bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and Prevention of Childhood Dental Caries-a review
Authors: Ali Md Yunus , Hossen Mahbuba , Akter Khaleda
Published: May 2021

Dental health problems are more common among the children and adolescent. A number of causes are behind it. Early childhood caries also calls baby bottle caries. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavited or cavited lesions), missing (due to caries) or filled tooth surface in any primary tooth in a preschool-age child as defined by- American Dental Association(ADA) and the term "severe Early childhood Caries (SECC) "refers to "Atypical" or "progressive" or "acute" or "rampant" patterns of dental caries. The severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is due to low frequency and improper tooth brushing. Children of breast feed longer than one year and bottle feed containing carbohydrates specially at night are more affected. In low-income families, who consume snacks in high amount, bottle with sweetened drinks other than milk or water are more suffer. Early childhood caries (ECC) evolve with the factors like age start of brushing, lack of proper tooth brushing, Parental attitudes toward children's oral health, plaque on primary incisors at 1 year of age, over weight and obesity, Frequent consumption of cariogenic foods and bacterial infection, Feeding practices in the first year of life, not using of dental floss and presence of S. Mutans, Lacto-bacilli etc. Ethnic minority groups are also sufferer. Four predisposing risk factors are related to ECC- child's age, gender, age at weaning, and frequency of sweet drinks. Tooth brushing awareness among the children, Socio-economic upliftment, cultural and behavioral changes, Parenteral education, feeding practice, weaning at proper age, maintenance of oral hygiene, treatment of bacterial infection are essential for primary prevention of early childhood dental caries. Secondary prevention needs proper diagnosis and appropriate restorative treatment. Treatment modalities varies from severity of disease; temporary, permanent filling, crowning, root canal and treatment of complications.

CBMJ 2014 July: Vol. 03 No. 02 P: 34-40
Hyperlipidemia is associated with altered levels of insulin-like growth factor-I
Authors: Malík J , Štulc T , Wichterle D , Melenovský V , Chytilová E , Lacinová Z , Marek J , Češka R
Published: May 2021

Previous studies revealed altered levels of the circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and of its binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in subjects with coronary atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and premature atherosclerosis. Hyperlipidemia is a powerful risk factor of atherosclerosis. We expected IGF-I and IGFBP-3 alterations in subjects with moderate/severe hyperlipidemia but without any clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis. Total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were assessed in 56 patients with mixed hyperlipidemia (MHL; cholesterol >6.0 mmol/l, triglycerides >2.0 mmol/l), in 33 patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia (IHC; cholesterol >6.0 mmol/l, triglycerides <2.0 mmol/l), and in 29 healthy controls (cholesterol<6.0 mmol/l, triglycerides<2.0 mmol/l). The molar ratio of IGF-I/IGFBP-3 was used as a measure of free IGF-I. IHC subjects differed from controls by lower total IGF-I (164+/-60 vs. 209+/-73 ng/ml, p=0.01) and IGF-I /IGFBP-3 ratio (0.14+/-0.05 vs. 0.17+/-0.04, p=0.04). Compared to controls, MHL subjects had lower total IGF-I (153+/-54 ng/ml, p=0.0002) and IGFBP-3 (2.8+/-0.6 mg/ml, p<0.0001), but higher IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio (0.25+/-0.06, p<0.0001). Differences remained significant after the adjustment for clinical and biochemical covariates, except for triglycerides. Patients with both IHC and MHL have lower total IGF-I compared to controls. The mechanism is presumably different in IHC and MHL. Because of prominent reduction of IGFBP-3 in patients with MHL, they have reduced total IGF-I despite the actual elevation IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio as a surrogate of free IGF-I.
Role of Hereditary Factors in Weight Loss and Its Maintenance
Authors: Hainer V , Zamrazilová H , Spálová J , Hainerová I , Kunešová M , Aldhoon B , Bendlová B
Published: May 2021

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate in both developed and developing countries. Obesity is a chronic complex disease of multifactorial origin resulting from a long-term positive energy balance, in which both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Genetically prone individuals are the first to accumulate fat in the present obesogenic environment. Obesity increases the risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, arthritis, and several cancers and reduces the average life expectancy. Implementation of effective strategies in prevention and management of obesity should become an important target in health care systems. Weight changes throughout life depend on the interaction of behavioral, genetic and environmental factors. Weight loss in response to weight management shows a wide range of interindividual variation which is largely influenced by genetic determinants. The strong control of weight loss by genotype was confirmed by twin and family studies. Recently, special attention has been paid to nutritional, hormonal, psychobehavioral and genetic factors which can predict the response to weight reduction programme. In this article currently available data on the role of obesity candidate gene polymorphisms in weight loss and maintenance are reviewed. It is believed that an elucidation of the genetic component in the prognosis of weight management could assist in the development of more effective and individually tailored therapeutic strategies.
Neuromedin Beta: P73t Polymorphism in Overweight and Obese Subjects
Authors: Spálová J , Zamrazilová H , Včelák J , Vaňková M , Lukášová P , Hill M , Hlavatá K , Šrámková P , Fried M , Aldhoon B , Kunešová M , Bendlová B , Hainer V
Published: May 2021

Neuromedin beta (NMB) is a member of the bombesin-like peptide family expressed in brain, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, adrenals and adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to compare the frequency of P73T polymorphism in overweight and obese patients (37 men: age 50.6+/-11.7 years, BMI 41.1+/-7.8 kg/m(2); 255 women: age 49.0+/-11.9 years, BMI 37.9+/-6.8 kg/m(2)) with that of healthy normal weight subjects (51 men: age 28.2+/-7.1 years, BMI 22.3+/-2.0 kg/m(2); 104 women: age 29.1+/-9.1 years, BMI 21.5+/-1.9 kg/m(2)) and to investigate the polymorphism's influence on anthropometric, nutritional and psychobehavioral parameters in overweight/obese patients both at the baseline examination and at a control visit carried out 2.5 years later, regardless of the patient s compliance with the weight reduction program. No significant differences in the genotype distribution were demonstrated between normal weight and overweight/obese subjects. Male T allele non-carriers compared to T allele carriers had higher energy (p=0.009), protein (p=0.018) and fat (p=0.002) intakes and hunger score (p=0.015) at the beginning of treatment. Male T allele non-carriers had a more favorable response to weight management at the follow-up, as they exhibited a significant reduction in waist circumference, energy intake and depression score as well as a significant increase in dietary restraint. No significant differences between carriers and non-carriers were demonstrated in women at the baseline examination. Both female T allele carriers and non-carriers demonstrated similar significant changes in nutritional parameters and in restraint score at the follow-up. Nevertheless, only female non-carriers showed a significant decrease in the hunger score.
Change in Fatty Acid Composition of Serum Lipids in Obese Females after Short-Term Weight Reducing Regimen with the Addition of n-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Comparison To Controls
Authors: Hlavatý P , Kunešová M , Gojová M , Tvrzická E , Vecka M , Roubal P , Hill M , Hlavatá K , Kalousková P , Hainer V , Žák A , Drbohlav J
Published: May 2021

Short-term weight-reducing regimens were shown to influence fatty acid composition of serum lipids unfavorably. Adding long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC PUFA) to a low-calorie diet (LCD) could avoid these changes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a short-term in-patient weight-reducing regimen including LCD with yogurt enriched by low doses of n-3 PUFA (n-3 LCD). The enriched yogurt contained 790 mg of fish oil, predominantly eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3; DHA). Forty obese women were randomly assigned to the group consuming LCD and joghurt either with or without n-3 enrichment. Following the 3-week diet in the n-3 LCD group a significantly higher increase in the proportion of n-3 LC PUFA (sum of n-3 FA, EPA and DHA) in serum lipids was confirmed. In phospholipids (PL) a significant difference in the sum of n-6 fatty acids was found, a decrease in the n-3 LCD group and an increase in LCD group. Significantly higher increase in the PL palmitate (16:0) was shown in the LCD group. The results suggest that low doses of n-3 fatty acid enrichment can help to avoid unfavorable changes in fatty acid composition in serum lipids after a short-term weight-reducing regimen.
Anti-Helicobacter Pylori, Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase, Anti-Thyroglobulin and Anti-Gastric Parietal Cells Antibodies in Czech Population
Authors: Šterzl I , Hrdá P , Matucha P , Čeřovská J , Zamrazil V
Published: May 2021

Autoimmune thyropathies are frequently linked to many infections, such as Helicobacter pylori, which are also supposed to play a role in their pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between thyroid and gastric autoimmunity and H. pylori infection on a large sample of Czech population (n=1621) by monitoring the autoantibodies against thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) and thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and gastric parietal cell (anti-GPC, representing thyrogastric syndrome) in correlation with antibodies against Helicobacter pylori (anti-H. pylori) of classes IgG and IgA. The interrelation between autoantibodies and H. pylori antibodies was assessed by H. pylori seropositivity. In H. pylori seropositive persons as compared to seronegative irrespective of age and sex, a higher occurrence of anti-TPO (10.4 % vs. 5.8 %, p=0.001) and anti-GPC (6.1 % vs. 1.7 %, p<0.001) was found. Differences in anti-TPO occurrence were significant in both men (7.0 % vs. 3.3 %, p=0.03) and women (12.7 % vs. 8.0 %, p=0.02), differences in anti-GPC occurrence were significant only in women (7.2 % vs. 1.7 %, p<0.001). Results of this study support the idea of a connection between infection of H. pylori and the occurrence of anti-TPO autoantibodies representing thyroid autoimmunity and gastric parietal cells autoantibodies representing the thyrogastric syndrome.
Fair and Square Redistricting
Authors: Fox James
Published: May 2021

Fair maps are the foundation of a representative democracy. Gerrymanderers wish to create an unrepresentative legislature. The counter to gerrymandering is a fair map where the party distribution of likely representatives matches the party distribution of the state’s voters. This redistricting criterion was recently codified in the Ohio State Constitution. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/laws/ohio-constitution/section?const=11.06 A Guide to a new approach for drawing fair maps has been written for citizens, advocates and members of redistricting commissions, as well as legislators and judges. A research article details, justifies and applies the approach. As more people become aware of approaches such as this, more are likely to ask, “Why aren’t we using procedures like this to build maps where the districts are compact and the maps are fair?”
Modelling of the Friction Stir Welding Process for Aluminum
Authors: Song Zilong , Huang Huaxiong
Published: May 2021

When the friction stir welding (FSW) process is used in practice, defects appear under uncertain operating conditions. It is crucial to understand the basic mechanisms of defect generation so that it could be avoided. During the workshop, simplified models were developed for heat generation and plastic deformation, and attempts were made to find analytical and numerical solutions and continued until shortly after the workshop. We found that the unrealistic solution obtained during the workshop was due to the choice of a balance between inertial forces and plastic stress. In contrast, when inertia is negligible, physically reasonable solutions can be obtained for plastic deformation irrespective of the material compressibility. Investigating the dominant physical processes that drive this FSW process, the solutions from the simplified one-dimensional heat model and a two-dimensional non-Newtonian fluid model are also presented. The temperature distribution matches the results using direct numerical simulation and the experiment.
Mathematical modelling of the Germasogeia aquifer
Authors: Benham Graham , Frolkovič Peter , Ivanov Tihomir , Mondal Raka , Mondal Sourav , Rottschäfer Vivi , Kaouri Katerina
Published: May 2021

Two challenges related to improving the management of the Germasogeia aquifer were presented to the Study Group by the Cyprus Water Development Department (WDD), the public organisation responsible for managing the water resources in Cyprus. The first challenge was how to optimally recharge the aquifer to compensate for the extraction of drinking and irrigation water whilst preventing sea water intrusion.This was approached using both simplified two-dimensional models as well as a variety of software packages. It was shown that employing an optimal recharge strategy could yield a significant reduction in wasted water compared to the current strategy.The second challenge was to predict the transport of pollutants in the aquifer in the case of an accidental leakage. This was approached using numerical simulations of an advection-diffusion equation, finding thatthe location of the sourcehad a significant effecton the overall spread of contaminant.
Endophytic Nanotechnology: An Approach to Study Scope and Potential Applications
Authors: Meena Mukesh , Zehra Andleeb , Swapnil Prashant , Harish  , Marwal Avinash , Yadav Garima , Sonigra Priyankaraj
Published: May 2021

Nanotechnology has become a very advanced and popular form of technology with huge potentials. Nanotechnology has been very well explored in the fields of electronics, automobiles, construction, medicine, and cosmetics, but the exploration of nanotecnology’s use in agriculture is still limited. Due to climate change, each year around 40% of crops face abiotic and biotic stress; with the global demand for food increasing, nanotechnology is seen as the best method to mitigate challenges in disease management in crops by reducing the use of chemical inputs such as herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides. The use of these toxic chemicals is potentially harmful to humans and the environment. Therefore, using NPs as fungicides/ bactericides or as nanofertilizers, due to their small size and high surface area with high reactivity, reduces the problems in plant disease management. There are several methods that have been used to synthesize NPs, such as physical and chemical methods. Specially, we need ecofriendly and nontoxic methods for the synthesis of NPs. Some biological organisms like plants, algae, yeast, bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi have emerged as superlative candidates for the biological synthesis of NPs (also considered as green synthesis). Among these biological methods, endophytic microorganisms have been widely used to synthesize NPs with low metallic ions, which opens a new possibility on the edge of biological nanotechnology. In this review, we will have discussed the different methods of synthesis of NPs, such as top-down, bottom-up, and green synthesis (specially including endophytic microorganisms) methods, their mechanisms, different forms of NPs, such as magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs), copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs), β-d-glucan nanoparticles (GNPs), and engineered nanoparticles (quantum dots, metalloids, nonmetals, carbon nanomaterials, dendrimers, and liposomes), and their molecular approaches in various aspects. At the molecular level, nanoparticles, such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and RNA-interference molecules, can also be used as molecular tools to carry genetic material during genetic engineering of plants. In plant disease management, NPs can be used as biosensors to diagnose the disease.
Heart Failure With Mid-range Ejection Fraction: A Distinctive Subtype or a Transitional Stage?
Authors: Zhou Qing , Li Peixin , Zhao Hengli , Xu Xingbo , Li Shaoping , Zhao Jing , Xu Dingli , Zeng Qingchun
Published: May 2021

Heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) was first proposed by Lam and Solomon in 2014, and was listed as a new subtype of heart failure (HF) in 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Since then, HFmrEF has attracted an increasing amount of attention, and the number of related studies on this topic has grown rapidly. The diagnostic criteria on the basis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are straightforward; however, LVEF is not a static parameter, and it changes dynamically during the course of HF. Thus, HFmrEF may not be an independent disease with a uniform pathophysiological process, but rather a collection of patients with different characteristics. HFmrEF is often associated with various cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the pathophysiological mechanisms of HFmrEF are particularly complex, and its clinical phenotypes are diverse. The complexity and heterogeneity of HFmrEF may be one reason for inconsistent results between clinical studies. In fact, whether HFmrEF is a distinctive subtype or a transitional stage between HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is controversial. In this review, we discuss the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with HFmrEF, as well as the differences among HFmrEF, HFrEF, and HFpEF.
Response of Mangrove Development to Air Temperature Variation Over the Past 3000 Years in Qinzhou Bay, Tropical China
Authors: Zhang Yao , Meng Xianwei , Xia Peng , Li Zhen
Published: May 2021

Mangroves, a blue carbon ecosystem between land and ocean in the (sub)tropics, are sensitive to changes in climate and the sea level. It is imperative to reconstruct the historical dynamics of their development to predict the fate of mangrove ecosystems in the backdrop of rapid global changes. This study analyzes records of the sources of organic matter from sediment core Q43 of Qinzhou Bay in tropical China by using the endmember mixing model based on stable organic carbon isotopes and C/N ratio. Mangrove-derived organic matter (MOM) is regarded as a reliable indicator for reconstructing the historical development of mangroves. The variations in MOM in Qinzhou Bay over the past ∼3,000 cal yr BP indicate that mangrove forests underwent two periods of flourishment: ∼2,200–1,750 cal yr BP and ∼1,370–600 cal yr BP, as well as three periods of deterioration: ∼3,000–2,200 cal yr BP, ∼1,750–1,370 cal yr BP, and ∼600–0 cal yr BP. Of factors that might have been influential, changes in the relative sea level and the regional hydrological environment (e.g., seawater temperature, salinity, and hydrodynamic conditions) did not appear to have notable effects on mangrove flourishing/degradation. However, climate change, especially the variation in air temperature, formed the primary factor controlling mangrove development. The stages of mangrove flourishing/deterioration corresponded to the warm/cold periods of the climate, respectively. Noteworthy is that the rapid rise in air temperature during the Anthropocene warm period should have promoted mangrove development, but the increasing intensity of human activity has reversed this tendency leading to the degradation of mangroves.
Improved Photovoltaic Performance of CsPbI2Br Perovskite Films via Bivalent Metal Chloride Doping
Authors: Qiao Hong Wei , Chen Mengjiong , Zhou Ziren , Cheng Qilin , Hou Yu , Yang Hua Gui
Published: May 2021

Cesium-based all-inorganic perovskite absorbers have attracted increasing attention due to their superior thermal stability, compared to their organic–inorganic counterparts. Up to now, it is a challenge to fabricate high-efficiency all-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with low defect densities. Herein, we used bivalent metal chloride salts (SrCl2 and NiCl2) to optimize CsPbI2Br films. The experimental results indicate that this method could deliver high-quality films with improved electronic property. As a result, the champion device based on the 0.01 M SrCl2–doped CsPbI2Br film achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.07% with a high open voltage (VOC) of 1,322 mV, which is about 18% higher than that of the pristine device.
Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability and Sea Level Rise (SLR) in South Florida: A Mangrove Transition Projection
Authors: Sklar Fred H. , Carlson Christine , Coronado-Molina Carlos , Maran Ana Carolina
Published: May 2021

We used static, elevation and land cover data to estimate sea level rise impacts (SLR) to urban, developed lands and coastal wetland systems in Everglades National Park and the East and West coastal regions in South Florida. Maps and data tables estimating potential state change to open water were compiled through overlay analysis of elevation, land cover, and SLR masks with future land cover projected using a land cover transition threshold model. Analysis was based on a 2–5-km-wide longitudinal band along the SW and SE coasts of Florida where sea-level rise has no surface impediments to inundation and will likely cause coastline transgression and wetland migration. Analysis used three different projections; 0.27 m (0.9 ft), 0.76 m (2.5 ft) and 1.13 m (3.7 ft) greater than current sea level by 2070 estimated by NOAA and IPCC. Under a 0.27 m SLR projection 51% of the coastal land cover may be impacted. Under 0.76 and 1.13 m projected SLR, coastal land cover areas were impacted by 56.5 and 59.1%, respectively. Migration of coastal wetlands from their current location into more inland areas in response to increased water depths and as a function of empirically derived marsh and mangrove accretion rates were also evaluated. With a SLR of 0.76 m by 2070, without accretion, 1,160 sq km of wetland became open estuarine water. However, with accretion values of 0.211 m (4.1 mm yr–1) and 0.55 m (11 mm yr–1) by 2070, there was a transition of wetland cover to open estuarine water of only 349 and 41 sq km, respectively. Under a low SLR of 0.27 m by 2070 scenario with accretion, the coastal mangroves were able to migrate inland while maintaining the current coastline. It was only under the more extreme scenario of 1.13 m SLR by 2070 that accretion was not able to compensate for inundation and there was a loss of wetland coastline everywhere.
Hippo Pathway Counter-Regulates Innate Immunity in Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Luo Xufeng , Zhang Rui , Lu Mengji , Liu Shi , Baba Hideo A. , Gerken Guido , Wedemeyer Heiner , Broering Ruth
Published: May 2021

Whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) activates or represses innate immunity continues to be debated. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 has been identified to recognize HBV particles in human hepatocytes. The Hippo pathway, known for growth control, is suggested to play a vital role in immune regulation. Here, molecular interactions between HBV-triggered TLR signaling and the Hippo pathway were comprehensively investigated. Reanalysis of GSE69590 data, in which human hepatocytes have been treated with cell culture-derived HBV particles, identified changes in Hippo and NF-κB signaling. Immunocytochemical staining and western blotting revealed time-dependent nuclear translocation of YAP and NF-κB in HBV-exposed primary human and murine hepatocytes (PMH). Analysis of PMH isolated from MyD88- or IRAK4-deficient mice and the inhibition of TLR2 and MST1/2 in vitro confirmed the relation between TLR2 and Hippo signaling in HBV-induced immunity. Loss and gain of function experiments implied that Hippo-downstream effector YAP directly regulated IκBα expression. Functional investigations confirmed the regulation of Nfkbia promoter activity by the YAP/TEAD4 transcription factor complex. Administration of TLR ligands to mice highlighted the relevance of the TLR2-MyD88-IRAK4-Hippo axis in hepatic immunity. Interestingly, reanalysis of gene expression pattern in liver biopsies of patients chronically infected with HBV (GSE83148, GSE65359) indicated an activation of TLR2 and however, an MST1-dominated Hippo control in the immune clearance phase of patients with chronic HBV infection. We demonstrated that MyD88-dependent TLR signaling activates NF-κB and Hippo signaling, with YAP prompting the IκBα-mediated negative feedback, alongside NF-κB. Imbalance between immune induction and Hippo activation may have implications for the safety of novel HBV cure strategies interfering with pathogen recognition receptors.
Perinatal Stress and Methamphetamine Exposure Decreases Anxiety-Like Behavior in Adult Male Rats
Authors: Holubová-Kroupová Anna , Šlamberová Romana
Published: May 2021

Methamphetamine (MA) is an illicit synthetic psychostimulant drug, and its abuse is growing worldwide. MA has been reported as the primary drug of choice, by drug-abusing women, during pregnancy. Since MA easily crosses the placental barrier, the fetus is exposed to MA in a similar fashion to the mother. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term perinatal stressors and drug exposure on anxiety-like behavior in adult male rats using the open field test (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM). Dams were divided into three groups according to drug treatment during pregnancy: controls (C), saline—SA [subcutaneous (s.c.), 1 ml/kg], and MA (s.c., 5 mg/kg). Litters were divided into four groups according to postnatal stressors: non-stressed controls (N), maternal separation (S), maternal cold water stress (W), and maternal separation plus maternal cold water stress (SW). Forty-five minutes before testing (in both OF and EPM), one-half of adult male rats received an (s.c.) injection of MA and the other half received an SA injection. Prenatal MA/stress exposure did not affect anxiety-like behavior in adult male rats in both tests. In the OF, an acute MA dose in adulthood increased the time spent in the central disk area, decreased time spent in the corners, and decreased time spent immobile and grooming. Also, postnatal stress increased time spent in the central disk area, decreased time spent in corners, and increased mobility compared to controls. All groups of rats exposed to postnatal stressors spent significantly less time in the closed arms of the EPM compared to controls. Overall, our results indicate that early postnatal stress and a single acute MA administration in adulthood decreases the parameters of anxiety-like behavior in adult male rats regardless of prenatal MA exposure. Moreover, postnatal stress via maternal separation impacts the effect of acute MA administration in adulthood. Long-term postnatal stress may thus result in improved adaptation to subsequent stressful experiences later in life.
Constant Resting Frequency and Auditory Midbrain Neuronal Frequency Analysis of Hipposideros pratti in Background White Noise
Authors: Zhang Guimin , Cui Zhongdan , Wu Jing , Jin Baoling , Zhou Dandan , Liu Long , Tang Jia , Chen Qicai , Fu Ziying
Published: May 2021

Acoustic communication signals are inevitably challenged by ambient noise. In response to noise, many animals adjust their calls to maintain signal detectability. However, the mechanisms by which the auditory system adapts to the adjusted pulses are unclear. Our previous study revealed that the echolocating bat, Hipposideros pratti, increased its pulse intensity in the presence of background white noise. In vivo single-neuron recording demonstrated that the auditory midbrain neurons tuned to the second harmonic (H2 neurons) increased their minimal threshold (MT) to a similar degree as the increment of pulse intensity in the presence of the background noise. Furthermore, the H2 neurons exhibited consistent spike rates at their best amplitudes and sharper intensity tuning with background white noise compared with silent conditions. The previous data indicated that sound intensity analysis by auditory midbrain neurons was adapted to the increased pulse intensity in the same noise condition. This study further examined the echolocation pulse frequency and frequency analysis of auditory midbrain neurons with noise conditions. The data revealed that H. pratti did not shift the resting frequency in the presence of background noise. The auditory midbrain neuronal frequency analysis highly linked to processing the resting frequency with the presence of noise by presenting the constant best frequency (BF), frequency sensitivity, and frequency selectivity. Thus, our results suggested that auditory midbrain neuronal responses in background white noise are adapted to process echolocation pulses in the noise conditions.
Influence of Lenslet Configuration on Short-Term Visual Performance in Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
Authors: Li Xue , Ding Chenglu , Li Yuhao , Lim Ee Woon , Gao Yi , Fermigier Bruno , Yang Adeline , Chen Hao , Bao Jinhua
Published: May 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate short-term visual performance and optical quality of three different lenslet configurations on myopia control spectacle lenses.

Materials and Methods: This study utilized a cross-over design. Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured in 50 myopic children; contrast sensitivity (CS) was measured in 36 myopic children. For each test, four spectacle lenses were evaluated in a random order: single-vision lens (SVL), lens with concentric rings of highly aspherical lenslets (HAL), lens with concentric rings of slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL), and lens with honeycomb configuration of spherical lenslets (HC). The modulation transfer function (MTF) and MTF area (MTFa) were used to determine optical quality. All tests were performed monocularly on the right eye with full correction.

Results: HAL and SAL had larger MTFa than HC. VA in lenses with lenslets was significantly reduced compared to SVL (all p < 0.01). The reduction in VA was worse with HC than with SAL (p = 0.02) and HAL (p = 0.03); no effect of lenslet asphericity was found (p > 0.05). VA changes induced by lenslets showed no correlation with spherical equivalent refraction (all p > 0.05) and were weakly positively associated with age for SAL (r = 0.36, p = 0.01) and HC (r = 0.31, p = 0.03), but not for HAL (p = 0.30). The area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) decreased with HAL and HC (all p < 0.001) in all illumination levels, and AULCSF with HAL was higher than that with HC in a photopic condition (1.17 ± 0.10 vs. 1.10 ± 0.13, p = 0.0004). The presence of lenslets did not affect CS at 3 cycles per degree (cpd) (p = 0.80). At 6 to 18 cpd, CS was significantly reduced by HAL and HC (all p < 0.05), but not SAL (p > 0.05) compared to SVL. At high spatial frequencies (>12 cpd) both SAL and HAL reduced CS significantly less than HC (all p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Short-term visual performance was minimally impaired by looking through the lenslet structure of myopia control spectacle lenses. Concentric rings with aspherical lenslets had a significantly lower impact on both VA and CS than honeycomb configuration with spherical lenslets.
GPR68 Contributes to Persistent Acidosis-Induced Activation of AGC Kinases and Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Organotypic Hippocampal Slices
Authors: Zhou Guokun , Zha Xiang-ming
Published: May 2021

Persistent acidosis occurs in ischemia and multiple neurological diseases. In previous studies, acidic stimulation leads to rapid increase in intracellular calcium in neurons. However, it remains largely unclear how a prolonged acidosis alters neuronal signaling. In our previous study, we found that GPR68-mediated PKC activities are protective against acidosis-induced injury in cortical slices. Here, we first asked whether the same principle holds true in organotypic hippocampal slices. Our data showed that 1-h pH 6 induced PKC phosphorylation in a GPR68-dependent manner. Go6983, a PKC inhibitor worsened acidosis-induced neuronal injury in wild type (WT) but had no effect in GPR68−/− slices. Next, to gain greater insights into acid signaling in brain tissue, we treated organotypic hippocampal slices with pH 6 for 1-h and performed a kinome profiling analysis by Western blot. Acidosis had little effect on cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) or casein kinase 2 activity, two members of the CMGC family, or Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)/ATM and RAD3-related (ATR) activity, but reduced the phosphorylation of MAPK/CDK substrates. In contrast, acidosis induced the activation of CaMKIIα, PKA, and Akt. Besides these serine/threonine kinases, acidosis also induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Since GPR68 is widely expressed in brain neurons, we asked whether GPR68 contributes to acidosis-induced signaling. Deleting GPR68 had no effect on acidosis-induced CaMKII phosphorylation, attenuated that of phospho-Akt and phospho-PKA substrates, while abolishing acidosis-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. These data demonstrate that prolonged acidosis activates a network of signaling cascades, mediated by AGC kinases, CaMKII, and tyrosine kinases. GPR68 is the primary mediator for acidosis-induced activation of PKC and tyrosine phosphorylation, while both GPR68-dependent and -independent mechanisms contribute to the activation of PKA and Akt.
Gene Expression Profile of the Human Colorectal Carcinoma LoVo Cells Treated With Sporamin and Thapsigargin
Authors: Yang Chun , Chen Si-Jia , Chen Bo-Wen , Zhang Kai-Wen , Zhang Jing-Jie , Xiao Rong , Li Peng-Gao
Published: May 2021

Sporamin, a proteinase inhibitor isolated from the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), has shown promising anticancer effect against colorectal cancer (CRC) in vitro and in vivo but its mechanisms of action are poorly understood. In the present study, high throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was applied to explore the transcriptomic changes induced by sporamin in the presence of thapsigargin (TG), a non-12-O-tetradecanolphorbol-13-acetate type cancer promoter, in the LoVo human CRC cells. Cellular total RNA was extracted from the cells after they were treated with vehicle (CTL), 1 μM of thapsigargin (TG), or 1 μM of TG plus 30 μM of sporamin (TGSP) for 24 h. The migratory capacity of the cells was determined by wound healing assay. The gene expression profiles of the cells were determined by RNA-seq on an Illumina platform. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and transcription factors (TF) prediction were all performed based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across groups with a series of bioinformatics tools. Finally, the effect and potential molecular targets of the sporamin at the transcriptome level were evaluated. Sporamin significantly inhibited the migration of cells induced by TG. Among the 17915 genes detected in RNA-seq, 46 DEGs were attributable to the effect of sporamin. RT-PCR experiment validated that the expression of RGPD2, SULT1A3, and BIVM-ERCC5 were up-regulated while NYP4R, FOXN1, PAK6, and CEACAM20 were down-regulated. Sporamin enhanced the mineral absorption pathway, worm longevity regulating pathway, and pyrimidine metabolism pathway. Two TFs (SMIM11A and ATOH8) were down-regulated by sporamin. HMOX1 (up-regulated) and NME1-NME2 (down-regulated) were the main nodes in a PPI network consisting of 16 DEGs that were modulated by sporamin in the presence of TG. Sporamin could favorably alter the gene expression profile of CRC cells, up-regulating the genes that contribute to the homeostasis of intracellular metal ions and the activities of essential enzymes and DNA damage repairment. More studies are warranted to verify its effect on specific genes and delineate the mechanism of action implicated in the process.
LncRNA DLEU1 Contributes to the Growth and Invasion of Colorectal Cancer via Targeting miR-320b/PRPS1
Authors: Xu Dong , Yang Fei , Fan Yongchao , Jing Wanling , Wen Jianfei , Miao Wen , Ding Xiaoyan , Yang Hongbao
Published: May 2021

Growing evidences suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely correlated to the development of human cancer, such as colorectal cancer (CRC). A previous report suggested that DLEU1 accelerated CRC development. However, DLEU1’s underlying mechanism in CRC remains unclear. In our study, the level of DLEU1 in CRC tissues is investigated by qRT-PCR. Our data exhibited that DLEU1 level was observably increased in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines and was closely associated with bad prognosis of CRC patients. CRC cell proliferation was repressed by sh-LncRNA DLEU1, whereas cell apoptosis was markedly stimulated. Moreover, knockdown of DLEU1 inhibited cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, through interacting with miR-320b in CRC, DLEU1 promoted the level of PRPS1 which was a target of miR-320b. The rescue experiment confirmed that knockdown of DLEU1 repressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion while stimulated cell apoptosis via miR-320b/phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1 (PRPS1) axis. Meanwhile, the data of xenograft model exhibited that inhibition of DLEU1 suppressed tumor growth in vivo. In summary, DLEU1 knockdown may repress PRPS1 expression via miR-320b, and then repress cell proliferation, migration and invasion while stimulate cell apoptosis. Our research may provide a novel target for the treatment of CRC.
Laterally Extended Endopelvic Resection Versus Chemo or Targeted Therapy Alone for Pelvic Sidewall Recurrence of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Park Soo Jin , Mun Jaehee , Lee Seungmee , Luo Yanlin , Chung Hyun Hoon , Kim Jae-Weon , Park Noh Hyun , Song Yong Sang , Kim Hee Seung
Published: May 2021

Background

Laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) has been introduced for treatment of pelvic sidewall recurrence of cervical cancer (PSRCC), which occurs in only 8% of patients with relapsed cervical cancer. LEER can only be performed by a proficient surgeon due to the high risk of surgical morbidity and mortality, but there is no evidence as to whether LEER is may be more effective than chemo or targeted therapy alone for PSRCC. Thus, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between LEER and chemo or targeted therapy alone for treatment of PSRCC.

Methods

We prospectively recruited patients with PSRCC who underwent LEER between December 2016 and December 2019. Moreover, we retrospectively collected data on patients with PSRCC who received chemo or targeted therapy alone between January 2000 and December 2019. We compared treatment-free interval (TFI), progression-free survival (PFS), treatment-free survival (TFS), overall survival (OS), tumor response, neurologic disturbance of the low extremities, and pelvic pain severity in the different patient groups.

Results

Among 1295 patients with cervical cancer, we included 28 (2.2%) and 31 (2.4%) in the prospective and retrospective cohorts, respectively. When we subdivided all patients into two groups based on the median value of prior TFI (PTFI, 9.2 months), LEER improved TFI, PFS, TRS and OS compared to chemo or targeted therapy alone (median, 2.8 vs. 0.9; 7.4 vs. 4.1; 30.1 vs. 16.9 months; P ≤ 0.05) in patients with PTFI < 9.2 months despite no difference in survival in those with PTFI ≥ 9.2 months, suggesting that LEER may lead to better TFI, PFS, TRS and OS in patients with PTFI < 9.2 months (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.28, 0.27, 0.44 and 0.37; 95% confidence intervals, 0.12-0.68, 0.11-0.66, 0.18-0.83 and 0.15-0.88). Furthermore, LEER markedly reduced the number of morphine milligram equivalents necessary to reduce pelvic pain when compared with chemo or targeted therapy alone.

Conclusion

Compared to chemo or targeted therapy alone, LEER improved survival in patients with PSRCC and PTFI < 9.2 months, and it was effective at controlling the pelvic pain associated with PSRCC.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02986568.
4-OI Attenuates Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Injury via Regulating Oxidative Stress and the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Li Ruidong , Yang Wenchang , Yin Yuping , Ma Xianxiong , Zhang Peng , Tao Kaixiong
Published: May 2021

The liver is an important metabolic organ, and acute liver injury (ALI) is potentially lethal. Itaconate, a metabolic intermediate from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, showed emerging anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation properties, and an accumulating protective effect in multiple diseases, but its role in ALI still needs to be further explored. Here we established an ALI model induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice. Our results showed that 4-Octyl itaconate (OI), a derivate of itaconate, mitigated hepatic damage by improving liver function, reducing histopathological damage, and decreasing the death of hepatocytes. Additionally, OI decreased myeloperoxidase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the ALI model. OI also inhibited the inflammatory response by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MCP-1) and infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils in the ALI model. However, administration of ML385, a specified Nrf2 inhibitor, eliminated the protective properties of OI in the CCl4-induced liver injury model by increasing hepatic damage and oxidative stress. Furthermore, OI increased the expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and elevated the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, while knockdown of Nrf2 eliminated these effects in murine hepatocyte NCTC 1469 under CCl4 treatment. Moreover, we found that OI reduced serum High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels in CCl4-treated mice. Finally, OI inhibited nuclear translocation of factor-kappa B (NF-𝜅B) and inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophages. In conclusion, these results indicated that OI ameliorated CCl4-induced ALI by mitigating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. The possible mechanism was associated with the elevation of Nrf2 nuclear translocation and inhibition of HMGB1 mediated the nuclear translocation of NF-𝜅B.
A Bioinformatics Analysis of the Potential Roles of Aquaporin 4 in Human Brain Tumors: An Immune-Related Process
Authors: Zou Shuang , Lan Yu-Long , Ren Tong , Li Xiangyu , Zhang Lijun , Wang Hongjin , Wang Xun
Published: May 2021

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is an ubiquitously expressed membrane protein channel found in the central nervous system and mainly on astrocytes. Recent studies on AQP4 has implicated it in tumorigenesis. It is of interest to determine the potential value of AQP4 in identifying, guiding treatment and prognosticating various types of CNS cancers. This investigation systematically investigated the oncogenic role of AQP4 across 33 CNS tumors found in GEO and TCGA datasets. We found that CNS tumors strongly expressed AQP4. There appeared to be a strong link between the prognosis of patients with a CNS malignancy and degree of AQP4 expression. AQP4 expression influences the degree of CD8+ T-cell infiltration level as well as cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in CNS tumors. Moreover, synaptic vesicle cycle and phosphatidylinositol signaling system-associated functions were also found to be related to AQP4 functional mechanisms. Furthermore, potential AQP4 inhibitors have also been explored by using Specs data base and virtual screening technique. This study contributes toward current knowledge regarding the role of AQP4 in CNS tumors.
Subfunctionalization of Paralog Transcription Factors Contributes to Regulation of Alkaloid Pathway Branch Choice in Catharanthus roseus
Authors: Colinas Maite , Pollier Jacob , Vaneechoutte Dries , Malat Deniz G. , Schweizer Fabian , De Milde Liesbeth , De Clercq Rebecca , Guedes Joana G. , Martínez-Cortés Teresa , Molina-Hidalgo Francisco J. , Sottomayor Mariana , Vandepoele Klaas , Goossens Alain
Published: May 2021

Catharanthus roseus produces a diverse range of specialized metabolites of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) class in a heavily branched pathway. Recent great progress in identification of MIA biosynthesis genes revealed that the different pathway branch genes are expressed in a highly cell type- and organ-specific and stress-dependent manner. This implies a complex control by specific transcription factors (TFs), only partly revealed today. We generated and mined a comprehensive compendium of publicly available C. roseus transcriptome data for MIA pathway branch-specific TFs. Functional analysis was performed through extensive comparative gene expression analysis and profiling of over 40 MIA metabolites in the C. roseus flower petal expression system. We identified additional members of the known BIS and ORCA regulators. Further detailed study of the ORCA TFs suggests subfunctionalization of ORCA paralogs in terms of target gene-specific regulation and synergistic activity with the central jasmonate response regulator MYC2. Moreover, we identified specific amino acid residues within the ORCA DNA-binding domains that contribute to the differential regulation of some MIA pathway branches. Our results advance our understanding of TF paralog specificity for which, despite the common occurrence of closely related paralogs in many species, comparative studies are scarce.
Measuring Prospective Imagery: Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Prospective Imagery Task
Authors: Liu Mingfan , Chen Yiting , Yin Xiaoying , Peng Dandan , Wang Xinqiang , Ye Baojuan
Published: May 2021

Objective

Prospective negative imagery is suggested to play an important role in the development and maintenance of anxiety and depression. The Prospective Imagery Task (PIT) was developed to assess prospective imagery. Given the importance of prospective imagery for mental health in the Chinese cultural context, our objective was to examine the psychometric properties of the PIT in a Chinese sample.

Methods

The instrument was validated among a sample of 1,372 Chinese individuals (mean age = 19.98, SD = 4.57; 35.2% male) who completed the PIT immediately following the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait version (STAI-T).

Results

The two-factor structure of the PIT was in line with the original study, with satisfactory reliability and positive correlations with the BDI-II and STAI-T scores. Latent profile analysis revealed a three-class pattern. The measurement invariance indicated that the instrument can be used among different age groups as well as among males and females.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of the PIT is a reliable and valid tool to measure prospective imagery, and the positive subscale is meaningful for clinical psychology. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.