bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human serum and milk albumins are metal‐dependent DNases
Authors: Soboleva Svetlana E. , Guschina Tat'yana A. , Nevinsky Georgy A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIt is known that that human serum albumin (HSA) and alpha‐lactalbumin (LA) possess DNA‐binding sites. Electrophoretically homogeneous HSA and LA containing no canonical enzymes were isolated from human sera and milk. Here we have analyzed for the first time the possibility of DNA hydrolysis by these proteins. It was shown that HSA possesses metal‐dependent DNase activity, while LA cannot hydrolyze DNA. Several rigid criteria have been applied to show that DNase activity is an intrinsic property of HSA from human sera and milk. HSA preparations were inactive after their dialysis against EDTA or in the presence of EDTA, but were activated after addition of several external metal ions: Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+. The best activation of HSA preparations was observed in the presence of two metal ions: Mg2++Ca2+ > Mn2+ + Ca2+ ≥ Mn2+ + Mg2+. In contrast to DNases having only one pH optimum, HSA preparations demonstrated two well‐pronounced optima at pH 5.7–5.9 and 6.9–7.1 as well as a weak optimum at pH 8.4–8.6. These results demonstrate the diversity of HSA in the DNA hydrolysis at various pHs and in activation by various metal cofactors. Possible reasons for the diversity of HSA preparations are discussed. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(6):501–510, 2018
Effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor on epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of liver fibrosis
Authors: Ramzy Maggie M. , Abdelghany Hend M , Zenhom Nagwa M. , El‐Tahawy Nashwa F. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLiver fibrosis is an excessively reversible wound healing process and the fibrotic disorder is the activation of hepatic stellate cell that requires extensive alterations in gene expression. As reversible deacetylation of histone proteins modulate gene expression, we examined the effect of valproic acid (VPA) as selective histone deacetylase inhibitor on CCl‐4 induced liver fibrosis. Thirty rats were divided into three equal groups; control group, fibrotic group and VPA‐treated group. The rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks of liver fibrosis induction. The histopathological effect on liver tissue was examined. The expression of α‐SMA and Smad‐4 mRNA and serum levels of TGF‐β1, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were determined. Treatment of rats with VPA attenuated carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver fibrosis. Moreover, α‐SMA and Smad‐4 expression was repressed under VPA treatment and both serum TGF‐β1 and liver enzymes were significantly decreased. The histone deacetylase inhibitor‐1 VPA inhibits the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and affects hepatic stellate cell activation during liver fibrosis through downregulation of Smad4 and α‐SMA expression which may serve as a promising agent in liver fibrosis treatment. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(6):511–518, 2018
How Is Adolescent Bone Mass and Density Influenced by Early Life Body Size and Growth? The Tromsø Study: Fit Futures—A Longitudinal Cohort Study From Norway
Authors: Evensen Elin , Skeie Guri , Wilsgaard Tom , Christoffersen Tore , Dennison Elaine , Furberg Anne‐Sofie , Grimnes Guri , Winther Anne , Emaus Nina 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTThe effect of birth weight and childhood body mass index (BMI) on adolescents’ bone parameters is not established. The aim of this longitudinal, population‐based study was to investigate the association of birth weight, childhood BMI, and growth, with adolescent bone mass and bone density in a sample of 633 adolescents (48% girls) from The Tromsø Study: Fit Futures. This population‐based cohort study was conducted in 2010–2011 and 2012–2013 in Tromsø, Norway. Bone mineral content (BMC) and areal BMD (aBMD) were measured at total hip (TH) and total body (TB) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and converted to internal Z‐scores. Birth weight and childhood anthropometric measurements were retrospectively obtained from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and childhood health records. Associations between birth weight, BMI, and growth were evaluated by fitting linear mixed models with repeated measures of BMC and aBMD at ages 15 to 17 and 18 to 20 years as the outcome. In crude analysis, a significant positive association (p < 0.05) with TB BMC was observed per 1 SD score increase in birth weight, observed in both sexes. Higher rate of length growth, conditioned on earlier size, from birth to age 2.5 years, and higher rate of weight gain from ages 6.0 to 16.5 years, conditioned on earlier size and concurrent height growth, revealed stronger associations with bone accrual at ages 15 to 20 years compared with other ages. Compared with being normal weight, overweight/obesity at age 16.5 years was associated with higher aBMD Z‐scores: β coefficient (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 0.78 (0.53, 1.03) and 1.08 (0.85, 1.31) in girls, 0.63 (0.42, 0.85) and 0.74 (0.54, 0.95) in boys at TH and TB, respectively. Similar associations were found for BMC. Being underweight was consistently negatively associated with bone parameters in adolescence. In conclusion, birth weight influences adolescent bone mass but less than later growth and BMI in childhood and adolescence. © 2018 The Authors. JBMR Plus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Molecular Phenotyping of Telomerized Human Bone Marrow Skeletal Stem Cells Reveals a Genetic Program of Enhanced Proliferation and Maintenance of Differentiation Responses
Authors: Twine Natalie A , Harkness Linda , Adjaye James , Aldahmash Abdullah , Wilkins Marc R , Kassem Moustapha 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTLong‐term in vitro expansion of bone marrow stromal (skeletal) stem cells (also known as human mesenchymal stem cells [hMSC]) is associated with replicative senescence and impaired functions. We have previously reported that telomerization of hMSC through hTERT overexpression led to bypassing a replicative senescence phenotype and improved in vitro and in vivo functions. However, the molecular consequence of telomerization is poorly characterized. Thus, we compared the molecular phenotype of a well‐studied telomerized hMSC (hMSC‐TERT) cell line with primary hMSC. At a cellular level, both cell populations exhibited strong concordance for the known hMSC CD markers, similar responses to osteoblast (OB) differentiation induction, and formed heterotopic bone in vivo. Overall gene expression was highly correlated between both cell types with an average Pearson's correlation coefficient (R2) between the gene expression of all primary hMSC and all hMSC‐TERT samples of 0.95 (range 0.93–0.96). Quantitative analysis of gene expression of CD markers, OB cell markers, and transcription factors (TF) showed a high degree of similarity between the two cell populations (72%, 77%, and 81%, respectively). The hMSC‐TERT population was enriched mainly for genes associated with cell cycle and cell cycle signaling when compared with primary hMSC. Other enrichment was observed for genes involved in cell adhesion and skeletal system development and immune response pathways. Interestingly, hMSC‐TERT shared a telomerization signature with upregulation of cancer/testis antigens, MAGE, and PAGE genes. Our data demonstrate that the enhanced biological characteristics of hMSC after telomerization are mainly due to enhanced expression of cell proliferation genes, whereas gene expression responses to differentiation are maintained. © 2018 The Authors. JBMR Plus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
SB‐216763, a GSK‐3β inhibitor, protects against aldosterone‐induced cardiac, and renal injury by activating autophagy
Authors: Zhang Yi‐De , Ding Xiao‐Jun , Dai Hou‐Yong , Peng Wei‐Sheng , Guo Nai‐Feng , Zhang Yuan , Zhou Qiao‐Ling , Chen Xiao‐Lan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCardiovascular and renal inflammation induced by Aldosterone (Aldo) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and renal fibrosis. GSK‐3β contributes to inflammatory cardiovascular and renal diseases, but its role in Aldo‐induced hypertension, and renal damage is not clear. In the present study, rats were treated with Aldo combined with SB‐216763 (a GSK‐3β inhibitor) for 4 weeks. Hemodynamic, cardiac, and renal parameters were assayed at the indicated time. Here we found that rats treated with Aldo presented cardiac and renal hypertrophy and dysfunction. Cardiac and renal expression levels of molecular markers attesting inflammation and fibrosis were increased by Aldo infusion, whereas the treatment of SB‐216763 reversed these alterations. SB‐216763 suppressed cardiac and renal inflammatory cytokines levels (TNF‐a, IL‐1β, and MCP‐1). Meanwhile, SB‐216763 increased the protein levels of LC3‐II in the cardiorenal tissues as well as p62 degradation, indicating that SB‐216763 induced autophagy activation in cardiac, and renal tissues. Importantly, inhibition of autophagy by 3‐MA attenuated the role of SB‐216763 in inhibiting perivascular fibrosis, and tubulointerstitial injury. These data suggest that SB‐216763 protected against Aldo‐induced cardiac and renal injury by activating autophagy, and might be a therapeutic option for salt‐sensitive hypertension and renal fibrosis.
Identification of differentially regulated deceitful proteins in SH‐SY5Y cells engineered with Tet‐regulated protein expression system
Authors: Kanli Aylin , Kasap Murat , Yoneten Kubra K. , Akpinar Gurler , Gulkac Mehmet Dogan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTetracycline regulated protein expression in mammalian cells is a powerful tool to predict the physiological function, cellular localization, and stability of a protein. In addition, to predict metabolic networks affected by the expression of wild‐type or mutant forms of proteins, researchers generally produce a single mammalian cell clone that can express the protein of interest under tetracycline control and study the changes occurring in overall proteome before and after expression of a protein of interest. One limitation of tetracycline regulated clonal cell creation, however, is that it sometimes creates clones with changed protein levels even without the expression of the protein of interest due to the nonspecific insertion of the gene encoding the protein of interest into the genome or disruption of a metabolic pathway due to insertional silencing or activation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the limitation of tetracycline regulated gene expression by creating clonal cell lines expressing the wild‐type or the mutant forms of Fat mass and obesity‐associated protein. Comparative proteome analysis of the protein extracts by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled to MALDI‐TOF/TOF revealed the presence of eight proteins subjected to differential regulation even in the absence of induction. The identified proteins were 14‐3‐3 protein Epsilon, Vimentin, Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K, Tubulin beta‐2C chain, Heat shock protein HSP 90‐alpha, Heat shock protein HSP 90‐beta, Alpha‐enolase, TATA‐binding protein‐associated factor 2N. An ultimate care should be taken to prevent reporting of deceitful proteins generated from studies utilizing tetracycline regulated gene expression systems.
Noncanonical Hox, Etv4, and Gli3 gene activities give insight into unique limb patterning in salamanders
Authors: Bickelmann Constanze , Frota‐Lima Gabriela Neiva , Triepel Sandra Karla , Kawaguchi Akane , Schneider Igor , Fröbisch Nadia Belinda 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLimb development in salamanders is unique among tetrapods in significant ways. Not only can salamanders regenerate lost limbs repeatedly and throughout their lives, but also the preaxial zeugopodial element and digits form before the postaxial ones and, hence, with a reversed polarity compared to all other tetrapods. Moreover, in salamanders with free‐swimming larval stages, as exemplified by the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), each digit buds independently, instead of undergoing a paddle stage. Here, we report gene expression patterns of Hoxa and d clusters, and other crucial transcription factors during axolotl limb development. During early phases of limb development, expression patterns are mostly similar to those reported for amniotes and frogs. Likewise, Hoxd and Shh regulatory landscapes are largely conserved. However, during late digit‐budding phases, remarkable differences are present: (i) the Hoxd13 expression domain excludes developing digits I and IV, (ii) we expand upon previous observation that Hoxa11 expression, which traditionally marks the zeugopodium, extends distally into the developing digits, and (iii) Gli3 and Etv4 show prolonged expression in developing digits. Our findings identify derived patterns in the expression of key transcription factors during late phases of salamander limb development, and provide the basis for a better understanding of the unique patterning of salamander limbs.
Prospective study of the relationship between patient falls and caregiver burden in home health care: A pilot study
Authors: Cho Tetsutaro , Nakajima Toru , Ueno Yoichi , Kato Koki , Sato Kotaro 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and patient falls, and the incidence of falls in patients receiving home health care.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted on patients receiving home health care provided by 3 home‐care support clinics and their primary caregivers from November 2015 to February 2016. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed on the Burden Index of Caregivers (BIC) and the presence of falls.ResultsOf the eligible 114 subjects, 47 were included in the final analysis. Nineteen subjects (40.4%) reported falls in the 3‐month observation period. The incidence of falls was 1120 per 1000 person‐years. The unadjusted hazard ratios for BIC score, patient gender (female), fall assessment score, and lack of physical barriers within the home were 1.46, 1.39, 0.52, and 0.52, respectively, and differences were not statistically significant. Adjusted hazard ratios were 1.56, 1.44, 0.65, and 0.62, respectively, and were also not statistically significant.ConclusionThe incidence of falls was found to be roughly 5 times more than that in the general community elderly population. No causal relationship was found between caregiver burden and patient falls.
Frontline Science: Characterization of a novel mouse strain expressing human Siglec-8 only on eosinophils
Authors: O’Sullivan Jeremy A , Wei Yadong , Carroll Daniela J , Moreno-Vinasco Liliana , Cao Yun , Zhang Fengrui , Lee James J , Zhu Zhou , Bochner Bruce S 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec)-8 is a human cell surface protein expressed exclusively on eosinophils, mast cells, and basophils that, when engaged, induces eosinophil apoptosis and inhibits mast cell mediator release. This makes Siglec-8 a promising therapeutic target to treat diseases involving these cell types. However, preclinical studies of Siglec-8 targeting in vivo are lacking because this protein is only found in humans, apes, and some monkeys. Therefore, we have developed a mouse strain in which SIGLEC8 transcription is activated by Cre recombinase and have crossed this mouse with the eoCre mouse to achieve eosinophil-specific expression. We confirmed that Siglec-8 is expressed exclusively on the surface of mature eosinophils in multiple tissues at levels comparable to those on human blood eosinophils. Following ovalbumin sensitization and airway challenge, Siglec-8 knock-in mice generated a pattern of allergic lung inflammation indistinguishable from that of littermate controls, suggesting that Siglec-8 expression within the eosinophil compartment does not alter allergic eosinophilic inflammation. Using bone marrow from these mice, we demonstrated that, during maturation, Siglec-8 expression occurs well before the late eosinophil developmental marker C-C motif chemokine receptor 3, consistent with eoCre expression. Antibody ligation of the receptor induces Siglec-8 endocytosis and alters the phosphotyrosine profile of these cells, indicative of productive signaling. Finally, we demonstrated that mouse eosinophils expressing Siglec-8 undergo cell death when the receptor is engaged, further evidence that Siglec-8 is functional on these cells. These mice should prove useful to investigate Siglec-8 biology and targeting in vivo in a variety of eosinophilic disease models.
We have developed a novel eosinophil-specific Siglec-8 knock-in mouse strain that facilitates the in vivo study of Siglec-8 targeting and biology.
Characterization of a chimeric chemokine as a specific ligand for ACKR3
Authors: Ameti Rafet , Melgrati Serena , Radice Egle , Cameroni Elisabetta , Hub Elin , Thelen Sylvia , Rot Antal , Thelen Marcus 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Chemokines, small chemotactic cytokines, orchestrate cell migration by binding to their cognate chemokine receptors. While chemokine-mediated stimulation of typical G-protein-coupled chemokine receptors leads to cell migration, binding of chemokines to atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) does not induce canonical signaling. ACKRs are considered important chemokine scavengers, that can create gradients which help direct cells to sites of inflammation or to their immunological niches. Synthetic chemokines have been used in the past to study and decode chemokine-receptor interactions. Characterizing specific chemokine-ACKRs interactions is challenging because the chemokines bind multiple receptors; for example, the ACKR3 ligands CXCL12 and CXCL11 bind to the canonical receptors CXCR4 and CXCR3, respectively. Here, we present the engineering of a chemokine-like chimera, which selectively binds to ACKR3. The addition of a ybbR13 tag at the C-terminus allows site specific enzymatic labeling with a plethora of fluorescent dyes. The chimera is composed of the N-terminus of CXCL11 and the main body and C-terminus of CXCL12 and selectively interacts with ACKR3 with high affinity, while not interfering with binding of CXCL11 and CXCL12 to their cognate receptors. We further provide evidence that the chimera can be used to study ACKR3 function in vivo.
The chimeric chemokine CXCL11_12 is a selective high affinity ligand for the typical chemokine receptor ACKR3.
Irrigation and Zn fertilizer management improves Zn phyto‐availability in various rice production systems
Authors: Rehman Hafeez ur , Rasool Faiz , Awan Masood Iqbal , Mahmood Athar , Wakeel Abdul , Hajiboland Roghieh 
Published: March 2018

AbstractZinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and its deficiency has been observed in various production systems. High grain Zn concentration is equally important for high rice yield and human health. In this work, the effects of Zn fertilization on seedling growth, grain yield, grain Zn concentration, and their association with root traits were studied under alternate wetting and drying (AWD), aerobic rice (AR), system of rice intensification (SRI), and continuous flooding (CF). Zinc fertilization (15 kg ha−1) improved nursery seedlings chlorophyll and Zn concentrations, root length, and number of roots with highest values observed in CF. At harvesting, maximum plant height, panicle length, total and panicle bearing tillers, and kernel yield were found with Zn addition in AWD and CF rice systems. Mid season drainage provided at maximum tillering and Zn fertilization increased its concentration in leaves, culms, panicles, and grains under CF and AR at physiological maturity. Most of Zn applied was allocated into culms and panicles, nevertheless, a significant increase in grain Zn concentration was also observed in all production systems. Association of leaf Zn with grain Zn concentration was stronger than with culm and panicle Zn. The results indicate that Zn application after rice nursery transplanting is more important for grain Zn enrichment in all rice systems than for increase in grain yield in all systems except AWD where grain yield was also increased. More grain yield in CF and AWD as compared to SRI and AR can also be attributed to decreased spikelet sterility and to better Zn phyto‐availability in these rice systems at physiological maturity.
Infrared and confocal Raman spectroscopy to differentiate changes in the protein secondary structure in normal and abnormal thyroid tissues
Authors: Téllez Soto Claudio A. , Medeiros‐Neto Lázaro P. , dos Santos Laurita , Santos André B.O. , Ferreira Isabelle , Singh Priyanka , Canevari Renata A. , Martin Aírton A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThirty thyroid samples of normal and abnormal tissues were analyzed by infrared and confocal Raman Spectroscopy. We studied the Amide I (1,720–1,580 cm−1) spectral region in order to determine different components of the proteins' secondary structure in the samples. Peak positions of the Amide I bands were determined using the second derivative and Fourier self‐deconvolution of infrared and Raman spectra. We obtained band areas corresponding to β‐turn, 310‐helix, α‐helix, β‐sheet, β‐turns, and side chains for the infrared and confocal Raman spectra by Gaussian fitting. Using the second derivative of the infrared and Raman spectra, we demonstrated the consistency of the vibrational assignments because compounds of low symmetry without an inversion center present coincident bands that differ only in intensity; hence, the infrared procedures to identify and assign the bands of the proteins' secondary structure in the Raman spectra are valid. The results obtained are supported by vibrational theory and indicate that infrared and confocal Raman spectroscopy are important, useful, and fast tools to identify changes in the proteins' secondary structure in normal tissues, goiter, and follicular and papillary thyroid carcinomas.
Theoretical methods for calculations of optical phonons in BiOBr: Analysis and correction of propagated errors
Authors: Ferrer Mateus M. , Rodrigues João Elias F.S. , Almeida Marcio A.P. , Moura Francisco , Longo Elson , Pizani Paulo S. , Sambrano Julio R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTheoretical and experimental methods were employed to investigate the vibrational modes of BiOBr. Wavenumber prediction and assignments of the infrared and Raman modes were performed using density functional theory and lattice dynamics calculations. The theoretical models were directly compared with the experimental results of particles fabricated using the microwave‐assisted hydrothermal method and results reported in literature. The simulation results of the structure parameters, band gap, and vibrational modes are in agreement with the corresponding experimental values. The proposed models and calculations provided detailed insights into the vibrational modes and enabled to determine propagated assignment errors in results reported in the literature.
Effect of SO2 on sugars, indicators of Maillard reaction, and browning in dried apricots during storage
Authors: Hamzaoğlu Fatmagül , Türkyılmaz Meltem , Özkan Mehmet 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentration was determined on sugars and indicators in the Maillard reaction (MR), and on browning, in sulfured, dried apricots (SDAs) during storage at 4, 20 and 30 °C for 379 days.ResultsAs SO2 concentration increased, the content of reducing sugars involved in the MR also increased. The preventive effect of SO2 on the MR could not result from the binding of SO2 to reducing sugars. Before storage, furosine was detected in the non‐SDAs but 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was not detected. Even the lowest SO2 concentration (451 mg kg−1) was sufficient to prevent the formation of furosine and HMF during drying of apricots.ConclusionFormation of furosine and HMF in all samples during storage at 20 and 30 °C for 379 days indicated that SO2 could not prevent the first and intermediate stages of MR in SDAs during storage. Thus, the main prevention effect of SO2 on browning in SDAs occurred during drying, not storage. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry