bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Preventive Effect of Lactobacillus Fermentum SCHY34 Isolated from Traditional Fermented Yak Yogurt on Lead Acetate-Induced Neurological Damage in SD Rats
Authors: Long Xingyao , Wu Haibo , Zhou Yujing , Wan Yunxiao , Kan Xunmei , Gong Jianjun , Zhao Xin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Lead is a heavy metal that is widespread in nature and has extremely strong chemical toxicity in the human body especially harmful to the human nervous system. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can be used to maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiota, and recent reports have shown that LAB can remove metal ions through adsorption. In this experiment, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 200 mg/L of lead acetate solution daily to induce chronic lead poisoning, and oral LF-SCHY34 to study its mitigation effects and mechanisms on rat neurotoxicity.Results: Through electron microscopy and energy spectrum analysis, it was found that the surface of the lactic acid bacteria adsorbed a large amount of lead ions, and the O and N elements in the bacteria were significantly reduced. Animal experiments showed that LF-SCHY34 maintained the morphology of rat liver, kidney, and hippocampi, reduced the accumulation of lead in the blood, liver, kidney, and brain tissue, reduced the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CRE), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in rat serum, and increased δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity in serum. Further, LF-SCHY34 alleviated the lead-induced decline in spatial memory and response capacity of SD rats, and also regulated the secretion of neurotransmitters and related enzyme activities in the brain tissue of rats. LF-SCHY34 inhibited the secretion of glutamate and the activity of monoamine oxidase in brain tissue, promoted the synthesis of glutamine (Glu), norepinephrine (NE), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and increased the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and adenylate cyclase (AC). In addition, the expression of genes related to cognitive capacity in rat brain tissues such as calmodulin (CaM), protein kinase A (PKA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), c-fos, c-jun was increased by LF-SCHY as was the expression of the antioxidation genes and the anti-apoptotic gene. Conclusions: Compared with the lead poisoning treatment drug EDTA, LF-SCHY34 not only had greater lead discharge capacity than EDTA, but also had a greater alleviating effect on organ damage and oxidative damage caused by lead. As a food-grade LAB, LF-SCHY34 has great potential and research value for removing heavy metals from food and alleviating the toxicity of heavy metals.
Involvement of SIRT1-eNOS Axis in Vascular Senescence Responses to Ursolic Acid and Exercise Training in Aged Type 2 Diabetes Model of Rats
Authors: Pordanjani Masume Kazemi , Banitalebi Ebrahim , Roghani Mehrdad , Hemmati Roohullah 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background

Ursolic acid (UA) mediates the vasorelaxant activity via nitric oxide (NO) release, and up-regulation of eNOS in endothelial cells in disease conditions with increased oxidative stress. The present study aimed to reflect on the impact of eight weeks of a combination of ursolic acid (UA) supplementation and resistance/endurance training in old male Wistar rats having high-fat diet and/or low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes (HFD/STZ-induced T2D), with an emphasis on sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) axis and oxidative stress (OS) indices in their aortic tissues.
Methods

A total number of 56 21-month-old male Wistar rats with HFD/STZ-induced T2Dwere randomized into seven groups (n = eight animals per group): (1) sedentary old non-diabetic (C); (2) sedentary HFD/STZ-induced T2D (D); (3) sedentary HFD/STZ-induced T2D plus UA (UA) (DU); (4) endurance-trained HFD/STZ-induced T2D (DE); (5) resistance-trained HFD/STZ-induced T2D (DR); (6) endurance-trained HFD/STZ-induced T2D plus UA (DEU); and (7) resistance-trained STZ-diabetic plus UA (DRU) rats.
Results

The study results established no significant interaction between the UA supplementation and the resistance/endurance training with regard to the levels of glucose (p = 0.534), insulin (p = 0.327), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (p = 0.960), cholesterol (p = 0.107), SIRT1 (p = 0.640), and eNOS (p = 0.151). However, the resistance/endurance training plus the UA consumption could partially reverse the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.001), nitric oxide (NO) (p = 0.009), as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p = 0.016).
Conclusions

In general, the UA supplementation combined with the resistance/endurance training did not affect vascular aging biomarkers. To develop novel practical nutritional strategies involving UA intake, further studies are thus needed to clarify how chronic consumption of UA with/without resistance/endurance training reverses vascular aging process in old male Wistar rats with HFD/STZ-induced T2D.
Mir-455-3p Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumorigenesis, Lymphangiogenesis and Angiogenesis via Regulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C as well as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
Authors: Bin Xiaoyun , Wang Jianchu , Lu Libai , Ye Guanbin , Zhou Sufang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), functioning as tumor suppressors or oncogenes, exert a considerable regulative influence in biological processes. Previous studies showed that miR-455-3p was significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while the specific role of miR-455-3p in HCC is unclear. Methods: QRT-PCR was used to detect miR-455-3p expression levels in HCC cells and tissues. We adopted colony formation, EdU, CCK-8, transwell assays and wound-healing to identify the influences of miR-455-3p on proliferation, invasion and migration in HHCC and HuH-7 cells. Western blot analysis, angiogenesis assays, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and bioinformatics analysis were also adopted to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: MiR-455-3p was down-regulated in HCC tissues and cells. In vitro experiments identified miR-455-3p overexpression inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Interestingly, it was identified that vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) was the downstream target gene of miR-455-3p. Additionally, overexpression of miR-455-3p in HCC cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cells led to decreased expression of VEGFC, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, and subsequently decreased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (AKT) signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo restoration of miR-455-3p significantly suppressed tumorigenicity of HuH-7 cells in nude mice and inhibited both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of tumor xenografts. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that miR-455-3p could play a role in HCC tumorigenesis at least in part by modulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis through targeting VEGFC, and could simultaneously block AKT signaling pathways.
Trend Assessment of Global, UVB, UVA Irradiation and Dry Bulb Temperature at the Lowest Terrestrial Site on Earth: Dead Sea, Israel
Authors: Kudish Avraham I , Evseev Efim G 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The Dead Sea basin is lowest terrestrial site on the globe. A meteorological station monitoring the global, UVB and UVA irradiation and the dry bulb temperature was established in 1995 in conjunction with a study of bio-climatological properties of the region with regard to photoclimatherapy treatment of dermatological diseases. The availability of such irradiation and dry bulb temperature databases has been utilized to perform a study to determine if any trends regarding either irradiation or dry bulb temperature exist at this unique site. There was no indication of any trends, based upon a p-value analysis, regarding the global, UVB and UVA irradiation. The global irradiation database included the time interval 1995-2020; whereas the corresponding time interval for the UVB and UVA irradiation databases was 1995-2018. The dry bulb temperature database consisted of the time interval 1995-2020 and, once again, no trends were observed throughout the year with the exception of the nocturnal time interval, between 18:00 to 06:00, during the month of October which exhibited a warming trend of 0.78°C/decade
Genome Mining of Antimicrobial Gene Clusters from Phyllospheric Bacteria Isolated from Solanum Lycopersicum and Lactuca Sativa to Identify Biocontrol Properties
Authors: Muñoz Claudia Y. , Zhou Lu , Yi Yunhai , Kuipers Oscar P. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundBiocontrol agents are sustainable eco-friendly alternatives for chemical pesticides that cause adverse effects in the environment and toxicity in animals including humans. An improved understanding of the phyllosphere microbiology is of vital importance for biocontrol development. Most studies have been directed towards beneficial plant-microbe interactions and ignore the pathogens that might affect humans when consuming vegetables. In this study we extended this perspective and investigated potential biocontrol strains isolated from the tomato and lettuce phyllosphere that can promote plant growth and antagonize mammalian pathogens as well as plant pathogens. Subsequently, we mined into their genomes for discovery of antimicrobial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), several of which are good candidates to produce protectants against microbial plant and mammalian pathogens.Results The antimicrobial activity of 69 newly isolated strains from a healthy tomato and lettuce phyllosphere against several plant and mammalian pathogens was determined with plates assays. Three strains with the highest antimicrobial activity against the relevant pathogens were selected and characterized (Bacillus subtilis STRP31, Bacillus velezensis SPL51, and Paenibacillus sp. PL91). All three strains showed a plant growth promotion effect by the production of volatile compounds (VOCs) on tomato and lettuce. In addition, genome mining of these isolates showed the presence of a large variety of biosynthetic gene clusters. A total of 39 BGCs were identified, of which several are already known, such as bacilysin, bacillibactin, surfactin, subtilomycin, etc., but also several novel ones. Further analysis revealed that among the novel BGCs, one NRPS and two bacteriocins are encoded which were analyzed in more depth.Conclusions Several antimicrobial BGCs were found in the selected strains, including the rediscovery of known ones, but also the discovery of novel ones. Our study serves as support for subsequent examination and characterization of novel antimicrobial metabolites, and the possibility of developing biocontrol agents.
A Probabilistic Model For Co-Occurrence Analysis in Bibliometrics
Authors: Zhou Xiaobei , Zhou Miao , Huang Desheng , Cui Lei 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The co-occurrence analysis of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms in the bibliographic database is popularly used in bibliometrics. Practically for making the result interpretable, it is necessary to apply a certain filter procedure of co-occurrence matrix for removing the low-frequency items that should not appear in the final result due to their low representativeness for co-occurrence analysis. Unfortunately, there is rare research referring to determine a critical threshold to remove noise of data for co-occurrence analysis. Here, we propose a probabilistic model for co-occurrence analysis that can calculate statistical significance (p-values) of co-occurred items. With help of this model, the dimensionality of co-occurrence network could be conveniently reduced according to selection of different levels of p-value thresholds. The conceptual model framework, simulation and practical applications are illustrated in the manuscript. Further details (including all reproducible codes) can be downloaded from the project website: https://github.com/Miao-zhou/Co-occurrence-analysis.git.
Ajuga Bracteosa Transgenic Regenerants Display Better Pharmacological Potential
Authors: Rubnawaz Samina , Kayani Waqas Khan , Akhtar Nosheen , Mahmood Rashid , Mehmood Furrukh , Khan Asif , Mirza Bushra 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth is an endangered medicinal herb used against different ailments in folklore medicines. Here, we aimed to create a new insight to the fundamental mechanisms of genetic transformation in the ethnomedicinal usage of this plant. We transformed the plant with rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. The transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, a range of in vivo assays, and linked the activities with elemental analysis, polyphenol content and different phytochemicals found through HPLC. Among 18 polyphenolic standards, kaempferol was found most abundant in all transgenic lines (up to 101.26 ± 6 µg/mg). Furthermore, among all tested plant extracts, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed maximum phenolics (13.39 ± 2µg GAE/mg) and flavonoids content (4.75 ± 0.16 µg QE/mg). ABRL3 also demonstrated potent total antioxidant capacity (8.16 ± 1 µg AAE/mg), total reducing power, (6.60 ± 1.17 µg AAE/mg), DPPH activity (IC50 = 59.5 ± 0.8µg/mL), hydroxyl ion scavenging (IC50 = 122.5 ± 0.90 µg/mL), and iron chelating power (IC50 = 154.8 ± 2 µg/mL) among all plants. Transformed plant extracts also produced significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant properties in in vivo mice model as compared to control untransformed plant material. Additionally, no abnormal behavior or lethality was observed in any animal tested. In conclusion, transgenic regenerants of A. bracteosa pose better pharmacological properties under the effect of rol genes as compared to wild type plants.
Neuroretinal Dysfunction in Patients Affected by Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Moramarco Antonietta , Lucchino Luca , Mallone Fabiana , Marcelli Michela , Alisi Ludovico , Roberti Vincenzo , Giustini Sandra , LAMBIASE ALESSANDRO , Nebbioso Marcella 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine neuroretinal function by using the mfERG test in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) without optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). This study was conducted on 35 patients (35 eyes) with NF1 and 30 healthy subjects (30 eyes) for the control group. Each subject underwent a complete ophthalmological examination including multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain was performed in NF1 patients to assess the presence of OPGs. All participants were recruited having a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of no less than 20/20 in each eye. The amplitude and implicit time of the P1 wave (first-order Kernel component) were evaluated on mfERG. Data analysis was carried out in the two central degrees and in the four quadrants from two to 25 degrees of visual field. Statistically significant results were obtained for the P1 wave amplitudes in the 4 quadrants in NF1 patients compared to healthy subjects, while the reduction was not significant in the 2 central degrees. A statistically significant difference was observed among the P1 wave amplitudes as recorded in the 4 quadrants within the NF1 group, with lower amplitudes in the nasal quadrants. No differences in the implicit times were recorded in the 4 quadrants and in the 2 central degrees as compared between NF1 patients and controls. The present study demonstrates impaired neuroretinal function in NF1 patients. Altered intracellular signal transduction due to abnormal neurofibromin-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation, could be involved. Our results suggest a possible use of mfERG as subclinical retinal damage indicator with a potential utility in clinical practice for the follow-up of NF1 patients.
Engineer Design Process Assisted by Explainable Deep Learning Network
Authors: Hsu Chia-Wei , Yang An-Cheng , Kung Pei-Ching , Tsou Nien-Ti , Chen Nan-Yow 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Engineering simulation accelerates the development of reliable and repeatable design processes in various domains. However, the computing resource consumption is dramatically raised in the whole development processes. Making the most of these simulation data becomes more and more important in modern industrial product design. In the present study, we proposed a workflow comprised of a series of machine learning algorithms (mainly deep neuron networks) to be an alternative to the numerical simulation. We have applied the workflow to the field of dental implant design process. The process is based on a complex, time-dependent, multi-physical biomechanical theory, known as mechano-regulatory method. It has been used to evaluate the performance of dental implants and to assess the tissue recovery after the oral surgery procedures. We provided a deep learning network (DLN) with calibrated simulation data that came from different simulation conditions with experimental verification. The DLN achieves nearly exact result of simulated bone healing history around implants. The correlation of the predicted essential physical properties of surrounding bones (e.g. strain and fluid velocity) and performance indexes of implants (e.g. bone area and bone-implant contact) were greater than 0.980 and 0.947, respectively. The testing AUC values for the classification of each tissue phenotype were ranging from 0.90 to 0.99. The DLN reduced hours of simulation time to seconds. Moreover, our DLN is explainable via Deep Taylor decomposition, suggesting that the transverse fluid velocity, upper and lower parts of dental implants are the keys that influence bone healing and the distribution of tissue phenotypes the most. Many examples of commercial dental implants with designs which follow these design strategies can be found. This work demonstrates that DLN with proper network design is capable to replace complex, time-dependent, multi-physical models/theories, as well as to reveal the underlying features without prior professional knowledge.
Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity staff in 2020 – a scoping review
Authors: Schmitt Nadine , Mattern Elke , Cignacco Eva , Seliger Gregor , König-Bachmann Martina , Striebich Sabine , Ayerle Gertrud M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In the spring of 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing with it drastic changes and challenges for health systems and medical staff. Among the affected were obstetricians and midwives, whose close physical contact with pregnant women, women who recently gave birth, and their children was indispensable. In the obstetric setting, births cannot be postponed, and maternity staff had to adapt to assure obstetric safety while balancing evidence-based standards with the new challenges posed by the pandemic. This scoping review gives a comprehensive overview of the effecs the Covid-19 pandemic had on maternity staff. We followed the evidence-based approach described by Arksey & O’Malley: we searched several databases for English and German articles published between January 2020 and January 2021 that discussed or touched upon the effects the pandemic had on maternity staff in OECD countries and China. We found that structural challenges caused by the crisis and its subjective effects on maternity staff fell into two main topic areas. Structural challenges (the first main topic) were divided into five subtopics: staff shortages and restructuring; personal protective equipment and tests; switching to virtual communication; handling women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 infection; and excluding accompanying persons. The pandemic also strongly affected the staff’s mental health (the second main topic.) Attempting to meet challenges posed by the pandemic while afraid of contamination, suffering overwork and exhaustion, and struggling to resolve ethical-moral dilemmas had severe negative subjective effects. Several studies indicated increased depression, anxiety, stress levels, and risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms, although the crisis also generated strong occupational solidarity. Care for pregnant, birthing, and breast-feeding women cannot be interrupted, even during a pandemic crisis that requires social distancing. Maternity staff sometimes had to abandon normal standards of obstetric care and were confronted with enormous challenges and structural adjustments that did not leave them unscathed: their mental health suffered considerably. Researchers should study maternity staff’s experiences during the pandemic to prepare recommendations that will protect staff during future epidemics.
Subclinical Acromegaly: to Treat or Not to Treat?
Authors: Shimon Ilan , Adnan Zaina , Hirsch Dania , Duskin-Bitan Hadar , Akirov Amit 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Objective
Patients with acromegaly usually present with the classical signs of acromegaly, whereas patients without the specific signs or symptoms are rarely diagnosed. This unique entity can be named "subclinical acromegaly".
Methods
This was a retrospective study. Our study group consisted of 8 patients (6 females) with incidentally diagnosed acromegaly, most following head MRI for unrelated reasons and without the specific signs of acromegaly.
Results
Mean age at diagnosis was 50.1 ± 16.3 years. Baseline IGF-1 ranged between 1.27–2.08 x upper limit of normal (ULN). MRI depicted a pituitary microadenoma in 6 patients, one patient presented with an intrasellar macroadenoma and one had no visible pituitary mass. Mean calculated SAGIT clinical score was 4.6. Three patients underwent trans-sphenoidal resection; two achieved hormonal remission and one improved but did not normalize IGF-1 following surgery. Five patients (including one following surgery) were given somatostatin analogs, and three normalized IGF-1. Several patients improved clinically following treatment, reporting improvement in snoring, hypertension, or weight loss, and pituitary adenoma decreased in size in 2 patients that responded to medical treatment.
Conclusions
we report a series of 8 patients with very mild and subclinical acromegaly. It is uncertain whether all such patients will gain clinical benefit from treatment, but some experienced clinical improvement due to treatment.