bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of exercise on cytokine concentration in equine autologous conditioned serum
Authors: Hale Josephine N. , Hughes Kristopher J. , Hall Sarah , Labens Raphael 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundAutologous conditioned serum (ACS) is a commonly administered intra‐articular treatment for the management of osteoarthritis in athletic horses.ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of exercise on the concentration of cytokines in a non‐commercial method of ACS production.Study designNon‐randomised cross over design.MethodsWhole blood was obtained from eight healthy Standardbred horses immediately prior to, 1 h and 24 h following a single bout of exhaustive exercise. Blood was processed using a non‐commercial method of ACS production. Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) analysis was performed to quantify Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra), Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), Interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) concentrations at each time point. Mixed effect repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the pre‐exercise and post‐exercise cytokine concentrations. Significance was set at P < 0.05.ResultsA reduced concentration of IL‐1Ra (median 584.4, IQR 81.9–5098 pg/ml,p = 0.004) and an increased concentration of TNF‐α (11.92, 9.28–39.75 pg/ml,P = .05) at 1 h post‐exercise were observed when compared with baseline values (IL‐Ra 7349, 1272–10 760 pg/ml; TNF TNF‐α 11.16, 8.36–32.74 pg/ml). No difference in cytokine concentrations of IL‐10 or IL‐1β were found between any of the time points.Main limitationsThe large biological variability and small sample size represents limitations of this study.ConclusionsThese results suggest that a single bout of intense exercise can reduce the concentration of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐1Ra and increase the concentration of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine TNF‐α, reducing the 'anti‐inflammatory' cytokine composition of ACS. Our findings suggest that collection of blood for ACS production should be performed no sooner than 24 h following a single episode of intense exercise.
Characterisation of the testicular transcriptome in stallions with age‐related testicular degeneration
Authors: Woodward Elizabeth , Schlingmann Karen , Tobias John , Turner Regina 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundAge‐related testicular degeneration can be defined as the progressive deterioration of the testis that typically occurs in middle‐aged or older males and that leads to diminished testicular function and subfertility. In the equine breeding industry, genetically valuable males maintain their value as breeding animals well into old age. Because testicular degeneration is common in middle‐aged and older stallions, the disease often has a significant negative impact on a stallion's breeding career and leads to economic losses in the horse breeding industry.ObjectiveBecause testicular degeneration is a tissue autologous disease in the horse, the objective of this study was to use whole‐transcriptome sequencing to compare the testicular transcriptomes of normal, fertile stallions to those of stallions affected by age‐related testicular degeneration in order to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease.Study designCross sectional.MethodsTesticular tissue samples from clinical castrations or euthanasia were collected from normal healthy (n = 3) or older subfertile (n = 4) stallions. Samples were processed and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq™ 2000 Sequencing System. Bioinformatic analysis of the data was performed in R/RStudio, and the transcriptomes were compared between the two groups. Genes were considered to be differentially expressed between healthy and diseased tissue if they demonstrated at least a ±1.5× fold change difference and had a false discovery rate‐adjusted P value <0.05. Gene ontology analysis was performed using Ingenuity® IPA.ResultsAnalyses of differential expression of individual genes, as well as computer‐based gene ontology analysis, identified upregulation of cytokine‐mediated inflammatory pathways in testes from stallions affected with testicular degeneration. This upregulation of inflammation was associated with upregulation of cell survival pathways, inhibition of apoptotic pathways and increases in collagen formation.Main limitationsThere are unavoidable confounding factors (e.g. differences in breed, management, environment, age) that could create non disease‐related genetic variation between our normal and affected samples. In addition, there are practical limitations to applying computer‐based gene ontology analysis to equine samples. Gene ontology software relies on published information (mostly non‐equine), and some biological processes (e.g. apoptosis and inflammation) are more commonly studied than others and so are over‐represented in the literature and therefore more likely to be identified by computer algorithms. Caution should be taken when interpreting the data, as alterations in gene expression can be the cause of disease processes or can be the result of disease processes.ConclusionsThese results suggest that chronic, low‐grade inflammation may be involved in the pathophysiology of age‐related testicular degeneration in stallions.
A review of equine tibial fractures
Authors: Bowers Kristin , Weinhandl Joshua T. , Anderson David E. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractEquine tibial fractures are relatively infrequent in racing and non‐racing sport horses, but limitations in successful treatment of tibial fractures in adult horses result in relatively high mortality compared with other musculoskeletal injuries. The aetiology of tibial fracture can be classified into two general categories: traumatic impact or fatigue failure. Tibial stress fractures, also known as fatigue fractures, are often rated as the second most common stress fracture in racing Thoroughbreds; young age, early stage in race training, and initiation of training after a period of rest are the reported risk factors. Both impact and fatigue fracture propagation are dependent on the magnitude of force applied and on the local composition/alignment of mineralised collagen in the tibial lamella. Extensive research has characterised the pattern of strain distribution and stress remodelling within the equine tibia, but in vivo measurement of load and angular moments are currently not feasible. Further research is warranted to correlate biomechanical theory of tibia fatigue fracture propagation with current histopathological data. Preventative measures for fatigue fractures aim to optimise diagnostic efficiency, reduce the interval between injury and diagnosis and modify racing and training conditions to reduce non‐specific fracture risk. Treatment options for complete tibial fractures in adult horses are limited, but with careful case selection, successful outcomes have been reported after open reduction and internal fixation. On the other hand, tibial stress fractures and minimally displaced incomplete fractures are typically treated conservatively and have good prognosis for athletic recovery. This review aims to describe the current literature regarding tibial fracture aetiology, prevalence, risk factors, fracture biomechanics, treatment, prognosis and prevention.
A Long Way to Complexity: Nonlinear “Growth Stages” and Spatially Uncoordinated Settlement Expansion in a Compact City (Athens, Greece)
Authors: Salvati Luca 
Published: May 2022

AbstractRecent urbanization trends reflect an increasing dependence on regional economic transformations, local population dynamics, and planning constraints, becoming intrinsically complex and nonlinear. Following this assumption, the present study proposes a new approach for the analysis of long‐term urban expansion in a compact metropolitan region (Athens, Greece), clarifying the importance of spatial heterogeneity and volatility in building activity over more than one century. A spatially explicit statistical approach was used to define a development cycle reflecting the stratification of heterogeneous waves of compact and dispersed urbanization at municipal scale. While resulting in distinctive spatial patterns of building activity, long‐term urban growth emerged as a multifaceted response to market stimuli, social change, and diversified territorial contexts. Results of a spatially explicit analysis of long‐term urban expansion based on official statistics shed further light on processes of metropolitan growth and change, and contribute to design integrated strategies enhancing spatial coordination and a more balanced socioeconomic development of contemporary cities.
Pre‐analytical processing protocol of breast biopsies affects multigene panel results
Authors: Lima Vanessa Reinaldo , da Costa Aguiar Alves Beatriz , Fonseca Fernando Luiz Affonso , Zveibil Debora Krutman , del Giglio Auro 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe creation of multigene panels for prognostic and predictive purposes allows a more accurate indication of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. In a previous study, we reproduced a multigene panel of 21 genes based on the commercial Oncotype‐DX method. We submitted 183 embedded specimens obtained from breast surgery on patients with locoregional disease (stages I to III) between 2005 and 2010 performed at the Hospitals of the Medical School of the ABC Foundation. When we analysed the correlations between the score of the multigene panel and the progression‐free interval (PFI) in all patients, we did not find a statistically significant association. However, when we selected only the 71 samples that had amplification of at least eight non‐housekeeping genes, we observed that those with scores above the 75th percentile had a significantly lower PFI (p = .0054). Samples processed with nonbuffered formaldehyde were associated with a worse quality of extracted RNA (p = .004) and a significantly higher multigene panel score (p = .021). We conclude that variations in the pre‐analytical processing of specimens destined for multigene panel amplification can significantly affect the results, with a potential impact on clinical management.
Structure and luminescent properties of Sm/Dy‐doped Sr2MgSi2O7 glass–ceramics
Authors: Fernández‐Rodríguez Laura , Balda Rolindes , Fernández Joaquín , Durán Alicia , Pascual María Jesús 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSm3+‐doped and Sm3+/Dy3+ codoped SiO2–SrO–MgO glasses were prepared by conventional melt quenching and Sr2MgSi2O7 based glass–ceramics from sintering and crystallization of the glass powders. The thermal, structural, and optical properties of the glasses and glass–ceramics were investigated as a function of the dopant concentration. The optical characterization includes the photoluminescence spectra and the lifetimes of the 4G5/2 (Sm3+) and 4F9/2 (Dy3+) excited states. In Sm3+ single‐doped samples, the emission intensity increases up to a concentration of 0.3 mol% Sm3+ ions and then decreases due to nonradiative energy transfer processes. The emission spectra in the glass–ceramics show a more resolved structure and higher intensity compared to the glass samples, suggesting a different and crystalline environment for the Sm3+ ions. The non‐radiative processes also influence the experimental decays of the glass samples which deviate from a single exponential with lifetimes decreasing as Sm3+ concentration increases. The emission and excitation spectra of the codoped samples do not show significant energy transfer between Sm3+ and Dy3+ ions. Different emitting colors can be obtained in the codoped glasses by changing the excitation wavelength. The studied glass–ceramics could be applied as enamels on ceramic or metallic substrates.
Burden and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Shita Endalew Yizengaw , Nibret Endalkachew , Munshea Abaineh , Gashaw Bizuayehu 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIntroductionCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. About 30 million people are at risk, and there are 20,000 to 50,000 new cases annually. It is maintained by rock hyraxes and Phlebotomus sand flies. Different studies showed the presence and risk factors of CL. However, there is no study on the pooled prevalence and risk factors. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and risk factors of CL in Ethiopia.MethodWe retrieved published articles from different databases. The review was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines. The meta‐analysis was done with Stata software version 14. The forest plot with random‐effect model and inverse variance index was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval and heterogeneity of articles, respectively.ResultsA total of 99,226 people from 19 studies were screened. The overall pooled prevalence of CL was 20.4% with 95% CI (15.67–25.13%). The pooled prevalence is a weighted average of results of the included 19 studies. Highest pooled prevalence, 65.39% (95% CI: 61.14–69.47%), was in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), and the lowest was 1.53% (95% CI: 1.43–1.63%) in Amhara Region. Children were the most affected age group. Living in a home close to farmlands, outdoor sleeping behavior, the presence of gorge, hyrax, cracked walls, animal dung, and other cases in the neighborhood were identified as risk factors for CL.ConclusionThere is high burden of CL in Ethiopia. Larger surveys are required. Health education on the prevention and control strategies shall be implemented.
Effect of moderate hydrothermal‐acidic modified potato pulp on the rheological properties of wheat dough
Authors: Liu Wei , Li Kang , Liu Qiannan , Zhang Liang , Zhao Ruixuan , Xu Fen , Hu Honghai 
Published: May 2022

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate the potential of moderate hydrothermal (50–80 °C) and acidic (0%–0.35% citric acid) modification of potato pulp (PP) to improve the rheological properties of wheat dough. The results show that hydrothermal treatment (HMT) and citric acid (CA) decreased the swelling power, thickening ability and gelatinisation enthalpy, as well as increased the solubility and gelatinisation temperature, of PP with an increase in temperature and CA addition. Additionally, HMT‐ (80 °C) and CA‐ (0.07%–0.35%) modified PP effectively enhanced dough strength against mixing and suppressed retrogradation. The thermochemical parameters of the composite dough were significantly correlated with the swelling power, rapid visco analyser (RVA) viscosity parameters (except setback viscosity) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) parameters (P < 0.05). The results suggest that moderate hydrothermal‐acidic treatment is an effective way to overcome dough mixing and retrogradation shortages in potato pulp‐based staple production.
Heterogeneous cancer‐associated fibroblasts: A new perspective for understanding immunosuppression in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhang Zhilin , Zhang Huan , Shi Lin , Wang Daorong , Tang Dong 
Published: May 2022

AbstractImmunotherapy has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of a wide range of cancers; however, it has had little effect on pancreatic cancer. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the predominant mesenchymal cells present in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment, are powerful supporters of the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer. CAFs can modify the microenvironment, establish a refuge to aid cancer cells in immune escape by secreting large amounts of extracellular matrix, and produce soluble cytokines and exosomal vesicles. Hence, CAFs are important contributors to the failure of immunotherapy. Current in‐depth studies of CAFs have shown that CAFs are a heterogeneous population of mesenchymal cells; therefore, the functional complexity of their populations needs in‐depth explorations in future studies. This review summarizes how heterogeneous CAFs help cancer cells achieve immune escape and suggests potential directions for using CAFs as targets to address immune escape.
Lymph node stromal cells support the maturation of pre‐DCs into cDC‐like cells via colony‐stimulating factor 1
Authors: Wiechers Carolin , Pezoldt Joern , Beckstette Michael , Berner Johanna , Schraml Barbara U. , Huehn Jochen 
Published: May 2022

AbstractConventional dendritic cells (cDCs) arise from committed precursor dendritic cells (pre‐DCs) in the bone marrow that continuously seed the periphery. Pre‐DCs and other upstream progenitors proliferate and mature in response to Fms‐related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, which is considered the key cytokine for cDC development. However, other cytokines such as stem cell factor and colony‐stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) were also shown to induce pre‐DC maturation into DC‐like cells. Yet, it is still only incompletely understood which cells contribute to cDC development once pre‐DCs arrive in peripheral tissues. Here, we analysed the impact of lymph node (LN) fibroblastic stromal cells (FSCs) on the maturation of pre‐DCs into cDC‐like cells. We could demonstrate that ex vivo isolated LN FSCs co‐cultured with pre‐DCs induce precursor maturation into DC‐like cells, which were capable of efficiently promoting the proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, FSCs isolated from distinct LNs induced DC‐like cells with highly comparable transcriptomes, characterized by the expression of signature genes of both ex vivo isolated DCs and macrophages. Finally, by performing supplementation and receptor blocking studies, we could demonstrate that CSF1 is a driving factor for LN FSC‐mediated pre‐DC maturation into DC‐like cells. In summary, we could identify CSF1 as a stromal cell‐derived factor that has the potential to support the maturation of pre‐DCs into cDC‐like cells within secondary lymphoid organs.
Tetrandrine, an immunosuppressive alkaloid isolated from Steohania tetrandra S. Moore, induces the generation of Treg cells through enhancing fatty acid oxidation
Authors: Fang Yulai , Zhang Qin , Yuan Xusheng , Lv Changjun , Zhang Jing , Zhu Yanrong , Wei Zhifeng , Xia Yufeng , Dai Yue 
Published: May 2022

AbstractOur previous studies have demonstrated that tetrandrine can induce the generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells in vitro and in vivo. But, the underlying mechanism of tetrandrine remains obscure. Naïve CD4+ T cells are isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice for the differentiation of Treg cells. Flow cytometry is used to detect the frequencies of Treg cells. Non‐targeted metabolomics analysis based on UHPLC‐QTOF/MS is performed to assess the intracellular metabolic profiles. ChIP‐PCR analysis is conducted to detect the level of H3K27ac at Foxp3 promoter and CNS regions. Tetrandrine treatment alters the metabolic profile of Treg cells, and pathway enrichment of differential metabolites mainly involves fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Tetrandrine promotes the mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase‐1, and increases the level of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl‐CoA) and the intracellular oxygen consumption rate. Either CPT1 inhibitor (etomoxir) or siRNA markedly diminishes the promotion of tetrandrine on Treg cell differentiation. Furthermore, tetrandrine enhances the acetylation of H3K27 in the promoter and CNS1 regions of Foxp3 through the acetyl‐CoA derived from FAO. In the mice with collagen‐induced arthritis, tetrandrine also induces Treg cell generation through FAO pathway. In addition, tetrandrine enhances the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells both in vitro and in vivo. The findings indicate that tetrandrine promotes Treg cell differentiation by enhancing FAO‐mediated Foxp3 acetylation, and the CPT1‐mediated FAO can serve as the target for the discovery of novel inducers of Treg cell generation.
Mendelian randomization highlights the causal association of obesity with periodontal diseases
Authors: Dong Jingya , Gong Yixuan , Chu Tengda , Wu Lixia , Li Sisi , Deng Hui , Hu Rongdang , Wang Yi 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAimThe underlying mechanisms connecting obesity and periodontal diseases remain unclear. This study investigates the potential causal association of obesity with periodontal diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR).Materials and MethodsSingle‐nucleotide polymorphisms of obesity traits including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and WC adjusted for BMI (WCadjBMI) from large‐scale genome‐wide association studies were screened for instrumental variables. The single trait periodontitis and the combined trait comprising periodontitis and loose teeth were adopted as surrogates for periodontal diseases. Inverse‐variance weighted (IVW), series of sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR were employed to determine the association of obesity with periodontal diseases.ResultsIVW results showed that per 1‐SD increment in BMI (odds ratio, OR = 1.115; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.064–1.169; p < .001) and WC (OR = 1.117; 95% CI = 1.052–1.185; p < .001), but not WCadjBMI, were significantly associated with an increased risk of periodontitis/loose teeth. Moreover, the MR estimates were consistent across other MR sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR. However, a causal association of obesity with the single trait periodontitis was not identified.ConclusionsThe presented evidence supports previous epidemiological findings by showing a potential causal association of genetic liability to obesity with periodontal diseases. The biological mechanisms underlying this association warrant further investigation.
Association of oral bacteria with oral hygiene habits and self‐reported gingival bleeding
Authors: Bertelsen Randi Jacobsen , Barrionuevo Antonio Manuel Perez , Shigdel Rajesh , Lie Stein Atle , Lin Huang , Real Francisco Gomez , Ringel‐Kulka Tamar , Åstrøm Anne Nordrehaug , Svanes Cecilie 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAimTo describe associations of gingival bacterial composition and diversity with self‐reported gingival bleeding and oral hygiene habits in a Norwegian regional‐based population.Materials and MethodsWe examined the microbiome composition of the gingival fluid (16S amplicon sequencing) in 484 adult participants (47% females; median age 28 years) in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) study in Bergen, Norway. We explored bacterial diversity and abundance differences by the community periodontal index score, self‐reported frequency of gingival bleeding, and oral hygiene habits.ResultsGingival bacterial diversity increased with increasing frequency of self‐reported gingival bleeding, with higher Shannon diversity index for “always” β = 0.51 and “often” β = 0.75 (p < .001) compared to “never” gingival bleeding. Frequent gingival bleeding was associated with higher abundance of several bacteria such as Porphyromonas endodontalis, Treponema denticola, and Fretibacterium spp., but lower abundance of bacteria within the gram‐positive phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash twice daily were associated with higher total abundance of bacteria in the Proteobacteria phylum but with lower bacterial diversity compared to those who never flossed or never used mouthwash.ConclusionsA high frequency of self‐reported gingival bleeding was associated with higher bacterial diversity than found in participants reporting no gingival bleeding and with higher total abundance of known periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas spp., Treponema spp., and Bacteroides spp.