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Int J Biol Macromol 2022 May 13. Epub 2022 May 13.

Departament of Research, Extension and Production, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará, 63503-790 Iguatu, CE, Brazil. Electronic address:

The optimization of the parameters involved in lignin extraction is crucial for obtaining a lignin with specific structural features for its further valorization. The aim of this work was to develop an eco-friendly organosolv protocol for tuning the acetylation degree of coconut shell lignins (CSLs) by using MgCl and HCl as catalyst and co-catalyst, respectively. CSLs were obtained by mixing coconut shell powder with 90% v/v acetic acid combined to no catalyst, 2% v/v HCl and 2% w/v MgCl (1, 2 and 3 h) and 2% w/v MgCl combined to 0. Read More

J Equine Vet Sci 2022 May 13:104009. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, Urbana IL 61802, USA. Electronic address:

This study aimed to compare ultrasonographic features and steroid concentrations of jennies undergoing late-term pregnancy loss (n=5) with gestationally age-matched health controls (n=5). Transrectal ultrasonography of the combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP) and fetal eyeball diameter was carried out at 15-day-intervals. Fetal heartbeat, aortic, and thorax diameters were determined by transabdominal ultrasonography at 30-day-intervals. Read More

J Environ Manage 2022 May 13;316:115278. Epub 2022 May 13.

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450001, China. Electronic address:

The ecology was severely harmed by waste tires (WT) and oily sludge (OS). The OS and WT combinations' co-pyrolysis features, synergistic effects, and gas products were studied using thermogravimetric-infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR). To study kinetics and optimize pyrolysis, the Coats-Redfern and response surface methods were used. Read More

Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.

Hypaxial muscle abscess is an important differential in dogs presenting for abdominal or back pain, lameness, and nonspecific signs like fever, lethargy, and hyporexia. It can occur concurrently with intrathoracic disease such as pyothorax secondary to migrating vegetal foreign material. Twelve dogs that underwent CT of the lumbar spine or abdomen and had a diagnosed hypaxial abscess on surgical and/or microbiological examination were included in this retrospective, descriptive case series. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2022 Apr-Jun;34(2):336-340

Department of Paediatrics Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis among children and adolescent characterized by skin, joints, renal and gastrointestinal involvement. There is different presenting feature of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) and systemic involvement may vary at a certain age group.

Methods: This was a ten-year retrospective cohort study done at a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan conducted from 2011-2020. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2022 Apr-Jun;34(2):295-299

Department of Radiology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of median nerve at wrist as it passes through Osseo fibrous canal known as carpal tunnel. Epidemiological statistics shows one in every ten people develops the disease at any stage of life. CTS mostly affect females than males with mean age of 50. Read More

PLoS One 2022 16;17(5):e0268463. Epub 2022 May 16.

Centre for Global Health & Diseases, Case Western University Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.

Background: Persons with submicroscopic malaria infection are a major reservoir of gametocytes that sustain malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite recent decreases in the national malaria burden in Kenya due to vector control interventions, malaria transmission continues to be high in western regions of the country bordering Lake Victoria. The objective of this study was to advance knowledge of the topographical, demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with submicroscopic malaria infection in the Lake Victoria basin in Kisumu County. Read More

Acta Vet Hung 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

5 Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Vár place 2, H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary.

Variance, covariance components, heritability, breeding values (BV) and genetic trends in calving interval (CI) of the Limousin population in Hungary were evaluated. A total of 3,008 CI data of 779 cows from three herds in 1996-2016 were processed. For influencing effects GLM method, for population genetic parameters and BV estimation BLUP animal model, for trend analyses linear regression was applied. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Biomedical Engineering Research Center, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Children with perinatally acquired HIV (CPHIV) have poor cognitive outcomes despite early combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). While CPHIV-related brain alterations can be investigated separately using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( H-MRS), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional MRI (fMRI), a set of multimodal MRI measures characteristic of children on cART has not been previously identified. We used the embedded feature selection of a logistic elastic-net (EN) regularization to select neuroimaging measures that distinguish CPHIV from controls and measured their classification performance via the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) using repeated cross validation. Read More

Hum Factors 2022 May 14:187208221094900. Epub 2022 May 14.

14736Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

Objective: We examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of neural activity and its correlates in heart rate and its variability (HR/HRV) during a fatiguing visuospatial working memory task.

Background: The neural and physiological drivers of fatigue are complex, coupled, and poorly understood. Investigations that combine the fidelity of neural indices and the field-readiness of physiological measures can facilitate measurements of fatigue states in operational settings. Read More

Front Physiol 2022 29;13:877153. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

Improved knowledge on the regulation of reproductive diapause in , an important predator of aphids, is crucial for improving shelf-life and mass production of the ladybeetles. In many insects, the absence of juvenile hormone (JH) is a central regulator of reproductive diapause. JH is principally degraded by JH esterase (JHE) and JH epoxide hydrolase (JHEH). Read More

Front Physiol 2022 27;13:880260. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Point clouds are a widely used format for storing information in a memory-efficient and easily manipulatable representation. However, research in the application of point cloud mapping and subsequent organ reconstruction with deep learning, is limited. In particular, current methods for left atrium (LA) visualization using point clouds recorded from clinical mapping during cardiac ablation are proprietary and remain difficult to validate. Read More

Front Oncol 2022 27;12:874731. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.

The outcomes of some breast cancer patients remain poor due to being susceptible to recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance, and lactate metabolism has been described as a hallmark of cancer and a contributor to cancer progression and immune escape. Hence, it is worthy of seeking potentially novel biomarkers from lactate metabolism relevant perspectives for this particular cohort of patients. In this context, 205 available lactate metabolism-related genes (LMGs) were obtained by a search of multiple genesets, and the landscape of somatic mutation, copy number variation, and mRNA expression levels was investigated among these genes. Read More

J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces 2022 Feb 31;126(5):2708-2719. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Department of Chemistry, University College London, Christopher Ingold Building, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom.

The bimolecular recombination characteristics of conjugated polymer poly[(4,4'-bis(2-ethylhexyl)dithieno[3,2-:2',3'-]silole)-2,6-diyl-alt-(2,5-bis 3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl thiazolo 5,4- thiazole)-2,5diyl] (PDTSiTTz) blended with the fullerene series PC60BM, ICMA, ICBA, and ICTA have been investigated using microsecond and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, in conjunction with electroluminescence measurements and ambient photoemission spectroscopy. The non-Langevin polymer PDTSiTTz allows an inspection of intrinsic bimolecular recombination rates uninhibited by diffusion, while the low oscillator strengths of fullerenes allow polymer features to dominate, and we compare our results to those of the well-known polymer Si-PCPDTBT. Using μs-TAS, we have shown that the trap-limited decay dynamics of the PDTSiTTz polaron becomes progressively slower across the fullerene series, while those of Si-PCPDTBT are invariant. Read More

Front Neurosci 2022 27;16:861511. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Neurology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Objectives: Cervical radiotherapy can lead to accelerated carotid artery stenosis, increased incidence of stroke, and a higher rate of in-stent restenosis in irradiated patients. Our objective was to reveal the morphological characteristics of radiation-induced carotid stenosis (RICS) and the stent-vessel interactions in patients with previous cervical radiotherapy by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Materials And Methods: Between November 2017 and March 2019, five patients with a history of cervical radiotherapy were diagnosed with severe carotid artery stenosis and underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS). Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2022 29;9:863468. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Unit of Dermatology and Cosmetology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Breast cancer-associated genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are tumor suppressor genes encoding a large protein that is involved in many essential biological processes. BRCA mutated patients show an increased risk to develop several malignancies, including cutaneous malignancies, although inconsistently across multiple studies. We carried out an observational study on the main dermatological and dermoscopic aspects in a population of patients with BRCA 1/2 mutations, to identify the main clinical and dermoscopical features in this class of patients. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2022 29;9:815866. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate anatomic relationships and biomechanics of pressure-dependent trabecular meshwork and distal valve-like structure deformation in normal and glaucoma eyes using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT).

Methods: We controlled Schlemm's canal (SC) pressure during imaging with HR-OCT in segments of three normal (NL) and five glaucomatous (GL) eyes. The dissected limbal wedges were studied from 15 locations (5 NL and 10 GL). Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2022 29;9:866494. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Background: The clinical features and outcomes of viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in adults have not been thoroughly studied, especially the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden. It has become apparent that outbreaks of RSV in the elderly are associated with increased hospitalization rates. However, little data exists on the severity of such viral RTIs in adults, particularly the need for hospitalization, respiratory support and intensive care. Read More

Front Neurol 2022 28;13:831063. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is an intermittent walking disturbance experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD). FOG has been linked to falling, injury, and overall reduced mobility. Wearable sensor-based devices can detect freezes already in progress and provide a cue to help the person resume walking. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2022 Apr;14(4):892-904

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Republic of Korea.

Background: We included tumor necrosis (TN) and tumor viability (TV) in our prognostic assessment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigated their clinical significance.

Methods: Medical records of all consecutive subjects who underwent a lobectomy with standard mediastinal lymph node dissection for NSCLC between 2015 to 2016, were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed the associations of TN and TV with various parameters associated with prognosis as well as survival in NSCLC patients. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 28;13:865643. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Background: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has recently emerged as a biomarker for the prognosis of a variety of malignant tumors. However, the role of SII in bladder cancer (BC) remains unclear. To this end, we performed a pooled analysis to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative SII in patients with BC. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 27;13:862702. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

National Clinical Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Objective: To establish an artificial intelligence-based method to quantitatively evaluate subtle pathological changes in retinal nerve cells and synapses in monosodium glutamate (MSG) mice and provide an effective animal model and technique for quantitative evaluation of retinal neurocytopathies.

Methods: ICR mice were subcutaneously injected with MSG to establish a model of metabolic syndrome. We then established a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and KKAy mouse model as control. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 29;13:877101. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1529) variant was designated as a variant of concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 26, 2021. Read More

Front Psychol 2022 28;13:874232. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

COGNI-UNED, Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, UNED, Madrid, Spain.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to various government-imposed limitations on social interaction and strict home confinement. Such involuntary social-distancing policies can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and alter emotional well-being. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is a potential mechanism for loneliness' deleterious health effects. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2022 29;16:851586. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.

Background: The neural activity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in the resting state without any intervention has not been systematically studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the resting-state brain functions of IBS patients with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: The published neuroimage studies were obtained from electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core, CNKI Database, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and CBMdisc. Read More

Front Nutr 2022 28;9:886256. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health and Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China.

Objectives: Gut microbes influence lipid metabolism and immune responses that are key features of metabolic disorders. This study examined effects of bacterial rhamnolipids (RLS) on lipid metabolism, immune response, and gut microbiota in rats.

Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups and gavage-fed for seven weeks with normal saline (NCO group), 50 mg/kg bw RLS (RLS1 group), and 100 mg/kg bw RLS (RLS2 group). Read More

J Taibah Univ Med Sci 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.

Objective: Identifying the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 could help to control the pandemic. The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiological features of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Iran.

Methods: Data were collected on patients admitted to a military referral hospital in Tehran, Iran, from February 8, 2020 to July 28, 2021. Read More

Asia Pac Allergy 2022 Apr 15;12(2):e14. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Fukuoka National Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.

Background: Despite being frequently recommended, adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are insufficiently prescribed and used for the prehospital management of anaphylaxis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate recent changes in the clinical features and prehospital management of food-related anaphylaxis in children.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the clinical features of children who were hospitalized for food-related anaphylaxis in 2013 and 2018. Read More

Asia Pac Allergy 2022 Apr 21;12(2):e17. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe adverse cutaneous reactions, most commonly triggered by medications, characterized by extensive necrosis and detachment of the epidermis.

Objective: We investigated the differences in clinical characteristics of drug-induced SJS/TEN depending on the type of drug in a single center.

Methods: The relevance of sex, age, culprit drugs, clinical features, courses, treatment options, and follow-up results were retrospectively evaluated in patients diagnosed with drug-induced SJS/TEN at Pusan National University Hospital between 2008 and 2019. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2022 Apr;10(8):477

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China.

Background: Age was important prognostic factors for operable hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the difference in gut microbiota in patients with operable hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) at different ages ; to investigate the features of the microbiota and its function associated with different ages; to provide a preliminary look at effects of the gut microbiota dimension on prognostic.

Methods: From September 2020 to May 2021, patients with HBV-HCC were able to undergo liver resection and were recruited consecutively and divided into the younger age group (age <45 years) (Y. Read More