bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optical metrics of the extracellular matrix predict compositional and mechanical changes after myocardial infarction
Authors: Quinn Kyle P. , Sullivan Kelly E. , Liu Zhiyi , Ballard Zachary , Siokatas Christos , Georgakoudi Irene , Black Lauren D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the organization and mechanical function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies that regulate wound healing following disease or injury. However, these relationships are challenging to elucidate during remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) due to rapid changes in cellularity and an inability to characterize both ECM microstructure and function non-destructively. In this study, we overcome those challenges through whole organ decellularization and non-linear optical microscopy to directly relate the microstructure and mechanical properties of myocardial ECM. We non-destructively quantify collagen organization, content, and cross-linking within decellularized healthy and infarcted myocardium using second harmonic generation (SHG) and two photon excited autofluorescence. Tensile mechanical testing and compositional analysis reveal that the cumulative SHG intensity within each image volume and the average collagen autofluorescence are significantly correlated with collagen content and elastic modulus of the ECM, respectively. Compared to healthy ECM, infarcted tissues demonstrate a significant increase in collagen content and fiber alignment, and a decrease in cross-linking and elastic modulus. These findings indicate that cross-linking plays a key role in stiffness at the collagen fiber level following infarction, and highlight how this non-destructive approach to assessing remodeling can be used to understand ECM structure-function relationships.
mTOR Overactivation in Mesenchymal cells Aggravates CCl4− Induced liver Fibrosis
Authors: Shan Lanlan , Ding Yan , Fu You , Zhou Ling , Dong Xiaoying , Chen Shunzhi , Wu Hongyuan , Nai Wenqing , Zheng Hang , Xu Wanfu , Bai Xiaochun , Jia Chunhong , Dai Meng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHepatic stellate cells are of mesenchymal cell type located in the space of Disse. Upon liver injury, HSCs transactivate into myofibroblasts with increase in expression of fibrillar collagen, especially collagen I and III, leading to liver fibrosis. Previous studies have shown mTOR signaling is activated during liver fibrosis. However, there is no direct evidence in vivo. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of conditional deletion of TSC1 in mesenchymal on pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Crossing mice bearing the floxed TSC1 gene with mice harboring Col1α2-Cre-ER(T) successfully generated progeny with a conditional knockout of TSC1 (TSC1 CKO) in collagen I expressing mesenchymal cells. TSC1 CKO and WT mice were subjected to CCl4, oil or CCl4+ rapamycin treatment for 8 weeks. TSC1 CKO mice developed pronounced liver fibrosis relative to WT mice, as examined by ALT, hydroxyproline, histopathology, and profibrogenic gene. Absence of TSC1 in mesenchymal cells induced proliferation and prevented apoptosis in activated HSCs. However, there were no significant differences in oil-treated TSC1 CKO and WT mice. Rapamycin, restored these phenotypic changes by preventing myofibroblasts proliferation and enhancing their apoptosis. These findings revealed mTOR overactivation in mesenchymal cells aggravates CCl4− induced liver fibrosis and the rapamycin prevent its occurance.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection: results from a community-based study of 0.15 million residents in South China
Authors: Zeng Fangfang , Guo Pi , Huang Yun , Xin Wei , Du Zhicheng , Zhu Shuming , Deng Yu , Zhang Dingmei , Hao Yuantao 
Published: November 2016

AbstractLimited information is available about the current epidemic status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Guangdong province in South China, where hepatitis B is endemic. We sought to provide an up-to-date assessment of hepatitis B prevalence in a large population through a community-based study. A total of 169,211 local residents were recruited using the stratified cluster random sampling method from 2014 to 2015, and each participant’s information was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Accordingly, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the total population was 8.76%. HBsAg prevalence was lowest (0.29%) among children aged 0–12 years and highest (12.71%) among those aged 23–59 years. Moreover, the prevalence (8.82%) in males approximately equalled that (8.65%) in females (P > 0.05). Overall, vaccination was effective in preventing HBV infection, regardless of age. Among adults aged 23–59 years, male sex tended to keep the HBsAg persistence. However, reduced persistence for participants with occasional physical exercise and drinking was observed. For participants older than 59 years, a history of prior surgery placed people at high risk for infection. Although Guangdong has successfully decreased the HBsAg prevalence among children, it is urgent to expand vaccination to adults, and employ interventions to reduce the infection risk.
MTHFR c.677C>T Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Decreases Prostate Cancer Susceptibility in the Han Chinese Population in Shanghai
Authors: Wu Jun-Long , Zhou Shu-Xian , Zhao Rui , Zhang Xuan , Chang Kun , Gu Cheng-Yuan , Gan Hua-Lei , Dai Bo , Zhu Yao , Zhang Hai-Liang , Shi Guo-Hai , Qu Yuan-Yuan , Zhao Jian-Yuan , Ye Ding-Wei 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMethylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.677C>T and c.1298A>C variants were known to be associated with prostate cancer (PCa) risk with conflicting results, because of MTHFR and nutrient status interaction in the prostate development. In this large-scale, hospital-based, case-control study of 1817 PCa cases and 2026 cancer-free controls, we aimed to clarify the association between these two MTHFR variants and PCa risk in Shanghai and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that both the heterozygous CT (adjusted OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67–0.92) and the homozygous TT genotypes (adjusted OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55–0.83) of c.677C>T were associated with a significantly decreased risk of PCa compared with homozygous wild-type CC genotype, respectively, using multivariate logistic regression. Furthermore, we confirmed that MTHFR c.677T allele was related to an increased serum homocysteine level in the Han Chinese population in Shanghai. In the cultured PCa cell lines, we observed that MTHFR c.677T could elevate the cellular homocysteine level and cause DNA damage, thus increasing cell apoptosis and finally inhibiting cell proliferation. In conclusion, MTHFR c.677T was a protective factor of PCa risk in ethnic Han Chinese males by inducing DNA damage and cell apoptosis.
Donor and recipient genetic variants in NLRP3 associate with early acute rejection following kidney transplantation
Authors: Dessing Mark C. , Kers Jesper , Damman Jeffrey , Navis Gerjan J. , Florquin Sandrine , Leemans Jaklien C. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3) is a member of the inflammasome family and is of special interest in renal disease. Experimental studies have shown that Nlrp3 plays a significant role in the induction of renal damage and dysfunction in acute and chronic renal injury. However, the role of NLRP3 in human renal disease is completely unknown. From a retrospective cohort study, we determined in 1271 matching donor and recipient samples if several NLRP3 single nucelotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with primary non-function (PNF), delayed graft function (DGF), biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) and death-censored graft and patient survival. NLRP3 gain-of-function SNP (rs35829419) in donors was associated with an increased risk of BPAR while NLRP3 loss-of-function SNP (rs6672995) in the recipient was associated with a decreased risk of BPAR in the first year following renal transplantation (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.38–2.64, P < 0.001 and HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.97, P = 0.03 resp.). NLRP3 SNPs in both donor and recipient were not associated with PNF, DGF, graft survival or patient survival. We conclude that genetic variants in the NLRP3 gene affect the risk of acute rejection following kidney transplantation.
Cyanobacteria in lakes on Yungui Plateau, China are assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use
Authors: Liao Jingqiu , Zhao Lei , Cao Xiaofeng , Sun Jinhua , Gao Zhe , Wang Jie , Jiang Dalin , Fan Hao , Huang Yi 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPlateau lakes are important ecosystems with diverse ecological functions. Cyanobacteria play a key role in plateau lakes as primary producers. However, they are threatening when dense blooms occur. Identifying cyanobacteiral biogeography and the mechanism of assembly processes shaping the distribution of cyanobacteria in plateau lakes is critical for understanding cyanobacterial ecology and applying it to lake management. In the present study, the biogeographic pattern and importance of neutral and niche processes in assembly of cyanobacteria in 21 lakes on Yungui Plateau, China were examined. Results showed that cyanobacteria exhibit unique biogeographic pattern, and most of them have a narrow habitat preference in plateau lakes. They were assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use, which explained 62.4% of the biological variation. Neutral processes were not at play. Water physicochemical property (key variables - dissolved oxygen, salinity, trophic status and pH) was the most dominant driver shaping its unique biogeographic pattern. Watershed land-use especially urban land, water body and agricultural land also exhibited a strong impact on cyanobacterial distribution, followed by lake morphology. As most of the cyanobacteiral genus detected in these plateau lakes were potential toxin-producers, this study indicated that in order to protect waters from toxic-bloom in the future, reducing nutrient loading and land-use practices are two practical approaches in plateau lake management.
Diversity of bacteriome associated with Phlebotomus chinensis (Diptera: Psychodidae) sand flies in two wild populations from China
Authors: Li Kaili , Chen Huiying , Jiang Jinjin , Li Xiangyu , Xu Jiannong , Ma Yajun 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSand fly Phlebotomus chinensis is a primary vector of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in China. The sand flies have adapted to various ecological niches in distinct ecosystems. Characterization of the microbial structure and function will greatly facilitate the understanding of the sand fly ecology, which would provide critical information for developing intervention strategy for sand fly control. In this study we compared the bacterial composition between two populations of Ph. chinensis from Henan and Sichuan, China. The phylotypes were taxonomically assigned to 29 genera of 19 families in 9 classes of 5 phyla. The core bacteria include Pseudomonas and enterobacteria, both are shared in the sand flies in the two regions. Interestingly, the endosymbionts Wolbachia and Rickettsia were detected only in Henan, while the Rickettsiella and Diplorickettsia only in Sichuan. The intracellular bacteria Rickettsia, Rickettsiella and Diplorickettsia were reported for the first time in sand flies. The influence of sex and feeding status on the microbial structure was also detected in the two populations. The findings suggest that the ecological diversity of sand fly in Sichuan and Henan may contribute to shaping the structure of associated microbiota. The structural classification paves the way to function characterization of the sand fly associated microbiome.
The prion protein family member Shadoo induces spontaneous ionic currents in cultured cells
Authors: Nyeste Antal , Stincardini Claudia , Bencsura Petra , Cerovic Milica , Biasini Emiliano , Welker Ervin 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSome mutant forms of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) carrying artificial deletions or point mutations associated with familial human prion diseases are capable of inducing spontaneous ionic currents across the cell membrane, conferring hypersensitivity to certain antibiotics to a wide range of cultured cells and primary cerebellar granular neurons (CGNs). These effects are abrogated when the wild type (WT) form is co-expressed, suggesting that they might be related to a physiological activity of PrPC. Interestingly, the prion protein family member Shadoo (Sho) makes cells hypersensitive to the same antibiotics as mutant PrP-s, an effect that is diminished by the co-expression of WT-PrP. Here, we report that Sho engages in another mutant PrP-like activity: it spontaneously induces large ionic currents in cultured SH-SY5Y cells, as detected by whole-cell patch clamping. These currents are also decreased by the co-expression of WT-PrP. Furthermore, deletion of the N-terminal (RXXX)8 motif of Sho, mutation of the eight arginine residues of this motif to glutamines, or replacement of the hydrophobic domain by that of PrP, also diminish Sho-induced ionic currents. Our results suggest that the channel activity that is also characteristic to some pathogenic PrP mutants may be linked to a physiological function of Sho.
Combination of OipA, BabA, and SabA as candidate biomarkers for predicting Helicobacter pylori-related gastric cancer
Authors: Su Yu-Lin , Huang Hsiang-Ling , Huang Bo-Shih , Chen Po-Chung , Chen Chien-Sheng , Wang Hong-Long , Lin Pin-Hsin , Chieh Meng-Shu , Wu Jiunn-Jong , Yang Jyh-Chin , Chow Lu-Ping 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis and is highly related to duodenal ulcer (DU) and gastric cancer (GC). To identify H. pylori-related GC biomarkers with high seropositivity in GC patients, differences in levels of protein expression between H. pylori from GC and DU patients were analyzed by isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). In total, 99 proteins showed increased expression (>1.5-fold) in GC patients compared to DU patients, and 40 of these proteins were categorized by KEGG pathway. The four human disease-related adhesin identified, AlpA, OipA, BabA, and SabA, were potential GC-related antigens, with a higher seropositivity in GC patients (n = 76) than in non-GC patients (n = 100). Discrimination between GC and non-GC patients was improved using multiple antigens, with an odds ratio of 9.16 (95% CI, 2.99–28.07; p < 0.0001) for three antigens recognized. The optimized combination of OipA, BabA, and SabA gave a 77.3% correct prediction rate. A GC-related protein microarray was further developed using these antigens. The combination of OipA, BabA, and SabA showed significant improvement in the diagnostic accuracy and the protein microarray containing above antigens should provide a rapid and convenient diagnosis of H. pylori-associated GC.
Functional screening of mammalian mechanosensitive genes using Drosophila RNAi library– Smarcd3/Bap60 is a mechanosensitive pro-inflammatory gene
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Jang In-hwan , Kim Chan Woo , Kang Dong-Won , Lee Won Jae , Jo Hanjoong 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDisturbed blood flow (d-flow) induces atherosclerosis by altering the expression of mechanosensitive genes in the arterial endothelium. Previously, we identified >580 mechanosensitive genes in the mouse arterial endothelium, but their role in endothelial inflammation is incompletely understood. From this set, we obtained 84 Drosophila RNAi lines that silences the target gene under the control of upstream activation sequence (UAS) promoter. These lines were crossed with C564-GAL4 flies expressing GFP under the control of drosomycin promoter, an NF-κB target gene and a marker of pathogen-induced inflammation. Silencing of psmd12 or ERN1 decreased infection-induced drosomycin expression, while Bap60 silencing significantly increased the drosomycin expression. Interestingly, knockdown of Bap60 in adult flies using temperature-inducible Bap60 RNAi (C564ts-GAL4-Bap60-RNAi) enhanced drosomycin expression upon Gram-positive bacterial challenge but the basal drosomycin expression remained unchanged compared to the control. In the mammalian system, smarcd3 (mammalian ortholog of Bap60) expression was reduced in the human- and mouse aortic endothelial cells exposed to oscillatory shear in vitro as well as in the d-flow regions of mouse arterial endothelium in vivo. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of smarcd3 induced endothelial inflammation. In summary, we developed an in vivo Drosophila RNAi screening method to identify flow-sensitive genes that regulate endothelial inflammation.
EEG Spectral Dynamics of Video Commercials: Impact of the Narrative on the Branding Product Preference
Authors: Wang Regina W. Y. , Chang Yu-Ching , Chuang Shang-Wen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractNeuromarketing has become popular and received a lot of attention. The quality of video commercials and the product information they convey to consumers is a hotly debated topic among advertising agencies and product advertisers. This study explored the impact of advertising narrative and the frequency of branding product exposures on the preference for the commercial and the branding product. We performed electroencephalography (EEG) experiments on 30 subjects while they watched video commercials. The behavioral data indicated that commercials with a structured narrative and containing multiple exposures of the branding products had a positive impact on the preference for the commercial and the branding product. The EEG spectral dynamics showed that the narratives of video commercials resulted in higher theta power of the left frontal, bilateral occipital region, and higher gamma power of the limbic system. The narratives also induced significant cognitive integration-related beta and gamma power of the bilateral temporal regions and the parietal region. It is worth noting that the video commercials with a single exposure of the branding products would be indicators of attention. These new findings suggest that the presence of a narrative structure in video commercials has a critical impact on the preference for branding products.
ISL1-based LIM complexes control Slit2 transcription in developing cranial motor neurons
Authors: Kim Kyung-Tai , Kim Namhee , Kim Hwan-Ki , Lee Hojae , Gruner Hannah N. , Gergics Peter , Park Chungoo , Mastick Grant S. , Park Hae-Chul , Song Mi-Ryoung 
Published: November 2016

AbstractLIM-homeodomain (HD) transcription factors form a multimeric complex and assign neuronal subtype identities, as demonstrated by the hexameric ISL1-LHX3 complex which gives rise to somatic motor (SM) neurons. However, the roles of combinatorial LIM code in motor neuron diversification and their subsequent differentiation is much less well understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that the ISL1 controls postmitotic cranial branchiomotor (BM) neurons including the positioning of the cell bodies and peripheral axon pathfinding. Unlike SM neurons, which transform into interneurons, BM neurons are normal in number and in marker expression in Isl1 mutant mice. Nevertheless, the movement of trigeminal and facial BM somata is stalled, and their peripheral axons are fewer or misrouted, with ectopic branches. Among genes whose expression level changes in previous ChIP-seq and microarray analyses in Isl1-deficient cell lines, we found that Slit2 transcript was almost absent from BM neurons of Isl1 mutants. Both ISL1-LHX3 and ISL1-LHX4 bound to the Slit2 enhancer and drove endogenous Slit2 expression in SM and BM neurons. Our findings suggest that combinations of ISL1 and LHX factors establish cell-type specificity and functional diversity in terms of motor neuron identities and/or axon development.
Silver nanoparticles-containing dual-function hydrogels based on a guar gum-sodium borohydride system
Authors: Dai Lei , Nadeau Ben , An Xingye , Cheng Dong , Long Zhu , Ni Yonghao 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDual-function hydrogels, possessing both stimuli-responsive and self-healing properties, have recently attracted attention of both chemists and materials scientists. Here we report a new paradigm using natural polymer (guar gum, GG) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4), for the preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-containing smart hydrogels in a simple, fast and economical way. NaBH4 performs as a reducing agent for AgNPs synthesis using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as the precursor. Meanwhile, sodium metaborate (NaBO2) (from NaBH4) behaves as a cross-linking agent between GG molecular chains. The AgNPs/GG hydrogels with excellent viscoelastic properties can be obtained within 3 min at room temperature without the addition of other cross-linkers. The resultant AgNPs/GG hydrogels are flowable and injectable, and they possess excellent pH/thermal responsive properties. Additionally, they exhibit rapid self-healing capacity. This work introduces a facile and scale-up way to prepare a class of hydrogels that can have great potential to biomedical and other industrial applications.
Cationic bactericidal peptide 1018 does not specifically target the stringent response alarmone (p)ppGpp
Authors: Andresen Liis , Tenson Tanel , Hauryliuk Vasili 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe bacterial stringent response is a key regulator of bacterial virulence, biofilm formation and antibiotic tolerance, and is a promising target for the development of new antibacterial compounds. The intracellular nucleotide (p)ppGpp acts as a messenger orchestrating the stringent response. A synthetic peptide 1018 was recently proposed to specifically disrupt biofilms by inhibiting the stringent response via direct interaction with (p)ppGpp (de la Fuente-Núñez et al. (2014) PLoS Pathogens). We have interrogated the specificity of the proposed molecular mechanism. When inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa planktonic and biofilm growth is tested simultaneously in the same assay, peptides 1018 and the control peptide 8101 generated by an inversion of the amino acid sequence of 1018 are equally potent, and, importantly, do not display a preferential activity against biofilm. 1018 inhibits planktonic growth of Escherichia coli equally efficiently either when the alleged target, (p)ppGpp, is essential (MOPS media lacking amino acid L-valine), or dispensable for growth (MOPS media supplemented with L-valine). Genetic disruption of the genes relA and spoT responsible for (p)ppGpp synthesis moderately sensitizes – rather than protects – E. coli to 1018. We suggest that the antimicrobial activity of 1018 does not rely on specific recognition of the stringent response messenger (p)ppGpp.
IL-17 Promotes Angiogenic Factors IL-6, IL-8, and Vegf Production via Stat1 in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Qi , Duan limin , Qian Xin , Fan Jinshuo , Lv Zhilei , Zhang Xiuxiu , Han Jieli , Wu Feng , Guo Mengfei , Hu Guorong , Du Jiao , Chen Caiyun , Jin Yang 
Published: November 2016

AbstractInflammation and angiogenesis are two hallmarks of carcinoma. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) facilitates angiogenesis in lung cancer; however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, tumour microvessel density (MVD) was positively associated with IL-17, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) expression in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and it was increased in tumour tissues of A549-IL-17 cell-bearing nude mice. Importantly, positive correlations were also detected between IL-17 expression and IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF expression in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues. Furthermore, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF production, as well as STAT1 phosphorylation, were increased in tumour tissues of A549-IL-17 cell-bearing nude mice in vivo and in A549 and H292 cells following IL-17 stimulation in vitro. In addition, STAT1 knockdown using an inhibitor and siRNA attenuated the IL-17-mediated increases in IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF expression in A549 and H292 cells. In conclusion, IL-17 may promote the production of the angiogenic inducers IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF via STAT1 signalling in lung adenocarcinoma.