bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Innovative angiography: a new approach to discover more hepatic vein collaterals in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension
Authors: Liu Bowen , Yue Zhendong , Cui Ting , Zhao Hongwei , Wang Lei , Fan Zhenhua , Wu Yifan , Meng Mingming , Zhang Ke , Jiang Li , Ding Huiguo , Zhang Yuening , Liu Fuquan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background: The hemodynamics of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension are complex and variable. We aimed to investigate differences in venous pressures determined by innovative angiography and conventional angiography using balloon occlusion of the hepatic veins in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and portal hypertension.Methods: A total of 134 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who fulfilled the inclusion criteria from June 2017 to June 2020 were included. During transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, conventional and innovative angiography were performed, and venous pressures were measured. A paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for analysis.Results: Conventional and innovative hepatic angiography detected lateral branches of the hepatic vein in 26 (19.4 %) and 65 (48.5 %) cases, respectively (P<0.001). Innovative angiography detected a total of 65 patients with lateral shunts, of whom 37 (56.9%) had initial shunts. The average wedged hepatic venous pressure and portal venous pressure of the initial lateral branches were 21.27±6.66 and 35.84±7.86 mmHg, respectively, with correlation and determination coefficients of 0.342 (P<0.05) and 0.117, respectively. The mean hepatic venous pressure gradient and portal pressure gradient were 9.59±7.64 and 26.86±6.78 mmHg, respectively, with correlation and determination coefficients of 0.292 (P=0.079) and 0.085, respectively.Conclusions: Innovative angiography reveals collateral branches of the hepatic veins more effectively than conventional angiography. Hepatic vein collateral branches are the primary factors leading to underestimation of wedged hepatic venous pressures and hepatic venous pressure gradients, with the initial hepatic vein collateral branches resulting in the most severe underestimations.
Contrasting effects of land-use intensification on carabid beetles occurring in insular (semi-)natural habitats within arable fields
Authors: Fronville Thibault , Balthasar Cathrina , Raatz Larissa , Wedekind Lorenz , Weiß Lina , Bergholz Kolja 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The increase of agricultural fields leads to habitat loss and fragmentation of (semi-)natural habitats (SNHs) that provide refuge sites for a variety of taxa. Carabid beetles are reliable biodiversity indicators and provide important ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. However, it still remains unclear how carabid beetles inhabiting SNHs respond to increasing arable field cover as a measure of land-use intensification. We predict that the relationship between arable field cover and carabid beetle abundance and species richness is specific to habitat type and species ecology. We tested our predictions in an intensively used agricultural landscape in northeast Germany and sampled carabid beetles at two different insular SNHs within arable fields: grassland patches of wind turbines (novel SNH) and kettle holes (natural SNH). Our multi-spatial-scale analyses revealed that with increasing arable field cover the proportion of arable species increases for both SNH types. However, we found contrasting relationships in species richness and abundance between the SNHs. At the grassland patches around wind turbines, arable field cover negatively affected arable species´ richness and abundance as well as non-arable species´ richness. In contrast, at kettle holes, arable species richness and abundance increased with arable field cover, while non-arable species were not affected. In summary, our study demonstrates that the effect of land-use intensification on carabid beetles is highly dependent on the specific habitat type and species ecology. Our findings highlight the importance of habitat type for managing SNHs within agricultural landscapes while improving our understanding of how land-use intensification affects carabid beetle diversity.
A simple method for generating arbitrary Gaussian noise and compensating filter properties of a stimulator to measure the frequency response function of a mechanosensory sensillum
Authors: Škorjanc Aleš , Kreft Marko , Benda Jan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Gaussian noise is one of the principal inputs used for studying biological systems, especially sensory and neuronal systems. Because of the inherent nonlinearities of these systems, the properties of the noise strongly influence the outcome of the analysis. We show for the case of an insect filiform sensillum, a simple mechanoreceptor with a single sensory cell, that changes in noise amplitude and spectral properties affect the linear transfer function of the sensillum. We then explain how to use the inverse fast Fourier transform to generate Gaussian noise with an arbitrary frequency spectrum, including band-limited white noise with a perfectly sharp roll-off edge. Finally, we demonstrate a straightforward procedure for compensating filter properties of a stimulator in order to produce a proper band-limited Gaussian white noise stimulus. Using this approach one can generate well defined Gaussian noise stimulus that can be adapted to any particular application.
Correlation of Serum and Salivary Lipids and their Degree of Accuracy among Apparently Healthy Primary School Children aged 5-12 Years in Sokoto, Nigeria
Authors: Raji Taibat , Sani Usman Muhammad , Ugege Omoshalewa M. , Onankpa Ben 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Correlation of serum and salivary lipids has been a recent topic to determine the relationship serum and salivary lipids share, though still at the rudimentary stage, in order to have a better understanding of their relationship, the degree of accuracy, as well a validity test, need to be simultaneously checked. These have not been tested especially in children, as it has been tested in adults in the underdeveloped world, like Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Few studies discussed this entity in children even in the developed world.Objectives: To determine the correlation of serum and salivary lipids and their degree of accuracy as well the validity of the test.Settings and Design: Descriptive and cross-sectional.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 apparently healthy primary school children aged 5-12 years, who had no medical complaints or any major medical condition. The parameters assessed included serum and salivary; total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL)Statistical Methods: Correlation and Regression analysis, Validity test, and Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) Results: there was a positive moderate correlation between serum and salivary lipids and for all lipid parameters tested statistically significant (p=<0.001) patterns were observed. Linear regression reveals a corresponding positive linear relationship i.e. the mean values of salivary lipids increases as that of the serum lipids increases. The validity test reveals a very good sensitivity for TC, TG, and LDL, but poor sensitivity for HDL. Specificity was very low for all the lipid parameters except for HDL (87.3%). Positive and negative predictive values had excellent sensitivity for TC, TG and LDL but very poor for HDL. Precision equally showed very good sensitivity for TC, TG, and LDL. The ROC revealed a positive deflection for all tested lipid panels. For TC, a good area under curve was observed at 0.825 as well TG at 0.835. A poor area under curve was observed for HDL at 0.304. and lastly, LDL showed a fair area under the curve at 0.734.Conclusion: Serum lipids correlates moderately with salivary lipids with a good degree of accuracy and can therefore replace the former in screening for lipid profile test and in diagnosing dyslipidaemia in children.
Effect of Green Tea Varnish on the Salivary Parameters of Children Exposed to Second Hand Tobacco Smoke
Authors: Karawia inas 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Importance: Children are the most vulnerable group exposed to SHS and green tea has been explored for its beneficial effects on improvement of salivary parameters and prevention of oral diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of green tea varnish on the salivary parameters among primary school children aged 10-120 exposed to second hand tobacco smoke. Design: The study was conducted using an intervention study (one group pretest-posttest design). Participant: Stimulated saliva was collected from the 60 children of grade 6 students exposed to SHS at the baseline and after one, three and six months after green tea varnish application. Salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and IgA increased significantly after one and three months of follow up. Results: There were statistical significance differences between baseline and one and three months. values. Concerning TAC, the median value increased after one month. This increase was statistically significant (p = 0.00). Streptococcus mutans count decreased significantly after one and three months. Lactobacilli count decreased significantly after one, three and six months. Conclusion: Green tea varnish has a beneficial effect on salivary parameters of children who were exposed to SHS and succeeded to overcome the parameters variations between children included in the intervention study.
The Solar Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope: On-board intelligence for flare observations
Authors: Varma Manoj , Padinhatteri Sreejith , Sinha Sakya , Tyagi Anurag , Burse Mahesh , Yadav Reena , Kumar Ghanshyam , A Ramaprakash , Tripathi Durgesh , K Sankarasubramanian , K Nagaraju , Vadodariya Koushal , Tadepalli Srikar , Deogaonkar Rushikesh , Olekar Manjunath , Azaruddin Mohamed , Unnikrishnan Amrita 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Aditya-L1 is India’s first observatory class Solar space mission to study the Sun from Lagrangian 1 position. The Solar Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) is one of the payloads on-board Aditya-L1. SUIT is an off-axis Ritchey-Chretien (RC) telescope, which images the Sun on to a 4k x 4k CCD covering a field-of-view of 1.5Ro with a plate scale of 0.7'/pixel. One of the primary objectives of SUIT is to study the early evolution of solar flares with high time cadence in Near UV wavelength (200 nm – 400 nm). The SUIT on-board intelligence is developed to achieve this objective. The complete intelligence algorithm is divided into several sub-modules each working on a specific aspect of intelligence. These are, HEL1OS flare trigger module: generates flare trigger using HEL1OS hard X-ray data, flare localization module: locates flare on the SUIT full-disc images, Region of Interest (RoI) tracking module: accounts for shift in RoI coordinates caused due to rotation of the Sun, auto-exposure control module: adjusts the exposure time depending upon the flare intensity for better contrast. In this paper, these on-board intelligence modules are explained in detail. The working principles of these modules are tested using available data from various existing missions and also using synthesized data and the obtained results are presented. The modules are implemented in hardware using Actel RTAX 2000S FPGA and are tested using laboratory setup. From the testing, it is found that, flares are successfully localized in a mean time of 40 seconds from the GOES soft X-ray catalog start time. Also, a time cadence of under 3 seconds for a single filter flare RoI images is achieved.
Sex differences in the inflammatory response of the mouse DRG and its connection to pain in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Maguire Aislinn D , Friedman Timothy N , Andrade Dania N Villarreal , Haq Fajr , Dunn Jacob , Pfeifle Keiana , Tenorio Gustavo , Buro Karen , Plemel Jason R , Kerr Bradley J 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with notable sex differences. Women are not only more likely to develop MS but are also more likely than men to experience neuropathic pain in the disease. It has been postulated that neuropathic pain in MS can originate in the peripheral nervous system at the level of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), which houses primary pain sensing neurons (nociceptors). These nociceptors become hyperexcitable in response to inflammation, leading to peripheral sensitization and eventually central sensitization, which maintains pain long-term. The mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a good model for human MS as it replicates classic MS symptoms including pain. Using EAE mice as well as primary mouse DRG neurons cultured in vitro, we sought to characterize the sex differences specifically in peripheral sensory neurons which may underlie the disparities in MS pain. We found sex differences in the inflammatory profile of the EAE DRG, and in the TNFα signaling pathways activated intracellularly in cultured nociceptors. Given that TNFα signaling has been shown to impact on mitochondrial function, this led us to investigate sex differences in the mitochondria’s response to TNFα. Our results demonstrate that male sensory neurons are more sensitive to mitochondrial stress, making them prone to neuronal injury. In contrast, female sensory neurons appear to be more resistant to mitochondrial stress and exhibit an inflammatory and regenerative phenotype that may underlie greater nociceptor hyperexcitability and pain. Understanding these sex differences at the level of the primary sensory neuron is an important first step in our eventual goal of developing sex-specific treatments to halt pain development in the periphery before central sensitization is established.
Associations between polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications with risk of falls among the elderly in Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlHarkan Khalid , Alsousi Safaa , AlMishqab Mujtaba , Alawami Majd , Almearaj Jaffar , AlHashim Hassan , AlAmrad Hassan , Alghamdi Layla , Almansour Abdulelah , AlOmar Reem S. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background: Falls are dangerous to the health of older adults and can impact their functional status leading to frailty. The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among older adults lead to adverse health outcomes and increase the risk of falls. Polypharmacy is a state in which five medications, or more, are consumed concurrently. Polypharmacy increases the incidence of falls. Beers criteria by American Geriatric Society is one of the many criteria used to detect PIMs. It assesses the appropriateness of drug prescriptions i.e., correct dose, duration, and indications to ensure the safety of these drugs and decrease the hazards of side effects and reduce drug interactions. Method: A total of 387 outpatients aged 60 or older were physically interviewed, the patients were recruited from University Hospital and Family Medicine Center in Khobar city, Saudi Arabia, between the period of November 2021 to March 2022. All Patients were able to walk independently. The survey began by collecting patients’ demographics, medications history, three key questions to detect the risk of falls which was developed by the Center of Disease Control (CDC). Polypharmacy defined as (concurrent use of five or more medications), and PIMs defined as (use of one or more medication in the Beers list) were examined against risk of falls in elderly. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounders. Result: A total of 387 patients participated in the study, 62% were male, most participants belonged in the 60 < 65 years age category (47.80%). Among all patients, 55% had a high risk of falling and 21 % of patients had fell during the past year. Polypharmacy applied to 50.90% of all patients, while Beers criteria positive group applied to 51.42%. Risk of falls and prior falls were associated with polypharmacy both before and after adjustment.Conclusion: The results showed a significant association between risk of falls with polypharmacy and PIM’s, more than half of our study population had a high risk of falls. Of those at a higher risk, one out of five had indeed experienced a fall in the last 12 months. Higher rates of falls were associated with older age, lower educational levels, female gender, and cardiovascular medications.
Association of Neutrophil Serine Proteinases Levels with the Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Lingzhi , Han Ziping , Wang Rongliang , Fan Junfen , Zhen Yangmin , Huang Yuyou , Yang Zhenhong , Yan Feng , Liu Ping , Zhao Haiping , Ma Qingfeng , Luo Yumin 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background: Neutrophil serine proteinases (NSPs), released by activated neutrophils, are key proteins involved in the pathophysiologic processes of stroke. This study aimed to analyze three NSPs (neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3) in relation to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes and in relation to the outcomes of patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rtPA).Methods: Among 736 patients prospectively recruited at the stroke center from 2018 to 2019, 342 patients diagnosed with confirmed AIS were included. Plasma neutrophil elastase (NE), cathepsin G (CTSG), and proteinase 3 (PR3) concentrations were measured on admission. Endpoints included symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), mortality, and unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score > 2) at 3 months. In the subgroup of patients received IV-rtPA, 24hΔNIHSS (NIHSSbaseline - NIHSS24hours) and 7dΔNIHSS (NIHSSbaseline – NIHSS7days) were also included as the short-term endpoints. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between NSPs levels and AIS outcomes.Results: Higher NE and PR3 plasma levels were associated with the 3-month mortality and 3-month unfavorable outcome. Higher NE plasma levels were also associated with the risk of sICH after AIS. After adjusting for potential confounders, plasma NE level > 229.56 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 4.503 [2.427-8.355]) and PR3 > 388.77 ng/ml (OR = 2.798 [1.551-5.047]) independently predicted the 3-month unfavorable outcome. Regarding rtPA treatment, patients with NE plasma concentration > 177.22 ng/ml were 6 times more likely to suffer unfavorable outcomes after rtPA treatment (OR = 6.318 [1.861-21.450]). The addition of NE and PR3 to clinical predictors of unfavorable functional outcome after AIS and the outcome after rtPA treatment improved accuracy (lifted AUC from 82.6% to 86.7%, and from 80.6% to 87.2%, respectively), and discrimination as well as reclassification (integrated discrimination improvement = 9.5% and 13.7%, continuous net reclassification improvement = 93.1% and 89.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Plasma NE and PR3 are novel and independent predictors of 3-month functional outcomes after AIS. Plasma NE also possesses predictive value to identify patients with unfavorable outcomes after rtPA treatment. NE is probably an important mediator of the effects of neutrophils on stroke outcomes, which worth further investigation.
Antimicrobial Peptide MPX with Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity Promotes Proper Abscess Formation and Relieves Skin Inflammation
Authors: Zhu Chunling , Zhao Yaya , Zhao Xueqin , Liu Shanqin , Xia Xiaojing , Zhang Shouping , Wang Yimin , Zhang Huihui , Xu Yanzhao , Chen Shijun , Jiang Jinqing , Wu Yundi , Wu Xilong , Zhang Gaiping , Bai Yueyu , Hu Jianhe , Wang Lei , Zhang Xueming 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance during the large-scale use of antibiotics, and multidrug-resistant strains are common. The development of new antibiotics or antibiotic substitutes has become an important challenge for humankind. MPX is a 14 amino acid peptide belonging to the MP antimicrobial peptide family. In this study, the antibacterial spectrum of the antimicrobial peptide MPX was first tested. The antimicrobial peptide MPX was tested for antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacterium S. aureus ATCC 25923, the gram-negative bacteria E. coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella CVCC 541, and the fungus Candida albicans ATCC 90029. The results showed that MPX had good antibacterial activity against the above four strains, especially against E. coli, for which the MIC was as low as 15.625 μg/mL. The study on the bactericidal mechanism of the antimicrobial peptide revealed that MPX can destroy the integrity of the cell membrane, increase membrane permeability, and change the electromotive force of the membrane, thereby allowing the contents to leak out and mediating bacterial death. A mouse acute infection model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of MPX after acute infection of subcutaneous tissue by S. aureus. The study showed that MPX could promote tissue repair in S. aureus infection and alleviate lung damage caused by S. aureus. In addition, skin H&E staining showed that MPX treatment facilitated the formation of appropriate abscesses at the subcutaneous infection site and facilitated the clearance of bacteria by the skin immune system.The above results show that MPX has good antibacterial activity and broad-spectrum antibacterial potential and can effectively prevent the invasion of subcutaneous tissue by S. aureus, providing new ideas and directions for the immunotherapy of bacterial infections.
The effect of cellular nuclear function alteration on the pathogenesis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. An immunohistochemical study on Lamin A/C expression
Authors: Candela Vittorio , Peruzzi Barbara , Leopizzi Martina , Porta Natale , Maio Valeria Di , Rocca Carlo Della , Gumina Stefano 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background: The network of intermediate filament proteins underlying the inner nuclear membrane forms the nuclear lamina. A and B-type lamins are the major components of the nuclear lamina. Lamins have been associated with important cellular functions: DNA replication, chromatin organization, differentiation of the cell, apoptosis and in maintenance of nuclear structure. Little is known regarding the etiopathogenesis of adhesive capsulitis (AC); recently, a dysregulating fibrotic response starting from a subpopulation has been described within the fibroblast compartment that suddenly turns on an activated phenotype.Considering the key role of A-type lamin in the regulation of cellular stability and function we performed an immunohistochemical analysis to compare the lamin A/C expression between patients with AC and healthy controls.Materials and methods: Twenty-six patients [12M-14F, mean age (SD): 52.3 (6.08)] were enrolled. Tissue samples excised from the rotator interval were analysed for lamin A/C expression by immunohistochemistry. Controls were represented by samples obtained by normal rotator interval excised from patients submitted to shoulder surgery [6M-9F, mean age (SD): 57.1 (5.3)]. The intensity of staining was graded, and an H-score was assigned. Statistical analysis was performed.Results: The expression of lamin A/C was found to be significantly lower in the fibroblasts of patients with adhesive capsulitis when compared to controls (intensity of staining: p: 0.005; H-score: 0.034); no differences were found regarding the synoviocytes (p>0.05). Considering only patients with AC, lamin A/C intensity staining was found to be significantly higher in samples where acute inflammatory infiltrate was detected (p: 0.004). No significant changes in levels of lamin A/C expression were documented between the mild and severe adhesive capsulitis severity groups.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the activity of lamin A/C in maintaining nuclear structural integrity and cell viability is decreased in patients with adhesive capsulitis. The timing of the pathogenetic process is the key factor for cell functionality which is maintained in the early stages of the disease; on the contrary, the clinical severity of adhesive capsulitis plays a marginal role on nuclear stability.Level of Evidence: III