Effects of different ablation points of renal denervation on the efficacy of resistant hypertension
Objective To explore the blood pressure response to different ablation points of renal denervation (RDN) in patients with resistant hypertension Methods A total of 42 cases with resistant hypertension treated by RDN in our center from 2013 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the different ablation points of RDN: the standard treatment group (spiral ablation from near to proximal, with less than 8 points per artery) and the intensive treatment group (from near to far by spiral ablation, with at least 8 points per artery), with 21 patients in each group. The ablation parameters, including points, impedance, actual wattage, and actual temperature, were recorded intraoperatively. Renal angiography was performed again after RDN. Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) images were taken for all patients at the baseline and 6 months after operation. Results The mean 24-h blood pressure of the standard treatment group was lower than that of the baseline (24-h systolic blood pressure decreased by 7.4 ± 10.6 mmHg and 24-h diastolic blood pressure decreased by 4.6 ± 6.1 mmHg), and the mean 24-h blood pressure decreased significantly from baseline to 6 months in the intensive treatment group (24–h systolic blood pressure decreased by 27.4 ± 11.4 mmHg, P < 0.0001; 24–h diastolic blood pressure decreased by 10.9 ± 9.6 mmHg, P = 0.005). There was a positive correlation between the decrease of systolic/diastolic 24-hour mean and the number of ablation points used in the procedure. The mean value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with ablation points at 24-hour (R2 = 0.777 and 0.633 respectively, P < 0.01). There were no adverse events in either group after the operation and during the follow-up. Conclusions RDN could significantly reduce BP in patients with resistant hypertension. Our study showed that the antihypertensive effect appeared to be positively correlated with the number of ablation points.
Zhang et al. (2020) Effects of different ablation points of renal denervation on the efficacy of resistant hypertension. PeerJ 8:e9842 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9842
Integrated jerk as an indicator of affinity for artificial agent kinematics: laptop and virtual reality experiments involving index finger motion during two-digit grasping
Uncanny valley research has shown that human likeness is an important consideration when designing artificial agents. It has separately been shown that artificial agents exhibiting human-like kinematics can elicit positive perceptual responses. However the kinematic characteristics underlying that perception have not been elucidated. This paper proposes kinematic jerk amplitude as a candidate metric for kinematic human likeness, and aims to determine whether a perceptual optimum exists over a range of jerk values. We created minimum-jerk two-digit grasp kinematics in a prosthetic hand model, then added different amplitudes of temporally smooth noise to yield a variety of animations involving different total jerk levels, ranging from maximally smooth to highly jerky. Subjects indicated their perceptual affinity for these animations by simultaneously viewing two different animations side-by-side, first using a laptop, then separately within a virtual reality (VR) environment. Results suggest that (a) subjects generally preferred smoother kinematics, (b) subjects exhibited a small preference for rougher-than minimum jerk kinematics in the laptop experiment, and that (c) the preference for rougher-than minimum-jerk kinematics was amplified in the VR experiment. These results suggest that non-maximally smooth kinematics may be perceptually optimal in robots and other artificial agents.
Hirose et al. (2020) Integrated jerk as an indicator of affinity for artificial agent kinematics: laptop and virtual reality experiments involving index finger motion during two-digit grasping. PeerJ 8:e9843 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9843
Assessing the prognostic scores for the prediction of the mortality of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective study
Background Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is characterized by rapid deterioration of liver function and multiorgan failure, has high mortality. This study was designed to identify prognostic scores to predict short-term and long-term outcome in patients with ACLF to facilitate early treatment and thereby improve patient survival. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 102 ACLF patients who were hospitalized in the gastroenterology department. The EASL-CLIF criteria were used to define the ACLF. The demographic characteristics and biochemical examination results of the patients were acquired, and seven scores (CTP score, MELD score, MELD-Na, CLIF ACLF score, CLIF-C OF score, and CLIF SOFA score) were calculated 24 h after admission. All patients were observed until loss to follow-up, death, or specific follow-up times (28 days, 3 months, and 6 months), which were calculated after the initial hospital admission. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to estimate the power of six scores to forecast ACLF patients’ outcome. Results All scores were distinctly higher in nonsurviving patients than in surviving patients and had predictive value for outcome in patients with ACLF at all time points (P < 0.050). The areas under the ROC curve (AUROCs) of the CLIF-SOFA score were higher than those of other scores at all time points. The comparison of the AUROC of the CLIF-SOFA score with other scores was statistically significant at 28 days (P < 0.050), which was the only time point at which it was greater than 0.800. Conclusion Patients with ACLF have high mortality. These six scores are effective tools for assessing the prognosis of ACLF patients. The CLIF-SOFA score is especially effective for evaluating 28-day mortality.
Zhang et al. (2020) Assessing the prognostic scores for the prediction of the mortality of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective study. PeerJ 8:e9857 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9857
Estimating the impact of mobility patterns on COVID-19 infection rates in 11 European countries
Background As governments across Europe have issued non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and school closing, the mobility patterns in these countries have changed. Most states have implemented similar NPIs at similar time points. However, it is likely different countries and populations respond differently to the NPIs and that these differences cause mobility patterns and thereby the epidemic development to change. Methods We build a Bayesian model that estimates the number of deaths on a given day dependent on changes in the basic reproductive number, R0, due to differences in mobility patterns. We utilise mobility data from Google mobility reports using five different categories: retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, transit stations, workplace and residential. The importance of each mobility category for predicting changes in R0 is estimated through the model. Findings The changes in mobility have a considerable overlap with the introduction of governmental NPIs, highlighting the importance of government action for population behavioural change. The shift in mobility in all categories shows high correlations with the death rates 1 month later. Reduction of movement within the grocery and pharmacy sector is estimated to account for most of the decrease in R0. Interpretation Our model predicts 3-week epidemic forecasts, using real-time observations of changes in mobility patterns, which can provide governments with direct feedback on the effects of their NPIs. The model predicts the changes in a majority of the countries accurately but overestimates the impact of NPIs in Sweden and Denmark and underestimates them in France and Belgium. We also note that the exponential nature of all epidemiological models based on the basic reproductive number, R0 cause small errors to have extensive effects on the predicted outcome.
Bryant et al. (2020) Estimating the impact of mobility patterns on COVID-19 infection rates in 11 European countries. PeerJ 8:e9879 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9879
Integrated analysis of the transcriptome-wide m6A methylome in preeclampsia and healthy control placentas
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in eukaryotic mRNA and potential regulatory functions of m6A have been shown by mapping the RNA m6A modification landscape. m6A modification in active gene regulation manifests itself as altered methylation profiles. The number of reports regarding to the profiling of m6A modification and its potential role in the placenta of preeclampsia (PE) is small. In this work, placental samples were collected from PE and control patients. Expression of m6A-related genes was investigated using quantitative real-time PCR. MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq were performed to detect m6A methylation and mRNA expression profiles. Gene ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were also conducted to explore the modified genes and their clinical significance. Our findings show that METTL3 and METTL14 were up-regulated in PE. In total, 685 m6A peaks were differentially expressed as determined by MeRIP-seq. Altered peaks of m6A-modified transcripts were primarily associated with nitrogen compound metabolic process, positive regulation of vascular-associated smooth muscle cell migration, and endoplasmic reticulum organisation. The m6A hyper-methylated genes of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, mTOR signalling pathway, and several cancer-related pathways may contribute to PE. We also verified that the significant increase of HSPA1A mRNA and protein expression was regulated by m6A modification, suggesting m6A plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression. Our data provide novel information regarding m6A modification alterations in PE and help our understanding of the pathogenesis of PE.
Wang et al. (2020) Integrated analysis of the transcriptome-wide m6A methylome in preeclampsia and healthy control placentas. PeerJ 8:e9880 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9880
Effect of calcium on relieving berry cracking in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) ‘Xiangfei’
Fruit cracking is a physiological disorder in many plant species that leads to severe economic losses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium on fruit cracking and explore the underlying mechanisms. We studied the effect of exogenous calcium on grape berry cracking, calcium absorbance and distribution, and cell wall metabolism in the cracking-susceptible cultivar ‘Xiangfei’. Calcium significantly reduced the frequency of fruit cracking, increased the break force of the berry skin, and stimulated storage of calcium. In addition, calcium increased the content of protopectin and inhibited the increase in content of water-soluble pectin, by regulating the transcription and activities of enzymes associated with cell wall metabolism. Taken together, the results indicated that dipping grape berries in calcium solution is effective in preventing fruit cracking by stimulating calcium uptake, inhibiting cell wall disassembly, and promoting cell wall strengthening.
Yu et al. (2020) Effect of calcium on relieving berry cracking in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) ‘Xiangfei’. PeerJ 8:e9896 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9896
Proanthocyanidins reduce cellular function in the most globally diagnosed cancers in vitro
Background Growing evidence indicates that proanthocyanidins (PACs) may be effective in treating and preventing various cancers. The fundamental mechanism of PACs inhibiting the proliferation at cellular and molecular levels in most of the cancer types remains unclear. Objective The anticancer efficacy of PACs was investigated in vitro using three human cancer cell lines: human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and human prostatic adenocarcinoma (PC-3). Methods Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, while cell proliferation was measured by trypan blue exclusion method. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay, and DAPI staining was used to evaluate apoptotic nucleus morphology. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of Bax and Bcl-2, and caspase enzyme activity assay was measured by caspase colorimetric assay. Results PACs could inhibit both cellular viability and proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion in all investigated cells. Further, all tested cells showed similarly decreased migration after 24- and 48-h PAC treatment. We observed increased apoptotic nucleus morphology in treated cells (p ≤ 0.01). BAX expression significantly increased in HT-29 (p < 0.01), PC-3(p < 0.01), and MCF-7 (p < 0.05) cells, while BCL-2 expression significantly declined (p < 0.05). Caspase activities were significantly increased in all tested cancer cell lines after 24-h PAC treatment. Conclusion PACs may have potential therapeutic properties against colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer.
Albogami (2020) Proanthocyanidins reduce cellular function in the most globally diagnosed cancers in vitro. PeerJ 8:e9910 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9910
Carbon emission and water use efficiency response to tillage methods and planting patterns of winter wheat in the North China Plain
Background Implementing sustainable farming practices for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North China Plain may be a way to reduce carbon emissions. No tillage generally results in less net CO2 loss from farmland, but no tillage also reduces the grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat. Wide-precision planting of winter wheat may enhance the grain yield and WUE; however, it is not known precisely how tillage and planting patterns affect CO2 exchange, grain yield and WUE. Methods In this study, two tillage methods (conventional tillage, T and no tillage, NT) and two planting patterns (conventional planting, C and wide-precision planting, W) were used in two consecutive winter wheat growing seasons. Results Compared with the T treatments, the NT treatments had significantly lower cumulative net CO2 emissions in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 (30.8 and 21.3%, respectively), and had lower grain yields (9.0 and 9.4%, respectively) and WUE (6.0 and 7.2%, respectively). The W treatments had a compensating effect on grain yield failure and reduced cumulative net CO2 emissions more than C treatments, thereby increasing WUE, reducing carbon emissions per unit water consumption, and increasing the yield carbon utilization efficiency (YCUE). The lowest cumulative CO2 emissions and highest YCUE were observed for NT with W treatment. Results from this analogous tillage experiment indicated that NT and W farming practices provide an option for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing WUE and YCUE for sustainable winter wheat development.
Ma et al. (2020) Carbon emission and water use efficiency response to tillage methods and planting patterns of winter wheat in the North China Plain. PeerJ 8:e9912 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9912
Development of a novel nanoflow liquid chromatography-parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry-based method for quantification of angiotensin peptides in HUVEC cultures
Background This study aimed to develop an analytical method using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of angiotensin (Ang) I, Ang (1-9), Ang II, Ang (1-7), Ang (1-5), Ang III, Ang IV in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture supernatant. Methods HUVEC culture supernatant was added with gradient concentrations (0.05–1,000 ng/ml) of standard solutions of the Ang peptides. These samples underwent C18 solid-phase extraction and separation using a preconcentration nano-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry system. The target peptides were detected by a Q Exactive quadrupole orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer in the parallel reaction monitoring mode. Ang converting enzyme (ACE) in HUVECs was silenced to examine Ang I metabolism. Results The limit of detection was 0.1 pg for Ang II and Ang III, and 0.5 pg for Ang (1-9), Ang (1-7), and Ang (1-5). The linear detection range was 0.1–2,000 pg (0.05–1,000 ng/ml) for Ang II and Ang III, and 0.5–2,000 pg (0.25–1,000 ng/ml) for Ang (1-9) and Ang (1-5). Intra-day and inter-day precisions (relative standard deviation) were <10%. Ang II, Ang III, Ang IV, and Ang (1-5) were positively correlated with ACE expression by HUVECs, while Ang I, Ang (1-7), and Ang (1-9) were negatively correlated. Conclusion The nanoflow liquid chromatography-parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry-based methodology established in this study can evaluate the Ang peptides simultaneously in HUVEC culture supernatant.
He et al. (2020) Development of a novel nanoflow liquid chromatography-parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry-based method for quantification of angiotensin peptides in HUVEC cultures. PeerJ 8:e9941 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9941
Numerical investigation of microbial quorum sensing under various flow conditions
Microorganisms efficiently coordinate phenotype expressions through a decision-making process known as quorum sensing (QS). We investigated QS amongst distinct, spatially distributed microbial aggregates under various flow conditions using a process-driven numerical model. Model simulations assess the conditions suitable for QS induction and quantify the importance of advective transport of signaling molecules. In addition, advection dilutes signaling molecules so that faster flow conditions require higher microbial densities, faster signal production rates, or higher sensitivities to signaling molecules to induce QS. However, autoinduction of signal production can substantially increase the transport distance of signaling molecules in both upstream and downstream directions. We present empirical approximations to the solutions of the advection–diffusion–reaction equation that describe the concentration profiles of signaling molecules for a wide range of flow and reaction rates. These empirical relationships, which predict the distribution of dissolved solutes along pore channels, allow to quantitatively estimate the effective communication distances amongst multiple microbial aggregates without further numerical simulations.
Jung et al. (2020) Numerical investigation of microbial quorum sensing under various flow conditions. PeerJ 8:e9942 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9942