bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic effects of extracts and isolated compounds from Ifloga spicata (forssk.) sch. bip against HepG-2 cancer cell line: Supported by ADMET analysis and molecular docking
Authors: Hussain Sajid , Liufang He , Shah Syed Majid , Ali Fawad , Khan Saeed Ahmad , Shah Fawad Ali , Li Jing Bo , Li Shupeng 
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the anticancer potential of Ifloga spicata (I. spicata) against HepG-2 cell line. To assess I. spicata cytoxicity, brine shrimp lethality and MTT assays were performed. In the brine shrimp bioassay, the ethyl acetate fraction had a significant impact with an IC50 of 10 μg/ml. The ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions inhibited HepG-2 cell line effectively (IC50 values 5.54 and 6.52 μg/ml, respectively). The isolated compound, heptadecyl benzoate inhibited growth significantly (IC50, 8.92 μg/ml) while methyl dihydroxybenzoate had modest activity (25.66 μg/ml) against the cell line. Both compounds displayed acceptable pharmacokinetic parameters in the ADME study. In the docking study, the methyl dihydroxybenzoate was involved in two hydrogen bonds with two different residues Thr830 and Asp831. The heptadecyl benzoate carbonyl oxygen exhibited a single hydrogen bond with Lys692. Both showed good interactions with the active site of the (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. Our findings suggest that I. spicata might be a viable source of anticancer natural agents. This discovery raises the prospect of the future development of a new medication for the treatment of liver cancer.
Efficacy and safety of chinese herbal medicine for treating mild or moderate COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies
Authors: Zhu Hongfei , Li Mengting , Tian Chen , Lai Honghao , Zhang Yuqing , Shi Jiaheng , Shi Nannan , Zhao Hui , Yang Kehu , Shang Hongcai , Sun Xin , Liu Jie , Ge Long , Huang Luqi 
Published: September 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still a pandemic globally, about 80% of patients infected with COVID-19 were mild and moderate. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has played a positive role in the treatment of COVID-19, with a certain number of primary studies focused on CHM in managing COVID-19 published. This study aims to systematically review the currently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OBs), and summarize the effectiveness and safety of CHM in the treatment of mild/moderate COVID-19 patients.Methods: We searched 9 databases up to 19 March 2022. Pairs of reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. For overall effect, we calculated the absolute risk difference (ARD) of weighted averages of different estimates, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system.Results: We included 35 RCTs and 24 OBs enrolling 16,580 mild/moderate patients. The certainty of evidence was very low to low. Compared with usual supportive treatments, most effect estimates of CHM treatments were consistent in direction. CHMs presented significant benefits in reducing rate of conversion to severe cases (ARD = 99 less per 1000 patients in RCTs and 131 less per 1000 patients in OBs, baseline risk: 16.52%) and mortality (ARD = 3 less per 1000 patients in RCTs and OBs, baseline risk: 0.40%); shortening time to symptom resolution (3.35 days in RCTs and 2.94 days in OBs), length of hospital stay (2.36 days in RCTs and 2.12 days in OBs) and time to viral clearance (2.64 days in RCTs and 4.46 days in OBs); increasing rate of nucleic acid conversion (ARD = 73 more per 1000 patients in OBs, baseline risk: 16.30%). No serious adverse reactions were found and the differences between CHM and usual supportive care were insignificant.Conclusion: Encouraging evidence showed that CHMs were beneficial in treating mild or moderate patients. CHMs have been proved to possess a safety profile that is comparable to that of usual supportive treatment alone. More rigorously designed clinical trials and mechanism studies are still warranted to further confirm the present findings.
Light-focusing phenomena of field-tuned micro-lens made of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals
Authors: Pei Ting-Hang , Yang Kei-Hsiung 
Published: September 2022

The analytical distribution of the electric field in a micro-lens made of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals (PS-BPLCs) between two electrodes has been derived, and ray bending and focusing for the o (ordinary) and e (extraordinary) rays caused by the field-induced extended Kerr effect on the PS-BPLC have also been calculated. Those calculations show that the focal lengths of most o rays are longer than those of e rays. The o and e rays result in a focal length of 11.6 cm at a Kerr constant of 2.3768 nm/V2 close to the experimental data, and the calculated focal spot diameter is about 80.0 μm. If the Kerr constant is decreased to 2.14 nm/V2, we can obtain a focal length of 13.1 cm, the same as the experimental data. This reduction in the Kerr constant is reasonable because it is still within the experimental error. In summary, our calculations reveal an efficient and accurate way to discuss the focusing phenomena in the PS-BPLC micro-lens.
Autonomic nervous activity analysis based on visibility graph complex networks and skin sympathetic nerve activity
Authors: Cai Zhipeng , Cheng Hongyi , Xing Yantao , Chen Feifei , Zhang Yike , Cui Chang 
Published: September 2022

Background: Autonomic nerve system (ANS) plays an important role in regulating cardiovascular function and cerebrovascular function. Traditional heart rate variation (HRV) and emerging skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) analyses from ultra-short-time (UST) data cannot fully reveal neural activity, thereby quantitatively reflect ANS intensity.Methods: Electrocardiogram and SKNA from sixteen patients (seven cerebral hemorrhage (CH) patients and nine control group (CO) patients) were recorded using a portable device. Ten derived HRV (mean, standard deviation and root mean square difference of sinus RR intervals (NNmean, SDNN and RMSSD), ultra-low frequency (&lt;0.003 Hz, uLF), very low frequency ([0.003 Hz, 0.04 Hz), vLF), low frequency ([0.04 Hz, 0.15 Hz), LF) and high frequency power ([0.15 Hz, 0.4 Hz), HF), ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF), the standard deviation of instantaneous beat-to-beat R-R interval variability (SD1), and approximate entropy (ApEn)) and ten visibility graph (VG) features (diameter (Dia), average node degree (aND), average shortest-path length (aSPL), clustering coefficient (CC), average closeness centrality (aCC), transitivity (Trans), average degree centrality (aDC), link density (LD), sMetric (sM) and graph energy (GE) of the constructed complex network) were compared on 5-min and UST segments to verify their validity and robustness in discriminating CH and CO under different data lengths. Besides, their potential for quantifying ANS-Load were also investigated.Results: The validation results of HRV and VG features in discriminating CH from CO showed that VG features were more clearly distinguishable between the two groups than HRV features. For effectiveness evaluation of analyzing ANS on UST segment, the NNmean, SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LF/HF in HRV features and the CC, Trans, Dia and GE of VG features remained stable in both activated and inactivated segments across all data lengths. The capability of HRV and VG features in quantifying ANS-Load were evaluated and compared under different ANS-Load, the results showed that most HRV features (SDNN, LFHF, RMSSD, vLF, LF and HF) and almost all VG features were correlated to sympathetic nerve activity intensity.Conclusions: The proposed autonomic nervous activity analysis method based on VG and SKNA offers a new insight into ANS assessment in UST segments and ANS-Load quantification.
The mechanism of colon tissue damage mediated by HIF-1α/NF-κB/STAT1 in high-altitude environment
Authors: Cheng Junfei , Sun Yuemei , He Jiaxin , Wang Zihan , Li Wenbin , Wang Rong 
Published: September 2022

The high-altitude environment damages the intestinal mucosal barrier, leading to a high incidence of intestinal diseases and seriously affects the working ability of people at high altitude. However, how high altitude induces intestinal mucosal barrier injury has not been well defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of colonic tissue injury induced by the influence of the high-altitude environment on the colonic microenvironment. Forty-eight SPF C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group and three other that were high-altitude exposure groups (Yushu, Qinghai; elevation: 4,010 m; 12 h, 24 h, 48 h). First, HE staining was used to observe the effect of the high-altitude environment on colon histomorphology of mice. The protein expression levels of claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 were analyzed by molecular biological methods. We found that altitude caused inflammatory damage to colon tissue. Intestinal hypoxia was measured with the hypoxic probe pimonidazole (PMDZ). Interestingly, we observed a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the microenvironment in the colonic lumen. We sought to explore the mechanism of colonic mucosal barrier damage at different times when entering high altitude. The expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factors: HIF-1α, STAT1, and NF-κB and of inflammatory factors: IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly increased. This work highlights that the high-altitude environment leads to a reduction in the concentration of oxygen in the microenvironment of the colonic lumen, which disrupts the colonic mucosal barrier and ultimately induces and exacerbates intestinal injury.
Opposite effect of basic combat training on mood state of recruits with different physical fitness: A study from perspective of fatigue
Authors: Ruan Yi , Song Shang-jin , Yin Zi-fei , Wang Xin , Zou Bin , Wang Huan , Gu Wei , Ling Chang-quan 
Published: September 2022

ObjectiveBasic combat training (BCT) is a kind of necessary high-intensity training to help each military recruit convert into a qualified soldier. In China, both the physical fatigue and passive psychological state have been observed in new recruits during BCT. However, after same-intensity training, the degree of fatigue and passive mood vary among recruits. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of BCT on mood state of recruits with different physical fitness levels from a perspective of fatigue.Materials and methodsBefore and after BCT, the degree of fatigue and mood state of participants were evaluated via the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale and Profile of Mood States Questionnaire immediately after 20 push-ups as RPE and POMS scores [total mood disturbance (TMD), passive mood (Ttension, Tanger, Tfatigue, Tdepression, and Tconfusion) and positive mood (Tvigour and Testeem)]. The participants were divided into two groups according to the RPE score measured after BCT: (1) group 1: RPE score after BCT &lt; 13 and (2) group 2: RPE score after BCT ≥ 13.ResultA total of 564 recruits were included (group 1: 456/564, 80.85%; group 2: 108/564, 19.15%). After BCT, in group 1, TMD (from 95.65 ± 17.89 to 87.52 ± 17.63) and passive mood Ttension (from 4.46 ± 3.18 to 3.79 ± 3.14), Tfatigue (from 4.94 ± 3.58 to 3.12 ± 3.04), Tdepression (from 2.86 ± 3.41 to 2.01 ± 2.75), Tconfusion (3.12 ± 2.72 to 2.42 ± 2.57) declined significantly (all within-group p &lt; 0.001), but positive mood both increased significantly (Tvigour: from 13.21 ± 4.59 to 15.44 ± 5.42, Testeem: from 9.18 ± 3.36 to 11.04 ± 3.67; both within-group p &lt; 0.001); while in group 2, only Tanger (from 4.27 ± 4.16 to 6.22 ± 5.94, within-group p = 0.001) and Testeem (from 8.36 ± 3.15 to 9.07 ± 3.67, within-group p = 0.031) increased significantly.ConclusionBCT could alleviate passive mood and add to positive mood for recruits with better physical fitness, while had no ameliorative effects on or even deteriorate most of the passive mood for recruits with worse physical fitness.
Acceptability of virtual therapy for postpartum women during COVID-19: A national mixed methods study
Authors: Gonzalez Carmen , Ramirez Magaly , Mata-Greve Felicia , Diaz Autumn , Duran Miriana C. , Johnson Morgan , Grote Nancy , Areán Patricia A. 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundPostpartum depression (PPD) affects one in eight women in the U.S., with rates increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the unique circumstances of COVID-19, virtual therapy might be a unique way to overcome barriers to mental health services. The study sought to explore the acceptability of virtual therapy among women in the postpartum period.MethodsUsing an online recruitment mixed methods approach, we collected data from a U.S. national cross-sectional sample of women (N = 479) who gave birth in the last 12 months.FindingsResults show that 66% of women endorsed items consistent with possible depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 27% accessed therapy services during the postpartum period. While 88% were open to engaging in virtual therapy services, 12% identified several major concerns with virtual therapy, namely: (1) preference for in-person therapy (2) no perceived need for therapy (3) uncomfortable with virtual therapy, and (4) lack of privacy. Of note, 36% more Latinas reported dissatisfaction with quality of care received during virtual therapy compared to non-Latina participants. Despite a major shift to virtual care with COVID-19, future work is needed to make virtual mental health services more accessible for women with PPD.
Development of a nomogram for predicting grade 2 or higher acute hematologic toxicity of cervical cancer after the pelvic bone marrow sparing radiotherapy
Authors: Meng Xiangdi , Wang Nan , Yu Meng , Kong Dechen , Zhang Zhengtao , Chang Xiaolong , Guo Yinghua , Li Yang 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundAcute hematologic toxicity (HT) is a common complication during radiotherapy of cervical cancer which may lead to treatment delay or interruption. Despite the use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the pelvic bone marrow (PBM) sparing, some patients still suffer from acute HT. We aimed to identify predictors associated with HT and develop a nomogram for predicting grade 2 or higher (G2+) acute HT in cervical cancer following the PBM sparing strategy.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed 125 patients with cervical cancer who underwent IMRT with the PBM sparing strategy at our institution. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, best subset regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, respectively, were used for predictor screening, and Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to determine the best model for developing the nomogram. Finally, we quantified the risk of G2+ acute HT based on this model to establish a risk stratification.ResultsThe independent predictors used to develop the nomogram were histological grade, pre-radiotherapy chemotherapy, pre-radiotherapy HT, and radiotherapy [IMRT alone vs. concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT)] which were determined by the univariate and multivariate logistic regression with the minimum AIC of 125.49. Meanwhile, the heat map showed that there is no multicollinearity among the predictors. The nomogram was well-calibrated to reality, with a Brier score of 0.15. The AUC value was 0.82, and the median Brier score and AUC in 1000 five-fold cross-validation were 0.16 and 0.80, respectively. The web version developed together was very easy to use. The risk stratification indicated that high-risk patients (risk point &gt; 195.67) were more likely to develop G2+ acute HT [odds ratio (OR) = 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–3.05].ConclusionThis nomogram well-predicted the risk of G2+ acute HT during IMRT in cervical cancer after the PBM sparing strategy, and the constructed risk stratification could assist physicians in screening high-risk patients and provide a useful reference for future prevention and treatment strategies for acute HT.
Implications of drug-induced phenotypical resistance: Is isoniazid radicalizing M. tuberculosis?
Authors: Hammond RJH , Kloprogge Frank , Pasqua O. Della , Gillespie Stephen H. 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundTuberculosis treatment duration is long and does not guarantee eradication of infection. Shorter treatment regimens are a critical research objective to improve uptake and reduce the risk of relapse and bacterial resistance. The explanation for the need to continue treatment after patients are culture negative remains elusive. We have previously shown that the presence of lipid inclusions in mycobacterial cells is associated with an increase in antibiotic resistance.AimWe investigate the bactericidal effect of isoniazid and rifampicin on the expression of lipid inclusions and characterize the degree of the associated phenotypic antibiotic resistance to a range of anti-tuberculosis agents in current use.MethodsAntibiotic killing effect for both M. tuberculosis and M. komossense were investigated by both hollow fiber bioreactor (HFS) studies and static time kill curve (STKC) experiments. Following STKC cultures were stained with resazurin, Sytox green and Nile red to establish their live/dead (resazurin positive/Sytox positive) and lipid inclusion status, respectively. In addition, M. komossense was studied in the hollow fiber bioreactor model (HFS) and exposed to isoniazid (H) and rifampicin (R). The MIC of current antituberculosis agents for cells from the treated hollow fiber experiments were tested.ResultsAntibiotic killing was similar for both species. For M. komossense; isoniazid was ineffective at the established MIC (1 mg/L) in the hollow fiber bioreactor but rifampicin reduced the viable count rapidly at MIC (0.4 mg/L). When the two drugs were combined at their respective MICs the killing effect was significant and greater than separately. Cells exposed to isoniazid (1x and 9x MIC) for 168 h showed considerable numbers of recoverable viable cells when compared with a combination of 1x MIC R &amp; H where there were no viable cells detectable. For both drugs the number of lipid body positive cells increased over time and this effect was most pronounced for isoniazid and was associated with phenotypic resistance to multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs.ConclusionOur results showed that isoniazid is a potent stimulator of lipid body accumulation, culture persistence, and phenotypic resistance to multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding mechanisms of drug-drug interactions and phenotypic resistance in regimen building.
Taste and smell disturbances in patients with chronic oral graft vs. host disease: An observational study
Authors: Boor Marlou , Raber-Durlacher Judith E. , Hazenberg Mette D. , Rozema Frederik R. , Laheij Alexa M. G. A. 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundA common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is chronic oral graft vs. host disease (cGvHD). Oral cGvHD may present as mucosal lesions, salivary gland dysfunction, and trismus. Moreover, taste and smell ability may be affected, but the prevalence, nature and severity of altered taste and smell function, and their impact on quality of life (QoL) are understudied.AimTo identify the prevalence, nature, and severity of taste and smell disturbances, their impact on QoL and to assess whether altered taste/smell ability is associated with oral mucosal cGvHD or hyposalivation.Materials and methodsAlloHSCT recipients at least 100 days post-HSCT and referred for oral cGvHD-related oral complaints were eligible for participation in this cross-sectional study. Manifestations of oral mucosal cGvHD were scored, the (un)stimulated salivary flow was measured, and objective taste and smell ability was evaluated. Subjective taste and smell alterations, and overall and oral health (OH)-related QoL were assessed.ResultsIn total, 45 patients were included, of which objective reduced taste ability (hypogeusia) was identified in 68.9%; 28.9% had reduced smell ability and 11.1% had complete loss of smell. Nevertheless, only 31.1% of patients reported severe taste alterations and 22% reported moderate taste alterations indicating that not all the patients were aware of their altered taste sense. Taste/smell disturbances were not related to oral mucosal cGvHD or hyposalivation. Most alloHSCT recipients reported a decreased OH-related QoL. However, a relation between taste/smell ability and global or OH-related QoL could not be identified.ConclusionTaste and smell disturbances are prevalent among alloHSCT recipients. Most patients reported a decreased OH-related QoL, but the specific impact of taste and smell disturbances remains to be elucidated.
Uncommon abdominal “egg-shelled” lesions mimic hepatic echinococcosis: Two cases report
Authors: Liao Yubo , Zhou Guo , Yang Chong , Zhang Yu 
Published: September 2022

BackgroundPrimary abdominal “egg-shelled” lesions with positive anti-echinococcus IgG antibody were misdiagnosed as echinococcosis.Case presentationHerein we report two cases with primary abdominal “egg-shelled” lesions were misdiagnosed as echinococcosis. Case 1: A 44-year-old woman presented to our department with a history of slight abdominal pain for 4 months. After admission, the laboratory tests indicated a positive anti-echinococcus IgG antibody status. The contrast-enhanced CT scan showed a 12 × 12 cm “me contrast-mass located in the hepatorenal area. The patient had the entire mass and the right adrenal gland resected. This patient recovered smoothly and was discharged uneventfully 20 days after the operation. The pathologic diagnoses was adrenal lymphangioma. Case 2: A 55-year-old woman was admitted with a history of an abdominal mass for over 10 years. After admission, her anti-echinococcus IgG antibody was positive. The contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed a heterogeneous, solid mass measuring 10 × 9 × 8 cm in the right hepatic lobe. A laparoscopic exploration was performed, and the surgery revealed that the mass arose from the retroperitoneal tissue rather than the liver. Finally, the pathologic diagnoses were paraganglioma with necrosis and cystic changes.ConclusionEnhanced CT scan and contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans are important for distinguishing echinococcosis disease from the other “egg-shelled” lesions. Surgical resection is the main treatment method for this disease. Minimally invasive surgery is recommended but should be performed by experienced surgical teams. Immunohistochemical examination is important for the pathologic diagnosis.