bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical stress induces elastic fibre disruption and cartilage matrix increase in ligamentum flavum
Authors: Hayashi Kazunori , Suzuki Akinobu , Abdullah Ahmadi Sayed , Terai Hidetomi , Yamada Kentaro , Hoshino Masatoshi , Toyoda Hiromitsu , Takahashi Shinji , Tamai Koji , Ohyama Shoichiro , Javid Akgar , Suhrab Rahmani Mohammad , Hasib Maruf Mohammad , Nakamura Hiroaki 
Published: October 2017

AbstractLumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is one of the most frequent causes of low back pain and gait disturbance in the elderly. Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy is the main pathomechanism of LSS, but the reason for its occurrence is not clearly elucidated. In this study, we established a novel animal model of intervertebral mechanical stress concentration and investigated the biological property of the LF. The LF with mechanical stress concentration showed degeneration with elastic fibres disruption and cartilage matrix increase, which are similar to the findings in hypertrophied LF from patients with LSS. By contrast, decreased Col2a1 expression was found in the LF at fixed levels, in which mechanical stress was strongly reduced. These findings indicate that mechanical stress plays a crucial role in LF hypertrophy through cartilage matrix increase. The findings also suggest that fusion surgery, which eliminates intervertebral instability, may change the property of the LF and lead to the relief of patients’ symptoms.
Characterization and genomic study of “phiKMV-Like” phage PAXYB1 infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Yu Xinyan , Xu Yue , Gu Yu , Zhu Yefei , Liu Xiaoqiu 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBacteriophage PAXYB1 was recently isolated from wastewater samples. This phage was chosen based on its lytic properties against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). In the present study, characterized PAXYB1, clarified its morphological and lytic properties, and analyzed its complete genome sequence. Based on the morphology of PAXYB1, it is a Podoviridae. The linear GC-rich (62.29%) double-stranded DNA genome of PAXYB1 is 43,337 bp including direct terminal repeats (DTRs) of 468 bp. It contains 60 open reading frames (ORFs) that are all encoded within the same strand. We also showed that PAXYB1 is a virulent phage and a new member of the phiKMV-like phages genus. Twenty-eight out of sixty predicted gene products (gps) showed significant homology to proteins of known function, which were confirmed by analyzing the structural proteome. Altogether, our work identified a novel lytic bacteriophage that lyses P. aeruginosa PAO1 and efficiently infects and kills several clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. This phage has potential for development as a biological disinfectant to control P. aeruginosa infections.
Interventions for treating displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the elderly: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zhang Bin-Fei , Wang Peng-Fei , Huang Hai , Cong Yu-Xuan , Wang Hu , Zhuang Yan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDisplaced intracapsular femoral neck (AO type 31 B2/3) fractures have various treatments, including internal fixation (IF), unipolar uncemented hemiarthroplasty (HA), bipolar uncemented HA, unipolar cemented HA, bipolar cemented HA, uncemented total hip replacement (THR), and cemented THR. Systematic literature retrieval was performed from the databases to compare them in a network meta-analysis. Forty studies (85 arms) containing 6141 patients were included. Overall, our network meta-analysis rank the orders of 7 procedures in reoperation, mortality, dislocation and infection, which indicates that IF may provide the highest reoperation incidence, unipolar cemented HA may provide the lowest reoperation incidence; uncemented THR contributes the highest dislocation incidence; and bipolar uncemented HA provides the lowest infection incidence. No differences in mortality were observed among the treatments. This conclusion is indirect; higher-quality direct comparisons are required.
Evidence of Early-Stage Selection on EPAS1 and GPR126 Genes in Andean High Altitude Populations
Authors: Eichstaedt Christina A. , Pagani Luca , Antao Tiago , Inchley Charlotte E. , Cardona Alexia , Mörseburg Alexander , Clemente Florian J. , Sluckin Timothy J. , Metspalu Ene , Mitt Mario , Mägi Reedik , Hudjashov Georgi , Metspalu Mait , Mormina Maru , Jacobs Guy S. , Kivisild Toomas 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe aim of this study is to identify genetic variants that harbour signatures of recent positive selection and may facilitate physiological adaptations to hypobaric hypoxia. To achieve this, we conducted whole genome sequencing and lung function tests in 19 Argentinean highlanders (>3500 m) comparing them to 16 Native American lowlanders. We developed a new statistical procedure using a combination of population branch statistics (PBS) and number of segregating sites by length (nSL) to detect beneficial alleles that arose since the settlement of the Andes and are currently present in 15–50% of the population. We identified two missense variants as significant targets of selection. One of these variants, located within the GPR126 gene, has been previously associated with the forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity ratio. The other novel missense variant mapped to the EPAS1 gene encoding the hypoxia inducible factor 2α. EPAS1 is known to be the major selection candidate gene in Tibetans. The derived allele of GPR126 is associated with lung function in our sample of highlanders (p < 0.05). These variants may contribute to the physiological adaptations to hypobaric hypoxia, possibly by altering lung function. The new statistical approach might be a useful tool to detect selected variants in population studies.
Exclusive and Combined Use of Statins and Aspirin and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: a Case-Control Study
Authors: Archibugi Livia , Piciucchi Matteo , Stigliano Serena , Valente Roberto , Zerboni Giulia , Barucca Viola , Milella Michele , Maisonneuve Patrick , Delle Fave Gianfranco , Capurso Gabriele 
Published: October 2017

AbstractData on the association between aspirin and statin use and Pancreatic Ductal AdenoCarcinoma (PDAC) risk are conflicting. These drugs are often co-prescribed, but no studies evaluated the potential combined or confounding effect of the two at the same time. We aimed to investigate the association between aspirin and statin exclusive and combined use and PDAC occurrence. Data on environmental factors, family and medical history were screened in a case-control study. PDAC cases were matched to controls for age and gender. Power calculation performed ahead. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were obtained from multivariable logistic regression analysis. In 408 PDAC patients and 816 matched controls, overall statin (OR 0.61; 95%CI,0.43–0.88), but not aspirin use was associated to reduced PDAC risk. Compared to non-users, exclusive statin (OR 0.51; 95%CI,0.32–0.80) and exclusive aspirin users (OR 0.64; 95%CI,0.40–1.01) had reduced PDAC risk. Concomitant statin and aspirin use did not further reduce the risk compared with statin use alone and no interaction was evident. Statin protective association was dose-dependent, and consistent in most subgroups, being stronger in smokers, elderly, obese and non-diabetic patients. The present study suggests that statin use is associated to reduced PDAC risk, supporting a chemopreventive action of statins on PDAC.
Ginsenoside Rb1 prevents homocysteine-induced EPC dysfunction via VEGF/p38MAPK and SDF-1/CXCR4 activation
Authors: Lan Tao-Hua , Xu Dan-Ping , Huang Man-Ting , Song Ju-Xian , Wu Huan-Lin , Li Min 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHyperhomocystinemia (HHcy) is known as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Our previous study showed that ginsenoside Rb1, the major active constituent of ginseng, prevents homocysteine (Hcy)-induced endothelial damage. However, the role of ginsenoside Rb1 in Hcy-induced dysfunction in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) remains unknown. In the study, we found that ginsenoside Rb1 reversed the Hcy-induced impairment of adhesive and migratory ability in EPCs which were significantly abolished by CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 and VEGFR2 inhibitor SU5416. Ginsenoside Rb1 significantly reversed Hcy-induced SDF-1 reduction in the supernatant and in the serum. Ginsenoside Rb1 reversed downregulation of SDF-1 and VEGFR2 protein expression, inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation induced by Hcy. Re-endothelialization in balloon-injured carotid arteries significantly increased with EPCs transplant, and was even better with Rb1 treatment. This effect was significantly abolished by AMD3100. AMD3100 also decreased the number of CM-DiI labeled EPCs in injured arteries. Here we show for the first time that Rb1 prevents Hcy-induced EPC dysfunction via VEGF/p38MAPK and SDF-1/CXCR4 activation. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of the action of Rb1 that may have value in prevention of HHcy associated cardiovascular disease.
Social support and mental health in late adolescence are correlated for genetic, as well as environmental, reasons
Authors: Wang R. Adele H. , Davis Oliver S. P. , Wootton Robyn E. , Mottershaw Abigail , Haworth Claire M. A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractLate adolescence is a crucial, but underexplored, developmental stage with respect to the aetiology of social support. These individuals are experiencing many major life changes and social support can help them adjust to the associated environmental stressors of this time. Using 1,215 18-year-old twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study, we collected measures of two indices of support: support quality and support quantity, as well as wellbeing and depression. Both support indices were moderately heritable (55% and 49%, respectively), an interesting finding given the many environmental changes that late adolescents are encountering that could be environmentally altering their social network structures. Finding a genetic influence on support suggests the presence of gene-environment correlation whereby individuals create and perceive their supportive environment based upon their genetic predispositions. Shared genetic influences mediated the moderate phenotypic correlation (mean r = 0.46) between support and mental health. Genetic correlations were higher between support quality and mental health (mean rA = 0.75), than between support quantity and mental health (mean rA = 0.54), reflecting the phenotypic pattern. This suggests that interventions should focus more on making late adolescents aware of the support quality around them than encouraging them to increase their social network size.
Probiotic supplementation in preterm infants does not affect the risk of retinopathy of prematurity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Cavallaro Giacomo , Villamor-Martínez Eduardo , Filippi Luca , Mosca Fabio , Villamor Eduardo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vascular disorder of the developing retina in preterm infants and is a leading cause of childhood blindness. Perinatal infection plays a pathogenic role in ROP. Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of late onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants but it remains to be determined whether this reduction translates into a reduction of other complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the possible role of probiotics in altering the risk of ROP. Eleven randomized controlled trials (4250 infants; probiotics: 2121) were included in the meta-analysis that showed a significantly decreased rate of LOS with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.807 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.705 to 0.924 (P = 0.010; fixed effects model) but could not demonstrate a significant effect of probiotics on any stage ROP (RR 1.053, 95% CI 0.903 to 1.228, P = 0.508, 4 studies), or severe ROP (RR 0.841, 95% CI 0.666 to 1.063, P = 0.148, 9 studies). Meta-regression did not show any significant association between the RR for LOS and the RR for severe ROP. In conclusion, our results suggest that infection prevention by probiotics does not affect the risk of developing ROP in preterm infants.
Developmental Emergence of Sparse Coding: A Dynamic Systems Approach
Authors: Rahmati Vahid , Kirmse Knut , Holthoff Knut , Schwabe Lars , Kiebel Stefan J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDuring neocortical development, network activity undergoes a dramatic transition from largely synchronized, so-called cluster activity, to a relatively sparse pattern around the time of eye-opening in rodents. Biophysical mechanisms underlying this sparsification phenomenon remain poorly understood. Here, we present a dynamic systems modeling study of a developing neural network that provides the first mechanistic insights into sparsification. We find that the rest state of immature networks is strongly affected by the dynamics of a transient, unstable state hidden in their firing activities, allowing these networks to either be silent or generate large cluster activity. We address how, and which, specific developmental changes in neuronal and synaptic parameters drive sparsification. We also reveal how these changes refine the information processing capabilities of an in vivo developing network, mainly by showing a developmental reduction in the instability of network’s firing activity, an effective availability of inhibition-stabilized states, and an emergence of spontaneous attractors and state transition mechanisms. Furthermore, we demonstrate the key role of GABAergic transmission and depressing glutamatergic synapses in governing the spatiotemporal evolution of cluster activity. These results, by providing a strong link between experimental observations and model behavior, suggest how adult sparse coding networks may emerge developmentally.
Essential role of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in glutamate-enhanced cell survival in cardiac cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation
Authors: Maiolino Marta , Castaldo Pasqualina , Lariccia Vincenzo , Piccirillo Silvia , Amoroso Salvatore , Magi Simona 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMyocardial ischemia culminates in ATP production impairment, ionic derangement and cell death. The provision of metabolic substrates during reperfusion significantly increases heart tolerance to ischemia by improving mitochondrial performance. Under normoxia, glutamate contributes to myocardial energy balance as substrate for anaplerotic reactions, and we demonstrated that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger1 (NCX1) provides functional support for both glutamate uptake and use for ATP synthesis. Here we investigated the role of NCX1 in the potential of glutamate to improve energy metabolism and survival of cardiac cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Specifically, in H9c2-NCX1 myoblasts, ATP levels, mitochondrial activities and cell survival were significantly compromised after H/R challenge. Glutamate supplementation at the onset of the reoxygenation phase significantly promoted viability, improved mitochondrial functions and normalized the H/R-induced increase of NCX1 reverse-mode activity. The benefits of glutamate were strikingly lost in H9c2-WT (lacking NCX1 expression), or in H9c2-NCX1 and rat cardiomyocytes treated with either NCX or Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters (EAATs) blockers, suggesting that a functional interplay between these transporters is critically required for glutamate-induced protection. Collectively, these results revealed for the first time the key role of NCX1 for the beneficial effects of glutamate against H/R-induced cell injury.
The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib attenuates renal fibrosis in mice via the suppression of TGF-β1
Authors: Zeniya Moko , Mori Takayasu , Yui Naofumi , Nomura Naohiro , Mandai Shintaro , Isobe Kiyoshi , Chiga Motoko , Sohara Eisei , Rai Tatemitsu , Uchida Shinichi 
Published: October 2017

AbstractKidney fibrosis and fibrogenesis significantly exacerbate chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and are essential therapeutic targets. Bortezomib (BZM) is a proteasome inhibitor used for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Several studies have demonstrated that BZM attenuates renal impairment in patients with MM, although this effect is generally considered to be the result of MM remission. Recently, several studies on BZM reported anti-fibrotic effects on liver and skin in experimental animal models. However, its effect on renal fibrosis has yet to be examined. Here, we investigated the anti-fibrotic effects of BZM in an experimental mouse model of fibrosis that uses aristolochic acid I (AA). Ten weeks of AA administration with BZM treatment twice a week significantly attenuated AA-induced renal dysfunction and albuminuria, reduced the expression of renal fibrosis-related proteins and kidney injury markers, such as αSMA, Kim1, and Ngal, and prevented renal fibrosis at the level of histopathology. Furthermore, pathological activation of TGFβ1-Smad3 signaling and apoptosis, essential pathophysiological causes of AA-induced nephropathy (AAN), were ameliorated by BZM, suggesting this mechanism may be involved in improving fibrosis in AAN. In conclusion, BZM directly inhibits renal fibrosis in CKD via suppression of TGFβ1-Smad3 signaling and is promising in terms of drug repositioning.
Appropriate surgical modalities for stages T2a and T2b in the eighth TNM classification of lung cancer
Authors: Bie Fenglong , Qu Xiao , Yang Xudong , Pang Zhaofei , Yang Yufan , Liu Shaorui , Dong Wei , Du Jiajun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPatients with tumors of 3 to 5 cm were divided into stages T2a (3 to 4 cm) and T2b (4 to 5 cm) based on the 8th tumor-node-metastasis staging system for lung cancer. The objective of our study was to explore appropriate surgical modalities for the new stages, T2a and T2b. We selected 6,996 node-negative non-small-cell lung cancer patients with tumor sizes of 3 to 5 cm, diagnosed between 2009 and 2013, from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. The Pearson $${\chi }^{2}$$

χ

2

. statistic test and Kaplan–Meier curve were used to analyze patient data. The prognosis of patients with stage T2a was significantly better than that of patients with stage T2b, both in overall survival (p = 0.018) and lung cancer specific survival (p = 0.001). For patients with stage T2a, lobectomy had a significantly better outcome. For patients with stage T2b, surgical modalities including pneumonectomy, segmental resection and lobectomy, had similar outcomes in terms of survival. Consequently, lobectomy was the most appropriate surgical treatment modality for new stage T2a patients, whereas, for new T2b patients, treatment outcome did not vary significantly with the choice of surgical modality.
Simultaneous quantification of nine aconitum alkaloids in Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and related products using UHPLC–QQQ–MS/MS
Authors: He Fan , Wang Can-Jian , Xie Ying , Cheng Chun-Song , Liu Zhong-Qiu , Liu Liang , Zhou Hua 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) is obtained from processed daughter roots of Aconitum carmichaeli, a toxic plant with a high medical value well known in Chinese medicine. In addition to the known toxic alkaloids (aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine) and bioactive alkaloids (benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine), three rarely found alkaloids have been previously reported in Fuzi, i.e., yunaconitine, 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine, and crassicauline A, and they were reported in recent years to cause potential risk to patients who took Fuzi or related products. To better control the quality of this herb and its related products and ensure safe use, developing a method to simultaneously determine these 9 alkaloids is important. In this research, sensitive and accurate ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was established and used to examine 51 Fuzi and 27 Fuzi-containing products. Unexpectedly, 8-deacetyl-yunaconitine was detected in 17 Fuzi samples (33.3%) and 3 Fuzi-containing products (11.1%); yunaconitine in 10 Fuzi samples (19.6%) and 10 Fuzi-containing products (37.0%); and crassicauline A in 3 Fuzi samples (5.8%). Industry and clinics should be aware of the unusually high detection rate of these three toxic alkaloids in the Fuzi herb and its related products and take the necessary precautions to protect patients from any potential risk.
Synthesis and Absorption Properties of Hollow-spherical Dy2Cu2O5 via a Coordination Compound Method with [DyCu(3,4-pdc)2(OAc)(H2O)2]•10.5H2O Precursor
Authors: Liu Xuanwen , You Junhua , Wang Renchao , Ni Zhiyuan , Han Fei , Jin Lei , Ye Zhiqi , Fang Zhao , Guo Rui 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDy2Cu2O5 nanoparticles with perovskite structures were synthesized via a simple solution method (SSM) and a coordination compound method (CCM) using [DyCu(3,4-pdc)2(OAc)(H2O)2]•10.5H2O (pdc = 3,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) as precursor. The as-prepared samples were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and standard Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) methods. Compared to the aggregated hexahedral particles prepared by SSM, the Dy2Cu2O5 of CCM showed hollow spherical morphology composed of nanoparticles with average diameters of 100–150 nm and a larger special surface area up to 36.5 m2/g. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q
m
) of CCM for malachite green (MG) determined by the adsorption isotherms with different adsorbent dosages of 0.03–0.07 g, reached 5.54 g/g at room temperature. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption process were estimated by the fittings of the isotherms at 298, 318, and 338 K, and the kinetic parameters were obtained from the time-dependent adsorption isotherms. The results revealed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order reaction. Finally, the adsorption mechanism was studied using a competitive ion (CI) experiments, and the highly efficient selective adsorption was achieved due to strong O-Cu and O-Dy coordination bonds between Dy2Cu2O5 and MG.
Production and evaluation of parathyroid hormone receptor1 ligands with intrinsic or assembled peroxidase domains
Authors: Charest-Morin Xavier , Poubelle Patrice E. , Marceau François 
Published: October 2017

AbstractParathyroid hormone (PTH) can be C-terminally extended without significant affinity loss for the PTH1 receptor (PTHR1). We developed fusion protein ligands with enzymatic activity to probe PTHR1s at the cell surface. Two fusion proteins were generated by linking PTH to the N-terminus of either horseradish peroxidase (PTH-HRP) or the genetically modified soybean peroxidase APEX2 (PTH-APEX2). Alternatively, myc-tagged PTH (PTH-myc) was combined with antibodies, some of which HRP-conjugated, in the extracellular fluid. The three PTH-fusion proteins were produced as conditioned mediums (CM) by transfected producer HEK 293a cells. Binding of receptor-bound enzymatic ligands was revealed using widely available substrate/co-substrate systems. The stimulation of recipient HEK 293a expressing PTHR1s with the PTH-myc/antibodies combination or with PTH-APEX2 supported the histochemical or luminescent detection of recombinant PTHR1s (TrueBlueTM or luminol-based reagent). The PTH-HRP construction was the most sensitive and supported all tested peroxidase co-substrates (TrueBlueTM, tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), luminol, biotin-phenol with streptavidin-Qdots); the 3 latter schemes identified endogenous PTHR1 in the osteoblastic HOS cell line. The specificity of the fusion protein binding to PTHR1 was determined by its competition with an excess of PTH1–34. Bifunctional ligands possessing enzymatic activity detect intact receptors with various possible applications, including the screening of drugs that compete for receptor binding.