bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors of Anaemia among Children under Five Years in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana: A Case Control Study
Authors: Parbey Phyllis Atta , Tarkang Elvis , Manu Emmanuel , Amu Hubert , Ayanore Martin Amogre , Aku Fortress Yayra , Ziema Sorengmen Amos , Bosoka Samuel Adolf , Adjuik Martin , Kweku Margaret
Published: June 2019

Background. Anaemia is one of the major causes of death among children under five years in Ghana. We examined the risk factors of anaemia among children under five years in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana. Methods. This facility-based matched case control study recruited 210 children (70 cases and 140 controls) aged 6 to 59 months. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select mothers attending Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) for the screening of their children. Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire. Finger prick blood was collected to estimate the haemoglobin (Hb) level and thick film was prepared to determine malaria parasitaemia. Axillary temperature was measured using an +electronic thermometer and anthropometric measurements were done using a weighing scale and inelastic tape measure. Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations and categorical variables as frequencies and proportions. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the strength of association between the dependent and the independent variables. Statistical significance was considered at p value of <0.05. Results. The prevalence of anaemia was high (53.8%), while children whose mothers received iron supplementation during pregnancy were 7.64 times more likely to be anaemic compared with those who did not [AOR=7.64 (95% CI:1.41-41.20.93); p=0.018]. Children with poor dietary diversity were 9.15 times more likely to have anaemia [AOR=9.15 (95% CI: 3.13-26.82); p< 0.001]; and children whose mothers were farmers and traders were 83% [AOR = 0.17 (95% CI: 0.05-0.60); p=0.006] and 79% [AOR=0.21 (95% CI: 0.06-0.74); p=0.014], respectively, less likely to have anaemia. Conclusion. The biologic, intermediate, and underlying factors that were significantly associated with anaemia comprised maternal iron supplementation, poor dietary diversity, farmers, and traders. Given that iron supplementation during pregnancy did not protect children against anaemia, we recommend the child’s nutritional dietary diversity is encouraged.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Effect of Long Intergenic Noncoding RNAs on Pig Muscle Growth and Fat Deposition
Authors: Chen Guoting , Cheng Xiaofang , Shi Gaoli , Zou Cheng , Chen Lin , Li Jingxuan , Li Mengxun , Fang Chengchi , Li Changchun
Published: June 2019

Muscle growth and fat deposition are the two important biological processes in the development of pigs which are closely related to the pig production performance. Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs), with lack of coding potential and the length of at least 200nt, have been extensively studied to play important roles in many biological processes. However, the importance and molecular regulation mechanism of lincRNAs in the process of muscle growth and fat deposition in pigs are still to be further studied comprehensively. In our study, we used the data, including liver, abdominal fat, and longissimus dorsi muscle of 240 days’ age of two F2 full-sib female individuals from the white Duroc and Erhualian crossbreed, to identify 581 putative lincRNAs associated with pig muscle growth and fat deposition. The 581 putative lincRNAs shared many common features with other mammalian lincRNAs, such as fewer exons, lower expression levels, and shorter transcript lengths. Cross-tissue comparisons showed that many transcripts were tissue-specific and were involved in the important biological processes in their corresponding tissues. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed that many potential target genes (PTGs) of putative lincRNAs were involved in pig muscle growth and fat deposition-related processes, including muscle cell proliferation, lipid metabolism, and fatty acid degradation. In Quantitative Trait Locus (QTLs) analysis, some PTGs were screened from putative lincRNAs, MRPL12 is associated with muscle growth, GCGR and SLC25A10 were associated with fat deposition, and PPP3CA, DPYD, and FGGY were related not only to muscle growth but also to fat deposition. Therefore, it implied that these lincRNAs might participate in the biological processes related to muscle growth or fat deposition through homeostatic regulation of PTGs, but the detailed molecular regulatory mechanisms still needed to be further explored. This study lays the molecular foundation for the in-depth study of the role of lincRNAs in the pig muscle growth and fat deposition and further provides the new molecular markers for understanding the complex biological mechanisms of pig muscle growth and fat deposition.
Heart Failure Duration Combined with Left Atrial Dimension Predicts Super-Response and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Implantation
Authors: Guo Zhinian , Liu Xiaoyan , Liu Chuan , Yang Jie , Cheng Xiaofeng , Chen Yunlong , Li Ping , He Yongming , Wang Jiang
Published: June 2019

Background. Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) varies significantly among patients. This study aimed to identify baseline characteristics that could predict super-response to CRT and to evaluate the long-term prognosis in super-responders. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 73 consecutive patients who received CRT. Patients were considered as super-responders after 6-month follow-up when NYHA class reduction to I or II combined with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% was observed. Patients were divided into super-responders group and non-super-responders group. All-cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) was referred to the combined end point. Results. 17 (23.3%) patients were super-responders. HF duration, left atrial dimension (LAD), and left bundle branch block (LBBB) were independent predictors of super-response to CRT. The combination of HF duration and LAD could provide more robust prediction of super-response than standalone HF duration (0.899 versus 0.789, Z = 2.207, P = 0.027) or standalone LAD (0.899 versus 0.775, Z = 2.487, P = 0.013). super-responders had excellent LV reverse remodeling. The cumulative incidences of combined end point were significantly lower in the super-responders group, LAD ≤ 42mm group, and combination of HF duration ≤ 48 months and LAD ≤ 42mm group. LBBB remained associated with a lowered risk of the combined end point (HR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07-0.57, P = 0.003), whereas LAD was associated with a raised risk of the combined end point (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.17, P = 0.014). Conclusions. HF duration, LAD, and LBBB independently predicted super-response. The combination of HF duration and LAD makes more robust prediction of CRT super-response. Super-responders had excellent LV reverse remodeling and decreased the incidences of the combined end point. LBBB and LAD were independently associated with the combined end point.
Rolling Force Prediction of Hot Rolling Based on GA‐MELM
Authors: Liu Jingyi , Liu Xinxin , Le Ba Tuan
Published: June 2019

In the hot continuous rolling process, the main factor affecting the actual thickness of strip is the rolling force. The precision of rolling force calculation is the key to realize accurate on‐line control. However, because of the complexity and nonlinearity of the rolling process, as well as many influencing factors, the theoretical analysis of the traditional rolling force prediction model often needs to be simplified and hypothesized. This leads to the incompleteness of the mathematical model and the deviation between the calculated results and the actual working conditions. In this paper, a rolling force prediction method based on genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO), and multiple hidden layer extreme learning machine (MELM) is proposed, namely, PSO‐GA‐MELM algorithm, which takes MELM as the basic model for rolling force prediction. In the modeling process, GA is used to determine the optimal number of hidden layers and the optimal number of hidden nodes, and PSO is used to search for the optimal input weights and biases. This method avoids the influence of human intervention on the model and saves the modeling time. This paper takes the actual production data of BaoSteel 2050 production line as experimental data, and the experimental results indicate that the algorithm can be effectively used to determine the optimal network structure of MELM. The rolling force prediction model trained by the algorithm has excellent performance in prediction accuracy, computational stability, and the number of hidden nodes and is applicable to the prediction of rolling force in hot continuous rolling process.
Compressed Sensing PARALIND Decomposition-Based Coherent Angle Estimation for Uniform Rectangular Array
Authors: Wei Wu , Le Xu , Xiaofei Zhang , Jianfeng Li
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the topic of coherent two-dimensional direction of arrival (2D-DOA) estimation is investigated. Our study jointly utilizes the compressed sensing (CS) technique and the parallel profiles with linear dependencies (PARALIND) model and presents a 2D-DOA estimation algorithm for coherent sources with the uniform rectangular array. Compared to the traditional PARALIND decomposition, the proposed algorithm owns lower computational complexity and smaller data storage capacity due to the process of compression. Besides, the proposed algorithm can obtain autopaired azimuth angles and elevation angles and can achieve the same estimation performance as the traditional PARALIND, which outperforms some familiar algorithms presented for coherent sources such as the forward backward spatial smoothing-estimating signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (FBSS-ESPRIT) and forward backward spatial smoothing-propagator method (FBSS-PM). Extensive simulations are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed CS-PARALIND algorithm.
Isoflavones and Isoflavone Glycosides: Structural-Electronic Properties and Antioxidant Relations—A Case of DFT Study
Authors: Ninh The Son , Do Minh Thanh , Nguyen Van Trang
Published: June 2019

Isoflavonoids and isoflavonoid glycosides have drawn much attention because of their antioxidant radical-scavenging capacity. Based on computational methods, we now present the antioxidant potential results of genistein (1), biochanin A (2), ambocin (3), and tectorigenin 7-O-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (4). The optimized structures of the neutral and radical forms have been determined by the DFT-B3LYP method with the 6-311G(d) basis set. From the findings and thermodynamic point of view, the ring B system of isoflavones is considered as an active center in facilitating antioxidant reactions. Antioxidant activities are mostly driven by O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) following hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism. Antioxidant ability can be arranged in the following order: compounds (4) > (3) > (2) > (1). Of comprehensive structural analysis, flavonoids with 4′-methylation and 6-methoxylation, especially 7-glycosylation would claim responsibility for antioxidant enhancement.
Xin-Ji-Er-Kang Alleviates Myocardial Infarction-Induced Cardiovascular Remodeling in Rats by Inhibiting Endothelial Dysfunction
Authors: Cheng Pan , Lian Feng-zhen , Wang Xiao-yun , Cai Guo-wei , Huang Guang-yao , Chen Mei-ling , Shen Ai-zong , Gao Shan
Published: June 2019

The present study was designed to elucidate the beneficial effects of XJEK on myocardial infarction (MI) in rats, especially through the amelioration of endothelial dysfunction (ED). 136 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 13 groups: control group for 0wk (n = 8); sham groups for 2, 4, and 6 weeks (wk); MI groups for 2, 4, and 6 wk; MI+XJEK groups for 2, 4, and 6w k; MI+Fosinopril groups for 2, 4, and 6 wk (n = 8~10). In addition, 8 rats were treated for Evans blue staining and Tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining to determine the infarct size. Cardiac function, ECG, and cardiac morphological changes were examined. Colorimetric analysis was employed to detect nitric oxide (NO), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to determine N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (Ang II), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) content. The total eNOS and eNOS dimer/(dimer+monomer) ratios in cardiac tissues were detected by Western blot. We found that administration of XJEK markedly ameliorated cardiovascular remodeling (CR), which was manifested by decreased HW/BW ratio, CSA, and less collagen deposition after MI. XJEK administration also improved cardiac function by significant inhibition of the increased hemodynamic parameters in the early stage and by suppression of the decreased hemodynamic parameters later on. XJEK also continuously suppressed the increased NT-ProBNP content in the serum of MI rats. XJEK improved ED with stimulated eNOS activities, as well as upregulated NO levels, BH4 content, and eNOS dimer/(dimer+monomer) ratio in the cardiac tissues. XJEK downregulated ET-1, Ang II, and ADMA content obviously compared to sham group. In conclusion, XJEK may exert the protective effects on MI rats and could continuously ameliorate ED and reverse CR with the progression of MI over time.
Connection between Relationship Quality and Megaproject Success: Moderating Role of Contractual Functions
Authors: Wang Dedong , Lu Yongqiang , Fang Shaoze
Published: June 2019

Relational governance is critical to project success. The present study on relational governance fails to elaborate on the relation between relationship quality and project success. In line with social exchange theory, this paper presents an empirical research of Chinese megaprojects to explore the effect of social exchange factors on relationship quality. Particularly, this research investigated how mianzi (face) as a factor variable affects relationship quality in megaprojects. This work also divided contract functions into control, coordination, and adaptation to investigate the impact of these functions on the relationship between social exchange factors and mianzi (face) with relationship quality. Results corroborate the following points: (1) relationship quality has a significant effect on project success; (2) relationship quality is also significantly influenced by trust, reciprocity, commitment, and mianzi; and (3) regarding the moderating effects of contractual functions, the contractual control function has a positive influence on the relationship between trust, commitment, and relationship quality and has a negative influence on the relationship between mianzi and relationship quality. However, contractual control has no apparent effect on the relationship between reciprocity and relationship quality. The contractual coordination function has a positive effect on the relationship between trust, commitment, and relationship quality. The contractual adaptation function has a significant positive effect on the relationship between trust and relationship quality. These findings provide new insights into relationship governance, and suggestions for contractual function design are provided.
Experimental Investigation on Nonlinear Flow Anisotropy Behavior in Fracture Media
Authors: Zhu Chun , Xu Xiaoding , Wang Xiuting , Xiong Feng , Tao Zhigang , Lin Yun , Chen Jing
Published: June 2019

A series of flow experiments were performed on matched fractures to study the problem of non-Darcy flow in fractured media. Five rock fractures of different roughness were generated using indirect tensile tests, and their surface topographies were measured using a stereo topometric scanning system. The fracture was assumed to be a self-affine surface, and its roughness and anisotropy were quantified by the fractal dimension. According to the flow tortuosity effect, the nonlinear flow was characterized by hydraulic tortuosity and surface tortuosity power law relationships based on Forchheimer’s law. Fracture seepage experiments conducted with two injection directions (0° and 90°) showed that Forchheimer’s law described the nonlinear flow well. Both the proposed model and Chen’s double-parameter model gave similar results to the experiment, but the match was closer with the proposed model. On this basis, a new formula for the critical Reynolds number is proposed, which serves to distinguish linear flow and Forchheimer flow.
Shashen-Maidong Decoction-Mediated IFN-γ and IL-4 on the Regulation of Th1/Th2 Imbalance in RP Rats
Authors: Yang Yuan , Zhou Yanping
Published: June 2019

Objective. Studying correlative changes of Th1/Th2 (Th, Helper T cells) related factor Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the progression of radiation pneumonia (RP) rats and the efficacy of Shashen-Maidong decoction on these indexes to explore the immune mechanism of the decoction on the prevention and treatment of RP. Methods. Male 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups. In addition to the normal control group taking saline, the other rats were set up RP model treated with Shashen-Maidong decoction or dexamethasone (DXM), respectively. The IFN-γ and IL-4 concentrations in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats were tested in the 2nd and 4th week after radiation, and the relative ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 was calculated. Results. (1) There was significant difference of serum IL-4 concentrations in group B (p<0.01) and extreme difference in groups C and D (p<0.001) compared with group A in 4th week. Compared with group D, IL-4 concentrations in group B increased significantly in both 2nd and 4th week (p<0.01). Group B had significantly decreased IFN-γ concentrations in BALF (p<0.001) compared with group D in the 4th week. And IFN-γ concentrations in BALF in group B were increased compared with group C in the 4th week (p<0.05). (2) There was no difference of the relative ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 at each time in groups B and A for both serum and BALF, while the ratios in groups C and D in 4th week in BALF were increased (p<0.05) compared to group A. Conclusion. Shashen-Maidong decoction can improve the immune function of RP rats by increasing IFN-γ concentration and decreasing IL-4 concentration, possibly by increasing the relative ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 to regulate the immune imbalance of Th1/Th2.
Protective Effects of Nutria Bile against Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice
Authors: Kong Joo-Yeon , Yeon Seong-Chan , Lee Hu Jang , Kang Changkeun , Park Jin-Kyu , Jeong Kyu-Shik , Hong Il-Hwa
Published: June 2019

Several eradication programs have been developed and executed to curb alien invasive species that tend to damage the ecological environments they colonize; however, only few studies have evaluated the utilization of carcasses of these species after eradication. Nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive rodent species targeted by eradication programs in many countries. We noted that nutria produce large amounts of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in their bile. UDCA is a unique component responsible for the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects exerted by bear bile. Therefore, we sought to examine the medicinal utility of nutria carcasses by investigating the hepatoprotective effect of their bile in mice. C57BL/6 mice were injected with thioacetamide (TAA), which induced liver damage by increasing Kupffer cell infiltration. Administration of nutria bile reduced hepatic inflammation, improved hepatic function, and increased the levels of senescence marker protein 30 (an indicator of hepatocyte viability). Our results show that nutria bile exerts protective effects against TAA-induced liver injury in mice, suggesting that nutria carcasses may be used for the treatment of liver injuries.
A Multilevel Image Thresholding Method Based on Subspace Elimination Optimization
Authors: Qin Jun , Wang ChuTing , Qin GuiHe
Published: June 2019

Multilevel thresholding is to find the thresholds to segment the image with grey levels. Usually, the thresholds are so determined that some indicator functions of the segmented image are optimized. To improve the computational efficiency, we presented an optimization method for multilevel thresholding. First, the solution space is divided into subspaces. Second, the subspaces are searched to obtain their current local optimal value. Third, the subspaces that are of worse current optimal value are eliminated. Then, the next round of elimination is exerted in the remainder. The elimination is repeated until only one subspace is left and its optimal value is taken as the global optimum. In principle, any random search algorithm can be used to find the local optimum in a subspace block because it is a strategy to enhance the searching efficiency through eliminating hopeless regions as early as possible, rather than to improve the searching algorithm itself. To verify its performance, taking PSO (Particle swarm optimization) as the basic searching algorithm of subspaces, the presented method is applied to Otsu’s and Kapur’s multilevel thresholding of four different kinds of digital images. The presented method is compared with PSO, and it behaves better in efficiency.
Gender Difference of the Relationship between Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure Variability in Participants in Prehypertension
Authors: Lan Yang , Liu Huan , Liu Jinbo , Zhao Hongwei , Wang Hongyu
Published: June 2019

Aim. The association of pressure load with elasticity in vascular system has not been studied fully. We proposed a hypothesis whether gender could modify the association of blood pressure variability (BPV) and arterial stiffness assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) in prehypertensive patients. Methods. 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24h-ABPM) and CF-PWV were measured in 723 participants with prehypertension. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses of these clinical and biological parameters were performed in total population, male and female. Results. A total of 723 participants (mean age 59.76 ± 12.37years, male 329 and female 394) were enrolled into the study. Compared with female, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), uric acid (UA), and homocysteine (HCY) were significantly higher (all p < 0.05). Arterial stiffness (CF-PWV, male versus female, 10.89 ± 2.50 versus 10.33 ± 2.13 m/s, p=0.004) and BPVs (male versus female, 24 h SBPV 13.2 ± 5.11 versus 13.03 ± 5.20; 24 h DBPV 10.34 ± 3.87 versus 9.64 ± 3.59; N SBPV 11.90 ± 6.60 versus 10.94 ± 4.79; N DBPV 9.64 ± 5.87 versus 8.20 ± 4.48, all p<0.05) were higher in male. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that 24 h BPV were linearly and positively related to CF-PWV in total population (24h SBPV, B=0.033; 24 h DBPV, B=0.035, both P<0.05) and female (24h SBPV, B=0.041; 24h DBPV, B=0.067, both P<0.05) independent of traditional risk factors and medications. Conclusion. BPV was independently associated with arterial stiffness in total population and the relation was modified by gender. 24 h BPVs in prehypertensive patients were useful to identify the early arterial stiffness. Clinical Trials Registration. This trial was registered with Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT02569268.
Effects of Recycled Aggregate on Concrete Mix and Exposure to Chloride
Authors: Ben Nakhi Ammar , Alhumoud Jasem M.
Published: June 2019

Construction and demolition waste has dramatically increased in the last decade, and most of it goes into landfills, increasing the burden on landfill loading and operations. Recycling of concrete is needed from the viewpoints of environmental preservation and effective utilization of resources. Regarding the durability of concrete, chloride diffusion, which is one parameter that reflects the durability of concrete, is tested in this study. Concrete made with different percentages of recycled aggregate (0%–100%, with increments of 10%) is investigated using mechanical and nondestructive testing of mixes consisting of two aggregate particle sizes (1/2″ and 3/8″). In addition, we studied the chloride diffusion of saturated concrete made with different percentages of recycled aggregate. The samples were exposed to sea water with 3% chloride concentration and tested after 2 and 4 weeks of exposure. The results indicate that the density and air content of new concrete decreased with an increase in recycled aggregates content. Compressive strength decreased with the increase in the recycled aggregate content, and a concrete mix with 40% recycled aggregate exhibited the best strength. Concrete mix with 30% recycled aggregate had the lowest chloride penetration after 2 weeks of saturation and performed better than a concrete mix with 100% natural aggregate. Owing to the lower density and higher water absorption of recycled aggregates, chloride ion diffusion increased with increasing recycled aggregate content beyond 2 weeks.
The HLA-Cw12 Allele Is an Important Susceptibility Allele for Psoriasis and Is Associated with Resistant Psoriasis in the Turkish Population
Authors: Onsun Nahide , Pirmit Serpil , Ozkaya Dilek , Çelik Şirin , Rezvani Aylin , Cengiz F. Pelin , Kekik Cigdem
Published: June 2019

Background. Psoriasis is a multifactorial immune-mediated inflammatory disease triggered by both genetic and environmental factors. The strong association between psoriasis and HLA-C⁎06 allele has been demonstrated in various races. The HLA-C⁎12 allele is closely related to the HLA-C⁎06 family of alleles and shares identical sequences. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information about the relationship between HLA-C⁎12 and psoriasis in the Turkish population. The present study aims to determine this relationship. Methods. This case control study involved 150 patients with plaque-type psoriasis and 145 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Severity of psoriasis was measured using the PASI scores of all patients and joint involvement was investigated with CASPAR criteria. HLA-C alleles were determined with a Tepnel-Lifecodes system. Results. HLA-C⁎06, HLA-C⁎12, and HLA-C⁎04 alleles were most commonly observed in psoriasis patients. HLA-C⁎06 and HLA-C⁎12 were significantly more frequent in the psoriasis group. HLA-C⁎06 was 4.11 times more common in psoriasis patients. An increase in PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) scores was compatible with HLA-C⁎12 positivity. A need for systemic treatment was highly noticeable in patients with the HLA-C⁎12 allele. Conclusions. HLA-C⁎12 was found as the second most frequent allele with psoriasis in Turkish population and was associated with severe psoriasis. Our study is limited as we could not investigate other potentially related alleles other than HLA-C alleles and risk factors increasing severity of psoriasis.
Characterization of Fungal Colonization of Indwelling Esophagostomy Tubes
Authors: Olin Shelly J. , Bemis David A. , Dunlap John R. , Whittemore Jacqueline C.
Published: June 2019

Fungal colonization of feeding tubes occurs rapidly in people, resulting in decreased structural integrity and complications such as luminal obstruction and tube failure. Esophagostomy tubes (E-tubes) are commonly used in dogs and cats for enteral support, but data are lacking regarding colonizing fungi and the impact of colonization on tube integrity. In this study, esophagostomy tubes were collected in lieu of disposal from dogs and cats undergoing feeding tube exchange. Fungi were isolated with culture and identified using morphological characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the surface characteristics of the tubes. Two silicone and one polyurethane E-tube were evaluated. Fungi associated with the normal microbiota, including Candida sp. and Penicillium sp., as well as environmental fungi were identified. This case series represents the first documentation of fungal colonization of silicone and polyurethane E-tubes in dogs and cats. Additionally, this is the first report to document degenerative changes in a silicone E-tube.
Measurement of Holistic Road Damage and Analysis of Its Corresponding Traffic Characteristics
Authors: Guo Shun , Huang Zhengfeng , Zheng Pengjun , Lu Ting , Lu Lili , Li Xuan
Published: June 2019

Many pavement distress (PD) indexes are defined only from the perspective of the PD physical structure, which cannot describe the change of traffic efficiency. Some PD indexes are defined considering the influence of traffic efficiency, but it is unpractical to calculate them out due to their complex processes. We quantify the impact of the cohesive whole of PD points on the traffic flow and also define the corresponding PD index which is easy to compute. Firstly, the lane cell based on the idea of road discretization is introduced. Secondly, the PD degree for the lane cell is defined by the reduction of the average vehicle speed given the same flow condition. The cell whose PD degree is larger than 0 is defined as the PD cell. Then, considering (1) the ratio of PD cells, (2) PD cell distribution, and (3) the influence of the vehicle lane changing, we define the holistic road‐damage degree (HRDD) as the PD index. At last, the relationship among HRDD, flow speed, and flow volume is analyzed through the simulated experiments. The results show that (1) the average speed is inversely proportional to HRDD, and the reduction of vehicle speed is more significant with the increase of the traffic flow input; (2) the inverse relation between road capacity and HRDD can be seen on the whole HRDD range. In another word, the proposed HRDD describes the change of traffic efficiency indeed.
Astragaloside IV Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury from Oxidative Stress by Regulating Succinate, Lysophospholipid Metabolism, and ROS Scavenging System
Authors: Jiang Miaomiao , Ni Jingyu , Cao Yuanlin , Xing Xiaoxue , Wu Qian , Fan Guanwei
Published: June 2019

Astragaloside IV is one of the main active ingredients isolated from Astragalus membranaceus. Here we confirmed its protective effect against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms involved. Pretreatment of ex vivo and in vivo I/R-induced rat models by astragaloside IV significantly prevented the ratio of myocardium infarct size, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and the production of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. Metabolic analyses showed that I/R injury caused a notable reduction of succinate and elevation of lysophospholipids, indicating excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation driven by succinate’s rapid reoxidization and glycerophospholipid degradation. Molecular validation mechanistically revealed that astragaloside IV stimulated nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) released from Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and translocated to the nucleus to combine with musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (Maf) to initiate the transcription of antioxidative gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which performed a wide range of ROS scavenging processes against pathological oxidative stress in the hearts. As expected, increasing succinate and decreasing lysophospholipid levels were observed in the astragaloside IV-pretreated group compared with the I/R model group. These results suggested that astragaloside IV ameliorated myocardial I/R injury by modulating succinate and lysophospholipid metabolism and scavenging ROS via the Nrf2 signal pathway.
New Insights into the Process of Placentation and the Role of Oxidative Uterine Microenvironment
Authors: Mendes Sara , Timóteo-Ferreira Filipa , Almeida Henrique , Silva Elisabete
Published: June 2019

For a successful pregnancy to occur, a predecidualized receptive endometrium must be invaded by placental differentiated cells (extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs)) and, at the same time, continue decidualization. EVT invasion is aimed at anchoring the placenta to the maternal uterus and ensuring local blood supply increase necessary to provide normal placental and foetal development. The first is achieved by migrating through the maternal endometrium and deeper into the myometrium, while the second by transforming uterine spiral arteries into large vessels. This process is a tightly regulated battle comprising interests of both the mother and the foetus. Invading EVTs are required to perform a scope of functions: move, adhere, proliferate, differentiate, interact, and digest the extracellular matrix (ECM); tolerate hypoxia; transform the maternal spiral arteries; and die by apoptosis. All these functions are modulated by their surrounding microenvironment: oxygen, soluble factors (e.g., cytokines, growth factors, and hormones), ECM proteins, and reactive oxygen species. A deeper comprehension of oxidative uterine microenvironment contribution to trophoblast function will be addressed in this review.
Knowledge Concerning Dietary Supplements among General Public
Authors: Kołodziej Gabriela , Cyran-Grzebyk Barbara , Majewska Joanna , Kołodziej Krzysztof
Published: June 2019

Introduction. Diet and physical activity are widely recognized in maintaining health and preventing diseases. Currently, dietary supplements are also commonly believed to play a role in health promotion. However, a dietary supplement lacks single uniform definition within the scope of legal or nutritional sciences. Data on the usage of dietary supplements in Europe are still limited. The aim of this study was to assess subjective and objective knowledge of the inhabitants of south-eastern Poland about diet and supplementation in sport. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted in the south-east of Poland between October 2017 and July 2018 during three events organized by the University of Rzeszów. Initially, the study covered 500 people. During the preliminary analysis, 90 people were excluded from the study because they did not meet the previously well-explained rules of conduct during the study or did not meet the eligibility criteria for the tests. Finally, 410 people were qualified for the study. The survey method was a questionnaire with single-answer option. Results. Our study revealed statistically significant subjective and objective level of knowledge about diet and supplementation in terms of sex. Also, a correlation was found between sex and the fact of being involved in physical activity, as well as the subjects’ knowledge of diet and supplementation in sport. Conclusion. High prevalence of dietary supplement use was found in our study population, but still significant percentage of the study group demonstrate inaccurate information about these products. Hence, there is an urgent need to provide the community with education and access to scientific and unbiased information.
Effect of TNF-α-Induced Sclerostin on Osteocytes during Orthodontic Tooth Movement
Authors: Ohori Fumitoshi , Kitaura Hideki , Marahleh Aseel , Kishikawa Akiko , Ogawa Saika , Qi Jiawei , Shen Wei-Ren , Noguchi Takahiro , Nara Yasuhiko , Mizoguchi Itaru
Published: June 2019

Osteocytes are abundant cells in bone, which contribute to bone maintenance. Osteocytes express receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and regulate osteoclast formation. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) occurs by osteoclast resorption of alveolar bone. Osteocyte-derived RANKL is critical in bone resorption during OTM. Additionally, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is important in osteoclastogenesis during OTM. Sclerostin has been reported to enhance RANKL expression in the MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cell line. This study investigated the effect of TNF-α on sclerostin expression in osteocytes during OTM. In vitro analysis of primary osteocytes, which were isolated from DMP1-Topaz mice by sorting the Topaz variant of GFP-positive cells, revealed that SOST mRNA expression was increased when osteocytes were cultured with TNF-α and that RANKL mRNA expression was increased when osteocytes were cultured with sclerostin. Moreover, the number of TRAP-positive cells was increased in osteocytes and osteoclast precursors cocultured with sclerostin. In vivo analysis of mouse calvariae that had been subcutaneously injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or TNF-α revealed that the number of TRAP-positive cells and the percentage of sclerostin-positive osteocytes were higher in the TNF-α group than in the PBS group. Furthermore, the level of SOST mRNA was increased by TNF-α. As an OTM model, a Ni-Ti closed-coil spring connecting the upper incisors and upper-left first molar was placed to move the first molar to the mesial direction in wild-type (WT) mice and TNF receptor 1- and 2-deficient (TNFRsKO) mice. After 6 days of OTM, the percentage of sclerostin-positive osteocytes on the compression side of the first molar in TNFRsKO mice was lower than that in WT mice. In this study, TNF-α increased sclerostin expression in osteocytes, and sclerostin enhanced RANKL expression in osteocytes. Thus, TNF-α may play an important role in sclerostin expression in osteocytes and enhance osteoclast formation during OTM.
Antitumor Effects of Anti-Semaphorin 4D Antibody Unravel a Novel Proinvasive Mechanism of Vascular-Targeting Agents
Authors: Zuazo-Gaztelu Iratxe , Pàez-Ribes Marta , Carrasco Patricia , Martín Laura , Soler Adriana , Martínez-Lozano Mar , Pons Roser , Llena Judith , Palomero Luis , Graupera Mariona , Casanovas Oriol
Published: June 2019

One of the main consequences of inhibition of neovessel growth and vessel pruning produced by angiogenesis inhibitors is increased intratumor hypoxia. Growing evidence indicates that tumor cells escape from this hypoxic environment to better nourished locations, presenting hypoxia as a positive stimulus for invasion. In particular, anti-VEGF/R therapies produce hypoxia-induced invasion and metastasis in a spontaneous mouse model of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer (PanNET), RIP1-Tag2. Here, a novel vascular-targeting agent targeting semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) demonstrated impaired tumor growth and extended survival in the RIP1-Tag2 model. Surprisingly, although there was no induction of intratumor hypoxia by anti-Sema4D therapy, the increase in local invasion and distant metastases was comparable with the one produced by VEGFR inhibition. Mechanistically, the antitumor effect was due to an alteration in vascular function by modification of pericyte coverage involving platelet-derived growth factor B. On the other hand, the aggressive phenotype involved a macrophage-derived Sema4D signaling engagement, which induced their recruitment to the tumor invasive fronts and secretion of stromal cell–derived factor 1 (SDF1) that triggered tumor cell invasive behavior via CXCR4. A comprehensive clinical validation of the targets in different stages of PanNETs demonstrated the implication of both Sema4D and CXCR4 in tumor progression. Taken together, we demonstrate beneficial antitumor and prosurvival effects of anti-Sema4D antibody but also unravel a novel mechanism of tumor aggressivity. This mechanism implicates recruitment of Sema4D-positive macrophages to invasive fronts and their secretion of proinvasive molecules that ultimately induce local tumor invasion and distant metastasis in PanNETs.

Significance:

An anti-semaphorin-4D vascular targeting agent demonstrates antitumor and prosurvival effects but also unravels a novel promalignant effect involving macrophage-derived SDF1 that promotes tumor invasion and metastasis, both in animal models and patients.

See related commentary by Tamagnone and Franzolin, p. 5146
Activation of the VEGFC/VEGFR3 Pathway Induces Tumor Immune Escape in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tacconi Carlotta , Ungaro Federica , Correale Carmen , Arena Vincenzo , Massimino Luca , Detmar Michael , Spinelli Antonino , Carvello Michele , Mazzone Massimiliano , Oliveira Ana I. , Rubbino Federica , Garlatti Valentina , Spanò Salvatore , Lugli Enrico , Colombo Federico S. , Malesci Alberto , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Vetrano Stefania , Danese Silvio , D’Alessio Silvia
Published: June 2019

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death in Western countries and is associated with increased numbers of lymphatic vessels (LV) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). The VEGFC/VEGFR3 pathway is regarded as the principal inducer of lymphangiogenesis and it contributes to metastases; however, no data are available regarding its role during primary colorectal cancer development. We found that both VEGFC and VEGFR3 were upregulated in human nonmetastatic colorectal cancer, with VEGFR3 expressed on both LVs and TAMs. With the use of three different preclinical models of colorectal cancer, we also discovered that the VEGFC/VEGFR3 axis can shape both lymphatic endothelial cells and TAMs to synergistically inhibit antitumor immunity and promote primary colorectal cancer growth. Therefore, VEGFR3-directed therapy could be envisioned for the treatment of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer.

Significance:

The prolymphangiogenic factor VEGFC is abundant in colorectal cancer and activates VEGFR3 present on cancer-associated macrophages and lymphatic vessels; activation of VEGFR3 signaling fosters cancer immune escape, resulting in enhanced tumor growth.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 Signaling Promotes Metastasis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Acharya Sunil , Yao Jun , Li Ping , Zhang Chenyu , Lowery Frank J. , Zhang Qingling , Guo Hua , Qu Jingkun , Yang Fei , Wistuba Ignacio I. , Piwnica-Worms Helen , Sahin Aysegul A. , Yu Dihua
Published: June 2019

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. To identify TNBC therapeutic targets, we performed integrative bioinformatics analysis of multiple breast cancer patient-derived gene expression datasets and focused on kinases with FDA-approved or in-pipeline inhibitors. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) was identified as a top candidate. SPHK1 overexpression or downregulation in human TNBC cell lines increased or decreased spontaneous metastasis to lungs in nude mice, respectively. SPHK1 promoted metastasis by transcriptionally upregulating the expression of the metastasis-promoting gene FSCN1 via NFκB activation. Activation of the SPHK1/NFκB/FSCN1 signaling pathway was associated with distance metastasis and poor clinical outcome in patients with TNBC. Targeting SPHK1 and NFκB using clinically applicable inhibitors (safingol and bortezomib, respectively) significantly inhibited aggressive mammary tumor growth and spontaneous lung metastasis in orthotopic syngeneic TNBC mouse models. These findings highlight SPHK1 and its downstream target, NFκB, as promising therapeutic targets in TNBC.

Significance:

SPHK1 is overexpressed in TNBC and promotes metastasis, targeting SPHK1 or its downstream target NFκB with clinically available inhibitors could be effective for inhibiting TNBC metastasis.
Transcriptomic Differences between Primary Colorectal Adenocarcinomas and Distant Metastases Reveal Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Subtypes
Authors: Kamal Yasmin , Schmit Stephanie L. , Hoehn Hannah J. , Amos Christopher I. , Frost H. Robert
Published: June 2019

Approximately 20% of colorectal cancer patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas present with metastases at the time of diagnosis, and therapies that specially target these metastases are lacking. We present a novel approach for investigating transcriptomic differences between primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and distant metastases, which may help to identify primary tumors with high risk for future dissemination and to inform the development of metastasis-targeted therapies. To effectively compare the transcriptomes of primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and metastatic lesions at both the gene and pathway levels, we eliminated tissue specificity of the "host" organs where tumors are located and adjusted for confounders such as exposure to chemotherapy and radiation, and identified that metastases were characterized by reduced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) but increased MYC target and DNA-repair pathway activities. FBN2 and MMP3 were the most differentially expressed genes between primary tumors and metastases. The two subtypes of colorectal adenocarcinoma metastases that were identified, EMT inflammatory and proliferative, were distinct from the consensus molecular subtype (CMS) 3, suggesting subtype exclusivity. In summary, this study highlights transcriptomic differences between primary tumors and colorectal adenocarcinoma metastases and delineates pathways that are activated in metastases that could be targeted in colorectal adenocarcinoma patients with metastatic disease.

Significance:

These findings identify a colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasis-specific gene-expression signature that is free from potentially confounding background signals coming from treatment exposure and the normal host tissue that the metastasis is now situated within.
Individual- and Area-Level Socioeconomic Inequalities in Esophageal Cancer Survival in Shandong Province, China: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Kou Kou , Baade Peter D. , Gatton Michelle , Cramb Susanna M. , Sun Jiandong , Lu Zilong , Fu Zhentao , Chu Jie , Xu Aiqiang , Guo Xiaolei
Published: June 2019

Background:

China contributes to almost half of the esophageal cancer cases diagnosed globally each year. However, the prognosis information of this disease in this large population is scarce.

Methods:

Data on a population-based cohort consisting of residents of Shandong Province, China who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer during the period from 2005 to 2014 were analyzed. The cancer-specific survival rates were estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Discrete-time multilevel mixed-effects survival models were used to investigate socioeconomic status (SES) disparities on esophageal cancer survival.

Results:

The unadjusted 1-, 3-, and 5-year cause-specific survival rates were 59.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 59.2%–59.9%], 31.9% (95% CI, 31.5%–32.3%), and 23.6% (95% CI, 23.1%–24.0%), respectively. Patients of blue-collar occupations had higher risk of esophageal cancer–related death than those of white-collar occupations in the first 2 years after diagnosis. Rural patients had higher risk of death than urban patients in the first 3 years after diagnosis. The risks of esophageal cancer–related death among patients living in low/middle/high SES index counties were not different in the first 2 years after diagnosis. However, patients living in high SES index counties had better long-term survival (3–5 years postdiagnosis) than those living in middle or low SES index counties.

Conclusions:

Socioeconomic inequalities in esophageal cancer survival exist in this Chinese population. Higher individual- or area-level SES is associated with better short-term or long-term cancer survival.

Impact:

Elucidation of the relative roles of the SES factors on survival could guide interventions to reduce disparities in the prognosis of esophageal cancer.