bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Competitive exclusion of uropathogenicE. colibiofilm bySalmonellathrough matrix inhibition
Authors: Miryala Sandeep , Chandramohan S , Srinandan C. S. 
Published: January 2020

SummaryBiofilm is a predominant lifestyle of bacteria in host and non-host environments with cell collectives and extracellular matrix as the defining principles of biofilm. Several factors trigger biofilm formation including response to competition. Urinary tract infections (UTI) are highly prevalent worldwide and mainly caused by uropathogenicE. coli(UPEC), which progresses into chronic form due to the biofilm formation by the pathogen. In this study, we hypothesized that competition for territorial space could occur between species by intervening in the biofilm matrix production, particularly of UPEC, thereby reducing its colonizing ability. UPEC colony displays different morphology in congo red media based on matrix production, which we exploited for screening bacterial isolates capable of inhibiting the matrix. This was validated by using the cell-free supernatants of the isolates to impair UPEC biofilm. Isolates that inhibited matrix production belonged to species of Shigella, Escherichia, Enterobacter, and Salmonella from Enterobacteriaceae family. Competition experiments between the isolates and UPEC revealed spiteful interactions particularly during biofilm formation, indicating fierce competition for territorial space colonization. The isolateSalmonella entericaB1 could competitively exclude UPEC in the biofilm. Altogether, we show that interference competition by matrix inhibition occurs as a strategy by bacteria to colonize territorial space.
Risk of herpes zoster in the Japanese population with immunocompromising and chronic disease conditions: Results from a claims database cohort study, from 2005 to 2014
Authors: Imafuku Shinichi , Dormal Giulia , Goto Yasushi , Jégou Céline , Rosillon Dominique , Matsuki Taizo 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOlder adults, women and patients with immunocompromised (IC) or chronic medical conditions have a higher incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) and are at higher risk of developing HZ‐associated complications such as postherpetic neuralgia. The incidence rates of HZ in various IC and chronic conditions have been previously reported in a retrospective cohort study using claims data from Japanese adults. Here, we report further analyses from this cohort using univariate and multivariable Cox regression to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) associated with different IC and chronic conditions. After adjusting for multiple covariates (age, sex and other coexisting medical conditions), the risk of HZ was higher in women (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.11–1.17]), irrespective of age and increased with increasing age, being substantially higher in patients aged 65 years or older (HR, 3.28 [95% CI, 3.07–3.49]) when compared with those aged 18–29 years. The highest HRs were observed for the following specific IC conditions; hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HR, 9.85 [95% CI, 6.80–14.28]), hematological malignancy (HR, 3.22 [95% CI, 2.54–4.09]), systemic lupus erythematosus (HR, 2.46 [95% CI, 1.45–4.15]) and inflammatory bowel disease (HR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.14–2.21]). For most other IC and chronic medical conditions, a higher risk was also apparent though of a smaller magnitude (HRs ranging from 1.2 to <1.5). These results corroborate our previous findings and demonstrate an increased risk of HZ associated with different IC and chronic conditions.
Improved melanoma outcomes and survival in patients monitored by total body photography: A natural experiment
Authors: Strunck Jennifer L. , Smart Tristan C. , Boucher Kenneth M. , Secrest Aaron M. , Grossman Douglas 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTotal body photography (TBP) facilitates early melanoma detection, but long‐term outcomes have not been well studied. Our objectives were to examine melanoma diagnoses, role of TBP‐associated follow‐up visits, and survival in patients monitored by TBP. A total of 1955 patients meeting inclusion criteria received TBP from 2004–2013 at a single academic center. We compared the melanoma diagnoses and overall survival of 1253 patients with any follow‐up visits (median, three visits; range, 1–18) and 702 patients with no follow‐up visits. Use of TBP photographs influenced decision to biopsy 66 of 121 (54.5%) melanomas diagnosed after TBP. Lower invasive melanoma Breslow depth was significantly associated with having one or more follow‐up visit (median, 0.83 vs 0.33 mm; P = .002) and photographic review (median, 0.31 vs 0.48 mm; P = 0.02). In multivariable analyses, greater overall survival was significantly associated with having one or more follow‐up visit after TBP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.91; P < 0.032) and having more than 100 nevi (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22–0.64; P = 0.004). Worse overall survival was significantly associated with increasing age (HR per year, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04–1.08; P < 0.001) and male sex (HR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.48–4.73; P = 0.001). Thus, monitoring by TBP was associated with subsequent melanoma diagnoses of lower stage and depth and greater overall survival.
Body mass index in psoriatic patients with or without familial psoriasis
Authors: Bayaraa Bolortuya , Arima Hisatomi , Imafuku Shinichi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The occurrence of psoriasis in family members indicates a genetic predisposition, while obesity is also a major contributor to psoriasis. We examined whether patients with versus without familial psoriasis were obese at the onset of psoriasis. Clinical information, including age at onset, age at first visit and body mass index (BMI) at first visit, was extracted from the Fukuoka University Psoriasis Registry. To compare BMI, patients aged 10 years or older who visited the clinic within 3 years of onset were selected. Familial psoriasis was observed in 27 patients (15 male, 12 female) out of 428 individuals (264 male, 164 female) with psoriasis, accounting for 6.3% of cases. Age at onset was younger for both men and women with familial psoriasis (34 ± 17 and 40 ± 15 years, respectively) relative to those with non‐familial psoriasis (48 ± 19 and 53 ± 19 years, respectively). We examined age‐ and sex‐adjusted average values of BMI at initial presentation after onset of psoriasis, finding that patients with familial psoriasis had lower BMI (22.0 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval, 21.8–22.4]) than those with non‐familial psoriasis (23.2 [23.1–23.3], P < 0.001). Individuals with a family history of psoriasis should be considered to be at risk for developing the disease even if obesity is not present.
Impact of rainfall seasonality on intraspecific trait variation in a shrub from a Mediterranean climate
Authors: Moore Timothy E. , Jones Cynthia S. , Chong Caroline , Schlichting Carl D. 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Selection pressures along climate gradients give rise to predictable variation in plant functional traits of individual species suggestive of local adaptation. Species whose ranges include winter rainfall, Mediterranean climates, or other strongly seasonal climates, may be exposed to divergent selection pressures at different ends of seasonality gradients.

Here, we evaluate how rainfall seasonality in conjunction with other key climatic variables impacts patterns of trait variation in Pelargonium scabrum, a woody shrub from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. This biodiversity hotspot encompasses a Mediterranean climate (wet winters and hot, dry summers) and displays steep gradients in temperature and water availability.

We used Bayesian regression models to evaluate leaf trait–trait and trait–climate relationships among 26 populations. Models included rainfall seasonality and its interaction with other climate variables (mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) as predictors to test for the impact of climate variation on three leaf traits: size, dissection and leaf mass per area (LMA). We evaluated model explanatory power by calculating Bayesian R2 values, and predictive power via leave‐one‐out cross‐validation.

Trait–trait associations were modulated by rainfall seasonality, including a reversal in the relationship between leaf size and dissection depending on the proportion of rain received in winter. Trait–climate models were improved by including rainfall seasonality as a predictor for both explanatory and predictive power. For leaf dissection and LMA, we detected significant interactions between rainfall seasonality and other environmental variables, leading to reversals in the relationships between these traits and the three environmental variables depending on the proportion of winter rainfall.

Differences in the timing of rainfall, coupled with strong differences in the covariation of climate variables, impose divergent selection pressures on P. scabrum populations resulting in divergence of trait values, trait integration and responses to climate gradients. These patterns are consistent with local adaptation of P. scabrum populations mediated by the interactions between temperature and the amount and timing of rainfall. Species arrayed along broad climate gradients represent an excellent opportunity for investigating patterns of trait variation and abundances and distributions of species in relation to future changes in climate.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
To mate, or not to mate: The evolution of reproductive diapause facilitates insect radiation into African savannahs in the Late Miocene
Authors: Halali Sridhar , Brakefield Paul M. , Collins Steve C. , Brattström Oskar 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Many tropical environments experience cyclical seasonal changes, frequently with pronounced wet and dry seasons, leading to a highly uneven temporal distribution of resources. Short‐lived animals inhabiting such environments often show season‐specific adaptations to cope with alternating selection pressures.

African Bicyclus butterflies show strong seasonal polyphenism in a suite of phenotypic and life‐history traits, and their adults are thought to undergo reproductive diapause associated with the lack of available larval host plants during the dry season.

Using 3 years of longitudinal field data for three species in Malawi, dissections demonstrated that one forest species reproduces continuously, whereas two savannah species undergo reproductive diapause in the dry season, either with or without pre‐diapause mating. Using additional data from field‐collected and museum samples, we then documented the same three mating strategies for a further 37 species.

Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the ancestral state was a non‐diapausing forest species, and that habitat preference and mating strategy evolved in a correlated fashion.

Bicyclus butterflies underwent rapid diversification during the Late Miocene, coinciding with expansions into more open savannah habitat. We conclude that the ability to undergo reproductive diapause was a key trait that facilitated colonization and eventual radiation into savannahs in the Late Miocene.
Long non‐coding RNA UCA1 promotes autophagy by targeting miR‐96‐5p in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Li Jia Jia , Chen Xiao Feng , Wang Meng , Zhang Ping Ping , Zhang Feng , Zhang Jing Jing 
Published: January 2020

AbstractLong non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial carcinoma‐associated 1 (UCA1) has been identified as an oncogene and is involved in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Autophagy contributes to tumourigenesis and cancer cell survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of UCA1 in AML cell viability by its effect on autophagy. The expression of UCA1, miR‐96‐5p, and ATG7 was determined by qRT‐PCR and western blot. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay. The autophagy level was assessed by green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐LC3 immunofluorescence and western blot. The interaction between UCA1 and miR‐96‐5p or ATG7 was analyzed by luciferase reporter activity. The results showed that UCA1 promoted AML cell proliferation by inducing autophagy. Mechanistically, UCA1 acted as a sponge of miR‐96‐5p by binding to miR‐96‐5p. ATG7 was a direct target of miR‐96‐5p and positively regulated by UCA1. Further results showed that the miR‐96‐5p mimic effectively counteracted the UCA1 overexpression‐mediated induction of the ATG7/autophagy pathway. Collectively, UCA1 functions as a sponge of miR‐96‐5p to upregulate its target ATG7, thereby resulting in autophagy induction. Our findings reveal a UCA1‐mediated molecular mechanism responsible for autophagy induction in AML and help to improve the understanding of the molecular mechanism of AML progression.
Fetal growth and fetoplacental circulation in pregnancies following bariatric surgery: a prospective study
Authors: Maric T , Kanu C , Muller DC , Tzoulaki I , Johnson MR , Savvidou MD 
Published: January 2020

ObjectiveTo investigate the intrauterine fetal growth pattern and fetoplacental circulation in pregnancies following bariatric surgery.DesignProspective study.SettingMaternity Unit, UK.PopulationOne hundred and sixty‐two pregnant women; 54 with previous bariatric surgery and 108 with no surgery but similar booking body mass index.MethodsParticipants were seen at 11–14, 20–24, 30–33 and 35–37 weeks of gestation and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at 27–30 weeks. Fetal head and abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), estimated fetal weight (EFW) and fetoplacental Dopplers were measured at three time‐points in pregnancy. Birthweight (BW) was recorded. Variables were modelled after adjustment for maternal/pregnancy characteristics. Model estimates are reported as posterior means and quantile‐based 90% credible intervals (CrI).Main outcome measuresFetal biometry, fetoplacental Doppler, BW.ResultsCompared with the no surgery group, the post‐bariatric surgery group had lower EFW during gestation (up to −120 g; [−189 g, −51 g] lighter) at 35–37 weeks, with smaller AC and FL. Similarly, infants of mothers with previous bariatric surgery had lower average BW [−202 g [−330 g, −72 g] lighter). Overall, there was no difference in the fetoplacental Doppler indices between groups but maternal glucose levels at OGTT were positively correlated with third‐trimester EFW and BW.ConclusionsFetuses of women with previous bariatric surgery are smaller during pregnancy and at birth, compared with those of women without such surgery, and this may be related to the lower maternal glucose levels seen in the former population. The fetoplacental circulation appears not to be altered by maternal weight loss surgery.Tweetable abstractOffspring of post‐bariatric women are smaller during pregnancy and at birth but this is not due to placental insufficiency.
Living‐donor liver transplantation for children with tyrosinemia type I
Authors: Liu Yuan , Luo Yi , Xia Lei , Qiu Bi Jun , Zhou Tao , Feng Ming Xuan , Xue Feng , Chen Xiao Song , Han Lian Shu , Zhang Jian Jun , Xia Qiang 
Published: January 2020

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of living‐donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in children with tyrosinemia type I.MethodsAltogether 10 patients diagnosed with tyrosinemia type I underwent LDLT between June 2013 and April 2019. Cirrhosis was the indication for LDLT in all 10 patients, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was suspected in nine. Patients' outcomes, including liver function, restoration of metabolism, quality of life and physical development, were analyzed after LDLT.ResultsAll recipients were alive with a normal liver function after a median follow‐up period of 49 months. Pathological examinations detected HCC in one patient, dysplasia in five and cirrhosis in all. Nine patients were found to have elevated alpha‐fetoprotein level, and their median alpha‐fetoprotein level dropped from 2520 ng/mL to a normal level after LDLT, with no recurrence of HCC detected during the follow‐up. Tyrosine metabolism was restored to its normal level with normalized plasma tyrosine and succinylacetone concentrations. Moreover, urinary succinylacetone excretion decreased significantly during the follow up. LDLT improved patients’ renal tubular function, as evidenced by the normalized plasma phosphate concentration and improved glomerular filtration rate. Severe rickets symptoms, including spontaneous fractures and bone pain, were also ameliorated. Improved motor function was reported by all patients' parents during the follow‐up. Dietary restriction was no longer required, which was associated with a favorable catch‐up in growth and improved quality of life. Complete resolution of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was observed one year after LDLT in one patient.ConclusionLDLT is an effective treatment for patients with end‐stage liver disease resulting from tyrosinemia type I.
LncRNA SNHG16 promotes non‐small cell lung cancer development through regulating EphA2 expression by sponging miR‐520a‐3p
Authors: Yu Lin , Chen Dewen , Song Jie 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundRecent evidence has found that lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) was associated with cell carcinogenesis in NSCLC. Here, we further investigated the precise functions and mechanisms of SNHG16 in NSCLC progression.MethodsThe expression of SNHG16, microRNA (miR)‐520a‐3p and EPH Receptor A2 (EphA2) was measured using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation was determined using 3‐(4, 5)‐dimethylthiahiazo (−z‐y1)‐3, 5‐di‐phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay. The migrated and invaded cells were measured by Transwell assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cells. The interaction between miR‐520a‐3p and SNHG16 or EphA2 was confirmed using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay.ResultsWe found that SNHG16 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, knockdown of SNHG16 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo. MiR‐520a‐3p directly bound to SNHG16 and miR‐520a‐3p, and SNHG16 acted as a ceRNA in regulating EphA2 through competitively binding to miR‐520a‐3p. Additionally, rescue assay exhibited the anticancer activity mediated by SNHG16 knockdown on NSCLC could be reversed by miR‐520a‐3p inhibition or EphA2 overexpression.ConclusionSNHG16 promoted NSCLC development by regulating the miR‐520a‐3p/EphA2 axis, suggesting novel insights for the pathogenesis of NSCLC and new potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of NSCLC.Key points
Knockdown of SNHG16 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo.
SNHG16 directly interacted with miR‐520a‐3p.
EphA2 was a target of miR‐520a‐3p.
SNHG16 could regulate the expression of EphA2 by binding to miR‐520a‐3p.
SNHG16 promoted NSCLC development by regulating the miR‐520a‐3p/EphA2 axis.
Presence–absence sampling for estimating plant density using survey data with variable plot size
Authors: Ståhl Göran , Ekström Magnus , Dahlgren Jonas , Esseen Per‐Anders , Grafström Anton , Jonsson Bengt‐Gunnar 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPresence–absence sampling is an important method for monitoring state and change of both individual plant species and communities. With this method, only the presence or absence of the target species is recorded on plots and thus the method is straightforward to apply and less prone to surveyor judgement compared to other vegetation monitoring methods. However, in the basic setting, all plots must be equally large or otherwise it is unclear how data should be analysed. In this study, we propose and evaluate five different methods for estimating plant density based on presence–absence registrations from surveys with variable plot sizes.Using artificial plant population data as well as empirical data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, we evaluated the performance of the proposed methods. The main analysis was conducted through sampling simulation in artificial populations, whereby bias and variance of density estimators for the different methods were quantified and compared.Both for state and change estimation of plant density, we found that the best method to handle variable plot size was to perform generalized least squares regression, using plot size as an independent variable. Methods where plots smaller than a certain threshold were excluded or their registrations recalculated were, however, almost as good. Using all registrations as if they were obtained from plots with the nominal plot size resulted in substantial bias.Our findings are important for plant population studies in a wide range of environmental monitoring programmes. In these programmes, plots are typically randomly laid out and may be located across boundaries between different land‐use or land‐cover classes, resulting in subplots of variable size. Such splitting of plots is common when large plots are used, for example, with the 100 m2plots used in the Swedish National Forest Inventory. Our methods overcome problems to estimate plant density from presence–absence data observed in plots that vary in size.
A common signaling pathway leading to degranulation in mast cells and its regulation by CCR1‐ligand
Authors: Chang Hyeun Wook , Kanegasaki Shiro , Jin Fansi , Deng Yifeng , You Zhiwei , Chang Jae‐Hoon , Kim Dong Young , Timilshina Maheshwor , Kim Jae‐Ryong , Lee Youn Ju , Toyama‐Sorimachi Noriko , Tsuchiya Tomoko 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundSignal transduction pathways mediated by various receptors expressed on mast cells are thought to be complex, and inhibitory signals that turn off activating signals are not known.MethodsUpstream signaling cascades mediated by several known receptors in bone marrow‐derived mast cells that lead to degranulation and mediator release were studied by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Small interfering RNAs and knockout mice were used to confirm findings.ResultsAll ligands tested including IgE/Ag, SCF, HSP70, CCL3, and its valiant eMIP induced phosphorylation of linker for activation of T cells (LAT), which triggered their receptor‐mediated downstream signaling cascades that controlled degranulation and mediator release. Phosphorylation of lymphocyte‐specific protein kinase (Lck) was induced by each ligand, which commonly played an indispensable role in LAT phosphorylation. In contrast, phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase was additionally induced in cells stimulated only with IgE/Ag and SCF, which is also associated with LAT phosphorylation in part. Degranulation and mediator release induced by IgE/Ag, SCF, or HSP70 were enhanced by nanomolar doses of CCR1 ligands CCL3 and eMIP via enhanced LAT phosphorylation. On the other hand, micromolar doses of CCR1 ligand inhibited degranulation and mediator release from mast cells stimulated with IgE/Ag, SCF, or HSP70 by de‐phosphorylation of phosphorylated Lck with Src homology region 2 domain‐containing phosphatase‐1.ConclusionsLinker for activation of T cells plays a central role in signal transduction pathways in mast cells stimulated with any ligand tested. Dose‐dependent alternate costimulation and inhibition of CCR1 ligands in IgE/Ag‐, SCF‐, or HSP70‐stimulated mast cells occur at the level of Lck‐LAT phosphorylation.