bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central blockade of salusin β attenuates hypertension and hypothalamic inflammation in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Li Hong-Bao , Qin Da-Nian , Cheng Kang , Su Qing , Miao Yu-Wang , Guo Jing , Zhang Meng , Zhu Guo-Qing , Kang Yu-Ming 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSalusin β is a multifunctional bioactive peptide and is considered as a promising candidate biomarker for predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of salusin β in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in attenuating hypertension and hypothalamic inflammation and whether central salusin β blockade has protective effects in essential hypertension. Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used in this study. The rats were chronic PVN infusion either specific salusin β blocker, antisalusin β IgG (SIgG), or control IgG (CIgG) for 2 weeks. Hypertensive rats had significantly increased salusin β expression compared with normotensive rats. Central blockade of salusin β attenuated hypertension, reduced circulating norepinephrine (NE) levels and improved cardiac hypertrophy and function in hypertensive rats. Salusin β blockade significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines (PICs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and altered renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in the PVN of hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of salusin β blockade in essential hypertension are possibly due to down-regulate of inflammatory molecules and ROS in the PVN.
Potential surrogate endpoints for overall survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an analysis of a phase III randomized trial
Authors: Chen Yu-Pei , Chen Yong , Zhang Wen-Na , Liang Shao-Bo , Zong Jing-Feng , Chen Lei , Mao Yan-Ping , Tang Ling-Long , Li Wen-Fei , Liu Xu , Guo Ying , Lin Ai-Hua , Liu Meng-Zhong , Sun Ying , Ma Jun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe gold standard endpoint in trials of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is overall survival (OS). Using data from a phase III randomized trial, we evaluated whether progression-free survival (PFS), failure-free survival (FFS), distant failure-free survival (D-FFS) or locoregional failure-free survival (LR-FFS) could be reliable surrogate endpoints for OS. Between July 2002 and September 2005, 316 eligible patients with stage III-IVB NPC were randomly assigned to receive either radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy. 2- and 3-year PFS, FFS, D-FFS and LR-FFS were tested as surrogate endpoints for 5-year OS using Prentice’s four criteria. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the strength of the associations. After a median follow-up time of 5.8 years, 2- and 3-year D-FFS and LR-FFS were not significantly different between treatment arms, in rejection of Prentice’s second criterion. Being consistent with all Prentice’s criteria, 2- and 3-year PFS and FFS were valid surrogate endpoints for 5-year OS; the rank correlation coefficient was highest (0.84) between 3-year PFS and 5-year OS. In conclusion, PFS and FFS at 2 and 3 years may be candidate surrogate endpoints for OS at 5 years; 3-year PFS may be more appropriate for early assessment of long-term survival.
Evaluation of microbubble contrast agents for dynamic imaging with x-ray phase contrast
Authors: Millard T. P. , Endrizzi M. , Everdell N. , Rigon L. , Arfelli F. , Menk R. H. , Stride E. , Olivo A. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractX-rays are commonly used as a means to image the inside of objects opaque to visible light, as their short wavelength allows penetration through matter and the formation of high spatial resolution images. This physical effect has found particular importance in medicine where x-ray based imaging is routinely used as a diagnostic tool. Increasingly, however, imaging modalities that provide functional as well as morphological information are required. In this study the potential to use x-ray phase based imaging as a functional modality through the use of microbubbles that can be targeted to specific biological processes is explored. We show that the concentration of a microbubble suspension can be monitored quantitatively whilst in flow using x-ray phase contrast imaging. This could provide the basis for a dynamic imaging technique that combines the tissue penetration, spatial resolution and high contrast of x-ray phase based imaging with the functional information offered by targeted imaging modalities.
GSTM1 polymorphism contribute to colorectal cancer in Asian populations: a prospective meta-analysis
Authors: Li Jing , Xu Wen , Liu Fang , Huang Silin , He Meirong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractGlutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes which expressed in many tissues and play important roles in neutralization of toxic compounds and protecting hosts against cancer. Among several GSTs, Glutathione S-transferases mu (GSTM) has been drawn attention upon the association with the genetic risk for many types of cancers. But whether the GSTM1 polymorphisms confer the susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Asians has not been well established. We searched the PubMed database with GSTM1, polymorphism and colorectal cancer, attempting to identify the eligible studies. In total, 33 case-control studies in Asian populations with 8502 colorectal cancer patients and 13699 controls were included in the current meta-analysis. The association between the polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer was evaluated by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The pooled meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1 null variant was correlated to the colorectal cancer risk in Asians. There was a marginal heterogeneity among these eligible studies. Nevertheless, cumulative meta-analysis observed a trend of an obvious association between the GSTM1 null genotype and colorectal cancer risk in Asians. In summary, the meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1 null polymorphism confer the susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Asians, especially in Chinese populations.
7α-Hydroxypregnenolone, a key neuronal modulator of locomotion, stimulates upstream migration by means of the dopaminergic system in salmon
Authors: Haraguchi Shogo , Yamamoto Yuzo , Suzuki Yuko , Hyung Chang Joon , Koyama Teppei , Sato Miku , Mita Masatoshi , Ueda Hiroshi , Tsutsui Kazuyoshi 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSalmon migrate upstream against an opposing current in their natal river. However, the molecular mechanisms that stimulate upstream migratory behavior are poorly understood. Here, we show that 7α-hydroxypregnenolone (7α-OH PREG), a newly identified neuronal modulator of locomotion, acts as a key factor for upstream migration in salmon. We first identified 7α-OH PREG and cytochrome P450 7α-hydroxylase (P4507α), a steroidogenic enzyme producing 7α-OH PREG, in the salmon brain and then found that 7α-OH PREG synthesis in the brain increases during upstream migration. Subsequently, we demonstrated that 7α-OH PREG increases upstream migratory behavior of salmon. We further found that 7α-OH PREG acts on dopamine neurons in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus during upstream migration. Thus, 7α-OH PREG stimulates upstream migratory behavior through the dopaminergic system in salmon. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of fish upstream migration.
LK6/Mnk2a is a new kinase of alpha synuclein phosphorylation mediating neurodegeneration
Authors: Zhang Shiqing , Xie Jiang , Xia Ying , Yu Shu , Gu Zhili , Feng Ruili , Luo Guanghong , Wang Dong , Wang Kai , Jiang Meng , Cheng Xiao , Huang Hai , Zhang Wu , Wen Tieqiao 
Published: July 2015

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder due to the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. Alpha-synuclein phosphorylation and α-synuclein inclusion (Lewy body) become a main contributor, but little is known about their formation mechanism. Here we used protein expression profiling of PD to construct a model of their signalling network from drsophila to human and nominate major nodes that regulate PD development. We found in this network that LK6, a serine/threonine protein kinase, plays a key role in promoting α-synuclein Ser129 phosphorylation by identification of LK6 knockout and overexpression. In vivo test was further confirmed that LK6 indeed enhances α-synuclein phosphorylation, accelerates the death of dopaminergic neurons, reduces the climbing ability and shortens the the life span of drosophila. Further, MAP kinase-interacting kinase 2a (Mnk2a), a human homolog of LK6, also been shown to make α-synuclein phosphorylation and leads to α-synuclein inclusion formation. On the mechanism, the phosphorylation mediated by LK6 and Mnk2a is controlled through ERK signal pathway by phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) avtivation and PD98059 inhibition. Our findings establish pivotal role of Lk6 and Mnk2a in unprecedented signalling networks, may lead to new therapies preventing α-synuclein inclusion formation and neurodegeneration.
Neuronal Representation of Ultraviolet Visual Stimuli in Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Tan Zhongchao , Sun Wenzhi , Chen Tsai-Wen , Kim Douglas , Ji Na 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe mouse has become an important model for understanding the neural basis of visual perception. Although it has long been known that mouse lens transmits ultraviolet (UV) light and mouse opsins have absorption in the UV band, little is known about how UV visual information is processed in the mouse brain. Using a custom UV stimulation system and in vivo calcium imaging, we characterized the feature selectivity of layer 2/3 neurons in mouse primary visual cortex (V1). In adult mice, a comparable percentage of the neuronal population responds to UV and visible stimuli, with similar pattern selectivity and receptive field properties. In young mice, the orientation selectivity for UV stimuli increased steadily during development, but not direction selectivity. Our results suggest that, by expanding the spectral window through which the mouse can acquire visual information, UV sensitivity provides an important component for mouse vision.
Sirt1-deficiency causes defective protein quality control
Authors: Tomita Takuya , Hamazaki Jun , Hirayama Shoshiro , McBurney Michael W. , Yashiroda Hideki , Murata Shigeo 
Published: July 2015

AbstractProtein quality control is an important mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis. Damaged proteins have to be restored or eliminated by degradation, which is mainly achieved by molecular chaperones and the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The NAD+-dependent deacetylase Sirt1 has been reported to play positive roles in the regulation of cellular homeostasis in response to various stresses. However, its contribution to protein quality control remains unexplored. Here we show that Sirt1 is involved in protein quality control in both an Hsp70-dependent and an Hsp70-independent manner. Loss of Sirt1 led to the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in cells and tissues, especially upon heat stress, without affecting proteasome activities. This was partly due to decreased basal expression of Hsp70. However, this accumulation was only partially alleviated by overexpression of Hsp70 or induction of Hsp70 upon heat shock in Sirt1-deficient cells and tissues. These results suggest that Sirt1 mediates both Hsp70-dependent and Hsp70-independent protein quality control. Our findings cast new light on understanding the role of Sirt1 in maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Study of the Binding Energies between Unnatural Amino Acids and Engineered Orthogonal Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetases
Authors: Ren Wei , Truong Tan M. , Ai Hui-wang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe utilized several computational approaches to evaluate the binding energies of tyrosine (Tyr) and several unnatural Tyr analogs, to several orthogonal aaRSes derived fromMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiandEscherichia colityrosyl-tRNA synthetases. The present study reveals the following: (1) AutoDock Vina and ROSETTA were able to distinguish binding energy differences for individual pairs of favorable and unfavorable aaRS-amino acid complexes, but were unable to cluster together all experimentally verified favorable complexes from unfavorable aaRS-Tyr complexes; (2) MD-MM/PBSA provided the best prediction accuracy in terms of clustering favorable and unfavorable enzyme-substrate complexes, but also required the highest computational cost; and (3) MM/PBSA based on single energy-minimized structures has a significantly lower computational cost compared to MD-MM/PBSA, but still produced sufficiently accurate predictions to cluster aaRS-amino acid interactions. Although amino acid-aaRS binding is just the first step in a complex series of processes to acylate a tRNA with its corresponding amino acid, the difference in binding energy, as shown by MD-MM/PBSA, is important for a mutant orthogonal aaRS to distinguish between a favorable unnatural amino acid (unAA) substrate from unfavorable natural amino acid substrates. Our computational study should assist further designing and engineering of orthogonal aaRSes for the genetic encoding of novel unAAs.
Efficient removal of crystal violet using Fe3O4-coated biochar: the role of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and modeling study their adsorption behavior
Authors: Sun Pengfei , Hui Cai , Azim Khan Rashid , Du Jingting , Zhang Qichun , Zhao Yu-Hua 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBiochar shows great promise for use in adsorbing pollutants. However, a process for enhancing its adsorption capacity and re-collection efficiency is yet to be further developed. Hence, in this study, we developed a type of biochar coated with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (i.e., magnetic biochar (MBC)) and assessed its use for crystal violet (CV) adsorption as well as its recycling potential. The coating of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which was not only on the surface, but also in the interior of biochar, performed two functions. Firstly, it produced a saturation magnetization of 61.48 emu/g, which enabled the biochar being efficiently re-collected using a magnet. Secondly, it significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of the biochar (from 80.36 to 99.19 mg/g). The adsorption capacity of the MBC was determined to be the largest by so far (349.40 mg/g) for an initial CV concentration of 400 mg/L, pH of 6.0 and temperature of 40 °C and the adsorption capacity of re-collected MBC was 73.31 mg/g. The adsorption of CV by the MBC was found to be a spontaneous and endothermic physical process in which the intraparticle diffusion was the limiting step. These findings inspire us to use other similar materials to tackle the menace of pollutions.
Three-dimensional imaging of microvasculature in the rat spinal cord following injury
Authors: Cao Yong , Wu Tianding , yuan Zhou , Li Dongzhe , Ni Shuangfei , Hu Jianzhong , Lu Hongbin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractResearch studies on the three-dimensional (3D) morphological alterations of the spinal cord microvasculature after injury provide insight into the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI). Knowledge in this field has been hampered in the past by imaging technologies that provided only two-dimensional (2D) information on the vascular reactions to trauma. The aim of our study is to investigate the 3D microstructural changes of the rat spinal cord microvasculature on day 1 post-injury using synchrotron radiation micro-tomography (SRμCT). This technology provides high-resolution 3D images of microvasculature in both normal and injured spinal cords and the smallest vessel detected is approximately 7.4 μm. Moreover, we optimized the 3D vascular visualization with color coding and accurately calculated quantitative changes in vascular architecture after SCI. Compared to the control spinal cord, the damaged spinal cord vessel numbers decreased significantly following injury. Furthermore, the area of injury did not remain concentrated at the epicenter; rather, the signs of damage expanded rostrally and caudally along the spinal cord in 3D. The observed pathological changes were also confirmed by histological tests. These results demonstrate that SRμCT is an effective technology platform for imaging pathological changes in small arteries in neurovascular disease and for evaluating therapeutic interventions.
Dengue NS3, an RNAi suppressor, modulates the human miRNA pathways through its interacting partner
Authors: Kakumani Pavan Kumar , Rajgokul K.S. , Ponia Sanket Singh , Kaur Inderjeet , Mahanty Srikrishna , Medigeshi Guruprasad R. , Banerjea Akhil C. , Chopra Arun Prasad , Malhotra Pawan , Mukherjee Sunil K. , Bhatnagar Raj K. 
Published: July 2015

RNAi acts as a host immune response against non-self molecules, including viruses. Viruses evolved to neutralize this response by expressing suppressor proteins. In the present study, we investigated dengue virus non structural protein 3 (dvNS3), for its RNAi-suppressor activity in human cell lines. Dengue virus (DV) NS3 reverts the GFP expression in GFP-silenced cell lines. Pull-down assays of dvNS3 revealed that it interacts with the host factor human heat shock cognate 70 (hHSC70). Down-regulation of hHSC70 resulted in accumulation of dengue viral genomic RNA. Also, the interaction of dvNS3 with hHSC70 perturbs the formation of RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex)-loading complex (RLC), by displacing TRBP (TAR RNA-binding protein) and possibly impairing the downstream activity of miRNAs. Interestingly, some of these miRNAs have earlier been reported to be down-regulated upon DV infection in Huh7 cells. Further studies on the miRNA–mRNA relationship along with mRNA profiling of samples overexpressing dvNS3 revealed up-regulation of TAZ (tafazzin) and SYNGR1 (synaptogyrin 1), known dengue viral host factors (DVHFs). Importantly, overexpression of dvNS3 in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells resulted in modulation of both mature and precursor miRNAs in human cell lines. Subsequent analysis suggested that dvNS3 induced stage-specific down-regulation of miRNAs. Taken together, these results suggest that dvNS3 affects biogenesis and function of host miRNAs to regulate DVHFs for favouring DV replication.
Improvement of Segmental Lordosis in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comparison of Two Techniques
Authors: Rice James W. , Sedney Cara L. , Daffner Scott D. , Arner Justin W. , Emery Sanford E. , France John C. 
Published: July 2015

Study Design Retrospective review. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the radiographic impact of a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) versus a cantilever TLIF technique on segmental lordosis, segmental coronal alignment, and disk height. Methods A retrospective review was done of all patients undergoing TLIF procedures from 2006 to 2011 by three spine surgeons. Traditional TLIF versus cantilever TLIF results were compared, and radiographic outcomes were assessed. Results One hundred one patients were included in the study. Patients undergoing the cantilever TLIF procedure had a significantly greater change in segmental lordosis and disk height compared with those who underwent the traditional procedure ( p > 0.0001). Conclusions The cantilever TLIF technique can lead to greater change in segmental lordosis based upon radiographic outcomes.
Current Trends in the Use of Patient-Reported Outcome Instruments in Degenerative Cervical Spine Surgery
Authors: Ueda Haruki , Cutler Holt S. , Guzman Javier Z. , Cho Samuel K. 
Published: July 2015

Study Design Bibliometric analysis. Objective To determine trends, frequency, and distribution of patient-reported outcome instruments (PROIs) in degenerative cervical spine surgery literature over the past decade. Methods A search was conducted via PubMed from 2004 to 2013 on five journals ( The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, The Bone and Joint Journal, The Spine Journal, European Spine Journal, and Spine), which were chosen based on their impact factors and authors’ consensus. All abstracts were screened and articles addressing degenerative cervical spine surgery using PROIs were included. Articles were then analyzed for publication date, study design, journal, level of evidence, and PROI trends. Prevalence of PROIs and level of evidence of included articles were analyzed. Results From 19,736 articles published, 241 articles fulfilled our study criteria. Overall, 53 distinct PROIs appeared. The top seven most frequently used PROIs were: Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (104 studies), visual analog scale for pain (100), Neck Disability Index (72), Short Form-36 (38), Nurick score (25), Odom criteria (21), and Oswestry Disability Index (15). Only 11 PROIs were used in 5 or more articles. Thirty-three of the PROIs were appeared in only 1 article. Among the included articles, 16% were of level 1 evidence and 32% were of level 4 evidence. Conclusion Numerous PROIs are currently used in degenerative cervical spine surgery. A consensus on which instruments to use for a given diagnosis or procedure is lacking and may be necessary for better communication and comparison, as well as for the accumulation and analysis of vast clinical data across multiple studies.
Phytoplankton–bacterial interactions mediate micronutrient colimitation at the coastal Antarctic sea ice edge
Authors: Bertrand Erin M. , McCrow John P. , Moustafa Ahmed , Zheng Hong , McQuaid Jeffrey B. , Delmont Tom O. , Post Anton F. , Sipler Rachel E. , Spackeen Jenna L. , Xu Kai , Bronk Deborah A. , Hutchins David A. , Allen Andrew E. 
Published: July 2015

SignificanceThe coastal Southern Ocean is a critical climate system component and home to high rates of photosynthesis. Here we show that cobalamin (vitamin B12) and iron availability can simultaneously limit phytoplankton growth in late Austral summer coastal Antarctic sea ice edge communities. Unlike other growth-limiting nutrients, the sole cobalamin source is production by bacteria and archaea. By identifying microbial gene expression changes in response to altered micronutrient availability, we describe the molecular underpinnings of limitation by both cobalamin and iron and offer evidence that this limitation is driven by multiple delicately balanced phytoplankton–bacterial interactions. These results support a growing body of research suggesting that relationships between bacteria and phytoplankton are key to understanding controls on marine primary productivity.
SOD1 aggregation in ALS mice shows simplistic test tube behavior
Authors: Lang Lisa , Zetterström Per , Brännström Thomas , Marklund Stefan L. , Danielsson Jens , Oliveberg Mikael 
Published: July 2015

Significance
Here, we address the longstanding question to what extent protein fibrillation behavior as measured under simplified conditions in the test tube is transferrable to protein aggregation disease? Somewhat unexpectedly, we find that superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) fibrillation in vitro and growth of pathological SOD1 aggregates in transgenic ALS mice are mechanistically indistinguishable: Both processes reveal exponential kinetics and the typical characteristics of fragment-assisted growth. Although this precise agreement between in vitro and in vivo data opens new possibilities for quantitative examination of the molecular mechanism of neural damage at tissue level, it also moves the question about the medical relevance of our existing experimental tools one step farther: to what extent is protein aggregation in overexpressing mice transferable to late-onset human disease?