bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Cutaneous Balamuthia mandrillaris Infection With Diminazene Aceturate: A Report of 4 Cases
Authors: Wang Lei , Li Bing , Zhao Tao , Wang Lu , Jian Zhe , Cheng Wenjing , Chen Jiaxi , Li Chunying , Wang Gang , Gao Tianwen 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Four cases of cutaneous Balamuthia mandrillaris infection were treated with diminazene aceturate. One patient was cured with mainly monotherapy, 2 patients were cured with diminazene aceturate and excision, and 1 patient died of drug-induced liver damage. This is the first report of B. mandrillaris infection treated with diminazene aceturate.
Reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure
Authors: Al-Habbal Khairat , Djoundourian Alicia , Nassar Elma , Tayara Ziad , Mercer Stewart W , Abi-Habib Rudy 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Purpose
Empathy is the ability to communicate an understanding of an individual’s subjective experience. It plays a vital role in the physician–patient relationship and improves clinical outcomes. This increases the importance of measuring and studying empathy in the clinical setting. The Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) is a 10-item questionnaire that measures patient assessment of physician’s empathy in primary care. To our knowledge, there are no validated measures of empathy in the clinical setting in Arabic. This study aims at validating the CARE in Arabic.

Methods
Data collection took place between October 2019 and February 2020. A total of 220 patients completed the questionnaire which consisted of the 10 CARE items, participants’ opinions regarding the importance of each item, demographic information, and information about the consultation. The reliability and validity of the Arabic CARE were measured using Cronbach alpha, item-total correlations, and factor analysis. Construct validity was measured based on the overall patient satisfaction, and their satisfaction with the length of the consultation.

Results
High Cronbach alpha and item-total correlation reveal the internal consistency and homogeneity of the Arabic version. Our findings showed significant positive correlations between CARE score and each of the characteristics: overall satisfaction with the consultation, duration of the consultation, patients’ satisfaction with consultation duration and whether they would recommend the doctor to others.

Conclusion
The Arabic version of the CARE measure appears to be valid and reliable. It is available for use in research, education, and assessment of physicians’ empathy.
A systematic review of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Iwuji Collins , Pillay Diantha , Shamu Patience , Murire Mercy , Nzenze Susan , Cox Laura Ashleigh , Mullick Saiqa 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Limited antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance coupled with syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) could be contributing to an increase in AMR in the region. This systematic review aimed to synthesize data on the prevalence of AMR in common STIs in SSA and identify some research gaps that exist.

Methods
We searched three electronic databases for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 26 May 2020. We screened the titles and abstracts for studies that potentially contained data on AMR in SSA. Then we reviewed the full text of these studies to identify articles that reported data on the prevalence of AMR in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma genitalium in SSA. We summarized the data using a narrative synthesis.

Results
The 40 included studies reported on AMR data from 7961 N. gonorrhoeae isolates from 15 countries in SSA and 350 M. genitalium specimens from South Africa. All four SSA regions reported very high rates of ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and penicillin resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. Resistance to cefixime or ceftriaxone was observed in all regions except West Africa. Azithromycin resistance, recommended as part of dual therapy with an extended-spectrum cephalosporin for gonorrhoea, was reported in all the regions. Both macrolide and fluoroquinolone-associated resistance were reported in M. genitalium in South Africa. Studies investigating AMR in C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis were not identified.

Conclusions
There is a need to strengthen AMR surveillance in SSA for prompt investigation and notification of drug resistance in STIs.
The C-Band All-Sky Survey (C-BASS): template fitting of diffuse galactic microwave emission in the northern sky
Authors: Harper S E , Dickinson C , Barr A , Cepeda-Arroita R , Grumitt R D P , Heilgendorff H M , Jew L , Jonas J L , Jones M E , Leahy J P , Leech J , Pearson T J , Peel M W , Readhead A C S , Taylor A C 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACTThe C-Band All-Sky Survey (C-BASS) has observed the Galaxy at 4.76 GHz with an angular resolution of 0${_{.}^{\circ}}$73 full-width half-maximum, and detected Galactic synchrotron emission with high signal-to-noise ratio over the entire northern sky (δ &gt; −15○). We present the results of a spatial correlation analysis of Galactic foregrounds at mid-to-high (b &gt; 10○) Galactic latitudes using a preliminary version of the C-BASS intensity map. We jointly fit for synchrotron, dust, and free–free components between 20 and 1000 GHz and look for differences in the Galactic synchrotron spectrum, and the emissivity of anomalous microwave emission (AME) when using either the C-BASS map or the 408-MHz all-sky map to trace synchrotron emission. We find marginal evidence for a steepening (&lt;Δβ&gt; = −0.06 ± 0.02) of the Galactic synchrotron spectrum at high frequencies resulting in a mean spectral index of &lt;β&gt; = −3.10 ± 0.02 over 4.76–22.8 GHz. Further, we find that the synchrotron emission can be well modelled by a single power law up to a few tens of GHz. Due to this, we find that the AME emissivity is not sensitive to changing the synchrotron tracer from the 408-MHz map to the 4.76-GHz map. We interpret this as strong evidence for the origin of AME being spinning dust emission.
DNA-PKcs-dependent phosphorylation of RECQL4 promotes NHEJ by stabilizing the NHEJ machinery at DNA double-strand breaks
Authors: Lu Huiming , Guan Junhong , Wang Shih-Ya , Li Guo-Min , Bohr Vilhelm A , Davis Anthony J 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the major pathway that mediates the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) generated by ionizing radiation (IR). Previously, the DNA helicase RECQL4 was implicated in promoting NHEJ, but its role in the pathway remains unresolved. In this study, we report that RECQL4 stabilizes the NHEJ machinery at DSBs to promote repair. Specifically, we find that RECQL4 interacts with the NHEJ core factor DNA-PKcs and the interaction is increased following IR. RECQL4 promotes DNA end bridging mediated by DNA-PKcs and Ku70/80 in vitro and the accumulation/retention of NHEJ factors at DSBs in vivo. Moreover, interaction between DNA-PKcs and the other core NHEJ proteins following IR treatment is attenuated in the absence of RECQL4. These data indicate that RECQL4 promotes the stabilization of the NHEJ factors at DSBs to support formation of the NHEJ long-range synaptic complex. In addition, we observed that the kinase activity of DNA-PKcs is required for accumulation of RECQL4 to DSBs and that DNA-PKcs phosphorylates RECQL4 at six serine/threonine residues. Blocking phosphorylation at these sites reduced the recruitment of RECQL4 to DSBs, attenuated the interaction between RECQL4 and NHEJ factors, destabilized interactions between the NHEJ machinery, and resulted in decreased NHEJ. Collectively, these data illustrate reciprocal regulation between RECQL4 and DNA-PKcs in NHEJ.
Phosphatidylcholine:diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase’s unique regulation of castor bean oil quality
Authors: Demski Kamil , Jeppson Simon , Stymne Sten , Lager Ida 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Castor bean (Ricinus communis) seed oil (triacylglycerol [TAG]) is composed of ∼90% of the industrially important ricinoleoyl (12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoyl) groups. Here, phosphatidylcholine (PC):diacylglycerol (DAG) cholinephosphotransferase (PDCT) from castor bean was biochemically characterized and compared with camelina (Camelina sativa) PDCT. DAGs with ricinoleoyl groups were poorly used by Camelina PDCT, and their presence inhibited the utilization of DAG with “common” acyl groups. In contrast, castor PDCT utilized DAG with ricinoleoyl groups similarly to DAG with common acyl groups and showed a 10-fold selectivity for DAG with one ricinoleoyl group over DAG with two ricinoleoyl groups. Castor DAG acyltransferase2 specificities and selectivities toward different DAG and acyl-CoA species were assessed and shown to not acylate DAG without ricinoleoyl groups in the presence of ricinoleoyl-containing DAG. Eighty-five percent of the DAG species in microsomal membranes prepared from developing castor endosperm lacked ricinoleoyl groups. Most of these species were predicted to be derived from PC, which had been formed by PDCT in exchange with DAG with one ricinoleoyl group. A scheme of the function of PDCT in castor endosperm is proposed where one ricinoleoyl group from de novo-synthesized DAG is selectivity transferred to PC. Nonricinoleate DAG is formed and ricinoleoyl groups entering PC are re-used either in de novo synthesis of DAG with two ricinoleoyl groups or in direct synthesis of triricinoleoyl TAG by PDAT. The PC-derived DAG is not used in TAG synthesis but is proposed to serve as a substrate in membrane lipid biosynthesis during oil deposition.
H-lignin can be deposited independently of CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE C and D in Arabidopsis
Authors: Muro-Villanueva Fabiola , Kim Hoon , Ralph John , Chapple Clint 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Lignin contributes substantially to the recalcitrance of biomass toward saccharification. To circumvent this problem, researchers have genetically altered lignin, although, in a number of cases, these efforts have resulted in an undesirable yield penalty. Recent findings have shown that by knocking out two subunits (MED5A and MED5B) of the transcriptional regulatory complex Mediator, the stunted growth phenotype of mutants in p-coumaroyl shikimate 3′-hydroxylase, reduced epidermal fluorescence 8-1 (ref8-1), can be alleviated. Furthermore, these plants synthesize a lignin polymer almost entirely derived from p-coumaryl alcohol. Plants deficient in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) are notable in that they primarily incorporate coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde into their lignin. We tested the hypothesis that by stacking mutations in the genes encoding for the CAD paralogs C and D on an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) med5a/5b ref8-1 genetic background, the biosynthesis of p-coumaryl alcohol would be blocked, making p-coumaraldehyde available for polymerization into a novel kind of lignin. The med5a/5b ref8-1 cadc cadd plants are viable, but lignin analysis demonstrated that they continue to synthesize p-hydroxyphenyl lignin despite being mutated for the CADs typically considered to be required for monolignol biosynthesis. In addition, enzyme activity tests showed that even in the absence of CADC and CADD, there is high CAD activity in stems. We tested the potential involvement of other CADs in p-coumaraldehyde biosynthesis in the quintuple mutant by mutating them using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Lignin analysis demonstrated that the resulting hextuple mutant plants continue to deposit p-coumaryl alcohol-derived lignin, demonstrating a route for the synthesis of p-hydroxyphenyl lignin in Arabidopsis independent of four CAD isoforms.
Fats and Sugars Recruit Distinct Gut‐Brain Circuits To Control Food Intake And Reward
Authors: McDougle Molly , de Araujo Alan , Vergara Macarena , Singh Arashdeep , Yang Mingxin , Braga Isadora , de Lartigue Guillaume 
Published: May 2022

The high‐fat high‐sugar food environment has been implicated as a driver of the obesity epidemic. Nodose ganglia (NG) neurons transmit post‐ingestive signals, including fat and sugar intake, from the gut to the brain. Previous data revealed distinct vagal circuits are required for post‐ingestive fat and sugar reinforcement, but whether these signals converge onto overlapping reward circuits is unclear.MethodsTo address this, we used FosTRAP mice to genetically label whole‐brain neuronal responses to discreet time‐restricted stimuli. Using genetic‐encoded reporter (tdTom) expression and cFos immunolabeling we compared neural responses to intragastric stimuli at two separate timepoints in the same animal.ResultsRepeated intragastric infusion of the same macronutrient resulted in high colocalization between tdTom and cFos labeling (>70%) in neurons of a previously identified gut‐reward circuit (NTS, PBN, SNc, dorsal striatum). Equicaloric infusion of fat or sugar at two separate timepoints significantly reduced colocalization of tdTom and cFos labeling (<30%), suggesting that fat and sugar recruit parallel but largely distinct reward circuits. Viral‐mediated caspase ablation of sugar‐sensing NG neurons abolished activation of the reward circuitry for sugar, but not fat; confirming this is a vagally‐mediated mechanism. Optogenetic stimulation of fat‐sensing NG neurons is sufficient to condition operant behavior. Microdialysis in response to equicaloric intragastric infusions of fat or sugar resulted in similar dopamine efflux in the dorsal striatum. To obtain the same level of dopamine efflux, more calories of an equicaloric fat‐sugar combination are required, correlating with compensatory increased intake of fat‐sugar solution.ConclusionThere are labeled lines for vagally‐mediated fat or sugar reward. Reduced reward in response to fat‐sugar combinations may explain the inclination to overindulge in high‐fat high‐sugar foods, and have broad implications for the pathogenesis of obesity.
Effects of berberine on neurological recovery after spinal cord injury in rats
Authors: Duan Hubin , Yang Xin , Hao Chunyan , Xue Wen , Qiao Xiaohong 
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveSecondary inflammation after spinal cord injury is an important cause of neurological dysfunction. At present, there are relatively few effective drugs as an inflammatory inhibitor of spinal cord injury. Berberine is a common inflammatory inhibitor of traditional Chinese medicine extract, so we tried to explore the therapeutic significance of this drug for spinal cord injury.Materials and methodsThe SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group(n=30), non‐intervention group(n=30), and Berberine intervention group(n=30). The T10 SCI model was established by Allen's percussion method. BBB score, SEP and MEP latency and amplitude were used to evaluate hind limb function. The water content of spinal cord was measured. The spinal cell structure was observed by HE and Nissl staining and electron microscopy. The motor function was detected by SEP(Somatosensory Evoked Potential) and MEP(motor evoked potential. BBB(Basso‐Beattie‐Bresnahan) score was used to evaluate the hind limb function of rats.ResultsThe BBB score of berberine in SCI model was significantly lower than that in sham operation group from postoperative day 1 to 31. Hindlimb function of Berberine intervention group began to recover faster than the non‐intervention group on day 10 (p < 0.05). The latency of SEP and MEP after spinal cord injury was significantly longer than that of sham operation group (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the latency of SEP and MEP between the two groups (p > 0.05). The amplitude of SEP and MEP in rats after spinal cord injury was significantly lower than that in the sham operation group (P < 0.05). In addition, after berberine treatment, the degree of spinal cord edema in rats decreased to some extent (p < 0.05).ConclusionBerberine can promote the recovery of injured spinal cord to some extent, which may be related to its inflammatory inhibition.
Amputation–From the Routine to the Rotationplasty
Authors: Miller Benjamin 
Published: May 2022

Historically, extremity amputation was often the only surgical option for traumatic, infectious, or oncologic conditions. Despite evolution of surgical techniques and reconstructive options leading to successful limb sparing operations, amputation remains a viable and durable intervention for many conditions. The most common amputations are performed in the lower extremity and are due to complications of diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or trauma. General principles and goals of amputations are to remove the pathology, allow for healing, maintain as much length as possible, and provide a stable base on which to weight bear. The barriers to successful outcomes include phantom pain, prosthetic cost, and short residual limbs resulting in difficulty with prosthetic wear.Musculoskeletal oncology is a specialty that affects all ages and anatomic locations. For malignancy of the pelvis and extremities that require an ablative procedure to attain oncologic control, there can be a variety of considerations and unusual situations resulting in difficulties in rehabilitation and functional restoration. A particularly challenging scenario is a malignancy presenting in the lower extremity of a growing child; in this case, a rotationplasty can provide superior function and durability.There have been advancements for amputees in the form of more sophisticated prostheses and rehabilitation protocols. In addition, there has been increased enthusiasm for surgical techniques reducing phantom pain or allowing for use of a myoelectric prosthesis (targeted muscle re‐innervation) and osseointegrative implants that allow for improvements in prosthetic use.
Easy NanoString Gene Expression Analysis with the NanoTube
Authors: Class Caleb A. , Bristow Christopher A. , Do Kim‐Anh 
Published: May 2022

The NanoString nCounter analysis system has become a popular platform for the quantification of RNA expression, and numerous statistical and bioinformatic methods have been developed to analyze the resulting data. However, many of the current methods and tools are unavailable to those without expert knowledge in computer programming. We have developed the NanoTube R package to make this analysis easier for anyone with basic R skills, as well as a simple web application (developed using R‐Shiny) for those with no programming skills. This includes all of the steps required in nCounter data analysis, from data processing and quality control to differential expression, gene set analysis, and data visualization. In addition to manufacturer‐recommended data analysis steps, functions for interoperability with other R packages for NanoString data are provided for those who prefer different analysis methods. And because this library is open‐source, it can be expanded by others with additional analysis and visualization needs.We demonstrate the software by applying it to a publically available data set comparing the gene expression of patients with autoimmune retinopathy against healthy controls (GEO data series GSE117751). In addition to confirming the enrichment of multiple immune pathways identified in the previous analysis of the data, the EGFR signaling pathway is identified as a potential pathway of interest in autoimmune retinopathy patients. Use of this software will help researchers understand their gene expression data more quickly, and can also allow for the rapid reanalysis of public NanoString data sets to uncover new biological discoveries. The NanoTube R package and user’s guide are available on the Bioconductor software repository (https://www.bioconductor.org/packages/devel/bioc/html/NanoTube.html), while the beta version of the web application can be downloaded from GitHub (https://github.com/calebclass/Shiny‐NanoTube).
Development of antibacterial Type III secretion system binding antibodies
Authors: Filbrandt Peter , Piontkowsky Kaitlyn , Streu Craig 
Published: May 2022

Common agricultural crops such as wild rice and tomatoes are infected by the bacterial pathogens Xanthomonas Oryzae pv. oryzae and Pseudomonas Syringae pv. syringae respectively. These species use the same cellular structure to infect their host cells called a type three secretion system or T3SS. T3SSs are composed of multiple protein subunits used to insert effector proteins into the host cell's cytoplasm. These effectors in turn begin a cascade of events that ultimately results in invasion of the host cell. Once infected, the pathogens can take over the cell’s system and ultimately kill it. Given the importance of tomatoes and rice as food sources, the spread of these infections could potentially become disastrous for the populations that depend on them. To combat this infection, biological antibiotics will be developed to bind to a critical subunit in each of the respective pathogen’s T3SS, preventing proper assembly and function, and rendering the bacteria non‐pathogenic.A combination of yeast surface display and directed evolution are being used to find nanobodies specific to the T3SS in Xanthomonas Oryzae pv. oryzae and Pseudomonas Syringae pv. syringae. Nanobodies are inexpensive and stable antibody fragments that hold substantial potential as antimicrobials in human and agriscience applications. To do this, an antigen mimicking that of the bacterial secretion systems must be created. The antigens herein were chosen for their relative conservation and role in T3SS pathogenicity. This antigen selection strategy is expected to both increase the applicability of the method across bacterial species, and reduce the potential for the development of antibiotic resistance. This poster outlines the selection, cloning, and purification of a T3SS antigen for directed evolution of nanobodies as T3SS‐targeting antimicrobials.
Bile acid‐mediated activation of brown fat protects from alcohol‐induced steatosis and liver injury
Authors: Fan Mingjie , Fan Mingjie , Wang Yangmeng , Jin Lihua , Sun Zhaoli , Ding Wen‐Xing , Huang Wendong 
Published: May 2022

Background & AimsAlcohol associated liver disease (AALD) is one of the most common causes of liver injury and failure. Limited knowledge of the mechanisms underlying AALD impedes the development of efficacious therapies. Bile acid (BA) signaling was shown to participate in progression of AALD, the mechanisms of which remain poorly understood.Approach & ResultsMice were exposed to chronic‐plus‐one‐binge ethanol feeding to induce AALD. Interestingly, ethanol feeding increased expression of the thermogenesis genes downstream of TGR5 (Takeda G protein‐coupled BA receptor 5) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of wild‐type (WT) but not TGR5 knockout (KO) mice. TGR5 deficiency significantly diminished BAT activity and energy expenditure in mice after ethanol feeding. Alcohol increased serum BA levels in mice and humans through altering BA transportation rather than increasing hepatic BA synthesis, which activated TGR5 signaling in BAT. TGR5 deficiency did not alter alcohol‐stimulated adipose lipolysis, de novo hepatic lipogenesis, or alcohol effects on hepatic β‐oxidation of free fatty acids (FFA). However, compared to ethanol‐fed WT mice, ethanol‐fed TGR5 KO mice showed less FFA β‐oxidation in BAT, leading to increased circulation and liver uptake of FFA. Importantly, in ethanol‐fed mice housed under thermoneutral conditions, TGR5‐mediated fat burning in BAT was unchanged. Finally, administration of a specific TGR5 agonist significantly activated TGR5 signaling in BAT to increase thermogenesis, reduce serum FFA level and ameliorate hepatic steatosis and injury in AALD mice.ConclusionsBA signaling plays a protective role in AALD by enhancing BAT thermogenesis and BAT crosstalk with the liver via TGR5 activation. Targeting TGR5 in BAT may be a promising approach for the treatment of AALD.