (Bayley-III) at 2, 6, 9, and 12 months (primary outcome) corrected age (CA), mature crawling at 9 months CA and general development at 9 and 12 months CA [Ages and Stages Questionnaires-3 (ASQ-3)]. The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov; registration number: NCT05278286.ResultsA 3 (Condition) × 4 (Age) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that Crawli group infants had significantly higher Bayley-III gross motor development scores than Mattress and Control group infants. Crawli group infants also scored significantly higher on groups of Bayley-III items related to specific motor skills than infants in the other groups, including crawling at 9 months CA. We found significant differences in favor of the Crawli group in separate one-way ANOVAs at each of the ages we examined. A 3 (Condition) × 2 (Age) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the Crawli group scored significantly higher than the Control group for the ASQ-3 total score and communication score and significantly higher for the fine motor score than the Control and Mattress groups. We found additional significant differences in favor of the Crawli group for other dimensions of the ASQ-3 in separate one-way ANOVAs at 9 and 12 months CA.InterpretationEarly crawling training on a Crawliskate provides an effective way to promote motor and general development in very premature infants. The findings also provide clear evidence for a link between newborn crawling and more mature crawling later in development.
Luteolin inhibits triple-negative breast cancer by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through SGK1-FOXO3a-BNIP3 signaling
Authors: Wu Ling , Lin Yingda , Gao Songyu , Wang Yongfang , Pan Huiji , Wang Zhaozhi , Pozzolini Marina , Yang Fengling , Zhang Haiyan , Yang Yi , Xiao Liang , Xu Yuan 
Published: June 2023

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most prominent neoplasm disorders and lacks efficacious treatments yet. Luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid commonly presented in plants, has been reported to delay the progression of TNBC. However, the precise mechanism is still elusive. We aimed to elucidate the inhibition and molecular regulation mechanism of luteolin on TNBC.Methods: The effects of luteolin on the biological functions of TNBC cells were first evaluated using the corresponding assays for cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, and transwell migration assay, respectively. The mechanism of luteolin on TNBC cells was then analyzed by RNA sequencing and verified by RT-qPCR, Western blot, transmission electron microscopy, etc. Finally, in vivo mouse tumor models were constructed to further confirm the effects of luteolin on TNBC.Results: Luteolin dramatically suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration while favoring cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In TNBC cells treated with luteolin, SGK1 and AKT3 were significantly downregulated while their downstream gene BNIP3 was upregulated. According to the results of 3D modeling, the direct binding of luteolin to SGK1 was superior to that of AKT3. The inhibition of SGK1 promoted FOXO3a translocation into the nucleus and led to the transcription of BNIP3 both in vitro and in vivo, eventually facilitating the interaction between BNIP3 and apoptosis and autophagy protein. Furthermore, the upregulation of SGK1, induced by luteolin, attenuated the apoptosis and autophagy of the TNBC.Conclusion: Luteolin inhibits TNBC by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through SGK1-FOXO3a-BNIP3 signaling.
Why can’t children with autism integrate into society in China? Study based on the perspective of NGO classification
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Qi Caiyun 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionIn the field of protecting children with autism, NGOs have become a major force that cannot be ignored. Although NGOs for children with autism have expanded the number and improved the quality of the services they provide, a large number of autistic children still cannot achieve the goal of social inclusion in China. The existing literature has mostly tried to explain the reason from the perspective of the common characteristics of NGOs and has paid insufficient attention to the huge differences between these NGOs, so it is impossible to identify the obstacles that children with autism encounter accurately.MethodsFrom the perspective of NGO classification, this study conducted an in-depth investigation of 4 NGO cases in City N, China, to show the impact of the difference of NGOs on the obstacles to the social inclusion of autistic children.ResultsThe research has found that under the authoritarian regime, NGOs for children with autism that rely heavily on external funds include three common groups: government-oriented NGOs, foundation-supported NGOs, and individual-financed NGOs. The structural characteristics of the funders and their interaction with the NGOs for children with autism shape their different action logics, as the result that the desire of children with autism to integrate into society cannot be achieved as expected.DiscussionThe results of this study give more accurate insights into the barriers in social service provision for children with autism that impede their social inclusion and provide a reference for those seeking a solution to this problem.
Enhancing Fault Awareness and Reliability of a Fault-Tolerant RISC-V System-on-Chip
Authors: Santos Douglas A. , Mattos André M. P. , Melo Douglas R. , Dilillo Luigi 
Published: June 2023

Recent research has shown interest in adopting the RISC-V processors for high-reliability electronics, such as aerospace applications. The openness of this architecture enables the implementation and customization of the processor features to increase their reliability. Studies on hardened RISC-V processors facing harsh radiation environments apply fault tolerance techniques in the processor core and peripherals, exploiting system redundancies. In prior work, we present a hardened RISC-V System-on-Chip (SoC), which could detect and correct radiation-induced faults with limited fault awareness. Therefore, in this work, we propose solutions to extend the fault observability of the SoC implementation by providing error detection and monitoring. For this purpose, we introduce observation features in the redundant structures of the system, enabling the report of valuable information that supports enhanced radiation testing and support the application to perform actions to recover from critical failures. Thus, the main contribution of this work is a solution to improve fault awareness and the analysis of the fault models in the system. In order to validate this solution, we performed complementary experiments in two irradiation facilities, comprehending atmospheric neutrons and a mixed-field environment, in which the system proved to be valuable for analyzing the radiation effects on the processor core and its peripherals. In these experiments, we were able to obtain a range of error reports that allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the faults mechanisms, as well as improve the characterization of the SoC.