Analyzing Spanish news frames on Twitter during COVID-19 : a network study of El País and El Mundo

While COVID-19 is becoming one of the most severe public health crises in the twenty-first century, media coverage about this pandemic is getting more important than ever to make people informed. Drawing on data scraped from Twitter, this study aims to analyze and compare the news updates of two main Spanish newspapers El País and El Mundo during the pandemic. Throughout an automatic process of topic modeling and network analysis methods, this study identifies eight news frames for each newspaper's Twitter account. Furthermore, the whole pandemic development process is split into three periods-the pre-crisis period, the lockdown period and the recovery period. The networks of the computed frames are visualized by these three segments. This paper contributes to the understanding of how Spanish news media cover public health crises on social media platform

Multichannel Seismic Deconvolution Using Bayesian Method

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for multichannel blind deconvolution of seismic signals, which exploits variational Bayesian method. It is related to the Kullback-Leibler divergence, which measures the independence degree of deconvolved data sequence. We assume that the reflectivity sequence is almost the same for each receiver while the noise level may differ at each channel. Compared to blind deconvolution of a single seismic trace, multichannel blind deconvolution provides an accurate convergence of the estimated parameters and reflectivity sequence

A Role for Phosphodiesterase 3B in Acquisition of Brown Fat Characteristics by White Adipose Tissue in Male Mice.

Obesity is linked to various diseases, including insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. The idea of inducing white adipose tissue (WAT) to assume characteristics of brown adipose tissue (BAT), and thus gearing it to fat-burning instead of storage, is receiving serious consideration as potential treatment for obesity and related disorders. Phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) links insulin- and cAMP-signaling networks in tissues associated with energy metabolism, including WAT. We utilized C57BL/6 PDE3B knockout (KO) mice to elucidate mechanisms involved in the formation of BAT in epididymal WAT (EWAT) depots. Examination of gene expression profiles in PDE3B KO EWAT revealed increased expression of several genes that block white and promote brown adipogenesis, such as C-terminal binding protein (Ctbp), bone morphogenetic protein 7 (Bmp7) and PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16), but a clear BAT-like phenotype was not completely induced. However, acute treatment of PDE3B KO mice with the β3-adrenergic agonist, CL316243, markedly increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which catalyzes prostaglandin synthesis and is thought to be important in formation of BAT in WAT, and of elongation of very long chain fatty acids 3 (Elovl3), which is linked to BAT recruitment upon cold exposure, causing a clear shift toward fat-burning and induction of BAT in KO EWAT. These data provide insight into mechanisms of BAT formation in mouse EWAT, suggesting that, in C57BL/6 background, an increase in cAMP, caused by ablation of PDE3B and administration of CL316243, may promote differentiation of prostaglandin-responsive progenitor cells in the EWAT stromal vascular fraction into functional brown adipocytes

A comprehensive review of Tripterygium wilfordii hook. f. in the treatment of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases: Bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and future directions

Rheumatic and autoimmune diseases are a group of immune system-related disorders wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s tissues and organs. This excessive immune response leads to inflammation, tissue damage, and functional impairment. Therapeutic approaches typically involve medications that regulate immune responses, reduce inflammation, alleviate symptoms, and target specific damaged organs. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has been widely studied in recent years for its application in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. Numerous studies have shown that preparations of Tripterygium wilfordii have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and immunosuppressive effects, which effectively improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with autoimmune diseases, whereas the active metabolites of T. wilfordii have been demonstrated to inhibit immune cell activation, regulate the production of inflammatory factors, and modulate the immune system. However, although these effects contribute to reductions in inflammatory responses and the suppression of autoimmune reactions, as well as minimize tissue and organ damage, the underlying mechanisms of action require further investigation. Moreover, despite the efficacy of T. wilfordii in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, its toxicity and side effects, including its potential hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, warrant a thorough assessment. Furthermore, to maximize the therapeutic benefits of this plant in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and enable more patients to utilize these benefits, efforts should be made to strengthen the regulation and standardized use of T. wilfordii

Circulating methylation level of HTR2A is associated with inflammation and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivesHTR2A is previously identified as a susceptibility gene for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we performed the association analysis between DNA methylation of HTR2A with RA within peripheral blood samples.MethodsWe enrolled peripheral blood samples from 235 patients with RA, 30 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and 30 healthy controls. The DNA methylation levels of about 218 bp from chr13: 46898190 to chr13: 46897973 (GRCh38/hg38) around HTR2A cg15692052 from patients were analyzed by targeted methylation sequencing.ResultsWe measured methylation status for 7 CpGs in the promoter region of HTR2A and obseved overall methylation status are signficantly increased in RA compared with normal inviduals (FDR= 9.05 x 10-5). The average cg15692052 methylation levels (methylation score) showed a positive correlation with CRP (r=0.15, P=0.023). Compared with the OA group or HC group, the proportion of haplotypes CCCCCCC (FDR=0.02 and 2.81 x 10-6) is signficantly increased while TTTTTCC (FDR =0.01) and TTTTTTT(FDR =6.92 x 10-3) are significantly decreased in RA. We find methylation haplotypes combining with RF and CCP could signficantly enhance the performance of the diagnosing RA and its comorbidities (hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and osteoporosis), especially in interstitial lung disease.ConclusionsIn our study, we found signficant hypermethylation of promoter region of HTR2A which indicates the potential clinical diagnostic role in rheumatoid arthritis

Overexpression of LCMR1 is significantly associated with clinical stage in human NSCLC

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lung cancer is one of the most common human cancers and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The identification of lung cancer associated genes is essential for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Differential Display-PCR technique was used to achieve the novel cDNA, which were then verified by real-time PCR. Northern blot was utilized to observe the expression of LCMR1 in different human tissues. 84 cases human NSCLC tissues and normal counterparts were analyzed for the expression of LCMR1 by immunohistochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A novel 778-bp cDNA fragment from human large cell lung carcinoma cell lines 95C and 95D was obtained, and named <it>LCMR1 </it>(Lung Cancer Metastasis Related protein 1). LCMR1 was differentially expressed in different human tissues. LCMR1 was strongly overexpressed in NSCLC and its expression was significantly associated with clinical stage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data indicated that <it>LCMR1</it>, strongly overexpressed in NSCLC, might have applications in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.</p

Diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for bone and joint tuberculosis: A meta-analysis.

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of bone and joint tuberculosis.MethodsWe searched databases from their inception to May 7, 2019 for published articles and reviewed them to assess the accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF with respect to a composite reference standard (CRS) and mycobacterial culture. Meta-analyses were performed using a bivariate random-effects model, and the sources of heterogeneity were assessed via subgroup analysis and meta-regression.ResultsNineteen independent (9 prospective, 5 retrospective, and 5 case-control) studies that compared Xpert MTB/RIF with the CRS and 14 (6 prospective, 7 retrospective, and 1 case-control) studies that compared it with culture were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of Xpert MTB/RIF were 81% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77-84) and 99% (95% CI, 97-100) compared to the CRS, respectively, and 96% (95% CI, 90-98) and 85% (95% CI, 57-96) compared to culture, respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity using pus samples vs. the CRS were 82% (95% CI, 76-86) and 99% (95% CI, 95-100), respectively. The proportions obtained while working with tissue samples vs. the CRS were 84% (95% CI, 76-90) and 98% (95% CI, 94-99), respectively. There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy among the types of specimens.ConclusionsXpert MTB/RIF demonstrates good diagnostic accuracy for bone and joint tuberculosis, the results of which are not related to the type of specimen