bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary grape extract can, at an appropriate level, improve the growth performance and antioxidant activity of the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Chien Angela , Cheng Ya Chi , Sheen Shyn Shin , Kirby Ralph 
Published: March 2023

This study evaluated the growth performance and in vivo antioxidant capacity of the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, fed diets containing the grape extract Nor-grape 80. A control diet containing 1000 ppm vitamin E without added grape extract and four other diets containing 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm grape extract were formulated. Shrimp, twenty 0.02 g of individuals in each aquarium, were randomly assigned to one of the above five treatment diets in triplicate and fed three times daily to satiation for six weeks. The final weight, weight gain percentage and specific growth rate of the shrimp larvae fed diets containing 250 and 500 ppm Nor-grape 80 were significantly higher than those fed the other treatment diets. The levels of superoxide dismutase activity of the shrimp fed diets containing 250 and 500 ppm Nor-grape 80 were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the control diet. On the other hand, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels of the shrimp fed diets containing 250 and 500 ppm of Nor-grape 80 were significantly lower than those fed the other diets. Furthermore, the highest levels of dietary Nor-grape 80, namely 750 and 1000 ppm, gave rise to reduced growth performance, as well as lower levels of in vivo antioxidant activity. Therefore, for the best growth performance and highest level of in vivo antioxidant activity, it is suggested that the optimal level of Nor-grape 80 as part of a white shrimp diet falls between 250 and 500 ppm.
Fermented cottonseed and rapeseed meals outperform soybean meal in improving performance, rumen fermentation, and bacterial composition in Hu sheep
Authors: Rehemujiang Halidai , Yusuf Hassan Ali , Ma Tao , Diao QiYu , Kong Luxin , Kang Lingyun , Tu Yan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThis study examined the effects of substituting cottonseed meal (CSM) or rapeseed meal (RSM) for soybean meal (SBM) on Hu sheep performance, rumen fermentation, and bacterial composition. 51 four-month-old indigenous male Hu sheep with starting body weights of 22.51 ± 2.84 kg and similar origins were randomly assigned to three treatments; (1) non-fermented total mixed ration (TMR) with SBM (CK), (2) fermented TMR containing CSM (F-CSM group), and (3) fermented TMR containing RSM (F-RSM group).ResultsThe three groups’ intake of dry matter differed significantly (p &lt; 0.05). In terms of average daily gain, the F-RSM group outperformed the CK and F-CSM groups (p &lt; 0.05). The pH of the rumen was substantially lower in the CK group than in the F-CSM and F-RSM groups (p &lt; 0.05), and the F-CSM group had greater amounts of volatile fatty acids (VFA) than the F-RSM and CK groups. In comparison to the CK group, the microbial crude protein yield was significantly higher in the F-CSM and F-RSM groups (p &lt; 0.05). The F-CSM group significantly outperformed the F-RSM group of pepsin and cellulose enzyme activity (p &lt; 0.05). The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was greater in the CK and F-RSM groups compared to the F-CSM group (p &lt; 0.05). In comparison to the other groups, Firmicutes were less abundant in the CK group (p &lt; 0.05). Prevotella was present in a higher relative abundance in the F-CSM and F-RSM groups than in the CK group (p &lt; 0.05). Prevotella was greater in relative abundance in the F-CSM and F-RSM groups than in the CK group (p &lt; 0.05). The relative abundances of Veillonellaceae_UCG-001 and Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014 correlated with rumen butyric acid content and NH3-N content (p &lt; 0.05). Gene function prediction revealed that replacing SBM with F-CSM or F-RSM in the diet of Hu sheep can promote glycan biosynthesis and metabolism.ConclusionThe replacement of F-CSM and F-RSM for SBM has an influence on the richness and diversity of rumen bacteria at the phylum and genus levels. Replacement of SBM with F-CSM increased VFA yield and further promoted the performance of Hu sheep.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii prevents hepatic damage in a mouse model of NASH induced by a high-fructose high-fat diet
Authors: Shin Ji-Hee , Lee Yoonmi , Song Eun-Ji , Lee Dokyung , Jang Seo-Yul , Byeon Hye Rim , Hong Moon-Gi , Lee Sang-Nam , Kim Hyun-Jin , Seo Jae-Gu , Jun Dae Won , Nam Young-Do 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis. A dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with the pathophysiology of NASH, and probiotics have proven helpful in its treatment and prevention. Although both traditional and next-generation probiotics have the potential to alleviate various diseases, studies that observe the therapeutic effect of next-generation probiotics on NASH are lacking. Therefore, we investigated whether a next-generation probiotic candidate, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, contributed to the mitigation of NASH.MethodsIn this study, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing analyses in patients with NASH and healthy controls. To test F. prausnitzii could alleviate NASH symptoms, we isolated four F. prausnitzii strains (EB-FPDK3, EB-FPDK9, EB-FPDK11, and EB-FPYYK1) from fecal samples collected from four healthy individuals. Mice were maintained on a high-fructose high-fat diet for 16 weeks to induce a NASH model and received oral administration of the bacterial strains. Changes in characteristic NASH phenotypes were assessed via oral glucose tolerance tests, biochemical assays, and histological analyses.Results16S rRNA sequencing analyses confirmed that the relative abundance of F. prausnitzii reduced significantly in patients with NASH compared to healthy controls (p &lt; 0.05). In the NASH mice, F. prausnitzii supplementation improved glucose homeostasis, prevented hepatic lipid accumulation, curbed liver damage and fibrosis, restored damaged gut barrier functions, and alleviated hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation. Furthermore, real-time PCR assays documented that the four F. prausnitzii strains regulated the expression of genes related to hepatic steatosis in these mice.DiscussionOur study, therefore, confirms that the administration of F. prausnitzii bacteria can alleviate NASH symptoms. We propose that F. prausnitzii has the potential to contribute to the next-generation probiotic treatment of NASH.
Metabolomic analysis of vascular cognitive impairment due to hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Dan , Zhu Yamei , Liu Lin , He Xiaoxue , Fu Shizhong 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionScreening for metabolically relevant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) to explore the possible mechanisms of HCC-induced VCI.MethodsBased on metabolomic and gene expression data for HCC and VCI, 14 genes were identified as being associated with changes in HCC metabolites, and 71 genes were associated with changes in VCI metabolites. Multi-omics analysis was used to screen 360 DEGs associated with HCC metabolism and 63 DEGs associated with VCI metabolism.ResultsAccording to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, 882 HCC-associated DEGs were identified and 343 VCI-associated DEGs were identified. Eight genes were found at the intersection of these two gene sets: NNMT, PHGDH, NR1I2, CYP2J2, PON1, APOC2, CCL2, and SOCS3. The HCC metabolomics prognostic model was constructed and proved to have a good prognostic effect. The HCC metabolomics prognostic model was constructed and proved to have a good prognostic effect. Following principal component analyses (PCA), functional enrichment analyses, immune function analyses, and TMB analyses, these eight DEGs were identified as possibly affecting HCC-induced VCI and the immune microenvironment. As well as gene expression and gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA), a potential drug screen was conducted to investigate the possible mechanisms involved in HCC-induced VCI. The drug screening revealed the potential clinical efficacy of A-443654, A-770041, AP-24534, BI-2536, BMS- 509744, CGP-60474, and CGP-082996.ConclusionHCC-associated metabolic DEGs may influence the development of VCI in HCC patients.
Effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on rehabilitation of upper limb motor function after stroke
Authors: Gong Qiuwen , Yan Rubing , Chen Han , Duan Xia , Wu Xiaoyu , Zhang Xin , Zhou Yi , Feng Zhou , Chen Ya , Liu Jianbo , Xu Peng , Qiu Jing , Liu Hongliang , Hou Jingming 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThe cerebellum is involved in the control and coordination of movements but it remains unclear whether stimulation of the cerebellum could improve the recovery of upper limb motor function. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapy could promote the recovery of upper limb motor function in patients who suffered a stroke.MethodsIn this randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled prospective study, 77 stroke patients were recruited and randomly assigned to the tDCS group (n = 39) or the control group (n = 38). The patients received anodal (2 mA, 20 min) or sham tDCS therapy for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score from baseline to the first day after 4 weeks of treatment (T1) and 60 days after 4 weeks of treatment (T2). The secondary outcomes were the FMA-UE response rates assessed at T1 and T2. Adverse events (AEs) related to the tDCS treatment were also recorded.ResultsAt T1, the mean FMA-UE score increased by 10.7 points [standard error of the mean (SEM) = 1.4] in the tDCS group and by 5.8 points (SEM = 1.3) in the control group (difference between the two groups was 4.9 points, P = 0.013). At T2, the mean FMA-UE score increased by 18.9 points (SEM = 2.1) in the tDCS group and by 12.7 points (SEM = 2.1) in the control group (the difference between the two groups was 6.2 points, P = 0.043). At T1, 26 (70.3%) patients in the tDCS group had a clinically meaningful response to the FMA-UE score compared to 12 (34.3%) patients in the control group (the difference between the two groups was 36.0%, P =0.002). At T2, 33 (89.2%) patients in the tDCS group had a clinically meaningful response to the FMA-UE score compared with 19 (54.3%) patients in the control group (the difference between the two groups was 34.9%, P = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. In the subgroup analysis of different hemiplegic sides, the rehabilitation effect of patients with right hemiplegia was better than that of patients with left hemiplegia (P &lt; 0.05); in the age subgroup analysis, different age groups of patients did not show a significant difference in the rehabilitation effect (P &gt; 0.05).ConclusionCerebellar tDCS can be used as an effective and safe treatment to promote recovery of upper limb motor function in stroke patients.Trial registrationChiCTR.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200061838.
Cryptogenic recurrent spontaneous intracranial epidural hematoma: A case report and literature review
Authors: Xu Min , Xue Ya , Chao Xiaofeng , Chen Zhenglou , Wang Yunjiang , Huo Xuqi , Ji Xiang , Wang Hongshen 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundSpontaneous epidural hematoma (EDH) has been suggested to be associated with adjacent infective pathologies, dural vascular malformations, extradural metastases, or coagulopathies. Cryptogenic spontaneous EDH is extremely rare.Case presentationThe present study reports the case of a cryptogenic spontaneous EDH in a young woman following sexual intercourse. She was diagnosed with consecutive EDH at three different sites within a short time. After three timely operations, a satisfactory outcome was achieved.ConclusionEDH should be investigated when a young patient develops headaches and shows signs of increased ICP after emotional hyperactivity or hyperventilation. If early diagnosis and surgical decompression can be carried out in time, the prognosis would be satisfactory.
Clinical features of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness with isolated otolith dysfunction as revealed by VEMP and vHIT findings
Authors: Azami Masato , Fushiki Hiroaki , Tsunoda Reiko , Kamo Tomohiko , Ogihara Hirofumi , Tanaka Ryozo , Kato Takumi 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundPersistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a relatively new disease entity, with diagnostic criteria published by the Bárány Society. PPPD is often preceded by a peripheral or central vestibular disorder. It is not clear how coexisting deficits due to preceding vestibular disorders affect PPPD symptoms.ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize the clinical features of PPPD with or without isolated otolith dysfunction using vestibular function tests.MethodsThe study included 43 patients (12 males and 31 females) who were diagnosed with PPPD and completed oculomotor-vestibular function tests. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Niigata PPPD Questionnaire (NPQ), and Romberg test for stabilometry were examined. The 43 patients with PPPD were classified into four categories based on vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) and video head impulse test (vHIT) results: normal function for both semicircular canals and otoliths (normal), isolated otolith dysfunction (iOtoDys), isolated semicircular canal dysfunction (iCanalDys), and dysfunction of both otoliths and semicircular canals (OtoCanalDys).ResultsAmong the 43 patients with PPPD, the iOtoDys group was the largest (44.2%), followed by the normal group (37.2%), iCanalDys group (9.3%), and OtoCanalDys group (9.3%). Eight of the 19 iOtoDys patients showed both abnormal cVEMP and oVEMP responses unilaterally or bilaterally (both sacculus and utriculus damage type), whereas 11 showed either an abnormal cVEMP or an abnormal oVEMP response (either sacculus or utriculus damage type). In a three-group comparison of the both sacculus and utriculus damage type, the either sacculus or utriculus damage type, and the normal group, the mean total, functional, and emotional DHI scores were significantly higher for the both sacculus and utriculus damage type than for the either sacculus or utriculus damage type. The Romberg ratio, a measure of stabilometry, was significantly higher for the normal group than for the both sacculus and utriculus damage type and the sacculus or utriculus damage type in the iOtoDys group.ConclusionsThe coexistence of sacculus and utriculus damage may exacerbate dizziness symptoms in patients with PPPD. Determining the presence and extent of otolith damage in PPPD may provide useful information on the pathophysiology and treatment strategies of PPPD.
A virtual reality program to assess cognitive function in multiple sclerosis: A pilot study
Authors: Hsu Wan-Yu , Anguera Joaquin A. , Rizzo Albert , Campusano Richard , Chiaravalloti Nancy D. , DeLuca John , Gazzaley Adam , Bove Riley M. 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a debilitating symptom in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Most of the neuropsychological tasks have little resemblance to everyday life. There is a need for ecologically valid tools for assessing cognition in real-life functional contexts in MS. One potential solution would involve the use of virtual reality (VR) to exert finer control over the task presentation environment; however, VR studies in the MS population are scarce.Objectives: To explore the utility and feasibility of a VR program for cognitive assessment in MS.Methods: A VR classroom embedded with a continuous performance task (CPT) was assessed in 10 non-MS adults and 10 people with MS with low cognitive functioning. Participants performed the CPT with distractors (i.e., WD) and without distractors (i.e., ND). The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test—II (CVLT-II), and a feedback survey on the VR program was administered.Results: People with MS exhibited greater reaction time variability (RTV) compared to non-MS participants, and greater RTV in both WD and ND conditions was associated with lower SDMT.Conclusions: VR tools warrant further research to determine their value as an ecologically valid platform for assessing cognition and everyday functioning in people with MS.
Upregulation of C-X-C motif chemokine 12 in the spinal cord alleviated the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats
Authors: Lin Dahe , Liu Hongjuan , Song Honglu , Chen Biyue , Fu Junxia , Sun Mingming , Zhou Huanfen , Bai Wenhao , Wei Shihui , Li Hongen 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundC-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) is a chemokine that performs many functions. Studies have shown that CXCL12 can aggravate inflammatory symptoms in the central nervous system (CNS). Evidence also indicates that CXCL12 can promote the repair of myelin sheaths in the CNS in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we investigated the function of CXCL12 in CNS inflammation by upregulating CXCL12 in the spinal cord and subsequently inducing EAE.Materials and methodsCXCL12 upregulation in the spinal cords of Lewis rats was induced by the injection of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)/eGFP-P2A-CXCL12 after intrathecal catheter implantation. Twenty-one days after AAV injection, EAE was induced and clinical score was collected; Immunofluorescence staining, WB and LFB-PAS staining were used to evaluate the effect of CXCL12 upregulation. In the in vitro study, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were harvested, cultured with CXCL12 and AMD3100, and subjected to immunofluorescence staining for functional assessment.ResultsCXCL12 was upregulated in the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord by AAV injection. In each stage of EAE, upregulation of CXCL12 significantly alleviated clinical scores by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration and promoting remyelination. In contrast, the addition of AMD3100, which is a CXCR4 antagonist, inhibited the effect of CXCL12. In vitro, 10 ng/ml CXCL12 promoted the differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes.ConclusionAAV-mediated upregulation of CXCL12 in the CNS can alleviate the clinical signs and symptoms of EAE and significantly decrease the infiltration of leukocytes in the peak stage of EAE. CXCL12 can promote the maturation and differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes in vitro. These data indicate that CXCL12 effectively promotes remyelination in the spinal cord and decreases the signs and symptoms of EAE.
Abnormal dynamic functional connectivity changes correlated with non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Cao Yuanyan , Si Qian , Tong Renjie , Zhang Xu , Li Chunlin , Mao Shanhong 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundNon-motor symptoms are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, decreasing quality of life and having no specific treatments. This research investigates dynamic functional connectivity (FC) changes during PD duration and its correlations with non-motor symptoms.MethodsTwenty PD patients and 19 healthy controls (HC) from PPMI dataset were collected and used in this study. Independent component analysis (ICA) was performed to select significant components from the entire brain. Components were grouped into seven resting-state intrinsic networks. Static and dynamic FC changes during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were calculated based on selected components and resting state networks (RSN).ResultsStatic FC analysis results showed that there was no difference between PD-baseline (PD-BL) and HC group. Network averaged connection between frontoparietal network and sensorimotor network (SMN) of PD-follow up (PD-FU) was lower than PD-BL. Dynamic FC analysis results suggested four distinct states, and each state’s temporal characteristics, such as fractional windows and mean dwell time, were calculated. The state 2 of our study showed positive coupling within and between SMN and visual network, while the state 3 showed hypo-coupling through all RSN. The fractional windows and mean dwell time of PD-FU state 2 (positive coupling state) were statistically lower than PD-BL. Fractional windows and mean dwell time of PD-FU state 3 (hypo-coupling state) were statistically higher than PD-BL. Outcome scales in Parkinson’s disease–autonomic dysfunction scores of PD-FU positively correlated with mean dwell time of state 3 of PD-FU.ConclusionOverall, our finding indicated that PD-FU patients spent more time in hypo-coupling state than PD-BL. The increase of hypo-coupling state and decrease of positive coupling state might correlate with the worsening of non-motor symptoms in PD patients. Dynamic FC analysis of resting-state fMRI can be used as monitoring tool for PD progression.
The spectral profile of cortical activation during a visuospatial mental rotation task and its correlation with working memory
Authors: Anomal Renata Figueiredo , Brandão Daniel Soares , Souza Rafaela Faustino Lacerda de , Oliveira Sóstenes Silva de , Porto Silvia Beltrame , Hazin Pires Izabel Augusta , Pereira Antonio 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionThe search for a cortical signature of intelligent behavior has been a longtime motivation in Neuroscience. One noticeable characteristic of intelligence is its association with visuospatial skills. This has led to a steady focus on the functional and structural characteristics of the frontoparietal network (FPN) of areas involved with higher cognition and spatial behavior in humans, including the question of whether intelligence is correlated with larger or smaller activity in this important cortical circuit. This question has broad significance, including speculations about the evolution of human cognition. One way to indirectly measure cortical activity with millisecond precision is to evaluate the event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) of alpha power (alpha ERSP) during cognitive tasks. Mental rotation, or the ability to transform a mental representation of an object to accurately predict how the object would look from a different angle, is an important feature of everyday activities and has been shown in previous work by our group to be positively correlated with intelligence. In the present work, we evaluate whether alpha ERSP recorded over the parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital regions of adolescents performing easy and difficult trials of the Shepard–Metzler’s mental rotation task, correlates or are predicted by intelligence measures of the Weschler’s intelligence scale.MethodsWe used a database obtained from a previous study of intellectually gifted (N = 15) and average intelligence (N = 15) adolescents.ResultsOur findings suggest that in challenging task conditions, there is a notable difference in the prominence of alpha event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) activity between various cortical regions. Specifically, we found that alpha ERSP in the parietal region was less prominent relative to those in the frontal, temporal and occipital regions. Working memory scores predict alpha ERSP values in the frontal and parietal regions. In the frontal cortex, alpha ERSP of difficult trials was negatively correlated with working memory scores.DiscussionThus, our results suggest that even though the FPN is task-relevant during mental rotation tasks, only the frontal alpha ERSP is correlated with working memory score in mental rotation tasks.