bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rheological and Tribological Properties of Konjac Gum‐Lecithin Composite System: Effect of Incorporation of Saliva and Friction Surface Properties
Authors: Pang Zhihua , Bourouis Imane , Li Mengfei , Chen Cunshe , Liu Xinqi 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThis research explored the development of composite systems using konjac gum (KGM) and soy lecithin at concentrations of 1% KGM–0.01% lecithin and 1% KGM–0.2% lecithin. The study investigated the influence of both oral and artificial saliva on the rheological and tribological properties of these systems, as well as the lubrication on different friction surfaces with varying characteristics. It has been found that different friction surfaces exhibited distinct morphological features and roughness values, significantly impacting surface wettability when treated with saliva. The viscosity of KGM–lecithin composite systems increased slightly compared to KGM hydrogel. However, adding oral or artificial saliva led to a noticeable decrease in viscosity. Lecithin did not significantly alter the viscoelastic properties of KGM gel, but the incorporation of artificial and oral saliva introduced some changes. CLSM images showed that the stability and distribution of lecithin within the composite system varied with lecithin concentration and saliva type, with artificial saliva ensuring a stable and even distribution, while oral saliva caused aggregation and irregular distribution. Furthermore, the study found that the lubrication performance of the KGM‐lecithin system was influenced by the properties of the friction surface, with hydrophilic rough surfaces providing superior lubrication compared to rough surfaces. The addition of lecithin enhanced lubrication across all tested surfaces, and artificial saliva surpassed oral saliva in reducing friction coefficients. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential use of KGM‐lecithin composite systems as fat mimetics, particularly in enhancing lubrication for various applications.
Role of Air Pollution in Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated With Nucleotide/Nucleoside Analogues
Authors: Jang Tyng‐Yuan , Zeng Yu‐ting , Liang Po‐Cheng , Wu Chih‐Da , Wei Yu‐Ju , Tsai Pei‐Chien , Hsu Po‐Yao , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Lin Yi‐Hung , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Wang Chih‐Wen , Yang Jeng‐Fu , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Chung‐Feng , Chuang Wan‐Long , Huang Jee‐Fu , Cheng Ya‐Yun , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chen Pau‐Chung , Yu Ming‐Lung 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsTo investigate the association between air pollution and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues.MethodsWe enrolled 1298 CHB patients treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues and analysed the incidence and risk factors for HCC. Daily estimates of air pollutants were estimated since the previous year from the enrolment date.ResultsThe annual incidence of HCC was 2.1/100 person‐years after a follow‐up period of over 4840.5 person‐years. Factors with the strongest association with HCC development were liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.00/1.55–5.81; p = 0.001), male sex (2.98/1.51–5.90; p = 0.02), body mass index (1.11/1.04–1.18; p = 0.002) and age (1.06/1.04–1.09; p < 0.001). Among patients with cirrhosis, the factors associated with HCC development were male sex (HR/95% CI: 2.10/1.00–4.25; p = 0.04) and NO2 (per one‐unit increment, parts per billion; 1.07/1.01–1.13; p = 0.01). Moreover, patients with the highest quartile of annual NO2 exposure had more than a three‐fold risk of HCC than those with the lowest quartile of annual exposure (HR/95% CI: 3.26/1.34–7.93; p = 0.01). Among patients without cirrhosis, the strongest factors associated with HCC development were male sex (HR/95% CI: 5.86/1.79–19.23; p = 0.004), age (1.12/1.07–1.17; p < 0.001) and platelet count (0.99/0.98–1.00; p = 0.04).ConclusionsAir pollution influences HCC development in CHB patients who receive nucleotide/nucleoside analogue therapy. Long‐term NO2 exposure might accelerate HCC development in CHB patients with cirrhosis receiving nucleotide/nucleoside analogue treatment.
Comparison of Tegoprazan and Lansoprazole in Patients With Erosive Esophagitis up to 4 Weeks: A Multi‐Center, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Active‐Comparator Phase 4 Trial
Authors: Shin Cheol Min , Choi Suck Chei , Cho Jin Woong , Kim Seung Young , Lee Ok Jae , Kim Do Hoon , Cho Yu Kyung , Lee Ju Yup , Lee Sang Kil , Shin Jeong Eun , Kim Gwang Ha , Park Seon‐Young , Hong Su Jin , Jung Hye‐Kyung , Lee Sang Jin , Youn Young Hoon , Jeon Seong Woo , Sung In Kyung , Park Moo In , Lee Oh Young 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe aims of this study were to confirm the non‐inferiority of tegoprazan to lansoprazole up to week 4 in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) and to evaluate its effectiveness in rapid mucosal healing and symptom relief at week 2.MethodsIn this multi‐center, randomized, double‐blind, active‐comparator non‐inferiority trial, 218 patients with endoscopically confirmed EE (Los Angeles Classification Grades A–D) were randomly allocated to either the tegoprazan (50 mg) or lansoprazole (30 mg) group. The primary endpoint was the cumulative proportion of patients with healed EE up to week 4, as confirmed through endoscopy. The proportion of patients with healed EE at week 2 was also evaluated. Furthermore, CYP2C19 genotypes, symptoms, safety, and tolerability were assessed.Key ResultsIn the full‐analysis set, 103 and 109 participants in the tegoprazan and lansoprazole groups, respectively, were analyzed. The cumulative healing rates up to week 4 were 95.2% (98/103) and 86.2% (94/109) (difference [95% confidence interval], 8.91 [1.22–16.59]; p < 0.0001 for non‐inferiority and 0.0266 for superiority), while those at week 2 were 88.4% (91/103) and 82.6% (90/109) (5.78 [−3.66–15.22], p = 0.0005 for non‐inferiority) for tegoprazan and lansoprazole, respectively. Tegoprazan showed consistent healing rates regardless of CYP2C19 genotypes.Conclusions and InferencesTegoprazan was superior to lansoprazole in the treatment of EE up to 4 weeks. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings and clarify the superiority of tegoprazan, especially in the treatment of severe EE.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05267743
New IPCL Classification Using NBI for Early Detection of OPMDs Malignant Transformation
Authors: Xu Yiming , Zhang Tianyu , Liu Dan , Qiu Xuemei , Hou Feifei , Wang Jiongke , Luo Xiaobo , Dan Hongxia , Zhou Yu , Zeng Xing , Jiang Lu , Chen Qianming 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTObjectivesIntroduce a new intrapapillary capillary loop (IPCL) classification using narrow‐band imaging (NBI) to diagnose early malignant transformation in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs).MethodsIn the exploratory phase, NBI images from 241 patients with OPMDs and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were assessed for three basic IPCL features—dilation, unevenness, and tortuosity—to identify patterns associated with OPMDs malignant transformation. Chi‐square analysis and logistic regression differentiated these patterns between low‐risk (no/mild dysplasia) and high‐risk (moderate/severe dysplasia, invasive carcinoma) lesions, establishing a new classification system. In the validation phase, the system was applied to 90 patients with histopathological results confirming diagnostic accuracy.ResultsFour distinct IPCL types were identified: normal, dilated, irregular, and chaotic, with increasing odds ratios for high‐risk lesions. The ROC curve had an AUC of 0.913, with irregular and chaotic types providing the best diagnostic performance, achieving sensitivities and specificities of 84.2% and 88.4%, respectively. In the validation phase, the new classification achieved an overall diagnostic accuracy of 84.4% and substantial inter‐observer consistency (κ = 0.694).ConclusionThe new IPCL classification effectively identifies high‐risk oral lesions, enhancing the diagnostic utility of NBI for early detection of OPMDs malignant transformations.
Antinuclear Positivity and Malignant Transformation Potential of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder
Authors: Hong Seok Woo , Kang Jeong‐Hyun 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis multicenter cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity on the malignant transformation potential of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) using the Observational Health Sciences and Informatics network tools for the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM).Materials and MethodsRetrospective cohort data from five medical centers were analyzed. Cox regression and 1:4 propensity score matching followed by aggregated meta‐analysis were used to evaluate association between ANA positivity and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The index date was defined as the first day of diagnosis of OPMD. The target and comparator cohorts comprised patients who tested positive and negative for ANA within 180 days before or after the index date, respectively.ResultsAmong 27,984 OPMD patients, 1302 patients (4.65%) confirmed malignant transformation. Among these, 3035 patients had ANA laboratory data. After 1:4 PS matching, 523 and 1598 patients with positive and negative for ANA were analyzed. Meta‐analysis of the hazard ratios demonstrated that ANA positivity significantly increased the risk of malignant transformation compared to ANA negativity.ConclusionsANA positivity is a significant prognostic marker for predicting malignant transformation in patients with OPMD.
ZNF331 Represses the Proliferation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Co‐Repressor TRIM28
Authors: Li Ju , Cheng Hao , Zhao Yong , Wang Yunkang , Gong Chen , Gong Renguo , Li Yan 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis study aims to explore the regulatory effect of Zinc Finger Protein 331 (ZNF331), a KRAB domain‐containing transcriptional repressor, in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).Materials and MethodsData from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)‐HNSC were analyzed. The roles of ZNF331 in HNSCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and its interacting proteins were explored through in vitro manipulation of ZNF331 expression and in vivo xenograft experiments. The epigenetic mechanisms underlying ZNF331 dysregulation were investigated by assessing its promoter methylation and the effects of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) knockdown.ResultsPatients with higher ZNF331 expression had a significantly improved progression‐free interval (PFI). ZNF331 overexpression inhibits HNSCC cell proliferation and induces G2/M arrest, while its knockdown enhances oncogenic features. ZNF331 can downregulate the expression of oncogenes such as DDX5, EIF5A, and SET. ZNF331's tumor‐suppressive activity requires TRIM28, a universal co‐repressor of KRAB‐ZNF proteins. ZNF331 expression is suppressed by DNMT3B‐mediated promoter hypermethylation. Selective knockdown of DNMT3B, but not DNMT3A, restored ZNF331 expression.ConclusionsZNF331 acts as a potential tumor suppressor in HNSCC, whose inactivation through DNMT3B‐mediated hypermethylation may contribute to HNSCC tumorigenesis. Restoring ZNF331 expression through targeted epigenetic therapies may offer a novel strategy for the treatment of HNSCC.
Risk of dementia in patients with age‐related medical conditions: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Hee‐Cheol 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of age‐related medical conditions on the incidence of dementia, considering factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hearing difficulties.MethodsData from 513 640 patients at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital were analyzed using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. Patients with and without age‐related medical conditions were assigned to experimental and control groups, respectively, with propensity score matching. Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between each condition and dementia incidence.ResultsHypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and hearing difficulties were associated with increased dementia risk. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed no significant association with increased risk of dementia. Incidence rates ranged from 4.52 to 8.05 per 1000 person‐years in the control group and 7.46 to 14.99 per 1000 person‐years in the experimental group. Hazard ratios ranged from 1.38 to 2.36.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of managing age‐related medical conditions to mitigate dementia risk. Understanding these risk factors can inform preventive strategies and improve cognitive health outcomes. Problems with deidentification data analysis and the need for further multicentred studies are among the limitations of this study.
Validation of current commercially‐available devices to thaw pooled, solvent/detergent‐treated human plasma
Authors: Heger Andrea , Gareis Michelle 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundProper thawing procedures are required to preserve the quality of human fresh frozen plasma (FFP). octaplasLG (Octapharma AG, Switzerland) is a frozen solution of solvent/detergent (S/D)‐treated human plasma, produced to improve pathogen safety. This study aimed to validate the S/D plasma thawing process using the latest‐generation of commercially‐available thawing devices and to determine S/D plasma quality after thawing.Study Design and MethodsThawing of S/D plasma units was investigated using a microwave oven (Transfusio‐therm 3000) and dry tempering systems (SAHARA 4 and Plasmatherm V). Times to defrost plasma and reach 30°C product temperature, using the 37°C thawing programmes, were defined for all devices. Thawed S/D plasma units were tested against product release parameters, as well as for hemostatic capacity tested indirectly via global coagulation parameters, coagulation factors, protease inhibitors and markers of activated coagulation.ResultsThe fastest thawing was observed using the microwave oven; S/D plasma units were defrosted after 2–3 min. All S/D plasma units thawed by the different devices using optimised thawing conditions were clear and free of solid and gelatinous particles, indicating no local overheating or protein denaturation. Coagulation factor and inhibitor activities and hemostatic capacity of S/D plasma were comparable when thawed by the three different devices. With each device, all product parameters were within product release specification levels after thawing.ConclusionsS/D plasma can be thawed using the Transfusio‐therm 3000, SAHARA 4 or Plasmatherm V thawing devices using the optimised settings defined for this plasma product, with no negative influence on plasma quality.
ERD14 regulation by the HY5‐ or HY5‐MED2 module mediates the cold signal transduction of asparagus bean
Authors: Liang Le , Sui Xiyu , Xiao Jiachang , Tang Wen , Song Xueping , Xu Zeping , Wang Dong , Xie Minghui , Sun Bo , Tang Yi , Huang Zhi , Li Huanxiu 
Published: November 2024

SUMMARYCold stress affects the growth, development, and yield of asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis). Mediator (MED) complex subunits regulate the cold tolerance of asparagus bean, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, VunMED2 positively responds to cold stress of asparagus beans. Under cold acclimation and freezing treatment, the survival rate, ROS scavenging activity, and expression levels of VunMED2 were increased in VunMED2 transgenic plants. Natural variation in the promoter of VunMED2 in two different cold‐tolerant asparagus beans was observed. Under cold stress, the expression of the GUS reporter gene was higher in cold‐tolerant plants than in cold‐sensitive plants, and the expression of the GUS reporter gene was tissue‐specific. VunHY5 positively influenced the expression of VunMED2 by binding to the E‐box motif, and the transcriptional activation of the promoter was stronger in the cold‐tolerant variety than in cold‐sensitive plants. VunHY5 overexpression improved plant freezing resistance by increasing the antioxidant capacity and expression of dehydrin genes. VunHY5 and VunMED2 play a synergistic role in binding to the G‐box/ABRE motif and transcriptionally activating the expression of VunERD14. VunERD14 complemented the med2 mutant, which could positively respond to plant freezing resistance by reducing membrane lipid peroxidation and improving the antioxidant capacity. Therefore, the VunHY5‐VunERD14 module and the VunHY5‐VunMED2‐VunERD14 positive cascade effect are involved in the cold signal transduction in asparagus bean. Our findings have implications for the breeding of asparagus bean varieties with improved cold tolerance.
The miR319‐based repression of SlTCP2/LANCEOLATE activity is required for regulating tomato fruit shape
Authors: Carvalho Airton , Vicente Mateus H. , Ferigolo Leticia F. , Silva Eder M. , Lira Bruno Silvestre , Teboul Naama , Levy Matan , Serrano‐Bueno Gloria , Peres Lazaro E. P. , Sablowski Robert , Schommer Carla , Valverde Federico , Rossi Magdalena , Ori Naomi , Nogueira Fabio T. S. 
Published: November 2024

SUMMARYFruit morphogenesis is determined by the coordination of cell division and expansion, which are fundamental processes required for the development of all plant organs. Here, we show that the regulation of TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) LANCEOLATE (TCP2/LA) by miR319 is crucial for tomato fruit morphology. The loss of miR319 regulation in the semi‐dominant La mutant led to a premature SlTCP2/LA expression during gynoecium patterning, which results in modified cell division during carpel development. As a consequence, La mutants exhibited elongated ovary and fruit shape, and a reduced number of ovules and seeds. Elongated fruit shape in La may be partially due to the SlTCP2/LA‐mediated repression of OVATE activity in young floral buds. Further analysis showed that the de‐repression of SlTCP2/LA decreases auxin responses in young floral buds by directly repressing SlYUCCA4 expression, but SlTCP2/LA also acts in parallel with ENTIRE (E) to orchestrate fruit morphology and seed production. Our study defines a novel miRNA‐based molecular link between the domestication‐associated OVATE gene and auxin responses. Given the striking variation in fruit morphology among members of the Solanaceae family, fine‐tuning regulation of gene expression by miRNA coupled with modulation of auxin dynamics may be a common driver in the evolution of fruit shape diversity.
Piecewise rank‐one approximation of vector fields with measure derivatives
Authors: Babadjian Jean‐François , Iurlano Flaviana 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis work addresses the question of density of piecewise constant (resp. rigid) functions in the space of vector‐valued functions with bounded variation (resp. deformation) with respect to the strict convergence. Such an approximation property cannot hold when considering the usual total variation in the space of measures associated to the standard Frobenius norm in the space of matrices. It turns out that oscillation and concentration phenomena interact in such a way that the Frobenius norm has to be homogenized into a (resp. symmetric) Schatten‐1 norm that coincides with the Euclidean norm on rank‐one (resp. symmetric) matrices. By means of explicit constructions consisting of the superposition of sequential laminates, the validity of an optimal approximation property is established at the expense of endowing the space of measures with a total variation associated with the homogenized norm in the space of matrices.
The life strategy of bacteria rather than fungi shifts in karst tiankeng island-like systems
Authors: Jiang Cong , Qiu Changchun , Shui Wei 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Karst tiankeng is a typical terrestrial habitat island-like system, known as an oasis in a degraded karst landscape. However, we know little about the composition, structure, and life strategies of soil microbial communities in the karst tiankeng ecosystem. In this study, we use amplicon sequencing to investigate the soil bacteria and fungi of 26 karst tiankeng in two typical karst tiankeng groups. The results showed that the composition and structure of bacterial and fungal communities were significantly different at two dimensions (among and within the karst tiankeng group). Bacteria showed more sensitivity to variation in the karst tiankeng area and isolation than fungi. With the increase of karst tiankeng area and isolation, the bacterial life strategies shift from
K
-strategist to
r
-strategist, likely due to the changes in soil properties (total phosphorus, Ca, and soil water content). Abundant and rare taxa play different roles in karst tiankeng ecosystems; abundant taxa serve a key role in nutrient cycles and life strategy shifts by occupying the key status in networks. Considering the key role of soil microbes in ecosystems, more attention must be paid to the impact of habitat loss on soil microbial life strategies, particularly in the ecological impact of life strategies change of abundant and rare taxa.

IMPORTANCE
These findings highlight that habitat loss or fragmentation induces a shift in microbial life strategies and improves our understanding of the composition and biogeography of karst ecosystem microorganisms.