bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neutralizing Antibodies and Cytokines in Breast Milk After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA Vaccination
Authors: Narayanaswamy Vignesh , Pentecost Brian T. , Schoen Corina N. , Alfandari Dominique , Schneider Sallie S. , Baker Ryan , Arcaro Kathleen F. 
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA-based vaccines present in breast milk and transfer of the immune responses to breastfeeding infants.

METHODS:
We enrolled 30 lactating women who received mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines from January through April 2021 in this cohort study. Women provided serial milk samples, including milk expressed before vaccination, across 2–3 weeks after the first dose, and across 3 weeks after the second dose. Women provided their blood, spotted on cards (dried blood spots), 19 days after the first dose and 21 days after the second dose. Stool samples from the breastfed infants were collected 21 days after mothers' second vaccination. Prepandemic samples of milk, dried blood spots, and infant stool were used as controls. Milk, dried blood spots, and infant stool were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for receptor-binding domain (RBD)–specific immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG. Milk samples were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the spike and four variants of concern: D614G, Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Gamma (P.1). Levels of 10 cytokines were measured in milk samples.

RESULTS:
Milk from COVID-19-immunized women neutralized the spike and four variants of concern, primarily driven by anti-RBD IgG. The immune response in milk also included significant elevation of interferon-γ. The immune response to maternal vaccination was reflected in breastfed infants: anti-RBD IgG and anti-RBD IgA were detected in 33% and 30% of infant stool samples, respectively. Levels of anti-RBD antibodies in infant stool correlated with maternal vaccine side effects. Median antibody levels against RBD were below the positive cutoffs in prepandemic milk and infant stool samples.

CONCLUSION:
Humoral and cellular immune responses to mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination are present in most women’s breast milk. The milk anti-RBD antibodies can neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike and variants of concern. Anti-RBD antibodies are transferred to breastfed infants, with the potential to confer passive immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
Prognostic Implications of an Autophagy-related Gene Signature in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Wei-Shuai , Feng Yi-Xing , Li Sheng-Nan , Shao Yue-Juan , Wang Kun 
Published: January 2022

Background:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is difficult to diagnose and resistant to therapy and has a poor prognosis. Autophagy plays a vital role in PDAC development and progression. This study aimed to establish an autophagy-related gene (ARG) signature to predict the prognosis of patients with PDAC.

Materials and Methods:
The expression profiles of PDAC and healthy pancreatic tissues were obtained from The Cancer Genome of Atlas (TCGA) and GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) databases, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on differentially expressed ARGs to identify the optimal prognosis-related genes.

Results:
A total of 73 ARGs demonstrated significant differences in expression levels between PDAC and healthy pancreatic tissues. Several pathways that play crucial roles in biological processes were identified via enrichment analyses. Furthermore, an ARG signature was established based on overall survival–related ARGs (CASP4, BAK1, PIK3R4, CASP8, BIRC5, RPTOR, and CAPN1) using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Cox regression analysis confirmed that the 7-gene signature was an independent prognostic factor for patients with PDAC (P<0.001). In addition, the GSE21501 and GSE28735 datasets were used to validate the predictive value of the prognostic model for PDAC. We also constructed a clinical nomogram with a concordance index of 0.712 to predict the overall survival of patients by integrating clinical characteristics and the ARG signature. Calibration curves substantiated fine concordance between nomogram prediction and actual observation.

Conclusion:
We constructed a new ARG-related prognostic model, which can be a prognostic biomarker and offers insights into identifying potential therapeutic targets for PDAC.
An inspiration to the studies on mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion action derived from 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Authors: Guo Yi , Li Yongming , Xu Tianle , Zhu Michael Xi , Xu Zhifang , Dou Baomin , Li Yanwei , Chen Zhihan 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The editorial board of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine recently convened an academic seminar with a focus on studies regarding the mechanisms mediating acupuncture efficacy and moxibustion action inspired by the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Specifically, Professor Bailong Xiao introduced the Nobel Prize for research on the mechanically activated Piezo ion channel, evaluating the structure of the Piezo channel and its physiological and pathological functions, and proposed a possible role for the Piezo channel in acupuncture mechanical stimulation. Professor Michael Xi Zhu introduced the discovery of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, reporting that the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicine and acupuncture may be achieved via the TRP family, and that information regarding associations between the meridian and lymphatic systems may have important research and medical value. In addition, Professor Tianle Xu reviewed the history of ion channel research, particularly the physiological and pharmacological effects of non-classical ion channels (eg, the acid sensing ion channel family) and pointed out that the characterization and neural circuits of acupuncture deqi manipulation are important for elucidating the mechanisms of acupuncture actions. Professor Yongming Li similarly proposed that the 2021 Nobel Prize may open the door to disclosing the histological basis of acupuncture and moxibustion and analyzing the main scientific concerns regarding the clinical translation of acupuncture and moxibustion from basic to translational research. Finally, Professor Yi Guo summarized the study progress of the acupoint microenvironment induced by acupuncture over the course of nearly 30 years and put forward the hypothesis that acupuncture may initiate the physical-chemical coupling network by activating ion channel receptors in acupoints via physical and mechanical stimulation. Therefore, we conclude that a primary achievement of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is in helping interpret how acupuncture and moxibustion adjust homeostasis (ie, by activating mechanical and thermal sensation), which is conducive to validating and promoting the clinical efficacy of acupuncture modalities.
Upregulated NOTCH Signaling in the Lens of Patients With Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Compared With Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma Suggests Protective Role
Authors: Pradhan Zia S. , Dixit Shivani , Krishna Lekshmi , Shetty Reshma , Tejwani Sushma , Rao Harsha L. , Shetty Rohit , Webers Carroll A.B. , Das Debashish 
Published: January 2022

Précis:
NOTCH signaling is significantly upregulated in the lens capsules of eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) but not in those with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) when compared with healthy controls.

Purpose:
NOTCH signaling has neuroprotective functions and altered NOTCH signaling is associated with neurodegenerative diseases with protein aggregation such as Alzheimer disease. As PXG is also a protein aggregate disease associated with neural degeneration, NOTCH molecular expression was explored in the lens capsules of patients with PXF, PXG, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and healthy controls.

Methods:
Anterior lens capsules were collected from 106 patients (27 PXF, 24 PXG, 22 POAG, and 33 controls) undergoing cataract surgery. Gene expression profiling for NOTCH pathway molecules (ligands, receptors, and downstream target genes) was performed on the tissue using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results were confirmed by protein analysis using dot-blot or immunostaining techniques.

Results:
There was no difference in the demographic characteristics between the groups. There was an increase in NOTCH4 receptor expression (>14-fold) in the PXF group as compared with the controls. Similarly, the Delta-like 3 and Delta-like 4 ligands were significantly elevated in the PXF group compared with controls (P<0.05). Downstream targets HES3, HES5, and HEY1 expression were significantly elevated (P<0.005) in PXF lens capsules, confirming a higher activity of NOTCH signaling in this cohort. Immunostaining also corroborated the gene expression profile.

Conclusion:
The finding that NOTCH signaling is significantly upregulated in the lens capsule of eyes with PXF and not in PXG or POAG patients suggests a possible protective role in the development of glaucoma.
Migraine disability, pain catastrophizing, and headache severity are associated with evoked pain and targeted by mind–body therapy
Authors: Krimmel Samuel R. , Keaser Michael L. , Speis Darrah , Haythornthwaite Jennifer A. , Seminowicz David A. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Meta-analysis suggests that migraine patients are no more sensitive to experimentally evoked pain than healthy control subjects. At the same time, studies have linked some migraine symptoms to quantitative sensory testing (QST) profiles. Unfortunately, previous studies associating migraine symptoms and QST have important methodological shortcomings, stemming from small sample sizes, and frequent use of univariate statistics for multivariate research questions. In the current study, we seek to address these limitations by using a large sample of episodic migraine patients (n = 103) and a multivariate analysis that associates pain ratings from many thermal intensities simultaneously with 12 clinical measures ranging from headache frequency to sleep abnormalities. We identified a single dimension of association between thermal QST and migraine symptoms that relates to pain ratings for all stimulus intensities and a subset of migraine symptoms relating to disability (Headache Impact Test 6 and Brief Pain Inventory interference), catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), and pain severity (average headache pain, Brief Pain Inventory severity, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire 2). Headache frequency, allodynia, affect, and sleep disturbances were unrelated to this dimension. Consistent with previous research, we did not observe any difference in QST ratings between migraine patients and healthy control subjects. Additionally, we found that the linear combination of symptoms related to QST was modified by the mind–body therapy enhanced mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR+). These results suggest that QST has a selective relationship with pain symptoms even in the absence of between-subjects differences between chronic pain patients and healthy control subjects.
Biofilm Alterations on the Stepwise Acquisition of Fluconazole-resistant Candida Albicans Isolates
Authors: Song Na-Na , Qian Guan-Yu , Zheng Hai-Lin , Zhou Xiao-Wei , Mei Huan , Li Dong-Mei , Li Xiao-Fang , Liu Wei-Da 
Published: January 2022

Objectives:
By assessing and comparing the phenotypic changes on the stepwise acquisition of fluconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates, we could find and describe the relationship between drug resistance and biofilm formation ability in a series of clonal strains.

Methods:
We performed antifungal susceptibility of five drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B) to further verify the antifungal activity of the six isolates in vitro. Then we combined hyphal formation assay, cell surface hydrophobicity test positively related to adherence ability, and biofilm assays in vitro to observe and compare the phenotypic characteristics of our six clonal strains.

Results:
Biofilm capability is enhanced for four drug- intermediate strains, whereas the initial susceptible strain and the final resistant strain are both poor in adherence, hyphal growth and biofilm formation.

Conclusions:
It was suggested that the biofilm formation ability were not absolutely related to the degree of fluconazole resistance.
Human Papillomavirus Within Psoriasis Plaques in a Patient With Psoriasis: A Case Report
Authors: Lema-Matehu Karen P. , Lascano-Gallegos Nathalie P. , Palacios-Álvarez Santiago A. 
Published: January 2022

Introduction:
Psoriasis may be triggered by several factors, and its pathophysiology is related to inflammatory cellular processes.
We herein describe a patient with psoriasis who developed warts on multiple psoriasis plaques and was successfully treated with systemic subcutaneous methotrexate.

Case presentation:
A 67-year-old man who had been diagnosed with psoriasis 14 years previously developed an outbreak of small erythematous desquamative plaques distributed symmetrically on his arms and trunk. Multiple spiny whitish papules had developed over his previously established psoriasis lesions. The appearance of the papules was consistent with viral warts. The patient was treated with systemic methotrexate injected subcutaneously and oral folic acid, both dosed weekly. This treatment produced good results.

Discussion:
A remarkable feature of this case is that psoriasis was the first diagnosis and that human papillomavirus (HPV) appeared over widespread erythematous squamous plaques. The pathophysiology of psoriasis is related to inflammatory cellular processes. Some authors have reported that HPV proteins may stimulate keratinocyte proliferation. Others have reported that HPV infection mostly stimulates systemic interleukin 17 production; consequently, HPV infection could provide a better environment for interleukin 17 secretion and facilitate new onset of psoriasis. One report indicated that methotrexate was discontinued in a patient who presented with both pathologies, although we had very good results.

Conclusion:
Psoriasis and HPV may be pathophysiologically related. HPV may stimulate keratinocyte proliferation and systemic interleukin 17 production, resulting in a better environment for psoriasis. Systemic methotrexate injected subcutaneously resulted in a good outcome in our patient.
Relationship Between Preoperative Anxiety and Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: ALKAN KAYHAN Semiha , GÜNER Ebru , HANEDAN Muhammet Onur , TOPAL ÇOLAK Esengül , MATARACI İlker 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACT

Background
Atrial fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia that frequently occurs after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Psychological factors may be involved in the development of atrial fibrillation, although the specific effect of anxiety remains unclear.

Purpose
This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative anxiety levels and atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods
This descriptive design study recruited a sample of 126 patients. The data were collected by the researcher using a patient information form and the State-Trait Anxiety Scale.

Results
Atrial fibrillation developed in 26.5% of the sample. Those who developed atrial fibrillation had a mean trait anxiety scale score of 40.2 ± 7.8, which is statistically significant. According to the results of logistic regression, it was observed that increased trait anxiety score, increased age, presence of comorbid disease, and noncompliance with respiratory physiotherapy increased the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion/Implications for Practice
Preoperative anxiety levels were shown to be a significant factor promoting the development of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The results support measuring anxiety levels in patients as a standard procedure before performing this surgical procedure.
How Broad Should Gram‐Negative Coverage Be for Febrile Parenteral Nutrition Dependent Short Bowel Syndrome Patients?
Authors: Stultz Jeremy S. , Fly James H. , Bagga Bindiya , Arnold Sandra R. , Algotar Anushree , Lee Kelley R. 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTBroader spectrum Gram‐negative antibiotics are commonly utilized empirically for central line‐associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in febrile short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients receiving home parenteral nutrition compared to those used empirically for inpatient‐acquired CLABSI. This analysis reports 57 CLABSI in 22 patients with SBS admitted from the community and 78 inpatient‐acquired CLABSI in 76 patients over a 5‐year period. Proportional Gram‐negative CLABSI was similar between the SBS and inpatient‐acquired cohorts (43.8% vs42.3%, respectively, P = 0.78). 1.8% and 10.3% (P = 0.125) of Gram‐negative CLABSI were non‐susceptible to ceftriaxone and 0% and 3.8% (P = 0.52) were non‐susceptible to ceftazidime in the SBS and inpatient‐acquired cohorts, respectively. In the SBS cohort, home ethanol lock therapy and prior culture results impacted Gramnegative pathogen distribution. Broader empiric Gram‐negative coverage for CLABSI among SBS patients compared to inpatients is unnecessary. Third‐generation cephalosporins represent appropriate empiric Gramnegative agents for febrile SBS patients presenting from the community to our institution.
Long dsRNA mediated RNA interference (dsRNAi) is antiviral in interferon competent mammalian cells
Authors: Semple SL , Jacob RA , Mossman K , DeWitte-Orr SJ 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn invertebrate cells, RNA interference (RNAi) acts as a powerful defense against virus infection by cleaving virally produced long dsRNA into siRNA by Dicer and loaded into RISC which can then destroy/disrupt complementary viral mRNA sequences. Comparatively in mammalian cells, the type I interferon (IFN) pathway is the cornerstone of the innate antiviral response. Although the cellular machinery for RNAi functions in mammalian cells, its role in the antiviral response remains controversial. Here we show that IFN competent mammalian cells engage in dsRNA-mediated RNAi. We found that pre-soaking mammalian cells with concentrations of sequence-specific dsRNA too low to induce IFN production could significantly inhibit viral replication, including SARS-CoV-2. This phenomenon was dependent on dsRNA length, was comparable in effect to transfected siRNAs, and could knockdown multiple sequences at once. Additionally, Dicer-knockout cell lines were incapable of this inhibition, confirming use of RNAi. This represents the first evidence that soaking with gene-specific dsRNA can generate viral knockdown in mammalian cells. Furthermore, demonstrating RNAi below the threshold of IFN induction has uses as a novel therapeutic platform.
Retention of Neutralizing response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Sputnik V vaccinated individuals
Authors: Lapa D , Grousova DM , Matusali G , Meschi S , Colavita F , Bettini A , Gramigna G , Francalancia M , Garbuglia AR , Girardi E , Puro V , Antinori A , Kovyrshina AV , Dolzhikova IV , Shcheblyakov DV , Tukhvatulin AI , Zubkova OV , Logunov DY , Naroditsky BS , Vaia F , Gintsburg AL 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe new variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in November 2021, is rapidly spreading all around the world. The Omicron becomes the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2. There are many ongoing studies evaluating the effectiveness of existing vaccines. Studies on neutralizing activity of vaccinated sera against Omicron variant are currently being carried out in many laboratories.In this study, we have shown the neutralizing activity of sera against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant compared to the reference Wuhan D614G (B.1) variant in individuals vaccinated with 2 doses of Sputnik V or BNT162b2 in different time points up to 6 months after vaccination. We performed analysis on sample pools with comparable NtAb to Wuhan D614G variant. The decrease in neutralizing antibody (NtAb) to the Omicron variant was 8.1 folds for group of Sputnik V-vaccinated and 21.4 folds for group of BNT162b2-vaccinated. Analysis showed that 74.2% of Sputnik V- and 56.9% of BNT162b2-vaccinated sera had detectable NtAb to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.The decrease in NtAb to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant compared to Wuhan variant has been shown for many COVID-19 vaccines in use, with some showing no neutralization at all. Today the necessity of third booster vaccination is obvious. And the most effective approach, already shown in several studies, is the use of heterologous booster vaccination pioneered in COVID-19 vaccines by Sputnik V.
Mitochondrial diversity in the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa, relative to high marsh plant diversity at the southern edge of the distribution
Authors: Francis Ivy G. , Wares John P. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGenomic diversity and relatedness among sample sites are often used to explore landscape-level processes of how and where organisms are limited in movement. In many cases, these patterns of diversity and relatedness can be useful for understanding larger ecological patterns. A prior study has suggested that larval input – inferred from landscape genomic data – of the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa, a species with important roles in stabilizing salt marsh ecosystems, could be indicative of longer-term recruitment patterns of high marsh plant species. Here we use new observations of mitochondrial diversity in the same region but with more sites sampled to show that this prior study was wrong in suggesting that relationship. The same mitochondrial data are useful for monitoring cryptic patterns of climate response in these mussels relative to a subtropical congener.
Royal knifefish generate powerful suction feeding through large neurocranial elevation and high epaxial muscle power
Authors: Li Ellen Y. , Kaczmarek Elska B. , Olsen Aaron M. , Brainerd Elizabeth L. , Camp Ariel L. 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTSuction feeding in ray-finned fishes involves powerful buccal cavity expansion to accelerate water and food into the mouth. Previous XROMM studies in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) have shown that more than 90% of suction power in high performance strikes comes from the axial musculature. Thus, the shape of the axial muscles and skeleton may impact suction feeding mechanics. Royal knifefish (Chitala blanci) have an unusual postcranial morphology, with a ventrally flexed vertebral column and relatively large mass of epaxial muscle. Based on their body shape, we hypothesized that royal knifefish would generate high power strikes by utilizing large neurocranial elevation, vertebral column extension, and epaxial shortening. As predicted, C. blanci generated high suction expansion power compared to the other three species studied to date (up to 160 W), which was achieved by increasing both the rate of volume change and the intraoral subambient pressure. The large epaxial muscle (25% of body mass) shortened at high velocities to produce large neurocranial elevation and vertebral extension (up to 41 deg, combined), as well as high muscle mass-specific power (up to 800 W kg-1). For the highest power strikes, axial muscles generated 95% of the power, and 64% of the axial muscle mass consisted of the epaxial muscles. The epaxial-dominated suction expansion of royal knifefish supports our hypothesis that postcranial morphology may be a strong predictor of suction feeding biomechanics.SUMMARY STATEMENTRoyal knifefish rely on their distinct postcranial morphology--with a curved vertebral column and large dorsal body muscles--to produce large neurocranial elevation and powerful suction feeding.