Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ann Rheum Dis 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; CARE Arthritis, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Objectives: Spinal MRI is used to visualise lesions associated with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The ASAS MRI working group (WG) updated and validated the definitions for inflammatory and structural spinal lesions in the context of axSpA.

Methods: After review of the existing literature on all possible types of spinal MRI pathologies in axSpA, the group (12 rheumatologists and two radiologists) consented on the required revisions of lesion definitions compared with the existing nomenclature of 2012. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.

Objective: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >100 risk loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the disease genes at most loci remain unclear, hampering translation of these genetic discoveries. We aimed to prioritise genes underlying the 110 SLE loci that were identified in the latest East Asian GWAS meta-analysis.

Methods: We built gene expression predictive models in blood B cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells and peripheral blood cells of 105 Japanese individuals. Read More

J Sleep Res 2022 May 24:e13640. Epub 2022 May 24.

Department of Neurology, University Hospital (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Important brainstem regions are involved in the regulation of rapid eye movement sleep. We hypothesized that brainstem stroke is associated with dysregulated rapid eye movement sleep and related muscle activity. We compared quantitative/qualitative polysomnography features of rapid eye movement sleep and muscle activity (any, phasic, tonic) between 15 patients with brainstem stroke (N = 46 rapid eye movement periods), 16 patients with lacunar/non-brainstem stroke (N = 40 rapid eye movement periods), 15 healthy controls (N = 62 rapid eye movement periods), and patients with Parkinson's disease and polysomnography-confirmed rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder. Read More

Lupus Sci Med 2022 May;9(1)

US Evidence, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

Objective: SLE is a chronic, multiorgan, autoimmune disease; however, current prevalence estimates are dated and often from non-generalisable patient populations, and quality of life and patient-reported outcomes in the real-world SLE population are not well-published. The present study used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a generalisable US data source encompassing a representative sample of regions/payers, to estimate SLE prevalence and characterise disease burden compared with non-SLE respondents.

Methods: Retrospective population-based survey data weighted to the full US population from MEPS for the calendar years 2016-2018, pooled over the full study period, was used. Read More

Annu Rev Microbiol 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; email:

Bacteria are social organisms that commonly live in dense communities surrounded by a multitude of other species. The competitive and cooperative interactions between these species not only shape the bacterial communities but also influence their susceptibility to antimicrobials. While several studies have shown that mixed-species communities are more tolerant toward antimicrobials than their monospecies counterparts, only limited empirical data are currently available on how interspecies interactions influence resistance development. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2022 May;10(5)

Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China

Background: Oncolytic virotherapy has become an important branch of cancer immunotherapy. This study investigated the efficacy of an oncolytic adenovirus (OAV), OncoViron, with synergistic mechanisms in the treatment of multiple solid tumors.

Methods: An OAV, OncoViron, was constructed and investigated by cytological experiments and implanted tumor models of multiple solid tumor cell lines to certify its anticancer efficacy, the synergistic effects of viral oncolysis and transgene anticancer activity of OncoViron, as well as oncolytic virotherapy combined with immunotherapy, were also verified. Read More

BMJ Open Respir Res 2022 May;9(1)

LHL Hospital Gardermoen, Jessheim, Norway.

Background: The Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) questionnaire is widely used and tested in patients with breathing difficulties. The objective of this study was to translate and undertake the first evaluation of the measurement properties of the Norwegian version of the D-12 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attending a 4-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess structural validity. Read More

BMJ Glob Health 2022 May;7(Suppl 1)

Health Workforce Unit, Universal Health Coverage-Life Course, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Background: The Government of Lesotho has prioritised health investment that aims to improve the health and socioeconomic development of the country, including the scaling up of the health workforce (HWF) training and improving their working conditions. Following a health labour market analysis, the paper highlights the available stock of health workers in Lesotho's health labour market, 10-year projected supply versus needs and the financial implications.

Methods: Multiple complementary approaches were used to collect data and analyse the HWF situation and labour market dynamics. Read More

CMAJ 2022 May;194(20):E708-E710

Department of Family Medicine and Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.

Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; email:

Biological replicators, from genes within a genome to whole organisms, are locked in conflicts. Comparative genomics has revealed a staggering diversity of molecular armaments and mechanisms regulating their deployment, collectively termed biological conflict systems. These encompass toxins used in inter- and intraspecific interactions, self/nonself discrimination, antiviral immune mechanisms, and counter-host effectors deployed by viruses and intragenomic selfish elements. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2022 Jul;47(7):408-413

Neurology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Introduction: Patients with refractory chronic migraine have poor quality of life. Intravenous infusions are indicated to rapidly 'break the cycle' of pain. Lidocaine infusions may be effective but evidence is limited. Read More

BMJ 2022 May 24;377:e071113. Epub 2022 May 24.

Kahn Sagol Maccabi Research and Innovation Centre, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Objective: To examine the relative effectiveness of a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA (BNT162b2) vaccine compared with three vaccine doses over the span of 10 weeks.

Design: Retrospective, test negative, case-control study, with a matched analysis and an unmatched multiple tests analysis.

Setting: Nationally centralised database of Maccabi Healthcare Services, an Israeli national health fund for 2. Read More

J Am Chem Soc 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Department of Chemistry and Centre for Radiochemistry Research, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.

Since the advent of organotransuranium chemistry six decades ago, structurally verified complexes remain restricted to π-bonded carbocycle and σ-bonded hydrocarbyl derivatives. Thus, transuranium-carbon multiple or dative bonds are yet to be reported. Here, utilizing diphosphoniomethanide precursors we report the synthesis and characterization of transuranium-carbene derivatives, namely, diphosphonio-alkylidene- and -heterocyclic carbene-neptunium(III) complexes that exhibit polarized-covalent σπ multiple and dative σ single transuranium-carbon bond interactions, respectively. Read More

Epidemiol Health 2022 May 18:e2022048. Epub 2022 May 18.

Departement of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tunis, Tunisia.

Objectives: The incidence of Human brucellosis in Tunisia in 2017 was 9.8 per 100,000 population. In Douz district two cases were reported in March, 2018. Read More

Facial Plast Surg 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, United States.

Background: Previous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) for the treatment of thermal injuries, but the synergic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with BNC-based dressing for burns still requires further investigation. Herein, we evaluated the effectiveness of BNC dressings in the management of facial burns using PRP.

Methods: Patients with second-degree facial burns were treated with BNC-based wound dressings after debridement. Read More

J Adv Res 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Graduate School of Biotechnology & Crop Biotech Institute, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Introduction: Root development is a fundamental process that supports plant survival and crop productivity. One of the essential factors to consider when developing biotechnology crops is the selection of a promoter that can optimize the spatial-temporal expression of introduced genes. However, there are insufficient cases of suitable promoters in crop plants, including rice. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening bone marrow failure disease. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a matched sibling donor (MSD-HSCT) and intensive immunosuppressive therapy (IST) are two major comparable treatments for SAA. As the addition of eltrombopag (EPAG) to standard IST therapy has greatly improved the survival prognosis of SAA, whether MSD-HSCT or IST/EPAG is the better choice has become a matter of debate. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, CA; Division of Hematology & Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; BMT & Cellular Therapy Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.

Background: Data for outcomes after autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (auto-HCT) in DLBCL patients ≥70 years are limited OBJECTIVES: : Auto-HCT is feasible on older DLBCL patients STUDY DESIGN: : Using the CIBMTR database, we compared outcomes of auto-HCT in DLBCL patients aged 60-69 years (n=363) versus ≥70 years (n=103) between 2008 and 2019. Non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse/progression (REL), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were modeled using Cox proportional hazards models RESULTS: : All patients received BEAM conditioning. On univariate analysis, in the 60-69 years versus ≥70 years cohorts, 100-day NRM was 3% versus 4%, 5-year REL was 47% versus 45%, 5-year PFS 40% versus 38% and 5-year OS 55% versus 41% respectively. Read More

Microbes Infect 2022 May 21:105014. Epub 2022 May 21.

Jhaveri Microbiology Centre, Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Electronic address:

Endophthalmitis is a vision-threatening complication of intraocular surgery or penetrating injury of which Staphylococcus aureus is an important etiological agent. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) holds a tremendous possibility for developing diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers due to their role in the pathogenesis of various infections. The aim of this study was to characterise the protein cargo of EVs, isolated from a murine (C57BL/6) model of S. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark. Electronic address:

Beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) is synthesized by all nucleated cells and forms part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-1 present on cell surfaces, which presents peptide fragments to cytotoxic CD8 T-lymphocytes, or by association with CD1, antigenic lipids to natural killer T-cells. Knockout of B2M results in loss of these functions and severe combined immunodeficiency. Plasma levels of this protein are low in healthy serum, but are elevated up to 50-fold in some pathologies including chronic kidney disease and multiple myeloma, where it has both diagnostic and prognostic value. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objective: To estimate global tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: The PRISMA method was followed to perform the study. Electronic and gray literature sources were investigated for studies published between 2000 and 2021. Read More

J Nutr Biochem 2022 May 21:109057. Epub 2022 May 21.

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Instituto de la Grasa, CSIC, 41013 Seville, Spain. Electronic address:

Obesity is associated with disruptions in the adaptive immune system; however, dietary fatty acids in high-fat diets (HFDs) that induce obesity have consequences that are currently unclear regarding T-cell maintenance in bone marrow (BM). C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to isocaloric HFDs formulated with dietary fats rich in SFAs, MUFAs or MUFAs supplemented with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids for 20 weeks, followed by an analysis of the immunophenotypic feature of lymphocytes (CD3) T and their subsets CD4 and CD8 T cells in spleen and BM, identification of fatty acids in BM extracellular fluid and analysis of the correspondence between fatty acids with the frequency of T-cell subsets in BM. Splenic CD3 T cells were reduced irrespective of HFDs. Read More

J Nutr Biochem 2022 May 21:109056. Epub 2022 May 21.

Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systematic Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Technology Center of Protein Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China. Electronic address:

Obesity poses a global health challenge and is a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke and certain kinds of cancers. Although the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on liver metabolism and diseases were well documented, its effects on adipose tissue are yet to be characterized. Herein, we found that NAM supplementation significantly reduced fat mass and improved glucose tolerance in obese mice. Read More

J Nutr Biochem 2022 May 21:109051. Epub 2022 May 21.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND, U.S.A.

Metastasis is a devastating aspect of cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that metabolome of metastases differs from that of host organs by using the spontaneous metastasis model of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). In a 2 × 2 design, male C57BL/6 mice with or without a subcutaneous LLC inoculation were fed the standard AIN93G diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Read More

J Nutr Biochem 2022 May 21:109069. Epub 2022 May 21.

Subdirección de Enseñanza e Investigación, Centro Médico Nacional "20 de Noviembre", Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Mexico City, Mexico; Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico.

Several studies have shown the beneficial effect that Epicatechin (Epi) has on the skeletal muscle of murine models and patients with muscular dystrophy and in the muscles of patients with diabetes or murine sarcopenia models. This flavanol has been shown to enhance antioxidant pathways and improve muscle architecture. However, the repair process during muscle regeneration has not been analyzed. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 May 21:119516. Epub 2022 May 21.

Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China.

Soil protists are key in regulating soil microbial communities. However, our understanding on the role of soil protists in shaping antibiotic resistome is limited. Here, we considered the diversity and composition of bacteria, fungi and protists in arable soils collected from a long-term field experiment with multiple fertilization treatments. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 May 21:119515. Epub 2022 May 21.

Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China. Electronic address:

Bibliometric network analysis has revealed that the widespread distribution of microplastics (MPs) has detrimental effects on marine organisms; however, the combined effects of MPs and climate change (e.g., warming) is not well understood. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Biopharmaceuticals Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203 Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. Electronic address:

The study aims to extract and purify chitosan (CS) from the exoskeleton of crab (C. natator) and develop ibuprofen (IBU) encapsulated CS nanoparticles (IBU-CSNPs). Analysis of purified CS revealed characteristic functional and crystallinity peaks. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China. Electronic address:

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are one of the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng, a representative plant of the genus Panax. However, the detailed regulation mechanism of PNS biosynthesis remains elusive. Therefore, a sequence of upstream promoters of PnSS and PnSE were cloned and analyzed firstly. Read More

Int J Pharm 2022 May 21:121842. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Electronic address:

Sandostatin long-acting release (SLAR) depot for 1-month controlled release of octreotide is a somatostatin analogue product that has been used extensively in the pharmacological treatment of acromegaly. The complexities in the SLAR coacervation manufacturing processes and the use of a unique glucose-starpoly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-glu) may have contributed to the lack of US FDA-approved generic products referencing SLAR in the USA. To address this challenge, we encapsulated octreotideacetate by commonly used solvent evaporation methodin microspheres of a similar composition to SLAR, including the use of a comparable PLGA-glu. Read More