bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A New Treatment-integrated Prognostic Nomogram of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hsu Chia-Yang , Liu Po-Hong , Hsia Cheng-Yuan , Lee Yun-Hsuan , Nagaria Teddy S. , Lee Rheun-Chuan , Ho Shu-Yein , Hou Ming-Chih , Huo Teh-Ia 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe nomogram of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) has accurate outcome prediction. This study aims to propose a treatment-integrated nomogram derived from BCLC for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 3,371 patients were randomly grouped into derivation (n = 2,247) and validation (n = 1,124) sets. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to generate the nomogram from tumor burden, cirrhosis, performance status (PS) and primary anti-cancer treatments. Concordance indices and calibration plots were used to evaluate the performance of nomogram. The derivation and validation sets had the same concordance index of 0.774 (95% confidence intervals: 0.717–0.826 and 0.656–0.874, respectively). In calibration plots, survival distributions predicted by the nomogram and observed by the Kaplan-Meier method were similar at 3- and 5-year for patients from derivation and validation sets. Validation group patients divided into 10 subgroups by the original and new treatment-integrated BCLC nomogram were used to evaluate the prognostic performance of integrating primary anti-cancer treatments. Compared to the nomogram of original BCLC system, the treatment-integrated nomogram of BCLC system had larger linear trend and likelihood ratio X2. In conclusion, based on the results of concordance index tests, integrating primary anti-cancer treatments into the BCLC system provides similar discriminatory ability.
Chronic Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia Improves Cardiac Function through Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Yuan Fang , Zhang Li , Li Yan-Qing , Teng Xu , Tian Si-Yu , Wang Xiao-Ran , Zhang Yi 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH)-induced cardiac protection. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to CIHH treatment simulating 5000 m altitude for 28 days, 6 hours per day. The heart was isolated and perfused with Langendorff apparatus and subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 60-min reperfusion. Cardiac function, infarct size, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assessed. Expression of ERS molecular chaperones (GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12) was assayed by western blot analysis. CIHH treatment improved the recovery of left ventricular function and decreased cardiac infarct size and activity of LDH after I/R compared to control rats. Furthermore, CIHH treatment inhibited over-expression of ERS-related factors including GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12. CIHH-induced cardioprotection and inhibition of ERS were eliminated by application of dithiothreitol, an ERS inducer, and chelerythrine, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. In conclusion CIHH treatment exerts cardiac protection against I/R injury through inhibition of ERS via PKC signaling pathway.
Stingray venom activates IL-33 producing cardiomyocytes, but not mast cell, to promote acute neutrophil-mediated injury
Authors: dos Santos Janaina Cardoso , Grund Lidiane Zito , Seibert Carla Simone , Marques Elineide Eugênio , Soares Anderson Brito , Quesniaux Valerie F. , Ryffel Bernhard , Lopes-Ferreira Monica , Lima Carla 
Published: August 2017

AbstractOne of the hallmarks of acute inflammation is neutrophil infiltration of tissues. We investigated molecular mechanisms implicated in acute neutrophilic inflammation induced by the venom of a freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon cf. henlei) in mice. Ray venom induced early mobilization of neutrophil in the microvasculature of cremaster mice and infiltration of the peritoneal cavity 2 hours after injury, in a dose-response manner. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and KC were produced. The neutrophilic infiltration did not occur in mice with ST2 receptor and MyD88 adapters neutralized, or in those with PI3K and p38 MAPK signaling blocked. Drastic reduction of neutrophil infiltration to peritoneal cavities was observed in ST2−/−, TLR2/TLR4−/−, MyD88−/−, TRIF−/−and IL-17A−/−mice, and a partial reduction was observed in IL-18R−/−mice. Mast cell Kit W(sh)/W(sh)-, AHR-, NLRP3-, ICE-, IL-1β-, P2RX7-, CD39-, IL-17RA-, and TBX21KOmice retain the ability to induce neutrophilia in peritoneal cavity after ray venom injection. IL-6 and TNF-α alone were insufficient for promote neutrophilia in the absence of ST2 signaling. Finally, abundant production of IL-33 by cardiomyocytes was observed. These results refine our understanding of the importance of the IL-33/ST2 axis and IL-33-producing cardiomyocytes in the early acute neutrophilia induced by freshwater stingray venoms.
A structural and mechanistic study of π-clamp-mediated cysteine perfluoroarylation
Authors: Dai Peng , Williams Jonathan K. , Zhang Chi , Welborn Matthew , Shepherd James J. , Zhu Tianyu , Van Voorhis Troy , Hong Mei , Pentelute Bradley L. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNatural enzymes use local environments to tune the reactivity of amino acid side chains. In searching for small peptides with similar properties, we discovered a four-residue π-clamp motif (Phe-Cys-Pro-Phe) for regio- and chemoselective arylation of cysteine in ribosomally produced proteins. Here we report mutational, computational, and structural findings directed toward elucidating the molecular factors that drive π-clamp-mediated arylation. We show the significance of atransconformation prolyl amide bond for the π-clamp reactivity. The π-clamp cysteine arylation reaction enthalpy of activation (ΔH‡) is significantly lower than a non-π-clamp cysteine. Solid-state NMR chemical shifts indicate the prolyl amide bond in the π-clamp motif adopts a 1:1 ratio of thecisandtransconformation, while in the reaction product Pro3 was exclusively intrans. In two structural models of the perfluoroarylated product, distinct interactions at 4.7 Å between Phe1 side chain and perfluoroaryl electrophile moiety are observed. Further, solution19F NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry measurements suggest interactions between hydrophobic side chains in a π-clamp mutant and the perfluoroaryl probe. These studies led us to design a π-clamp mutant with an 85-fold rate enhancement. These findings will guide us toward the discovery of small reactive peptides to facilitate abiotic chemistry in water.
Collective modes in simple melts: Transition from soft spheres to the hard sphere limit
Authors: Khrapak Sergey , Klumov Boris , Couëdel Lénaïc 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe study collective modes in a classical system of particles with repulsive inverse-power-law (IPL) interactions in the fluid phase, near the fluid-solid coexistence (IPL melts). The IPL exponent is varied from n = 10 to n = 100 to mimic the transition from moderately soft to hard-sphere-like interactions. We compare the longitudinal dispersion relations obtained using molecular dynamic (MD) simulations with those calculated using the quasi-crystalline approximation (QCA) and find that this simple theoretical approach becomes grossly inaccurate for $$n\,\gtrsim 20$$
n

≳
20
. Similarly, conventional expressions for high-frequency (instantaneous) elastic moduli, predicting their divergence as n increases, are meaningless in this regime. Relations of the longitudinal and transverse elastic velocities of the QCA model to the adiabatic sound velocity, measured in MD simulations, are discussed for the regime where QCA is applicable. Two potentially useful freezing indicators for classical particle systems with steep repulsive interactions are discussed.
Influence of temperature on methane hydrate formation
Authors: Zhang Peng , Wu Qingbai , Mu Cuicui 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDuring gas hydrate formation process, a phase transition of liquid water exists naturally, implying that temperature has an important influence on hydrate formation. In this study, methane hydrate was formed within the same media. The experimental system was kept at 1.45, 6.49, and 12.91 °C respectively, and then different pressurization modes were applied in steps. We proposed a new indicator, namely the slope of the gas flow rates against time (dν
g
/dt), to represent the intrinsic driving force for hydrate formation. The driving force was calculated as a fixed value at the different stages of formation, including initial nucleation/growth, secondary nucleation/growth, and decay. The amounts of gas consumed at each stage were also calculated. The results show that the driving force during each stage follows an inverse relation with temperature, whereas the amount of consumed gas is proportional to temperature. This opposite trend indicates that the influences of temperature on the specific formation processes and final amounts of gas contained in hydrate should be considered separately. Our results also suggest that the specific ambient temperature under which hydrate is formed should be taken into consideration, when explaining the formation of different configurations and saturations of gas hydrates in natural reservoirs.
Disrupting glutamine metabolic pathways to sensitize gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer
Authors: Chen Ru , Lai Lisa A , Sullivan Yumi , Wong Melissa , Wang Lei , Riddell Jonah , Jung Linda , Pillarisetty Venu G. , Brentnall Teresa A. , Pan Sheng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPancreatic cancer is a lethal disease with poor prognosis. Gemcitabine has been the first line systemic treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, the rapid development of drug resistance has been a major hurdle in gemcitabine therapy leading to unsatisfactory patient outcomes. With the recent renewed understanding of glutamine metabolism involvement in drug resistance and immuno-response, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of a glutamine analog (6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine) as an adjuvant treatment to sensitize chemoresistant pancreatic cancer cells. We demonstrate that disruption of glutamine metabolic pathways improves the efficacy of gemcitabine treatment. Such a disruption induces a cascade of events which impacts glycan biosynthesis through Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway (HBP), as well as cellular redox homeostasis, resulting in global changes in protein glycosylation, expression and functional effects. The proteome alterations induced in the resistant cancer cells and the secreted exosomes are intricately associated with the reduction in cell proliferation and the enhancement of cancer cell chemosensitivity. Proteins associated with EGFR signaling, including downstream AKT-mTOR pathways, MAPK pathway, as well as redox enzymes were downregulated in response to disruption of glutamine metabolic pathways.
A new scoring model for the prediction of mortality in patients with acute kidney injury
Authors: Luo Min , Yang Yuan , Xu Jun , Cheng Wei , Li Xu-Wei , Tang Mi-Mi , Liu Hong , Liu Fu-You , Duan Shao-Bin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCurrently, little information is available to stratify the risks and predict acute kidney injury (AKI)-associated death. In this present cross-sectional study, a novel scoring model was established to predict the probability of death within 90 days in patients with AKI diagnosis. For establishment of predictive scoring model, clinical data of 1169 hospitalized patients with AKI were retrospectively collected, and 731 patients of them as the first group were analyzed by the method of multivariate logistic regression analysis to create a scoring model and further predict patient death. Then 438 patients of them as the second group were used for validating this prediction model according to the established scoring method. Our results showed that Patient’s age, AKI types, respiratory failure, central nervous system failure, hypotension, and acute tubular necrosis-individual severity index (ATN-ISI) score are independent risk factors for predicting the death of AKI patients in the created scoring model. Moreover, our scoring model could accurately predict cumulative AKI and mortality rate in the second group. In conclusion, this study identified the risk factors of 90-day mortality for hospitalized AKI patients and established a scoring model for predicting 90-day prognosis, which could help to interfere in advance for improving the quality of life and reduce mortality rate of AKI patients.
Water ingestion decreases cardiac workload time-dependent in healthy adults with no effect of gender
Authors: Monnard Cathriona Rosemary , Grasser Erik Konrad 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIngestion of water entails a variety of cardiovascular responses. However, the precise effect remains elusive. We aimed to determine in healthy adults the effect of water on cardiac workload and to investigate potential gender differences. We pooled data from two controlled studies where blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded before and after the ingestion of 355 mL of tap water. Additionally, we calculated double product by multiplying systolic BP with HR and evaluated spectral parameters referring to vagal tone. All parameters were investigated for potential differences based on gender. In response to water, HR, systolic BP, and double product decreased significantly during the first 30 min. However, these effects were attenuated for HR and double product and even abolished for systolic BP over the subsequent 30 min. Over the entire post-drink period (60 min), decreases in HR and double product (all P < 0.05) were observed. Spectral markers for vagal tone increased with the on-set of the water drink and remained elevated until the end (P < 0.005). No significant gender difference in cardiac workload parameters was observed. We provide evidence that drinking water decreases, in a time-dependent fashion, cardiac workload and that these responses appear not to be influenced by gender.
Pseudolaric acid B attenuates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by inhibiting interleukin-17-induced inflammation
Authors: Yang Zhen , Liu Meilun , Wang Wei , Wang Yiteng , Cao Bo , Gao Ying , Chen Hong , Li Tan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPseudolaric acid B (PB), isolated from the extract of the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon, has been used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of skin diseases. However, the information of PB on atopic dermatitis (AD) remains largely unknown. In the present study, oral administration with PB improved the severity scores of AD-like skin lesions dose-dependently in NC/Nga mice through reducing serum IgE, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. In addition, PB significantly attenuated the levels of IL-17 and IL-22, and the proportion of Th17 cells in NC/Nga mice, as well as decreased IL-17-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, PB inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα and miR-155 expression both in NC/Nga mice and in IL-17-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which could be reversed by GW9662, a specific antagonist for PPARγ. The incorporation of GW9662 reversed the inhibitory effect of PB on the RORγ-mediated activation of the Il17 promoter. Transfection with PPARγ luciferase reporter gene further demonstrated the enhancement of PB on PPARγ transactivation. These findings indicate that PB could ameliorate AD-like skin lesions by inhibiting IL-17-induced inflammation in a PPARγ-dependent manner, which would provide experimental evidence of PB for the therapeutic potential on AD and other inflammatory skin diseases.
The tomato histone deacetylase SlHDA1 contributes to the repression of fruit ripening and carotenoid accumulation
Authors: Guo Jun-E , Hu Zongli , Zhu Mingku , Li Fenfen , Zhu Zhiguo , Lu Yu , Chen Guoping 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHistone deacetylation is one of the well characterized post-translational modifications related to transcriptional repression in eukaryotes. The process of histone deacetylation is achieved by histone deacetylases (HDACs). Over the last decade, substantial advances in our understanding of the mechanism of fruit ripening have been achieved, but the role of HDACs in this process has not been elucidated. In our study, an RNA interference (RNAi) expression vector targeting SlHDA1 was constructed and transformed into tomato plants. Shorter fruit ripening time and decreased storability were observed in SlHDA1 RNAi lines. The accumulation of carotenoid was increased through an alteration of the carotenoid pathway flux. Ethylene content, ethylene biosynthesis genes (ACS2, ACS4 and ACO1, ACO3) and ripening-associated genes (RIN, E4, E8, Cnr, TAGL1, PG, Pti4 and LOXB) were significantly up-regulated in SlHDA1 RNAi lines. In addition, the expression of fruit cell wall metabolism genes (HEX, MAN, TBG4, XTH5 and XYL) was enhanced compared with wild type. Furthermore, SlHDA1 RNAi seedlings displayed shorter hypocotyls and were more sensitive to ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) than the wild type. The results of our study indicate that SlHDA1 functions as a negative regulator of fruit ripening by affecting ethylene synthesis and carotenoid accumulation.
Temperature-induced oligomerization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at ambient and high pressures
Authors: Chanyshev Artem D. , Litasov Konstantin D. , Furukawa Yoshihiro , Kokh Konstantin A. , Shatskiy Anton F. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTemperature-induced oligomerization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was found at 500–773 K and ambient and high (3.5 GPa) pressures. The most intensive oligomerization at 1 bar and 3.5 GPa occurs at 740–823 K. PAH carbonization at high pressure is the final stage of oligomerization and occurs as a result of sequential oligomerization and polymerization of the starting material, caused by overlapping of π-orbitals, a decrease of intermolecular distances, and finally the dehydrogenation and polycondensation of benzene rings. Being important for building blocks of life, PAHs and their oligomers can be formed in the interior of the terrestrial planets with radii less than 2270 km.
Inflammation-mediated SOD-2 upregulation contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of tumor cells in aflatoxin G1-induced lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yi Li , Shen Haitao , Zhao Mei , Shao Peilu , Liu Chunping , Cui Jinfeng , Wang Juan , Wang Can , Guo Ningfei , Kang Lifei , Lv Ping , Xing Lingxiao , Zhang Xianghong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTumor-associated inflammation plays a critical role in facilitating tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Our previous study showed Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) could induce lung adenocarcinoma in mice. Chronic lung inflammation associated with superoxide dismutase (SOD)-2 upregulation was found in the lung carcinogenesis. However, it is unclear whether tumor-associated inflammation mediates SOD-2 to contribute to cell invasion in AFG1-induced lung adenocarcinoma. Here, we found increased SOD-2 expression associated with vimentin, α-SMA, Twist1, and MMP upregulation in AFG1-induced lung adenocarcinoma. Tumor-associated inflammatory microenvironment was also elicited, which may be related to SOD-2 upregulation and EMT in cancer cells. To mimic an AFG1-induced tumor-associated inflammatory microenvironment in vitro, we treated A549 cells and human macrophage THP-1 (MΦ-THP-1) cells with AFG1, TNF-α and/or IL-6 respectively. We found AFG1 did not promote SOD-2 expression and EMT in cancer cells, but enhanced TNF-α and SOD-2 expression in MΦ-THP-1 cells. Furthermore, TNF-α could upregulate SOD-2 expression in A549 cells through NF-κB pathway. Blocking of SOD-2 by siRNA partly inhibited TNF-α-mediated E-cadherin and vimentin alteration, and reversed EMT and cell migration in A549 cells. Thus, we suggest that tumor-associated inflammation mediates SOD-2 upregulation through NF-κB pathway, which may contribute to EMT and cell migration in AFG1-induced lung adenocarcinoma.Introduction.
Investigation on Ti6Al4V-V-Cr-Fe-SS316 Multi-layers Metallic Structure Fabricated by Laser 3D Printing
Authors: Li Wei , Liou Frank , Newkirk Joseph , Taminger Karen M. Brown , Seufzer William J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractJoining titanium alloy and stainless steel is becoming an urgent need since their outstanding mechanical properties can be utilized integratedly. However, direct fusion joining of Ti6Al4V to SS316 can cause brittle Ti-Fe intermetallics which compromise join bonds’ mechanical properties. In this research, Laser 3D Printing was applied to explore a new Ti6Al4V to SS316 multi-metallic structure. A novel filler transition route was introduced (Ti6Al4V → V → Cr → Fe → SS316) to avoid the Ti-Fe intermetallics. Two experimental cases were performed for comparison to evaluate this novel route’s effect. In the first case, SS316 layer was directly deposited on Ti6Al4V substrate by laser 3D printing, but the sample cracked in the printing process. Then fracture morphology, phase identification, and micro-hardness were analyzed. In the second case, a multi-metallic structure was fabricated via laser 3D printing following the transition route. Microstructure characterization and composition distribution were analyzed via scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS). x-ray diffraction(XRD) tests demonstrated the intermetallics were effectively avoided following the transition route. Vickers hardness number(VHN) showed no significant hard brittle phases in the sample. Comparing with directly depositing SS316 on Ti6Al4V, the usage of the novel transition route can eliminate the intermetallics effectively. These research results are good contributions in joining titanium alloy and stainless steel.
Balance between Estrogens and Proinflammatory Cytokines Regulates Chemokine Production Involved in Thymic Germinal Center Formation
Authors: Dragin Nadine , Nancy Patrice , Villegas José , Roussin Régine , Le Panse Rozen , Berrih-Aknin Sonia 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe early-onset form of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is prevalent in women and associates with ectopic germinal centers (GCs) development and inflammation in the thymus. we aimed to investigate the contribution of estrogens in the molecular processes involved in thymic GCs formation. We examined expression of genes involved in anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) response in MG, MHC class II and α-AChR subunit as well as chemokines involved in GC development (CXCL13, CCL21and CXCL12). In resting conditions, estrogens have strong regulatory effects on thymic epithelial cells (TECs), inducing a decreased protein expression of the above molecules. In knockout mouse models for estrogen receptor or aromatase, we observed that perturbation in estrogen transduction pathway altered MHC Class II, α-AChR, and CXCL13 expression. However, in inflammatory conditions, estrogen effects were partially overwhelmed by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, estrogens were able to control production of type I interferon and therefore play dual roles during inflammatory events. In conclusion, we showed that estrogens inhibited expression of α-AChR and HLA-DR in TECs, suggesting that estrogens may alter the tolerization process and favor environment for an autoimmune response. By contrast, under inflammatory conditions, estrogen effects depend upon strength of the partner molecules with which it is confronted to.