bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A diabetes‐associated genetic variant is associated with diastolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Molvin John , Jujic Amra , Nilsson Peter M. , Leosdottir Margret , Lindblad Ulf , Daka Bledar , Bennet Louise , Råstam Lennart , Lyssenko Valeriya , Magnusson Martin
Published: December 2019

Aims

Although the epidemiological association between Type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure (CHF) as well as cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well established, associations between diabetes‐related single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), CHF, and CVD have been surprisingly inconclusive. Our aim is to examine if 43 diabetes‐related SNPs were associated with prevalent diastolic dysfunction assessed by echocardiography and incident CVD and/or CHF.

Methods and results

We genotyped 43 SNPs that previously reported genome‐wide significant associations with Type 2 diabetes, in 1444 subjects from the population‐based Malmö Preventive Project‐Re‐examination Study (MPP‐RES) (mean age 68 years; 29% women, 36% prevalent diabetes) (discovery cohort) and in 996 subjects from the VARA cohort (mean age 51 years, 52% women, 7% prevalent diabetes) (replication cohort). Multivariable logistic regression was assessed. Genetic variants that reached significant association with diastolic dysfunction in both cohorts were then analysed for association with incident CVD/CHF in a larger sample of the MPP‐RES cohort (3,407 cases and 11,776 controls, median follow up >30 years) using Cox regression analysis. A common variant at the HNF1B [major allele (T) coded, also the risk allele for diabetes] was the only SNP associated with increased risk of prevalent diastolic dysfunction in both the discovery [MPP‐RES; odds ratio (OR) 1.21, P = 0.024), and the replication cohort (VARA; OR 1.38, P = 0.042]. Cox regression analysis showed that carriers of the T‐allele of rs757210 had an increased risk of future CVD (HR 1.05, P = 0.042). No significant association was seen for incident CHF.

Conclusions

The diabetes susceptibility locus HNF1B is associated with prevalent diastolic dysfunction in two independent Swedish cohorts as well as incident cardiovascular disease.
A Borrowing Hydrogen Strategy for Dehydrative Coupling of Aminoisoquinolines with Benzyl Alcohols in Water
Authors: Hikawa Hidemasa , Tan Rie , Tazawa Aoi , Kikkawa Shoko , Azumaya Isao
Published: December 2019

We report a borrowing hydrogen strategy for a palladium‐catalyzed dehydrative coupling of aminoisoquinolines with benzylic alcohols in water. This cascade reaction using the π‐benzylpalladium system can be achieved in an atom‐economic process without the need for base or other additives, furnishing the N‐benzylated aminoisoquinolines in moderate to excellent yields along with water as the sole co‐product. The crossover experiment using [D7]benzyl alcohol and 4‐methoxybenzyl alcohol afforded H/D scrambled products. KIE experiments showed that benzylic C–H bond cleavage of benzyl alcohol was involved in the turnover limiting step (KIE = 4.4). The coupling reaction was found to be first order in benzyl alcohol with a kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE) of 1.6. These experimental results are consistent with a borrowing hydrogen mechanism in water. Notably, the water‐soluble Pd0/TPPMS system can be applied to the more challenging catalytic benzylic amination with aminoisoquinoline nucleophiles despite the possible deactivation of PdII species.
Terrestrial LiDAR monitoring of coastal foredune evolution in managed and unmanaged systems
Authors: Conery I. , Brodie K. , Spore N. , Walsh J.
Published: December 2019

Coastal dunes provide essential protection for infrastructure in developed regions, acting as the first line of defence against ocean‐side flooding. Quantifying dune erosion, growth and recovery from storms is critical from management, resiliency and engineering with nature perspectives. This study utilizes 22 months of high‐resolution terrestrial LiDAR (Riegl VZ‐2000) observations to investigate the impact of management, anthropogenic modifications and four named storms on dune morphological evolution along ~100 m of an open‐coast, recently nourished beach in Nags Head, NC. The influences of specific management strategies – such as fencing and plantings – were evaluated by comparing these to the morphologic response at an unmanaged control site at the USACE Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, NC (33 km to the north), which experienced similar environmental forcings. Various beach‐dune morphological parameters were extracted (e.g. backshore‐dune volume) and compared with aeolian and hydrodynamic forcing metrics between each survey interval.

The results show that LiDAR is a useful tool for quantifying complex dune evolution over fine spatial and temporal scales. Under similar forcings, the managed dune grew 1.7 times faster than the unmanaged dune, due to a larger sediment supply and enhanced capture through fencing, plantings and walkovers. These factors at the managed site contributed to the welding of the incipient dune to the primary foredune over a short period of less than a year, which has been observed to take up to decades in natural systems. Storm events caused alongshore variable dune erosion primarily to the incipient dune, yet also caused significant accretion, particularly along the crest at the managed site, resulting in net dune growth. Traditional empirical Bagnold equations correlated with observed trends of backshore‐dune growth but overpredicted magnitudes. This is likely because these formulations do not encompass supply‐limiting factors and erosional processes. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of air mobility in a soil pipe on water flow through a model hillslope after pipe clogging
Authors: Yamasaki Takuhei , Hamamoto Shoichiro , Nishimura Taku
Published: December 2019

Soil pipes (continuous macropores expanding laterally in the soil subsurface) are a key factor controlling hillslope water cycles and sediment transport. Soil pipes usually enhance slope stability under rainfall events through their high water drainage ability, and pipe clogging by sediments is regarded as a risk for slope failure. In this study, we conducted a bench‐scale pipe clogging experiment to clarify the effect of air mobility in soil pipes on water flow and water pressure build‐up in the slope at the clogged point. Before pipe clogging, the soil pipe drained rainwater effectively and lowered the groundwater table. After the pipe clogging event, the mobility of air in the soil pipe before the clogging determined the water flow in the slope. When the air in the soil pipe connected to the atmosphere and moved freely, the water level in the soil pipe increased at the pipe clogging, and water pressure build‐up was limited near the pipe outlet. On the other hand, when air in the soil pipe was entrapped by the clogging, water pressure suddenly increased, and the groundwater table of the whole slope rose correspondingly. This study clearly demonstrated the importance of pipe morphology with respect to air connectivity between the pipe and atmosphere to elucidate the water flow and slope stability during the pipe clogging event. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estuarine biofilm patterns: Modern analogues for Precambrian self‐organization
Authors: van de Vijsel Roeland C. , van Belzen Jim , Bouma Tjeerd J. , van der Wal Daphne , Cusseddu Valentina , Purkis Sam J. , Rietkerk Max , van de Koppel Johan
Published: December 2019

This field and laboratory study examines whether regularly patterned biofilms on present‐day intertidal flats are equivalent to microbially induced bedforms found in geological records dating back to the onset of life on Earth. Algal mats of filamentous Vaucheria species, functionally similar to microbial biofilms, cover the topographic highs of regularly spaced ridge–runnel bedforms. As regular patterning is typically associated with self‐organization processes, indicators of self‐organization are tested and found to support this hypothesis. The measurements suggest that biofilm‐induced sediment trapping and biostabilization enhance bedform relief, strength and multi‐year persistence. This demonstrates the importance of primitive organisms for sedimentary landscape development. Algal‐covered ridges consist of wavy‐crinkly laminated sedimentary deposits that resemble the layered structure of fossil stromatolites and microbially induced sedimentary structures. In addition to layering, both the morphological pattern and the suggested formation mechanism of the recent bedforms are strikingly similar to microbialite strata found in rock records from the Precambrian onwards. This implies that self‐organization was an important morphological process in times when biofilms were the predominant sessile ecosystem. These findings furthermore emphasize that self‐organization dynamics, such as critical transitions invoking ecosystem emergence or collapse, might have been captured in fossil microbialites, influencing their laminae. This notion may be important for paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on such strata. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Debris‐flow‐dominated sediment transport through a channel network after wildfire
Authors: Nyman Petter , Box Walter A.C. , Stout Justin C. , Sheridan Gary J. , Keesstra Saskia D. , Lane Patrick N.J. , Langhans Christoph
Published: December 2019

Field studies that investigate sediment transport between debris‐flow‐producing headwaters and rivers are uncommon, particularly in forested settings, where debris flows are infrequent and opportunities for collecting data are limited. This study quantifies the volume and composition of sediment deposited in the arterial channel network of a 14‐km2 catchment (Washington Creek) that connects small, burned and debris‐flow‐producing headwaters (<1 km2) with the Ovens River in SE Australia. We construct a sediment budget by combining new data on deposition with a sediment delivery model for post‐fire debris flows. Data on deposits were plotted alongside the slope–area curve to examine links between processes, catchment morphometry and geomorphic process domains. The results show that large deposits are concentrated in the proximity of three major channel junctions, which correspond to breaks in channel slope. Hyperconcentrated flows are more prominent towards the catchment outlet, where the slope–area curve indicates a transition from debris flow to fluvial domains. This shift corresponds to a change in efficiency of the flow, determined from the ratio of median grain size to channel slope. Our sediment budget suggests a total sediment efflux from Washington Creek catchment of 61 × 103 m3. There are similar contributions from hillslopes (43 ± 14 × 103 m3), first to third stream order channel (35 ± 12 × 103 m3) and the arterial fourth to fifth stream order channel (31 ± 17 × 103 m3) to the total volume of erosion. Deposition (39 ± 17 × 103 m3) within the arterial channel was higher than erosion (31 ± 17 × 103 m3), which means a net sediment gain of about 8 × 103 m3 in the arterial channel. The ratio of total deposition to total erosion was 0.44. For fines <63 μm, this ratio was much smaller (0.11), which means that fines are preferentially exported. This has important implications for suspended sediment and water quality in downstream rivers. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resource allocation through logistic regression and multicriteria decision making method in IoT fog computing
Authors: Bashir Hayat , Lee Seonah , Kim Kyong Hoon
Published: December 2019

Cloud computing has received a lot of attention from both researcher and developer in last decade due to its unique structure of providing services to the user. As the digitalization of world, heterogeneous devices, and with the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT), these IoT devices produce different type of data with distinct frequency, which require real‐time and latency sensitive services. This provides great challenge to cloud computing framework. Fog computing is a new framework to accompaniment cloud platform and is proposed to extend services to the edge of the network. In fog computing, the entire user's tasks are offloaded to distributed fog nodes to the edge of network to avoid delay sensitivity. We select fog computing network dwell different set of fog nodes to provide required services to the users. Allocation of defined resource to the users in order to achieve optimal result is a big challenge. Therefore, we propose dynamic resource allocation strategy for cloud, fog node, and users. In the framework, we first formulate the ranks of fog node using TOPSIS to identify most suitable fog node for the incoming request. Simultaneously logistic regression calculates the load of individual fog node and updates the result to send back to the broker for next decision. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme undoubtedly improves the performance and give accuracy of 98.25%.
The Paleolithic in the Nihewan Basin, China: Evolutionary history of an Early to Late Pleistocene record in Eastern Asia
Authors: Yang Shi‐Xia , Deng Cheng‐Long , Zhu Ri‐Xiang , Petraglia Michael D.
Published: December 2019

The Nihewan Basin of China preserves one of the most important successions of Paleolithic archeological sites in Eurasia. Stratified archeological sites and mammalian fossils, first reported in the 1920s, continue to be recovered in large‐scale excavation projects. Here, we review key findings from archeological excavations in the Nihewan Basin ranging from ~1.66 Ma to 11.7 ka. We place particular emphasis on changes in stone tool technology over the long term. Though Pleistocene lithic industries from East Asia are often described as simple in character, re‐evaluation of the stone tool evidence from the Nihewan Basin demonstrates significant, though periodic, innovations and variability in manufacturing techniques through time, indicating adaptive and technological flexibility on the part of hominins. Synthesis of paleoenvironmental and archeological data indicate changes in hominin occupation frequency in the Nihewan Basin, with chronological gaps suggesting that continuous presence in high, seasonal latitudes was not possible prior to the Late Pleistocene.
Field cricket genome reveals the footprint of recent, abrupt adaptation in the wild
Authors: Pascoal Sonia , Risse Judith E. , Zhang Xiao , Blaxter Mark , Cezard Timothee , Challis Richard J. , Gharbi Karim , Hunt John , Kumar Sujai , Langan Emma , Liu Xuan , Rayner Jack G. , Ritchie Michael G. , Snoek Basten L. , Trivedi Urmi , Bailey Nathan W.
Published: December 2019

Evolutionary adaptation is generally thought to occur through incremental mutational steps, but large mutational leaps can occur during its early stages. These are challenging to study in nature due to the difficulty of observing new genetic variants as they arise and spread, but characterizing their genomic dynamics is important for understanding factors favoring rapid adaptation. Here, we report genomic consequences of recent, adaptive song loss in a Hawaiian population of field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus). A discrete genetic variant, flatwing, appeared and spread approximately 15 years ago. Flatwing erases sound-producing veins on male wings. These silent flatwing males are protected from a lethal, eavesdropping parasitoid fly. We sequenced, assembled and annotated the cricket genome, produced a linkage map, and identified a flatwing quantitative trait locus covering a large region of the X chromosome. Gene expression profiling showed that flatwing is associated with extensive genome-wide effects on embryonic gene expression. We found that flatwing male crickets express feminized chemical pheromones. This male feminizing effect, on a different sexual signaling modality, is genetically associated with the flatwing genotype. Our findings suggest that the early stages of evolutionary adaptation to extreme pressures can be accompanied by greater genomic and phenotypic disruption than previously appreciated, and highlight how abrupt adaptation might involve suites of traits that arise through pleiotropy or genomic hitchhiking.
Metabo groups in response to micronutrient intervention: Pilot study
Authors: Coelho‐Landell Carolina Almeida , Salomão Roberta Garcia , Almada Maria Olimpia Ribeiro do Vale , Mathias Mariana Giaretta , Toffano Roseli Borges Donega , Hillesheim Elaine , Barros Tamiris Trevisan , Camarneiro Joyce Moraes , Camelo‐Junior José Simon , Rosa José Cesar , Izumi Clarice , Czernisz Érika , Moco Sofia , Kaput Jim , Monteiro Jacqueline Pontes
Published: December 2019

Micronutrients and their metabolites are cofactors in proteins involved in lipid metabolism. The present study was a subproject of the Harmonized Micronutrient Project (ClinTrials.gov # NCT01823744). Twenty participants were randomly selected from 136 children and adolescents that consumed a daily dose of 12 vitamins and 5 minerals supplementation for 6 weeks. The 20 individuals were divided into two pools of 10 individuals, according to their lipid profile at baseline (Pool 1 with lower triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL). The individuals were analyzed at baseline, after 6 weeks of daily supplementation, and after 6 weeks of a washout period in relation to anthropometric, body composition, food intake, lipid profile, micronutrient levels, and iTRAQ proteomic data. Genetic ancestry and its association with vitamin serum levels were also determined. After supplementation, LDL levels decreased while alpha‐tocopherol and pantothenic acid levels increased in pool 2; lipid profiles in pool 1 did not change but had higher plasma levels of pantothenic acid, pyridoxal, and pyridoxic acid. In pool 2, expression of some proteins increased, and expression of other ones decreased after intervention, while in pool 1, the same proteins responded inversely or did not change their levels. Plasma alpha‐tocopherol and Native American genetic ancestry explained a significant fraction of LDL plasma levels at baseline and in response to the intervention. After intervention, changes in expression of alpha‐1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin, Ig alpha‐1 chain C region, plasma protease C1 inhibitor, alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein 1, fibrinogen alpha, beta, and gamma‐chain in individuals in pool 2 may be associated with levels of LDL and vitamin E. Vitamin E and Native American genetic ancestry may also be implicated in changes of vitamin E and LDL levels. The results of this pilot study must be validated in future studies with larger sample size or in in vitro studies.
Reflecting on siliceous rocks in central Australia: Using advanced remote sensing to map ancient “tool‐stone” resources
Authors: Law Wallace Boone , Lewis Megan M. , Ostendorf Bertram , Hiscock Peter
Published: December 2019

HyMap™ airborne hyperspectral imagery was used to discriminate and map hydrated silica mineralization in the Dalhousie Springs area of central Australia. A spectral feature fitting algorithm was used to match laboratory reference spectra with image pixel spectra, producing a scaled goodness‐of‐fit raster map of silicified “tool‐stone” sources in our study area. Subsequent fieldwork indicated that the algorithm mapped silcrete, a rock composed of hydrated silica, and incidentally, the most frequently utilized raw material for stone artifact manufacture in this area of the Australian arid zone. The soundness of our hydrated silica mineralization map is supported with field observations and spectroscopic analysis of collected silcrete samples. Independent siliceous rock mapping produced by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organization offers additional corroboration of our results. Based on the success of our approach, we suggest that archaeologists working in Australia and in similar arid environments elsewhere have much to benefit in using advanced remote sensing products to map lithic resources, including time and cost‐saving advantages for field logistics, enriched assessments of land suitability for archaeological site types, and an improved understanding of resource distributions.
Schwann cells orchestrate peripheral nerve inflammation through the expression of CSF1, IL‐34, and SCF in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Trias Emiliano , Kovacs Mariángeles , King Peter H. , Si Ying , Kwon Yuri , Varela Valentina , Ibarburu Sofía , Moura Ivan C. , Hermine Olivier , Beckman Joseph S. , Barbeito Luis
Published: December 2019

Distal axonopathy is a recognized pathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the peripheral nerves of ALS patients, motor axon loss elicits a Wallerian‐like degeneration characterized by denervated Schwann cells (SCs) together with immune cell infiltration. However, the pathogenic significance of denervated SCs accumulating following impaired axonal growth in ALS remains unclear. Here, we analyze SC phenotypes in sciatic nerves of ALS patients and paralytic SOD1G93A rats, and identify remarkably similar and specific reactive SC phenotypes based on the pattern of S100β, GFAP, isolectin and/or p75NTR immunoreactivity. Different subsets of reactive SCs expressed colony‐stimulating factor‐1 (CSF1) and Interleukin‐34 (IL‐34) and closely interacted with numerous endoneurial CSF‐1R‐expressing monocyte/macrophages, suggesting a paracrine mechanism of myeloid cell expansion and activation. SCs bearing phagocytic phenotypes as well as endoneurial macrophages expressed stem cell factor (SCF), a trophic factor that attracts and activates mast cells through the c‐Kit receptor. Notably, a subpopulation of Ki67+ SCs expressed c‐Kit in the sciatic nerves of SOD1G93A rats, suggesting a signaling pathway that fuels SC proliferation in ALS. c‐Kit+ mast cells were also abundant in the sciatic nerve from ALS donors but not in controls. Pharmacological inhibition of CSF‐1R and c‐Kit with masitinib in SOD1G93A rats potently reduced SC reactivity and immune cell infiltration in the sciatic nerve and ventral roots, suggesting a mechanism by which the drug ameliorates peripheral nerve pathology. These findings provide strong evidence for a previously unknown inflammatory mechanism triggered by SCs in ALS peripheral nerves that has broad application in developing novel therapies.
Poststroke suicide risk among older adults in South Korea: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Choi Jae Woo , Lee Sang Gyu , Kim Tae Hyun , Han Euna
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The present study evaluated suicide risk within 1 year after discharge among older adults with stroke as a function of depression onset.

Method

We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Senior cohort data and included first discharged patients with a stroke as the principal diagnosis. The comparison group was selected by a 1:2 case‐control propensity score matching for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, and diagnosis year between 2005 and 2012. Suicide deaths were measured by code for causes of death from Statistics Korea, and the main outcome was suicide death within 1 year following discharge. An adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) of suicidal risk was measured using a Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

In the total sample of 128 286 older adults (aged 63‐114 years), the higher suicidal risk was examined for stroke patients vs the comparison group (AHR = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐1.8). Stroke patients with depression had an increased suicide risk (AHR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8‐4.8) but only for poststroke depression (AHR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.8‐9.5). Pre and poststroke depression suicidality (AHR = 4.8; 95% CI, 2.1‐11.1) was also higher when compared to stroke patients without depression.

Conclusions

Poststroke patients are at increased suicidal risk during 1 year following discharge. Furthermore, patients who were diagnosed with depression after a stroke are more likely to commit suicide than stroke patients without depression. This suggests a necessity for early suicide preventive intervention for stroke patients while considering depressive symptomology.
Groundwater recharge sources in semiarid irrigated mountain fronts
Authors: Bouimouass Houssne , Fakir Younes , Tweed Sarah , Leblanc Marc
Published: December 2019

High‐elevation mountains often constitute for basins important groundwater recharge sources through mountain‐front recharge processes. These processes include streamflow losses and subsurface inflow from the mountain block. However, another key recharge process is from irrigation practices, where mountain streamflow is distributed across the irrigated piedmont. In this study, coupled groundwater fluctuation measurements and environmental tracers (18O, 2H, and major ions) were used to identify and compare the natural mountain‐front recharge to the anthropogenically induced irrigation recharge. Within the High Atlas mountain front of the Ourika Basin, Central Morocco, the groundwater fluctuation mapping from the dry to wet season showed that recharge beneath the irrigated area was higher than the recharge along the streambed. Irrigation practices in the region divert more than 65% of the stream water, thereby reducing the potential for in‐stream groundwater recharge. In addition, the irrigation areas close to the mountain front had greater water table increases (up to 3.5 m) compared with the downstream irrigation areas (<1 m increase). Upstream crops have priority to irrigation with stream water over downstream areas. The latter are only irrigated via stream water during large flood events and are otherwise supplemented by groundwater resources. These changes in water resources used for irrigation practices between upstream and downstream areas are reflected in the spatiotemporal evolution of the stable isotopes of groundwater. In the upstream irrigation area, the groundwater stable isotope values (δ18O: −8.4‰ to −7.4‰) reflect recharge by the diverted stream water. In the downstream irrigation area, the groundwater isotope values are lower (δ18O: −8.1‰ to −8.4‰) due to recharge via the flood water. In the nonirrigation area, the groundwater has the highest stable isotope values (δ18O: −6.8‰ to −4.8‰). This might be due to recharge via subsurface inflow from the mountain block to the mountain front and/or recharge via local low altitude rainfall. These findings highlight that irrigation practices can result in the dominant mountain‐front recharge process for groundwater.
αII‐spectrin controls calcium‐regulated exocytosis in neuroendocrine chromaffin cells through neuronal Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome protein interaction
Authors: Houy Sébastien , Nicolas Gaël , Momboisse Fanny , Malacombe Magali , Bader Marie‐France , Vitale Nicolas , Lecomte Marie‐Christine , Ory Stéphane , Gasman Stéphane
Published: December 2019

Besides a fundamental structural role at the plasma membrane, spectrin‐ and actin‐based skeletons have been proposed to participate in various processes including vesicular trafficking. Neuroendocrine cells release hormones and neuropeptides through calcium‐regulated exocytosis, a process that is coordinated by a fine remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. We describe here that calcium‐regulated exocytosis is impaired in chromaffin and PC12 cells with reduced αII‐spectrin expression levels. Using yeast two‐hybrid screening, we show that neuronal Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome protein (N‐WASP) is a partner of the αII‐spectrin SH3 domain and demonstrate that secretagogue‐evoked N‐WASP recruitment at cell periphery is blocked in the absence of αII‐spectrin. Additionally, experiments performed with ectopically expressed αII‐spectrin mutant unable to bind N‐WASP indicated that the interaction between SH3 domain and N‐WASP is pivotal for neuroendocrine secretion. Our results extend the list of spectrin interactors and strengthen the idea that αII‐spectrin is an important scaffold protein that gathers crucial actin‐related players of the exocytic machinery.
Phenylethyl isothiocyanate induces oxidative damage of porcine kidney cells mediated by reactive oxygen species
Authors: Zhu Yuanyuan , Liu Shuiping , Yan Sisi , Wang Ji , Zhang Linyu , LI Xin , Wen Lixin , Wu Jing
Published: December 2019

The aim of this study is to confirm the toxic effect of phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on porcine kidney cells (PK‐15) and explore the effect of oxidative damage mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by PEITC in PK‐15 cells. Porcine kidney cell line (PK‐15) was treated with PEITC (2, 5, and 10  µM) for 24 hours, and the oxidative damage mediated by PEITC through ROS was investigated. The survival rate of PK‐15 cells decreased in a dose‐dependent manner after the treatment of PEITC in a dose‐dependent manner. A high concentration of PEITC (10 µM) can change cell morphology, increase the content of malondialdehyde, ROS, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decrease the activity of SOD, CAT, GSH‐PX, and GSH. PEITC has a toxic effect on PK‐15 cells by inducing oxidative stress in PK‐15 cells through the generation of ROS.
Eriodictyol ameliorates lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury by suppressing the inflammatory COX‐2/NLRP3/NF‐κB pathway in mice
Authors: Wang Xia , Deng Rong , Dong Junying , Huang Lu , Li Junxia , Zhang Bingqing
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this paper is to observe the protective action and its effective mechanism of eriodictyol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, our results indicated that eriodictyol could dramatically suppress the inflammatory mediators, including interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐1β, prostaglandin E2, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of LPS‐challenged mice. Eriodictyol also alleviated the wet/dry ratio and improved pathological changes of the lung. In addition, eriodictyol significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde content as well as increased superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, eriodictyol inhibited the COX‐2/NLRP3/NF‐κB signaling pathway in the lung tissues of ALI mice. In conclusion, our observations validated that eriodictyol processed the protective effects on ALI mice, which was related to the regulation of the COX‐2/NLRP3/NF‐κB signaling pathway.
Hematological effects of ultrafine carbon black on red blood cells and hemoglobin
Authors: Pan Jie , Li Chao , Zhang Xun , Liu Rutao
Published: December 2019

The harmful effects of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the atmosphere have caused widespread concern. Ultrafine carbon black (UFCB) is an important component of UFPs. In this study, we explored the impact of UFCB on the structure, the antioxidant defense system, and the ATPase activity of human red blood cells (hRBCs). It was found that UFCB decreased the activity of SOD (73.58%), CAT (89.79%), and GSH‐Px (81.02%), leading to oxidative stress in hRBCs. UFCB had no destructive effect on the structure of hRBCs in 4 hours. ATPase activity increased (119.34%) and UFCB had weakly stimulated the cell membrane. On the molecular level, spectroscopic experiments showed that bovine hemoglobin (BHb) can bind to the UFCB by electrostatic force, leading to the shrinking of the BHb skeleton and increase in microenvironment polarity. This study demonstrates the negative hematological effect of UFCB on hemoglobin and hRBCs and reveals the potential risks in animals and humans.
Microbial community dynamics and functional responses that contribute to tolerance of high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon
Authors: Cui Jiaqi , Liu Minghui , He Qingsheng , Chen Hong , Sun Mingbo , Wen Jianping
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

It is a common problem that high‐concentration petroleum hydrocarbon (hc‐PH) is difficult to degrade and remove using biological methods.

RESULTS

In this study, when the concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon (PH) were increased from 972.4 ± 40.3 to 6953.8 ± 294.3 mg L−1, all degradation rates of PH by activated sludge (AS) were beyond 79%. However, the degradation rate of hc‐PH (from 9958.3 ± 401.6 to 19 953.3 ± 896.5 mg L−1) by AS was significantly lower than that of low‐concentration petroleum hydrocarbon (lc‐PH) (from 972.4 ± 40.3 to 6953.8 ± 294.3 mg L−1). Meanwhile, the heterotrophic microorganism number and bacterial community diversity in the hc‐PH environment were lower than those in the lc‐PH environment. Sequencing results of the bacterial community showed that the dominant bacterial community of AS was stable and composed by the genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Burkholderia‐Paraburkholderia in the hc‐PH condition. Moreover, aimed to enhance the tolerance to hc‐PH stress, the relative abundances of microbial community functions of environmental adaptation, membrane transport, replication and repair were increased. However, the digestive system, circulatory system and endocrine system of the microbial community were significantly disturbed by hc‐PH, which eventually caused the degradation rate of PH by AS to decrease significantly.

CONCLUSION

Thus the decrease of microbial community diversity and tolerance ability can be regarded as the main limiting factors to enhance the degradation rate of hc‐PH by microorganisms. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Anti‐TNF‐induced lupus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Picardo Sherman , So Kenji , Venugopal Kannan
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims

Anti‐Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)‐induced lupus (ATIL) is a distinct clinical entity, increasingly recognized in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with anti‐TNF therapy. Our aims were to evaluate the incidence and clinical and serological markers of ATIL in this population.

Methods

This observational cohort study reviewed 454 patient treatment courses with anti‐TNF therapy (300 infliximab and 154 adalimumab). A diagnosis of ATIL was based on the most widely accepted diagnostic criteria: (i) a temporal relationship between symptoms and anti‐TNF therapy and resolution of symptoms following cessation of the offending medication; (ii) at least one serologic American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criterion of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); and (iii) at least one nonserological criterion such as arthritis, serositis, or rash. Clinical, demographic, and serological predictors were evaluated.

Results

The incidence rate of ATIL was 5.7% for infliximab and 0.6% for adalimumab, which are much higher than previously reported postmarketing estimates. The median duration to diagnosis following commencement of anti‐TNF therapy was 15 months (3–62 months). ATIL occurs more commonly patients that commence therapy at an older age (46.47 years ± 13.79 years vs. 38.85 years ± 14.75 years, P = 0.033).

Conclusions

ATIL is a significant complication of anti‐TNF therapy, affecting 1 in every 20 patients who commence infliximab. A panel of serological markers is useful to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other conditions that may mimic ATIL. Clinicians using anti‐TNF medications should counsel patients about this potential risk and monitor for clinical manifestations of lupus during routine follow up.
Estimation of new HIV diagnosis rates among high‐risk, PrEP‐eligible individuals using HIV surveillance data at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level in the United States
Authors: Mera Robertino , Scheer Susan , Carter Christoph , Das Moupali , Asubonteng Julius , McCallister Scott , Baeten Jared
Published: December 2019

Introduction

New HIV diagnoses have fallen in the past decade due to increased HIV testing, earlier diagnosis, earlier antiretroviral treatment, improved linkage to care and engagement in care, and the recent increased uptake of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We propose a novel method to compute the rate of new HIV diagnoses at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level in the US to support the evaluation of comprehensive treatment and prevention efforts over time.

Methods

The number of new HIV diagnoses, number of individuals with a PrEP indication and aggregated person‐time exposed to PrEP during the years 2012 to 2017 were used to compute a new HIV diagnosis rate for people at risk of HIV excluding those already on PrEP for the 105 MSAs in the US with published HIV surveillance data. In our calculation of person‐time with a PrEP indication, time‐at‐risk excluded time on PrEP and time after an HIV diagnosis. We used a multivariate Poisson regression model to estimate HIV diagnosis rates by year and location.

Results

From 2012 to 2017, the aggregate HIV diagnoses rate among high‐risk individuals with an indication for PrEP in the 105 MSAs decreased from 4.14 per 100 person‐years (PY) (95% CI 4.10 to 4.19) to 3.26 per 100 PY (95% CI 3.22 to 3.30). For the 25 US MSAs that overlapped with an ongoing large randomized clinical trial of PrEP in men who have sex with men (MSM), the HIV diagnosis rate from 2012 to 2017 decreased from 4.86 per 100 PY (95% CI 4.80 to 4.93) to 3.61 per 100 PY (95% CI 3.56 to 3.66), a decline that was more rapid than in non‐study MSAs (IRR for trial site 1.19, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.20).

Conclusions

We propose a model to estimate the background HIV diagnosis rate in people at risk for HIV and with a PrEP indication in US MSAs (excluding those on PrEP) using publically available surveillance data which can evaluate trends over time. Data generated using this methodology could be used by policy makers and local HIV prevention specialists to evaluate and monitor their prevention efforts for the population at risk in their communities.
Defining the human kidney N‐glycome in normal and cancer tissues using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry
Authors: Drake Richard R. , McDowell Colin , West Connor , David Fred , Powers Thomas W. , Nowling Tamara , Bruner Evelyn , Mehta Anand S. , Angel Peggi M. , Marlow Laura A. , Tun Han W. , Copland John A.
Published: December 2019

Clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) presents challenges to clinical management because of late‐stage detection, treatment resistance, and frequent disease recurrence. Metabolically, ccRCC has a well‐described Warburg effect utilization of glucose, but how this affects complex carbohydrate synthesis and alterations to protein and cell surface glycosylation is poorly defined. Using an imaging mass spectrometry approach, N‐glycosylation patterns and compositional differences were assessed between tumor and nontumor regions of formalin‐fixed clinical ccRCC specimens and tissue microarrays. Regions of normal kidney tissue samples were also evaluated for N‐linked glycan‐based distinctions between cortex, medullar, glomeruli, and proximal tubule features. Most notable was the proximal tubule localized detection of abundant multiantennary N‐glycans with bisecting N‐acetylglucosamine and multziple fucose residues. These glycans are absent in ccRCC tissues, while multiple tumor‐specific N‐glycans were detected with tri‐ and tetra‐antennary structures and varying levels of fucosylation and sialylation. A polycystic kidney disease tissue was also characterized for N‐glycan composition, with specific nonfucosylated glycans detected in the cyst fluid regions. Complementary to the imaging mass spectrometry analyses was an assessment of transcriptomic gene array data focused on the fucosyltransferase gene family and other glycosyltransferase genes. The transcript levels of the FUT3 and FUT6 genes responsible for the enzymes that add fucose to N‐glycan antennae were significantly decreased in all ccRCC tissues relative to matching nontumor tissues. These striking differences in glycosylation associated with ccRCC could lead to new mechanistic insight into the glycobiology underpinning kidney malignancies and suggest the potential for new therapeutic interventions and diagnostic markers.
Zirconia implants with improved attachment to the gingival tissue
Authors: Shahramian Khalil , Gasik Michael , Kangasniemi Ilkka , Walboomers X. Frank , Willberg Jaana , Abdulmajeed Aous , Närhi Timo
Published: December 2019

Background

Gingival tissue attachment is known to be important for long‐term prognosis of implants. This in vitro study evaluated the gingival attachment to zirconia implants and zirconia implants modified with sol‐gel derived TiO2 coatings.

Methods

Zirconia endodontic posts (n = 23) were used to function as implants that were inserted into the center of full‐thickness porcine gingival explants (n = 31). The tissue/implant specimens were then individually placed at an air/liquid interface on a stainless‐steel grid in cell culture wells containing a nutrient solution. The tissue cultures were incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 environment and at days 7 and 14, the specimens were harvested and analyzed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements under dynamic loading conditions mimicking natural mastication. Specimens were also analyzed by immunohistochemical staining identifying the laminin (Ln) γ2 chain specific for Ln‐332, which is known to be a crucial molecule for the proper attachment of epithelium to tooth/implant surface.

Results

Tissue attachment to TiO2‐coated zirconia demonstrated higher dynamic modulus of elasticity and higher creep modulus, meaning that the attachment is stronger and more resistant to damage during function over time. Laminin γ2 was identified in the attachment of epithelium to TiO2‐coated zirconia.

Conclusions

Both DMA and histological analysis support each other, so the gingival tissue is more strongly attached to sol‐gel derived TiO2‐coated zirconia than uncoated zirconia. Immunohistochemical staining showed that TiO2 coating may enhance the synthesis and deposition of Ln‐332 in the epithelial attachment to the implant surface.
Inhibition of streptococcal biofilm formation by Aronia by extracellular RNA degradation
Authors: Lee Heon‐Jin , Oh Su Young , Hong Su‐Hyung
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of oral bacterial biofilms is one of the primary etiological factors for oral diseases. Aronia melanocarpa extracts display general health benefits, including antimicrobial activities. This study evaluates the inhibitory effect of Aronia juice on oral streptococcal biofilm formation.

RESULTS

Exposure to 1/10‐diluted Aronia juice for 1 min significantly decreased in vitro streptococcal biofilm formation (P < 0.001). No remarkable difference was noted in streptococcal growth by Aronia under the same conditions. Interestingly, 1 week of oral rinse with diluted Aronia juice led to significantly fewer salivary streptococcal colony‐forming units (CFUs) relative to oral rinsing with tap water (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Aronia exerted an extracellular RNA‐degrading effect, and RNase inhibitor alleviated Aronia‐dependent streptococcal biofilm inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Aronia might inhibit initial biofilm formation by decomposing extracellular RNA, which plays an important role in bacterial biofilm formation. Our data suggest that oral rinsing with Aronia juice will aid in treating oral biofilm‐dependent diseases easily and efficiently. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Stat‐3 signaling promotes cell proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer through PDCD4 downregulation
Authors: Yang Yue‐Lou , Liu Pei , Li Dong , Yang Qun , Li Bin , Jiang Xiang‐Jun
Published: December 2019

The present study explored a new downstream regulator of Stat‐3 signaling, miR‐499‐5p and its target gene programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) in cell survival and metastasis of gastric cancer. Our results showed that miR‐499‐5p is significantly upregulated in human gastric cancer cell line SGC‐7901. We further demonstrated that miR‐499‐5p promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that upregulation of miR‐499‐5p expression associated with inhibition of PDCD4; STAT3 transcriptional activation by IL‐6 is crucial for the upregulation of miR‐499‐5p expression. These results indicate that the STAT3‐miR‐499‐5p‐PDCD4 signaling axis plays an important role in gastric cancer progression and a potentially therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.
Role of epstein‐barr virus in the severity of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Authors: Costa Victor , El‐Achkar Vivian Narana , de Barros Patrícia Pimentel , León Jorge Esquiche , Ribeiro‐Silva Alfredo , Carlos Román , Pignatari Shirley Shizue Nagata , Ferreira Silvaneide , Mello Barbara Pereira , Sichero Laura , Villa Luisa Lina , Kaminagakura Estela
Published: December 2019

Objective

The objective was to investigate the prevalence of the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) and its association with human papilloma virus (HPV) detection, clinicopathological features, and the severity of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Methods

Cases of juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JRRP) (n = 36) and adult recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (ARRP) (n = 44) were collected retrospectively and subdivided into low‐ and high‐risk severity groups based on the Derkay score. We performed HPV detection and genotyping using a reverse hybridization protocol and investigated the presence of EBV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization. CD21 levels were accessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

All samples were HPV‐positive, including 49 cases of HPV 6, 26 cases of HPV 11, four cases of HPV 6 and 11 coinfections, and one case of HPV 16. EBV‐DNA was detected in nine samples by PCR, although none of the cases were positive by means of in situ hybridization. CD21 immunoexpression was not statistically associated with any of the variables analyzed. HPV 6 detection was significantly higher in ARRP cases (P= 0.03), whereas HPV 11 was more prevalent in JRRP cases (P= 0.02) and was even more prevalent in JRRP cases of greater severity (Derkay laryngoscopic scale ≥20) (P= 0.04).

Conclusion

The presence of EBV does not seem to play an important role in the progression/severity of RRP.

Level of Evidence

4Laryngoscope, 130:E611–E618, 2020
A streamlined method to quantify the fates of 15N in seawater samples amended with 15N‐labeled organic nitrogen
Authors: Lu Kaijun , Lin Xianbiao , Gardner Wayne S. , Liu Zhanfei
Published: December 2019

Quantifying the fate of organic nitrogen in aquatic systems is important to improve understanding of its recycling efficiency and long‐term preservation. The fate of organic nitrogen can be investigated with 15N labeling techniques, but relative amounts of 15N in different chemical forms are difficult to quantify. We present a “streamlined” method by combining Ammonium Retention Time Shift‐High Performance Liquid Chromatography with zinc reduction, and UV oxidation. This method does not require a pre‐isolation step of different forms of nitrogen from the sample. At a sample volume of 50 mL, and a total N concentration in the range of 0.5–40 μmol N L−1, and an 15N atom% of 20–80%, 15N concentrations for all N forms can be measured with this streamlined method, with a precision of within ±7%, and an accuracy of over 97%. We applied the method to investigating the short‐term fates of 15N during the degradation of 15N‐labeled amino acid and peptide. Recovery rates ranged from 93% to 110%, with an average of 102 ± 1.94%. As spiked 15N labeled alanine and/or peptide (Ala‐Val‐Phe‐Val) disappeared during sample incubations, a large fraction (ca. 13–66%) of the 15N was progressively transformed to non‐amino acid or non‐peptide dissolved organic nitrogen. This streamlined method offers quantitative estimates of potential fates of labile organic N compounds added to water samples containing in situ microbial consortia, and helps fulfill knowledge gaps in building the budget of N transformations of labile amino acids and peptides in aquatic systems.