bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of corneal fibrosis by Smad7 in rats after photorefractive keratectomy
Authors: WANG Ti , ZHOU Xing-tao , YU Yan , ZHU Jing-yin , DAI Jin-hui , QU Xiao-mei , LE Qi-hua , CHU Ren-yuan 
Published: January 2024

Background
Haze or corneal subepithelial fibrosis is one of the common complications after refractive surgery procedures, such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser epithelial keratomileusis, and epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis, which would result in refractive regression, decreased visual quality, and corneal opacification. Haze directly resulted from corneal fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). Smad7, an inhibitory Smad, can inhibit TGFβ signal transduction. Recently, the effects of Smad7 on the inhibition of fibrosis in several organs have been studied, while little is known about the effects on cornea after PRK. This study was aimed to determine the effects of lentiviral-mediated Smad7 gene expression on corneal fibrosis in rats after PRK.

Methods
Four different experimental groups were established using right eyes of Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty-two eyes underwent de-epithelialization only and served as a sham operation group (group 1). Ninety-six eyes underwent PRK operation and were further divided into group 2 (the PRK group) without lentivector administration, group 3 (the Lv-blank group) with control lentiviral vector without Smad7 administration, and group 4 (the Lv-Smad7 group) with Smad7 expressing lentiviral vector Smad7 administration. At 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after PRK, the transfection efficiency was determined by measuring the fluorescence signal as well as Smad7 protein and mRNA levels. Corneas were further processed for immunoblotting to assess the phosphorylation of Smad2 as a downstream event of TGFβ/Smad signaling. The expression of fibrotic markers, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Type III collagen (collagen III), and cell cycle-related marker Ki67, was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results
Lentivirus-mediated exogenous Smad7 gene expression in rat corneal tissue resulted in reduced activation of TGFβ/Smad signaling caused by downregulation of phosphorylation of Smad2. Smad7 also downregulated the expression of TGF 2. Markers of cell proliferation and fibrosis, including Ki67, α-SMA, and collagen III, were inhibited by Smad7 up to 3 months after PRK operation.

Conclusion

Smad7 gene transfer inhibits fibrogenic responses of cornea in rats after PRK.
Design and preparation of polyurethane-collagen/heparin-conjugated polycaprolactone double-layer bionic small-diameter vascular graft and its preliminary animal tests
Authors: LU Guang , CUI Shi-jun , GENG Xue , YE Lin , CHEN Bing , FENG Zeng-guo , ZHANG Jian , LI Zhong-zhi 
Published: January 2024

Background
People recently realized that it is important for artificial vascular biodegradable graft to bionically mimic the functions of the native vessel. In order to overcome the high risk of thrombosis and keep the patency in the clinical small-diameter vascular graft (SDVG) transplantation, a double-layer bionic scaffold, which can offer anticoagulation and mechanical strength simultaneously, was designed and fabricated via electrospinning technique.

Methods
Heparin-conjugated polycaprolactone (hPCL) and polyurethane (PU)-collagen type I composite was used as the inner and outer layers, respectively. The porosity and the burst pressure of SDVG were evaluated. Its biocompatibility was demonstrated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test in vitro and subcutaneous implants in vivo respectively. The grafts of diameter 2.5 mm and length 4.0 cm were implanted to replace the femoral artery in Beagle dog model. Then, angiography was performed in the Beagle dogs to investigate the patency and aneurysm of grafts at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-transplantation. After angiography, the patent grafts were explanted for histological analysis.

Results
The double-layer bionic SDVG meet the clinical mechanical demand. Its good biocompatibility was proven by cytotoxicity experiment (the cell's relative growth rates (RGR) of PU-collagen outer layer were 102.8%, 109.2% and 103.5%, while the RGR of hPCL inner layer were 99.0%, 100.0% and 98.0%, on days 1, 3, and 5, respectively) and the subdermal implants experiment in the Beagle dog. Arteriography showed that all the implanted SDVGs were patent without any aneurismal dilatation or obvious anastomotic stenosis at the 2nd, 4th, and 8th week after the operation, except one SDVG that failed at the 2nd week. Histological analysis and SEM showed that the inner layer was covered by new endothelial-like cells.

Conclusion
The double-layer bionic SDVG is a promising candidate as a replacement of native small-diameter vascular graft.
Free triiodothyronine level indicates the degree of myocardial injury in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: WANG Wen-yao , TANG Yi-da , YANG Min , CUI Cheng , MU Mu , QIAN Jie , YANG Yue-jin 
Published: January 2024

Background
Previous studies have suggested that hypothyroidism correlated with coronary heart diseases (CHD) mortality in long-term cohort, but whether the thyroid function status is associated with myocardial injury in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been investigated sufficiently.

Methods
Five hundred and eighty-two hospitalized patients from January 2010 to December 2011, with the diagnosis of STEMI, were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent testing for thyroid function status, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), cardiac enzymes, C-reactive protein (CRP). We investigated the association between thyroid hormone levels and cardiac markers (creatine kinase-MB and cTnI), and thus evaluated the potential role of thyroid function status in predicting the myocardial injury.

Results
There were 76 patients (13.06%) who had hypothyroidism including low-T3-syndrome (34 patients, 5.84%), subclinical hypothyroidism (28 patients, 4.81%) and clinical hypothyroidism (14 patients, 2.41%). After adjusting for conventional risk factors (age, gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension), free triiodothyronine (FT3) was significantly and negatively correlated with log-CKMB (r=-0.244, P <0.001) and log-cTnI (r=-0.290, P <0.001), indicating that the lower thyroid hormone level correlates with the severer cardiac injury in STEMI patients. FT3 also had a moderate negative correlation with CRP (r=-0.475, P <0.001), which might indicate that hypothyroidism may activate the inflammation response. No significant correlation was found between other thyroid parameters (TSH, FT4) and cardiac markers.

Conclusions
As the lower FT3 level correlates with higher level of cardiac markers and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the hypothyroidism may be a predictor for myocardial injury in STEMI. And these results may warrant further study to investigate whether reversing the hypothyroidism could benefit the STEMI patients.
Performance of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay in pyrazinamide susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: HUANG Zi-Kun , LUO Qing , JIANG Bi-Xia , LI Wei-Ting , XU Xiao-Meng , XIONG Guo-Liang , LI Jun-Ming 
Published: January 2024

Background
Drug susceptibility assay is very important in tuberculosis therapy. Pyrazinamide is a first line antituberculosis drug and diagnosis of its resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is difficult and time consuming by conventional methods. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) assay in the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis relative to the conventional Wayne assay and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) proportion method.

Methods

M. tuberculosis clinical isolates (n=132) were tested by the MODS and the Wayne assay: the results were compared with those obtained by the LJ proportion method. Mutations in the gene were identified by direct sequencing of the pncA genes of all isolates in which pyrazinamide resistance was detected by any of the three methods.

Results
Compared to the LJ results, the sensitivity and specificity of the MODS assay were 97.8% and 96.5% respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the Wayne assay were 87.0% and 97.7% respectively. Mutations in the pncA gene were found in 41 of 46 strains that were pyrazinamide resistant (3 tests), in 1 of the 4 strains (LJ only), in 42 of 48 strains (at least 1 test), but no mutations in 1 strain sensitive according to the MODS assay only. The MODS assay, Wayne assay and LJ proportion method provided results in a median time of 6, 7 and 26 days respectively.

Conclusions
MODS assay offers a rapid, simple and reliable method for the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis and is an optimal alternative method in resource limited countries.
Survival without common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 toxicity following second-line treatment with pemetrexed for nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese patients
Authors: WU Yi-long , SUN Yan , ZHOU Cai-cun , ZHANG Li , YU Shi-ying , MA Sheng-lin , HAN Ling Lucia , ZHANG Xiao-qing Rosetta , Orlando Mauro 
Published: January 2024

BackgroundThe efficacy of pemetrexed in the second-line treatment of Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been shown to be similar to that of docetaxel in a recent study; additionally, pemetrexed was associated with much better safety and toxicity profiles. Here, the survival without common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 toxicity (SWT) data from a post hoc analysis of this recent prospective NSCLC study in Chinese patients is reported. This post hoc analysis differs from the main study; it focuses on the nonsquamous population to align with the current approval for pemetrexed in China.MethodsA total of 154 patients with nonsquamous NSCLC received either pemetrexed (500 mg/m2intravenously (IV)) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2IV) on day 1 of 21-day cycles. SWT was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox methods.ResultsPatients treated with pemetrexed had a longer median SWT than patients treated with docetaxel (7.4 months versus 1.2 months; unadjusted hazard ratio =0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41-0.84;P=0.003). At 12 and 18 months, the SWT event-free probability for pemetrexed patients (18 months: 24.5%, 95%CI13.9%-36.6%, vs. 12.3%, 95%CI4.8%-23.6%) was greater than that for docexatel patients (12 months: 37.3%, 95%CI26.5%-48.0%, vs. 23.3%, 95%CI14.4-33.4). The progressionfree survival without common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 toxicity (PFS-WT) was also statistically significantly longer for patients treated with pemetrexed than patients treated with docetaxel (1.9 months vs. 1.1 months,P=0.002).ConclusionsChinese patients with nonsquamous NSCLC disease treated with pemetrexed had improved SWT beyond 6 months than those receiving docetaxel. This analysis supports a benefit-to-risk profile that favors pemetrexed over docetaxel in the second-line treatment of Chinese nonsquamous NSCLC patients.
Differential expression of the RNA-binding motif protein 3 in human astrocytoma
Authors: Zhang Hai-tao , Zhang Zhi-wen , Xue Jing-hui , Kong Hai-bo , Liu Ai-jun , Li Shou-chun , Liu Yu-xiao , Xu Dong-gang 
Published: January 2024

Background
The RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3), which is transcriptionally induced by low temperature and hypoxia, has recently been found to be upregulated in human tumors. However, its expression status in human astrocytoma is not well defined. This article focuses on the differential expression of RBM3 in human astrocytomas of different grades and normal brain tissues.

Methods
RBM3 was detected in astrocytomas and normal brain tissues by quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Analysis of variance was performed on the data from quantitative real-time PCR. The Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the immunohistochemistry results. A P-value of less than 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference.

Results
On one hand, the mRNA expression levels of three X-chromosome-related RBM genes (RBMX, RBM3, and RBM10) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that there were no significant differences in RBMX and RBM10 mRNA expression levels in human astrocytomas of different grades and normal brain tissues. However, RBM3 mRNA expression levels were elevated in high-grade (World Health Organization (WHO) Grade III-IV) astrocytomas versus low-grade (WHO Grade I-II) astrocytomas (5.06±0.66 vs. 1.60±0.58; P <0.05) or normal controls (5.06±0.66 vs. 1.03±0.22; P <0.05) as determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. On the other hand, immunohistochemistry showed an increased RBM3 labeling index in astrocytomas of different grades and normal brain tissues (positive staining rate: astrocytoma Grade IV, 92.9%; astrocytoma Grade III, 81.8%; astrocytoma Grade I-II, 50%; normal brain tissues, 37.5%; high-grade astrocytoma versus normal brain tissues, P <0.05; high-grade astrocytoma versus low-grade astrocytoma, P <0.05). The higher protein levels of RBM3 were also validated in high-grade astrocytomas and low-grade astrocytomas compared with normal brain tissues by Western blotting.

Conclusions
These data suggest that the overexpression of RBM3 may serve as an important molecular mechanism underlying astrocytic carcinogenesis. Moreover, RBM3 may have proliferative and/or proto-oncogenic functions in human astrocytomas.
Prevalence of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome in an urban population of Turkish adolescents: impact on depressive symptoms, quality of life and school performance
Authors: Durmaz Yunus , Alayli Gamze , Canbaz Sevgi , Zahiroglu Yeliz , Bilgici Ayhan , Ilhanlı Ilker , Kuru Omer 
Published: January 2024

Background
Juvenile Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JFMS) is a chronic health condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and multiple tender points (TP). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of JFMS in the urban population of Samsun and to determine the impact of JFMS on depression symptoms, school performance and quality of life (QOL).

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1109 children (mean age (14.8±2.0) years old). A questionnaire was applied to the children and a medical examination including TP was performed. Yunus and Masi's criteria were used for diagnosis of JFMS. The children with JFMS were compared with an age and sex matched non-JFMS group. Depression was assessed with Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and QOL was evaluated with Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0).

Results
Sixty-one (5.5%) (13 boys and 48 girls) of 1109 children met the diagnostic criteria of JFMS. While PedsQL scores of children with JFMS were lower than the non-JFMS group for physical, emotional, social, school functioning and total score (P=0.001), CDI total score was higher in the JFMS group than in the non-JFMS group (P=0.001). The JFMS group reported more school absences (P=0.001) and the average school grade was lower in the JFMS group than in the non-JFMS group (P=0.03).

Conclusion
The prevalence of JFMS is high in school age children. Since JFMS is a common problem of childhood, early diagnosis and identification of the disorder and more comprehensive and successful treatment approaches with appropriate psychological assistance may prevent more complex and severe problems in adulthood.
Relationship between uric acid and arterial stiffness in the elderly with metabolic syndrome components
Authors: SUN Ning , ZHANG Yun , TIAN Jian-li , WANG Hui 
Published: January 2024

Background
High uric acid (UA) levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) are risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a valid and reproducible measurement by which to assess arterial stiffness and a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the relationship between them, especially in elderly Chinese with MS components who are at high risk for atherosclerotic diseases.

Methods
One thousand and twenty Chinese subjects (159 women) older than 60 years of age (mean age (70.6±5.7) years) with at least one MS component underwent routine laboratory tests, and baPWV measurements were analyzed.

Results
Participants were divided into four groups by MS components. The mean age did not significantly differ among the MS component groups. We found that not only the diagnostic factors (blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), lipids, glucose) of MS but also baPWV, UA, insulin, homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (HOMA-IR) levels increased, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C decreased with an increased number of MS components (test for trend P<0.05). The association between UA and baPWV was observed after adjustment for gender, age, blood pressure, BMI, serum creatinine and high density lipoprotein, and insulin resistance (r=0.186, P<0.0001). There were increases in the odds ratios for the association between the number of components of MS, UA and baPWV, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors. However, after adjustment for insulin or HOMA-IR, there were no significant differences in the multivariate odds ratios among the number of MS components for UA.

Conclusions
The UA level is positively associated with baPWV and MS, but the association between UA and MS is dependent on insulin resistance. Furthermore, baPWV is independently associated with MS in our study population.
Protein kinase A-mediated cardioprotection of Tongxinluo relates to the inhibition of myocardial inflammation, apoptosis, and edema in reperfused swine hearts
Authors: LI Xiang-dong , YANG Yue-jin , CHENG Yu-tong , DOU Ke-fei , TIAN Yi , MENG Xian-min 
Published: January 2024

Background
Our previous studies have demonstrated that Tongxinluo (TXL), a traditional Chinese medicine, can protect hearts against no-reflow and reperfusion injury in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner. The present study was to investigate whether the PKA-mediated cardioprotection of TXL against no-reflow and reperfusion injury relates to the inhibition of myocardial inflammation, edema, and apoptosis.

Methods
In a 90-minute ischemia and 3-hour reperfusion model, minipigs were randomly assigned to sham, control, TXL (0.05 g/kg, gavaged one hour prior to ischemia), and TXL + H-89 (a PKA inhibitor, intravenously and continuously infused at 1.0 μg/kg per minute) groups. Myocardial no-reflow, necrosis, edema, and apoptosis were determined by pathological and histological studies. Myocardial activity of PKA and myeloperoxidase was measured by colorimetric method. The expression of PKA, phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) (Ser133), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), P-selectin, apoptotic proteins, and aquaporins was detected by Western blotting analysis.

Results
TXL decreased the no-reflow area by 37.4% and reduced the infarct size by 27.0% (P<0.05). TXL pretreatment increased the PKA activity and the expression of Ser133 p-CREB in the reflow and no-reflow myocardium (P <0.05). TXL inhibited the ischemia-reperfusion-induced elevation of myeloperoxidase activities and the expression of TNF-α and P-selectin, reduced myocardial edema in the left ventricle and the reflow and no-reflow areas and the expression of aquaporin-4, -8, and -9, and decreased myocytes apoptosis by regulation of apoptotic protein expression in the reflow and no-reflow myocardium. However, addition of the PKA inhibitor H-89 counteracted these beneficial effects of TXL.

Conclusion
PKA-mediated cardioprotection of TXL against no-reflow and reperfusion injury relates to the inhibition of myocardial inflammation, edema, and apoptosis in the reflow and no-reflow myocardium.
Pneumonia relevant to lung transplantation and pathogen distribution
Authors: HE Xuan , DAI Hua-ping , CHEN Qi-rui , MIAO Jin-bai , SUN Bing , BAO Na , HU Bin , LI Hui , WU An-shi , BAN Cheng-jun , GE Su-juan , WANG Chen , HOU Sheng-cai 
Published: January 2024

Background
Pneumonia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence, etiology, risk factors and prognosis of pneumonia in LT recipients.

Methods
The LT cohort consisted of 28 recipients receiving LT in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from August 2005 to April 2011. Data collected included demographic data, underlying disorders, time and type of transplant, follow-up information, date of last follow-up, and patient status. A retrospective analysis was made of observational data that were prospectively collected.

Results
Twenty-two patients of 28 LT recipients had 47 episodes of pneumonia throughout the study period. Thirty-eight episodes of pneumonia in 19 recipients occurred post-LT with a median follow-up of 257.5 days (1-2104 days), the incidence of pneumonia was 192.4 episodes per 100 LT/year and its median time of onset was 100.5 days (0-946 days) post-transplantation. Bacteria, virus and fungi accounted for 62%, 16% and 15% of the microbial pathogens, respectively. The most frequent were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (15%), and Aspergillus fumigatus (10%). A total of 29% (11/38) of pneumonias occurred in the first month post-LT, and then the incidence decreased gradually. The incidence of CMV pneumonia was 25% (7/28) with a median time of 97 days (10-971 days). More than one bacterial infection and CMV infection were independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was 18% (5/28), and the history of TB was a risk factor for TB relapse. There were 58% (7/12) of recipients who died of infection, and 71% (5/7) of these died in the first year after LT.

Conclusions
Pneumonia is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in LT recipients. The most frequent microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CMV, and Aspergillus fumigates. The incidence of CMV pneumonia decreases with a delayed median time of onset. More than one incidence of bacterial infection and CMV infection are independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. LT recipients are at high risk for TB, and the history of TB is a risk factor for TB relapse.
Intrinsic determinants of optic nerve regeneration
Authors: ZHU Rui-lin , CHO Kin-Sang , GUO Chen-ying , CHEW Justin , CHEN Dong-feng , YANG Liu 
Published: January 2024

Objective
To review the functions of these intracellular signals in their regulation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration.

Data sources
Relevant articles published in English or Chinese from 1970 to present were selected from PubMed. Searches were made using the terms “intrinsic determinants, axon regeneration, RGC, optic nerve regeneration, and central nervous system axon regeneration.”

Study selection
Articles studying the mechanisms controlling RGC and central nervous system (CNS) axon regeneration were reviewed. Articles focusing on the intrinsic determinants of axon regeneration were selected.

Results
Like other CNS neurons of mammals, RGCs undergo a developmental loss in their ability to grow axons as they mature, which is a critical contributing factor to the failure of nerve regeneration and repair after injury. This growth failure can be attributed, at least in part, by the induction of molecular programs preventing cellular overgrowth and termination of axonal growth upon maturation. Key intracellular signals and transcription factors, including B cell lymphoma/leukemia 2, cyclic adenine monophosphate, mammalian target of rapamycin, and Krüppel-like transcription factors, have been identified to play central roles in this process.

Conclusions
Intense effort and substantial progress have been made to identify the various intrinsic growth pathways that regulate RGC axon regeneration. More work is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of and the interrelationship between the actions of these factors and to successfully achieve regeneration and repair of the severed RGC axons.