bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender specific association of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D with metabolic syndrome in population with preserved renal function
Authors: Kim Min-Hee , Lee Jeongmin , Ha Jeonghoon , Jo Kwanhoon , Lim Dong-Jun , Lee Jung-Min , Chang Sang-Ah , Kang Moo-Il , Cha Bong Yun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe association of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D with Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was evaluated using representative data from the Korean population. Data from 7004 subjects aged 50 or older with preserved renal function (excluding chronic kidney disease stage 3b to 5) who were included in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2008 and 2010 were analysed. Higher PTH levels (pg/ml) were observed in subjects with MetS than in those without MetS among both genders (60.1 (58.6–61.6) vs. 62.4 (60.7–64.2) in males p = 0.018, 60.7 (59.4–62.1) vs. 63.9 (62.4–65.6) in females, p < 0.001). For females, PTH levels were significantly higher in subjects with MetS than in those without MetS after adjustment for possible covariates. Lower 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with MetS only in male subjects (p = 0.004). As the number of MetS components increased, a significant rise in PTH levels (p for trend 0.005 in males and 0.024 in females) and a decrease in 25(OH)D levels (p for trend < 0.001 in males and 0.053 in females) were observed. In conclusion, among subjects with preserved renal function, PTH levels were possibly associated with MetS in females, whereas vitamin D levels exhibited a possible link to MetS in males.
Comparative analyses of fecal microbiota in Chinese isolated Yao population, minority Zhuang and rural Han by 16sRNA sequencing
Authors: Liao Ming , Xie Yuanliang , Mao Yan , Lu Zheng , Tan Aihua , Wu Chunlei , Zhang Zhifu , Chen Yang , Li Tianyu , Ye Yu , Yao Ziting , Jiang Yonghua , Li Hongzhe , Li Xiaoming , Yang Xiaobo , Wang Qiuyan , Mo Zengnan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe gut microbiome in humans is associated with geography, diet, lifestyles and so on, but its relationship with some isolated populations is not clear. We used the 16sRNA technique to sequence the fecal microbiome in the Chinese isolated Yao population and compared it with the major minority Zhuang and the major ethnic Han populations living in the same rural area. Information about diet frequency and health status and routine serum measurements were collected. The unweighted UniFrac principal coordinates analysis showed significant structural differences in fecal microbiota among the three ethnic groups. Statistically significant differences were observed in the community richness estimator (chaos) and the diversity estimator (Shannon) among the three groups. At the genus level, the fecal samples of the isolated Yao population presented the lowest relative abundance of the Megamonas genus, which was potentially related to the high frequency of bean consumption in the diet. Two enterotypes were identified in the overall fecal microbiota in the three populations. In the isolated Yao population, a higher Bacteroides abundance was observed, but the Prevotella abundance decreased with increased alcohol consumption.
Genome-wide association study of self-reported food reactions in Japanese identifies shrimp and peach specific loci in the HLA-DR/DQ gene region
Authors: Khor Seik-Soon , Morino Ryoko , Nakazono Kazuyuki , Kamitsuji Shigeo , Akita Masanori , Kawajiri Maiko , Yamasaki Tatsuya , Kami Azusa , Hoshi Yuria , Tada Asami , Ishikawa Kenichi , Hine Maaya , Kobayashi Miki , Kurume Nami , Kamatani Naoyuki , Tokunaga Katsushi , Johnson Todd A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFood allergy is an increasingly important health problem in the world. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focused on European ancestry samples have identified food allergy-specific loci in the HLA class II region. We conducted GWAS of self-reported reactivity with common foods using the data from 11011 Japanese women and identified shrimp and peach allergy-specific loci in theHLA-DR/DQgene region tagged by rs74995702 (P = 6.30 × 10−17,OR = 1.91) and rs28359884 (P = 2.3 × 10−12,OR = 1.80), respectively. After HLA imputation using a Japanese population-specific reference, the most strongly associated haplotype wasHLA-DRB1*04:05-HLA-DQB1*04:01for shrimp allergy (P = 3.92 × 10−19,OR = 1.99) andHLA-DRB1*09:01-HLA-DQB1*03:03for peach allergy (P = 1.15 × 10−7,OR = 1.68). Additionally, both allergies’ associated variants were eQTLs for several HLA genes, withHLA-DQA2 the single eQTL gene shared between the two traits. Our study suggests that allergy to certain foods may be related to genetic differences that tag both HLA alleles having particular epitope binding specificities as well as variants modulating expression of particular HLA genes. Investigating this further could increase our understanding of food allergy aetiology and potentially lead to better therapeutic strategies for allergen immunotherapies.
Specific cyclic ADP-ribose phosphohydrolase obtained by mutagenic engineering of Mn2+-dependent ADP-ribose/CDP-alcohol diphosphatase
Authors: Ribeiro João Meireles , Canales José , Cabezas Alicia , Rodrigues Joaquim Rui , Pinto Rosa María , López-Villamizar Iralis , Costas María Jesús , Cameselle José Carlos 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a messenger for Ca2+ mobilization. Its turnover is believed to occur by glycohydrolysis to ADP-ribose. However, ADP-ribose/CDP-alcohol diphosphatase (ADPRibase-Mn) acts as cADPR phosphohydrolase with much lower efficiency than on its major substrates. Recently, we showed that mutagenesis of human ADPRibase-Mn at Phe37, Leu196 and Cys253 alters its specificity: the best substrate of the mutant F37A + L196F + C253A is cADPR by a short difference, Cys253 mutation being essential for cADPR preference. Its proximity to the ‘northern’ ribose of cADPR in docking models indicates Cys253 is a steric constraint for cADPR positioning. Aiming to obtain a specific cADPR phosphohydrolase, new mutations were tested at Asp250, Val252, Cys253 and Thr279, all near the ‘northern’ ribose. First, the mutant F37A + L196F + C253G, with a smaller residue 253 (Ala > Gly), showed increased cADPR specificity. Then, the mutant F37A + L196F + V252A + C253G, with another residue made smaller (Val > Ala), displayed the desired specificity, with cADPR kcat/KM ≈20–200-fold larger than for any other substrate. When tested in nucleotide mixtures, cADPR was exhausted while others remained unaltered. We suggest that the specific cADPR phosphohydrolase, by cell or organism transgenesis, or the designed mutations, by genome editing, provide opportunities to study the effect of cADPR depletion on the many systems where it intervenes.
A vacuolar sorting receptor-independent sorting mechanism for storage vacuoles in soybean seeds
Authors: Maruyama Nobuyuki , Matsuoka Yuki , Yokoyama Kazunori , Takagi Kyoko , Yamada Tetsuya , Hasegawa Hisakazu , Terakawa Teruhiko , Ishimoto Masao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe seed storage proteins of soybean (Glycine max) are composed mainly of glycinin (11S globulin) and β-conglycinin (7S globulin). The subunits of glycinin (A1aB1b, A1bB2, A2B1a, A3B4, and A5A4B3) are synthesized as a single polypeptide precursor. These precursors are assembled into trimers with a random combination of subunits in the endoplasmic reticulum, and are sorted to the protein storage vacuoles. Proteins destined for transport to protein storage vacuoles possess a vacuolar sorting determinant, and in this regard, the A1aB1b subunit contains a C-terminal peptide that is sufficient for its sorting to protein storage vacuoles. The A3B4 subunit, however, lacks a corresponding C-terminal sorting determinant. In this study, we found that, unlike the A1aB1b subunit, the A3B4 subunit does not bind to previously reported vacuolar sorting receptors. Despite this difference, we observed that the A3B4 subunit is sorted to protein storage vacuoles in a transgenic soybean line expressing the A3B4 subunit of glycinin. These results indicate that a protein storage vacuolar sorting mechanism that functions independently of the known vacuolar sorting receptors in seeds might be present in soybean seeds.
Effects of CO2 enrichment on benthic primary production and inorganic nitrogen fluxes in two coastal sediments
Authors: Vopel Kay , Del-Río Cintya , Pilditch Conrad A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOcean acidification may alter the cycling of nitrogen in coastal sediment and so the sediment–seawater nitrogen flux, an important driver of pelagic productivity. To investigate how this perturbation affects the fluxes of NOX− (nitrite/nitrate), NH4+ and O2, we incubated estuarine sand and subtidal silt in recirculating seawater with a CO2-adjusted pH of 8.1 and 7.9. During a 41-day incubation, the seawater kept at pH 8.1 lost 97% of its NOX− content but the seawater kept at pH 7.9 lost only 18%. Excess CO2 increased benthic photosynthesis. In the silt, this was accompanied by a reversal of the initial NOX− efflux into influx. The estuarine sand sustained its initial NOX− influx but, by the end of the incubation, released more NH4+ at pH 7.9 than at pH 8.1. We hypothesise that these effects share a common cause; excess CO2 increased the growth of benthic microalgae and so nutrient competition with ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB). In the silt, diatoms likely outcompeted AOB for NH4+ and photosynthesis increased the dark/light fluctuations in the pore water oxygenation inhibiting nitrification and coupled nitrification/denitrification. If this is correct, then excess CO2 may lead to retention of inorganic nitrogen adding to the pressures of increasing coastal eutrophication.
The global epidemiology of bladder cancer: a joinpoint regression analysis of its incidence and mortality trends and projection
Authors: Wong Martin C. S. , Fung Franklin D. H. , Leung Colette , Cheung Wilson W. L. , Goggins William B. , Ng C. F. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe tested the hypotheses that the global incidence of bladder cancer was increasing but its mortality was reducing and its incidence was positively correlated with country-specific socioeconomic development. We retrieved data on age-standardized incidence and mortality rates/100,000 from the GLOBOCAN database in 2012. Temporal patterns were examined for 39 countries from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents volumes I-X and other national registries. We evaluated the correlation between the incidence/mortality rates and Human Development Index (HDI)/ logarithmic values of Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP). The average annual percent change of the incidence and mortality rates in the most recent 10 years was examined by joinpoint regression analysis. The highest incidence rates were observed in Southern Europe, Western Europe and North America. The mortality rates were the highest in Western Asia and Northern Africa. The incidence was positively correlated with HDI (r = 0.66 [men]; r = 0.50 [women]) and to a lesser extent logarithmic values of GDP per capita (r = 0.60 [men]; r = 0.50 [women], all p < 0.01). Many European countries experienced incidence rise. A substantial mortality reduction was observed in most countries, yet increases in mortality rates were observed in the Philippines and Iceland. These findings identified countries where more preventive actions are required.
Artificial selection for improved energy efficiency is reaching its limits in broiler chickens
Authors: Tallentire C. W. , Leinonen I. , Kyriazakis I. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractModern broiler chickens are a major animal husbandry success story, both in terms of efficient resource utilisation and environmental sustainability. However, continuing artificial selection for both efficiency and rapid growth will be subject to both biological limits and animal welfare concerns. Using a novel analytical energy flow modelling approach, we predict how far such selection can go, given the biological limits of bird energy intake and partitioning of energy. We find that the biological potential for further improvements in efficiency, and hence environmental impact reduction, is minimal relative to past progress already made via artificial selection. An alternative breeding strategy to produce slower-growing birds to meet new welfare standards increases environmental burdens, compared to current birds. This unique analytic approach provides biologically sound guidelines for strategic planning of sustainable broiler production.
The suppressive role of calcium sensing receptor in endometrial cancer
Authors: Xin Xiaoyan , Zeng Xianqin , Feng Dilu , Hua Teng , Liu Shuangge , Chi Shuqi , Hu Qinghua , Wang Hongbo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractStudies have shown that calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is involved in the progressions of several human cancers. However, the role of CaSR in endometrial cancer remains unknown. This study provides a preliminary analysis of the CaSR effect on endometrial cancer development. Ectopic CaSR expression by lentiviral transfection (CaSR-OV) in Ishikawa cells significantly increased intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels and cell apoptosis. E-cadherin and β-catenin expression and complex formation at the membrane were increased in CaSR-OV Ishikawa cells relative to control Ishikawa cells (vector). Furthermore, CaSR-OV Ishikawa cells showed a reduced invasive potential, which was attributed to E-cadherin/β-catenin complex formation. Moreover, a reduction in CaSR expression in endometrial cancer relative to normal specimens was evident by immunohistochemistry and was positively associated with E-cadherin, but not β-catenin, expression. Furthermore, VEGFR3 was significantly down-regulated in CaSR-OV Ishikawa cells. Additionally, an immunohistochemical analysis showed that VEGFR3 was significantly increased in endometrial cancer compared with the normal endometrium and was inversely correlated with CaSR expression. However, the CaSR knockdown produced the opposite effects. These findings suggest an inhibitory role for CaSR in endometrial cancer. Therefore, reduced CaSR expression may be a suitable explanation and valuable predictor for endometrial cancer progression.
Treprostinil inhibits proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition by fibroblasts through cAMP activation
Authors: Lambers Christopher , Roth Michael , Jaksch Peter , Muraközy Gabriella , Tamm Michael , Klepetko Walter , Ghanim Bahil , Zhao Feng 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by peripheral lung fibrosis and increased interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. In IPF, tumor growth factor (TGF)-β1 which is the major stimulus of ECM deposition, and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is a potent stimulus of fibrosis. Thus, the effect of Treprostinil on TGF-ß1 and PDGF-induced fibroblast proliferation and ECM deposition was investigated. Human peripheral lung fibroblasts of seven IPF patients and five lung donors were stimulated by PDGF, or TGF-β1, or the combination. Cells were pre-incubated (30 min) with either Treprostinil, forskolin, di-deoxyadenosine (DDA), or vehicle. Treprostinil time dependently activated cAMP thereby preventing PDGF-BB induced proliferation and TGF-β1 secretion. Cell counts indicated proliferation; α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) indicted differentiation, and collagen type-1 or fibronectin deposition remodeling. Myo-fibroblast indicating α-SMA expression was significantly reduced and its formation was altered by Treprostinil. Collagen type-I and fibronectin deposition were also reduced by Treprostinil. The effect of Treprostinil on collagen type-I deposition was cAMP sensitive as it was counteracted by DDA, while the effect on fibronectin was not cAMP mediated. Treprostinil antagonized the pro-fibrotic effects of both PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 in primary human lung fibroblasts. The data presented propose a therapeutic relevant anti-fibrotic effect of Treprostinil in IPF.
In vivo Microscopic Photoacoustic Spectroscopy for Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring Invulnerable to Skin Secretion Products
Authors: Sim Joo Yong , Ahn Chang-Geun , Jeong Eun-Ju , Kim Bong Kyu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPhotoacoustic spectroscopy has been shown to be a promising tool for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. However, the repeatability of such a method is susceptible to changes in skin condition, which is dependent on hand washing and drying due to the high absorption of infrared excitation light to the skin secretion products or water. In this paper, we present a method to meet the challenges of mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy for non-invasive glucose monitoring. By obtaining the microscopic spatial information of skin during the spectroscopy measurement, the skin region where the infrared spectra is insensitive to skin condition can be locally selected, which enables reliable prediction of the blood glucose level from the photoacoustic spectroscopy signals. Our raster-scan imaging showed that the skin condition for in vivo spectroscopic glucose monitoring had significant inhomogeneities and large variability in the probing area where the signal was acquired. However, the selective localization of the probing led to a reduction in the effects of variability due to the skin secretion product. Looking forward, this technology has broader applications not only in continuous glucose monitoring for diabetic patient care, but in forensic science, the diagnosis of malfunctioning sweat pores, and the discrimination of tumors extracted via biopsy.
3D Imaging through Scatterers with Interferenceless Optical System
Authors: Mukherjee Saswata , Vijayakumar A. , Kumar Manoj , Rosen Joseph 
Published: January 2018

AbstractImaging through a scattering medium is a challenging task. We propose and demonstrate an interferenceless incoherent opto-digital technique for 3D imaging through a scatterer with a single lens and a digital camera. The light diffracted from a point object is modulated by a scattering mask. The modulated wavefront is projected on an image sensor using a spherical lens and the impulse response is recorded. An object is placed at the same axial location as the point object and another intensity pattern is recorded with identical experimental conditions and with the same scattering mask. The image of the object is reconstructed by a cross-correlation between a reconstructing function and the object hologram. For 3D imaging, a library of reconstructing functions are created corresponding to different axial locations. The different planes of the object are reconstructed by a cross-correlation of the object hologram with the corresponding reconstructing functions.
Influence of autophagy on acute kidney injury in a murine cecal ligation and puncture sepsis model
Authors: Sunahara Satoshi , Watanabe Eizo , Hatano Masahiko , Swanson Paul E. , Oami Takehiko , Fujimura Lisa , Teratake Youichi , Shimazui Takashi , Lee Chiwei , Oda Shigeto 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe role of autophagy in the maintenance of renal homeostasis during sepsis is not well understood. We therefore aimed to determine the influence of autophagy on kidney during sepsis using a murine sepsis model, i.e. cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In CLP treated animals, the number of autolysosomes observed by electron microscopy increased over time. The number of autophagosomes in CLP animals decreased relative sham operated controls at 24 hrs after CLP, indicating that autophagy flux is already diminishing by that time. Moreover, CLP induced an increase in LC3-II/LC3-I ratio at 6–8 hrs, demonstrated in western blots, as well as an increase in GFP-LC3 dots at 6–8 hrs and 24 hrs, using immunofluorescence and anti-LC3 and LAMP1 antibodies on tissue sections from GFP-LC3 transgenic mice. LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and the number of co-localized GFP-LC3 dots and LAMP1 signals (GFP LC3 + LAMP1 dots) in CLP mice at 24 hrs were significantly reduced compared with data obtained at 6–8 hrs. Notably, acceleration of autophagy by rapamycin resulted in improvement of renal function that was associated with improvement in the histologic severity of tubular epithelial injury in CLP treated animals. Autophagy in the kidney was significantly slowed in the kidney during the acute phase of sepsis; nonetheless, autophagy in kidney appears to play a protective role against sepsis.
GenomeLandscaper: Landscape analysis of genome-fingerprints maps assessing chromosome architecture
Authors: Ai Hannan , Ai Yuncan , Meng Fanmei 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAssessing correctness of an assembled chromosome architecture is a central challenge. We create a geometric analysis method (called GenomeLandscaper) to conduct landscape analysis of genome-fingerprints maps (GFM), trace large-scale repetitive regions, and assess their impacts on the global architectures of assembled chromosomes. We develop an alignment-free method for phylogenetics analysis. The human Y chromosomes (GRCh.chrY, HuRef.chrY and YH.chrY) are analysed as a proof-of-concept study. We construct a galaxy of genome-fingerprints maps (GGFM) for them, and a landscape compatibility among relatives is observed. But a long sharp straight line on the GGFM breaks such a landscape compatibility, distinguishing GRCh38p1.chrY (and throughout GRCh38p7.chrY) from GRCh37p13.chrY, HuRef.chrY and YH.chrY. We delete a 1.30-Mbp target segment to rescue the landscape compatibility, matching the antecedent GRCh37p13.chrY. We re-locate it into the modelled centromeric and pericentromeric region of GRCh38p10.chrY, matching a gap placeholder of GRCh37p13.chrY. We decompose it into sub-constituents (such as BACs, interspersed repeats, and tandem repeats) and trace their homologues by phylogenetics analysis. We elucidate that most examined tandem repeats are of reasonable quality, but the BAC-sized repeats, 173U1020C (176.46 Kbp) and 5U41068C (205.34 Kbp), are likely over-repeated. These results offer unique insights into the centromeric and pericentromeric regions of the human Y chromosomes.
Intradermal delivery of STAT3 siRNA to treat melanoma via dissolving microneedles
Authors: Pan Jingtong , Ruan Wenyi , Qin Mengyao , Long Yueming , Wan Tao , Yu Kaiyue , Zhai Yuanhao , Wu Chuanbin , Xu Yuehong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHyperactivity of signal transducer and activity of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a crucial role in melanoma invasion and metastasis. Gene therapy applying siRNA targeting STAT3 is a potential therapeutic strategy for melanoma. In this article, we first fabricated safe and novel dissolving microneedles (MNs) for topical application of STAT3 siRNA to enhance the skin penetration of siRNA and used polyethylenimine (PEI, 25 kDa) as carrier to improve cellular uptake of siRNA. The results showed that MNs can effectively penetrate skin and rapidly dissolve in the skin. In vitro B16F10 cell experiments presented that STAT3 siRNA PEI complex can enhance cellular uptake and transfection of siRNA, correspondingly enhance gene silencing efficiency and inhibit tumor cells growth. In vivo experiments indicated that topical application of STAT3 siRNA PEI complex delivered by dissolving MNs into skin can effectively suppress the development of melanoma through silencing STAT3 gene, and the inhibition effect is dose-dependent. STAT3 siRNA delivery via dissolving MNs is a promising approach for skin melanoma treatment with targeting inhibition efficacy and minimal adverse effects.