bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating ghrelin was negatively correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure in atrial septal defect patients
Authors: LI Zhao-feng , ZHOU Da-xin , PAN Wen-zhi , ZHANG Lei , GE Jun-bo 
Published: January 2024

Background
Ghrelin was found to attenuate the magnitude of pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats. The objective of this study was to explore the fasting plasma ghrelin level and the relationships between ghrelin and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in atrial septal defect (ASD) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods
Fasting plasma ghrelin, obestatin, and insulin levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in ASD patients with or without PAH according to the manufacturer's instructions. Insulin resistance was calculated by the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) approach, calculated as fasting insulin (microunits/ml)× fasting blood glucose (mmol/L)/22.5. Comparisons between the parameters of patients with PAH and those of patients with normal PAP were performed with an unpaired Student's t test. The relationships between ghrelin and various clinical parameters were examined by bivariate correlations and multiple regression analysis.

Results
We found that the fasting plasma ghrelin level and the ratio of ghrelin to obestatin were significantly lower in the PAH group compared with the control group ((582.4±12.8) pg/ml vs. (1045.2±95.5) pg/ml, P <0.05 and 30.5±4.9 vs. 70.0±9.7, P <0.01). The fasting plasma obestatin level was higher in the PAH group compared with the control group, but the difference between them was not significant ((23.2±3.1) pg/ml vs. (16.3±1.6) pg/ml, P >0.05). In a multiple regression model analysis, only mean PAP was an independent predictor of ghrelin and the ratio of ghrelin to obestatin (standardized coefficient=-0.737, P <0.001 and standardized coefficient=-0.588, P=0.006, respectively).

Conclusion
Ghrelin is negatively correlated with mean PAP and this suggests that circulating ghrelin might predict the severity of pulmonary hypertension in ASD patients with PAH.
Renoprotective effect of alprostadil in combination with statins in patients with mild to moderate renal failure undergoing coronary angiography
Authors: LIU Wei-jing , ZHANG Bu-chun , GUO Rong , WEI Yi-dong , LI Wei-ming , XU Ya-wei 
Published: January 2024

Background
The role of alprostadil and statins in contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of combined therapy with alprostadil and statins in protecting renal function and preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods
A total of 156 consecutive patients with mild to moderate renal failure who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in our study, and randomly categorized into two groups. In the statins group, 80 patients were treated with statins before and after coronary angiography. In the alprostadil plus statins group, 76 patients were treated with statins and alprostadil before and after coronary angiography. Serum creatinine (SCr), serum cystatin (CysC) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were detected after administration of contrast media, and adverse events were evaluated within six months.

Results
In both groups, the SCr, CysC and NGAL significantly increased after coronary angiography and peaked at 48, 24 and 6 hours, respectively. SCr, CysC and NGAL were significantly lower in the alprostadil plus statins group than in the statins group (P<0.05). The incidence of CIN in the alprostadil plus statins group was slightly lower than in the statins group. The incidence of adverse events within six months in the alprostadil plus statins group was significantly lower than in the statins group (P=0.034).

Conclusions
Intravenous alprostadil in combination with oral statins is superior to statins alone for protecting renal function in patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction who undergo coronary angiography, and can reduce the incidence of adverse events seen within six months.
An evaluation of the mechanism of ABCA7 on cellular lipid release in ABCA7-HEC293 cell
Authors: WU Cheng-ai , WANG Na , ZHAO Dan-hui 
Published: January 2024

Background
ABCA7 is a member of the ABCA subfamily that shows a high degree of homology to ABCA1 and, like ABCA1, mediates cellular cholesterol and phospholipid release by apolipoproteins when transfected in vitro. However, expression of ABCA7 has been shown to be downregulated by increased cellular cholesterol while ABCA1 was upregulated.

Methods
The underlying mechanism for this effect was examined in ABCA1 or ABCA7-transfected HEC293. Lipid content in the medium and cells was determined by enzymatic assays. Gene expression was quantitated by real time PCR, and protein content was determined by Western blotting.

Results
While ABCA7 mRNA was decreased by 25-hydroxycholesterol treatment, ABCA1 was apparently increased. Treatment with the synthetic LXR agonist T0901317 (T09) upregulated ABCA1 expression and apoAI-mediated cellular lipid release in ABCA1-transfected HEC293 cells, but ABCA7 expression and cellular lipid release in ABCA7-transfected HEC293 cells showed no obvious changes.

Conclusion
The ABCA7 gene is regulated by sterol in a direction opposite to that of ABCA1.
Diagnostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the combination of serum CA-125 for stages III and IV endometriosis
Authors: YANG Hua , LANG Jing-he , ZHU Lan , WANG Shu , SHA Gui-hua , ZHANG Ying 
Published: January 2024

Background
Currently, all the diagnostic indicators for endometriosis lack perfect sensitivity and specificity. According to the characteristic of endometriosis, we analyzed the new biomarker neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the combination of NLR and serum CA-125 to investigate their diagnostic value for identifying stages III and IV endometriosis.

Methods
The values of serum CA-125 and routine blood tests were collected from 197 patients with endometriosis, 102 with benign tumors and 112 healthy individuals. We investigated the sensitivity and specificity of NLR and its combination with serum-CA-125 for diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Results
The mean values of NLR, the combination of serum CA-125 and NLR (combination) of the groups with stages III and IV endometriosis were significantly higher than the other two groups. Serum CA-125, NLR, and the combined biomarkers could significantly discriminate the stages III and IV endometriosis group from the other two groups (P<0.05). NLR shows a lower sensitivity of 57.9% and specificity of 65.2% with a cutoff value at 1.82. And the combination of biomarkers has the highest AUC of 0.949 with a sensitivity of 86.8% and specificity of 92.0% at the cutoff value of 44.40. In addition, for patients with negative CA-125, 55.36% and 53.57% of the patients were able to be diagnosed with endometriosis by using NLR alone and the combination of biomarkers.

Conclusion
For diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a better adjuvant to serum CA-125, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is valuable in diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis for patients with negative serum CA-125.
Alcohol dehydrogenase I expression correlates with CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1 expression in Candida albicans from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis
Authors: GUO Hui , ZHANG Xiao-li , GAO Lai-qiang , LI Shui-xiu , SONG Yan-jun , ZHANG Hong 
Published: January 2024

Background
The most critical mechanism governing drug resistance in Candida albicans (C. albicans) involves efflux pumps, the functionality of which largely depends on energy metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase I (ADH1) plays an important role in intracellular energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between ADH1 and drug resistance in C. albicans.

Methods
Twenty clinical C. albicans samples isolated from individual patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis, and two C. albicans strains obtained from a single parental source (the fluconazole (FLC)-sensitive strain CA-1sand the FLC-resistant strain CA-16R) were included in our study. In accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3 guidelines, we used the microdilution method to examine the FLC minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 and the azole resistance genes CDR1, CDR2, MDR1, FLU1 and ERG11 in all the isolates. Results A highly significant positive correlation between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and the MICs (rs =0.921, P=0.000), as well as positive correlations between the mRNA level of ADH1 and those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1 (rs of 0.704, 0.772 and 0.779, respectively, P <0.01), were observed in the 20 clinical C. albicans samples. The relative expression of ADH1 was upregulated 10.63- to 17.61-fold in all of the drug-resistant isolates. No correlations were found between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and those of MDR1 or ERG11(P >0.05). The mRNA levels of the examined drug resistance genes were higher in the CA-16R strain than in CA-1S, and the mRNA levels of ADH1 in CA-16R were 11.64-fold higher than those in CA-1S(P <0.05).

Conclusions
These results suggest that high levels of ADH1 transcription are implicated in FLC resistance in C. albicans and that the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 are positively correlated with those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1.
Arterially transplanted mesenchymal stem cells in a mouse reversible unilateral ureteral obstruction model: in vivo bioluminescence imaging and effects on renal fibrosis
Authors: Bai Zhi-ming , Deng Xiang-dong , Li Jin-dong , Li Dong-hui , Cao Hui , Liu Zhen-xiang , Zhang Jie 
Published: January 2024

Background
Chronic kidney disease (CDK) is a worldwide health problem, but there is currently no effective treatment that can completely cure this disease. Recently, studies with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on treating various renal diseases have shown breakthroughs. This study is to observe the homing features of MSCs transplanted via kidney artery and effects on renal fibrosis in a reversible unilateral ureteral obstruction (R-UUO) model.

Methods
Thirty-six Balb/c mice were divided into UUO group, UUO-MSC group, and sham group randomly, with 12 mice in each group. The MSCs had been infected by a lentiviral vector to express stably the luciferase reporter gene and green fluorescence protein genes (Luc-GFP-MSC). Homing of MSCs was tracked using in vivo imaging system (IVIS) 1, 3, 14, and 28 days after transplantation. Imaging results were verified by detecting GFP expression in frozen section under a fluorescence microscope. E-cadherin, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and TNF-α mRNA expression in all groups at 1 and 4 weeks after transplantation were analyzed by quantitative PCR.

Results
Transplanted Luc-GFP-MSCs showed increased Luciferase expression 3 days after transplantation. The expression decreased from 7 days, weakened thereafter and could not be detected 14 days after transplantation. Quantitative PCR results showed that all gene expressions in UUO group and UUO-MSC group at 1 week had no statistical difference, while at 4 weeks, except TGF-β expression (P>0.05), the expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA, and TNF-α in the above two groups have statistical difference (P<0.01).

Conclusion
IVIS enables fast, noninvasive, and intuitive tracking of MSC homing in vivo. MSCs can be taken home to kidney tissues of the diseased side in R-UUO model, and renal interstitial fibrosis can be improved as well.
Correlations between papillary thyroid cancer and peripheral blood levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2
Authors: Zhou Shao-fei , Hu San-yuan , Ma Lei , Miao Lei , Mao Wei-zheng 
Published: January 2024

Background
The relationship between the presence of metalloproteinases and thyroid cancer remains unknown, and many controversies still exist in this field. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlations between papillary thyroid cancer and peripheral blood levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2.

Methods
The correlations were studied by detecting the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood of 30 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 27 patients with benign thyroid disease, and 25 healthy volunteers.

Results
The levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in the peripheral blood of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were significantly higher than those in the peripheral blood of patients with benign thyroid disease and healthy volunteers (P <0.05). However, there were no significant differences between patients with benign thyroid disease and healthy volunteers (P >0.05). The accuracy of detection by both enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the papillary thyroid cancer group was 83.33%.

Conclusions
The levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in the peripheral blood are helpful in identifying thyroid carcinoma and aid in preoperative assessment.
Value of T cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein and keratin 5 in endometrial carcinoma
Authors: ZHAO Li-Jun , LI Xiao-Ping , QI Wen-Juan , WANG Jian-Liu , WEI Li-Hui 
Published: January 2024

Background
Tumors with different gene expression develop and progress in different ways. To deepen our understanding of the progression in endometrial cancer, and provide a useful tool for accurate diagnosis and prognosis assessment, we identified the new molecular prognostic markers in endometrial carcinoma and analyzed the relationship of them with clinical and pathological features of endometrial carcinoma.

Methods
Ninety-four cases of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma with complete data from the Peking University People's Hospital from 2000 to 2008 and 40 cases of normal endometrium were enrolled. Among these, 30 endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma samples of different International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage were selected for further Agilent genome-wide microarray analysis. Significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) was used to identify genes that are significantly associated with tumor progress. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to identify the genes of interest in endometrial carcinoma and normal endometrium. The relationship between the genes and the age, clinical stage, histological grade, myometrium invaded depth, lymph node metastasis status, and the expression of ER, PR, P53, and PTEN were analyzed by χ2 test.

Results
Analysis between FIGO 1988 stage I and stage III identified a 362-gene “progress signature”; 171 down-regulated and 191 up-regulated genes. Among the alterative genes, TARP (T cell receptor gamma alternate reading frame protein) and KRT5 (keratin 5) decreased 3.57 fold and 5.8 fold in FIGO stage III patients. The expression of TARP in endometrial carcinoma increased compared to normal endometrium, while that of KRT5 decreased (P<0.05). The expression of TARP and KRT5 decreased when stage, histological grading, myometrium invaded depth increased (P<0.05). In the cases with lymph node metastasis, the expression of TARP decreased, while the expression of KRT5 did not differ (both P<0.05) both. The expression of P53 had a negative relationship with the expression of KRT5 (P<0.05), but not with the expression of TARP (P>0.05). There was no correlation between the expression of TARP and KRT5 and the expression of ER, PR, PTEN (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in TARP and KRT5 expression in patients aged 50 or younger and patients older than 50 (P>0.05).

Conclusion
The expression of TARP and KRT5 was correlated with the progress of endometrial cancer and their role needs further study.
Small interference RNA targeting vascular endothelial growth factor gene effectively attenuates retinal neovascularization in mice model
Authors: KONG Yi-chun , SUN Bei , ZHAO Kan-xing , HAN Mei , WANG Yu-chuan 
Published: January 2024

Background
The mechanism of retinal neovascularization is not understood completely. Many growth factors are involved in the process of retinal neovascularization, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-deprived factor (PEDF), which are the representatives of angiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules respectively. Oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) is a useful model to investigate retinal neovascularization. The present study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF gene in attenuating oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) by regulating VEGF to PEDF ratio (VEGF/PEDF).

Methods

In vitro, cultured EOMA cells were transfected with VEGF-siRNA (psi-HITM/EGFP/VEGF siRNA) and LipofectamineTM 2000 for 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Expression of VEGF mRNA was evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the level of VEGF protein was analyzed by Western blotting. In vivo, OIR model mice were established, the mice (C57BL/6J) received an intra-vitreal injection of 1 μl of mixture of psi-HITM/EGFP/VEGF siRNA and Lipofectamine 2000. Expressions of retinal VEGF and PEDF protein were measured by Western blotting, retinal neovascularization was observed by fluorescein angiography, and quantified.

Results

In vitro psi-HITM/EGFP/VEGF siRNA treatment significantly reduced VEGF mRNA and protein expression. In vivo, with decreased VEGF and VEGF-PEDF ratio, significant attenuation of neovascular tufts, avascular regions, tortuous, and dilated blood vessels were observed in the interfered animals.

Conclusions
VEGF plays an important role in OIR, and the transfection of VEGF-siRNA can effectively downregulate VEGF expression in vivo, accompanied by the downregulation of VEGF-PEDF ratio, and simultaneous attenuation of retinal neovascularization was also observed. These findings suggest that VEGF/PEDF may serve as a potential target in the treatment of retinal neovascularization and RNA interference targeting VEGF expression, which represents a possible therapeutic strategy.
Differences in the population of genetics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis between urban migrants and local residents in Beijing, China
Authors: DAI Guang-ming , ZHANG Zhi-guo , DING Peng-ju , ZHANG Qian , WANG Li , WANG Li-xia , van Soolingen Dick , HUANG Hai-rong , LI Wei-min , LI Chuan-you 
Published: January 2024

Background
Currently, migration has become one of the risk factors of high burden of tuberculosis in China. This study was to explore the influence of mass migration on the dynamics of Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis in Beijing, the capital and an urban area of China.

Methods
Three hundred and thirty-six M. tuberculosis strains from the Changping district, where the problem of urban migrants was more pronounced than in other Beijing regions, were genotyped by Spoligotyping, large sequence polymorphisms (LSPs 105 and 181), and variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing. Based on the genotype data, the phylogeny of the isolates was studied.

Results
In Changping district, the proportion of Beijing lineage M. tuberculosis isolates amounted to 89.0% (299/336), among which 86.6 % (252) belonged to the modern lineage. The frequency of modern Beijing lineage strains is so high (around 75% (252/336)) that associated risk factors affecting the tuberculosis epidemic cannot be determined. The time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the Beijing lineage strains was estimated to be 5073 (95% CI: 4000-6200) years. There was no significant difference in the genetic variation of Beijing isolates from urban migrants and local residents.

Conclusions
The clone of modern Beijing lineage M. tuberculosis, which is dominant in the Beijing area, most likely started to expand with the five thousand-year-old Chinese civilization. In the future, with the urbanization in the whole of China, modern Beijing lineage M. tuberculosis may gain the larger geographical spread.
Establishment of novel rat models for premalignant breast disease
Authors: Wang Feng , Ma Zhongbing , Wang Fei , Fu Qinye , Fang Yunzhi , Zhang Qiang , Gao Dezong , Li Yuyang , Li Liang , Yu Lixiang , Yu Zhigang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Breast cancer has become one of the most common malignant tumors among females over the past several years. Breast carcinogenesis is a continuous process, which is featured by the normal epithelium progressing to premalignant lesions and then to invasive breast cancer (IBC). Targeting premalignant lesions is an effective strategy to prevent breast cancer. The establishment of animal models is critical to study the mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis, which will facilitate research on breast cancer prevention and drug behaviors. In this study, we established a feasible chemically-induced rat model of premalignant breast cancer.

Methods
Following the administration of the drugs (carcinogen, estrogen, and progestogen) to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, tumors or suspicious tumors were identified by palpation or ultrasound imaging, and were surgically excised for pathological evaluation. A series of four consecutive steps were carried out in order to determine the carcinogen: 7,12-dimethylbenzaanthracene (DMBA) or 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea, the route of carcinogen administration, the administration period of estrogen and progestogen, and the DMBA dosage.

Results
Stable premalignant lesions can be induced in SD rats on administration of DMBA (15 mg/kg, administered three times) followed by administration of female hormones 5-day cycle. Results were confirmed by ultrasound and palpation.

Conclusion
Under the premise of drug dose and cycle, DMBA combined with estrogen and progestogen can be used as a SD rat model for breast premalignant lesions.