bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Red‐flag” symptom clusters in transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy
Authors: Conceição Isabel , González‐Duarte Alejandra , Obici Laura , Schmidt Hartmut H.‐J. , Simoneau Damien , Ong Moh‐Lim , Amass Leslie 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTransthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR‐FAP) is a rare, progressive, life‐threatening, hereditary disorder caused by mutations in the transthyretin gene and characterized by extracellular deposition of transthyretin‐derived amyloid fibrils in peripheral and autonomic nerves, heart, and other organs. TTR‐FAP is frequently diagnosed late because the disease is difficult to recognize due to phenotypic heterogeneity. Based on published literature and expert opinion, symptom clusters suggesting TTR‐FAP are reviewed, and practical guidance to facilitate earlier diagnosis is provided. TTR‐FAP should be suspected if progressive peripheral sensory‐motor neuropathy is observed in combination with one or more of the following: family history of a neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, gastrointestinal problems, inexplicable weight loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, renal impairment, or ocular involvement. If TTR‐FAP is suspected, transthyretin genotyping, confirmation of amyloid in tissue biopsy, large‐ and small‐fiber assessment by nerve conduction studies and autonomic system evaluations, and cardiac testing should be performed.
CD1a+ and CD83+ Langerhans cells are reduced in lower lip squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Gomes Juliane Oliveira , de Vasconcelos Carvalho Marianne , Fonseca Felipe Paiva , Gondak Rogério Oliveira , Lopes Márcio Ajudarte , Vargas Pablo Agustin 
Published: December 2015

BackgroundActinic cheilitis (AC) is a potentially malignant lesion diagnosed in the lip of patients chronically exposed to the sun that may give rise to a fully invasive lower lip squamous cell carcinoma (LLSCC). It is known that ultraviolet radiation causes dendritic cells (DCs) depletion in the epidermis, but the role of this cellular population in lip cancer progression remains uncertain. Therefore, this study investigated the distribution of DCs in normal, dysplastic and neoplastic tissues of the lower lip.MethodsThirteen cases of lower lip mucocele, 42 of ACs and 21 of LLSCC were retrieved and original diagnoses confirmed by two oral pathologists, who further classified ACs as low‐ and high‐risk lesions. Immunoreactions against CD1a and CD83 identified immature and mature DCs, respectively.ResultsImmature CD1a+ Langerhans cells (LCs) were significantly decreased in LLSCC when compared to morphologically normal (P < 0.009) and dysplastic epitheliums (P < 0.003), whereas mature CD83+ LCs were significantly decreased in LLSCC when compared to normal epithelium (P = 0.038). There was no significant difference between low‐ and high‐risk ACs regarding CD1a+ and CD83+ LCs (P > 0.05), but ACs demonstrated a lower concentration of CD1a+ LCs than normal epithelium (P < 0.009). There was no significant difference in the distribution of CD1a+ and CD83+ interstitial dendritic cells (IDCs) in the connective tissue among the studied groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggest that depletion of epithelial LCs, but not IDCs in the connective tissue, would represent an important step for lip cancer development.
mTOR pathway protein immunoexpression as a prognostic factor for survival in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Marques Ana Elizia Mascarenhas , Elias Silvia Taveira , Porporatti André Luís , Castilho Rogerio Moraes , Squarize Cristiane Helena , De Luca Canto Graziela , Guerra Eliete Neves Silva 
Published: December 2015

BackgroundSeveral mTOR pathway proteins are involved in the regulation of cellular anabolism, growth, proliferation, and survival. Activated proteins in the mTOR pathway are deregulated in multiple types of cancers and could influence prognosis. However, it is unclear whether deregulation of mTOR pathway proteins serves a prognostic role in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Furthermore, proteins in the mTOR pathway may be important targets for anticancer therapy. The aim of this study was to summarize existing cohort studies to determine whether immunoexpression of mTOR pathway proteins are important prognostic factors for survival in patients with HNC.Materials and methodsA systematic review was performed using the Cochrane, Lilacs, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (up to 23 January 2015). A meta‐analysis was conducted to measure the frequency of protein expression in head and neck cancer patient samples and the prognostic value of mTOR pathway proteins for overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS).ResultsTwelve studies were included in our final analysis. The meta‐analysis revealed that the frequency of overall expression of mTOR pathway proteins was 74.42% (CI: 63.3 to 84.0, P < 0.001, n = 2016 samples). The survival meta‐analysis showed a pooled hazard ratio for OS and DFS of 1.44 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.14–1.73) and 1.18 (95% CI 0.71–1.64), respectively.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta‐analysis support evidence that mTOR pathway proteins can be used as predictive markers for survival in patients with HNC because their expression was significantly associated with poor OS and short DFS.
A Comparative Analysis on Two Types of Oral Implants, Bone‐Level and Tissue‐Level, with Different Cantilever Lengths of Fixed Prosthesis
Authors: Mosavar Alireza , Nili Monireh , Hashemi Sayed Raouf , Kadkhodaei Mahmoud 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPurposeDepending on esthetic, anatomical, and functional aspects, in implant‐prosthetic restoration of a completely edentulous jaw, the selection of implant type is highly important; however, bone‐ and tissue‐level implants and their stress distribution in bone have not yet been comparatively investigated. Hence, finite element analysis was used to study the influence of cantilever length in a fixed prosthesis on stress distribution in peri‐implant bone around these two types of oral implants.Materials and MethodsA 3D edentulous mandible was modeled. In simulations, a framework with four posterior cantilever lengths and two types of implants, bone‐level and tissue‐level, was considered. A compressive load was applied to the distal regions of the cantilevers, and the von‐Mises stress of peri‐implant bone was investigated. The independent t‐test and the Pearson correlation coefficient analyzed the results (α = 0.05).ResultsStresses in the cortical bone around the bone‐level implants were greater than those in the tissue‐level implants with the same cantilever length. In addition, by extending the cantilever length, the stress values in peri‐implant bone increased. Therefore, when the cantilever was at its maximum length, the maximum stress was in cortical bone and around the bone‐level distal implants.ConclusionThe results of the present study indicate that treatment with tissue‐level implants is potentially more advantageous than with bone‐level implants for implant‐supported fixed prostheses.
A Comparison of Growth, Survival, and Fatty Acid Composition of the Lined Seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, Juveniles Fed Enriched Artemia and a Calanoid Copepod, Schmackeria dubia
Authors: Zhang Dong , Lin Tingting , Liu Xin 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying dietary levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in live prey (Artemia nauplii and a calanoid copepod, Schmackeria dubia) on the growth performance, survival, and fatty acid composition of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, juveniles. Artemia nauplii were enriched with a commercial product (SS™ 50DE‐microcapsule as HUFA source, 2/3 DHA, 1/3 EPA. Shengsuo Fishery Feed Research Center of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China) at four concentrations of 0.0, 14.0, 28.0, and 56.0. Newly hatched juveniles were cultured for 35 days. The content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n‐3 HUFAs in the Artemia nauplii was positively related to the enrichment concentration. At the end of the trials, growth performance of the juveniles was positively related to the enrichment concentration as well. However, the juveniles fed prey enriched with the highest concentration of enrichment (56.0 μL/L) had the significantly lower (P < 0.05) survival rate. The juveniles fed the copepod had the best growth performance and the highest survival rate, suggesting that the copepod, S. dubia, is suitable for feeding the seahorse juveniles. The comparisons between the growth, survival, and fatty acid profiles of the juveniles fed Artemia and copepods indicate that the seahorse juveniles require dietary levels of DHA beyond those achieved by enriching prey with the HUFA enrichment. Surplus EPA resulted from an imbalance between DHA and EPA in the enriched Artemia nauplii probably caused an adverse effect on the seahorse juveniles. This study suggests that DHA and EPA requirement of the lined seahorse juveniles is roughly 32% of total fatty acid, and the optimal DHA/EPA ratio for the species is circa 4:1. To avoid an adverse effect resulting from excessive EPA, maximum proportion of EPA in enriched Artemia nauplii should not exceed 13% of total fatty acid, and a recommended minimum DHA/EPA ratio in the enriched Artemia nauplii is 1.46. Arachidonic acid (20:4n‐6) might not be an essential fatty acid for the seahorse juveniles.
Physiological Capillary Regression is not Dependent on Reducing VEGF Expression
Authors: Olfert I. Mark 
Published: December 2015

AbstractInvestigations into physiologically controlled capillary regression report the provocative finding that microvessel regression occurs in the face of persistent elevation of skeletal muscle VEGF expression. TSP‐1, a negative angiogenic regulator, is increasingly being observed to temporally correlate with capillary regression, suggesting that increased TSP‐1 (and not reduction in VEGF per se) is needed to initiate, and likely regulate, capillary regression. Based on evidence being gleaned from physiologically mediated regression of capillaries, it needs to be recognized that capillary regression (and perhaps capillary rarefaction with disease) is not simply the reversal of factors used to stimulate angiogenesis. Rather, the conceptual understanding that angiogenesis and capillary regression each have specific and unique requirements that are biologically constrained to opposite sides of the balance between positive and negative angioregulatory factors may shed light on why anti‐VEGF therapies have not lived up to the promise in reversing angiogenesis and providing the cure that many had hoped toward fighting cancer. Emerging evidence from physiological controlled angiogenesis suggest that cases involving excessive or uncontrolled capillary expansion may be best treated by therapies designed to increase expression of negative angiogenic regulators, whereas those involving capillary rarefaction may benefit from inhibiting negative regulators (like TSP‐1).
G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor is involved in modulating colonic motor function via nitric oxide release in C57BL/6 female mice
Authors: Li Y. , Xu J. , Jiang F. , Jiang Z. , Liu C. , Li L. , Luo Y. , Lu R. , Mu Y. , Liu Y. , Xue B. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundEstrogen may regulate gastrointestinal motor functions, but the mechanism(s) is not totally understood. Here, we investigated whether G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPER/GPR30) was involved in regulating colonic motor functions and explored the underlying physiological mechanisms.MethodsAdult female C57BL/6 mice were used. The expression and localization of GPER were examined by RT‐PCR, western blot, and immuno‐labeling. The role of GPER in modulating colonic motor functions was assessed by the bead propulsion test in vivo and organ bath experiments in vitro.Key ResultsGPER was expressed in colonic myenteric neurons. The colonic transit time (CTT) in proestrus and estrus was significantly longer than that in diestrus. In vivo treatment with the selective GPER blocker G15 significantly shortened CTT in proestrus and estrus. In ovariectomized mice, acute estrogen supplementation increased CTT, which could be abolished by G15 co‐administration. The GPER agonist G‐1 caused a concentration‐dependent inhibition of carbachol ‐induced circular muscle strips contraction, which was abolished by tetrodotoxin and the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor N‐propyl‐l‐arginine. G‐1 stimulated NO production in isolated longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus and cultured myenteric neurons, which was dependent on nNOS. Immunofluorescence labeling showed co‐localization of GPER with nNOS in the myenteric plexus.Conclusions & InferencesWe suggest that activation of GPER exerts an inhibitory effect on colonic motility by promoting NO release from myenteric nitrergic nerves. These results raise a possibility that GPER may be involved in mediating the inhibitory effect of estrogen on colonic motor functions, via a non‐genomic, neurogenic mechanism.
Not dead yet: the seasonal water relations of two perennial ferns during California's exceptional drought
Authors: Baer Alex , Wheeler James K. , Pittermann Jarmila 
Published: December 2015

Summary

The understory of the redwood forests of California's coast harbors perennial ferns, including Polystichum munitum and Dryopteris arguta. Unusual for ferns, these species are adapted to the characteristic Mediterranean‐type dry season, but the mechanisms of tolerance have not been studied.

The water relations of P. munitum and D. arguta were surveyed for over a year, including measures of water potential (Ψ), stomatal conductance (gs) and frond stipe hydraulic conductivity (K). A dehydration and re‐watering experiment on potted P. munitum plants corroborated the field data.

The seasonal Ψ varied from 0 to below −3 MPa in both species, with gs and K generally tracking Ψ; the loss of K rarely exceeded 80%. Quantile regression analysis showed that, at the 0.1 quantile, 50% of K was lost at −2.58 and −3.84 MPa in P. munitum and D. arguta, respectively. The hydraulic recovery of re‐watered plants was attributed to capillarity.

The seasonal water relations of P. munitum and D. arguta are variable, but consistent with laboratory‐based estimates of drought tolerance. Hydraulic and Ψ recovery following rain allows perennial ferns to survive severe drought, but prolonged water deficit, coupled with insect damage, may hamper frond survival. The legacy effects of drought on reproductive capacity and community dynamics are unknown.
Long‐term nitrogen deposition linked to reduced water use efficiency in forests with low phosphorus availability
Authors: Huang Zhiqun , Liu Bao , Davis Murray , Sardans Jordi , Peñuelas Josep , Billings Sharon 
Published: December 2015

Summary

The impact of long‐term nitrogen (N) deposition is under‐studied in phosphorus (P)‐limited subtropical forests. We exploited historically collected herbarium specimens to investigate potential physiological responses of trees in three subtropical forests representing an urban‐to‐rural gradient, across which N deposition has probably varied over the past six decades. We measured foliar [N] and [P] and stable carbon (δ13C), oxygen (δ18O) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic compositions in tissue from herbarium specimens of plant species collected from 1947 to 2014.

Foliar [N] and N : P increased, and δ15N and [P] decreased in the two forests close to urban centers. Consistent with recent studies demonstrating that N deposition in the region is 15N‐depleted, these data suggest that the increased foliar [N] and N : P, and decreased [P], may be attributable to atmospheric deposition and associated enhancement of P limitation.

Estimates of intrinsic water use efficiency calculated from foliar δ13C decreased by c. 30% from the 1950s to 2014, contrasting with multiple studies investigating similar parameters in N‐limited forests. This effect may reflect decreased photosynthesis, as suggested by a conceptual model of foliar δ13C and δ18O.

Long‐term N deposition may exacerbate P limitation and mitigate projected increases in carbon stocks driven by elevated CO2 in forests on P‐limited soils.
A subset of AID‐dependent B‐1a cells initiates hypersensitivity and pneumococcal pneumonia resistance
Authors: Askenase Phillip W. , Bryniarski Krzysztof , Paliwal Vipin , Redegeld Frank , Groot Kormelink Thomas , Kerfoot Steven , Hutchinson Andrew T. , van Loveren Henk , Campos Regis , Itakura Atsuko , Majewska‐Szczepanik Monika , Yamamoto Natsuo , Nazimek Katarzyn , Szczepanik Marian , Ptak Wold 
Published: December 2015

We propose that there is a special B‐1a B cell subset (“sB‐1a” cells) that mediates linked processes very early after immunization to initiate cutaneous contact sensitivity (CS), delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH), and immune resistance to pneumococcal pneumonia. Our published data indicate that in CS and DTH, these initiating processes are required for elicitation of the delayed onset and late‐occurring classical T cell–mediated responses. sB‐1a cells resemble memory B2 cells, as they are stimulated within 1 h of immunization and depend on T helper cytokines—uniquely IL‐4 from hepatic iNKT cells—for activation and rapid migration from the peritoneal cavity to the spleen to secrete IgM antibody (Ab) and Ab‐derived free light chains (FLCs) by only 1 day after immunization. Unlike conventional B‐1a (cB‐1a) cell–produced IgM natural Ab, IgM Ab produced by sB‐1a cells has high Ag affinity owing to immunoglobulin V‐region mutations induced by activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID). The dominant cB‐1a cells are increased in immunized AID‐deficient mice but do not mediate initiation, CS, or pneumonia resistance because natural Ab has relatively low Ag affinity because of unmutated germ‐line V regions. In CS and DTH, sB‐1a IgM Ag affinity is sufficiently high to mediate complement activation for generation of C5a that, together with vasoactive mediators such as TNF‐α released by FLC‐sensitized mast cells, activate local endothelium for extravascular recruitment of effector T cells. We conclude by discussing the possibility of functional sB‐1 cells in humans.
Natural variation involving deletion alleles of FRIGIDA modulate temperature‐sensitive flowering responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sanchez‐Bermejo Eduardo , Balasubramanian Sureshkumar 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAmbient temperature is one of the major environmental factors that modulate plant growth and development. There is extensive natural genetic variation in thermal responses of plants exemplified by the variation exhibited by the accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. In this work we have studied the enhanced temperature response in hypocotyl elongation and flowering shown by the Tsu‐0 accession in long days. Genetic mapping in the Col‐0 × Tsu‐0 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population identified several QTLs for thermal response including three major effect loci encompassing candidate genes FRIGIDA (FRI), FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). We confirm and validate these QTLs. We show that the Tsu‐0 FRI allele, which is the same as FRI‐Ler is associated with late flowering but only at lower temperatures in long days. Using transgenic lines and accessions, we show that the FRI‐Ler allele confers temperature‐sensitive late flowering confirming a role for FRI in photoperiod‐dependent thermal response. Through quantitative complementation with heterogeneous inbred families, we further show that cis‐regulatory variation at FT contributes to the observed hypersensitivity of Tsu‐0 to ambient temperature. Overall our results suggest that multiple loci that interact epistatically govern photoperiod‐dependent thermal responses of A. thaliana.
Maintenance of meristem activity under stress: is there an interplay of RSS1‐like proteins with the RBR pathway?
Authors: Ebel C. , Hanin M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPlants have acquired rapid responses to a constantly changing environment. These adaptive and protective responses are the result of a complex signalling network regulating different aspects, ranging from ion homeostasis to cell cycle control. It is well established that stress inhibits cell division, which negatively impacts plant growth and development and hence results in biomass decrease and yield loss. Therefore understanding the link between stress perception and cell cycle control would allow development of new crops with increased productivity when subjected to stress. However, studies on cell cycle control under stress have been limited to well‐known regulators of the cell cycle such as cyclins and stress‐related phytohormone integrators. The recent discovery of RSS1, a novel intrinsically unstructured protein of rice, opened up new insights into how stress perception can be connected with cell cycle control in meristematic zones. Whereas RSS1 is well conserved among other plant lineages, eudicots present proteins sharing little sequence homology with RSS1. Here, we discuss how RSS1‐like proteins might also be functional in dicots, and possibly act through the retinoblastoma‐related pathway to regulate both S‐phase transition and cell fate in meristems.
Differentiation in populations of the apple scab fungusVenturia inaequalison cultivars in a mixed orchard remain over time
Authors: Passey T. A. J. , Shaw M. W. , Xu X.‐M. 
Published: December 2015

The ascomyceteVenturia inaequaliscauses annual epidemics of apple scab worldwide. Scab development is reduced in mixed cultivar orchards compared with monocultures. In order to use mixtures in commercial production, how the population of scab changes in a mixed orchard needs to be understood, together with how likely a super race, with virulence factors overcoming multiple resistance factors in the mixed orchard, is to emerge and become dominant. This study used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to investigate the temporal change of scab populations in two mixed cultivar orchards in theUKto infer the likelihood of emergence of a scab super race. There were no significant differences between the populations at the two sampling times (6 or 7 years apart) in either of the two mixed orchards. In one of the orchards, apple scab populations on different cultivars were significantly different and the differences did not diminish over time. These results suggest that it is not inevitable that a super race ofV. inaequaliswill become dominant during the lifetime of a commercial apple orchard.
Interleukin (IL)‐25: Pleiotropic roles in asthma
Authors: Yao Xiujuan , Sun Yongchang , Wang Wei , Sun Ying 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIL‐25, also named IL‐17E, is a distinct member of the IL‐17 cytokine family, which can promote and augment T helper type 2 (Th2) responses locally or systemically. Growing evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicates that the expression of IL‐25 and its cognate receptor, IL‐17RB/RA, is markedly upregulated in asthmatic conditions. It has also been found that IL‐25 induces not only typical eosinophilic inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), but also airway remodelling, manifested by goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial collagen deposition and angiogenesis. This review will focus on the discovery, cellular origins and targets of IL‐25, and try to update current animal and human studies elucidating the roles of IL‐25 in asthma. We conclude that although IL‐25 is a pleiotropic cytokine, it may only play its dominant role in a certain specific asthmatic endotype, named ‘IL‐25 high’ phenotype. Thus, targeting IL‐25 or its receptor might selectively benefit some subgroups with asthma. Furthermore, the major IL‐25 producing as well as responsive cells in the changeable milieu of asthma should be assessed in the future.