bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis in retinal pigment epithelial cells promotes subretinal fibrosis and exacerbates choroidal neovascularization
Authors: Xie Laiqing , Wang Ying , Li Quan , Ji Xiaoyan , Tu Yuanyuan , Du Shu , Lou Hui , Zeng Xinwei , Zhu Linling , Zhang Ji , Zhu Manhui 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWet age‐related macular degeneration (wAMD), characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss among elderly people in developed nations. Subretinal fibrosis, mediated by epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, leads to unsuccessful anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent treatments in CNV patients. Under hypoxic conditions, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) increases the stability and activation of p53, which activates microRNA‐34a (miRNA‐34a) transcription to promote fibrosis. Additionally, Klotho is a target gene of miRNA‐34a that inhibits fibrosis. This study aimed to explore the role of the HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis in subretinal fibrosis and CNV. Hypoxia‐induced HIF‐1α promoted p53 stability, phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in ARPE‐19 cells (a human RPE cell line). HIF‐1α‐dependent p53 activation up‐regulated miRNA‐34a expression in ARPE‐19 cells following hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia‐induced p53‐dependent miRNA‐34a inhibited the expression of Klotho in ARPE‐19 cells. Additionally, the HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis facilitated hypoxia‐induced EMT in ARPE‐19 cells. In vivo, blockade of the HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis alleviated the formation of mouse laser‐induced CNV and subretinal fibrosis. In short, the HIF‐1α/p53/miRNA‐34a/Klotho axis in RPE cells promoted subretinal fibrosis, thus aggravating the formation of CNV.
Donor to recipient ratios in the surgical treatment of vitiligo and piebaldism: a systematic review
Authors: Narayan V.S. , van den Bol L.L.C. , van Geel N. , Bekkenk M.W. , Luiten R.M. , Wolkerstorfer A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractStabilized vitiligo resistant to conventional therapy (e.g. segmental vitiligo) and piebaldism lesions can be treated with autologous cellular grafting techniques, such as non‐cultured cell suspension transplantation (NCST) and cultured melanocyte transplantation (CMT). These methods are preferred when treating larger surface areas due to the small amount of donor skin needed. However, the donor to recipient expansion ratios and outcomes reported in studies with cellular grafting vary widely, and to date, no overview or guideline exists on the optimal ratio. The aim of our study was to obtain an overview of the various expansion ratios used in cellular grafting and to identify whether expansion ratios affect repigmentation and colour match. We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE to review clinical studies that reported the expansion ratio and repigmentation after cellular grafting. We included 31 eligible clinical studies with 1591 patients in total. Our study provides an overview of various expansion ratios used in cellular grafting for vitiligo and piebaldism, which varied from 1:1 up to 1:100. We found expansion ratios between 1:1 and 1:10 for studies investigating NCST and from 1:20 to 1:100 in studies evaluating CMT. Pooled analyses of studies with the same expansion ratio and repigmentation thresholds showed that when using the lowest (1:3) expansion ratio, the proportion of lesions achieving >50% or >75% repigmentation after NCST was significantly better than when using the highest (1:10) expansion ratio (χ2 P = 0.000 and χ2 P = 0.006, respectively). Less than half of our included studies stated the colour match between different expansion ratios, and results were variable. In conclusion, the results of our study indicate that higher expansion ratios lead to lower repigmentation percentages after NCST treatment. This should be taken into consideration while determining which expansion ratio to use for treating a patient.
Stigma in visible skin diseases – a literature review and development of a conceptual model
Authors: Germain N. , Augustin M. , François C. , Legau K. , Bogoeva N. , Desroches M. , Toumi M. , Sommer R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe burden of visible skin diseases (VSDs) includes not only physical symptoms but also psychosocial consequences such as depression, anxiety, impaired quality of life and low self‐esteem. Stigmatization was shown to play a major role in people with skin diseases. The aim of the study was to review the evidence for the components, drivers and impacts of (self‐)stigma, and to organize the data into a series of conceptual models. A targeted literature search was conducted to identify studies on (self‐)stigma in relation to VSD. Conceptual models of stigma in VSDs were developed from existing generic conceptual models for VSD and of generic conceptual models of stigma and were refined after discussion with a board of experts, patient advocacy groups, clinicians and researchers. A total of 580 references were identified, of which 56 references were analysed and summarized. Two conceptual models of stigma were identified: one with external stigma and self‐stigma dimensions, the other for self‐stigma in mental health. These models were adapted to allow a complete description of stigma in VSDs. For this, a distinction was made between ‘discrimination’ and ‘impact’. Finally, five models were developed: macro‐overview; stigma, impact and socio‐demographics; stigma, impact and disease characteristics; stigma, impact and quality of life; and stigma, impact and coping. Gaps were identified in available quantitative evidence. To our knowledge, this is the first conceptual model of stigma in VSDs. The model will help to standardize evaluation of stigma and to enhance empirical evaluation of anti‐stigma interventions in VSDs. Further research should be conducted to develop a more complete model in stigma due to significant gaps in existing evidence, particularly including the stigma in others (external stigma) and also to cover a broader range of VSDs as their impact on particular dimensions of stigma differs.
Differentially expressed proteins identified by TMT proteomics analysis in children with verrucous epidermal naevi
Authors: Yuan T. , Cai M.‐l. , Sheng Y.‐m. , Ding X. , Shen T.‐t. , Li W.‐r. , Huang H. , Liang B. , Zhang X.‐j. , Zhu Q.‐x. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundVerrucous epidermal naevi (VEN) are benign skin tumours, considered keratinocytic epidermal naevi, that appear at birth or early childhood. VEN may display a range of appearances, depending on patient age. Although the number of studies regarding VEN is increasing, the exact mechanism of VEN is still unknown.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyse the changes in the expression of protein factors in lesions of VEN children by TMT labelling‐based quantitative proteomics.MethodsA total of 8 children with VEN (5 for experiment and 3 for validation) and 8 healthy children (5 for experiment and 3 for validation) presented to the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Boao Super Hospital, between January 2019 and November 2019. The lesions and lesion‐adjacent tissues from children with VEN and naevus‐adjacent normal skin tissues from children with pigmented naevi were defined as the VEN group, VENC group and C group, respectively. We performed a proteomics analysis to screen for differentially expressed proteins in the lesions of these individuals. We further performed Western blotting to validate the relative expression levels of nine targeted proteins in the validation group.ResultsAccording to the proteomics results, a total of 4970 proteins were identified, and 4770 proteins were quantified. Among these proteins, 586 proteins were up‐ or downregulated at least 1.3‐fold with a P‐value < 0.05 (upregulated: 399, downregulated: 187) in lesions between the VEN group and the C group. These proteins played important roles in multiple biological functions, such as cornification, epidermal cell differentiation and neutrophil activation, and formed a complicated protein–protein interaction network. Of the 586 up‐ or downregulated proteins, nine were selected for further validation. According to Western blotting analysis results, the relative expression levels of Involucrin, NDUFA4, Loricrin, Keratin type II cytoskeletal 6A (Cytokeratin 6A), BRAF, Filaggrin, S100A7 and Desmocollin‐3 were significantly upregulated in VEN children and may be associated with skin barrier dysfunction, epidermal cell overgrowth and differentiation, inflammation and immune and oxidative phosphorylation, which are involved in the pathogenesis of VEN.ConclusionsAccording to TMT‐based proteomics and Western blotting results, we identified eight noteworthy proteins, Involucrin, NDUFA4, Loricrin, Keratin type II cytoskeletal 6A, BRAF, Filaggrin, S100A7 and Desmocollin‐3, that were upregulated in the lesions of VEN children and may be associated with the pathogenesis of VEN. Our findings provide new starting points for identifying precise pathogenic mechanisms or therapeutic targets for VEN.
Long‐term safety and efficacy of a fixed‐combination halobetasol propionate 0.01%/tazarotene 0.045% lotion in moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis: phase 3 open‐label study
Authors: Lebwohl M.G. , Stein Gold L. , Papp K. , Han G. , Pariser D.M. , Lin T. , Harris S. , Jacobson A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe topical corticosteroid halobetasol propionate (HP) and the retinoid tazarotene (TAZ) are effective in psoriasis treatment. To mitigate adverse cutaneous reactions observed with monotherapy, a fixed‐ combination HP 0.01%/TAZ 0.045% lotion has been developed for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults.ObjectivesTo investigate the long‐term safety, efficacy and maintenance of response with HP/TAZ lotion.MethodsThis was a 1‐year, multicentre, open‐label study in 555 adults with psoriasis [Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3 (‘moderate’) or 4 (‘severe’) and body surface area (BSA) of 3–12% at baseline]. HP/TAZ was administered once daily for 8 weeks and then intermittently as needed in 4‐week intervals for up to 1 year based on achievement of treatment success [IGA score of 0 (‘clear’) or 1 (‘almost clear’)]. Maximum continuous exposure was 24 weeks.ResultsOf 550 participants with postbaseline safety data, 318 (57.8%) achieved treatment success during the study. Of those, 54.4% achieved treatment success within the first 8 weeks; retreatment was not required for >4 weeks in over half (55.3%), and 6.6% did not require any retreatment. Among participants enrolled for the full 52 weeks, 77.5% maintained BSA ≤5% on treatment. There were marked improvements in severity of itching, dryness and burning/stinging over the study course. The most common treatment‐related adverse events were application site reactions of dermatitis, pruritus, pain and irritation.ConclusionsFixed‐combination HP/TAZ lotion provided maintained efficacy with a favourable tolerability and safety profile, supporting its use for the long‐term treatment and management of moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis.
Does natural vegetation from olive groves benefit the olive moth, Prays oleae?
Authors: Nave Anabela , Gonçalves Fátima , Oliveira Irene , Campos Mercedes , Torres Laura 
Published: January 2021

AbstractConservation biological control aims to enhance the efficacy of biological control agents, such as predators and parasitoids, by providing them access to key requisites, for example floral or other alternative food resources. However, the occurrence of floral resources in agricultural systems may have positive effects not only on natural enemies but also on the pests themselves. For this reason, we have studied in laboratory common Mediterranean plants as potential food resources for an important lepidopteran olive pest, the olive moth, Prays oleae. The effects of 15 wild flowering plants from olive grove ecosystems, and four sugars present in floral nectars, on key biological parameters of P. oleae (i.e. longevity, pre‐oviposition and oviposition periods, fertility and fecundity) were evaluated. The three pest generations were analysed. Only few of the plants tested increased some reproductive parameters of the insect individuals compared to the water‐fed controls, while sugars generally improved them. This could be due to a higher concentration of sugars provided by individual sugars than by flower nectar. These results indicate that, in general, P. oleae will not benefit from the availability of the floral resources tested.
Impact of emergency short‐stay unit opening on in‐hospital global and cardiology indicators
Authors: Cirillo Willian , Freitas Lidia R. C. , Kitaka Edson L. , Matos‐Souza José R. , Silva Marcos R. , Coelho Otávio R. , Coelho‐Filho Otávio R. , Sposito Andrei C. , Nadruz Wilson 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesEmergency short‐stay unit (SSU) alleviates emergency department (ED) overcrowding, but may affect in‐hospital indicators. Cardiology patients comprise a substantial part of patients admitted at SSU. This study evaluated whether SSU opening differentially modified in‐hospital indicators at a whole general hospital and at its cardiology division (CARD).MethodsWe retrospectively analysed indicators based on 859 686 ED visits, and 171 547 hospital admissions, including 12 110 CARD admissions, from 2007 to 2018 at a general tertiary hospital, and compared global ED indicators and in‐hospital indicators at the hospital and CARD before (2007‐2011) and after (2011‐2018) SSU opening.ResultsAfter SSU opening, monthly ED bed occupancy rate decreased (mean ± SD 200 ± 18% vs 187 ± 22%; P < .001) and in‐hospital admissions from ED increased at the hospital (median [interquartile range] 460 [81] vs 524 [41], P < .001) and CARD (50 [12] vs 54 [12], P = .004). In parallel, monthly in‐hospital elective admissions decreased at CARD (34 [18] vs 28 [17], P = .019), but not at the hospital (712 [73] vs 700 [104], P = .54). Average length of stay (LOS) increased at both hospital (8.5 ± 0.3 vs 8.7 ± 0.4 days, P < .001) and CARD (9.2 ± 1.5 vs 10.3 ± 2.3 days, P = .002) after SSU opening, but percent admissions at SSU showed a direct relationship with LOS solely at CARD. Furthermore, cardiology patients admitted at SSU had greater LOS, prevalence of coronary heart disease and age than those admitted at the conventional cardiology ward.ConclusionsSSU opening improved ED crowding, but was associated with changes in in‐hospital indicators, particularly at CARD, and in the characteristics of hospitalized cardiology patients. These findings suggest that in‐hospital cardiology services may need re‐evaluation following SSU opening at a general hospital.
Taste preferences and feeding behaviour in the facultative herbivorous fish, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Levina Aleksandra D. , Mikhailova Elena S. , Kasumyan Alexander O. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTaste preferences in fishes are known mainly for carnivorous species, whereas herbivorous consumers were rarely used in such studies. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the taste preferences in the herbivorous African cichlid fish, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In laboratory settings, the palatability of widely used taste substances (four taste substances that are considered to be sweet, sour, bitter and salty for humans – sucrose, citric acid, calcium chloride and sodium chloride; 21 free L‐amino acids; 12 sugars and artificial sweetener Na‐saccharin; 0.1–0.0001 M) was evaluated. In each trial, a standard agar pellet flavoured with a substance was offered for fish individually. The consumption of pellet, the number of grasps and the retention time before the pellet was finally ingested or rejected were registered. Overall, 21 of 38 substances were palatable, whereas other substances did not shift consumption of pellets in relation to blank pellets. Pellets containing citric acid, L‐cysteine, L‐norvaline, L‐isoleucine, L‐valine, Na‐saccharin and D‐sorbitol were consumed in >85% of trials. Taste attractiveness of amino acids was highly species‐specific and was not associated with the trophic category of the 19 species compared. Moreover, it did not correlate with dietary quantitative requirements of Nile tilapia (rs = 0.27; P > 0.05). Palatability of sugars for O. niloticus and their sweetness for humans did not correlate as well (rs = 0.21; P > 0.05); nonetheless, Na‐saccharin has the most attractive taste for both O. niloticus and humans. The most palatable amino acids lost their effect if the concentration was lowered to 0.01 M for L‐cysteine and 0.001 M for L‐norvaline (lower than 242.3 μg and 23.4 μg per a pellet, respectively). Single pellet grasp was characteristic of O. niloticus feeding behaviour (>95% of trials), and this pattern may be related to the social lifestyle of this species. Fish spent 4–8 s on average for orosensory evaluation of pellet edibility. The retention time correlated with the palatability of substances and was significantly longer in trials that ended up with pellet swallowing. It is suggested that prolonged orosensory evaluation of food before swallowing provides a reliable and accurate sensory evaluation, which, in turn, can reduce the probability that inadequate food will be consumed.
Physical properties of barley grains at hydration and drying conditions of malt production
Authors: Carvalho Gisandro Reis , Polachini Tiago Carregari , Augusto Pedro Esteves Duarte , Telis‐Romero Javier , Bon José 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBarley has shown several applications in food formulation, mainly after the malting process (hydration, germination, and drying). Because barley is steeped prior the malting, the aim of this work was to determine the physical properties of the grains and their bed as functions of a wide range of moisture content (12.68–80.28% d.b.). Such influences were evaluated and described through mathematical expressions. Length, width, thickness, different diameters, sphericity, and surface area of the barley grains increased with increasing moisture content, up to ~60%. Volume of thousand grains behaved similarly to these properties while their mass was increased continuously with increasing the moisture content. Bulk and true density tended to decrease during hydration while the bed porosity accompanied the density and volume variations. Specific surface area of the grains and bed decreased at higher moisture content due to the grain tri‐dimensional expansion during hydration. Polynomial equations could be obtained to predict the studied properties as a function of the moisture content. Both experimental data and resulting models can be used to accurately design equipment and processes involving heat and mass transfer during malting as well as for determining parameters as water diffusion coefficients.Practical applicationsBarley is an important cereal food and beverages applications, mainly to malt production. This study evaluated barley properties in a wide range of moisture contents, in order to understand its behavior under hydration and drying conditions. This data will provide important information needed to design different aspects of barley processing and storage.

Moisture dependence of physical properties were determined for barley, considering a wide moisture range (12–80%d.b.).
Barley achieved an expansion limit in moistures about 60–70% (d.b.).
Simple polynomial equations were proposed to represent the physical properties.
All physical properties were satisfactorily modeled.
Nanoencapsulation of clove oil and study of physicochemical properties, cytotoxic, hemolytic, and antioxidant activities
Authors: Nagaraju Pramod G. , Sengupta Parineeta , Chicgovinda Poornima Priyadarshini , Rao Pooja J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe therapeutic properties of clove oil are well known, however, the pungent nature, chemical instability, and low water solubility impose limitations in harnessing its potential. Nanoemulsion of clove oil (CON) was prepared to overcome the above constraints. The non‐ionic surfactants Tween 20, 40, and 80 with hydrophile lipophile balance (HLB) of 16.7, 15.6, and 15, respectively, were used to stabilize CON. The creaming index of CON prepared with Tween 20, 40, and 80 was 22.75, 17.5, and 1.5%, respectively, after 8 days of storage at room temperature. Tween 20 and 40 produced particles >300 nm while Tween 80 produced ~150 nm. Transmission electron microscopic image of spray‐dried CON (with Tween 80) showed particles in the range of 150–190 nm. The in vitro release studies showed 76 and 42% cumulative release of CON and native clove oil (NC), respectively, at pH 7.4. The cellular toxicity of CON was significantly reduced by fourfold compared to NC at a concentration of 60 μg/ml when tested on CaCO2 cells. Similarly, hemolytic activity on red blood cells revealed less than 10% hemolysis. In addition, CON also exhibited higher in‐vitro antioxidant compared to NC as shown by 1, 1‐diphenylpicrylhydrazyl and 2,2′‐azino‐di‐[3‐ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate (6)] (ABTS) radical scavenging activity.Practical applicationThe study highlights the development of clove oil nanoemulsion using cost‐effective, commercially important polysaccharide (maltodextrin) and surfactant for increased bioactivity. The spray‐dried nanoparticle showed high retention (95%) of oil and small particle size even after 1 month of storage at room temperature. The biological studies signify the compatibility of nanoparticle for its nutraceutical applications because of its low cytotoxicity (fourfold reduction), hemolytic activity, and high anti‐oxidant property. The clove oil nanoparticles can replace the clove oil/microencapsulated particles in food product development due to their high water dispersibility and loading content (25% on dry weight basis).
Thermophysical properties of frozen parsley: A state diagram representation
Authors: Iaccheri Eleonora , Cevoli Chiara , Dalla Rosa Marco , Fabbri Angelo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSorption behavior and glass transition of frozen parsley were investigated in order to study the physical modifications, represented as state diagram to figure out information about product behavior for storage and supply chain handling. Frozen products may be located in the state diagram in all the possible freezing temperatures to understand the structure state and study feasible corrective actions mainly focused on temperature and solid content. Parsley was totally dehydrated and equilibrated at selected relative humidity. Sorption behavior was evaluated by saturated salt slurry method and sorption isotherm fitting, while solid components in terms of mass fraction were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry. Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) model well fitted with moisture and water activity data (R2 = 0.995, p‐level < 0.05). The characteristic ranges of stability, in terms of system mobility and physical modification, are the monolayer values (0.240 water activity; 0.052 kg/kg dry basis) and the critical water activity range (0.424 water activity; 0.078 kg/kg dry basis). Glass transition and melting temperature were used to define parsley state diagram. Different zones figure out a specific physical behavior: depending on solid content and temperature. Unfrozen water was estimated as monolayer BET value 0.84 kg/kg wet basis and extrapolated from state diagram 0.984 kg/kg wet basis.Practical applicationsFrozen high‐quality product and energy efficiency can be obtained by a correct temperature management. Thermophysical properties of parsley represented in a state diagram are reported in the typical solute and temperature range of freezing process and storage. These data can relate physical structure and temperature, allowing different possible conditions management.