Category: Nevin Manimala

Hum Brain Mapp. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.1002/hbm.25764. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Numerous brain stimulation studies have targeted the posterior parietal cortex, a key hub of the attention network, to manipulate attentional reorientation. However, the impact of stimulating brain regions earlier in the pathway, including early visual regions, is poorly understood. In this study, 28 healthy adults underwent three high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) visits (i.e., anodal, cathodal, and sham). During each visit, they completed 20 min of occipital HD-tDCS and then a modified Posner task during magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG data were transformed into the time-frequency domain and significant oscillatory events were imaged using a beamformer. Oscillatory response amplitude values were extracted from peak voxels in the whole-brain maps and were statistically compared. Behaviorally, we found that the participants responded slowly when attention reallocation was needed (i.e., the validity effect), irrespective of the stimulation condition. Our neural findings indicated that cathodal HD-tDCS was associated with significantly reduced theta validity effects in the occipital cortices, as well as reduced alpha validity effects in the left occipital and parietal cortices relative to anodal HD-tDCS. Additionally, anodal occipital stimulation significantly increased gamma amplitude in right occipital regions relative to cathodal and sham stimulation. Finally, we also found a negative correlation between the alpha validity effect and reaction time following anodal stimulation. Our findings suggest that HD-tDCS of the occipital cortices has a polarity dependent impact on the multispectral neural oscillations serving attentional reorientation in healthy adults, and that such effects may reflect altered local GABA concentrations in the neural circuitry serving attentional reorientation.

PMID:34997673 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.25764

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):242. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04366-6.

ABSTRACT

We aimed to investigate whether annual change in the extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid (ΔECF/ICF) ratio can accurately predict mortality in hemodialysis patients. Totally, 247 hemodialysis patients were divided into two groups according to the median baseline ECF/ICF ratio of 0.563 and ΔECF/ICF ≥ 0% or < 0% during the first year, respectively. Thereafter, they were divided into four groups according to each cutoff point and were followed up for mortality assessment. The ECF/ICF ratio increased from 0.566 ± 0.177 to 0.595 ± 0.202 in the first year (P = 0.0016). During the 3.4-year median follow-up, 93 patients died (42 cardiovascular-specific causes). The baseline ECF/ICF ≥ 0.563 and ΔECF/ICF ≥ 0% were independently associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.60-7.98 and aHR 8.11, 95% CI 3.47-18.96, respectively). The aHR for ECF/ICF ≥ 0.563 and ΔECF/ICF ≥ 0% vs. ECF/ICF < 0.563 and ΔECF/ICF < 0% was 73.49 (95% CI 9.45-571.69). For model discrimination, adding the ΔECF/ICF (0.859) alone and both the baseline ECF/ICF and ΔECF/ICF (0.903) to the established risk model (0.746) significantly improved the C-index. Similar results were obtained for cardiovascular mortality. In conclusion, the ΔECF/ICF ratio could not only predict all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but also improve predictability of mortality in hemodialysis patients.

PMID:34997150 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04366-6

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):276. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04388-0.

ABSTRACT

Pearl millet is an important staple food crop of poor people and excels all other cereals due to its unique features of resilience to adverse climatic conditions. It is rich in micronutrients like iron and zinc and amenable for focused breeding for these micronutrients along with high yield. Hence, this is a key to alleviate malnutrition and ensure nutritional security. This study was conducted to identify and validate candidate genes governing grain iron and zinc content enabling the desired modifications in the genotypes. Transcriptome sequencing using ION S5 Next Generation Sequencer generated 43.5 million sequence reads resulting in 83,721 transcripts with N₅₀ of 597 bp and 84.35% of transcripts matched with the pearl millet genome assembly. The genotypes having high iron and zinc showed differential gene expression during different stages. Of which, 155 were up-regulated and 251 were down-regulated while during flowering stage and milking stage 349 and 378 transcripts were differentially expressed, respectively. Gene annotation and GO term showed the presence of transcripts involved in metabolic activities associated with uptake and transport of iron and zinc. Information generated will help in gaining insights into iron and zinc metabolism and develop genotypes with high yield, grain iron and zinc content.

PMID:34997160 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04388-0

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):304. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04263-y.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of fructose diphosphate (FDP) on routine coagulation tests in vitro, we added FDP into the mixed normal plasma to obtain the final concentration of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mg/mL of drug. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen (FBG) and thrombin time (TT) of samples were analyzed with blood coagulation analyzers from four different manufacturers(Sysmex, Stago, SEKISUI and Werfen) and their corresponding reagents, respectively. Before the experiment, we also observed whether there were significant differences in coagulation test results of different lots of reagents produced by each manufacturer. At the same time as the four routine clotting tests, the Sysmex blood coagulation analyzer and its proprietary analysis software were used to detect the change of maximum platelet aggregation rate in platelet-rich plasma after adding FDP (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mg/mL). The results of PT, aPTT and TT showed a FDP (0-35 mg/mL) concentration-dependent increase and a FBG concentration-dependent decrease. The degree of change (increase or decrease) varied depending on the assay system, with PT and aPTT being more affected by the Sysmex blood coagulation testing instrument reagent system and less affected by CEKISUI, TT less affected by CEKISUI and more affected by Stago, and FBG less affected by Stago and more affected by Sysmex. The results of PT, aPTT and TT were statistically positively correlated with their FDP concentrations, while FBG was negatively correlated. The correlation coefficients between FDP and the coagulation testing systems of Sysmex, Stago, Werfen and SEKISUI were 0.975, 0.988, 0.967, 0.986 for PT, and 0.993, 0.989, 0.990 and 0.962 for aPTT, 0.994, 0.960, 0.977 and 0.982 for TT, – 0.990, – 0.983, – 0.989 and – 0.954 for FBG, respectively. Different concentrations of FDP (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mg/mL) had different effects on the maximum aggregation rate of platelet induced by the agonists of adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 5 µmol/L), arachidonic acid (Ara, 1 mmol/L), collagen (Col, 2.5 µg/mL) and epinephrine (Epi,10 µmol/L), but the overall downward trend was consistent, that is, with the increase of FDP concentration, the platelet aggregation rate decreased significantly. Our experimental study demonstrated a possible effect of FDP on the assays of coagulation and Platelet aggregation, which may arise because the drug interferes with the coagulation and platelet aggregation detection system, or it may affect our in vivo coagulation system and Platelet aggregation function, the real mechanism of which remains to be further verified and studied.

PMID:34997135 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04263-y

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):94. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04201-y.

ABSTRACT

To compare all available accuracy data on screening strategies for identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade ≥ 2 in healthy asymptomatic women, we performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to October 2020 for paired-design studies of cytology and testing for high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (hrHPV). The methods used included a duplicate assessment of eligibility, double extraction of quantitative data, validity assessment, random-effects network meta-analysis of test accuracy, and GRADE rating. Twenty-seven prospective studies (185,269 subjects) were included. The combination of cytology (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or higher grades) and hrHPV testing (excepting genotyping for HPV 16 or 18 [HPV16/18]) with the either-positive criterion (OR rule) was the most sensitive/least specific, whereas the same combination with the both-positive criterion (AND rule) was the most specific/least sensitive. Compared with standalone cytology, non-HPV16/18 hrHPV assays were more sensitive/less specific. Two algorithms proposed for primary cytological testing or primary hrHPV testing were ranked in the middle as more sensitive/less specific than standalone cytology and the AND rule combinations but more specific/less sensitive than standalone hrHPV testing and the OR rule combination. Further research is needed to assess these results in population-relevant outcomes at the program level.

PMID:34997127 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04201-y

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):241. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04328-y.

ABSTRACT

The prognosis of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer has considerably improved. However, no reliable treatment besides anti-HER2 strategies has been available. FTY720, a small-molecule compound used for treating refractory multiple sclerosis, has been reported to have beneficial effects against cancers. We therefore evaluated the efficacy of FTY720 in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells and investigated the possible mechanism involved. This study evaluated morphological changes after FTY720 treatment. Antiproliferative WST-1 assays and LDH Cytotoxicity Assay Kits were used to determine the treatment effects of drugs, whereas Western blot analysis was used to evaluate protein expression. Apoptotic events were investigated through annexin V staining and TUNEL assays using flow cytometry. FTY720 was effective in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cell lines despite the presence of PIK3CA mutation. Studied on a xenograft mouse model, FTY720-treated groups had statistically significantly poorer HCC1954 xenograft growth in vivo compared with the control group. Our findings suggest that FTY720 can overcome resistance to trastuzumab therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, with FTY720 plus trastuzumab might offer even better efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

PMID:34997132 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04328-y

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):160. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04200-z.

ABSTRACT

Recent and future climate diagrams (surface air temperature, surface relative humidity, surface wind, and mean sea level pressure) for the Saudi Arabian Red Sea Coast are analysed based on hourly observations (2016-2020) and hourly ERA5 data (1979-2020) with daily GFDL mini-ensemble means (2006-2100). Moreover, GFDL mini-ensemble means are calculated based on the results of three GFDL simulations (GFDL-CM3, GFDL-ESM2M, and GFDL-ESM2G). Observation data are employed to describe the short-term current weather variability. However, ERA5 data are considered to study the long-term current weather variability after bias removal via a comparison to observations. Finally, a bias correction statistical model was developed by matching the cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of corrected ERA5 and mini-ensemble mean data over 15 years (2006-2020). The obtained local statistic were used to statically downscale GFDL mini-ensemble means to study the future uncertainty in the atmospheric parameters studied. There occurred significant spatial variability across the study area, especially regarding the surface air temperature and relative humidity, based on monthly analysis of both observation and ERA5 data. Moreover, the results indicated that the ERA5 data suitably describe Tabuk, Jeddah and Jizan weather conditions with a marked spatial variability. The best performance of ERA5 surface air temperature and relative humidity (surface wind speed and sea level pressure) data was detected in Tabuk (Jeddah). These data for the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast, 1979-2020, exhibit significant positive trends of the surface air temperature and surface wind speed and significant negative trends of the relative humidity and sea level pressure. The GFDL mini-ensemble mean projection result, up to 2100, contains a significant bias in the studied weather parameters. This is partly attributed to the coarse GFDL resolution (2° × 2°). After bias removal, the statistically downscaled simulations based on the GFDL mini-ensemble mean indicate that the climate in the study area will experience significant changes with a large range of uncertainty according to the considered scenario and regional variations.

PMID:34997098 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04200-z

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):279. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04041-w.

ABSTRACT

The study goal was to evaluate the distances from the radial (RN), the musculocutaneous (MN) and axillary nerves (AN) and the medial neurovascular bundle of the upper arm to a minimally invasive applied plate and to define its relation to the RN during different degrees of malrotation during MIPO. The sample involved ten upper extremities. Application of a PHILOS plate was performed through a Delta-split. Intervals between the AN, MN, RN and the medial vascular bundle were defined at various positions. The humeral shaft was artificially fractured at a height of about the mean of the plate. The distal fragment was brought into 15° and 30° internal (IR) as well as external rotation (ER) and here, the plate’s relation to the RN was evaluated. The medial neurovascular bundle intersected the plate at its distal part in two specimens. Regarding the distances from the RN to the plate during different rotation positions the distances became significantly longer during ER, respectively shorter during IR. The medial neurovascular bundle and the RN were identified as the main structures at risk. Care must be taken during distal screw placement and malrotation exceeding 15° must be avoided during MIPO.

PMID:34997069 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04041-w

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):149. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04138-2.

ABSTRACT

In recent years, with the in-depth research on spinal tuberculosis, posterior surgery alone has been praised highly by more and more surgeons due to the better correction of kyphosis, better maintenance of spinal physiological curvature, smaller surgical trauma and fewer surgical complications. However, there is currently lack of relevant reports about the efficacy of posterior surgery alone in the treatment of tuberculosis in the T4-6 segments. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical study efficacy and feasibility of one-stage posterior-only surgical treatment for thoracic spinal tuberculosis in the T4-6 segments. 67 patients with tuberculosis in T4-6 segments who underwent one-stage posterior-only surgery were included in this study. The clinical efficacy was evaluated using statistical analysis based on the data about erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Oswestry Dability Index (ODI) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Cobb angle before surgery, after surgery and at the last follow-up. All patients completed fusion during the follow-up period of 6-9 months. ESR and CRP were returned to normal for all patients at 6 months follow-up. In the meanwhile, among the 27 patients combined with neurological impairment, neurological functions of 22 cases (81.48%) recovered completely at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Cobb angle of the kyphosis was improved from preoperative 34.8 ± 10.9° to postoperative 9.6 ± 2.8°, maintaining at 11.3 ± 3.2° at the last follow-up, The ODI and VAS scores were improved by 77.10% and 81.70%, respectively. This 5-year follow-up study shows that better clinical efficacy can be achieved for tuberculosis in T4-6 segments using one-stage posterior-only approach by costotransverse debridement in combination with bone graft and internal fixation. The posterior surgical method cannot only effectively accomplish debridement, obtain satisfactory clinical results, but also well correct kyphotic deformity and maintain it.

PMID:34997091 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04138-2

Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):132. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04110-0.

ABSTRACT

Single species distribution models (SSDMs) are typically used to understand and predict the distribution and abundance of marine fish by fitting distribution models for each species independently to a combination of abiotic environmental variables. However, species abundances and distributions are influenced by abiotic environmental preferences as well as biotic dependencies such as interspecific competition and predation. When species interact, a joint species distribution model (JSDM) will allow for valid inference of environmental effects. We built a joint species distribution model of marine fish and invertebrates of the Northeast US Continental Shelf, providing evidence on species relationships with the environment as well as the likelihood of species to covary. Predictive performance is similar to SSDMs but the Bayesian joint modeling approach provides two main advantages over single species modeling: (1) the JSDM directly estimates the significance of environmental effects; and (2) predicted species richness accounts for species dependencies. An additional value of JSDMs is that the conditional prediction of species distributions can use not only the environmental associations of species, but also the presence and abundance of other species when forecasting future climatic associations.

PMID:34997068 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-04110-0