bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The CARDS toxin of Mycoplasma pneumoniae induces a positive feedback loop of type 1 immune response
Authors: Wang Ting , Sun Huiming , Lu Zhitao , Jiang Wujun , Dai Ge , Huang Li , Wang Meijuan , Zhu Canhong , Wang Yuqing , Hao Chuangli , Yan Yongdong , Chen Zhengrong 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundWithin the past 3-5 years, Mycoplasma pneumoniae has become a major pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in M. pneumoniae infection have not been fully elucidated.MethodsPrevious protein microarray studies have shown a differential expression of CXCL9 after M. pneumoniae infection. Here, we conducted a hospital-based study to explore the clinical significance of the type 1 immune response inflammatory factors interferon (IFN)-γ and CXCL9 in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Then, through in vitro experiments, we explored whether CARDS toxin stimulated F-DCs (dendritic cells incubated with Flt3L) to promote Th-cell differentiation; we also investigated the IFN-γ-induced CXCL9 secretion pathway in macrophages and the role of CXCL9 in promoting Th1 cell migration.ResultsThe CXCL9 expression level was upregulated among patients with a higher fever peak, fever duration of greater than 7 days, an imaging manifestation of lobar or segmental, or combined pleural effusion (P&lt;0.05). The peripheral blood levels of IFN-γ and CXCL9, which were higher in patients than in the healthy control group, were positively correlated with each other (r=0.502, P&lt;0.05). In patients, the CXCL9 expression level was significantly higher in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) than in the peripheral blood, and the BALF CXCL9 expression level was higher than that in the healthy control group (all P&lt;0.05). Our flow cytometry analysis revealed that M1-phenotype macrophages (CD16+CD64+CD163−) were predominant in the BALF from children with MPP. In in vitro experiments, F-DCs stimulated with CARDS toxin promoted the differentiation of CD4+IFN-γ+ Th (Th1) cells (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, IFN-γ induced high levels of CXCL9 expression in M1-type macrophages in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Additionally, macrophages transfection with STAT1-siRNA-1 downregulated the expression of CXCL9 (P&lt;0.05), and CXCL9 promoted Th1 cell migration (P&lt;0.05).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that CARDS toxin induces a type 1 immune response positive feedback loop during M. pneumoniae infection; this putative mechanism may be useful in future investigations of immune intervention approaches for M. pneumoniae pneumonia.
Characteristics and patterns of marine debris in the Chinese beach-sea continuum
Authors: Ouyang Xiaoguang , Yang Zhifeng 
Published: December 2022

The amounts of marine debris and plastic pollution have been growing dramatically in the environment. Floating marine debris can be transported between the sea and coastal zone by various processes. However, it remains unknown if marine debris in the sea and coastal zone are quantitatively related. This study collected time-series data on marine debris (including plastics) from China’s beaches and adjoining seas over a 10-year period (2012–2021). It aims to investigate (1) the characteristics of debris distribution in the beach-sea continuum, (2) the relationships among the density and accumulation density of marine debris on beaches, sea surfaces and seafloors. Our results show that the density of marine debris and plastics on beaches and seafloors in the pandemic period were 3–5 folds of those in the pre-pandemic period. The density (104682.4 ± 27793.0 items km–2) and accumulation density (1787.4 ± 220.0 kg km–2) of marine debris on beaches were significantly higher than those on both sea surfaces (3320.8 ± 446.0 items km–2 and 21.6 ± 5.7 kg km–2) and seafloors (2453.7 ± 868.4 items km–2 and 117.5 ± 70.4 kg km–2). The density of plastics on beaches (85373.0 ± 21633.8 items km–2) was significantly higher than that on sea surfaces (2915.4 ± 365.8 items km–2) and seafloors (2254.2 ± 717.1 items km–2). The density of small-to-medium (0–10cm) floating debris (3419.5 ± 418.2 items km–2) was more than 100 times higher than the density of large (&gt; 10cm) floating debris (29.6 ± 3.1 items km–2). The proportion of plastics in marine debris on sea surfaces (83.3 ± 1.3%) was significantly higher than that on beaches (74.1 ± 2.5%) but not significantly different from that on seafloors (81.1 ± 3.0%). There are significant relationships between the density of debris on seafloors and that on beaches, between the density or accumulation density of debris on seafloors and that on sea surfaces. This study suggests that the density and accumulation density of marine debris on seafloors were closely associated with those on sea surfaces and beaches. The results can help to estimate the transportation, deposition and aggregation of marine debris from beaches and sea surfaces to seafloors.
Acquisition of optical coherence tomography angiography metrics during hemodialysis procedures: A pilot study
Authors: Coppolino Giuseppe , Bolignano Davide , Presta Pierangela , Ferrari Fausto Francesco , Lionetti Giovanna , Borselli Massimiliano , Randazzo Giorgio , Andreucci Michele , Bonelli Angelica , Errante Antonietta , Campo Leonardo , Mauro Davide , Tripodi Sarah , Rejdak Robert , Toro Mario Damiano , Scorcia Vincenzo , Carnevali Adriano 
Published: December 2022

Background and aimsThe observation of optical microcirculation gives us an extraordinary way to directly assess in vivo the responses of human circulation to stress stimuli. We run a pilot study to analyze optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) metrics at determined time-points during a hemodialysis (HD) session to understand how these metrics gradually change and to evaluate possible correlations with patients’ characteristics.MethodsAfter the eligibility screening, 15 patients (23 eyes) were included in the study. OCT-A parameters were collected at established time-points: Before treatment (t0), at first hour (t1), at second hour (t2), at third hour (t3), and finally at the end of HD treatment (t4). Patients were finally shared in hypotensive group if they occurred in a hypotensive episode during subsequent month methods or no hypotensive group. The instrument software automatically segmented OCT-A scans into four en-face slabs: The superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), the outer retinal plexus and the choriocapillaris plexus. In this study we focus on SCP, DCP plexuses.ResultsOverall, the majority of ophthalmic parameters remained unaffected and comparable at dialysis end; a significant reduction being observed at the end vs. starting of HD only for deep capillary plexus (DCP: Whole, fovea, and parafovea) and for central choroid thickness (CCT) (p &lt; 0.05). An overall trend during the session showed in general a decrease with a significance in particular for DCP (whole, fovea, and parafovea) and for CCT (P = 0.006). In the hypotension group, Superficial capillary plexus (SCP: Fovea and parafovea) significantly increased comparing post vs. pre-dialysis values while CCT significantly decreased. Analyzing the trend during treatment only CCT maintained a significant trend (p for trend = 0.002). In the no-hypotension group, neither pre- vs. post-analysis and trend analysis showed a statistical significance.ConclusionMain achievement of our study was to measure, for the first time in literature, single parameters at different time-points of a HD session. As a result of this process we did not notice a brusque decreasing or increasing of OCT-A metrics but we can characterize the different effect of HD on the two distinct areas distinguishing ocular vessels: Retinal and choroidal circulation. As interesting sub-analysis, Hypotensive group showed for CCT a decreasing trend with a difference statistically significant respect to the group with no-hypotension maintaining a constant trend. In our opinion, these results suggest the role of autonomic system on vessel control in patients affected by uremia.
Effects of enrichment strategies on outcome of adrecizumab treatment in septic shock: Post-hoc analyses of the phase II adrenomedullin and outcome in septic shock 2 trial
Authors: van Lier Dirk , Picod Adrien , Marx Gernot , Laterre Pierre-François , Hartmann Oliver , Knothe Claudia , Azibani Feriel , Struck Joachim , Santos Karine , Zimmerman Jens , Bergmann Andreas , Mebazaa Alexandre , Pickkers Peter 
Published: December 2022

PurposeAdrecizumab, a non-neutralizing antibody of adrenomedullin (ADM) was recently investigated regarding its potential to restore endothelial barrier function in septic shock patients with high plasma ADM levels. Circulating dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (cDPP3), a protease involved in the degradation of several cardiovascular mediators, represents another biological pathway strongly associated with outcome in septic shock, although unrelated to ADM. Therefore, the prognosis of patients with elevated cDPP3 may not be influenced by Adrecizumab. Also, time until initiation of treatment may influence efficacy.ObjectiveTo evaluate effects of cDPP3-based enrichment on treatment efficacy of Adrecizumab.Materials and MethodsPost-hoc analysis of AdrenOSS-2, a phase-II, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled biomarker-guided trial of Adrecizumab.ResultsCompared to the total study cohort [HR for 28-day mortality of 0.84 (95% CI 0.53;1.31), p = 0.439], therapeutic benefit of Adrecizumab tended to be more pronounced in the subgroup of 249 patients with low cDPP3 (&lt;50 ng/mL); [HR of 0.61 (95% CI 0.34;1.08), p = 0.085]. Median duration to study drug infusion was 8.5 h. In the subgroup of 129 patients with cDPP3 &lt;50 ng/mL and an early start of treatment (&lt;8.5 h after septic shock diagnosis) HR for 28-day mortality vs. placebo was 0.49 (95% CI 0.21–1.18), p = 0.105. In multivariate interaction analyses corrected for baseline disease severity, both cDPP3, as well as the cDPP3 * treatment interaction term were associated with a reduced HR for 28-day mortality in the Adrecizumab treated group; p = 0.015 for cDPP3 in univariate analysis, p = 0.025 for the interaction term between cDPP3 and treatment group. In contrast, treatment timing was not significantly associated with 28-day mortality in multivariate interaction analyses.DiscussionIn septic shock patients with high ADM levels, a further post-hoc enrichment strategy based on cDPP3 may indicate (with all the caveats to be considered for post-hoc subgroup analyses) that therapeutic efficacy is most pronounced in patients with lower cDPP3 levels.
Whole-genome analysis revealed the growth-promoting mechanism of endophytic bacterial strain Q2H1 in potato plants
Authors: Wang Yuhu , Zhao Qianqian , Sun Zhenqi , Li Yahui , He Hongtao , Zhang Yuanyu , Yang Xiangdong , Wang Dong , Dong Baozhu , Zhou Hongyou , Zhao Mingmin , Zheng Hongli 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionEndophytes are non-pathogenic inhabitants of healthy plant tissues and have been found to promote plant growth and health. The endophytic bacterial strain Q2H1 was isolated from the roots of the potato and was identified to exhibit growth-promoting effects in potato plants.MethodsWhole-genome sequencing was performed to reveal the mechanism underlying its growth-promoting effect. The obtained sequencing data of approximately 5.65 MB encompassed 5,533 coding sequences. Of note, nine secondary metabolite gene clusters, including siderophore gene clusters, closely associated with plant growth promotion (PGP) were predicted by antiSMASH software. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that Q2H1 belongs to the genus Peribacillus. By gene function annotation, those genes related to plant growth-promoting activities, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis in tryptophan metabolism, siderophore biosynthetic activity, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and related genes, were summarized. IAA (14.4 μg/ml) was presumptively produced by Q2H1 using the Salkowski colorimetric method. A total of five genes, namely, phoU, pstB, pstA1, pstC, and pstS, were annotated for phosphate solubilization, which is associated with the ability of the Q2H1 strain to solubilize phosphate under in vitro conditions.ResultsIt is revealed that genes in the Q2H1 genome associated with nitrogen fixation belonged to three groups, namely, nitrogen fixation (nifU, sufU, salA, and nifS), nitrogen metabolism (nirA, nrtB, and nasA), and glutamate synthesis (glnA, gltB, gltD, and gudB), supported by evidence that Q2H1 grew on medium without nitrogen. We have also identified a siderophore gene cluster located on the chromosome of Q2H1, including seven genes (viz., rbsR, rhbf, rhbE, rhbD, rhbC, rhbA, ddc, and an unknown gene). In the in vitro assay, a prominent brown circle around the colony was produced on the chrome azurol S medium at 48 and 72 h post-inoculation, indicating that the siderophore gene cluster in Q2H1 harbored the ability to produce siderophores.ConclusionIn summary, these findings implied that identifying strain-specific genes for their metabolic pathways in bacterial endophytes may reveal a variety of significant functions of plant growth-promoting mechanisms.
Host autophagy limits Toxoplasma gondii proliferation in the absence of IFN-γ by affecting the hijack of Rab11A-positive vesicles
Authors: Pan Lingtao , Yang Yimin , Chen Xueqiu , Zhao Mingxiu , Yao Chaoqun , Sheng Kaiyin , Yang Yi , Ma Guangxu , Du Aifang 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionAutophagy has been recognized as a bona fide immunological process. Evidence has shown that this process in IFN-γ stimulated cells controls Toxoplasma gondii proliferation or eliminates its infection. However, little is known about the effect of T. gondii infection on the host cell autophagy in the absence of IFN-γ.MethodsMultiple autophagy detection methods and CRISPR/CAS9 technology were used to study T. gondii-induced autophagy in HeLa and several other mammalian cell lines.ResultsHere, we report increased LC3 II, autophagosome-like membrane structures, enhanced autophagic flux, and decreased lysosomes in a range of mammalian cell lines without IFN-γ treatment after T. gondii infection. Specifically, disruption of host atg5 (a necessary gene for autophagy) in HeLa cells promoted the intracellular replication of T. gondii, with the transcript level of rab11a increased, compared with that in wild-type cells. Further, after T. gondii infection, the abundance of Rab11A remained stable in wild-type HeLa cells but decreased in atg5−/− mutant. Disruption of rab11a in the HeLa cells compromised the proliferation of T. gondii, and increased the transcription of gra2 in the parasite. Compared to the T. gondii wild-type RH∆ku80 strain, the ∆gra2 mutant induces enhanced host autophagy in HeLa cells, and results in slower replication of the parasite.DiscussionCollectively, these results indicate that host cell autophagy can limit T. gondii proliferation in an IFN-γ independent manner, possibly by affecting the hijack of host Rab11A-positive vesicles by the parasite which involved TgGRA2. The findings provide novel insights into T. gondii infection in host cells and toxoplasmosis research.
Stroke-associated infection in patients with co-morbid diabetes mellitus is associated with in-hospital mortality
Authors: Wei Minping , Huang Qin , Yu Fang , Feng Xianjing , Luo Yunfang , Zhao Tingting , Tu Ruxin , Liao Di , Du Yang , Huang Qing , Gu Wenping , Liu Yunhai , Jiang Yingyu , Gu Hongqiu , Li Zixiao , Xia Jian 
Published: December 2022

Background and objectiveThe association between infection and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of infection on AIS with DM.Materials and methodsThe data of patients with AIS and DM were extracted from the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance (CSCA) database from August 2015 to July 2019. The association between infections [pneumonia or urinary tract infection (UTI)] and in-hospital mortality was analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients with infection.ResultsIn total, 1,77,923 AIS patients with DM were included in the study. The infection rate during hospitalization was 10.5%, and the mortality rate of infected patients was 3.4%. Stroke-associated infection was an independent risk factor for an early poor functional outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.97–2.34, P &lt; 0.0001] and in-hospital mortality in AIS patients with DM. The in-hospital mortality after infection was associated with age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03, P &lt; 0.0001), male (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.13–1.71, P = 0.0018), reperfusion therapy (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.56–2.56, P &lt; 0.0001), and fasting plasma glucose at admission (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.08, P &lt; 0.0001). In contrast, antiplatelet drug therapy (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.50–0.78, P &lt; 0.0001) and hospital stay (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97, P &lt; 0.0001) were independent protecting factors against in-hospital mortality of patients with infection.ConclusionInfection is an independent risk factor of in-hospital mortality for patients with AIS and DM, and those patients require strengthening nursing management to prevent infection.
Differences in resting state functional connectivity underlie visuomotor performance declines in older adults with a genetic risk (APOE ε4) for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rogojin Alica , Gorbet Diana J. , Hawkins Kara M. , Sergio Lauren E. 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionNon-standard visuomotor integration requires the interaction of large networks in the brain. Previous findings have shown that non-standard visuomotor performance is impaired in individuals with specific dementia risk factors (family history of dementia and presence of the APOE ε4 allele) in advance of any cognitive impairments. These findings suggest that visuomotor impairments are associated with early dementia-related brain changes. The current study examined the underlying resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) associated with impaired non-standard visuomotor performance, as well as the impacts of dementia family history, sex, and APOE status.MethodsCognitively healthy older adults (n = 48) were tested on four visuomotor tasks where reach and gaze were increasingly spatially dissociated. Participants who had a family history of dementia or the APOE ε4 allele were considered to be at an increased risk for AD. To quantify RSFC within networks of interest, an EPI sequence sensitive to BOLD contrast was collected. The networks of interest were the default mode network (DMN), somatomotor network (SMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), and frontoparietal control network (FPN).ResultsIndividuals with the ε4 allele showed abnormalities in RSFC between posterior DMN nodes that predicted poorer non-standard visuomotor performance. Specifically, multiple linear regression analyses revealed lower RSFC between the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex and the left inferior parietal lobule as well as the left parahippocampal cortex. Presence of the APOE ε4 allele also modified the relationship between mean DAN RSFC and visuomotor control, where lower mean RSFC in the DAN predicted worse non-standard visuomotor performance only in APOE ε4 carriers. There were otherwise no effects of family history, APOE ε4 status, or sex on the relationship between RSFC and visuomotor performance for any of the other resting networks.ConclusionThe preliminary findings provide insight into the impact of APOE ε4-related genetic risk on neural networks underlying complex visuomotor transformations, and demonstrate that the non-standard visuomotor task paradigm discussed in this study may be used as a non-invasive, easily accessible assessment tool for dementia risk.
Eye tracking for classification of concussion in adults and pediatrics
Authors: Samadani Uzma , Spinner Robert J. , Dynkowski Gerard , Kirelik Susan , Schaaf Tory , Wall Stephen P. , Huang Paul 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionIn order to obtain FDA Marketing Authorization for aid in the diagnosis of concussion, an eye tracking study in an intended use population was conducted.MethodsPotentially concussed subjects recruited in emergency department and concussion clinic settings prospectively underwent eye tracking and a subset of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 at 6 sites. The results of an eye tracking-based classifier model were then validated against a pre-specified algorithm with a cutoff for concussed vs. non-concussed. The sensitivity and specificity of eye tracking were calculated after plotting of the receiver operating characteristic curve and calculation of the AUC (area under curve).ResultsWhen concussion is defined by SCAT3 subsets, the sensitivity and specificity of an eye tracking algorithm was 80.4 and 66.1%, The AUC was 0.718. The misclassification rate (n = 282) was 31.6%.ConclusionA pre-specified algorithm and cutoff for diagnosis of concussion vs. non-concussion has a sensitivity and specificity that is useful as a baseline-free aid in diagnosis of concussion. Eye tracking has potential to serve as an objective “gold-standard” for detection of neurophysiologic disruption due to brain injury.
Bibliometric and visual analysis of transcranial direct current stimulation in the web of science database from 2000 to 2022 via CiteSpace
Authors: Sun Weiming , Song JingJing , Dong Xiangli , Kang Xizhen , He Binjun , Zhao Wentao , Li Zhaoting , Feng Zhen , Chen Xiuping 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the current research hotspots and development tendency of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the field of neurobiology from a bibliometric perspective by providing visualized information to scientists and clinicians.Materials and methodsPublications related to tDCS published between 2000 and 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) on May 5, 2022. Bibliometric features including the number of publications and citations, citation frequency, H-index, journal impact factors, and journal citation reports were summarized using Microsoft Office Excel. Co-authorship, citation, co-citation, and co-occurrence analyses among countries, institutions, authors, co-authors, journals, publications, references, and keywords were analyzed and visualized using CiteSpace (version 6.1.R3).ResultsA total of 4,756 publications on tDCS fulfilled the criteria we designed and then were extracted from the WOSCC. The United States (1,190 publications, 25.02%) and Harvard University (185 publications, 3.89%) were the leading contributors among all the countries and institutions, respectively. NITSCHE MA and FREGNI F, two key researchers, have made great achievements in tDCS. Brain Stimulation (306 publications) had the highest number of publications relevant to tDCS and the highest number of citations (4,042 times). In terms of potential hotspots, we observed through reference co-citation analysis timeline viewer related to tDCS that “depression”#0, “Sensorimotor network”#10, “working memory”#11, and “Transcranial magnetic stimulation”#9 might be the future research hotspots, while keywords with the strong burst and still ongoing were “intensity” (2018–2022), “impairment” (2020–2022), “efficacy” (2020–2022), and “guideline” (2020–2022).ConclusionThis was the first-ever study of peer-reviewed publications relative to tDCS using several scientometric and visual analytic methods to quantitatively and qualitatively reveal the current research status and trends in the field of tDCS. Through the bibliometric method, we gained an in-depth understanding of the current research status and development trend on tDCS. Our research and analysis results might provide some practical sources for academic scholars and clinicians.