bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Complexity of Host’s Effective Immune Response against a Polymorphic Parasitic Disease
Authors: Gabriel Áurea , Valério-Bolas Ana , Palma-Marques Joana , Mourata-Gonçalves Patrícia , Ruas Pedro , Dias-Guerreiro Tatiana , Santos-Gomes Gabriela
Published: December 2019

This review is aimed at providing a comprehensive outline of the immune response displayed against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the more common zoonotic infection caused by protozoan parasites of the genusLeishmania.Although of polymorphic clinical presentation, classically CL is characterized by leishmaniotic lesions on the face and extremities of the patients, which can be ulcerative, and even after healing can lead to permanent injuries and disfigurement, affecting significantly their psychological, social, and economic well-being. According a report released by the World Health Organization, the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to leishmaniasis are close to 2.4 million, annually there are 1.0–1.5 million new cases of CL, and a numerous population is at risk in the endemic areas. Despite its increasing worldwide incidence, it is one of the so-called neglected tropical diseases. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of the existing knowledge of the host innate and acquired immune response to cutaneous species ofLeishmania.The use of animal models and ofin vitrostudies has improved the understanding of parasite-host interplay and the complexity of immune mechanisms involved. The importance of diagnosis accuracy associated with effective patient management in CL reduction is highlighted. However, the multiple factors involved in CL epizoology associated with the unavailability of vaccines or drugs to prevent infection make difficult to formulate an effective strategy for CL control.
Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Ameliorate Diabetic Nephropathy In Vivo and In Vitro by Inhibiting Advanced Glycation End Product-Activated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Rao Nanquan , Wang Xiaotong , Xie Jing , Li Jingzhi , Zhai Yue , Li Xiaoxia , Fang Tengjiaozi , Wang Yuanyuan , Zhao Yuming , Ge Lihong
Published: December 2019

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of chronic kidney disease. It has been proven that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have therapeutic effects on kidney disease. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are MSCs that are derived from dental pulps in exfoliated deciduous teeth from young patients and therefore have a high proliferation rate and an easy access. Hence, we aimed to explore the effect of SHED on DN in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. SHED were administered via the tail vein. Blood glucose, serum triglycerides and cholesterol, body weight, and urinary albumin were measured before and after administration. At 8 weeks after administration, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and electron microscopy were employed to examine pathological changes in glomerular and tubulointerstitial tissue. Kidney weight and serum IL-1, IL-10, TNF-α, TGF-β, and HGF levels were measured. SHED engraftment in the kidneys was detected by transfecting green fluorescence protein (GFP). Type II epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the tubule-interstitial and arteriolar regions has been reported to be an important pathological characteristic of DN. This study is the first to apply a transwell system for coculture to explore the effects of MSCs on the EMT of human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of SHED on advanced glycation end product- (AGE-) activated EMT in HK-2 cells were explored by real-time PCR and western blot. At 8 weeks after administration, renal injury, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, increased urinary albumin excretion, ECM accumulation, and a fractional mesangial area, was dramatically attenuated. The serum levels of IL-1, TNF-α, and TGF-βwere significantly downregulated, whereas the serum levels of IL-10 and HGF were upregulated by SHED. GFP expression confirmed the engraftment of SHED in diabetic kidneys. In addition, cocultured SHED inhibited AGE-induced EMT in HK-2 cells. In conclusion, SHED offer a novel potential effective therapeutic approach for ameliorating DN.
Identification of Long Noncoding RNA APOC1P1 as an Oncogene in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Sun Chong , Zhou Zhonghan , Shi Haoqing , Li Fangzhou , Zhang Guiming
Published: December 2019

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common genitourinary cancers worldwide. Previous evidence shows that long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) APOC1P1 plays an important role in cancer development. However, the role of LncRNA APOC1P1 in ccRCC remains to be explored. LncRNA APOC1P1 expression in 283 ccRCC tissues and 30 normal kidney tissues was detected by quantitative real-time PCR, and its prognostic association with ccRCC was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were determined in RCC cells with downregulation of LncRNA APOC1P1 expression. LncRNA APOC1P1 expression was increased in ccRCC tissues compared with normal kidney tissues (P<0.001). Its expression was higher in the Fuhrman grade III and IV group than in the Fuhrman grade I and II group (P<0.05) and significantly upregulated in the advanced stage group (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that elevated LncRNA APOC1P1 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P<0.05) but may not be an independent prognostic factor. Knockdown of LncRNA APOC1P1 inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and arrested cells at the G1/S phase (P<0.05). Silencing of LncRNA APOC1P1 also led to decreased cell migration and invasion (P<0.05). LncRNA APOC1P1 acts as an oncogene, plays an important role in ccRCC development, and can be considered a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ccRCC patients.
Palivizumab Prophylaxis among Infants at Increased Risk of Hospitalization due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in UAE: A Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Elhalik M. , El-Atawi K. , Dash S.K. , Faquih A. , Satyan A.D. , Gourshettiwar N. , Khan A. , Varughese S. , Ramesh A. , Khamis E.
Published: December 2019

Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents a significant public health burden and the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections globally, and it is the major cause of hospitalization during the winter. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis to reduce the hospitalization in children at high risk of RSV infection. Methods. We performed a retrospective observational single-arm hospital-based study including five RSV seasons (September to March) from 2012 to 2017. We retrospectively included premature infants born at less than 35 weeks of gestation with chronic lungs disease or hemodynamic significant congenital heart disease for palivizumab prophylaxis against RSV infection according to the criteria presented. Results. A total of 925 children were enrolled in the study over the five RSV seasons. Of them, 410 (44.3%) infants born at <32 weeks of gestation and 515 (55.6%) infants born at 32–35 weeks of gestation with mean (±SD) birth weight of 1104.8 ± 402.85 and 1842.5 ± 377.5, respectively. The compliance with the course of palivizumab was reported in 841 (90.9%) children. Of them, about 75 (8.9%) hospitalized children were reported, and 17 (2.02%) RSV positive children were detected. Hospitalization due to RSV infection was decreased from 9.23% in the 2012-2013 season to 0.67% in the 2016-2017 season. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that palivizumab prophylaxis in children at high risk of developing RSV infection was effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization with a high compliance rate over the five RSV seasons.
Expression of Oncostatin M in Early Gastric Cancer and Precancerous Lesions
Authors: Shi Jihua , Xu Xue , Du Jun , Cui Haimeng , Luo Qingfeng
Published: December 2019

Objective. To detect the expression of the Oncostatin M (OSM) gene and encoded protein in the mucosal epithelium of chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), early gastric cancer (EGC), and advanced gastric cancer (AGC) samples and to explore the correlation and clinicopathological significance of OSM expression in the process of gastric carcinogenesis. Methods. The expression levels of OSM in chronic gastritis, IM, LGIN, HGIN, EGC, and AGC samples were detected by gene chip, real-time quantitative PCR, and immunohistochemical methods. The expression levels of OSM in the gastric mucosa were analyzed, and its correlation with clinical pathology was studied. Results. The expression level of OSM in gastric HGIN and EGC tissues was significantly higher than that in LGIN tissues based on expression profiling (P<0.001). The expression of the OSM gene in EGC was higher than that in HGIN (unpaired t test, P<0.05) and LGIN (unpaired t test, P<0.01) by qPCR. The expression of OSM in LGIN was significantly lower than that in HGIN (P=0.008) and EGC (P=0.044) by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of OSM in HGIN tissues was significantly higher than that in AGC (P=0.007). Conclusion. Alterations in the expression of the OSM gene may be involved in the malignant transformation of the gastric mucosal epithelium. Because of the significant difference in the cancerization rate and clinical management between LGIN and HGIN, the difference in the staining intensity of OSM between LGIN and HGIN may be one of the early markers of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia.
The Effects of Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplementation on Brain Morphology in Older Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Mewborn Catherine M. , Lindbergh Cutter A. , Hammond B. Randy , Renzi-Hammond Lisa M. , Miller L. Stephen
Published: December 2019

A growing literature emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors such as nutrition in successful aging. The current study examined if one year of supplementation with lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), two nutrients with known antioxidative properties and cognitive benefits, impacted structural brain outcomes in older adults using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial design. Community-dwelling older adults (20 males and 27 females) aged 65–87 years (M = 71.8 years, SD = 6.04 years) were randomized into supplement (N = 33) and placebo groups (N = 14) using simple randomization. The supplement group received 10 mg L + 2 mg Z daily for 12 months while the placebo group received a visually identical, inert placebo. L and Z were measured via retinal concentrations (macular pigment optical density or MPOD). Structural brain outcomes, focusing on global and frontal-temporal lobe regions, were acquired using both T1-weighted and DTI MRI sequences. We hypothesized that the supplement group would increase, maintain, or show attenuated loss in hypothesized regions-of-interest (ROIs) while the placebo group would show age-related declines in brain structural integrity over the course of the trial. While results showed age-related declines for frontal and temporal gray and white matter volumes, as well as fornix white matter microstructure across both groups, only minimal differences were found between the supplement and placebo groups. However, exploratory analyses showed that individuals who responded better to supplementation (i.e., showed greater increases in MPOD) showed less decline in global and prefrontal gray matter volume than supplement “nonresponders.” While results suggest that one year of L and Z supplementation may have limited effects on structural brain outcomes overall, there may be a subsample of individuals for whom supplementation of L and Z provides greater benefits. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02023645.
Clinical Profile and Outcome of Esophageal Button Battery Ingestion in Children: An 8-Year Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Dörterler Mustafa Erman
Published: December 2019

Objective. To present the clinical profile and outcomes of esophageal button battery ingestion cases treated at our institution over an 8-year period.Methods. A total of 17 children who presented after ingesting a button battery and were treated at a tertiary care clinic over an 8-year period were included in this retrospective case series study. Data on patient demographics and esophageal location of the battery, time from ingestion to admission, symptoms, grade of mucosal injury, size of the battery, management, complications, and follow-up outcome were recorded.Results. Median age was 29 months (range, 2–99 months). Boys comprised (n=11, 64.7%) of the study population. The most common location was the proximal esophagus (n=10, 58.8%). The median time from ingestion to admission was 6 h (range, 3–24 h). Hypersalivation alone (n=6, 35.3%) or together with vomiting (n=5, 29.4%) was the most common symptom. Grade IIA mucosal injury was noted in six (n=6, 35.3%) patients. The diameter of the battery was a median of 18.0 mm (range, 14–22 mm). We did not observe any correlation between the size of the battery and the grade of the injury. Early postoperative complications were encountered in one patient (n=1, 5.8%) and late postoperative complications were noted in eight patients (n=8, 47.1%) which required further esophageal dilatations, and follow-up revealed normal findings in eight patients (n=8, 47.1%) and mortality occurred in one patient.Conclusion. The current case series study describing the clinical profiles and outcomes of 17 children who had ingested an esophageal button battery revealed male predominance, young patient age, and admission after a median of 6 h (3–24 h) of ingestion with nonspecific symptoms. Our findings confirm the success of rigid endoscopy to remove esophageal button batteries and indicate the likelihood of severe complications after removal.
Theoretical Modelling Analysis on Tensile Properties of Bioepoxy/Clay Nanocomposites Using Epoxidised Soybean Oils
Authors: Salam Haipan , Dong Yu
Published: December 2019

A theoretical modelling framework was proposed to predict tensile moduli and tensile strengths of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites in terms of clay content and epoxidised soybean oil (ESO) content, which could be influenced by properties of blended matrices in nanocomposites, clay filler type, orientation and dispersion status, clay morphological structures, and filler-matrix interfacial bonding. The random orientation of dispersed clay fillers played a significant role in predicting elastic moduli of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites at clay contents of 1-8 wt% (ESO content: 20 wt%) according to Hui-Shia (H-S) laminate model and Halpin-Tsai (H-T) laminate model. In addition, when clay content was fixed at 5 wt%, H-S laminate model coincided well with the experimental data of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites at the ESO contents of 0-40 wt%. Whereas, Hirsch model showed closer estimated values with experimental data at the ESO content of 60 wt%. Finally, Turcsányi-Pukànszky-Tüdõs (T-P-T) model predicted better tensile strengths of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites at clay contents of 1-5 wt% (ESO content: 20 wt%) and at an ESO content of 20-60 wt% (clay content: 5 wt%).
The CTLH Complex in Cancer Cell Plasticity
Authors: Huffman Nickelas , Palmieri Dario , Coppola Vincenzo
Published: December 2019

Cancer cell plasticity is the ability of cancer cells to intermittently morph into different fittest phenotypic states. Due to the intrinsic capacity to change their composition and interactions, protein macromolecular complexes are the ideal instruments for transient transformation. This review focuses on a poorly studied mammalian macromolecular complex called the CTLH (carboxy-terminal to LisH) complex. Currently, this macrostructure includes 11 known members (ARMC8, GID4, GID8, MAEA, MKLN1, RMND5A, RMND5B, RANBP9, RANBP10, WDR26, and YPEL5) and it has been shown to have E3-ligase enzymatic activity. CTLH proteins have been linked to all fundamental biological processes including proliferation, survival, programmed cell death, cell adhesion, and migration. At molecular level, the complex seems to interact and intertwine with key signaling pathways such as the PI3-kinase, WNT, TGFβ, and NFκB, which are key to cancer cell plasticity. As a whole, the CTLH complex is overexpressed in the most prevalent types of cancer and may hold the key to unlock many of the biological secrets that allow cancer cells to thrive in harsh conditions and resist antineoplastic therapy.
Novel Delay‐Decomposing Approaches to Absolute Stability Criteria for Neutral‐Type Lur’e Systems
Authors: Guo Liang-Dong , Huang Sheng-Juan , Wu Li-Bing
Published: December 2019

The problem of absolute stability analysis for neutral‐type Lur’e systems with time‐varying delays is investigated. Novel delay‐decomposing approaches are proposed to divide the variation interval of the delay into three unequal subintervals. Some new augment Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals (LKFs) are defined on the obtained subintervals. The integral inequality method and the reciprocally convex technique are utilized to deal with the derivative of the LKFs. Several improved delay‐dependent criteria are derived in terms of the linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Compared with some previous criteria, the proposed ones give the results with less conservatism and lower numerical complexity. Two numerical examples are included to illustrate the effectiveness and the improvement of the proposed method.
Dual Inhibition of BMP and WNT Signals Promotes Pancreatic Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Tan Mengtian , Jiang Lai , Li Yinglei , Jiang Wei
Published: December 2019

Pathological or functional loss of pancreatic beta cells is the cause of diabetes. Understanding how signaling pathways regulate pancreatic lineage and searching for combinations of signal modulators to promote pancreatic differentiation will definitely facilitate the robust generation of functional beta cells for curing hyperglycemia. In this study, we first tested the effect of several potent BMP inhibitors on pancreatic differentiation using human embryonic stem cells. Next, we examined the endodermal lineage bias upon potent BMP inhibitor treatment and further checked the crosstalk between signal pathways governing endodermal lineage determination. Furthermore, we improved current pancreatic differentiation system based on the signaling pathway study. Finally, we used human-induced pluripotent stem cells to validate our finding. We found BMP inhibitors indeed not only blocked hepatic lineage but also impeded intestinal lineage from human definitive endoderm unexpectedly. Signaling pathway analysis indicated potent BMP inhibitor resulted in the decrease of WNT signal activity and inhibition of WNT could contribute to the improved pancreatic differentiation. Herein, we combined the dual inhibition of BMP and WNT signaling and greatly enhanced human pancreatic progenitor differentiation as well as beta cell generation from both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Conclusively, our present work identified the crosstalk between the BMP and WNT signal pathways during human endoderm patterning and pancreas specification, and provided an improved in vitro pancreatic directed differentiation protocol from human pluripotent stem cells.
A Multicentre Study: The Use of Micrografts in the Reconstruction of Full-Thickness Posttraumatic Skin Defects of the Limbs—A Whole Innovative Concept in Regenerative Surgery
Authors: Riccio Michele , Marchesini Andrea , Zingaretti Nicola , Carella Sara , Senesi Letizia , Onesti Maria Giuseppina , Parodi Pier Camillo , Ribuffo Diego , Vaienti Luca , De Francesco Francesco
Published: December 2019

The skin graft is a surgical technique commonly used in the reconstructive surgery of the limbs, in order to repair skin loss, as well as to repair the donor area of the flaps and cover the dermal substitutes after engraftment. The unavoidable side effect of this technique consists of unaesthetic scars. In order to achieve the healing of posttraumatic ulcers by means of tissue regeneration and to avoid excessive scarring, a new innovative technology based on the application of autologous micrografts, obtained by Rigenera technology, was reported. This technology was able to induce tissue repair by highly viable skin micrografts of 80 micron size achieved by a mechanical disaggregation method. The specific cell population of these micrografts includes progenitor cells, which in association with the fragment of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and growth factors derived by patients’ own tissue initiate biological processes of regeneration enhancing the wound healing process. We have used this technique in 70 cases of traumatic wounds of the lower and upper limbs, characterized by extensive loss of skin substance and soft tissue. In all cases, we have applied the Rigenera protocol using skin micrografts, achieving in 69 cases the complete healing of wounds in a period between 35 and 84 days. For each patient, the reconstructive outcome was evaluated weekly to assess the efficacy of this technique and any arising complication. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was administered to assess the amount of pain felt after the micrografts’ application, whereas we evaluated the scars according to the Vancouver scale and the wound prognosis according to Wound Bed Score. We have thus been able to demonstrate that Rigenera procedure is very effective in stimulating skin regeneration, while reducing the outcome scar.
Research and Discussion on the Relationships between Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and ATP2B2 Gene Polymorphism
Authors: Zhang Suhao , Ding Enmin , Yin Haoyang , Zhang Hengdong , Zhu Baoli
Published: December 2019

Long-term and continuous noise exposure can result in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which is a worldwide problem resulting from the interaction of environmental and genetic factors. The ATP2B2 gene polymorphism can destroy cochlear hair cells and increase the risk of NIHL. A case-control study of 760 Chinese textile workers was conducted to investigate the relationship between ATP2B2 polymorphisms and NIHL susceptibility. Venous blood was collected and questionnaires were conducted by professional physicians. A case group and a control group which were typed by individuals’ pure-tone audiometry test results were set. Three polymorphism sites of ATP2B2 were genotyped by using the PCR technique. Analysis results revealed that the C allele of rs3209637 (95%CI=1.08–2.58, odds ratio OR=1.67, P=0.027) was a dangerous factor and could add to risks of NIHL in the Chinese employees. The data of stratified analysis revealed that individuals who are exposed to noise>95 dB with the rs3209637 C genotype have a higher susceptibility to NIHL (OR=1.34, 95%CI=1.07–1.68). Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis revealed that the interaction between rs14154 and rs3209637 is linked to increased NIHL risk, and for the interaction among rs14154, smoking and drinking had the same function (OR=1.54 and 1.77, 95%CI=1.15–2.07, 1.33–2.37, and P=0.0037 and P<0.0001, respectively). Our results suggest that genetic polymorphism rs3209637 C within ATP2B2 is a risk factor for NIHL among Chinese employees and rs3209637 C could be a potential biomarker for NIHL patients.
Melatonin Protects Intervertebral Disc from Degeneration by Improving Cell Survival and Function via Activation of the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Ge Jun , Zhou Quan , Niu Junjie , Wang Yingjie , Yan Qi , Wu Cenhao , Qian Jiale , Yang Huilin , Zou Jun
Published: December 2019

Melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone secreted by the pineal body, has a positive effect on intervertebral disc degeneration. The present study is aimed at investigating the biological role of melatonin in intervertebral disc degeneration and its underlying mechanism. A human nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) line was exposed to melatonin at different concentrations. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of indicated genes. A rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration was established to detect the role and mechanism of melatonin on intervertebral disc degeneration. Our study showed that melatonin promoted NPC viability and inhibited cell arrest. Furthermore, melatonin treatment led to the upregulation of collagen II and aggrecan and downregulation of collagen X. Moreover, melatonin significantly elevated the activity of the ERK signaling pathway. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 signals reversed the role of melatonin in the regulation of NPCs both in vitro and in vivo. Melatonin increased NPC viability through inhibition of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, melatonin promoted the secretion of functional factors influencing the nucleus pulposus cell physiology and retarded cell degeneration. Our results suggest that melatonin activated the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, thereby affecting the biological properties of the intervertebral disc degeneration.
Application of Sum of Squares Method in Nonlinear H∞ Control for Satellite Attitude Maneuvers
Authors: Meng Fanwei , Wang Dini , Yang Penghui , Xie Guanzhou
Published: December 2019

The Hamilton–Jacobi–Issacs (HJI) inequality is the most basic relation in nonlinear H∞ design, to which no effective analytical solution is currently available. The sum of squares (SOS) method can numerically solve nonlinear problems that are not easy to solve analytically, but it still cannot solve HJI inequalities directly. In this paper, an HJI inequality suitable for SOS is firstly derived to solve the problem of nonconvex optimization. Then, the problems of SOS in nonlinear H∞ design are analyzed in detail. Finally, a two‐step iterative design method for solving nonlinear H∞ control is presented. The first step is to design an adjustable nonlinear state feedback of the gain array of the system using SOS. The second step is to solve the L2 gain of the system; the optimization problem is solved by a graphical analytical method. In the iterative design, a diagonally dominant design idea is proposed to reduce the numerical error of SOS. The nonlinear H∞ control design of a polynomial system for large satellite attitude maneuvers is taken as our example. Simulation results show that the SOS method is comparable to the LMI method used for linear systems, and it is expected to find a broad range of applications in the analysis and design of nonlinear systems.
C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP) Activates Macrophages and Promotes Liver Fibrosis inSchistosoma japonicum-Infected Mice
Authors: Duan Mengyun , Yang Yuan , Peng Shuang , Liu Xiaoqin , Zhong Jixin , Guo Yurong , Lu Min , Nie Hao , Ren Boxu , Zhang Xiangzhi , Liu Lian
Published: December 2019

CCAAT/enhancer-binding homologous protein (CHOP), a transcriptional regulator induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) is a pivotal factor in the ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway. Previous studies have shown that CHOP is involved in the formation of fibrosis in a variety of tissues and is associated with alternative macrophage activation. The role of CHOP in the pathologic effects of liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis has not been reported, and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study is aimed at understanding the effect of CHOP on liver fibrosis induced bySchistosoma japonicum(S. japonicum) in vivo and clarifying its mechanism. C57BL/6 mice were infected with cercariae ofS. japonicumthrough the abdominal skin. The liver fibrosis was examined. The level of IL-13 was observed. The expressions of CHOP, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), phosphorylation STAT6, interleukin-13 receptor alpha 1 (IL-13Rα1), and interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) were analysed. The eosinophilic granuloma and collagen deposition were found around the eggs in mice infected for 6 and 10 weeks. IL-13 in plasma and IL-13Rα1 and IL-4Rαin liver tissue were significantly increased. The phosphorylated STAT6 was enhanced while Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was decreased in liver tissue. The expression of CHOP and colocalization of CHOP and CD206 were increased. Overall, these results suggest that CHOP plays a critical role in hepatic fibrosis induced byS. japonicum, likely through promoting alternative activation of macrophages.
The Role of Journey Purpose in Road Traffic Injuries: A Bayesian Network Approach
Authors: Febres Juan Diego , Mohamadi Fatemeh , Mariscal Miguel. A. , Herrera S. , García-Herrero Susana
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Road traffic injuries are now regarded as the eighth leading cause of death globally. For example, in 2016, 102,362 traffic injuries took place in Spain in which 174,679 drivers suffered injuries. These findings necessitated the development of the current study which focuses on the prime factors that cause this type of injuries. The aim of this study, therefore, is to explore the behavioral factors that entail a higher risk of suffering either a serious or a fatal injury for drivers. Methods. The findings are based on information and data provided by “Dirección General de Tráfico” (DGT) in Spain on traffic injuries that occurred in the year 2016. Reviewing a wide range of the literature, the authors identified the most influential variables and created a model using the Bayesian networks. The variables that define the model are grouped into four factors: vehicle factor, road factor, circumstantial factor and human factor. Results. The results suggest that the principal variables that determine a higher probability of serious or fatal injuries in traffic injuries are: lack of using appropriate safety accessories, high-speed violations, distractions as well as errors. Finally, the research shows the severity probability based on reason of displacement (“in itinere,” on business, or in leisure).
Vibration Suppression and Isolation for Rapeseed Grain Cleaning Loss Sensor
Authors: Xu Lizhang , Liang Zhenwei , Wei Chuncai , Chai Xiaoyu , Li Yaoming
Published: December 2019

Rapeseed cleaning loss is an important factor to weigh rapeseed combine harvester performance. With the development of sensor technology, establishing a rapeseed cleaning loss monitoring system can be interesting and necessary. However, the rapeseed combine harvester made in China is always with larger vibration, which is not beneficial for sensor monitoring accuracy. Experiment results indicate that inertia force from vibrating sieve unbalanced motion has the greatest influence on the monitoring accuracy of the sensor in its installation position. To reduce the effect of vibration on monitoring accuracy of the sensor, the vibration absorption and isolation structure for cleaning loss sensor has been designed. Moreover, the vibration isolation design was performed on the basis of vibration suppression. The vibration isolation rubber was designed to isolate the vibration at the joint of the sensor with the frame. The experimental results shown that the above design can reduce the vibration disturbance and highlight the grain collision signal greatly, which is beneficial for improving the sensor discrimination ability.
Identification of a New Serine Alkaline Peptidase from the Moderately Halophilic Virgibacillus natechei sp. nov., Strain FarDT and its Application as Bioadditive for Peptide Synthesis and Laundry Detergent Formulations
Authors: Mechri Sondes , Bouacem Khelifa , Amziane Meriam , Dab Ahlem , Nateche Farida , Jaouadi Bassem
Published: December 2019

A new peptidase designated as SAPV produced from a moderately halophilic Virgibacillus natechei sp. nov., strain FarDT was investigated by purification to homogeneity followed by biochemical and molecular characterization purposes. Through optimization, it was determined that the optimum peptidase activity was 16,000 U/mL. It was achieved after 36 h incubation at 35°C in the optimized enzyme liquid medium (ELM) at pH 7.4 that contains only white shrimp shell by-product (60 g/L) as sole energy and carbon sources. The SAPV enzyme is a monomer protein with a molecular mass of 31 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration chromatography. The sequence of its NH2-terminal amino-acid residues showed homology with those of Bacillus peptidases S8/S53 superfamily. The SAPV showed optimal activity at pH 9 and 60°C. Irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity by diiodopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP) and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) confirmed its belonging to the serine peptidases. Considering its interesting biochemical characterization, the sapV gene was cloned, sequenced, and heterologously overexpressed in the extracellular fraction of E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS. The biochemical properties of the recombinant peptidase (rSAPV) were similar to those of the native one. The highest sequence identity value (97.66%) of SAPV was obtained with peptidase S8 from Virgibacillus massiliensis DSM 28587, with 9 amino-acid residues of difference. Interestingly, rSAPV showed an outstanding and high resistance to several organic solvents than SPVP from Aeribacillus pallidus VP3 and Thermolysin type X. Furthermore, rSAPV exhibited an excellent detergent stability and compatibility than Alcalase 2.4 L FG and Bioprotease N100L. Considering all these remarkable properties, rSAPV has attracted the interest of industrialists.
Phosphocreatine Improves Cardiac Dysfunction by Normalizing Mitochondrial Respiratory Function through JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Qaed Eskandar , Wang Jiaqi , Almoiliqy Marwan , Song Yanlin , Liu Wu , Chu Peng , Alademi Sawsan , Alademi Maria , Li Hailong , Alshwmi Mohammed , Al-Azab Mahmoud , Ahsan Anil , Mahdi Samar , Han Guozhu , Niu Mengyue , Ali Amr , Shopit Abdullah , Wang Hongyan , Li Xiaodong , Qaid Abdullah , Ma Xiaodong , Li Tong , Peng Jinyong , Ma Jing , Zhang Jianbin , Tang Zeyao
Published: December 2019

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the common cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that DCM is thoroughly related to mitochondrial energy impairment and increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, an ongoing study is developing strategies to protect cardiac mitochondria from diabetic complications, especially from hyperglycemia. Phosphocreatine (PCr) plays a major metabolic role in cardiac muscular cells including intracellular concentration of ATP which affects the activity of the myocardium. We hypothesized that PCr might improve oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport capacity in mitochondria impaired by hyperglycemia in vivo and in vitro. Also, we aimed to evaluate the protective effect of PCr against DCM through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The mitochondrial respiratory capacity from rats and H9C2 cells was measured by high-resolution respirometry (HRR). Expressions of proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 3, caspase 9, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9, as well as JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways, were determined by western blotting. ROS generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured with fluorescent probes. Type 1 diabetes mellitus was induced in Wistar male rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (80 mg/kg body weight). Our results revealed that PCr possessed protective effects against DCM injury by improving the mitochondrial bioenergetics and by positively exerting protective effects against DCM in vivo and in vitro, not only improving diabetes symptom, resulting in changes of cardiac tissue using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain, but also ameliorating biochemical changes. Moreover, PCr increased Bcl-2, caspase 3, and caspase 9 protein expressions and decreased Bax, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9 expressions as well as the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, PCr improves mitochondrial functions and exerts an antiapoptotic effect in vivo and in vitro exposed to oxidative stress by hyperglycemia through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that PCr medication is a possible therapeutic strategy for cardioprotection.
Novel Meaningful Image Encryption Based on Block Compressive Sensing
Authors: Pan Chen , Ye Guodong , Huang Xiaoling , Zhou Junwei
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes a new image compression-encryption algorithm based on a meaningful image encryption framework. In block compressed sensing, the plain image is divided into blocks, and subsequently, each block is rendered sparse. The zigzag scrambling method is used to scramble pixel positions in all the blocks, and subsequently, dimension reduction is undertaken via compressive sensing. To ensure the robustness and security of our algorithm and the convenience of subsequent embedding operations, each block is merged, quantized, and disturbed again to obtain the secret image. In particular, landscape paintings have a characteristic hazy beauty, and secret images can be camouflaged in them to some extent. For this reason, in this paper, a landscape painting is selected as the carrier image. After a 2-level discrete wavelet transform (DWT) of the carrier image, the low-frequency and high-frequency coefficients obtained are further subjected to a discrete cosine transform (DCT). The DCT is simultaneously applied to the secret image as well to split it. Next, it is embedded into the DCT coefficients of the low-frequency and high-frequency components, respectively. Finally, the encrypted image is obtained. The experimental results show that, under the same compression ratio, the proposed image compression-encryption algorithm has better reconstruction effect, stronger security and imperceptibility, lower computational complexity, shorter time consumption, and lesser storage space requirements than the existing ones.
HAVCR1 Affects the MEK/ERK Pathway in Gastric Adenocarcinomas and Influences Tumor Progression and Patient Outcome
Authors: Xue Ji , Li Ying , Yi Jianfeng , Jiang Hong
Published: December 2019

The hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1) gene as a sensitive and specific biomarker has been reported in various diseases. Especially, HAVCR1 overexpression promotes the development and progression of several human cancers. Hence, we aimed to detect the effects of HAVCR1 on gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). We first determined the expression of HAVCR1 in GAC tissues compared with normal gastric tissues based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using bioinformatics analysis methods. Then, we assessed the biological function of HAVCR1 in GAC cells using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot, cell counting kit-8- (CCK-) 8, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. Our results showed that HAVCR1 expression was upregulated in GAC tissues and positively associated with poor survival. Loss-of-function analyses indicated that knockdown of HAVCR1 inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of GAC cells. Furthermore, reduction of HAVCR1 in GAC cells can decrease the expression of phosphorylated MEK/ERK. These findings suggested that HAVCR1 may represent a potential biomarker for GAC prognosis, as well as a novel therapeutic target for GAC treatment.
Strategy for the Generation of Engineered Bone Constructs Based on Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expanded with Human Platelet Lysate
Authors: Silva-Cote Ingrid , Cruz-Barrera Mónica , Cañas-Arboleda Mariana , Correa-Araujo Luz , Méndez Leidi , Jagielska Joanna , Camacho Bernardo , Salguero Gustavo
Published: December 2019

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSC) are promising candidates for cell therapy due to their potent multilineage differentiation, enhanced self-renewal capacity, and immediate availability for clinical use. Clinical experience has demonstrated satisfactory biosafety profiles and feasibility of UC-MSC application in the allogeneic setting. However, the use of UC-MSC for bone regeneration has not been fully established. A major challenge in the generation of successful therapeutic strategies for bone engineering lies on the combination of highly functional proosteogenic MSC populations and bioactive matrix scaffolds. To address that, in this study we proposed a new approach for the generation of bone-like constructs based on UC-MSC expanded in human platelet lysate (hPL) and evaluated its potential to induce bone structures in vivo. In order to obtain UC-MSC for potential clinical use, we first assessed parameters such as the isolation method, growth supplementation, microbiological monitoring, and cryopreservation and performed full characterization of the cell product including phenotype, growth performance, tree-lineage differentiation, and gene expression. Finally, we evaluated bone-like constructs based on the combination of stimulated UC-MSC and collagen microbeads for in vivo bone formation. UC-MSC were successfully cultured from 100% of processed UC donors, and efficient cell derivation was observed at day 14±3 by the explant method. UC-MSC maintained mesenchymal cell morphology, phenotype, high cell growth performance, and probed multipotent differentiation capacity. No striking variations between donors were recorded. As expected, UC-MSC showed tree-lineage differentiation and gene expression profiles similar to bone marrow- and adipose-derived MSC. Importantly, upon osteogenic and endothelial induction, UC-MSC displayed strong proangiogenic and bone formation features. The combination of hPL-expanded MSC and collagen microbeads led to bone/vessel formation following implantation into an immune competent mouse model. Collectively, we developed a high-performance UC-MSC-based cell manufacturing bioprocess that fulfills the requirements for human application and triggers the potency and effectivity of cell-engineered scaffolds for bone regeneration.
Palmitic Acid Methyl Ester Induces G2/M Arrest in Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the p53/p21 Pathway
Authors: Lin Jian-Hong , Ting Pei-Ching , Lee Wen-Sen , Chiu Hung-Wen , Chien Chun-An , Liu Chin-Hung , Sun Li-Yi , Yang Kun-Ta
Published: December 2019

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (BM-MSCs) are able to differentiate into adipocytes, which can secrete adipokines to affect BM-MSC proliferation and differentiation. Recent evidences indicated that adipocytes can secrete fatty acid metabolites, such as palmitic acid methyl ester (PAME), which is able to cause vasorelaxation and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, effects of PAME on BM-MSC proliferation remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PAME on human BM-MSC (hBM-MSC) proliferation and its underlying molecular mechanisms. hBM-MSCs were treated with PAME for 48 h and then subjected to various analyses. The results from the present study show that PAME significantly reduced the levels of G2/M phase regulatory proteins, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), and cyclin B1 and inhibited proliferation in hBM-MSCs. Moreover, the level of Mdm2 protein decreased, while the levels of p21 and p53 protein increased in the PAME-treated hBM-MSCs. However, PAME treatment did not significantly affect apoptosis/necrosis, ROS generation, and the level of Cdc25C protein. PAME also induced intracellular acidosis and increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. Cotreatment with PAME and Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitors together further reduced the intracellular pH but did not affect the PAME-induced decreases of cell proliferation and increases of the cell population at the G2/M phase. Cotreatment with PAME and a calcium chelator together inhibited the PAME-increased intracellular Ca2+ levels but did not affect the PAME-induced cell proliferation inhibition and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the half-life of p53 protein was prolonged in the PAME-treated hBM-MSCs. Taken together, these results suggest that PAME induced p53 stabilization, which in turn increased the levels of p53/p21 proteins and decreased the levels of Cdk1/cyclin B1 proteins, thereby preventing the activation of Cdk1, and eventually caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. The findings from the present study might help get insight into the physiological roles of PAME in regulating hBM-MSC proliferation.
Oppo-Flood: An Energy-Efficient Data Dissemination Protocol for Asynchronous Duty-Cycled Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Cho Hyeonsang , So Jungmin
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we propose a data dissemination protocol for asynchronous duty-cycling wireless sensor networks. In an asynchronous duty-cycling network, each node independently selects its wake-up time. In this environment, data dissemination becomes energy consuming, because broadcasting a packet does reach all neighbors but only the neighbors that are awake at the time. A node can forward its packet to all neighbors by continuously transmitting the packet for a whole wake-up interval, but it leads to high energy consumption and high dissemination delay. The idea proposed in this paper is to use opportunistic forwarding, where each node forwards the packet to a neighbor that wakes up early and receives the packet. Each node forwards the packet, as long as there is a neighboring node that has not received the packet yet. The main benefit of this opportunistic forwarding-based dissemination is that every time a packet is disseminated, it may take a different path to reach the nodes. At the beginning of dissemination, a sender needs to transmit for a very short duration of time because there are plenty of neighboring nodes to receive the packet. As more nodes receive the packet, the transmit duration of the sender becomes longer, thus consuming more energy. Since the order of dissemination is different every time, energy consumption is naturally balanced among the nodes, without explicit measures. Through extensive simulations, we show that the proposed protocol achieves longer network lifetime and shorter dissemination delay compared to other dissemination protocols in various network environments.
Genes Involved in the Transcriptional Regulation of Pluripotency Are Expressed in Malignant Tumors of the Uterine Cervix and Can Induce Tumorigenic Capacity in a Nontumorigenic Cell Line
Authors: Ruiz Graciela , Valencia-González Heriberto A. , Pérez-Montiel Delia , Muñoz Felipe , Ocadiz-Delgado Rodolfo , Fernández-Retana Jorge , Pérez-Plasencia Carlos , Reséndis-Antonio Osbaldo , Gariglio Patricio , García-Carrancá Alejandro
Published: December 2019

Transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, C-MYC, and NANOG (OSKM-N) regulate pluripotency and stemness, and their ectopic expression reprograms human and murine fibroblasts that constitute the key of regenerative medicine. To determine their contribution to cell transformation, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of these transcription factors in cervical cancer samples and found that they are preferentially expressed in the tumor component. Also, cancer stem cell-enriched cultures grown as sphere cultures showed overexpression of OSKM-N genes. Importantly, we observed that lentiviral-mediated transduction of these factors confers, to a nontumorigenic immortalized human cell line, properties of cancer stem cells as the ability to form tumors in a mouse model. When we performed a meta-analysis using microarray data from cervical cancer biopsies and normal tissues, we found that the expression of OSKM-N and some target genes allowed separating tumor and normal tissues between samples, which enhanced the importance of OSKM-N in the tumorigenesis. Finally, we analyzed and compared both transcript and protein expression profiles of these factors within a cohort of patients with cervical cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the expression of OSKM-N is described to induce one of the main characteristics of the cancer stem cell, the tumorigenicity. And, more importantly, its exogenous expression in a nontumorigenic cell line is sufficient to induce a tumorigenic phenotype; furthermore, the differential expression of this transcription factor distinguishes tumor tissue and normal tissue in cervical samples.