bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High Glucose Induced Changes in Human VEC Phenotype in a 3D Hydrogel Derived From Cell-Free Native Aortic Root
Authors: Cecoltan Sergiu , Ciortan Letitia , Macarie Razvan D. , Vadana Mihaela , Mihaila Andreea C. , Tucureanu Monica , Vlad Mihaela-Loredana , Droc Ionel , Gherghiceanu Mihaela , Simionescu Agneta , Simionescu Dan Teodor , Butoi Elena , Manduteanu Ileana 
Published: August 2021

Background: Valvular endothelial cells (VEC) have key roles in maintaining valvular integrity and homeostasis, and dysfunctional VEC are the initiators and major contributors to aortic valve disease in diabetes. Previous studies have shown that HG stimulated an inflammatory phenotype in VEC. Inflammation was shown to induce endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a process extensively involved in many pathologies, including calcification of the aortic valve. However, the effect of HG on EndMT in VEC is not known. In addition, there is evidence that endothelin (ET) is a proinflammatory agent in early diabetes and was detected in aortic stenosis, but it is not known whether HG induces ET and endothelin receptors and whether endothelin modulates HG-dependent inflammation in VEC. This study aims to evaluate HG effects on EndMT, on endothelin and endothelin receptors induction in VEC and their role in HG induced VEC inflammation.Methods and Results: We developed a new 3D model of the aortic valve consisting of a hydrogel derived from a decellularized extracellular cell matrix obtained from porcine aortic root and human valvular cells. VEC were cultured on the hydrogel surface and VIC within the hydrogel, and the resulted 3D construct was exposed to high glucose (HG) conditions. VEC from the 3D construct exposed to HG exhibited: attenuated intercellular junctions and an abundance of intermediate filaments (ultrastructural analysis), decreased expression of endothelial markers CD31 and VE–cadherin and increased expression of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and vimentin (qPCR and immunocytochemistry), increased expression of inflammatory molecules ET-1 and its receptors ET-A and ET-B, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 (qPCR and Immunocytochemistry) and augmented adhesiveness. Blockade of ET-1 receptors, ET-A and ET-B reduced secretion of inflammatory biomarkers IL-1β and MCP-1 (ELISA assay).Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HG induces EndMT in VEC and indicates endothelin as a possible target to reduce HG-induced inflammation in VEC.
Discriminating the Multi-Frequency Microwave Brightness Temperature Anomalies Relating to 2017 Mw 7.3 Sarpol Zahab (Iran-Iraq Border) Earthquake
Authors: Ding Yifan , Qi Yuan , Wu Lixin , Mao Wenfei , Liu Yingjia 
Published: August 2021

A Mw 7.3 earthquake occurred near the Iran-Iraq border on November 12, 2017, as the result of oblique-thrust squeezing of the Eurasian plate and the Arabian plate. By employing the spatio-temporally weighted two-step method (STW-TSM) and microwave brightness temperature (MBT) data from AMSR-2 instrument on board Aqua satellite, this paper investigates carefully the spatiotemporal features of multi-frequency MBT anomalies relating to the earthquake. Soil moisture (SM), satellite cloud image, regional geological map and surface landcover data are utilized to discriminate the potential MBT anomalies revealed from STW-TSM. The low-frequency MBT residual images shows that positive anomalies mainly occurred in the mountainous Urmia lake and the plain region, which were 300 km north and 200 km southwest about to the epicenter, respectively. The north MBT anomaly firstly appeared 51 days before the mainshock and its magnitude increased over time with a maximum of about +40K. Then the anomaly disappeared 3 days before, reappeared 1d after and diminished completely 10 days after the mainshock. Meanwhile, the southwest MBT anomaly firstly occurred 18 days before and peaked 3 days before the mainshock with a maximum of about +20K, and then diminished gradually with aftershocks. It is speculated that the positive MBT anomaly in the Urmia lake was caused by microwave dielectric property change of water body due to gas bubbles leaking from the bottom of the lake disturbed by local crust stress alteration, while the southwest MBT positive anomaly was caused by microwave dielectric constant change of shallow surface due to accumulation of seismically-activated positive charges originated at deep crust. Besides, some accidental abnormal residual stripes existed in line with satellite orbit, which turned out to be periodic data errors of the satellite sensor. High-frequency MBT residual images exhibit some significant negative anomalies, including a narrow stripe pointing to the forthcoming epicenter, which were confirmed to be caused by synchronous altostratus clouds. This study is of guidance meaning for distinguishing non-seismic disturbances and identifying seismic MBT anomaly before, during and after some large earthquakes.
Late Quaternary Climate Reconstruction and Lead-Lag Relationships of Biotic and Sediment-Geochemical Indicators at Lake Bolshoe Toko, Siberia
Authors: Biskaborn Boris K. , Nazarova Larisa , Kröger Tim , Pestryakova Lyudmila A. , Syrykh Liudmila , Pfalz Gregor , Herzschuh Ulrike , Diekmann Bernhard 
Published: August 2021

Millennial-scale climate change history in eastern Siberia and relationships between diatom diversity, paleoclimate, and sediment-geochemical lake system trajectories are still poorly understood. This study investigates multi-proxy time series reaching back to the Late Pleistocene derived from radiocarbon dated Lake Bolshoe Toko sediment cores, southeastern Yakutia, Russia. We analyzed diatoms, elements (XRF), minerals (XRD), grain-size, organic carbon, and included chironomid analyses and published pollen-data for quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction. Changes in diatom species abundances reveal repeated episodes of thermal stratification indicated by shifts from euplanktonicAulacoseiratoCyclotellaspecies. Chironomid and pollen-inferred temperature reconstruction reveal that the main shift between these diatom species is related to the onset of Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) at 7.1 cal ka BP. Comparison to other paleoclimate records along a north-south transect through Yakutia shows that the HTM was delayed as far south as the Stanovoy mountains. Relationships between sediment-geochemistry, paleoclimate variability and diatom species richness (alpha diversity) was tested in a moving temporal offset approach to detect lead-lag relationships. Sediment-geochemical data, mainly uniform during the Holocene, revealed strongest positive or negative correlations ahead of species richness changes. Mean July air temperature (TJuly) reconstructions correlate with both Hill numbers and relative assemblage changes indicated by sample scores of multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) over the entire time series. We found that sediment organic carbon revealed distinct positive correlations, i.e., centennial-scale delay to increases in diatom effective richness (Hill numbers N0 and N2). We conclude that a lag of deposited organic carbon concentrations behind changes in diatom alpha diversity reveals that species richness can augment the production and thus sequestration of organic matter in comparable lake systems.
Stress-Related Amygdala Metabolic Activity Is Associated With Low Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot 18F-FDG PET/CT Study
Authors: Pahk Kisoo , Kwon Hyun Woo , Joung Chanmin , Kim Sungeun 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundPsychological stress is associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, the underlying mechanism of stress-related brain neural activity with osteoporosis is not fully elucidated. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is an established method to evaluate the metabolic activity of brain amygdala, a region involved in stress. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between metabolic activity of amygdala (AmygA) and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Materials and MethodsA total of 115 postmenopausal women who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for routine health screening were enrolled in this study. AmygA was defined as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of amygdala divided by the mean SUV of temporal lobe. The levels of psychological stress were measured using the Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF).ResultsThe participants with osteoporosis exhibited significantly higher AmygA than without osteoporosis (0.81 ± 0.16 vs. 0.61 ± 0.13, p &lt; 0.001). The AmygA value of 0.69 was suggested as an optimal cut-off value to identify participant with osteoporosis (sensitivity; 79.1%, specificity; 83.3%, area under the curve; 0.841, p &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, AmygA showed significant association with osteoporosis in postmenopausal woman by multivariate analysis. Psychological stress scale (PWI-SF) was well correlated with AmygA and AmygA was highest in high stress risk-, intermediate in moderate stress risk-, and lowest in healthy group.ConclusionsAmygA measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT is associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Our results provide the possibility that stress-related neurobiological activity involving amygdala is linked with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Psychological Well-Being of Parents of Very Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes – Baseline Assessment
Authors: de Beaufort Carine , Pit-ten Cate Ineke M. , Schierloh Ulrike , Cohen Nathan , Boughton Charlotte K. , Tauschmann Martin , Allen Janet M. , Nagl Katrin , Fritsch Maria , Yong James , Metcalfe Emily , Schaeffer Dominique , Fichelle Muriel , Thiele Alena G. , Abt Daniela , Faninger Kerstin , Mader Julia K. , Slegtenhorst Sonja , Ashcroft Nicole , Wilinska Malgorzata E. , Sibayan Judy , Kollman Craig , Hofer Sabine E. , Fröhlich-Reiterer Elke , Kapellen Thomas M. , Acerini Carlo L. , Campbell Fiona , Rami-Merhar Birgit , Hovorka Roman 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundType 1 diabetes in young children is a heavy parental burden. As part of pilot phase of the KIDSAP01 study, we conducted a baseline assessment in parents to study the association between hypoglycemia fear, parental well-being and child behavior.MethodsAll parents were invited to fill in baseline questionnaires: hypoglycemia fear survey (HFS), WHO-5, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).Results24 children (median age: 5-year, range 1-7 years, 63% male, mean diabetes duration: 3 ± 1.7 years) participated. 23/24 parents filled out the questionnaires. We found a higher score for the hypoglycemia fear behavior 33.9 ± 5.6 compared to hypoglycemia worry 34.6 ± 12.2. Median WHO-5 score was 16 (8 - 22) with poor well-being in two parents. Median daytime sleepiness score was high in five parents (&gt;10). For six children a high total behavioral difficulty score (&gt;16) was reported. Pro social behavior score was lower than normal in six children (&lt;6). Parental well-being was negatively associated with HFS total (r = - 0.50, p &lt;.05) and subscale scores (r = - 0.44, p &lt;.05 for HFS-Worry and HFS-Behavior), child behavior (r = - 0.45, p = .05) and positively with child age and diabetes duration (r = 0.58, p &lt;.01, r = 0.6, p &lt;.01). HFS, parental well-being nor daytime sleepiness are associated with the HbA1c.ConclusionRegular screening of parental well-being, hypoglycemia fear and child behavior should be part of routine care to target early intervention.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters (DBP and DEHP) in Surface Water of China
Authors: Sun Fuhong , Tao Yanru , Shi Di , Yang Jiwei , Li Huixian , Wei Yuan , Su Hailei 
Published: August 2021

As a new type of pollutant, phthalate esters (PAEs) are common organic compounds in industrial production and daily life, which are widely detected in surface water environment. Among them, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) have attracted much attention due to their harmful effects on aquatic life such as endocrine disrupting effects. In this study, the toxicity data of DBP and DEHP were collected and screened through literature research, and their water quality criteria (WQC) for protecting aquatic life were derived by the species sensitivity distribution method. In addition, the distributions of DBP and DEHP in surface water environment of China were analyzed and their ecological risk levels to aquatic life in six regions were evaluated by hazard quotients (HQs) and probabilistic approaches. The result revealed that the chronic WQC of DBP is 12.9 μg/L (criteria continuous concentration, CCC) and acute WQC is 162.9 μg/L (criteria maximum concentration, CMC) and the chronic WQC of DEHP is 1.0 μg/L (CCC) and acute WQC is 71.8 μg/L (CMC). The ecological risk of DBP and DEHP in North China and Yangtze River is relatively higher than other regions, which may have harmful effects on the aquatic environments. So, it is necessary to strengthen the water quality management. The results could provide scientific basis for ecological risk management of DBP and DEHP.
High Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for End Stage Renal Diseases in IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Wang Siqing , Dong Lingqiu , Pei Gaiqin , Jiang Zheng , Qin Aiya , Tan Jiaxing , Tang Yi , Qin Wei 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundComplex factors are involved in the development and progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), a common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. Autoimmunity and inflammation have been considered to be the basic mechanisms; however, the exact pathogenesis remains unclear. As a novel marker of inflammation, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied in various diseases. Whether the NLR can predict the renal outcome of patients with IgAN remains unclear. We evaluated the relationships between the NLR and renal function, pathologic lesions, renal progression, and prognosis in patients with IgAN.MethodsThis retrospective study involved 966 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. They were divided into two groups based on the cut-off value of the NLR: the high group (NLR ≥ 2.67, n = 384) and the low group (NLR &lt; 2.67, n = 582). The endpoint was end-stage renal disease [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of &lt;15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or performance of renal replacement therapy]. A correlation test was conducted to explore the relationship between the NLR and other important parameters (eGFR, serum creatinine, proteinuria, hypertension and renal pathologic lesions). The predictive value was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to evaluate renal progression and prognosis.ResultsThe NLR had the highest AUROC, which was 0.633 (p &lt; 0.001). The correlation test revealed that the NLR was positively correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.127, p &lt; 0.001) and 24-hour urine protein (r = 0.18, p &lt; 0.001) and negatively correlated with eGFR (r = 0.14, p &lt; 0.001). Patients with IgAN who had a high NLR were more likely to have hypertension (p = 0.003). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that a high NLR was an independent risk factor for IgAN even after adjustment for important clinical and pathological parameters (p = 0.043, HR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.02-2.97). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that a high NLR was significantly associated with the renal prognosis of patients with IgAN (p &lt; 0.001), especially patients with stage 3 to 4 chronic kidney disease (p = 0.028) or 24-hour urine protein of &gt;1 g/day (p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionAn elevated NLR affects the renal progression and prognosis in patients with IgAN and could be a marker for evaluation of renal function and pathologic lesions.
The Impact of Artificial Aging on the Color Stability and Hardness of Nanocomposite Resin
Authors: Wang Likai , Zheng Yan 
Published: August 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of artificial aging on the color stability and hardness of nanocomposite resin.Methods: Four nanocomposite resin materials were used: Filtek Z350 XT (FZ), Synergy D6 (SD), Grandio (GD), and Clearfil Majesty Esthetic (CM). Thirty specimens were created from each material, which were divided into three (A,B,C) groups of 10 specimens each. For each material, the values of visual lightness (L*), degree of redness and greenness (a*), and degree of yellowness and blueness (b*) of the specimens in group A before and after aging, as well as the hardness of the specimens in group B before aging and in group C after aging, were measured. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G155 Cycle 1 standard was adopted to test the aging of the specimens. The color difference (ΔE00) value and hardness difference (ΔH) value of the specimens before and after aging were calculated.Results: Aging was found to have an impact on the ΔE00 values of the resin materials in each group (H = 17.6, p = 0.001), and the hardness of the specimens in each group after artificial aging was significantly higher than before aging (p &lt; 0.05). The difference in ΔE00 between the FZ group and the SD, GD, and CM groups was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). The FZ group had the highest ΔE00 values. There was no correlation between ΔE00 and the hardness change percentage after aging (r = 0.114).Conclusion: Among the four nanocomposite resins tested in this study, except for Filtek Z350 XT’s ΔE00 values (&gt;1.8) in the clinically unacceptable range, the remaining three kinds of resin ΔE00 values (&lt;1.8) were all in the clinically acceptable range. The hardness of the four nanocomposite resins increased after aging. The results of the present study revealed that there was no correlation between ΔE00 and hardness change percentage in the four nanocomposite resin materials after aging.
Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy Affect the Gut Microbiota and Ghrelin Levels
Authors: Martín-Núñez Gracia Mª , Cornejo-Pareja Isabel , Clemente-Postigo Mercedes , Tinahones Francisco J. , Moreno-Indias Isabel 
Published: August 2021

Background: Antibiotic therapy used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori has been associated with changes in plasma ghrelin and alterations in the gut microbiota. On the other hand, changes in ghrelin levels have been related to changes in gut microbiota composition. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between changes in the gut microbiota and ghrelin levels in H. pylori infected patients who received antibiotic treatment for its eradication.Methods: A prospective case-control study that included forty H. pylori-positive patients who received eradication therapy (omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) and twenty healthy H. pylori antigen-negative participants. Patients were evaluated, including clinical, anthropometric and dietary variables, before and 2 months after treatment. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (IlluminaMiSeq).Results: Changes in gut microbiota profiles and decrease in ghrelin levels were identified after H. pylori eradication treatment. Gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Parabacteroides distasonis, and RS045 have been linked to ghrelin levels fasting and/or post meals. Changes in the abundance of Lachnospiraceae, its genus Blautia, as well as Prevotella stercorea, and Megasphaera have been inversely associated with changes in ghrelin after eradication treatment.Conclusions: Eradication treatment for H. pylori produces changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and ghrelin levels. The imbalance between lactate producers such as Blautia, and lactate consumers such as Megasphaera, Lachnospiraceae, or Prevotella, could trigger changes related to ghrelin levels under the alteration of the eradication therapy used for H. pylori. In addition, acetate producing bacteria such as B. longum, Bacteroides, and P. distasonis could also play an important role in ghrelin regulation.
Role of a Modified Urothelium Immune Prognostic Index in Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Treated With Anti–PD-1/PD-L1–Based Therapy
Authors: Li Haifeng , An Xin , Huang Riqing , Li Lu , Chu Chengbiao , Yang Wei , Qin Zike , Liu Zhuowei , Zhou Fangjian , Xue Cong , Shi Yanxia 
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The use of antibodies against programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) has improved survival in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) patients. However, reliable and convenient biomarkers of early responses and outcomes are still lacking.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively screened mUC patients who received anti–PD-1/PD-L1–based therapy at our institute. A modified urothelium immune prognostic index (mUIPI) based on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was developed to characterize the three groups as good, intermediate, and poor mUIPI. Major observations were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and disease control rate (DCR).Results: We identified 52 mUC patients with a median follow-up time of 29.8 months (95% CI, 26.3–53.2). Low NLR was with improved PFS and OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40, 95% CI, 0.18–0.92; HR, 0.27, 95% CI, 0.11–0.69, respectively). Normal LDH was associated with improved PFS but not OS (HR, 0.22, 95% CI, 0.10–0.52; HR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.34–2.13, respectively). The median PFS for the poor, intermediate, and good mUIPI groups was 1.97 months (95% CI, 1.15 to NR), 3.48 months (95% CI, 1.58 to NR), and 14.52 months (95% CI, 5.75 to NR), respectively (p &lt; 0.001). The median OS for the poor, intermediate, and good mUIPI was 12.82, 18.11, and 34.87 months, respectively (p = 0.28). A good mUIPI was associated with a higher DCR compared to intermediate and poor mUIPI (odds ratio [OR] 7.58, 95% CI, 1.73–43.69; OR, 6.49, 95% CI, 0.14–295.42, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, a good mUIPI was associated with improved PFS in the subgroups of male patients and patients with low urinary tract primary tumors, liver metastases, non–first-line treatment, and monotherapy.Conclusions: mUIPI predicts early responses in mUC patients who received anti–PD-1/PD-L1–based therapy.