bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant immunotherapy: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Su Jin , Guo Weihong , Chen Zhian , Wang Lingzhi , Liu Hao , Zhao Liying , Lin Tian , Li Fengping , Mao Xinyuan , Huang Huilin , Yu Jiang , Li Guoxin , Hu Yanfeng 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been increasingly used for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, the safety and the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for patients with AGC after neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NAI) remain unknown.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the patients with AGC who underwent laparoscopic surgery after neoadjuvant therapy between 1 January 2019 and 31 October 2021. We further compared the differences in postoperative complications, overall response rate, adverse events, surgical parameters, and postoperative recovery between two cohorts: the NAI group (NAI plus chemotherapy) and the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) group. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for the overall response rate.ResultsOverall, 80 patients were enrolled, of whom 30 cases were included in the NAI cohort and 50 were included in the NAC cohort. The overall rate of postoperative complications was 30.0% in both groups (p = 1.000). The overall response rate was 70.0% in the NAI cohort and 40% in the NAC cohort (p = 0.012). The adverse effects were found in 16 cases (53.3%) of the NAI cohort and 23 cases (46.0%) of the NAC cohort (p = 0.645). There was no statistical difference in intraoperative bleeding (50 ml vs. 50 ml, p = 0.983), operation time (320.9 min vs. 303.5 min, p = 0.382), dissected lymph node count (43.5 vs. 40.0, p = 0.364), first postoperative anal aerofluxus (3 days vs. 3 days, p = 0.091), first liquid diet (4 days vs. 5 days, p = 0.213), and postoperative length of stay in the hospital (8 days vs. 7 days, p = 0.508) between the two groups. NAI was estimated to be the independent protective factor [odds ratio (OR) 4.931, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.385–17.559), p = 0.014] for odds to overall response rate, whereas vessel invasion was found to be the significant risk factor [OR 0.113, 95% CI (0.027–0.475), p = 0.003].ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery after NAI combined with chemotherapy is a safe therapeutic choice for AGC and may bring better short-term outcomes due to a higher overall response rate.
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes in surface sediments of shrimp ponds during the culture period
Authors: Sun Dongyao , Huang Jiafang , Luo Min , Chen Cheng , Lan Xue , Hu Weifang 
Published: December 2022

Intensive aquaculture in estuaries and coasts has resulted in several ecological and environmental problems. Among various nitrogen transformation pathway, dissimilatory nitrate (NO3-) reduction is considered to be highly important in regulating reactive nitrogen. However, there are relatively few studies on the processes and contribution of NOx- reduction in sediment during the shrimp pond culture period. Three sediment NO3- reduction processes, denitrification (DNF), anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANA), and dissimilatory NO3- reduction to ammonium (DNRA), were surveyed in eight shrimp ponds across three subtropical estuaries using 15N isotope tracing experiments. The rates of DNF, ANA and DNRA ranged from 2.87–18.11, 0.10–1.92, and 0.21–1.25 nmol N g -1 h -1, respectively. DNF was responsible for 64.2–91.6% of the total NO3- reduction. Regarding environmental factors, C and N substrates, as well as salinity, significantly affected NO3- reduction. In general, the N losses were approximately 32.43–131.64 g N m-2 yr-1 for DNF and 2.38–15.85 g N m-2 yr-1 for ANA in this study, indicating that coastal reclamation is a nonnegligible way to remove nitrogen. Our results provide a scientific foundation for understanding the mechanism of nitrogen cycling in the artificial aquatic environment of shrimp ponds.
Oleaster seed-derived activated carbon/ferrite nanocomposite for microwave absorption in the X-band range
Authors: Mahmoodi Mahsa , Aslibeiki Bagher , Peymanfar Reza , Naghshara Hamid 
Published: December 2022

Conjugated carbonaceous structures achieved from biological materials were significantly considered electromagnetic wave absorbing materials due to their eye-catching dielectric, lightweight, low-cost, and chemical stability features. To strengthen the microwave absorbing performance of the porous carbon (Oleaster seeds), Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles have been successfully anchored onto the surface of biomass-derived material through a co-precipitation method. Noticeably, the dielectric constant, impedance matching, permeability, and microwave absorbing capability were improved by changing the carbon content. The optimized Fe3O4/activated carbon (AC) illustrated the excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performances with a maximum reflection loss (RL) value of −51.12 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of ∼4 GHz (RL &lt; 10 dB) with a thickness of 1 mm. The promoted microwave absorbing characteristics of Fe3O4/AC composites are rooted in improved impedance matching, eddy current loss, natural and exchange resonance, and specific surface area, bringing more polarization loss and multiple reflection and scattering. The presented research shed new light on the fabrication of practical microwave-absorbing materials based on biomass-derived materials with a facile experimental procedure.
A multicenter randomized phase 4 trial comparing sodium picosulphate plus magnesium citrate vs. polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. The PRECOL trial
Authors: D’Angelo Valentina , Piccirillo Maria Carmela , Di Maio Massimo , Gallo Ciro , Bucci Cristina , Civiletti Corrado , Di Girolamo Elena , Marone Pietro , Rossi Giovanni Battista , Tempesta Alfonso Mario , Tracey Maura C. , Romano Marco , Miranda Agnese , Taranto Domenico , Sessa Gabriella , Esposito Pasquale , Salerno Raffaele , Pumpo Rossella , De Filippo Francesca Romana , Della Valle Elisabetta , de Bellis Mario , Perrone Francesco 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundAdequate bowel preparation before colonoscopy is crucial. Unfortunately, 25% of colonoscopies have inadequate bowel cleansing. From a patient perspective, bowel preparation is the main obstacle to colonoscopy. Several low-volume bowel preparations have been formulated to provide more tolerable purgative solutions without loss of efficacy.ObjectivesInvestigate efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Sodium Picosulphate plus Magnesium Citrate (SPMC) vs. Polyethylene Glycol plus Ascorbic Acid (PEG-ASC) solutions in patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy.Materials and methodsIn this phase 4, randomized, multicenter, two-arm trial, adult outpatients received either SPMC or PEG-ASC for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. The primary aims were quality of bowel cleansing (primary endpoint scored according to Boston Bowel Preparation Scale) and patient acceptance (measured with six visual analogue scales). The study was open for treatment assignment and blinded for primary endpoint assessment. This was done independently with videotaped colonoscopies reviewed by two endoscopists unaware of study arms. A sample size of 525 patients was calculated to recognize a difference of 10% in the proportion of successes between the arms with a two-sided alpha error of 0.05 and 90% statistical power.ResultsOverall 550 subjects (279 assigned to PEG-ASC and 271 assigned to SPMC) represented the analysis population. There was no statistically significant difference in success rate according to BBPS: 94.4% with PEG-ASC and 95.7% with SPMC (P = 0.49). Acceptance and willing to repeat colonoscopy were significantly better for SPMC with all the scales. Compliance was less than full in 6.6 and 9.9% of cases with PEG-ASC and SPMC, respectively (P = 0.17). Nausea and meteorism were significantly more bothersome with PEG-ASC than SPMC. There were no serious adverse events in either group.ConclusionSPMC and PEG-ASC are not different in terms of efficacy, but SPMC is better tolerated than PEG-ASC. SPMC could be an alternative to low-volume PEG based purgative solutions for bowel preparation.Clinical trial registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], Identifier [NCT01649674 and EudraCT 2011–000587–10].
Altered cognition and anxiety in adolescent offspring whose mothers underwent different-pattern maternal sleep deprivation, and cognition link to hippocampal expressions of Bdnf and Syt-1
Authors: Wei Ru-Meng , Zhang Yue-Ming , Li Yun , Wu Qi-Tao , Wang Ya-Tao , Li Xue-Yan , Li Xue-Wei , Chen Gui-Hai 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundInadequate sleep during pregnancy negatively affects the neural development of offspring. Previous studies have focused on the continuous sleep deprivation (CSD) paradigm, but the sleep pattern during late pregnancy is usually fragmented.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of CSD and fragmented sleep deprivation (FSD) in late pregnancy on emotion, cognition, and expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins in offspring mice.MethodsPregnant CD-1 mice were either subjected to 3/6 h of CSD/FSD during gestation days 15–21, while those in the control group were left untreated. After delivery, the offspring were divided into five groups, i.e., control (CON), short or long CSD (CSD3h, CSD6h), and short or long FSD (FSD3h, FSD6h). When the offspring were 2 months old, the anxiety-like behavior level was tested using the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and spatial learning and memory were evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The expression of hippocampal of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and synaptotagmin-1 (Syt-1) was determined using RT-PCR and western blotting.ResultsThe CSD6h, FSD3h, and FSD6h had longer latency, fewer center times in the OF test, less open arms time and fewer numbers of entries in the open arms of the EPM, longer learning distance swam and lower memory percentage of distance swam in the target quadrant in the MWM test, and decreased BDNF and increased Syt-1 mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus. Compared to the CSD6h, the FSD3h and FSD6h had longer distance swam, a lower percentage of distance swam in the target quadrant, decreased BDNF, and increased Syt-1 mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus.ConclusionThe results suggested that maternal sleep deprivation during late pregnancy impairs emotion and cognition in offspring, and FSD worsened the cognitive performance to a higher extent than CSD. The observed cognitive impairment could be associated with the expression of altered hippocampal of Bdnf and Syt-1 genes.
Alzheimer’s disease like neuropathology in Down syndrome cortical organoids
Authors: Zhao Helen H. , Haddad Gabriel G. 
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder with an extra copy of chromosome 21 and DS remains one of the most common causes of intellectual disabilities in humans. All DS patients have Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like neuropathological changes including accumulation of plaques and tangles by their 40s, much earlier than the onset of such neuropathological changes in AD patients. Due to the lack of human samples and appropriate techniques, our understanding of DS neuropathology during brain development or before the clinical onset of the disease remains largely unexplored at the cellular and molecular levels.Methods: We used induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and iPSC-derived 3D cortical organoids to model Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome and explore the earliest cellular and molecular changes during DS fetal brain development.Results: We report that DS iPSCs have a decreased growth rate than control iPSCs due to a decreased cell proliferation. DS iPSC-derived cortical organoids have a much higher immunoreactivity of amyloid beta (Aß) antibodies and a significantly higher amount of amyloid plaques than control organoids. Although Elisa results did not detect a difference of Aß40 and Aß42 level between the two groups, the ratio of Aß42/Aß40 in the detergent-insoluble fraction of DS organoids was significantly higher than control organoids. Furthermore, an increased Tau phosphorylation (pTau S396) in DS organoids was confirmed by immunostaining and Western blot. Elisa data demonstrated that the ratio of insoluble Tau/total Tau in DS organoids was significantly higher than control organoids.Conclusion: DS iPSC-derived cortical organoids mimic AD-like pathophysiologyical phenotype in vitro, including abnormal Aß and insoluble Tau accumulation. The molecular neuropathologic signature of AD is present in DS much earlier than predicted, even in early fetal brain development, illustrating the notion that brain organoids maybe a good model to study early neurodegenerative conditions.
Abnormal expression of cortical cell cycle regulators underlying anxiety and depressive-like behavior in mice exposed to chronic stress
Authors: Mendes-Silva Ana Paula , Prevot Thomas Damien , Banasr Mounira , Sibille Etienne , Diniz Breno Satler 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe cell cycle is a critical mechanism for proper cellular growth, development and viability. The p16INK4a and p21Waf1/Cip1 are important regulators of the cell cycle progression in response to internal and external stimuli (e.g., stress). Accumulating evidence indicates that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is particularly vulnerable to stress, where stress induces, among others, molecular and morphological alterations, reflecting behavioral changes. Here, we investigated if the p16INK4a and p21Waf1/Cip1 expression are associated with behavioral outcomes.MethodsPrefrontal cortex mRNA and protein levels of p16INK4A and p21Waf1/Cip1 of mice (six independent groups of C57BL/6J, eight mice/group, 50% female) exposed from 0 to 35 days of chronic restraint stress (CRS) were quantified by qPCR and Western Blot, respectively. Correlation analyses were used to investigate the associations between cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) expression and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors.ResultsOur results showed that the PFC activated the cell cycle regulation pathways mediated by both CKIs p16INK4A and p21Waf1/Cip1 in mice exposed to CRS, with overall decreased mRNA expression and increased protein expression. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed that mRNA and protein levels are statistically significant correlated with anxiety and depressive-like behavior showing a greater effect in males than females.ConclusionOur present study extends the existing literature providing evidence that PFC cells respond to chronic stress exposure by overexpressing CKIs. Furthermore, our findings indicated that abnormal expression of p16INK4A and p21Waf1/Cip1 may significantly contribute to non-adaptive behavioral responses.
Effectiveness of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation vs. neuromuscular electrical stimulation for recovery of lower extremity function in patients with subacute stroke: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Huang Songhua , Zhang Yuqian , Liu Peile , Chen Yinglun , Gao Beiyao , Chen Chan , Bai Yulong 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) vs. neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for motor recovery of the lower extremity in patients with subacute stroke.Materials and methodsSeventy patients within 6 months post-stroke were randomly assigned to the CCFES group (n = 35) and the NMES group (n = 35). Both groups underwent routine rehabilitation plus 20-min electrical stimulation (CCFES or NMES) on ankle dorsiflexion muscles per day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. Ankle AROM (dorsiflexion), Fugl-Meyer assessment-lower extremity (FMA-LE), Barthel Index (BI), Functional Ambulation Category scale (FAC), 10-meter walking test, and surface electromyography (sEMG) were assessed at the baseline and at the end of the intervention.ResultTen patients did not complete the study (five in CCFES and five in NMES), so only 60 patients were analyzed in the end. After the 3-week intervention, FMA-LE, BI, Ankle AROM (dorsiflexion), and FAC increased in both groups (p &lt; 0.05). Patients in the CCFES group showed significantly greater improvements only in the measurement of Fugl-Meyer assessment-lower extremity compared with the NMES group after treatment (p &lt; 0.05). The improvement in sEMG response of tibialis anterior by CCFES was greater than NMES (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionContralateral controlled functional electrical stimulation can effectively improve the motor function of the lower limbs better than conventional neuromuscular electrical stimulation in subacute patients after stroke, but the effect on improving the ability to walk, such as walking speed, was not good.Clinical trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR2100045423.
The effects of saffron supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Zamani Mohammad , Zarei Mahtab , Nikbaf-Shandiz Mahlagha , Gholami Fatemeh , Hosseini Amir Mehdi , Nadery Maryam , Shiraseb Farideh , Asbaghi Omid 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world and is estimated to involve more people in the next years. It is said that alternative remedies such as herbs can be used to manage the complications of this disease. For this reason, we aimed to conduct this meta-analysis to systematically assess and summarize the effects of saffron supplementation as an important herb on cardiovascular risk factors in adults.MethodsA systematic search was done in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to find eligible articles up to September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of saffron on lipid profiles, glycemic control, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, and inflammatory markers were included. In the meta-analysis, 32 studies were taken into account (n = 1674).ResultsConsumption of saffron significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) (WMD = −8.81 mg/dl, 95%CI: −14.33, −3.28; P = 0.002), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = −6.87 mg/dl, 95%CI: −11.19, −2.56; P = 0.002), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (WMD = −6.71 mg/dl, 95%CI: −10.51, −2.91; P = 0.001), (P = 0.660), fasting blood glucose (FBG) level (WMD = −7.59 mg/dl, 95%CI: −11.88, −3.30; P = 0.001), HbA1c (WMD = −0.18%, 95%CI: −0.21, −0.07; P &lt; 0.001), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD = −0.49, 95%CI: −0.89, −0.09; P = 0.016), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD = −3.42 mmHg, 95%CI: −5.80, −1.04; P = 0.005), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (WMD = −2.54 pg/ml, 95%CI: −4.43, −0.65; P = 0.008), waist circumference (WC) (WMD = −1.50 cm; 95%CI: −2.83, −0.18; P = 0.026), malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD = −1.50 uM/L, 95%CI: −2.42, −0.57; P = 0.001), and alanine transferase (ALT) (WMD = −2.16 U/L, 95%CI: −4.10, −0.23; P = 0.028). Also, we observed that saffron had an increasing effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (WMD = 0.07 mM/L, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.13; P = 0.032). There was linear regression between FBG and the duration of saffron intake. Additionally, the non-linear dose-response analysis has shown a significant association of saffron intervention with HDL (P = 0.049), HOMA-IR (P = 0.002), weight (P = 0.036), ALP (P = 0.016), FBG (P = 0.011), HbA1c (P = 0.002), and TNF-α (P = 0.042). A non-linear association between the length of the intervention and the level of HDL and DBP was also found.DiscussionThat seems saffron could effectively improve TG, TC, LDL, FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, SBP, CRP, TNF-α, WC, MDA, TAC, and ALT.
Sea buckthorn pulp and seed oils ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders and modulate gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice on high-fat diet
Authors: Wang Zhen , Zhou Shengmin , Jiang Yuanrong 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), along with the complications of obesity and dyslipidemia, are worldwide lipid metabolism disorders. Recent evidence showed that NAFLD could be ameliorated by diet and lifestyles by attenuating gut microbiota dysbiosis via the gut–liver axis. Sea buckthorn oils, including sea buckthorn pulp oil (SBPO) and sea buckthorn seed oil (SBSO), were investigated in this study for their beneficial effects on gut–liver axis in C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet.MethodsSixty of male C57BL/6J mice were assigned into five groups, fed with low-fat diet containing soybean oil (SO), high-fat diet comprising lard oil (LO), peanut oil (PO), SBSO or SBPO, respectively, for 12 weeks. Serum and hepatic biochemical analysis, liver and perirenal fat histological analysis, and fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing were conducted to reflect the influence of five diets on gut-liver axis.ResultsDietary SBPO reduced visceral fat accumulation, adipose cell size, serum and hepatic triglyceride, LDL-C levels, and hepatic cell damage score; increased gut microbiota diversity with a higher abundance of Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Oscillibacter compared with PO. SBSO showed equal or weaker effects compared to SBPO.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that dietary SBPO has the potential to ameliorate NAFLD and related metabolic disorders, like obesity and dyslipidemia, by modulating gut microbiota.
Genistein protects against hyperglycemia and fatty liver disease in diet-induced prediabetes mice via activating hepatic insulin signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Nana , Zhang Weiyue , Guo Xinxin , Liu Jianlin , Li Shuying , Zhang Hongtai , Fan Bei 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionInsulin signalingviathe insulin receptor (IR) may be associated with the amelioration of diet-induced metabolic syndrome. Genistein, a soy isoflavone, has been suggested to play a role in the amelioration of high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders.MethodsHere, we aimed to explore whether genistein regulates glucose and hepatic lipid by activating the insulin signaling pathway in diet-induced obesity mice.ResultsWe showed that treatment of western-style diet-fed mice with genistein (60 mg/kg) significantly improved insulin resistance with decreased hyperglycemia and HOMA-IR index. These effects were linked to activating hepatic IRβ/PI3K/Akt signaling. Furthermore, genistein suppressed gluconeogenesis and promoted glycogen synthesis to maintain glucose homeostasis by increasing the phosphorylation of hepatic FOXO1/GSK3βin vivoandin vitro. The reduced level of insulin and upregulation of insulin signaling in genistein-treated mice also lead to an increase in hepatic energy status by inducing energy-sensing AMPK, reducing hepatic SREBP1c/ACC/FAS without affecting β-oxidation to prevent hepatic lipid accumulation. The protective effect of genistein on hepatic lipid accumulation was also validatedin vitro. Besides, genistein had little effect on improvements in intestinal function and liver inflammation.ConclusionTaken together, our results showed that genistein prevents insulin resistance and hyperglycemia through improvements in hepatic function. This study provides new insight into the mechanisms of genistein mediating glucose metabolism and suggests that genistein may be a promising diet ingredient for preventing prediabetes and hepatic lipid accumulation.