bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio) hexanol ameliorates the progression of endometriosis by regulating GSTM4 expression to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhang Na , Du Yanbo , Liu Xiaoqiang , Ma Jinlong , Yan Lei 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with disorder of the oxidative balance and chronic inflammation. Although endometriosis is a benign disease, it has the characteristics properties similar to malignant cancer.Methods: The present study aim to investigate the role of glutathione S-transferase Mu class 4 (GSTM4), and tested if 6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio) hexanol (NBDHEX) could regulate GSTM4 expression to affect cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in endometriosis. Expression of GSTM4 was detected by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of endometriosis patients and compared with 15 healthy controls. Primary endometrial cells were analyzed by western blotting (WB) to determine expression of GSTM4, PCNA, MMP-9, Survivin, Bcl-xl, Bax, Keap1 and Nrf2. CCK8 and transwell assays were used to study the effects of GSTM4 and NBEHEX on endometrial cells. The effect on apoptosis was analysised by flow cytometry. Results: The expression of GSTM4 was significantly increased in endometriosis than those from controls (p<0.01). The results suggested that NBDHEX negatively regulates GSTM4 expression, induces cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes cell apoptosis. NBDHEX decreased the expression of GSTM4 (p<0.05), PCNA (p<0.05), MMP-9 (p<0.01), Survivin (p<0.05) and Bcl-xl (p<0.05) , along with increased expression of Bax (p<0.05). The results also showed that NBDHEX decreased the expression of Nrf2 (p<0.05), but had no effect on the expression of Keap1(p>0.05). After transfection with si-GSTM4, the protein level was down-regulated by nearly 70% (p<0.05). Silencing of GSTM4 depressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and gene expression of endometrial stromal cells in patients with endometriosis and controls. Knockdown of GSTM4 interacting with Nrf2 induced apoptosis by decreasing the expression of Survivin (p<0.05), Bcl-xl (p<0.05) and increasing the expression of Bax (p<0.05) , but it did not affect the expression of Keap1(p>0.05) in endometriosis and controls. Conclusions: Inhibition of GSTM4 by NBDHEX suppresses the cell viability growth, migration, invasion and interact with Nrf2 to induce apoptosis, but has no effect on the expression of Keap1 in endometriosis. The use of siRNA to knockdown GSTM4 more accurately confirmed its ability to ameliorate the progression of endometriosis. NBDHEX may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of endometriosis.
Quantitative Assessment the Longitudinal Changes of Pulmonary Vascular Counts in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Park Sang Won , Lim Myoung-Nam , Kim Woo Jin , Bak So Hyeon 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
BackgroundChest computed tomography(CT) is a widely used method to assess morphological and dynamic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The small pulmonary vascular cross-section (CSA), quantitatively extracted from volumetric CT, is a reliable indicator for predicting pulmonary vascular changes. CSA is associated with the severity of symptoms, pulmonary function tests (PFT) and emphysema and in COPD patients the severity increases over time. However, there are few studies of changes in vascular during longitudinal follow-up in COPD patients. We analyzed the correlation longitudinal changes in pulmonary vascular parameters with clinical parameters in COPD patients.Materials and MethodsA total of 288 subjects with COPD were investigated during follow up period up to 6 years. CT images were classified into five subtypes from normal to severe emphysema according to percentage of low-attenuation areas less than -950 and -856 Hounsfield units (HU) on inspiratory and expiratory CT (LAA-950, LAA-856exp). Total number of vessels (Ntotal) and total number of vessels with area less than 5 mm2 (N<5mm) per 1 cm2 of lung surface area (LSA) were measured at 6 mm from the pleural surface.ResultsNtotal/LSA and N<5mm/LSA changed from 1.16±0.27 to 0.87±0.2 and from 1.02±0.22 to 0.78±0.22, respectively, during Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage progression. Both parameters changed from normal to severe emphysema according to CT subtype from 1.39±0.21 to 0.74±0.17 and from 1.18±0.19 to 0.67±0.15, respectively. LAA-950 and LAA-856exp were negatively correlated with Ntotal/LSA (r=-0.738, -0.529) and N<5mm /LSA (r=-0.729, -0.497). On the other hand, pulmonary function test (PFT) results showed a weak correlation with Ntotal/LSA and N<5mm/LSA (r=0.205, 0.210). The depth in CT subtypes for longitudinal change both Ntotal/LSA and N<5mm/LSA was (-0.032, -0.023) and (-0.027) in normal and SAD, respectively.ConclusionsQuantitative computed tomography features faithfully reflected pulmonary vessel alterations, showing in particular that pulmonary vascular alteration started.Trial registrationWe obtained the written informed consent from all participants in this study and the approval for all processes by our institution Institutional Review Board.
Nanofiber Electrospinning Combined with Rotary Bioprinting for Fabricating Small-Diameter Vessels with Endothelium and Smooth Muscle
Authors: Jin Qianheng , Fu Yi , Zhang Guangliang , Xu Lei , Jin Guangzhe , Tang Linfeng , Ju Jihui , Zhao Weixin , Hou Ruixing 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease is responsible for a large number of deaths each year. Autologous vascular transplantation is still the best surgical intervention option, but the success rate is affected by many factors. Tissue engineering is a growing research area of great interest because it can produce bionic grafts to replace autologous tissue. Although many molding strategies have been tried, precellularization of small-diameter vascular grafts remains a research challenge. Here, a novel approach for fabricating bionic small-diameter vascular vessels with endothelial and smooth muscle cells is developed through combining nanofiber electrospinning and a specially-designed rotary bioprinter.Results: Combining and utilizing the advantages of nanofiber electrospinning and rotary printing, a tissue-engineered vascular tissue more suitable for biological transplantation is fabricated. Electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) provides good elasticity, and the electrospinning modification is beneficial for adhesion and functionalization of endothelial cells. A flat monolayer on the surface of PCL is formed after 7 days cultivation. Modification of the traditional three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter to increase rotation of the central axis used dual motors rotating clockwise and anticlockwise at the same speed increase stability during the printing process. This allowed a uniform dense methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) structure containing smooth muscle cells to be bioprinted with the cells are arranged linearly along the horizontal axis of rotation. Perfused with umbilical vein endothelial cells, a monolayer endothelial structure is formed. The two type cells maintain viability and proliferation in the structure during the process of cultivation. In addition, the bionic structureis superior to the natural blood vessel in anti-burst pressure and suture retention strength.Conclusion: By combining nanofiber electrospinning and modified rotary bioprinter, we successfully formed a small-diameter bionic vascular vessel with smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. This method takes advantages of two advanced technologies and provides a new strategy for the development of bionic blood vascular tissue.
Staphylococcus Aureus Iron-Regulated Surface Determinant B (IsdB) Protein Interacts with von Willebrand Factor and Promotes Adherence to Endothelial Cells.
Authors: Alfeo Mariangela J , Pagotto Anna , Barbieri Giulia , Foster Timothy J , Vanhoorelbeke Karen , De Filippis Vincenzo , Speziale Pietro , Pietrocola Giampiero 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of a spectrum of diseases in humans and animals. The molecular basis of this pathogenicity lies in the expression of a variety of virulence factors, including proteins that mediate adherence to the host plasma and extracellular matrix proteins. In this study, we discovered that the iron-regulated surface determinant B (IsdB) protein, besides being involved in iron transport and vitronectin binding, interacts with von Willebrand Factor (vWF). IsdB-expressing bacteria bound to both soluble and immobilized vWF. The binding of recombinant IsdB to vWF was blocked by heparin and reduced at high ionic strength. Furthermore, treatment with ristocetin, an allosteric agent that promotes the exposure of the A1 domain of vWF, potentiates the binding of IsdB to vWF. Both near-iron transporter motifs NEAT1 and NEAT2 of IsdB individually bound recombinant A1 domain with KD values in the micromolar range. The binding of IsdB and adhesion of S. aureus expressing IsdB to monolayers of activated endothelial cells was significantly inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against the A1 domain and by IsdB reactive IgG from patients with staphylococcal endocarditis. This suggests the importance of IsdB in adherence of S. aureus to the endothelium colonization and as potential therapeutic target.
Clinicopathological Characteristics, Survival Outcomes, and Genetic Alterations of Younger Patient With Gastric Cancer: Results From China National Cancer Center and cBioPortal
Authors: Niu Penghui , Huang Huang , Zhao Lulu , Wang Tongbo , Zhang Xiaojie , Wang Wanqing , Zhang Yawei , Guo Chunguang , Zhao Dongbing , Chen Ying-Tai 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
BackgroundSurvival outcomes of younger patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. The present study sought to explore clinicopathological characteristics, survival outcomes, and genetic alterations in the younger and older patients with GC.MethodsPatients with GC were identified from the China National Cancer Center Gastric Cancer Database (NCCGCDB) during 1998–2018. Survival analysis was conducted via Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. Sequencing data were enrolled from the China National Cancer Center, TCGA, and MSKCC databases. ResultsA total of 1146 younger and 16988 older cases were included. Patients in the younger group were predominant in poor differentiation (53.7% versus 33.8%, P<0.0001), and pTNM stage IV (19.5% versus 11.8%, P<0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients in NCCGCDB has noticeable increased from 1998 to 2018. Younger age was an independent prognostic factor for GC patients in pTNM stage III (P=0.014), while other stages showed no difference. Compared to the younger, older patients had a higher mutation frequency in LRP1B, GNAS, APC, KMT2D genes (all P< 0.05). In addition, although no significant difference, results of the China National Cancer Center, TCGA, and MSKCC cohorts indicated that younger patients dominated in CDH1, RHOA, and CTNNB1 mutations.ConclusionsStable proportion of younger cases and noticeable survival improvements were reported in the China National Cancer Center. Younger patients with pTNM stage III had a worse survival than older, while other tumor stages showed no difference. Furthermore, distinctive molecular characteristics were identified in younger GC patients, which might partly explain histopathological behaviors and prognosis of in this subpopulation.
Dramatic Activation of an Antibody by a Single Amino Acid Change in Framework
Authors: Liang Wei-Ching , Yin Jianping , Lupardus Patrick , Zhang Jianhuan , Loyet Kelly M. , Sudhamsu Jawahar , Wu Yan 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Antibody function is typically entirely dictated by the Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs) that directly bind to the antigen, while the framework region acts as a scaffold for the CDRs and maintains overall structure of the variable domain. We recently reported that the rabbit monoclonal antibody 4A11 (rbt4A11) disrupts signaling through both TGFβ2 and TGFβ31. Here, we report a dramatic, unexpected discovery during the humanization of rbt4A11 where, two variants of humanized 4A11 (h4A11), v2 and v7 had identical CDRs, maintained high affinity binding to TGFβ2/3, yet exhibited distinct differences in activity. While h4A11.v7 completely inhibited TGFβ2/3 signaling like rbt4A11, h4A11.v2 did not. We solved crystal structures of TGFβ2 complexed with Fab fragments of h4A11.v2 or h4A11.v7 and identified a novel interaction between the two heavy chain molecules in the 2:2 TGFb2:h4A11.v2-Fab complex. Further characterization revealed that framework residue variations at either position 19, 79 or 81 of the heavy chain strikingly converts h4A11.v2 into an inhibitory antibody. Our work suggests that in addition to CDRs, framework residues and interactions between Fabs in an antibody could be engineered to further modulate activity of antibodies.
Improving postoperative radiographs for the parameter measurement of hexapod external fixator using an additional foot ring
Authors: Liu Yanshi , Liu Kai , Cai Feiyu , Zhang Tao , Yusufu Aihemaitijiang 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
It is challenging to determine the orthogonality of radiographs in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to show the usefulness of an additional foot ring which might determine the orthogonality of postoperative radiographs for the parameter measurement of hexapod external fixator.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 81 consecutive trauma patients with tibial shaft fractures treated by the hexapod external fixator at our institution from September 2014 to July 2019. Starting in March 2016, the postoperative radiographs for parameter measurement were obtained under the control of an additional foot ring. The final data consisted of 47 patients in traditional radiographs (Group Ⅰ) and 34 patients under the control of foot ring during the radiographic process (Group Ⅱ). The demographic data, original postoperative deformities, residual deformities after final correction, number of repeated radiographs after the first postoperative radiographs, time to the satisfactory reduction achieved, and external fixation time in all patients were documented and analyzed. The Johner-Wruhs criteria were used for the final clinical outcomes evaluation at the last clinical visit.
Results
Satisfactory reduction and bone union were achieved in all patients. There were no statistical significances between the two groups in the demographic data, original postoperative deformities, residual deformities after final correction, external fixation time, and the final clinical outcomes (P > 0.05). The mean number of repeated radiographs after the first radiographs (1.4 times) and mean time to the satisfactory reduction achieved (3.3 days) in patients with an additional foot ring used were all less than those without foot ring (2.4 times, 5.4 days) (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
The additional foot ring is a practical device to ensure the orthogonality of postoperative radiographs for the hexapod external fixator parameter measurement. Radiation exposure, duration of deformity correction, and cost for patients might be reduced due to the less repeated radiographs with the wrong position.
Extracellular pH and high concentration of potassium regulate the primary necrosis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Authors: Bidiuk Victoria , Alexandrov Alexander , Valiakhmetov Airat 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Extracellular pH has a significant impact on the physiology of the yeast cell, but its role in cell death has not been thoroughly investigated. We studied the effect of extracellular pH on the development of primary necrosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast under two general conditions leading to cell death. The first is sugar induced cell death (SICD), and the second is death caused by several specific gene deletions, which have been recently identified in a systematic screen. It was shown that in both cases, primary necrosis is suppressed at neutral pH. SICD was also inhibited by the protonophore dinitrophenol (DNP) and 150 mM extracellular K+, with the latter condition also benefiting survival of cell dying due to gene mutations. Thus, we show that neutral pH can suppress different types of primary necrosis. We suggest that changes to the cellular membrane potential can play a central role in yeast cell death.
Morphological and molecular characterization of Paratylenchus beltsvillensis n. sp. (Tylenchida: Paratylenchidae) from the rhizosphere of pine tree (Pinus virginiana Mill) in Maryland, USA
Authors: Kantor Mihail R. , Handoo Zafar A. , Subbotin Sergei A. , Bauchan Gary R. , Mowery Joseph D. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The pin nematode, Paratylechus beltsvillensis n. sp. collected from rhizosphere soil of a Virginia pine tree (Pinus virginiana Mill) growing in Little Paint Branch Park, Beltsville, Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA, is described and illustrated along with light and scanning electron photomicrographs. Females, males, and juveniles of this new species were recovered from soil samples using the sugar centrifugal flotation and Baermann funnel extraction methods. Morphologically, females are short, body length ranging from 245 to 267 μm, stylet from 70 to 75 μm long with anchor shaped knobs, vulva located at 70–73% and small vulval flap, spermatheca large, and ovoid filled with sperms. Lateral field with three incisures, of which the outer two are prominent. Tail slender, having a rounded tail terminus. Males without stylet and have a degenerated pharynx, spicules = 17–20 µm and gubernaculum = 5.0–5.5 µm. Both morphological observations and molecular analysis of ITS and partial 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequences indicated that the specimens collected from the soil at Beltsville Park from rhizosphere soil samples from Virginia pine represents a new pin nematode species.
Quantification of the hydrological consequences of climate change in a typical West African catchment using flow duration curves
Authors: Kwakye Stephen Oppong , Bárdossy András 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The quantification of the consequences of climate change (CC) on the hydrology of the West Africa region was performed using a validated Hydrologiska Byrans Vattenbalansavdelning hydrological model and regional climate models which was driven by different general circulation models (GCMs) from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) and the Regional Climate Division of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (IMK-IFU). The quantile mapping and linear-scaling bias adjustment methods were used to correct the inherent errors in the climate simulations. Flow duration curves (FDCs) and generic annual discharge cycles were used in determining the impacts of the change on hydrology (river flow) in the Black Volta catchment within the subregion. It was found out that, in the first segment of the FDCs representing high flows, there was a slight increase in the future flow characterizing a higher watershed water yield from high rainfall events in the future. The 10–40% exceedance probabilities of flow representing wet conditions; 40–60% relating to mid-range flows; 60–90% representing dry period conditions; and low flows (90–100%) all show a decrease in the future flows for four out of the five GCM driving models. Most worrying is the reduction in flows for the 90–100% exceedance probabilities in the future relating to the sustainability of streamflow in the long term. It was concluded that CC could negatively impact and decrease the hydrology of the subregion in the future with most of the rivers in the catchment running dry in most months of the annual discharge cycle.
Singular value decomposition (SVD) based correlation analysis of climatic factors and extreme precipitation in Hunan Province, China, during 1960–2009
Authors: Zhou Hui , Zhu Junjun , Xiao Heng , Wang Xinkui 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA small change in the mean climate may lead to a dramatic change in the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. In this study, the relationship between mean temperature (MT) and extreme precipitation and the influence from large-scale circulation were investigated in Hunan Province. The correlation between MT and the frequency of extreme precipitation events in different seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) and time periods (1960–2009) was used to obtain pairs of spatial patterns by the singular value decomposition method. The temporal expansion series displayed a consistent trend of temperature and extreme precipitation, and a mutation was observed to occur approximately during the 1980s–1990s. Temperature exhibited a warming trend after the mutation, but the frequency of extreme precipitation events exhibited obvious spatio-temporal variations. The causes of seasonal differences in the frequency of extreme precipitation events were determined by comparing interdecadal changes in three atmospheric circulation factors (850 hPa winds, the entire layer of vapor transportation fluxes and vapor flux divergence) before and after the mutation was revealed.
PSU-g-SBMA hollow fiber membrane for treatment of oily wastewater
Authors: Shen Chong , Zhang Qian , Meng Qin 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Ultrafiltration membranes can intercept oil particles smaller than 10 μm, but the membranes are easily contaminated by oil due to their hydrophobicity. To treat various oily wastewaters, we prepared a hydrophilic hollow fiber membrane (HFM) with anti-fouling property by grafting sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) onto polysulfone (PSU). For six simulated wastewaters containing emulsified oil at 1,000 mg/L, the PSU-g-SBMA HFM was able to remove 98.5–99.7% of oil, higher than that of PSU HFM at 91.1–98.9%. The oil concentration in filtrate was less than 15 mg/L, which could meet the discharge standard of wastewater. The water flux of PSU-g-SBMA HFM can be completely recovered after being washed by rhamnolipid and alkali solution, while the same cleaning process could not recover the PSU HFM. As found, the contact angles of oil droplets on the PSU-g-SBMA membrane were larger than those on PSU membrane, which indicated the improved hydrophilicity by PSU-g-SBMA. For 48 h of filtration to soybean and diesel oil/water emulsion, the effect of PSU-g-SBMA HFM was stable and the flux could be completely recovered by cleaning. Therefore, we provided a new method for oily wastewater treatment, which can efficiently and energy-saving remove various oil substances in wastewater.