bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exosome‐mediated pyroptosis of miR‐93‐TXNIP‐NLRP3 leads to functional difference between M1 and M2 macrophages in sepsis‐induced acute kidney injury
Authors: Juan Chen‐Xia , Mao Yan , Cao Qian , Chen Yan , Zhou Lan‐Bo , Li Sheng , Chen Hao , Chen Jia‐He , Zhou Guo‐Ping , Jin Rui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection, resulting in organ dysfunction. Sepsis‐induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common potential complications. Increasing reports have shown that M1 and M2 macrophages both take part in the progress of AKI by influencing the level of inflammatory factors and the cell death, including pyroptosis. However, whether M1 and M2 macrophages regulate AKI by secreting exosome remains unknown. In the present study, we isolated the exosomes from M1 and M2 macrophages and used Western blot and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate the effect of M1 and M2 exosomes on cell pyroptosis. miRNA sequencing was used to identify the different miRNA in M1 and M2 exosomes. Luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the target gene of miRNA. We confirmed that exosomes excreted by macrophages regulated cell pyroptosis in vitro by using Western blot and ELISA. miRNA sequencing revealed the differentially expressed level of miRNAs in M1 and M2 exosomes, among which miR‐93‐5p was involved in the regulation of pyroptosis. By using bioinformatics predictions and luciferase reporter assay, we found that thioredoxin–interacting protein (TXNIP) was a direct target of miR‐93‐5p. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that exosomal miR‐93‐5p regulated the TXNIP directly to influence the pyroptosis in renal epithelial cells, which explained the functional difference between different phenotypes of macrophages. This study might provide new targets for the treatment of sepsis‐induced AKI.
Bmi1 regulate tooth and mandible development by inhibiting p16 signal pathway
Authors: Yin Ying , Zhou Nan , Zhang Hui , Dai Xiuliang , Lv Xianhui , Chen Ning , Miao Dengshun , Hu Qingang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTo determine whether the deletion of p16 can correct tooth and mandible growth retardation caused by Bmi1 deficiency, we compared the tooth and mandible phenotypes of homozygous p16‐deficient (p16−/−) mice, homozygous Bmi1‐deficient (Bmi1−/−) mice, double homozygous Bmi1 and p16‐deficient (Bmi1−/−p16−/−) mice to those of their wild‐type littermates at 4 weeks of age by radiograph, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that compared to Bmi1−/− mice, the dental mineral density, dental volume and dentin sialoprotein immunopositive areas were increased, whereas the ratio of the predentin area to total dentin area and that of biglycan immunopositive area to dentin area were decreased in Bmi1−/−p16−/− mice. These results indicate that the deletion of p16 can improve tooth development in Bmi1 knockout mice. Compared to Bmi1−/− mice, the mandible mineral density, cortical thickness, alveolar bone volume, osteoblast number and activity, alkaline phosphatase positive area were all increased significantly in Bmi1−/−p16−/− mice. These results indicate that the deletion of p16 can improve mandible growth in Bmi1 knockout mice. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of cyclin D, CDK4 and p53 were increased significantly in p16−/− mice compared with those from wild‐type mice; the protein expression levels of cyclin D and CDK4 were decreased significantly, whereas those of p27 and p53 were increased significantly in Bmi1−/− mice; these parameters were partly rescued in Bmi1−/−p16−/− mice compared with those from Bmi1−/− mice. Therefore, our results indicate that Bmi1 plays roles in regulating tooth and mandible development by inhibiting p16 signal pathway which initiated entry into cell cycle.
Selective outcome reporting in root coverage randomized clinical trials
Authors: Sendyk Daniel Isaac , Souza Nathalia Vilela , César Neto João Batista , Tatakis Dimitris N. , Pannuti Cláudio Mendes 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundOutcome discrepancies between protocols and respective publications represent a concerning bias. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of selective outcome reporting (SOR) in root coverage randomized clinical trials (RCTs).MethodsPublished root coverage RCTs (July 2005 to March 2020) were included if a corresponding protocol could be identified in a public registry. Discrepancies between protocol and its correspondent publication(s) were compared regarding primary and secondary outcomes and other study characteristics. Associations between trial characteristics and SOR were evaluated.ResultsForty four studies (54 publications) were included. The majority of studies (77.3%) were retrospectively registered. SOR was frequent (40.9% of trials) and consisted of primary outcome downgrade (22.7%); secondary outcome upgrade (11.4%); new primary outcome introduced in publication (25%); protocol primary outcome omitted from publication (13.6%) and discrepancy in primary outcome timing (18.2%). SOR was unclear in 20.5% of studies and favoured statistical significance in 12 studies (27.3%). SOR was significantly associated with study significance (p < 0.001) and unclear outcome definition in the publication (p < 0.001). Only a third (32.8%) of primary outcomes were completely defined.ConclusionsThe present study identified high prevalence of SOR in root coverage RCTs.
Aesthetic crown lengthening and lip repositioning surgery: Pre‐ and post‐operative assessment of smile attractiveness
Authors: Silva Cléverson O. , Rezende Robson I. , Mazuquini Amanda C. , Leal Vinicius C. , Amaral Gislaine S. A. , Guo Xiaohan , Tatakis Dimitris N. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimTo assess the effect of aesthetic crown lengthening (ACL) and lip repositioning surgery (LRS) on perception of smile attractiveness.Materials and methodsPreoperative and 6‐month postoperative smile photographs of ACL‐ or LRS‐treated patients were evaluated by 100 raters (five gender‐balanced groups of ten per procedure) of diverse background (dental students, general dentists, periodontists and laypersons with and without any aesthetic concerns about their own smile). Smile attractiveness was rated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Multivariate mixed‐effect models were applied to determine the effect of procedure, rater (age, gender and group) and case (gingival display and GD) on smile attractiveness rating.ResultsAverage preoperative and postoperative VAS scores for ACL patients were 3.8 ± 2.0 and 6.2 ± 1.9, respectively. Corresponding LRS patient values were 4.8 ± 2.0 and 6.4 ± 1.9. Treatment, baseline GD and rater age were significant determinants (p < .001) of smile attractiveness for both procedures. Rater gender was not significant. Rater group was significant (p < .032) only for ACL. Procedure (p < .001), baseline VAS (p < .001), change in GD (p ≤ .002) and rater age (p ≤ .017) were significant determinants of smile attractiveness change from preoperative to postoperative.ConclusionsACL and LRS are two periodontal plastic surgery procedures that deliver significant smile attractiveness improvements, in the eyes of both laypersons and dental professionals.
Melatonin and osmoregulation in fish: A focus on Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smoltification
Authors: Nisembaum Laura Gabriela , Martin Patrick , Lecomte Frédéric , Falcón Jack 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPart of the life cycle of several fish species includes important salinity changes, as is the case for the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) or the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Salmo salar juveniles migrate downstream from their spawning sites to reach seawater, where they grow and become sexually mature. The process of preparation enabling juveniles to migrate downstream and physiologically adapt to seawater is called smoltification. Daily and seasonal variations of photoperiod and temperature play a role in defining the timing of smoltification, which may take weeks to months, depending on the river length and latitude. Smoltification is characterised by a series of biochemical, physiological and behavioural changes within the neuroendocrine axis. This review discusses the current knowledge and gaps related to the neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate the effects of light and temperature on smoltification. Studies performed in S. salar and other salmonids, as well as in other species undergoing important salinity changes, are reviewed, and a particular emphasis is given to the pineal hormone melatonin and its possible role in osmoregulation. The daily and annual variations of plasma melatonin levels reflect corresponding changes in external photoperiod and temperature, which suggests that the hormonal time‐keeper melatonin might contribute to controlling smoltification. Here, we review studies on (i) the impact of pinealectomy and/or melatonin administration on smoltification; (ii) melatonin interactions with hormones involved in osmoregulation (e.g., prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol); (iii) the presence of melatonin receptors in tissues involved in osmoregulation; and (iv) the impacts of salinity changes on melatonin receptors and circulating melatonin levels. Altogether, these studies show evidence indicating that melatonin interacts with the neuroendocrine pathways controlling smoltification, although more information is needed to clearly decipher its mechanisms of action.
Surgery of the primary tumour in 201 patients with high‐grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine and mixed neuroendocrine‐non‐neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Pommergaard Hans‐Christian , Nielsen Kirstine , Sorbye Halfdan , Federspiel Birgitte , Tabaksblat Elizaveta M. , Vestermark Lene W. , Janson Eva T. , Hansen Carsten P. , Ladekarl Morten , Garresori Herish , Hjortland Geir O. , Sundlöv Anna , Galleberg Renate , Knigge Pauline , Kjaer Andreas , Langer Seppo W. , Knigge Ulrich 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe benefit of surgery in high‐grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP NEN) and mixed neuroendocrine‐non‐neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNEN) is uncertain. The present study aimed to investigate outcomes after tumour surgery in patients with high‐grade (Ki‐67 > 20%) GEP NEN or MiNEN stage I‐III or stage IV. We analysed data from patients treated in the period 2007‐2015 at eight Nordic university hospitals. Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS)/disease‐free survival (DFS) were analysed by Kaplan‐Meier estimates. Prognostic factors were evaluated using Cox regression. We included 201 surgically resected patients, 143 stage I‐III and 58 stage IV, with 68% having neuroendocrine carcinoma, 23% MiNEN, 5% neuroendocrine tumour G3 and 4% uncertain NEN G3. Primary tumours were located in colon/rectum (52%), oesophagus/cardia (19%), pancreas (10%), stomach (7%), jejunum/ileum (5%), duodenum (4%), gallbladder (2%) and anal canal (1%). For patients with stage I‐III, median DFS was 12 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.5‐18.5) and median OS was 32 months (95% CI = 24.0‐40.0). For patients with stage I‐III and an R0 resection, median DFS was 21 months (95% CI = 4.9‐37.1) and median OS was 39 months (95% CI = 25.0‐53.0). For patients with stage IV, median PFS/DFS was 4 months (95% CI = 1.9‐6.1) and median OS was 11 months (95% CI = 4.8‐17.2). For patients with stage IV and an R0 resection, median DFS was 6 months (95% CI = 0‐16.4) and median OS was 32 months (95% CI = 25.5‐38.5). Performance status > 1 and colorectal primary were associated with poor prognosis. There was no difference in survival between patients with high‐grade GEP NEN and MiNEN. Surgery of the primary tumour in patients with loco‐regional high‐grade GEP NEN or MiNEN led to good long‐term results and should be considered if an R0 resection is considered achievable. Highly selected patients with stage IV disease may also benefit from surgery.
Financial knowledge and trust in financial institutions
Authors: van der Cruijsen Carin , de Haan Jakob , Roerink Ria 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBased on analysis of 14 years of data on Dutch consumers' trust in financial institutions, we find that financially literate consumers are more likely to trust banks, insurance companies and pension funds. This result applies both to broad‐scope trust (trust in financial institutions in general) and narrow‐scope trust (trust in one's own financial institution). Our conclusion holds when we use a financial literacy proxy based on self‐assessed knowledge or a proxy based on actual knowledge. For all types of financial institutions researched, we find that narrow‐scope trust is significantly higher than broad‐scope trust, but both forms of trust are positively related. Financially knowledgeable people are more likely to trust managers of financial institutions and have more trust in the prudential supervisory authority. Finally, our results suggest that trust in the supervisory authority positively correlates with trust in the financial sector.
Irisin treatment lowers levels of phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus of pre‐symptomatic female but not male htau mice
Authors: Bretland Katie A. , Lin Li , Bretland Kimberly M. , Smith Matthew A. , Fleming Sheila M. , Dengler‐Crish Christine M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsIrisin is a hormone cleaved from fibronectin type‐III domain‐containing protein 5 in response to exercise and may be therapeutic in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Irisin is shown to repair damage caused by midlife cardiometabolic risk factors for AD (i.e., diabetes mellitus; hypertension), prevent neural amyloid beta aggregation and reduce neuroinflammation. However, there are no investigations of irisin's effect on AD‐associated tauopathy in the brain. This study begins to address this gap in knowledge.MethodsTransgenic htau mice that selectively develop age‐related tauopathy were treated with recombinant irisin (100 µg/kg weekly i.p.) beginning at a pre‐symptomatic age (4 months) to determine if irisin could prevent emergence of early neuropathology. One month later, mice were sacrificed to collect brain tissue and serum. Protein levels of ptau (serine 202), inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and FNDC5 were quantified using capillary‐based western blotting (Wes).ResultsOur data show that irisin treatment significantly reduced ptau and TNFα in the hippocampus and serum of female htau mice compared to vehicle‐treated controls. Irisin treatment did not alter ptau levels in male htau hippocampus and appeared to enhance both neural and systemic TNFα levels.ConclusionsThis study provides the first evidence that enhancing the endogenous hormone irisin may be therapeutic against emerging neuropathology in a tauopathy‐selective AD model. This is important because there are currently no disease‐modifying therapeutics available for AD, and few agents in development address the multiple disease targets irisin appears to—making irisin an intriguing therapeutic candidate for further investigation.
A pilot feasibility study of an unguided, internet‐delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program for irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Owusu Jocelynn T. , Sibelli Alice , Moss‐Morris Rona , van Tilburg Miranda A.L. , Levy Rona L. , Oser Megan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is linked with lower health‐related quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed for IBS management can improve outcomes but further research of more accessible implementations of this treatment approach for IBS is needed. This study assessed the feasibility of a web‐delivered CBT program among adults with IBS to apply to a future clinical trial.MethodsTwenty‐five participants were randomized to receive an unguided web‐based, CBT program for IBS. The primary outcome was changes in IBS symptom severity (IBS Symptom Severity Scale [IBS‐SSS]). Secondary outcomes included IBS‐specific CBT therapeutic mechanisms of change (GI‐specific anxiety, unhelpful IBS behaviors, and GI‐focused cognitions) and changes in depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 [PHQ‐9]) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 scale [GAD‐7]) symptom severity.Key ResultsAmong participants randomized to receive web‐based CBT, the average baseline IBS‐SSS score was 296.3 (SD=100.9). IBS symptom severity significantly improved at 2‐month (p < 0.001) and 3‐month follow‐up (p < 0.0001); the within‐group effect size between baseline and 3‐month follow‐up IBS‐SSS scores was large (d = 1.14) and 63.6% experienced a clinically meaningful improvement (ie, ≥50‐point IBS‐SSS score reduction). GI‐specific anxiety symptoms and cognitions significantly improved at 2‐month follow‐up, as did unhelpful IBS safety behaviors. Additionally, clinically meaningful improvement was observed in depressive and anxiety symptoms at 3‐month follow‐up among participants with symptoms above the clinical threshold (ie, PHQ‐9 ≥ 10 and GAD‐7 ≥ 10, respectively) at baseline.Conclusions & InferencesThese preliminary findings warrant a larger trial to investigate an unguided, web‐based CBT for IBS symptom management that is powered to detect between‐group treatment effects.
Disentangling the components of triploid block and its fitness consequences in natural diploid–tetraploid contact zones of Arabidopsis arenosa
Authors: Morgan Emma J. , Čertner Martin , Lučanová Magdalena , Deniz Utku , Kubíková Kateřina , Venon Anthony , Kovářík Oleg , Lafon Placette Clément , Kolář Filip 
Published: March 2021

Summary

Hybrid seed inviability (HSI) is an important mechanism of reproductive isolation and speciation. HSI varies in strength among populations of diploid species but it remains to be tested whether similar processes affect natural variation in HSI within ploidy‐variable species (triploid block).

Here we used extensive endosperm, seed and F1‐hybrid phenotyping to explore HSI variation within a diploid‐autotetraploid species. By leveraging 12 population pairs from three ploidy contact zones, we tested for the effect of interploidy crossing direction (parent of origin), ploidy divergence and spatial arrangement in shaping reproductive barriers in a naturally relevant context.

We detected strong parent‐of‐origin effects on endosperm development, F1 germination and survival, which was also reflected in the rates of triploid formation in the field. Endosperm cellularization failure was least severe and F1‐hybrid performance was slightly better in the primary contact zone, with genetically closest diploid and tetraploid lineages.

We demonstrated overall strong parent‐of‐origin effects on HSI in a ploidy variable species, which translate to fitness effects and contribute to interploidy reproductive isolation in a natural context. Subtle intraspecific variation in these traits suggests the fitness consequences of HSI are predominantly a constitutive property of the species regardless of the evolutionary background of its populations.
The effect of scleral lenses on vision, refraction and aberrations in post‐LASIK ectasia, keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Shetty Rohit , Lalgudi Vaitheeswaran G , Khamar Pooja , Vincent Stephen J , Atchison David A 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeTo quantify the effect of a single scleral lens design on visual acuity and ocular higher‐order aberrations in eyes with post–LASIK ectasia, keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) that could not achieve satisfactory vision with spectacles or soft contact lenses.MethodsForty‐six eyes of 28 participants fitted with diagnostic scleral lenses (KeraCare) were analysed, including 19, 15 and 12 eyes with post‐LASIK ectasia, keratoconus and PMD, respectively. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and ocular aberrations were measured prior to lens wear and during lens wear after 60 min of settling. An i–Trace aberrometer was used to determine aberrations over a 4.5 mm diameter pupil.ResultsBefore lens wear, the median (95% confidence interval) values across all groups were: CDVA 0.30 (0.30, 0.40) logMAR, spherical equivalent refraction –2.75 (–5.25, –2.12) D, cylindrical refraction 3.75 (2.50, 5.00) D, higher–order–root–mean–square error (HO‐RMS) 0.90 (0.64, 1.03) μm and vertical coma co‐efficient C(3,–1) –0.32 (–0.42, –0.12) μm. RMS coma of 0.52 (0.40, 0.74) μm was higher for the keratoconus group than for the other groups (p < 0.05). During lens wear, values improved considerably across all groups: CDVA 0.0 (0.0, 0.00) logMAR, spherical equivalent refraction –0.50 (–0.75, +0.50) D, cylindrical refraction 0.50 (0.00, 0.50) D, HO‐RMS 0.32 (0.26, 0.42) μm and C(3,–1) +0.12 (+0.02, +0.19) μm (all p < 0.001 compared to pre‐lens wear). While reduced significantly, RMS coma remained higher in the keratoconus group at 0.35 (0.31, 0.52) μm than in the post–LASIK ectasia and PMD groups at 0.17 (0.12, 0.21) μm and 0.07 (0.02, 0.46) μm, respectively (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe KeraCare scleral contact lens reduced ocular aberrations and improved visual acuity in patients with post–LASIK ectasia, keratoconus and PMD. The sign of vertical coma changed in keratoconus and PMD.
Overexpression of both Rubisco and Rubisco activase rescues rice photosynthesis and biomass under heat stress
Authors: Qu Yuchen , Sakoda Kazuma , Fukayama Hiroshi , Kondo Eri , Suzuki Yuji , Makino Amane , Terashima Ichiro , Yamori Wataru 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGlobal warming threatens food security by decreasing crop yields through damage to photosynthetic systems, especially Rubisco activation. We examined whether co‐overexpression of Rubisco and Rubisco activase improves the photosynthetic and growth performance of rice under high temperatures. We grew three rice lines—the wild‐type (WT), a Rubisco activase–overexpressing line (oxRCA) and a Rubisco‐ and Rubisco activase–co‐overexpressing line (oxRCA‐RBCS)—and analysed photosynthesis and biomass at 25 and 40°C. Compared with the WT, the Rubisco activase content was 153% higher in oxRCA and 138% higher in oxRCA‐RBCS, and the Rubisco content was 27% lower in oxRCA and similar in oxRCA‐RBCS. The CO2 assimilation rate (A) of WT was lower at 40°C than at 25°C, attributable to Rubisco deactivation by heat. On the other hand, that of oxRCA and oxRCA‐RBCS was maintained at 40°C, resulting in higher A than WT. Notably, the dry weight of oxRCA‐RBCS was 26% higher than that of WT at 40°C. These results show that increasing the Rubisco activase content without the reduction of Rubisco content could improve yield and sustainability in rice at high temperature.