bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In-house vs. commercial boron-doped diamond electrodes for electrochemical degradation of water pollutants: A critical review
Authors: Brosler Priscilla , Girão Ana Violeta , Silva Rui F. , Tedim João , Oliveira Filipe J. 
Published: March 2023

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes are eco-friendly and widely used in efficient water remediation through electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs). These anodes can completely mineralize a wide range of pollutants, only requiring electrical energy. Over the last 2 decades, numerous commercially available BDD electrodes have emerged, but little is known about their electrooxidation performance, particularly if compared to laboratory-produced anodes by different research groups. In this critical review, a comparison between in-house-made and commercially available BDD electrodes based on a systematic literature review (SLR) is carried out. SLR was quite useful in locating and selecting the scientific publications relevant to the topic, enabling information gathering on dissemination, growth, and trends in the application of BDD electrodes in the degradation of water pollutants. More specifically, data concerning the origin of the employed BDD electrodes, and their physicochemical properties were extracted from a thorough selection of articles. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the main parameters affecting the BDD electrodes’ performance is provided and includes selection and pre-treatment of the substrate material, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, deposition parameters, characterization methods, and operational conditions. This discussion was carried out fully based on the numerous performance indicators found in the literature. Those clearly revealed that there are only a few analogous points across works, demonstrating the challenge of establishing an accurate comparison methodology. In this context, we propose a figure-of-merit equation which aims at normalizing BDD degradation results for a specific contaminant, even if working under different experimental conditions. Two case studies based on the degradation of solutions spiked with phenol and landfill leachate treatment with commercial or in-house-made BDD electrodes are also presented. Although it was not possible to conclude which electrode would be the best choice, we propose a set of guidelines detailing a consistent experimental procedure for comparison purposes in the future.
Sequence diversity of hepatitis D virus in Mongolia
Authors: Magvan Battur , Kloeble Anne Alina , Ptok Johannes , Hoffmann Daniel , Habermann Daniel , Gantumur Anuujin , Paluschinski Martha , Enebish Gerelmaa , Balz Vera , Fischer Johannes C. , Chimeddorj Battogtokh , Walker Andreas , Timm Jörg 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionThe Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is a defective, single-stranded RNA virusoid encoding for a single protein, the Hepatitis Delta Antigen (HDAg), which requires the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein (HBsAg) for its transmission. Currently, hepatitis D is the most aggressive form of viral hepatitis and treatment options are limited. Worldwide 12 million people are chronically infected with HDV being at high risk for progression to cirrhosis and development of liver cancer.ObjectivesAlthough it is well established that Mongolia is the country with the highest prevalence of HDV infections, the information on the molecular epidemiology and factors contributing to HDV sequence diversity are largely unclear. The aim of the study was to characterize the sequence diversity of HDV in rural areas from Mongolia and to determine the extent of HLA class I-associated selection pressure.Patients and methodsFrom the HepMongolia cohort from rural areas in Mongolia, 451 HBsAg-positive individuals were selected and anti-HDV, HDV-RNA and the sequence of the large HDAg was determined. For all individuals the HLA class I locus was genotyped. Residues under selection pressure in the presence of individual HLA class I types were identified with the recently published analysis tool HAMdetector.ResultsOf 431 HBsAg positive patients, 281 were anti-HDV positive (65%), and HDV-RNA could be detected in 207 of 281 (74%) of patients. The complete large HDAg was successfully sequenced from 131 samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all Mongolian HDV isolates belong to genotype 1, however, they separate into several different clusters without clear regional association. In turn, from phylogeny there is strong evidence for recent local transmission events. Importantly, we found multiple residues with strong support for HLA class I-associated selection pressure consistent with a functional CD8+ T cell response directed against HDV.ConclusionHDV isolates from Mongolia are highly diverse. The molecular epidemiology suggests circulation of multiple subtypes and provides evidence for ongoing recent transmissions.
The effect of SMAD4 on the prognosis and immune response in hypopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Song Juanjuan , Wu Jialing , Ding Jiaxuan , Liang Yangxin , Chen Changlong , Liu Yimin 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesIn malignant tumors, elevated infiltration of intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T cells predicts a beneficial prognosis, whereas high levels of CD15+ neutrophils in peritumor tissues indicate poor prognosis. It is unclear how SMAD4, which promotes favorable clinical outcomes and antitumor immunoregulation, along with CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD15+ neutrophils exert an influence on hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC).Materials and methodsSpecimens were collected from 97 patients with HPC. Immunohistological analyses of SMAD4, CD8+ cytotoxic T cell and CD15+ neutrophil expression were performed. SMAD4 nuclear intensity was measured, meanwhile, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD15+ neutrophils were counted under a microscope. The prognostic role of SMAD4 was determined using the log-rank test and univariate and multivariate analyses. The relationship among SMAD4, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and CD15+ neutrophils was estimated by Mann–Whitney U test.ResultsHigh levels of SMAD4 were associated with favorable overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HPC. Multivariate analysis suggested that SMAD4 is an independent predictor of OS and DFS. A high density of intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and low accumulation of CD15+ neutrophils in the peritumor area were associated with longer OS and DFS. Furthermore, SMAD4 was linked to the levels of intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and peritumoral CD15+ neutrophils. Patients with high SMAD4/high intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T cells or high SMAD4/low peritumoral CD15+ neutrophils showed the best prognosis.ConclusionSMAD4, CD8+ cytotoxic T cell level, and CD15+ neutrophil level have prognostic value in HPC. SMAD4 is a promising prognostic marker reflecting immune response in HPC.
Urinary-derived extracellular vesicles reveal a distinct microRNA signature associated with the development and progression of Fabry nephropathy
Authors: Levstek Tina , Vujkovac Bojan , Cokan Vujkovac Andreja , Trebušak Podkrajšek Katarina 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionEarly initiation is essential for successful treatment of Fabry disease, but sensitive and noninvasive biomarkers of Fabry nephropathy are lacking. Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) represent a promising source of biomarkers of kidney involvement. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that contribute to the development and progression of various kidney diseases. We aimed to identify uEV-derived miRNAs involved in the development and/or progression of Fabry nephropathy.MethodsPatients with genetically confirmed Fabry disease and matched control subjects were included. EVs were isolated from the second morning urine by size exclusion chromatography, from which miRNAs were extracted. miRNA urine exosome PCR panels were used to characterize the miRNA signature in a discovery cohort. Individual qPCRs were performed on a validation cohort that included chronological samples. We identified the target genes of dysregulated miRNAs and searched for potential hub genes. Enrichment analyses were performed to identify their potential function.ResultsThe expression of miR-21-5p and miR-222-3p was significantly higher in patients with stable renal function and those with progressive nephropathy compared with the corresponding controls. In addition, the expression of miR-30a-5p, miR-10b-5p, and miR-204-5p was significantly lower in patients with progressive nephropathy, however, in the chronological samples, this was only confirmed for miR-204-5p. Some of the identified hub genes controlled by the dysregulated miRNAs have been associated with kidney impairment in other kidney diseases.ConclusionThe miRNA cargo in uEVs changes with the development and progression of Fabry nephropathy and, therefore, represents a potential biomarker that may provide a new option to prevent or attenuate the progression of nephropathy. Furthermore, dysregulated miRNAs were shown to be potentially associated with pathophysiological pathways in the kidney.
Upper respiratory tract mycobiome alterations in different kinds of pulmonary disease
Authors: Xu Xingye , Ding Fangping , Hu Xiangqi , Yang Fan , Zhang Ting , Dong Jie , Xue Ying , Liu Tao , Wang Jing , Jin Qi 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionThe human respiratory tract is considered to be a polymicrobial niche, and an imbalance in the microorganism composition is normally associated with several respiratory diseases. In addition to the well-studied bacteriome, the existence of fungal species in the respiratory tract has drawn increasing attention and has been suggested to have a significant clinical impact. However, the understanding of the respiratory fungal microbiota (mycobiome) in pulmonary diseases is still insufficient.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the fungal community composition of oropharynx swab (OS) samples from patients with five kinds of pulmonary disease, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), bacterial pneumonia (BP), fungal pneumonia (FP), asthma (AS) and lung cancer (LC), and compared them with healthy controls (HCs), based on high-throughput sequencing of the amplified fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.ResultsThe results showed significant differences in fungal composition and abundance between disease groups and HCs. Malassezia was the most significant genus, which was much more abundant in pulmonary diseases than in the control. In addition, many common taxa were shared among different disease groups, but differences in taxa abundance and specific species in distinct disease groups were also observed. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe), each group had its characteristic species. Furthermore, some species showed a significant correlation with the patient clinical characteristics.DiscussionOur study deepened our understanding of the respiratory tract mycobiome in some diseases that are less studied and identified the commonalities and differences among different kinds of pulmonary disease. These results would provide the solid basis for further investigation of the association between the mycobiome and pathogenicity of pulmonary diseases.
Development of a rapid reverse genetics system for feline coronavirus based on TAR cloning in yeast
Authors: Cao Hongmin , Gu Haorong , Kang Hongtao , Jia Honglin 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionReverse genetics has become an indispensable tool to gain insight into the pathogenesis of viruses and the development of vaccines. The yeast-based synthetic genomics platform has demonstrated the novel capabilities to genetically reconstruct different viruses.MethodsIn this study, a transformation-associated recombination (TAR) system in yeast was used to rapidly rescue different strains of feline infectious peritonitis virus, which causes a deadly disease of cats for which there is no effective vaccine.Results and discussionUsing this system, the viruses could be rescued rapidly and stably without multiple cloning steps. Considering its speed and ease of manipulation in virus genome assembly, the reverse genetics system developed in this study will facilitate the research of the feline coronaviruses pathogenetic mechanism and the vaccine development.
A pan-cancer analysis reveals CHD1L as a prognostic and immunological biomarker in several human cancers
Authors: Soltan Mohamed A. , Eldeen Muhammad Alaa , Eid Refaat A. , Alyamani Najiah M. , Alqahtani Leena S. , Albogami Sarah , Jafri Ibrahim , Park Moon Nyeo , Alsharif Ghadi , Fayad Eman , Mohamed Gamal , Osman Rihab , Kim Bonglee , Zaki Mohamed Samir A. 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Several recent studies pointed out that chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1-like (CHD1L) is a putative oncogene in many human tumors. However, up to date, there is no pan-cancer analysis performed to study the different aspects of this gene expression and behavior in tumor tissues.Methods: Here, we applied several bioinformatics tools to make a comprehensive analysis for CHD1L. Firstly we assessed the expression of CHD1L in several types of human tumors and tried to correlate that with the stage and grade of the analyzed tumors. Following that, we performed a survival analysis to study the correlation between CHD1L upregulation in tumors and the clinical outcome. Additionally, we investigated the mutation forms, the correlation with several immune cell infiltration, and the potential molecular mechanisms of CHD1L in the tumor tissue.Result and discussion: The results demonstrated that CHD1L is a highly expressed gene across several types of tumors and that was correlated with a poor prognosis for most cancer patients. Moreover, it was found that CHD1L affects the tumor immune microenvironment by influencing the infiltration level of several immune cells. Collectively, the current study provides a comprehensive overview of the oncogenic roles of CHD1L where our results nominate CHD1L as a potential prognostic biomarker and target for antitumor therapy development.
Cortical thinning in male obstructive sleep apnoea patients with excessive daytime sleepiness
Authors: Li Yezhou , Wang Jing , Ji Lirong , Cheng Chaohong , Su Tong , Wu Shuqing , Han Fei , Cox Daniel J. , Wang Erlei , Chen Rui 
Published: March 2023

Background and purposeObstructive sleep apnoea is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness due to sleep fragmentation and hypoxemia, both of which can lead to abnormal brain morphology. However, the pattern of brain structural changes associated with excessive daytime sleepiness is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of excessive daytime sleepiness on cortical thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.Materials and methods61 male patients with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea were included in the present study. Polysomnography and structural MRI were performed for each participant. Subjective daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score. Surface-based morphometric analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 and Computational Anatomy 12 toolboxes to extract cortical thickness.ResultsUsing the median Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, patients were divided into the non-sleepiness group and the sleepiness group. The cortical thickness was markedly thinner in the sleepiness group in the left temporal, frontal, and parietal lobe and bilateral pre- and postcentral gyri (pFWE &lt; 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the cortical thickness and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score. After adjusting for age, body mass index, and obstructive sleep apnoea severity, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score remained an independent factor affecting the cortical thickness of the left middle temporal lobe, transverse temporal and temporal pole.ConclusionSubjective daytime sleepiness is associated with decreased cortical thickness, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score may be of utility as a clinical marker of brain injury in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Clinical factors associated with functional outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarction with neurological deterioration
Authors: Yang Yi , He Yue , Han Wei , Xu JianHui , Cai ZhiRong , Zhao Tian , Shao YuanWei , Yu Ming 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveFactors that predict poor outcomes in patients with single subcortical infarction (SSI) may differ from those that predict poor outcomes in the SSI subgroup with neurological deterioration (ND). This study aimed to investigate the effect of ND on functional outcomes in patients with SSI and the clinical factors that predict poor outcomes in patients with SSI with ND (SSI-ND) and in all patients with SSI.MethodsPatients with SSI were consecutively enrolled in this study. ND was defined as an increase of ≥2 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) total score, an increase of ≥1 point in the NIHSS subscore of consciousness or motor function, or any new neurological deficit.ResultsA total of 255 patients were enrolled, and nine (3.53%) were lost to a follow-up. ND [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22–1.55, p &lt; 0.001], female sex (aRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03–1.24, p = 0.12), initial NIHSS (aRR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.07–1.10, p &lt; 0.001), and parental arterial disease (PAD) (aRR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07–1.26, p = 0.038) were associated with a poor 90-day outcome (the modified Rankin scale (mRS) &gt; 2 points) in patients with SSI. In the SSI-ND subgroup, PAD (aRR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.20–3.86, p = 0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (aRR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01–1.35, p = 0.035), and severe NIHSS (aRR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.25, p = 0.001) were predictive of a poor outcome, and PAD (aRR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.19–2.95, p = 0.007) was correlated with higher/worsened NIHSS [&gt; 2 points (median)]. For predicting poor outcomes in patients with SSI-ND with PAD, a more severe NIHSS (aRR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02–1.17, p = 0.01) was the only determinant, with a cutoff of 4.5 points, a sensitivity of 94.0%, and a specificity of 83.3%.ConclusionsND is an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with SSI, and poor outcome determinants in the SSI-ND subgroup and in all patients with SSI are not identical. For patients with SSI-ND, PAD could aggravate ND and was therefore an essential predictor of poor outcomes.
No evidence of a genetic causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and iron homeostasis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Mingyi , Yu Hui , Xu Ke , Xie Jiale , Zheng Haishi , Feng Ruoyang , Wang Jiachen , Xu Peng 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease that leads to bone hyperplasia and spinal ankylosis. Iron homeostasis plays a very important role in the inflammatory response and is closely related to the pathogenesis of AS. This study aimed to use large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data to study the genetic causal relationship between AS and iron homeostasis using Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodsGenome-wide association study summary data of AS and iron homeostasis-related indicators were obtained from the FinnGen consortium and the DeCODE genetics database, respectively. We used four iron homeostasis-related indicators: ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) for two-sample MR analyses to test for genetic causal association with AS using the “TwoSampleMR” package of the R software (version 4.1.2). The random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the main analysis method used for MR. We examined the MR analysis results for heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and possible outliers. In addition, we confirmed the robustness of the MR analysis by testing whether the results were affected by a single SNP and whether they followed a normal distribution.ResultsThe random-effects IVW results showed that ferritin [p = 0.225, OR 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.836 (0.627–1.116)], serum iron [p = 0.714, OR 95% CI = 0.948 (0.714–1.260)], TIBC [p = 0.380, OR 95% CI = 0.917 (0.755–1.113)], and TSAT [p = 0.674, OR 95% CI = 0.942 (0.713–1.244)] have no genetic causal relationship with AS. We detected no heterogeneity，horizontal pleiotropy and possible outliers in our MR analysis (p &gt; 0.05). In addition, our MR analysis results were not affected by a single SNP, and were normally distributed.ConclusionOur study did not detect a genetic causal relationship between AS and iron homeostasis. Nonetheless, this does not rule out a relationship between the two at other mechanistic levels.
Effects of low-GI biscuits as pre-loads or mid-meal snacks on post-prandial glycemic excursions in women with recent gestational diabetes: A protocol for a randomized crossover trial and an extended tailored intervention
Authors: Li Chunrong , Gao Yan , Luo Tongyong , Qin Shiji , Yao Xue , Wen Ye , Wang Xue , Zhang Jing , Zhong Qiong , Shi Hao , Liu Jing 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundIncreased post-prandial glycemic excursions contribute to the development of diabetes and have been observed in women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and with normal glucose tolerance at post-partum. As a convenient meal replacement, low-GI biscuits are helpful for improving glycemic excursions in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown whether low-GI biscuits as pre-loads or mid-meal snacks have a better effect in diminishing post-prandial glycemic excursions from the individual level in women with recent GDM. Therefore, the aim of this trial is to tailor a better dietary strategy utilizing low-GI biscuits (Fitmeal) to improve post-prandial glycemic excursions through within-subject comparison in such a population and observe the long-term effect of a tailored dietary approach in glycemic control.MethodsWe have designed a two-phase trial including a randomized, crossover, non-blinded trial in the first phase, followed by a 4-week tailored intervention in the second phase. A total of 52 post-partum women with recent GDM will be allocated into four meal plans: (1) Fitmeal pre-load 30 min before standard lunch meal (P+L), (2) Fitmeal as a mid-meal snack 2 h before standard lunch meal (S+L), (3) isocaloric standard control with co-ingestion of Fitmeal and standard lunch meal (CL) at the same time, and (4) placebo control with 200 ml of water taken 30 min before standard lunch meal (W + L), on four consecutive days. Acute post-prandial glycemic response (PGR) measured by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) will be compared among the four meals. In the second phase, all participants will receive a 4-week tailored intervention using Fitmeal as pre-loads or mid-meal snacks based on within-subject PGR results from the first phase. Glycemic metrics, dietary behaviors, and psychosocial factors (e.g., quality of life, self-efficacy, perceived stress, and depression) will be examined at baseline and end-point.DiscussionThis trial is expected to optimize the use of low-GI biscuits as pre-loads or mid-meal snacks in improving individual post-prandial glycemic excursions among women with recent GDM. Furthermore, the findings of this study will provide novel information on how to deliver an effective dietary intervention at the individual level and guide future clinical practice of medical nutrition therapy for diabetes prevention.Trial registration numberChinese clinical trial registry, ChiCTR2200060923.