bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bystander effects of ionizing radiation: conditioned media from X-ray irradiated MCF-7 cells increases the angiogenic ability of endothelial cells
Authors: Jabbari Nasrollah , Nawaz Muhammad , Rezaie Jafar 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Non-targeting effects of radiotherapy have become as clinical concern due to secondary tumorigenesis in the patients receiving radiotherapy. Radiotherapy also affects non-tumoral cells present in the tumor microenvironment and surrounding tissues. As such, the irradiated cells are thought to communicate the signals that promote secondary tumorigenesis by affecting the function and fate of non-irradiated cells in the vicinity including endothelial cells. This may include up-regulation of genes in irradiated cells, secretion of paracrine factors and induction of gene expression in surrounding non-irradiated cells, which favor cell survival and secondary tumorigenesis. In the current study, we aimed to investigate whether the conditioned media from X-ray irradiated MCF-7 cells contribute to induction of gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and modulate their angiogenic capability and migration.

Methods
Following the co-culturing of X-ray irradiated MCF-7 media with HUVECs, the migration and wound healing rate of HUVECs was monitored using Transwell plate and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. The levels of angiogenic protein i.e. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in the conditioned media of MCF-7 cells was measured using ELISA. Additionally, we quantified mRNA levels of VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1 genes in HUVECs by real time-PCR. Tubulogenesis capacity of endothelial cells was measured by growth factor reduced Matrigel matrix, whereas expression of CD34 (a marker of angiogenic tip cells) was detected by flow cytometry.

Results
Data showed that VEGF-A protein content of conditioned media of irradiated MCF-7 cells was increased (P < 0.05) with increase in dose. Data showed that irradiated conditioned media from MCF-7 cells, when incubated with HUVECs, significantly enhanced the cell migration and wound healing rate of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1 were dose-dependently enhanced in HUVECs incubated with irradiated conditioned media (P < 0.05). Importantly, HUVECs treated with irradiated conditioned media showed a marked increase in the tube formation capability as well as in expression of CD34 marker (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Our findings indicate that conditioned media from irradiated MCF-7 cells induce angiogenic responses in endothelial cells in vitro, which could be due to transfer of overexpressed VEGF-A and possibly other factors secreted from irradiated MCF-7 cells to endothelial cells, and induction of intrinsic genes (VEGFR-2, HSP-70, Ang-2, and Ang-1) in endothelial cells.

Graphical abstract
Health-related quality of life during early aggressive treatment in patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tarkiainen Maarit , Tynjälä Pirjo , Vähäsalo Paula , Kröger Liisa , Aalto Kristiina , Lahdenne Pekka 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) may cause significant impairment in health-related quality of life (HrQoL), despite effective therapies. The aim of this study was to assess HrQoL during first-year treatment in patients with new-onset polyarticular JIA, and to compare treatment strategies.

Methods
In ACUTE-JIA Study, 60 patients with new-onset JIA were randomized to receive either infliximab with methotrexate (IFX+MTX); a triple therapy of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine (Triple); or methotrexate monotherapy (MTX). Efficacy was measured with American College of Rheumatology pediatric (ACRp) score, and juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS). HrQoL was evaluated with Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), which includes physical and psychosocial summary scores (PhS and PsS). Linear mixed models were utilized to compare groups over time.

Results
In the whole group of 60 patients, mean physical summary score (PhS) improved from 26.2 (SD 8.7) at week 0 to 49.7 (SD 13.2) at week 54 (p=0.046). Mean improvement of PhS was 20.3 (95% CI -15.5 to 56.2); 22.6 (-19.5 to 64.7); and 26.6 (-12.1 to 65.3) in IFX+MTX, Triple, and MTX, respectively. Changes in psychosocial summary score (PsS) were smaller: from 51.0 (SD 8.5) to 54.7 (6.3) (p=0.019) in all patients. No differences between the three treatment groups were detected in either of the measures. In multivariate analyses, Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), pain VAS, and time spent in inactive disease contributed to improvement in PhS; gender and CHAQ to PsS.

Conclusions
HrQol improved during the first year on therapy for JIA irrespective of the treatment strategy. The timing of change in the different dimensions of HrQoL varied; improvement occurred earlier in physical than psychosocial domains of HrQol.

Trial registration
This study was registered within the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (http://www.hus.fi) clinical trials, number 211864 in October 2002, and later on with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01015547.
Cardiovascular disease risk in an urban African population: a cross-sectional analysis on the role of HIV and antiretroviral treatment
Authors: Vos Alinda G. , Hoeve Klariska , Barth Roos E. , Peper Joyce , Moorhouse Michelle , Crowther Nigel J. , Venter Willem D. F. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Bots Michiel L. , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Life expectancy is increasing in the HIV-positive population and age-related non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, (CVD) are seen more frequently. This study investigated to what extent HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with CVD risk in an urban African population.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed in Johannesburg, South Africa, between July 2016 and November 2017. Both HIV-positive adults (ART-naïve, or on first- or second-line ART), as well as age and sex matched HIV-negative controls who were family or friends of the HIV-positive participants were included. Data were collected on demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, HIV-related characteristics, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid distensibility. The association between HIV, ART and CIMT and distensibility was analysed with linear regression models, adjusting for age, gender and CVD risk factors.

Results
The study included 548 participants, 337 (62%) females, age 38.3 ± 9.5 years of whom 104 (19.0%) were HIV-positive, ART-naïve; 94 (17.2%) were on first-line ART; 197 (35.9%) were on second-line ART; and 153 (27.9%) were HIV-negative. Participants on second-line ART had higher CIMT and lower distensibility compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, these outcomes were similar between groups. Further adjustment for CVD and HIV-related factors did not alter the findings.

Conclusion
Neither HIV nor ART was associated with CIMT or carotid distensibility in this urban African population. Longitudinal studies are needed to fully understand the relationship between HIV and CVD across different populations.
STLV-1 as a model for studying HTLV-1 infection
Authors: Jégado Brice , Kashanchi Fatah , Dutartre Hélène , Mahieux Renaud 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFew years after HTLV-1 identification and isolation in humans, STLV-1, its simian counterpart, was discovered. It then became clear that STLV-1 is present almost in all simian species. Subsequent molecular epidemiology studies demonstrated that, apart from HTLV-1 subtype A, all human subtypes have a simian homolog. As HTLV-1, STLV-1 is the etiological agent of ATL, while no case of TSP/HAM has been described. Given its similarities with HTLV-1, STLV-1 represents a unique tool used for performing clinical studies, vaccine studies as well as basic science.
HIV-1 Rev interacts with HERV-K RcREs present in the human genome and promotes export of unspliced HERV-K proviral RNA
Authors: Gray Laurie R. , Jackson Rachel E. , Jackson Patrick E. H. , Bekiranov Stefan , Rekosh David , Hammarskjöld Marie-Louise 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe HERV-K (HML-2) viruses are the youngest of the human endogenous retroviruses. They are present as several almost complete proviral copies and numerous fragments in the human genome. Many HERV-K proviruses express a regulatory protein Rec, which binds to an element present in HERV-K mRNAs called the RcRE. This interaction is necessary for the nucleo-cytoplasmic export and expression of HERV-K mRNAs that retain introns and plays a role analogous to that of Rev and the RRE in HIV replication. There are over 900 HERV-K RcREs distributed throughout the human genome. Thus, it was of interest to determine if Rev could functionally interact with selected RcRE elements that map either to HERV-K proviruses or human gene regions. This interaction would have the potential to alter the expression of both HERV-K mRNAs and cellular mRNAs during HIV-1 infection.ResultsIn this study we employed a combination of RNAseq, bioinformatics and cell-based functional assays. Potential RcREs were identified through a number of bioinformatic approaches. They were then tested for their ability to promote export and translation of a reporter mRNA with a retained intron in conjunction with Rev or Rec. Some of the selected elements functioned well with either Rev, Rec or both, whereas some showed little or no function. Rev function on individual RcREs varied and was also dependent on the Rev sequence. We also performed RNAseq on total and cytoplasmic RNA isolated from SupT1 cells expressing HIV Rev, with or without Tat, or HERV-K Rec. Proviral mRNA from three HERV-K loci (4p16.1b, 22q11.23 and most significantly 3q12.3) accumulated in the cytoplasm in the presence of Rev or Tat and Rev, but not Rec. Consistent with this, the 3′ RcRE from 3q12.3 functioned well with HIV-Rev in our reporter assay. In contrast, this RcRE showed little or no function with Rec.ConclusionsThe HIV Rev protein can functionally interact with many RcREs present in the human genome, depending on the RcRE sequence, as well as the Rev sequence. This leads to export of some of the HERV-K proviral mRNAs and also has the potential to change the expression of non-viral genes.
Melatonin is responsible for rice resistance to rice stripe virus infection through a nitric oxide-dependent pathway
Authors: Lu Rongfei , Liu Zhiyang , Shao Yudong , Sun Feng , Zhang Yali , Cui Jin , Zhou Yijun , Shen Wenbiao , Zhou Tong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRice stripe virus (RSV) causes one of the most important rice virus diseases of plants in East Asia. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling rice resistance to RSV infection are largely unknown. Recently, several studies presented a novel model that melatonin (MT) and nitric oxide (NO) participate in the plant-pathogen interaction in a synergetic manner. In this study, there was a difference in MT content between two rice varieties that correlated with one being susceptible and one being resistant to RSV, which suggested that MT is related to RSV resistance. In addition, a test with two NO biosynthesis inhibitors revealed that NO inhibitor were able to increase the disease incidence of RSV. A pharmacological experiment with exogenous MT and NO showed that increased MT and NO in the MT-pretreated plants led to lower disease incidences; however, only NO increased in a NO-releasing reagent [sodium nitroprusside (SNP)] pretreated plants. The expressions level of OsPR1b and OsWRKY 45 were significantly induced by MT and NO. These results suggest that rice resistance to RSV can be improved by increased MT through a NO-dependent pathway.
Endothelial IL-8 induced by porcine circovirus type 2 affects dendritic cell maturation and antigen-presenting function
Authors: Liu Shiyu , Li Qiuming , Qiao Jinzeng , Wang Jianfang , Cui Defeng , Gu Kewei , Zhou Shuanghai , Li Huanrong 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Porcine circovirus (PCV) disease caused by PCV type 2 (PCV2) is mainly attributed to immunosuppression and immune damage. PCV2 can infect vascular endothelial cells and induce high expression of endothelial IL-8. Dendritic cells (DCs), as professional antigen-presenting cells, can not only present antigens but also activate naïve T-cells, causing an immune response.

Methods
To demonstrate whether endothelial IL-8 is the main factor inhibiting the maturation and related functions of dendritic cells during PCV2 infection, monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) and porcine iliac artery endothelial cells (PIECs) processed by different methods were co-cultured in two ways. Flow cytometry, molecular probe labeling, fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the MTS assay were used to detect the changes in related functions and molecules of MoDCs.

Results
Compared to those in the PIEC-DC group, the endothelial IL-8 upregulation co-culture group showed significantly lower double-positive rates for CD80/86 and MHC-II of MoDCs and significantly increased endocytosis of MoDCs. Meanwhile, the adhesion rate and average fluorescence intensity of MoDCs were significantly downregulated in migration and adhesion experiments. Furthermore, the MHC-I and LAMP7 mRNA levels in MoDCs and the proliferation of MoDC-stimulated T-cells were markedly reduced. However, the changes in MoDCs of the endothelial IL-8 downregulation co-culture group were the opposite.

Conclusions
PCV2-induced endothelial IL-8 reduces the adhesion and migration ability of MoDCs, resulting in a decreased maturation rate of MoDCs, and further inhibits antigen presentation by DCs. These results may explain the immunosuppressive mechanism of PCV2 from the perspective of the interaction between endothelial cells and DCs in vitro.
Mapping of CD4+ T-cell epitopes in bovine leukemia virus from five cattle with differential susceptibilities to bovine leukemia virus disease progression
Authors: Bai Lanlan , Takeshima Shin-nosuke , Sato Masaaki , Davis William C. , Wada Satoshi , Kohara Junko , Aida Yoko 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundBovine leukemia virus (BLV), which is closely related to human T-cell leukemia virus, is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, a disease characterized by a highly prolonged course involving persistent lymphocytosis and B-cell lymphoma. The bovine major histocompatibility complex class II region plays a key role in the subclinical progression of BLV infection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the roles of CD4+T-cell epitopes in disease progression in cattle.MethodsWe examined five Japanese Black cattle, including three disease-susceptible animals, one disease-resistant animal, and one normal animal, classified according to genotyping of bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3andBoLA-DQA1alleles using polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing methods. All cattle were inoculated with BLV-infected blood collected from BLV experimentally infected cattle and then subjected to CD4+T-cell epitope mapping by cell proliferation assays.ResultsFive Japanese Black cattle were successfully infected with BLV, and CD4+T-cell epitope mapping was then conducted. Disease-resistant and normal cattle showed low and moderate proviral loads and harbored six or five types of CD4+T-cell epitopes, respectively. In contrast, the one of three disease-susceptible cattle with the highest proviral load did not harbor CD4+T-cell epitopes, and two of three other cattle with high proviral loads each had only one epitope. Thus, the CD4+T-cell epitope repertoire was less frequent in disease-susceptible cattle than in other cattle.ConclusionAlthough only a few cattle were included in this study, our results showed that CD4+T-cell epitopes may be associated withBoLA-DRB3-DQA1haplotypes, which conferred differential susceptibilities to BLV proviral loads. These CD4+T-cell epitopes could be useful for the design of anti-BLV vaccines targeting disease-susceptible Japanese Black cattle. Further studies of CD4+T-cell epitopes in other breeds and using larger numbers of cattle with differential susceptibilities are required to confirm these findings.
Women’s advice to healthcare professionals regarding breastfeeding: “offer sensitive individualized breastfeeding support”- an interview study
Authors: Blixt Ingrid , Johansson Margareta , Hildingsson Ingegerd , Papoutsi Zoi , Rubertsson Christine 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary food up to 2 years of age or beyond. Few women achieve this recommendation in Sweden, and they often stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like. Investigating women’s advice to healthcare professionals is important for the provision of optimal breastfeeding support. The aim of this study was to explore women’s advice to healthcare professionals regarding support for continuing to breastfeed for at least 6 months.

Methods
This investigation used an exploratory study design, and a purposive sample of women was recruited between 2015 and 2016 through social media platforms. The work is a follow-up of an earlier study exploring women’s perceptions of the factors that assisted them in breastfeeding for at least 6 months. Telephone interviews were conducted with 139 Swedish women who reported that they had breastfed for at least 6 months. Women were asked the question, “Do you have any advice that you would like to give to healthcare professionals regarding breastfeeding support?”. The data were analysed using content analysis.

Results
The theme, “Professionals need to offer women sensitive, individualized breastfeeding support to promote a positive breastfeeding experience”, describes the women’s advice based on five categories: 1) providing evidence-based care, 2) preparing expectant parents during pregnancy, 3) creating a respectful and mutual dialogue, 4) offering individual solutions to breastfeeding problems, and 5) offering practical support.

Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of professionals providing evidence-based breastfeeding support in a sensitive and individualized manner. This consideration is an important prerequisite to strengthening women’s self-confidence and assisting them in reaching their breastfeeding goals, which may enhance the positive nature of their breastfeeding experience.
A protocol for laser microdissection (LMD) followed by transcriptome analysis of plant reproductive tissue in phylogenetically distant angiosperms
Authors: Kivivirta Kimmo , Herbert Denise , Lange Matthias , Beuerlein Knut , Altmüller Janine , Becker Annette 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundPlant development is controlled by the action of many, often connected gene regulatory networks. Differential gene expression controlled by internal and external cues is a major driver of growth and time specific differentiation in plants. Transcriptome analysis is the state-of-the-art method to detect spatio-temporal changes in gene expression during development. Monitoring changes in gene expression at early stages or in small plant organs and tissues requires an accurate technique of tissue isolation, which subsequently results in RNA of sufficient quality and quantity. Laser-microdissection enables such accurate dissection and collection of desired tissue from sectioned material at a microscopic level for RNA extraction and subsequent downstream analyses, such as transcriptome, proteome, genome or miRNA.ResultsA protocol for laser-microdissection, RNA extraction and RNA-seq was optimized and verified for three distant angiosperm species:Arabidopsis thaliana(Brassicaceae),Oryza sativa(Poaceae) andEschscholzia californica(Papaveraceae). Previously published protocols were improved in processing speed by reducing the vacuum intensity and incubation time during tissue fixation and incubation time and cryoprotection and by applying adhesive tape. The sample preparation and sectioning of complex and heterogenous flowers produced adequate histological quality and subsequent RNA extraction from micro-dissected gynoecia reliably generated samples of sufficient quality and quantity on all species for RNA-seq. Expression analysis of growth stage specificA. thalianaandO. sativatranscriptomes showed distinct patterns of expression of chromatin remodelers on different time points of gynoecium morphogenesis from the initiation of development to post-meiotic stages.ConclusionHere we describe a protocol for plant tissue preparation, cryoprotection, cryo-sectioning, laser microdissection and RNA sample preparation for Illumina sequencing of complex plant organs from three phyletically distant plant species. We are confident that this approach is widely applicable to other plant species to enable transcriptome analysis with high spatial resolution in non-model plant species. The protocol is rapid, produces high quality sections of complex organs and results in RNA of adequate quality well suited for RNA-seq approaches. We provide detailed description of each stage of sample preparation with the quality and quantity measurements as well as an analysis of generated transcriptomes.
Application of data mining techniques and logistic regression to model drug use transition to injection: a case study in drug use treatment centers in Kermanshah Province, Iran
Authors: Najafi-Ghobadi Somayeh , Najafi-Ghobadi Khadijeh , Tapak Lily , Aghaei Abbas 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundDrug injection has been increasing over the past decades all over the world. Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) are two common infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) and more than 60% of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases are PWID. Thus, investigating risk factors associated with drug use transition to injection is essential and was the aim of this research.MethodsWe used a database from drug use treatment centers in Kermanshah Province (Iran) in 2013 that included 2098 records of people who use drugs (PWUD). The information of 29 potential risk factors that are commonly used in the literature on drug use was selected. We employed four classification methods (decision tree, neural network, support vector machine, and logistic regression) to determine factors affecting the decision of PWUD to transition to injection.ResultsThe average specificity of all models was over 84%. Support vector machine produced the highest specificity (0.9). Also, this model showed the highest total accuracy (0.91), sensitivity (0.94), positive likelihood ratio [1] and Kappa (0.94) and the smallest negative likelihood ratio (0). Therefore, important factors according to the support vector machine model were used for further interpretation.ConclusionsBased on the support vector machine model, the use of heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens were identified as the three most important factors associated with drug use transition injection. The results further indicated that PWUD with the history of prison or using drug due to curiosity and unemployment are at higher risks. Unemployment and unreliable sources of income were other suggested factors of transition in this research.