bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Temperature on Gonadal Sex Differentiation of Yesso Scallop Patinopecten yessoensis
Authors: Liu Tian , Li Ruojiao , Liu Liangjie , Wu Shaoxuan , Zhang Lijing , Li Yajuan , Wei Huilan , Shu Ya , Yang Yaxin , Wang Shi , Xing Qiang , Zhang Lingling , Bao Zhenmin 
Published: January 2022

Many marine organisms are generally poikilotherms, making seawater temperature one of the most important environmental factors affecting gonadal sex differentiation. Mollusca is the second-largest animal phylum with diverse reproductive systems, but studies on the impact of temperature on sex differentiation are limited to a few sequential hermaphrodites. By combining morphological and molecular analyses, we investigated the effect of temperature on gonadal sex differentiation of a commercially important gonochoristic scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in the field and under laboratory conditions. Based on the relative expression of FoxL2 and Dmrt1L in the gonads of 6- to 12 month-old scallops, we found the scallops start to differentiate at 7 months old in September when the seawater temperature was 21°C. To eliminate the effect of factors other than temperature on sex differentiation, we compared the gonadal development of juvenile scallops at different temperatures (21, 16 and 11°C) under laboratory conditions. After 50 days of treatment, the 11°C group contain more germ cell types, and have higher sex differentiation rates than the 21°C group. But no obvious sex bias was observed. These results suggest that high temperature (21°C) inhibits sex differentiation, whereas low temperature (11°C) accelerates sex differentiation by 2 months for this cold-water species. It also supports juvenile P. yessoensis is gonochoristic rather than protandrous hermaphroditic. Our study addresses for the first time an environmental influence associated with genetic controls on scallop sex differentiation. It will facilitate a better understanding of how environmental factors affect gonadal development in poikilotherms, especially in the less studied molluscs.
Identification of Key Genes Related With Aspartic Acid Metabolism and Corresponding Protein Expression in Human Colon Cancer With Postoperative Prognosis and the Underlying Molecular Pathways Prediction
Authors: Sun Weixuan , Jia Chaoran , Zhang Xiaojun , Wang Zhaoyi , Li Yaping , Fang Xuedong 
Published: January 2022

Objective: Colon cancer is one of the most frequent and lethal neoplasias. Altered metabolic activity is a well-known hallmark for cancer. The present study is aiming to screen key genes associated with tumor metabolism and construct a prognostic signature of colon cancer patients.Methods: Glutamine- and UC- metabolism related genes were downloaded from GSEA MsigDB. Three key genes were screened by Cox regression analysis with data samples downloaded from TCGA and GSE29623 database. Consistent clustering based on the prognostic genes identified was employed to divide the colon cancer samples into two clusters with significant OS differences. The mRNA and protein expression of the key genes in colon tissues and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues of 16 patients were detected by IHC, qPCR, and Western blot to validate the constructed clustering model. GO, GSVA, and IPA were used to predict the relevant metabolic pathways.Results: According to the three key genes identified, i.e., ASNS, CEBPA, and CAD, the cohort can be divided into two clusters with prognosis differences. Clinical specimen results confirmed that the risk model established was effective, and the different expression pattern of ASNS and CEBPA was correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, whilst that of CAD was correlated with post-operative tumor metastasis and recurrence. Molecular mechanism prediction indicated that CREB, insulin, and RNA Pol II were the key nodes affecting CEBPA and ASNS expression. Moreover, TIDE algorithm reflected the better immune response of the cluster with shorter OS. Further immune infiltration and checkpoints analyses provided important reference for clinicians to perform individualized immunotherapy.Conclusion: Differential expression profile of three aspartic acid metabolic-associated genes, ASNS, CEBPA, and CAD, can be considered as a risk model with a good evaluation effect on the prognosis of colon cancer patients.
In Vitro Modelling of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in the Etiopathogenesis of Male Infertility and Reactive Arthritis
Authors: Filardo Simone , Di Pietro Marisa , Diaco Fabiana , Sessa Rosa 
Published: January 2022

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate, intracellular bacterium responsible for a range of diseases of public health importance, since C. trachomatis infection is often asymptomatic and, hence, untreated, leading to chronic complications, including prostatitis, infertility, and reactive arthritis. The ample spectrum of diseases caused by C. trachomatis infection is reflected in its ability to infect and multiply within a wide range of different cell types. Cervical epithelial cells, to date, have been the most studied cellular infection model, highlighting the peculiar features of the host-cell inflammatory and immune responses to the infection. Herein, we provide the up-to-date evidence on the interaction between C. trachomatis and human prostate epithelial, Sertoli and synovial cells.
Influence of Right Ventricular Dysfunction on Outcomes of Left Ventricular Non-compaction Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Wang Wuwan , Chen Wei , Lin Xue , Fang Ligang 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundVarious adverse outcomes such as mortality and rehospitalization are associated with left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC). Due to data limitations, prospective risk assessment for LVNC remains challenging. This study aimed to investigate the influence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction on the clinical outcomes of patients with LVNC through accurate and comprehensive measurements of RV function.Methods and ResultsOverall, 117 patients with LVNC (47.6 ± 18.3 years, 34.2% male) were enrolled, including 53 (45.3%) and 64 (54.7%) patients with and without RV dysfunction, respectively. RV dysfunction was defined as meeting any two of the following criteria: (i) tricuspid annular systolic excursions &lt;17 mm, (ii) tricuspid S′ velocity &lt;10 cm/s, and (iii) RV fractional area change (FAC) &lt;35%. The proportion of biventricular involvement was significantly higher in patients with RV dysfunction than in controls (p = 0.0155). After a follow-up period of 69.0 [33.5, 96.0] months, 18 (15.4%) patients reached the primary endpoint (all-cause mortality), with 14 (26.4%) and 4 (6.3%) from the RV dysfunction group and normal RV function group, respectively. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test revealed that patients with RV dysfunction had a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those in the control group (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.132 [2.003, 13.15], p = 0.0013). Similar results were obtained for patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &lt;50% [HR, 6.582; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.045–21.19; p = 0.0367]. The relationship between RV dysfunction and heart failure rehospitalization and implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was not statistically significant (both p &gt; 0.05). The multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling analysis showed that RV dysfunction (HR: 4.950 [1.378, 17.783], p = 0.014) and impaired RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) (HR: 1.103 [1.004, 1.212], p = 0.041) were independent predictors of mortality rather than increased RV end-diastolic area and decreased LVEF (both p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionsRV dysfunction is associated with the prognosis of patients with LVNC.
Clinical Selection of Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Following Positive Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Results in Southwest China
Authors: Jing Xiaosha , Liu Hongqian , Zhu Qian , Liu Sha , Liu Jianlong , Bai Ting , Deng Cechuan , Xia Tianyu , Liu Yunyun , Cheng Jing , Wei Xiang , Xing Lingling , Luo Yuan , Zhou Quanfang , Chen Lin , Li Lingping , Wang Jiamin 
Published: January 2022

Background: This study aims to evaluate prenatal diagnosis methods following positive noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) results.Methods: According to the positive noninvasive prenatal screening results, 926 pregnant women were divided into three groups: main target disease group (high risk for trisomy 21, trisomy 18, or trisomy 13), sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) group, and other chromosomal abnormalities group [abnormal Z-scores for chromosomes other than trisomy (T)21/T18/T13 or SCAs]. The verification methods and results were then retrospectively analysed.Results: In the main target disease group, the positive rate of chromosomal abnormalities confirmed by quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was 75.18% (212/282), which was not significantly different from that by karyotyping (79.36%, 173/218) and copy number variation (CNV) detection methods (71.43%, 65/91). The positive rate of additional findings confirmed by karyotyping and copy number variation detection methods in main target disease group was 0.46% (1/218) and 8.79% (8/91), respectively. The positive rate of chromosomal abnormalities confirmed by karyotyping and CNV detection methods were 27.11% (45/166) and 38.46% (95/247) in the SCA group and 4.17% (1/24) and 20% (36/180) in the other chromosomal abnormalities group, respectively. Fetal sex chromosome mosaicism was detected in 16.13% (20/124) of the confirmed SCA cases. There were no significant differences in the detection rates of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and CNV sequencing (CNVseq) among the three groups (p &gt; 0.05).Conclusion: QF-PCR can quickly and accurately identify aneuploidies following NIPS-positive results for common aneuploidy, and in combination with karyotyping and CNV detection techniques can provide more comprehensive results. With the NIPS-positive results for SCA or other abnormalities, CMA and CNVseq may have the same effect on increasing the detection rate. The addition of fluorescence in situ hybridization assay may help to identify true fetal mosaicism.
Activation of DNA Transposons and Evolution of piRNA Genes Through Interspecific Hybridization in Xenopus Frogs
Authors: Suda Kosuke , Hayashi Shun R. , Tamura Kei , Takamatsu Nobuhiko , Ito Michihiko 
Published: January 2022

Interspecific hybridization between two closely related species sometimes resulted in a new species with allotetraploid genomes. Many clawed frog species belonging to the Xenopus genus have diverged from the allotetraploid ancestor created by the hybridization of two closely related species with the predicted L and S genomes. There are species-specific repeated sequences including transposable elements in each genome of organisms that reproduce sexually. To understand what happened on and after the hybridization of the two distinct systems consisting of repeated sequences and their corresponding piRNAs, we isolated small RNAs from ovaries and testes of three Xenopus species consisting of allotetraploid X. laevis and X. borealis and diploid X. tropicalis as controls. After a comprehensive sequencing and selection of piRNAs, comparison of their sequences showed that most piRNA sequences were different between the ovaries and testes in all three species. We compared piRNA and genome sequences and specified gene clusters for piRNA expression in each genome. The synteny and homology analyses showed many distinct piRNA clusters among the three species and even between the two L and/or S subgenomes, indicating that most clusters of the two allotetraploid species changed after hybridization. Moreover, evolutionary analysis showed that DNA transposons including Kolobok superfamily might get activated just after hybridization and then gradually inactivated. These findings suggest that some DNA transposons and their piRNAs might greatly influence allotetraploid genome evolution after hybridization.
Association Between Objectively Assessed Sleep and Depressive Symptoms During Pregnancy and Post-partum
Authors: Pitsillos Tryfonas , Wikström Anna-Karin , Skalkidou Alkistis , Derntl Birgit , Hallschmid Manfred , Lutz Nicolas D. , Ngai Edith , Sundström Poromaa Inger , Wikman Anna 
Published: January 2022

IntroductionSleep problems are common in pregnancy but many studies have relied only on self-reported sleep measures. We studied the association between objectively measured sleep and peripartum depressive symptoms in pregnant women.Material and MethodsSleep was assessed using Actiwatch accelerometers in a sample of 163 pregnant women in the late first (weeks 11–15) or early second trimester (weeks 16–19). Depressive symptoms were assessed in gestational weeks 17, 32 and at 6 weeks post-partum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, BMI, pre-pregnancy smoking, ongoing mental health problems, trimester and season of sleep assessment were carried out to test the association between sleep and depression. Sleep was measured by total sleep time and sleep efficiency, whereas depression was indicated by depressive symptoms and depression caseness. Results are presented as unstandardized beta (B) coefficients or adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsTotal sleep time ranged from 3 to 9 h (mean 7.1, SD 0.9) and average sleep efficiency was 83% (SD 6.0). Women with the shortest total sleep time, i.e., in the lowest quartile (&lt;6.66 h), reported higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy (week 17, B = 2.13, 95% CI 0.30–3.96; week 32, B = 1.70, 95% CI 0.03–3.37) but not post-partum. Their probability to screen positive for depression in gestational week 17 was increased more than 3-fold (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI 1.07–11.51) but unchanged with regards to gestational week 32 or 6 weeks post-partum. Sleep efficiency was not associated with depressive symptoms at any stage of pregnancy or post-partum.DiscussionIn one of the few studies to use objective sleep measures to date, mental health of pregnant women appeared to be affected by shortened sleep, with total sleep time being negatively associated with depressive symptoms in the early second and third trimester. This finding highlights the relevance of identifying and treating sleep impairments in pregnant women early during antenatal care to reduce the risk of concomitant depression.
Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter spp. Are Highly Serum Resistant Despite Efficient Recognition by the Complement System
Authors: Magda Michal , Bettoni Serena , Laabei Maisem , Fairley Derek , Russo Thomas A. , Riesbeck Kristian , Blom Anna M. 
Published: January 2022

Gram-negative bacteria from the genusAcinetobacterare responsible for life-threating hospital-related infections such as pneumonia, septicemia, and meningitis, especially in immunocompromised patients. Worryingly,Acinetobacterhave become multi- and extensively drug resistant (MDR/XDR) over the last few decades. The complement system is the first line of defense against microbes, thus it is highly important to increase our understanding of evasion mechanisms used byAcinetobacterspp. Here, we studied clinical isolates ofAcinetobacterspp. (n=50), aiming to characterize their recognition by the complement system. Most isolates tested survived 1 h incubation in 30% serum, and only 8 isolates had a lower survival rate, yet none of those isolates were fully killed. Intriguingly, four isolates survived in human whole blood containing all cell component. Their survival was, however, significantly reduced. Flow cytometry analyses revealed that most of the isolates were detected by human IgG and IgM. Interestingly, we could not detect any significant concentration of deposited C1q, despite observing C4b deposition that was abolished in C1q-deficient serum, indicating transient binding of C1q to bacteria. Moreover, several isolates were recognized by MBL, with C4b deposition abolished in MBL-deficient serum. C3b was deposited on most isolates, but this was not, however, seen with respect to C5b and formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), indicating that many isolates could avoid complement-mediated lysis. India ink staining showed that isolates were capsulated, and capsule thickness varied significantly between isolates. Studies performed on a wild-type strain and capsule mutant strains, demonstrated that the production of a capsular polysaccharide is one mechanism that mediates resistance to complement-mediated bactericidal activity by preventing MAC deposition and lysis. Our data showed that most clinicalAcinetobacterspp. isolates are highly serum resistant despite being efficiently recognized by the complement system.
Exploring Minimum Secondary Injury for the Treatment of Ocular Trauma With Giant Intraocular Foreign Bodies
Authors: Ma Jing , Zhang Xiaofang , Jin Xuemin , Wang Wenzhan 
Published: January 2022

PurposeTo investigate the clinical therapy for giant intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) and evaluate the best treatment method with minimum secondary injury.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 73 eyes of 73 patients with ocular trauma caused by giant IOFBs between January 2016 and December 2018. The IOFB size, localization, shape, and magnetic properties were recorded. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular tissue injuries, entrance wound, interval time from injury to second phase surgery, silicone oil removal, and globe recovery were also observed. The cases were divided into three groups based on the following IOFB extraction paths: limbus path, the pars plana path, and the entrance wound path. The BCVA, IOFB size and shape, the wound, endophthalmitis, and silicone oil removal were compared among the three groups.ResultsThe IOFBs were 46 cases of magnetic and 27 cases of nonmagnetic, with a shape of thin flat in 19 cases, thick flat in 12 cases, long in seven cases, and irregular in 35 cases. Multiple damages were caused by the giant IOFBs, mainly involving the severe cornea, lens, and retina injuries. The postoperative BCVA increased compared with the preoperative BCVA (z = −6.06, P &lt; 0.01). The rate of recovery from blindness was 40.85% (29/71). The thin flat IOFB and long IOFB resulted in a better postoperative BCVA than the other two IOFB shapes (all P &lt; 0.05). The irregular IOFB had a poorer silicone oil removal rate than the other three IOFB shapes (all P &lt; 0.05). The IOFB extraction followed the limbus path in 18 cases, pars plana path in 27 cases, and entrance wound path in 28 cases. The IOFB length and width in the pars plana path group were significantly lower than that in the limbus path group (all P &lt; 0.05), the preoperative BCVA of the pars plana path group was superior to that of the limbus path group (P &lt; 0.05), and the IOFB length, width, and entrance wound length in the pars plana path group were significantly lower than in the entrance wound path group (all P &lt; 0.05). But the postoperative BCVA in the pars plana path group was not better than that in the other two groups (all P &gt; 0.05). The postoperative BCVA of the entrance wound path group was significantly superior to that of the limbus path group (z = −2.01, P = 0.04), while there was no difference between the two groups in IOFB length, width, entrance wound length, or preoperative BCVA (all P &gt; 0.05).ConclusionThe entrance wound path would benefit to minimize secondary injury in giant IOFB extraction procedure, compared with the limbus and pars plana path.
Case Report: A New Subtype of Lynch Syndrome Associated With MSH2 c.1024_1026 Identified in a Chinese Family
Authors: Li Lu , Zhao Zhe , Dong Lin , Jia Jia , Su Ke , Bai Hua , Wang Jie 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundLynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with a high incidence of various cancer types. Multiple variants of mismatch repair genes have been reported for Lynch syndrome. However, the diagnosis in patients with atypical cancer types remains challenging. Specifically, little is known about the genetic background of Lynch syndrome-related renal carcinoma. We present a case wherein a renal carcinoma patient with multiple primary skin tumors harbored a variant that has not been previously shown to be associated with Lynch syndrome.Case PresentationThe proband was a 60-year-old Chinese man with a history of Lynch syndrome-related renal carcinoma and recurrent primary skin tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed loss of MSH2 and MSH6. Sequencing of mismatch repair genes revealed a previously unknown germline MSH2 mutation (c.1024_1026), which results in an amino acid deletion (p.V342). This variant was co-segregated among the carcinoma-affected family members. After six cycles of immunotherapy, a marked regression of the skin tumors was observed.ConclusionsWe clarify the pathogenic significance of this newly described mutation and suggest immunotherapy for patients with this subtype of Lynch syndrome.
Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis: Diagnostic, Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of CircRNA Expression in Renal Cancer
Authors: Wang Wujun , Xie Shengfang , Yuan Dongping , He Dandan , Fang Liming , Ge Fengfeng 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundRenal cancer (RC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the urinary system, and molecular targets for the specific diagnosis and treatment of RC have been widely explored. The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze circular RNAs (circRNAs), which may serve as novel tumor markers in terms of the diagnosis, prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of RC.MethodsPubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched for literature as up to July 30, 2021. All included studies were evaluated by the evaluation system, and the results were satisfactory. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were used to assess the association of circRNAs with diagnostic and clinicopathological indicators. The sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were combined to evaluate the diagnostic performance of circRNAs in RC.ResultsWe included 22 studies that met the criteria, including 18 that were prognostic, 4 that were diagnostic, and 12 that were clinicopathologically relevant. In terms of prognosis, we found that upregulated circRNAs were positively associated with poor overall survival in patients with RC (HR=1.63, 95% CI=1.43–1.85). In terms of diagnosis, the combined SEN, SPE and AUC of circRNAs in the diagnosis of RC were 0.82, 0.84 and 0.89 (0.86–0.91), respectively. In terms of clinicopathological features, upregulated circRNAs were associated with the Fuhrman grade (OR=0.641, 95% CI=0.471–0.873), T stage (OR=0.236, 95% CI=0.141–0.396), TNM stage (OR=0.225, 95% CI=0.158–0.321) and lymphatic metastasis (OR=0.329, 95% CI=0.193–0.560).ConclusionOur meta-analysis confirms that circRNAs may be candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and clinicopathological indicators of RC.