bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eosinophils in patients with lone atrial fibrillation
Authors: Chen Peng , Chen Junzhu , Xie Xudong , Zhu Junhui , Xia Liang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundInflammation has been evidenced as a critical contributable mechanism for the atrial fibrillation (AF) onset and development. As the consistent inflammatory and oxidative marker, the effects of white blood cell (WBC) and its differential on lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) were investigated in the study.MethodsA total of 126 patients with paroxysmal LAF who scheduled for rhythm control drug therapy and 120 age‐ and gender‐matched subjects in sinus rhythm were included sequentially. Peripheral blood sample and clinic data were collected during the first evaluation. Recurrence of AF was evaluated by outpatient clinics and telephone visits for the following 12 months.ResultsPeripheral eosinophil count, neutrophil count, and left atrial diameter (LAD) were significantly higher in LAF than control. Within a follow‐up of 12 months, 56 patients (44.4%) had developed AF recurrence. Patients with AF recurrence had higher eosinophil count and LAD. Univariable analyses showed a statistically significant relationship between eosinophil count (P = 0.042), LAD (P = 0.030), and AF recurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LAD (OR: 1.090 per 1 mm increase; 95% CI: 1.007–1.180; P = 0.032) and eosinophil (OR: 1.643 per 1 × 108/L increase; 95% CI: 1.047–2.578; P = 0.031) were independent predictors of AF recurrence during antiarrhythmic drug therapy.ConclusionOur results support the association of the WBC response and its components with the LAF. Especially, the peripheral eosinophil and LAD may play important roles in mediating inflammation and atrial remodeling in AF.
NAC transcription factor JUNGBRUNNEN1 enhances drought tolerance in tomato
Authors: Thirumalaikumar Venkatesh P. , Devkar Vikas , Mehterov Nikolay , Ali Shawkat , Ozgur Rengin , Turkan Ismail , Mueller‐Roeber Bernd , Balazadeh Salma 
Published: June 2017

SummaryWater deficit (drought stress) massively restricts plant growth and the yield of crops; reducing the deleterious effects of drought is therefore of high agricultural relevance. Drought triggers diverse cellular processes including the inhibition of photosynthesis, the accumulation of cell‐damaging reactive oxygen species and gene expression reprogramming, besides others. Transcription factors (TF) are central regulators of transcriptional reprogramming and expression of many TF genes is affected by drought, including members of the NAC family. Here, we identify the NAC factor JUNGBRUNNEN1 (JUB1) as a regulator of drought tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Expression of tomato JUB1 (SlJUB1) is enhanced by various abiotic stresses, including drought. Inhibiting SlJUB1 by virus‐induced gene silencing drastically lowers drought tolerance concomitant with an increase in ion leakage, an elevation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels and a decrease in the expression of various drought‐responsive genes. In contrast, overexpression of AtJUB1 from Arabidopsis thaliana increases drought tolerance in tomato, alongside with a higher relative leaf water content during drought and reduced H2O2 levels. AtJUB1 was previously shown to stimulate expression of DREB2A, a TF involved in drought responses, and of the DELLA genes GAI and RGL1. We show here that SlJUB1 similarly controls the expression of the tomato orthologs SlDREB1, SlDREB2 and SlDELLA. Furthermore, AtJUB1 directly binds to the promoters of SlDREB1, SlDREB2 and SlDELLA in tomato. Our study highlights JUB1 as a transcriptional regulator of drought tolerance and suggests considerable conservation of the abiotic stress‐related gene regulatory networks controlled by this NAC factor between Arabidopsis and tomato.
In‐solution antibody harvesting with a plant‐produced hydrophobin–Protein A fusion
Authors: Kurppa Katri , Reuter Lauri J. , Ritala Anneli , Linder Markus B. , Joensuu Jussi J. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryPurification is a bottleneck and a major cost factor in the production of antibodies. We set out to engineer a bifunctional fusion protein from two building blocks, Protein A and a hydrophobin, aiming at low‐cost and scalable antibody capturing in solutions. Immunoglobulin‐binding Protein A is widely used in affinity‐based purification. The hydrophobin fusion tag, on the other hand, has been shown to enable purification by two‐phase separation. Protein A was fused to two different hydrophobin tags, HFBI or II, and expressed transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana. The hydrophobins enhanced accumulation up to 35‐fold, yielding up to 25% of total soluble protein. Both fused and nonfused Protein A accumulated in protein bodies. Hence, the increased yield could not be attributed to HFB‐induced protein body formation. We also demonstrated production of HFBI–Protein A fusion protein in tobacco BY‐2 suspension cells in 30 l scale, with a yield of 35 mg/l. Efficient partitioning to the surfactant phase confirmed that the fusion proteins retained the amphipathic properties of the hydrophobin block. The reversible antibody‐binding capacity of the Protein A block was similar to the nonfused Protein A. The best‐performing fusion protein was tested in capturing antibodies from hybridoma culture supernatant with two‐phase separation. The fusion protein was able to carry target antibodies to the surfactant phase and subsequently release them back to the aqueous phase after a change in pH. This report demonstrates the potential of hydrophobin fusion proteins for novel applications, such as harvesting antibodies in solutions.
Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated metabolic engineering of γ‐aminobutyric acid levels in Solanum lycopersicum
Authors: Li Rui , Li Ran , Li Xindi , Fu Daqi , Zhu Benzhong , Tian Huiqin , Luo Yunbo , Zhu Hongliang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryIn recent years, the type II CRISPR system has become a widely used and robust technique to implement site‐directed mutagenesis in a variety of species including model and crop plants. However, few studies manipulated metabolic pathways in plants using the CRISPR system. Here, we introduced the pYLCRISPR/Cas9 system with one or two single‐site guide RNAs to target the tomato phytoene desaturase gene. An obvious albino phenotype was observed in T0 regenerated plants, and more than 61% of the desired target sites were edited. Furthermore, we manipulated the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt in tomatoes using a multiplex pYLCRISPR/Cas9 system that targeted five key genes. Fifty‐three genome‐edited plants were obtained following single plant transformation, and these samples represented single to quadruple mutants. The GABA accumulation in both the leaves and fruits of genomically edited lines was significantly enhanced, and the GABA content in the leaves of quadruple mutants was 19‐fold higher than that in wild‐type plants. Our data demonstrate that the multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 system can be exploited to precisely edit tomato genomic sequences and effectively create multisite knockout mutations, which could shed new light on plant metabolic engineering regulations.
RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW8.1 boosts pattern‐triggered immunity against multiple pathogens in Arabidopsis and rice
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Yong , Wang Qing‐Xia , Wang Ting‐Ting , Cao Xiao‐Long , Zhao Zhi‐Xue , Zhao Sheng‐Li , Xu Yong‐Ju , Xiao Zhi‐Yuan , Li Jin‐Lu , Fan Jing , Yang Hui , Huang Fu , Xiao Shunyuan , Wang Wen‐Ming 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe Arabidopsis gene RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW8.1 (RPW8.1) confers resistance to virulent fungal and oomycete pathogens that cause powdery mildew and downy mildew, respectively. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that ectopic expression of RPW8.1 boosts pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) resulting in enhanced resistance against different pathogens in both Arabidopsis and rice. In Arabidopsis, transcriptome analysis revealed that ectopic expression of RPW8.1‐YFP constitutively up‐regulates expression of many pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP‐)‐inducible genes. Consistently, upon PAMP application, the transgenic line expressing RPW8.1‐YFP exhibited more pronounced PTI responses such as callose deposition, production of reactive oxygen species, expression of defence‐related genes and hypersensitive response‐like cell death. Accordingly, the growth of a virulent bacterial pathogen was significantly inhibited in the transgenic lines expressing RPW8.1‐YFP. Conversely, impairment of the PTI signalling pathway from PAMP cognition to the immediate downstream relay of phosphorylation abolished or significantly compromised RPW8.1‐boosted PTI responses. In rice, heterologous expression of RPW8.1‐YFP also led to enhanced resistance to the blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (syn. Magnaporthe oryzae) and the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Taken together, our data suggest a surprising mechanistic connection between RPW8.1 function and PTI, and demonstrate the potential of RPW8.1 as a transgene for engineering disease resistance across wide taxonomic lineages of plants.
Males benefit twice—The influence of equity on affective and physical attraction in couples
Authors: QUITTSCHALLE JANINE , HERZBERG PHILIPP Y. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe examined whether relationship satisfaction mediates the association between perceptions of equity in central areas of a relationship (feelings and attractiveness) and the experience of sexuality in a sample of 93 couples. Results reveal that greater levels of an individual's own relationship satisfaction significantly predict greater levels of an individual's affective and physical sexual attraction. Furthermore, findings also provide some support for the mediating role of relationship satisfaction between an individual's own equity perceptions and an individual's own experience of sexuality within the dyad. Moreover, males benefit from the females' perception of equity in the sense that equity considerations among females significantly contribute to their partners' relationship satisfaction, which, in turn, intensifies their partners' experience of passionate and emotional sex.
Determinants of red blood cell alloantibody detection duration: analysis of multiply alloimmunized patients supports peritransfusion factors
Authors: Noiret Lorette , Slater Amy , Higgins John M. 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDAlloimmunization to red blood cells (RBCs) can cause serious transfusion reactions and complicate the search for compatible blood products. Alloantibodies can be detected for periods ranging from a few days to several years, yet the mechanisms controlling the duration of detectability remain unknown. We studied the detection durations in patients forming multiple antibodies to investigate whether the duration is more strongly determined by conditions present at the time of each transfusion (peritransfusion factors) or by more stable patient‐specific factors likely to persist across transfusions.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSWe studied retrospective medical records for alloimmunized patients at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital (1461 patients; 2187 antibodies).RESULTSAntibodies discovered simultaneously in a patient shared similar fates: 76% persisted through the last screen or first became undetectable during the same screen. Simultaneously identified antibodies were also more persistent than sequentially identified antibodies (mean, 9.2 months vs. 4.9 months; p < 10−3). Within a patient, antibodies discovered simultaneously tended to be detected for similar periods of time (mean difference, 25 days), compared to the detection period for sequentially discovered antibodies (107 days, p < 10−3).CONCLUSIONSThe similarity in detection duration of simultaneously identified antibodies suggests that peritransfusion factors are important determinants of alloantibody detectability and duration. We also find some evidence that detection durations for sequentially identified antibodies are also more highly correlated than those for randomly selected antibodies across all patients, suggesting that patient‐specific factors also play a role in determining alloantibody persistence.
Conjugation of PspA4Pro with Capsular Streptococcus pneumoniae Polysaccharide Serotype 14 Does Not Reduce the Induction of Cross-Reactive Antibodies
Authors: da Silva Míriam A. , Converso Thiago R. , Gonçalves Viviane M. , Leite Luciana C. C. , Tanizaki Martha M. , Barazzone Giovana C. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTCurrent pneumococcal vaccines are composed of bacterial polysaccharides as antigens, plain or conjugated to carrier proteins. While efficacious against vaccine serotypes, epidemiologic data show an increasing incidence of infections caused by nonvaccine serotypes ofStreptococcus pneumoniae. The use of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) as a carrier protein in a conjugate vaccine could help prevent serotype replacement by increasing vaccine coverage and reducing selective pressure ofS. pneumoniaeserotypes. PspA is present in all pneumococcal strains, is highly immunogenic, and is known to induce protective antibodies. Based on its sequence, PspA has been classified into three families and six clades. A PspA fragment derived from family 2, clade 4 (PspA4Pro), was shown to generate antibodies with a broad range of cross-reactivity, across clades and families. Here, PspA4Pro was modified and conjugated to capsular polysaccharide serotype 14 (PS14). We investigated the impact of conjugation on the immune response induced to PspA4Pro and PS14. Mice immunized with the PS14-mPspA4Pro conjugate produced higher titers of anti-PS14 antibodies than the animals that received coadministered antigens. The conjugate induced antibodies with opsonophagocytic activity against PS14-carrying strains, as well as against a panel of strains bearing PspAs from five clades (encompassing families 1 and 2) bearing a non-PS14 serotype. Furthermore, mice immunized with PS14-mPspA4Pro were protected against nasal colonization with a nonrelatedS. pneumoniaestrain bearing PspA from clade 1, serotype 6B. These results demonstrate that the cross-reactivity mediated by PspA4Pro is retained following conjugation, supporting the use of PspA4 as a carrier protein in order to enhance pneumococcal vaccine coverage and encourage its further investigation as a candidate in future vaccine designs.
Bioactive Immune Components of Anti-Diarrheagenic Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Hyperimmune Bovine Colostrum Products
Authors: Sears Khandra T. , Tennant Sharon M. , Reymann Mardi K. , Simon Raphael , Konstantopoulos Nicky , Blackwelder William C. , Barry Eileen M. , Pasetti Marcela F. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Diarrhea is a common illness among travelers to resource-limited countries, the most prevalent attributable agent being enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC). At this time, there are no vaccines licensed specifically for the prevention of ETEC-induced traveler's diarrhea (TD), and this has propelled investigation of alternative preventive methods. Colostrum, the first milk expressed after birthing, is rich in immunoglobulins and innate immune components for protection of newborns against infectious agents. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum (HBC) produced by immunization of cows during gestation (and containing high levels of specific antibodies) is a practical and effective prophylactic tool against gastrointestinal illnesses. A commercial HBC product, Travelan, is available for prevention of ETEC-induced diarrhea. Despite its demonstrated clinical efficacy, the underlying immune components and antimicrobial activity that contribute to protection remain undefined. We investigated innate and adaptive immune components of several commercial HBC products formulated to reduce the risk of ETEC-induced diarrhea, including Travelan and IMM-124E, a newer product that has broader gastrointestinal health benefits. The immune components measured included total and ETEC-specific IgG, total IgA, cytokines, growth factors, and lactoferrin. HBC products contained high levels of IgG specific for multiple ETEC antigens, including O-polysaccharide 78 and colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) present in the administered vaccines. Antimicrobial activity was measured
in vitro
using novel functional assays. HBC greatly reduced ETEC motility in soft agar and exhibited bactericidal activity in the presence of complement. We have identified immune components and antimicrobial activity potentially involved in the prevention of ETEC infection by HBC
in vivo
.
Cross-sectional surveillance study to phenotype lorry drivers’ sedentary behaviours, physical activity and cardio-metabolic health
Authors: Varela-Mato Veronica , O’Shea Orlagh , King James A , Yates Thomas , Stensel David J , Biddle Stuart JH , Nimmo Myra A , Clemes Stacy A 
Published: June 2017

ObjectivesElevated risk factors for a number of chronic diseases have been identified in lorry drivers. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as a lack of physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary behaviour (sitting) likely contribute to this elevated risk. This study behaviourally phenotyped UK lorry drivers’ sedentary and non-sedentary behaviours during workdays and non-workdays and examined markers of drivers cardio-metabolic health.SettingA transport company from the East Midlands, UK.ParticipantsA sample of 159 male heavy goods vehicle drivers (91% white European; (median (range)) age: 50 (24, 67) years) completed the health assessments. 87 (age: 50.0 (25.0, 65.0); body mass index (BMI): 27.7 (19.6, 43.4) kg/m2) provided objective information on sedentary and non-sedentary time.OutcomesParticipants self-reported their sociodemographic information. Primary outcomes: sedentary behaviour and PA, assessed over 7 days using an activPAL3 inclinometer. Cardio-metabolic markers included: blood pressure (BP), heart rate, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, body composition and fasted capillary blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipopreotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. These cardio-metabolic markers were treated as secondary outcomes.ResultsLorry drivers presented an unhealthy cardio-metabolic health profile (median (IQR) systolic BP: 129 (108.5, 164) mm Hg; diastolic BP: 81 (63, 104) mm Hg; BMI: 29 (20, 47) kg/m2; WC: 102 (77.5, 146.5) cm; LDL-C: 3 (1, 6) mmol/L; TC: 4.9 (3, 7.5) mmol/L). 84% were overweight or obese, 43% had type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and 34% had the metabolic syndrome. The subsample of lorry drivers with objective postural data (n=87) accumulated 13 hours/day and 8 hours/day of sedentary behaviour on workdays and non-workdays (p<0.001), respectively. On average, drivers accrued 12 min/day on workdays and 6 min/day on non-workdays of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA).ConclusionLorry drivers demonstrate a high-risk cardio-metabolic profile and are highly sedentary and physically inactive. Interventions to reduce sitting and increase MVPA during breaks and leisure time to improve cardio-metabolic health are urgently needed. Educational programmes to raise awareness about diet and exercise are recommended.
Filling the gaps in SARDs research: collection and linkage of administrative health data and self-reported survey data for a general population-based cohort of individuals with and without diagnoses of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARDs) from British Columbia, Canada
Authors: McCormick Natalie , Reimer Kathryn , Famouri Ali , Marra Carlo A , Aviña-Zubieta J. Antonio 
Published: June 2017

PurposeSystemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are a group of debilitating autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and related disorders. Assessing the healthcare and economic burden of SARDs has been challenging: while administrative databases can be used to determine healthcare utilisation and costs with minimal selection and recall bias, other health, sociodemographic and economic data have typically been sourced from highly selected, clinic-based cohorts. To address these gaps, we are collecting self-reported survey data from a general population-based cohort of individuals with and without SARDs and linking it to their longitudinal administrative health data.ParticipantsUsing administrative data from the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, we established a population-based cohort of all BC adults receiving care for SARDs during 1996–2010 (n=20 729) and non-SARD individuals randomly selected from the general population. BC Ministry of Health granted us contact information for 12 000 SARD and non-SARD individuals, who were recruited to complete the surveys by mail or online.Findings to dateFour hundred individuals were initially invited to participate, with 135 (34%) consenting and 127 (94%) submitting the first survey (72% completed online). Sixty-three (49.6%) reported ≥1 SARD diagnosis. The non-SARDs group (n=64) was 92% female with mean age 57.0±11.6 years. The SARDs group (n=63) was 94% female with mean age 56.5±13.1 years. Forty-eight per cent of those with SARDs were current-or-former smokers (mean 10.6±16.2 pack-years), and 33% were overweight or obese (mean body mass index of 24.4±5.3).Future plansHealth and productivity data collected from the surveys will be linked to participants’ administrative health data from the years 1990–2013, allowing us to determine the healthcare and lost productivity costs of SARDs, and assess the impact of patient-reported variables on utilisation, costs, disability and clinical outcomes. Findings will be disseminated through scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
Incidence of diabetes-related complications in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes: a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Ou Huang-Tz , Lee Tsung-Ying , Li Chung-Yi , Wu Jin-Shang , Sun Zih-Jie 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo estimate the incidence densities and cumulative incidence of diabetes-related complications in patients with type 1 diabetes for a maximum of 15-year follow-up. The estimations were further stratified by gender and age at diagnosis (ie, early onset: 0–12 years, late onset:≥13 years).DesignA population-based retrospective longitudinal cohort study.SettingTaiwan’s National Health Insurance medical claims.Participants4007 patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were identified during 1999–2012.Outcome measuresAcute complications included diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hypoglycaemia. Chronic complications were cardiovascular diseases (CVD), retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy.ResultsThe incidence density of retinopathy was greatest (97.74 per 1000 person-years), followed by those of nephropathy (31.36), neuropathy (23.93) and CVD (4.39). Among acute complications, the incidence density of DKA was greatest (121.11 per 1000 person-years). The cumulative incidences of acute complications after 12 years following diagnosis were estimated to be 52.1%, 36.1% and 4.1% for DKA, outpatient hypoglycaemia and hospitalised hypoglycaemia, respectively. For chronic complications, the cumulative incidence of retinopathy after 12 years following diagnosis was greatest (65.2%), followed by those of nephropathy (30.2%), neuropathy (23.7%) and CVD (4.1%). Females with late-onset diabetes were greatly affected by advanced retinopathy (ie, sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy) and hospitalised hypoglycaemia, whereas those with early-onset diabetes were more vulnerable to DKA. Chronic complications were more commonly seen in late-onset diabetes, whereas early-onset diabetes were most affected by acute complications.ConclusionsEthnic Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes were greatly affected by DKA and retinopathy. The incidence of diabetes-related complications differed by age at diagnosis and sex.