bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Insights into the Roles of Long Polar Fimbriae and Stg Fimbriae in Salmonella Interactions with Enterocytes and M Cells
Authors: Gonzales Amanda M. , Wilde Shyra , Roland Kenneth L. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi causes the systemic disease typhoid fever. After ingestion, it adheres to and invades the host epithelium while evading the host innate immune response, causing little if any inflammation. Conversely,
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis in humans and thrives in the inflamed gut. Upon entering the host,
S
. Typhimurium preferentially colonizes Peyer's patches, a lymphoid organ in which microfold cells (M cells) overlay an arrangement of B cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells. Both serovars can adhere to and invade M cells and enterocytes, and it has been assumed that
S
. Typhi also preferentially targets M cells. In this study, we present data supporting the alternative hypothesis that
S
. Typhi preferentially targets enterocytes. Using a tissue culture M cell model, we examined
S
. Typhi strains with a deletion in the
stg
fimbriae. The
stg
deletion resulted in increased adherence to M cells and, as expected, decreased adherence to Caco-2 cells. Adherence to M cells could be further enhanced by introduction of the long polar fimbriae (Lpf), which facilitate adherence of
S
. Typhimurium to M cells. Deletion of
stg
and/or introduction of
lpf
enhanced M cell invasion as well, leading to significant increases in secretion of interleukin 8. These results suggest that
S
. Typhi may preferentially target enterocytes
in vivo
.
Degradation of Incretins and Modulation of Blood Glucose Levels by Periodontopathic Bacterial Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
Authors: Ohara-Nemoto Yuko , Nakasato Manami , Shimoyama Yu , Baba Tomomi T. , Kobayakawa Takeshi , Ono Toshio , Yaegashi Takashi , Kimura Shigenobu , Nemoto Takayuki K. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Severe periodontitis is known to aggravate diabetes mellitus, though molecular events related to that link have not been fully elucidated.
Porphyromonas gingivalis
, a major pathogen of periodontitis, expresses dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), which is involved in regulation of blood glucose levels by cleaving incretins in humans. We examined the enzymatic characteristics of DPP4 from
P. gingivalis
as well as two other periodontopathic bacteria,
Tannerella forsythia
and
Prevotella intermedia
, and determined whether it is capable of regulating blood glucose levels. Cell-associated DPP4 activity was found in those microorganisms, which was effectively suppressed by inhibitors of human DPP4, and molecules sized 73 kDa in
P. gingivalis
, and 71 kDa in
T. forsythia
and
P. intermedia
were immunologically detected. The
k
cat
/

K
m

values of recombinant DPP4s ranged from 721 ± 55 to 1,283 ± 23 μM
−1
s
−1
toward Gly-Pro-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (MCA), while those were much lower for His-Ala-MCA. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis showed His/Tyr-Ala dipeptide release from the N termini of incretins, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, respectively, with the action of microbial DPP4. Moreover, intravenous injection of DPP4 into mice decreased plasma active GLP-1 and insulin levels, accompanied by a substantial elevation in blood glucose over the control after oral glucose administration. These results are the first to show that periodontopathic bacterial DPP4 is capable of modulating blood glucose levels the same as mammalian DPP4; thus, the incidence of periodontopathic bacteremia may exacerbate diabetes mellitus via molecular events of bacterial DPP4 activities.
Maternal lifestyle and nutritional status in relation to pregnancy and infant health outcomes in Western China: protocol for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Tang Li , Pan Xiong-Fei , Lee Andy H , Binns Colin W , Yang Chun-Xia , Sun Xin 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionImproving the health and nutrition of women and children is a priority for Western China, where the economy is less developed. Due to the dynamic nature of lifestyle, modern food habits and nutrition, there is a need to update our limited knowledge and understanding of maternal lifestyle and nutritional status and their impact on pregnancy and infant health outcomes. While breast milk is the preferred feeding option, infant formula use is widespread in China. It is thus necessary to examine the effects of formula consumption on growth and morbidity.Methods and analysisThis is an ongoing prospective cohort study started in 2015 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. A sample of 1901 pregnant women at 15–20 weeks of gestation were recruited from four maternal and child health hospitals and are followed prospectively to 12 months post partum. Detailed information on maternal lifestyle and nutritional status, obstetric complications, pregnancy outcomes, infant feeding practices, illnesses of the mother and infant and growth trajectory is collected through personal interviews, anthropometric measures and medical records and local health management system records retrieval. Multilevel mixed regression models, adjusted for clustering, will be applied to investigate the association between various exposure variables of interest and the longitudinal outcomes, taking into account the correlated data structure and the nesting of observations. Kaplan-Meier test and Cox regression analysis will be used to analyse the time-to-event data.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the ethics committee of West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University and the Human Research Ethics Committee of Curtin University. Results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Effectiveness of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) of breast pathology using immunohistochemistry results of core needle biopsy samples for synaptophysin, oestrogen receptor and CK14/p63 for classification of epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast
Authors: Maeda Ichiro , Kubota Manabu , Ohta Jiro , Shinno Kimika , Tajima Shinya , Ariizumi Yasushi , Doi Masatomo , Oana Yoshiyasu , Kanemaki Yoshihide , Tsugawa Koichiro , Ueno Takahiko , Takagi Masayuki 
Published: June 2017

AimsThe aim of this study was to develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) system for identifying breast pathology.MethodsTwo sets of 100 consecutive core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens were collected for test and validation studies. All 200 CNB specimens were stained with antibodies targeting oestrogen receptor (ER), synaptophysin and CK14/p63. All stained slides were scanned in a whole-slide imaging system and photographed. The photographs were analysed using software to identify the proportions of tumour cells that were positive and negative for each marker. In the test study, the cut-off values for synaptophysin (negative and positive) and CK14/p63 (negative and positive) were decided using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. For ER analysis, samples were divided into groups with <10% positive or >10% positive cells and decided using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Finally, these two groups categorised as ER-low, ER-intermediate (non-low and non-high) and ER-high groups. In the validation study, the second set of immunohistochemical slides were analysed using these cut-off values.ResultsThe cut-off values for synaptophysin, <10% ER positive, >10% ER positive and CK14/p63 were 0.14%, 2.17%, 77.93% and 18.66%, respectively. The positive predictive value for malignancy (PPV) was 100% for synaptophysin-positive/ER-high/(CK14/p63)-any or synaptophysin-positive/ER-low/(CK14/p63)-any. The PPV was 25% for synaptophysin-positive/ER-intermediate/(CK14/p63)-positive. For synaptophysin-negative/(CK14/p63)-negative, the PPVs for ER-low, ER-intermediate and ER-high were 100%, 80.0% and 95.8%, respectively. The PPV was 4.5% for synaptophysin-negative/ER-intermediate/(CK14/p63)-positive.ConclusionThe CADx system was able to analyse sufficient data for all types of epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast including invasive breast cancer. This system may be useful for pathological diagnosis of breast CNB in routine investigations.
Natural CO
2
sites in Italy show the importance of overburden geopressure, fractures and faults for CO
2
storage performance and risk management
Authors: Roberts Jennifer J. , Wilkinson Mark , Naylor Mark , Shipton Zoe K. , Wood Rachel A. , Haszeldine R. Stuart 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

The study of natural analogues can inform the long-term performance security of engineered CO
2
storage. There are natural CO
2
reservoirs and CO
2
seeps in Italy. Here, we study nine reservoirs and establish which are sealed or are leaking CO
2
to surface. Their characteristics are compared to elucidate which conditions control CO
2
leakage. All of the case studies would fail current CO
2
storage site selection criteria, although only two leak CO
2
to surface. The factors found to systematically affect seal performance are overburden geopressure and proximity to modern extensional faults. Amongst our case studies, the sealing reservoirs show elevated overburden geopressure whereas the leaking reservoirs do not. Since the leaking reservoirs are located within <10 km of modern extensional faults, pressure equilibration within the overburden may be facilitated by enhanced crustal permeability related to faulting. Modelling of the properties that could enable the observed CO
2
leakage rates finds that high-permeability pathways (such as transmissive faults or fractures) become increasingly necessary to sustain leak rates as CO
2
density decreases during ascent to surface, regardless of the leakage mechanism into the overburden. This work illustrates the value of characterizing the overburden geology during CO
2
storage site selection to inform screening criterion, risk assessment and monitoring strategy.
Characterization of Aortic Valve Closure Artifact During Outflow Tract Mapping
Authors: Romero Jorge , Ajijola Olujimi , Shivkumar Kalyanam , Tung Roderick 
Published: June 2017

Background—
Premature ventricular contractions originating in the left ventricle outflow tract represent a significant subgroup of patients referred for catheter ablation. Mechanical artifacts from aortic valve leaflet motion may be observed during mapping, although the incidence and characteristics have not been reported.

Methods and Results—
Twenty-eight consecutive patients with left ventricle outflow tract premature ventricular contraction were included. Electric signals recorded on the ablation catheter not coincident with atrial or ventricular depolarization were analyzed on the recording system. Correlation with invasive hemodynamic aortic pressure tracings was performed. Additionally, 4 patients with mechanical aortic valves, who underwent scar-related ventricular tachycardia ablation, were analyzed to correlate the timing of the observed artifacts with native aortic valves. Aortic valve artifact was observed while mapping within the coronary cusps in 11 patients (39%; 73% men; age, 41±25 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 49±16%) with high incidence from the left coronary cusp. This artifact was consistently observed with timing coincident with the terminal portion of the T wave. The average interval between the end of the T wave and the aortic valve artifact was 19±37 ms. The duration of the aortic valve artifact was 39±8 ms with amplitude of 0.12±0.07 mV (range, 0.06–0.36 mV).

Conclusions—
In patients referred for left ventricle outflow tract premature ventricular contraction ablation, an aortic valve closure artifact is observed in up to one third of cases during mapping within the aortic cusps. The timing of this artifact correlates with invasive hemodynamics and mechanical aortic valve artifacts. Recognition of this physiological phenomenon is useful when assigning near-field activation.
Ultrasound Markers of Carotid Atherosclerosis and Cognition
Authors: Gardener Hannah , Caunca Michelle R. , Dong Chuanhui , Cheung Ying Kuen , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Sacco Ralph L. , Rundek Tatjana , Wright Clinton B. 
Published: June 2017

Background and Purpose—
Ultrasound markers of carotid atherosclerosis may be related to cognitive status. We hypothesized that individuals with greater carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque burden would exhibit worse cognition.

Methods—

One thousand one hundred sixty-six stroke-free participants from the NOMAS (Northern Manhattan Study) underwent carotid ultrasound and neuropsychological examination. Among them, 826 underwent a second neuropsychological examination an average of 5 years later. cIMT and plaque were assessed by a standardized B-mode ultrasound imaging and reading protocol. We used multivariable linear regression to examine cIMT, carotid plaque presence, and carotid plaque area as correlates of domain-specific neuropsychological
Z
scores cross-sectionally and over time. We also investigated possible effect modification by
APOE ε4
allele, age, and race/ethnicity.

Results—

Participants had a mean (SD) age of 70 (9) years and were 60% women, 66% Hispanic, 15% white, and 18% black. Those with greater cIMT exhibited worse episodic memory after adjustment for demographics and vascular risk factors (β=−0.60;
P
=0.04).
APOE ε4
carriers with greater cIMT exhibited worse episodic memory (β=−1.31;
P
=0.04), semantic memory (β=−1.45;
P
=0.01), and processing speed (β=−1.21;
P
=0.03). Participants with greater cIMT at baseline did not exhibit significantly greater cognitive decline after adjustment.
APOE ε4
noncarriers with greater cIMT exhibited greater declines in executive function (β=−0.98;
P
=0.06). Carotid plaque burden was not significantly associated with cognition at baseline or over time.

Conclusions—
Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was associated with worse cognition among those at higher risk for Alzheimer disease. Interventions targeting early stages of atherosclerosis may modify cognitive aging.
Long Noncoding RNA H19 Promotes Neuroinflammation in Ischemic Stroke by Driving Histone Deacetylase 1–Dependent M1 Microglial Polarization
Authors: Wang Jue , Zhao Haiping , Fan Zhibin , Li Guangwen , Ma Qingfeng , Tao Zhen , Wang Rongliang , Feng Juan , Luo Yumin 
Published: June 2017

Background and Purpose—
Long noncoding RNA H19 is repressed after birth, but can be induced by hypoxia. We aim to investigate the impact on and underlying mechanism of H19 induction after ischemic stroke.

Methods—
Circulating H19 levels in stroke patients and mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. H19 siRNA and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) plasmid were used to knock down H19 and overexpress HDAC1, respectively. Microglial polarization and ischemic outcomes were assessed in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice and BV2 microglial cells subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation.

Results—
Circulating H19 levels were significantly higher in stroke patients compared with healthy controls, indicating high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, plasma H19 levels showed a positive correlation with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. After middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice, H19 levels increased in plasma, white blood cells, and brain. Intracerebroventricular injection of H19 siRNA reduced infarct volume and brain edema, decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels in brain tissue and plasma, and increased plasma interleukin-10 concentrations 24 hours poststroke. Additionally, H19 knockdown attenuated brain tissue loss and neurological deficits 14 days poststroke. BV2 cell-based experiments showed that H19 knockdown blocked oxygen–glucose deprivation–driven M1 microglial polarization, decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-α and CD11b, and increased the expression of Arg-1 and CD206. Furthermore, H19 knockdown reversed oxygen–glucose deprivation–induced upregulation of HDAC1 and downregulation of acetyl-histone H3 and acetyl-histone H4. In contrast, HDAC1 overexpression negated the effects of H19 knockdown.

Conclusions—
Our findings indicate that H19 promotes neuroinflammation by driving HDAC1-dependent M1 microglial polarization, suggesting a novel H19-based diagnosis and therapy for ischemic stroke.
Global Relationships between Cropland Intensification and Summer Temperature Extremes over the Last 50 Years
Authors: Mueller Nathaniel D. , Rhines Andrew , Butler Ethan E. , Ray Deepak K. , Siebert Stefan , Holbrook N. Michele , Huybers Peter 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Conversion of native ecosystems to cropland and the use of irrigation are considered dominant pathways through which agricultural land-use change alters regional climate. Recent research proposes that increases in cropland productivity, or intensification, also influences climate through increasing evapotranspiration. Increases in evapotranspiration are expected to have the greatest temperature influence on extremely hot summer days with high vapor pressure deficits. Here, the generalizability and importance of such relationships are assessed by examining historical land-use and climate trends in seven regions across the globe, each containing a major temperate or subtropical cropping area. Trends in summer high-temperature extremes are sequentially compared against trends in cropland area, area equipped for irrigation, precipitation, and summer cropping intensity. Trends in temperature extremes are estimated using quantile regression of weather station observations, and land-use data are from agricultural inventories and remote sensing. Intensification is the best predictor of trends in extreme temperatures among the factors that are considered and is generally associated with trends that are 0.2°–0.4°C decade−1 cooler than in adjacent regions. Neither cropland area nor precipitation trends are systematically associated with extreme temperature trends across regions, although high temperatures are suppressed over those portions of central North America and East Asia experiencing growth in irrigation. Both the temperature trends associated with intensification and increased irrigation can be understood as a consequence of increased latent cooling. These results underscore that the weather experienced by crops is not entirely external but also depends on agricultural practices.
Calculating Dropwindsonde Location and Time from TEMP-DROP Messages for Accurate Assimilation and Analysis
Authors: Aberson Sim D. , Sellwood Kathryn J. , Leighton Paul A. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCurrent practice is to transmit dropwindsonde data from aircraft using the TEMP-DROP format, which provides only the release location and time with 0.1° latitude × 0.1° longitude (about 11 km) and 1-h resolutions, respectively. The current dropwindsonde has a fall speed of approximately 15 m s−1, so the instrument will be advected faster horizontally than it will descend if the wind speed exceeds this value. Where wind speeds are greatest, such as in tropical cyclones, this will introduce large errors in the location of the observations, especially near the surface. A technique to calculate the correct time and location of each observation in the TEMP-DROP message is introduced. The mean differences between the calculated and reported locations are about 0.5 km for distance and 15 s for time, or <1% of the error size for distance and <10% for time.
Validation of a modified Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology classification for mechanical eye injuries
Authors: Shah Mehul , Shah Shreya , Agrawal Rupesh , Patel Kashyap 
Published: June 2017

Introduction Criticisms have been levelled at the widely accepted Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) classification of mechanical ocular trauma, as it is not specific enough. Alternative modifications to the BETT have been proposed and this study aimed to assess these newer classifications. Methods A prospective cohort study of all patients presenting to the outpatient department between January 2005 and December 2014, who were examined and categorised based on the BETT. Cases which did not comply with the BETT system were placed in additional categories, and documented for each type of injury. Results A total of 4721 eyes suffered mechanical injuries and 1060 (22.4%) could not be classified with BETT, including 368 globe injuries (7%) associated with orbital/ocular adnexa injury; 692 eyes (14.6%) with ocular surface foreign body (OSFB) or ocular wall foreign body (IWFB). There were 77 eyes (1.6%) with contusion, 9 eyes (0.19%) with lamellar laceration-associated OSFB or OWFB, 29 eyes (0.6%) with globe rupture-associated OSFB, OWFB or intraocular foreign body (IOFB) and 60 eyes (1.4%) with laceration-associated OSFB or OWFB. Conclusion The BETT needs modification to be fully applicable to the wide range of ocular trauma seen across the world.
No significant impact of Foxf1 siRNA treatment in acute and chronic CCl4liver injury
Authors: Abshagen Kerstin , Rotberg Tobias , Genz Berit , Vollmar Brigitte 
Published: June 2017

Chronic liver injury of any etiology is the main trigger of fibrogenic responses and thought to be mediated by hepatic stellate cells. Herein, activating transcription factors like forkhead box f1 are described to stimulate pro-fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells. By using a liver-specific siRNA delivery system (DBTC), we evaluated whether forkhead box f1 siRNA treatment exhibit beneficial effects in murine models of acute and chronic CCl4-induced liver injury. Systemic administration of DBTC-forkhead box f1 siRNA in mice was only sufficient to silence forkhead box f1 in acute CCl4model, but was not able to attenuate liver injury as measured by liver enzymes and necrotic liver cell area. Therapeutic treatment of mice with DBTC-forkhead box f1 siRNA upon chronic CCl4exposition failed to inhibit forkhead box f1 expression and hence lacked to diminish hepatic stellate cells activation or fibrosis development. As a conclusion, DBTC-forkhead box f1 siRNA reduced forkhead box f1 expression in a model of acute but not chronic toxic liver injury and showed no positive effects in either of these mice models.Impact statementAs liver fibrosis is a worldwide health problem, antifibrotic therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Therefore, further developments of new technologies including validation in different experimental models of liver disease are essential. Since activation of hepatic stellate cells is a key event upon liver injury, the activating transcription factor forkhead box f1 (Foxf1) represents a potential target gene. Previously, we evaluated Foxf1 silencing by a liver-specific siRNA delivery system (DBTC), exerting beneficial effects in cholestasis. The present study was designed to confirm the therapeutic potential of Foxf1 siRNA in models of acute and chronic CCl4-induced liver injury. DBTC-Foxf1 siRNA was only sufficient to silence Foxf1 in acute CCl4model and did not ameliorate liver injury or fibrogenesis. This underlines the significance of the experimental model used. Each model displays specific characteristics in the pathogenic nature, time course and severity of fibrosis and the optimal time point for starting a therapy.