bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Akt2 deficiency alleviates oxidative stress in the heart and liver during high fat diet-induced obesity
Authors: Kong Weixian , Peng Yue , Ji Caoyu , Li Zhe , Liu Zekun , Gao Shuya , Zhang Yuexin , Chen Jiawen , Li Xie , Bao Mengmeng , Zhang Yubin , Jiang Qizhou , Wang Ruopu , Yan Fangrong , Bian Xiaohong , Ye Junmei 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The AKT family plays key roles in global metabolism. However, the function of different AKT isoforms during obesity-associated hepatic and cardiac injury remained unclear. This study aims to elucidate the role of AKT2 in the pathogenesis of hepatic and cardiac lipotoxicity due to nutrition overload-induced obesity and explore the signaling pathway that it involves. Akt2 KO mice were fed with high fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity model in vivo. The oxidative stress of the normal human hepatic cell line (L02 cells) and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were measured by using Oil Red O and Rho123 staining as well as Flow cytometry. Protein levels were determined by using western blot technique. We observed that during HFD-induced obesity, Akt2 loss-of-function mitigated lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in the liver and heart tissue. Mechanistically, during HFD-induced obesity, Akt2 deficiency promotes SIRT6 expression in the hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. Upregulation of SIRT6 deacetylates SOD2, which promotes SOD2 activity and thus alleviating oxidative stress-induced injury of hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, We also proved that AKT2 inhibitor protects hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes from HFD-induced oxidative stress. This study demonstrates that Akt2 deficiency plays a beneficial role in protecting hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress via SIRT6-dependent SOD2 deacetylation during lipid overload-induced obesity, indicating an important function of AKT2 in the regulation of obesity-induced lipid metabolic disorder in the liver and heart. Our study also indicates AKT2 inhibitor as a potential therapy for obesity-induced hepatic and cardiac injury.
Association Between Serum 25(OH)D and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Adults with Prior Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study From NHANES 2007-2018
Authors: Hu Ben , Chen Jian , Shi Yihang , Hou Linlin 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Serum vitamin D deficiency is common in the patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the association between serum vitamin D levels and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with CVD is controversial.
Objective
This study aimed to understand better the association between serum 25(OH)D status and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with prior CVD.
Method
We conducted a cohort study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007–2018 to investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D and the risk of all-cause mortality using multivariate Cox regression models, with further subgroup analyses and interactions smooth curve fitting to address possible nonlinearities.
Result
A total of 3220 participants with prior CVD were included in this study, with a total of 930 deaths over a median follow-up of 5.52 years, with multivariable-adjusted serum vitamin D levels (< 25 nmol/L) as a reference in COX regression, and corrected HRs and 95% CIs of 1.00 (reference), 0.74 (0.55, 1.00), 0.69 (0.51, 0.93), and 0.58 (0.43, 0.79) for all-cause mortality, respectively. Results remained robust in the stratified analysis of interactions, but a U-shaped relationship was detected. We identified an inflection point of 89.8 nmol/L after multivariate adjustment through a two-stage linear regression model and recursive algorithm.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that increasing serum 25(OH)D levels may have a U-shaped relationship with risk of all-cause mortality and that increases in serum 25(OH)D levels do not continue to reduce the risk of all-cause mortality beyond specific criteria have a diminished protective effect.
Efficacy and safety of berberine hydrochloride for glycemic control in prediabetic individuals: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized trial
Authors: Panigrahi Antarmayee , Mohanty Susant 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background: Prediabetes and diabetes involve alterations in glucose homeostasis, including elevated fasting blood glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. Berberine has been identified as a potential regulator of glucose homeostasis with implications on the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Given a paucity of data on berberine in prediabetes, evaluation of its effect in prediabetic individuals may prove clinically valuable. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of daily oral berberine on markers of glycemic control and insulin resistance among prediabetic individuals.
Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks among 34 prediabetic individuals as defined by the American Diabetes Association (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) between 5.7% and 6.4%, or 2-hour 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (2h-OGTT) between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/L). HIMABERB® 500 mg was given three times daily to the treatment group, and placebo was administered three times daily to the control group. Glycemic control markers and physical parameters were evaluated for both groups on days 0, 28, 56, and 84. The glycemic control markers assessed included FPG, fasting insulin (FI), 2h-OGTT, HbA1c, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The observed outcomes were analyzed using independent t-test statistics to determine the significance of differences over time after treatment initiation and between treatment and control groups.
Results: Significant decreases in all markers of glycemic control were observed in the treatment group at intermediate time points and the endpoint of the study compared to baseline levels and to the control group. For the treatment group, FPG decreased from 6.75 ± 0.23 mmol/L to 5.33 ± 0.28 mmol/L, FI from 9.81 ± 0.36 to 7.88 ± 0.52 mmol/L, 2h-OGTT from 10.44 ± 0.52 to 8.12 ± 0.40 mmol/L, HbA1c from 6.40% ± 0.20% to 5.43% ± 0.21%, and HOMA-IR from 3.61 ± 0.31 to 2.41 ± 0.14. The decreases in glycemic control markers compared to the control group were clinically and statistically significant (p<0.00001). No severe adverse effects, kidney or liver toxicity were detected.
Conclusion: After 12 weeks, berberine (HIMABERB®) intervention in prediabetic individuals significantly reduced glycemic control markers, with mean FPG and 2h-OTGG being reduced to below prediabetic thresholds, supporting the investigation of the use of HIMABERB® for delaying progression to diabetes mellitus.
Trial registration: http://ctri.nic.in (CTRI/2021/12/038751) 20/12/2021
Identification and promoter analysis of a GA-stimulated transcript 1 gene from Jatropha curcas
Authors: Lei Shikang , Zhao Liangqing , Chen Yuqian , Xu Gang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMembers of Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene family play roles in plant growth and development, particularly in flower induction and seed development. However, there is still relatively limited knowledge of GASA genes inJatropha curcas. Herein, we identified a GASA family gene fromJatropha curcas, namelyJcGAST1, which encodes a protein containing a conserved GASA domain. Sequence alignment showed that JcGASAT1 protein shares 76% sequence identity and 80% sequence similarity with SlGAST1.JcGAST1had higher expression and protein levels in the male flowers than in the female flowers. Overexpression ofJcGAST1in tobacco promotes plant growth but inhibits pistil development.JcGAST1expression was upregulated by GA and downregulated by MeJA. Promoter analysis indicated that the pyrimidine box and CGTCA motif were the GA-and MeJA-responsive elements of theJcGAST1promoter. Using a Y1H screen, six transcription factors were found to interact with the pyrimidine box, and three transcription factors were found to interact with theCGTCA motif. Overall, the results of this study improve our understanding of theJcGAST1gene and provide useful information for further studies.
Multi-objective optimization of urban water allocation considering recycled water
Authors: Chen Siwei , Yue-Ping Xu , Guo Yuxue , Yu Xinting 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

The use of recycled water is an essential means of resolving urban water scarcity. To realize the coordinated allocation of conventional and recycled water, a multi-objective water resources optimal allocation model with recycled water is established. The model takes into account the impact of the carbon footprint on the regional ecology during the total water allocation process, which has not been given enough attention before. Simultaneously, this study combined direct policy search, nonlinear approximation networks and multi-objective evolutionary algorithms to design Pareto approximation operating policies for joint conventional and recycled water allocation. The AHP-Entropy method based on combinatorial assignment of weights is then used to perform multi-attribute decision making on the optimized operating policies for scientific selection of solutions. The proposed model is demonstrated in Yiwu City, China, which suffers from the water shortage due to the rapid development of industry. Results show that radial basis functions can effectively design Pareto approximation operating policies for the water supply system of Yiwu City. The inclusion of recycled water can result in a 31.67% reduction in water shortage and an 8.45% increase in economic benefit, while carbon emissions only increase by 1.78%. This result illustrates the use of recycled water can alleviate urban water scarcity, increase economic benefits, and mitigate carbon emissions to some extent. Multi-attribute decision making based on the AHP-Entropy method provides a scientific basis for optimalurban multi-water allocation.
Lack of casual association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and bone mineral density: A mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Hudabaierdi Munire , Wang Fei , Liu Yan-shi , Wang Zong-ding , Aimaiti Abudousaimi , Cui Lei 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Many observational studies focus on the relationship between Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD). However, the conclusions are controversial and the causal relationship between NAFLD and BMD remains unclear.
Method
A bi-directional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to investigate the potential causal links between NAFLD and BMDs. We applied genetic variants as instrumental variables obtained from the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis (GEFOS) dataset and several published genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We obtained summary statistics for heel (H) BMD (n = 426,824), femoral neck (FN) BMD (n = 32,735), lumbar spine (LS) BMD (n = 28,498), ultra-distal forearm (UF) BMD (n = 21,907), and total body (TB) BMD (n = 56,284) from some GWAS meta-analyses. Additionally, the NAFLD GWAS included 377,988 individuals of European ancestry which consist of 4,761 NAFLD cases and 373,227 control cases. We used inverse variance weighted (IVW), four supplemental methods, and several sensitivity analyses to estimated and cross-validate the potential causal relationship in the present MR analysis.
Results
The sensitivity analyses do not find any violation of the MR assumptions. We found that NAFLD has no causal association with H-BMD (beta − 0.017; 95%CI -0.0458,0.0117; p = 0.2461), FN-BMD (beta − 0.0166; 95%CI -0.1592,0.1259; p = 0.8191), LS-BMD (beta − 0.021; 95%CI -0.1475,0.1055; p = 0.7446), UF-BMD (beta − 0.0524; 95%CI -0.1726,0.0679; p = 0.3935), TB-BMD (beta − 0.0596, 95%CI -0.1236,0.0044; p = 0.0678). Similarly, reverse MR analysis provided little support for a causal effect of BMDs on NAFLD.
Conclusion
This MR study found no evidence to support a bi-directional causality between NAFLD and BMD.
Depression-like Behavior and Alterations of Neurotransmitters and the Corresponding Receptors in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Zhang Meng , Liu Li-yuan , Xu Yong , Wang Wen-zhi , Qiu Nian-zhuang , Zhang Fang-fang , Zhang Feng , Wang Xiao-dan , Chen Wei , Xu Xiao-yan , Gao Yong-feng , wang hao , Li Yu-qin , Chen Mei-hua , Zhang Han-ting 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Backgrounds: Depression is among the most frequent psychiatric comorbid conditions in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, pharmacotherapy for depressive disorders in AD is still a big challenge；current antidepressants used clinically, such as monoamine antidepressants, have shown only modest or little clinical benefits. Here we investigated the mechanism of the interactions between depression and AD, which we believe would aid in the development of pharmacological therapeutics for the comorbidity of depression and AD.
Methods: Female APP/PS1/Tau triple transgenic (3×Tg-AD) mice at 20 months of age and age- and gender-matched wild-type (WT) mice were used. The shuttle-box passive avoidance test (PAT), the open field test (OFT), and the tail suspension test (TST) were implemented to assess behavioral changes. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to detect the level of neurotransmitters related to depression in the hippocampus of mice. The data was identified by orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The expression of relative receptors was detected using Western blot.
Results: Compared to WT, 3×Tg-AD mice displayed significant cognitive impairment in the PAT and depression-like behavior in the OFT and TST. They also showed significant decreases in the levels of L-tyrosine, norepinephrine, vanillylmandelic acid, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and acetylcholine, in contrast to significant increases in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, L-histidine, L-glutamine, and L-arginine in the hippocampus. The expression of the alpha 1a adrenergic receptor (ADRA1A), serotonin 1A receptor (5HT1A), and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor subunit alpha-2 (GABRA2) was significantly downregulated in the hippocampus of 3×Tg-AD mice, while histamine H3 receptor (H3R) expression was significantly upregulated. In addition, the ratio of phosphorylated cAMP-response element-binding protein (pCREB) and CREB was significantly decreased in the hippocampus relative to WT.
Conclusions: We demonstrated in the present study that aged female 3×Tg-AD mice showed depression-like behavior accompanied with cognitive dysfunction. The complex and diverse mechanism appears not only relevant to the imbalance of multiple neurotransmitter pathways, including the transmitters and receptors of the monoaminergic, GABAergic, histaminergic, and cholinergic systems, but also related to the changes in L-arginine and CREB signaling molecules.
Vertebral Artery Stenting for Acute Multiple Cerebral Infarctions Caused by Vertebral Artery Dissection After Massage: A Case Report
Authors: Cui Yingxue , Hou Xuesi , Liu Guilin , Ji Xu , Li Bin , Wang Shaosong 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Background: Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a special cause of ischaemic stroke in young patients. Cervical vertebrae massage, especially improper pulling manipulation, is one cause of vertebral artery dissection. The best therapy for acute VAD, whether conservative antithrombotic therapy or emergency endovascular therapy, has always been a topic of discussion.
Case presentation: The case of a young woman with acute multiple posterior circulation ischaemic cerebral infarction caused by left vertebral artery V4 segment dissection after improper neck massage is reported. Due to the serious condition of the patient, we performed emergency vertebral artery stent implantation at the site of dissection. The symptoms of the patient were significantly relieved on the second day. She recovered well in the later period without adverse complications or intravascular restenosis in the following year.
Conclusions: Endovasculartherapy may be an effective measure to quickly relieve clinical symptoms and reduce serious complications in patients with acute VAD. Additional clinical observations are needed.
Crosslinking modification of polyamide composite membranes toward high performance for DMAc/H2O dehydration
Authors: Ma Wenzhong , Wei Ziang , Zhong Jing , Jiang Chao , Song Xiangyuan , Yuan Guorui , Cheng Zaiqi , Ma Binghao , Matsuyama Hideto 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylacetamide (DMAc) play a crucial role in the chemical industry. Pervaporation is a membrane separation technology suitable for the dehydration of organic solvents. In this study, thin polyamide (PA) pervaporation membranes with different structures were prepared by interfacial polymerization using trimesoyl chloride (TMC) as the organic phase, and either m-phenylenediamine (MPDA), propylene diamine (DAPE), or tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA) as the aqueous phase. In addition, the PA pervaporation membranes' chemical composition, hydrophilicity, surface morphology, and cross-sectional morphology were examined by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopic (AFM) and contact angle (CA) analysis, respectively. The results showed that the PA pervaporation membrane prepared with TEPA as the aqueous monomer exhibited a high degree of crosslinking, resulting in dense molecular chains. The permeation flux and water content of 10 wt % DMAc/H2O system were 17.8 L m− 2 h− 1 and 98.4 wt % at 500 Pa and 70 ° C, respectively. Therefore, the TEPA-PA membrane has a good separation performance even when dealing with a low-concentration DMAc/H2O system.
production of chitosan from Rhizopus stolonifer by submerged fermentation in Sweet Sorghum Juice
Authors: alazmeh mohammad fawaz , issa nizar 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background

Due to important, multiple uses of chitosan and lake of its traditional sources (crustacean shells) in Syria ,it was necessary to extract chitosan from alternative sources like fungal cell wall considering that fungal mycelium can be obtained by simple ,rapid ,and low cost ways regardless of geographical location or season, In recent years, there have been a number of statistics around the world for vegan and vegetarian populations. There are about 5 out of 100 persons getting affected by crustacean allergy, which means that about 300 million persons need non-crustacean-ingredients. This is the reason that people are getting interested in replacing the animal source products with non-animal source products.

Results

In this study chitosan was extracted from Rhizopus stolonifer by submerged fermentation in Sweet Sorghum Juice. It was observed after growing fungus on diluted Sweet Sorghum Juice by submerged fermentation that the biggest amount of chitosan extracted from Rhizopus stolonifer was 0.256 g (4.9% of mycelium dry weight). The liquid medium was optimized to get the biggest dry weight of this fungus. The results showed that diluting the fermentation medium to 30/70 v/v in distilled water under submerged fermentation for 6 days at 25º C degree by adding 2% of peptone had given the biggest dry weight of Rhizopus stolonifer.

Conclusion

Further studies are needed to examine and improve extracted amount of chitosan from different species of fungi.
Acid sphingomyelinase promotes diabetic cardiomyopathy via NADPH oxidase 4 mediated apoptosis
Authors: Liu Ruijiao , Duan Tengfei , Yu Li , Tang Yongzhong , Liu Shikun , Wang Chunjiang , Fang Weijin 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Increased acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity is associated with insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction. However, the effects of ASMase on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the molecular mechanism(s) underlying remain to be elucidated. We here investigated whether ASMase caused DCM through NADPH oxidase 4-mediated apoptosis.
Methods and Results
We used pharmacological and genetic approaches coupled with study of murine and cell line samples to reveal the mechanisms initiated by ASMase in diabetic hearts. The protein expression and activity of ASMase were upregulated, meanwhile ceramide accumulation was increased in the myocardium of HFD mice. Inhibition of ASMase with imipramine (20mg·Kg− 1·d− 1) or siRNA reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, fibrosis, and mitigated cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction in HFD mice. The similar effects were observed in cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG, 30 mmol·L− 1) + palmitic acid (PA, 100µmol·L− 1) or C16 ceramide (CER, 20 µmol·L− 1). Interestingly, the cardioprotective effect of ASMase inhibition was not accompanied by reduced ceramide accumulation, indicating a ceramide-independent manner. The mechanism may involve activated NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), increased ROS generation and triggered apoptosis. Suppression of NOX4 with apocynin prevented HG + PA and CER incubation induced Nppb and Myh7 pro-hypertrophic gene expression, ROS production and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. Furthermore, cardiomyocyte-specific ASMase knockout (ASMaseMyh6KO) restored HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction, remodeling, and apoptosis, whereas NOX4 protein expression was downregulated.
Conclusions
These results demonstrated that HFD-mediated activation of cardiomyocyte ASMase could increase NOX4 expression, which may stimulate oxidative stress, apoptosis, and then cause metabolic cardiomyopathy.
Motivation of patients with chronic cancer during COVID-19: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Georgescu Irène , Minvielle Etienne , Scotté Florian 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Motivation to treat cancer and prevent its negative impact has been largely explored in a non-pandemic context. However, little is known about the motivation to comply with the treatment, especially during a pandemic. To fill this gap we have explored the individual and contextual factors impacting patients’ motivation during the COVID-19 period using the integrated model.
Methods
We have conducted two qualitative studies before (study 1) and during the COVID-19 (study 2) period in a cancer centre. We respectively interviewed 30 and 22 patients with various chronic cancers in study 1 and also with COVID-19 in study 2. Data analysis was based on content analysis and grounded theory approach identifying the factors affecting patient motivations during both periods, and then comparing them.
Results
Our results show the mechanisms that allow patients to maintain their motivation despite the threats related to COVID-19. They underline the importance of respecting the rules and laws for patients’ motivation.
Conclusion
Compliance with legislation fuels the psychological need of protection in patients, which is a key determinant of motivation in the context of the pandemic. Considering patients’ self-regulatory activities to assess motivational factors, going beyond clinical aspects, to include organisational and quality-of-life-related aspects throughout their care pathway is crucial.