bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of iron on in vitro proliferation of smooth muscle cells
Authors: Wu Chao , Qiu Hong , Xu Lian-jun , Ye Jue , Yang Zi-he , Qian Xin , Meng Xian-min , Cui Yong-chun , Song Li , Gao Run-lin 
Published: January 2024

Background
Iron is a biocorrodible metal that might be used in bioabsorbable stents. This study investigated the effects at the cellular and protein levels of soluble divalent iron (ferrous gluconate) and soluble trivalent iron (ferric chloride) on the proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) in vitro.

Methods
The water-soluble tetrazolium (WST-1) test was used to evaluate the effect of iron on proliferation of HASMC and Western blotting was used to measure the levels of signaling proteins involved in proliferative and apoptosis pathways.

Results
HASMC proliferation was inhibited in a concentration dependent manner after treatment with soluble divalent and trivalent iron at concentrations of 100-500 μmol/L. Western blotting analysis showed that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression following treatment with soluble divalent iron and trivalent iron at 100, 300 and 500 μmol/L was reduced compared to the control. The PCNA expression decreased with increasing iron concentration and to a greater extent with the trivalent iron than with the divalent iron treatment group. The p53 expression was markedly increased in a concentration dependent manner in both iron treatment groups.

Conclusion
The soluble divalent iron and, to a greater degree trivalent iron, inhibited HASMC proliferation in a dosedependent manner, which may be attributed to reduction of PCNA expression and increase of p53 expression.
Correlation of Epworth Sleepiness Scale with multiple sleep latency test and its diagnostic accuracy in assessing excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome
Authors: CAI Si-jie , CHEN Rui , ZHANG Yan-lin , XIONG Kang-ping , LIAN Yi-xin , LI Jie , SHEN Jiu-cheng , LIU Chun-feng 
Published: January 2024

Background
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and contributes to a number of comorbidities in these patients. Therefore, early detection of EDS is critical in disease management. We examined the association between Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and diagnostic accuracy of ESS in assessing EDS in OSAHS patients.

Methods
The ESS, MSLT and overnight polysomnography were administered to 107 Chinese patients to assess EDS and its correlations with polysomnographic parameters. The diagnostic accuracy of ESS in classifying EDS (mean sleep latency (MSL) ≤10 minutes) was evaluated by calculating the area under ROC curve.

Results
As the severity of OSAHS increased, MSL decreased with increase in ESS score. Conversely, patients with worsening EDS (shorter MSL) were characterized by advanced nocturnal hypoxaemia and sleep disruption compared to those with normal MSL, suggesting EDS is associated with more severe OSAHS. There was a negative correlation between ESS score and MSL and both moderately correlated with some polysomnographic nocturnal hypoxaemic parameters. The area under ROC curve of ESS for identifying EDS was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71 to 0.88) and ESS score ≥12 provided the best predictive value with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 69%.

Conclusion
The ESS score moderately correlates with MSL and our ROC study supports ESS as a screening strategy for assessing EDS in OSAHS.
Ischemic preconditioning produces more powerful anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects than limb remote ischemic postconditioning in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: ZHANG Jia-qiang , WANG Qiang , XUE Fu-shan , LI Rui-ping , CHENG Yi , CUI Xin-long , LIAO Xu , MENG Fan-min 
Published: January 2024

Background
Both ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and limb remote ischemic postconditioning (LRIPOC) have been shown to possess significantly different cardioprotective effects against the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), but no study has compared the anti-inflammatory effects of IPC and LRIPOC during myocardial IRI process. We hypothesized that IPC and LRIPOC would produce different anti-inflammatory effects in an in vivo rat model with myocardial IRI.

Methods
Eighty rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups: sham group, IRI group, IPC group and LRIPOC group. In 10 rats randomly selected from each group, serum levels of TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 were assessed, and infarct size was determined. In another 10 rats of each group, myocardial levels of TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 in both ischemic and non-ischemic regions were measured.

Results
The infarct size was significantly lower in IPC and LRIPOC groups than in IRI group. The serum and myocardial levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 during reperfusion were significantly reduced in IPC and LRIPOC groups compared to IRI group. As compared to the IPC group, infarct size, serum level of TNF-α at 60 minutes of reperfusion, serum levels of HMGB1 and ICAM1 at 120 minutes of reperfusion, myocardial levels of TNF-α, ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 in the ischemic region, myocardial levels of ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 in the non-ischemic region were significantly increased in the LRIPOC group.

Conclusions
In the rats with myocardial IRI, IPC produces more powerful inhibitory effects on local myocardial and systemic inflammatory responses than LRIPOC. This may be partly attributed to more potent cardioprotection produced by IPC.
Correlation of tumor necrosis factor-β and interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphism with susceptibility to bacteremia in patients undergoing kidney transplantation
Authors: WU Xiao-xia , WAN Qi-quan , YE Qi-fa , ZHOU Jian-dang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Bacteremia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation. This study was conducted to investigate whether the polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene predicted the susceptibility to bacteremia within the first 6 months after kidney transplantation.

Methods
Subjects comprised 82 infected kidney transplant recipients and 60 non-infected kidney transplant recipients. Bacteremia was diagnosed in 16 of the 82 infected recipients. Genomic DNA from these 142 kidney transplant recipients was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Regions containing the NcoI polymorphic site at position +252 of TNF-β gene and the AvaI polymorphic site at position -511 of IL-1β gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequently digested with NcoI and AvaI restriction enzymes, respectively. The polymorphic regions within intron 2 of IL-1ra gene containing variable numbers of a tandem repeat (VNTR) of 86 base pairs were amplified by PCR.

Results
Genotypic and allelic frequencies were similar between infected recipients and non-infected ones. Individual locus analysis showed that recipient TNF-β and IL-1ra gene polymorphisms were not associated with the presence of bacteremia (P=0.684 and P=0.567, respectively). However, genotype analysis revealed that recipient IL-1β-511CC genotype was strongly associated with susceptibility to develop bacteremia (P=0.003). Recipient IL-1β-511CC genotype (odds ratio 5.242, 95% confidence intervals 1.645-16.706, P=0.005) independently predicted the risk for bacteremia within the first 6 months after kidney transplantation.

Conclusions
These findings indicate a critical role of IL-1β gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to bacteremia after kidney transplantation, which may be useful to screen for patients at higher risk for post-transplant bacteremias. Thus, the identified individuals can benefit from preventive treatment and a less potent immunosuppressive regimen.
Relationship between serum bilirubin levels and optic neuritis
Authors: DENG Juan , LIANG Xue-mei , ZHANG Xiu-lan , LING Shi-qi , YANG Ting-ting , LI Min , PENG Fu-hua 
Published: January 2024

Background
Bilirubin is the end product of heme catabolism and has strong antioxidant properties. Serum bilirubin levels are reported to be reduced in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The pathophysiology of optic neuritis (ON) resembles that of MS; however, the role of endogenous bilirubin in ON is unclear. The aim of this study is to measure serum bilirubin levels in patients with ON, and to investigate the correlation between ON and serum antioxidant status of bilirubin.

Methods
Serum levels of bilirubin were measured in 42 patients with ON, 50 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 48 patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and 48 healthy control subjects.

Results
Serum total bilirubin (Tbil), direct bilirubin (Dbil) and indirect bilirubin (Ibil) levels in patients with ON were significantly lower than those in the healthy controls. However, no statistical significance was found between levels in the ON and MS, ON and NMO, and MS and NMO groups. In patients with ON, serum Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil levels were lower in those with recurrence or those with ON for a longer duration (≥1 year). Moreover, Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil concentrations were lower in patients with papillitis than in those with retrobulbar type ON, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions
Low antioxidant status may exist in patients with ON. But serum levels of Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil did not correlate with clinical presentations, such as recurrence, duration of disease and subtypes of ON. Low antioxidant status already existed in MS or NMO patients before systemic symptoms appeared.
Shortening of the 3′ untranslated region: an important mechanism leading to overexpression of HMGA2 in serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Xiangjun He , Jing Yang , Qi Zhang , Heng Cui , Yujun Zhang 
Published: January 2024

Background
Oncofetal protein high-mobility-group AT-hook protein 2 (HMGA2) is reactivated in serous ovarian cancer (SOC) and its overexpression correlates with poor prognosis. To explore the mechanism, we investigated whether HMGA2 could avoid microRNA regulation due to gene truncation or 3′ UTR shortening by alternative polyadenylation.

Methods
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate the abundance of different regions of HMGA2 mRNA in 46 SOC samples. Rapid amplification of cDNA 3′ ends (3′ RACE) and Southern blotting were used to confirm the shortening of 3′ untranslated region (UTR). 5′ RACE and Southern blotting were used to prove the mRNA decay.

Results
No significant difference in the ratio of the stable coding region to the fragile region was observed between SOC and control normal fallopian tubes, indicating that the HMGA2 gene is not truncated in SOC. Varying degrees of 3′ UTR shortening in SOC samples were observed by comparing the abundance of the proximal region and distal region of the HMGA2 3′ UTR. The ratio of the proximal to the distal region of the 3′ UTR correlated significantly with expression of the HMGA2 coding region in SOC (r=0.579, P <0.01). Moreover, although the abundance of the HMGA2 coding region varied, all samples, including the very low expressed samples, exhibit relatively high levels of the proximal 3′ UTR region, suggesting a dynamic decay of HMGA2 mRNA from the 5′ end. The shortening of 3′ UTR and the decay from the 5′ end were confirmed by 3′ RACE, 5′ RACE and subsequent Southern blotting.

Conclusion
Heterogeneous 3′ UTR lengths render HMGA2 susceptible to different levels of negative regulation by microRNAs, which represents an important mechanism of HMGA2 reactivation in SOC.
Are there any disbenefits to patients in choosing laparoscopic gastrectomy by an expert in open gastrectomy? Aspects of surgical outcome and radicality of lymphadenectomy
Authors: Lee Seung Soo , Kim In Ho 
Published: January 2024

Background
There may be concerns over disbenefits to patients who have chosen to undergo laparoscopic gastrectomy by experts in open gastrectomy, considering the disparity between the level of proficiency in open gastrectomy, at which they are already experts, and that in laparoscopic gastrectomy, at which they are beginners. The aim of this study was to compare surgical radicality and outcomes between laparoscopic gastrectomy and open gastrectomy during the learning period of laparoscopic gastrectomy for a senior surgeon who was already an expert in open gastrectomy.

Methods
Data of short-term surgical outcomes were obtained from patients following laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) by a surgeon. The initial and following 30 experiences were grouped into LADG-I and LADG-II, respectively. Patients who underwent open distal subtotal gastrectomy (ODSG) and yet could have been candidates for LADG were grouped into ODSG. Known indicators of proficiency levels and the postoperative hospital course were compared. The consequences of extended lymphadenectomy, and the radicality of surgery by completing D2 lymphadenectomy were analyzed.

Results
The LADG group revealed longer operation time and less bleeding compared to the ODSG group (P <0.001). The number of retrieved lymph nodes and the rate of complications were not significantly different. In the LADG-I group, the D1+:D2 ratio was 4:1, showing significant differences from those in the LADG-II (0.36:1) and ODSG (0.16:1) groups (P <0.001). The surgeon was able to complete D2 lymphadenectomy during LADG without significant change in the amount of bleeding and the rate of complications, but with a longer operation time (P=0.009). The number of lymph nodes from the 12a station was not significantly different between the LADG and ODSG groups with D2 lymphadenectomy.

Conclusions
The surgical outcomes were comparable between LADG and ODSG even during the learning period of LADG, and the equivalence of radicality in lymphadenectomy was soon achieved. As long as the surgeon can accept a long operation time, an expert in open gastrectomy should not refrain from performing laparoscopic gastrectomy in well selected patients because of concerns about disbenefits to patients from choosing laparoscopic gastrectomy over open gastrectomy.
BRCA2 promoter polymorphism is associated with breast cancer prognosis in Chinese women
Authors: Liu Lu , Fang Yi , Fan Jianlin , Hu Jianming , Xu Xiaoting , Jin Xiaohong , Wang Xiuzhen , Deng Min , Wang Jing , Liu Wei 
Published: January 2024

Background

Breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) is an important breast cancer-susceptibility gene. Promoter polymorphisms in BRCA2 may affect its transcription and be associated with cancer prognosis.

Methods
We identified five polymorphisms of the BRCA2 promoter region by in silico searching and direct sequencing: -254A/G (rs3092989), -908A/G (rs206117), -1134A/G (rs206115), -1144C/T (rs206116), and -1260CTTAGA/-(rs3072036). The -908A/G, -1134A/G, -1144C/T, and -1260CTTAGA/- polymorphisms were genotyped by direct sequencing in 491 breast cancer patients, and the -254A/G polymorphism was genotyped by Sequenom.

Results
The -1144C/T polymorphism was associated with clinical outcome. Carriers of the TT genotype had longer disease-free intervals (DFIs, P=0.029), especially among patients with sporadic unilateral breast cancer (P=0.010). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed that all the five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were in LD (D> >0.8). Carriers of haplotypes containing the -1144T allele showed longer DFIs (P=0.049), and the result was more significant in patients with sporadic unilateral cancer (P=0.018). There were no significant associations between the other polymorphisms and DFI.

Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that homozygosity for the BRCA2 T(-1144) allele is associated with a longer DFI in Chinese women with breast cancer. Further functional studies are warranted to clarify this relationship.
High-frequency stimulation of anterior nucleus thalamus improves impaired cognitive function induced by intra-hippocampal injection of Aβ1–40 in rats
Authors: Chen Ning , Dong Shuai , Yan Tingshuang , Yan Na , Ma Yu , Yu Chunjiang 
Published: January 2024

Background
The advent of brain stimulation techniques to treat movement disorders and psychiatric diseases has shown potential to decode the neural mechanism that underlies the cognitive process by modulating the interrupted circuit. Here, the present investigation aimed at evaluating the influence of deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus thalamus (ANT-DBS) on memory.

Methods
Thirty-two rats were randomized into phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group (n=8, rats received PBS injections without implantation of electrodes into the ANT), Alzheimer's dementia (AD) group (n=8, rats received Aβ1–40 injections without implantation of electrodes into the ANT), ANT sham stimulation group (n=8, rats received Aβ1–40 injections with implantation of electrodes into the ANT but without stimulation) and ANT stimulation group (n=8, rats received Aβ1–40 injections with implantation of electrodes into the ANT and stimulation). A Morris maze test was used for determining the effect of electrical stimulation on cognitive function in rats. The data were assessed statistically with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's tests for multiple post hoc comparisons.

Results
The data showed that in the training test, PBS group and AD group managed to learn the hidden-platform faster and faster while AD group needed a significantly longer time to reach the platform than PBS group (P <0.05). Meanwhile, ANT stimulation group demonstrated a significantly shorter time to reach the platform (P <0.05) compared to the AD group, while there was no significant difference between the ANT sham stimulation group and the AD group (P >0.05). On the probe test, the AD group spent less time ((10.15±2.34) seconds) in the target quadrant than the PBS group ((28.20±2.75) seconds) (P <0.05). And the times of platform-traversing of the AD group (3.35±1.12) significantly decreased compared with the PBS group (8.69±2.87) (P <0.05). However, the times of platform-traversing and the time spent in the target quadrant of the ANT stimulation group significantly increased compared to the AD group (P <0.05), while times of platformtraversing or the time spent in the target quadrant was not significantly different between the ANT sham stimulation group and the AD group (P >0.05).

Conclusion
Bilateral high-frequency stimulation of the ANT may be useful as a potential therapeutic modality for cognitive dysfunction in AD.
15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats
Authors: Liu Dong , Geng Zhilong , Zhu Wankun , Wang Huiwen , Chen Ye , Liang Juan 
Published: January 2024

Background
A proinflammatory milieu emerging in the lung due to neutrophil accumulation and activation is a key in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the terminal products of the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, is known to be the endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) with multiple physiological properties. Growing evidence indicates that 15d-PGJ2 has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, cytoprotective and pro-resolving effects. We investigated whether 15d-PGJ2 has a protective effect against endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.

Methods
Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=6 per group): sham+vehicle group, sham+15d-PGJ2 group, LPS+vehicle group, and LPS+15d-PGJ2 group. The rats were given either lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 6 mg/kg intravenously) or saline, and pretreated with 15d-PGJ2 (0.3 mg/kg intravenously) or its vehicle (dimethyl sulphoxide) 30 minutes before LPS. Histological alterations, wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) levels were determined in lung tissues four hours after LPS injection. Immunohistochemical analysis for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and Western blotting analysis for nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 translocation and IκBα protein levels were also studied.

Results
15d-PGJ2 pretreatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced lung injury, and reduced the increased W/D ratio, MPO activity, TNF-α, CINC-1 levels, and ICAM-1 expression in the lung. 15d-PGJ2 also suppressed the nuclear NF-κB p65 translocation and increased cytosolic IκBα levels.

Conclusions
15d-PGJ2 protects against endotoxin-induced acute lung injury, most likely through the reduction of pro-inflammatory protein levels during endotoxemia subsequent to the inhibition of NF-κB activation.
Altered CD8+ T-cell counts as an early predictor of prognosis in critically ill immunocompromised patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Cui Na , Wang Hao , Long Yun , Liu Dawei 
Published: January 2024

Background
The number of critically ill immunocompromised (CIIC) patients has increased dramatically in recent years, and they represent a high risk population for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) infection. Host immunity should play a major role in determining the outcome and recovery of these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in host immune status and its potential influence on prognosis in CIIC patients with IPA.

Methods
We monitored the evolution of a number of key cellular and humoral parameters on days 1, 3, and 10 (D1, D3 and D10) following ICU admission in sixty-two CIIC patients with microbiological evidence of IPA. We included immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM, complement factors C3 and C4, and lymphocyte subgroups CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD28+CD4+, and CD28+CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, and CD3-CD16+CD56+ natural killer cells (NK).

Results
The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Thirty-eight (61.3%) patients died within the 28 days following ICU admission. Compared to patients who died, CD3+, CD8+, CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts on D1, D3, and D10, CD28+CD4+ T-cell counts on D3 and D10, and NK counts on D3 and D10 were significantly higher in survivors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of immune parameters predicting 28-day mortality revealed area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.82 (95% CI 0.71–0.92), 0.94 (95% CI 0.87–0.99), and 0.94 (95% CI 0.85–0.99) for CD8+ T-cell counts for D1, D3, and D10 respectively, and 0.84 (95% CI 0.75–0.94), 0.92 (95% CI 0.85–0.99), and 0.90 (95% CI 0.79–0.99) for CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts for D1, D3, and D10 respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that CD8+ T-cell counts <149.5×106 cells/L and CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts <75×106 cells/L at ICU admission were associated with lower survival probabilities in CIIC patients with IPA (both Log rank: P<0.001).

Conclusions
Low CD8+ and CD28+CD8+ T-cell counts were associated with high mortality in CIIC patients with IPA. Early counts of CD8+ and CD28+CD8+ T cells in CIIC patients with IPA may be valuable for predicting outcome.