Table_1_S100A8/A9 in Inflammation.PDF

<p>S100A8 and S100A9 (also known as MRP8 and MRP14, respectively) are Ca²⁺ binding proteins belonging to the S100 family. They often exist in the form of heterodimer, while homodimer exists very little because of the stability. S100A8/A9 is constitutively expressed in neutrophils and monocytes as a Ca²⁺ sensor, participating in cytoskeleton rearrangement and arachidonic acid metabolism. During inflammation, S100A8/A9 is released actively and exerts a critical role in modulating the inflammatory response by stimulating leukocyte recruitment and inducing cytokine secretion. S100A8/A9 serves as a candidate biomarker for diagnosis and follow-up as well as a predictive indicator of therapeutic responses to inflammation-associated diseases. As blockade of S100A8/A9 activity using small-molecule inhibitors or antibodies improves pathological conditions in murine models, the heterodimer has potential as a therapeutic target. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the distribution and biological functions of S100A8/A9 and highlight its application as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in inflammation-associated diseases.</p

Image3_The feasibility and efficiency for constructing arteriovenous fistula with <2 mm vein—a systematic review and meta-analysis.tif

BackgroundAutogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an efficient hemodialysis access for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The specific threshold of vein diameter still not reached a consensus.MethodWe conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles which comparing the treatment outcomes of AVF with 2 mm as vein diameter threshold. Fixed and random effect model were used for synthesis of results. Subgroup analysis was designed to assess the risk of bias.ResultEight high-quality articles were included finally. Among a total of 1,075 patients (675 males and 400 females), 227 and 809 patients possessed ConclusionVein diameter less than 2 mm has a negative impact on the functional maturation rate of AVF, while it does not affect the primary and cumulative patency rates (12 months).</p

Image1_The feasibility and efficiency for constructing arteriovenous fistula with <2 mm vein—a systematic review and meta-analysis.tif

BackgroundAutogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an efficient hemodialysis access for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The specific threshold of vein diameter still not reached a consensus.MethodWe conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles which comparing the treatment outcomes of AVF with 2 mm as vein diameter threshold. Fixed and random effect model were used for synthesis of results. Subgroup analysis was designed to assess the risk of bias.ResultEight high-quality articles were included finally. Among a total of 1,075 patients (675 males and 400 females), 227 and 809 patients possessed ConclusionVein diameter less than 2 mm has a negative impact on the functional maturation rate of AVF, while it does not affect the primary and cumulative patency rates (12 months).</p

Long Noncoding RNAs Promote Transcriptional Poising of Inducible Genes

<div><p>Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of molecules that impinge on the expression of protein-coding genes. Previous studies have suggested that the <i>GAL</i> cluster-associated lncRNAs of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> repress expression of the protein-coding <i>GAL</i> genes. Herein, we demonstrate a previously unrecognized role for the <i>GAL</i> lncRNAs in activating gene expression. In yeast strains lacking the RNA helicase, <i>DBP2</i>, or the RNA decay enzyme, <i>XRN1</i>, we find that the <i>GAL</i> lncRNAs specifically accelerate gene expression from a prior repressive state. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the previously suggested repressive role is a result of specific mutant phenotypes, rather than a reflection of the normal, wild-type function of these noncoding RNAs. To shed light on the mechanism for lncRNA-dependent gene activation, we show that rapid induction of the protein-coding <i>GAL</i> genes is associated with faster recruitment of RNA polymerase II and reduced association of transcriptional repressors with <i>GAL</i> gene promoters. This suggests that the <i>GAL</i> lncRNAs enhance expression by derepressing the <i>GAL</i> genes. Consistently, the <i>GAL</i> lncRNAs enhance the kinetics of transcriptional induction, promoting faster expression of the protein-coding <i>GAL</i> genes upon the switch in carbon source. We suggest that the <i>GAL</i> lncRNAs poise inducible genes for rapid activation, enabling cells to more effectively trigger new transcriptional programs in response to cellular cues.</p></div

Table1_The feasibility and efficiency for constructing arteriovenous fistula with <2 mm vein—a systematic review and meta-analysis.docx

BackgroundAutogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an efficient hemodialysis access for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The specific threshold of vein diameter still not reached a consensus.MethodWe conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles which comparing the treatment outcomes of AVF with 2 mm as vein diameter threshold. Fixed and random effect model were used for synthesis of results. Subgroup analysis was designed to assess the risk of bias.ResultEight high-quality articles were included finally. Among a total of 1,075 patients (675 males and 400 females), 227 and 809 patients possessed ConclusionVein diameter less than 2 mm has a negative impact on the functional maturation rate of AVF, while it does not affect the primary and cumulative patency rates (12 months).</p

Image2_The feasibility and efficiency for constructing arteriovenous fistula with <2 mm vein—a systematic review and meta-analysis.tif

BackgroundAutogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an efficient hemodialysis access for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The specific threshold of vein diameter still not reached a consensus.MethodWe conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles which comparing the treatment outcomes of AVF with 2 mm as vein diameter threshold. Fixed and random effect model were used for synthesis of results. Subgroup analysis was designed to assess the risk of bias.ResultEight high-quality articles were included finally. Among a total of 1,075 patients (675 males and 400 females), 227 and 809 patients possessed ConclusionVein diameter less than 2 mm has a negative impact on the functional maturation rate of AVF, while it does not affect the primary and cumulative patency rates (12 months).</p

Loss of <i>DBP2</i> results in rapid, lncRNA-dependent induction of <i>GAL10</i> and <i>GAL7</i> from repressed conditions.

<p>(A) Simplified model for carbon-source-dependent regulation of <i>GAL1</i>, <i>GAL7</i>, and <i>GAL10</i> genes within the <i>GAL</i> cluster. Glucose-dependent repression is mediated by transcription factors (not shown), which then recruit other proteins such as the Tup1–Cyc8 co-repressor complex to promote repression <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Gancedo1" target="_blank">[28]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Bhat1" target="_blank">[32]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Johnston2" target="_blank">[40]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-PapamichosChronakis1" target="_blank">[46]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Zhou1" target="_blank">[47]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Lutfiyya1" target="_blank">[51]</a>. Derepression occurs under nonrepressing, noninducing conditions when the repressors are no longer present and the <i>GAL</i> genes are not transcriptionally active <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Traven1" target="_blank">[29]</a>. Activation only occurs in the presence of galactose <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Weake1" target="_blank">[1]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Traven1" target="_blank">[29]</a>. Synthesis of the <i>GAL10</i> lncRNA, and likely the <i>GAL10s</i> lncRNA, is mutually exclusive with activated expression of the <i>GAL</i> genes <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Houseley1" target="_blank">[24]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Geisler1" target="_blank">[25]</a>. (B–C) <i>GAL7</i> (B) and <i>GAL10</i> (C) genes are rapidly induced in <i>dbp2Δ</i> cells following a switch from repressed to activated conditions. Transcriptional induction of wild-type (BY4741) and <i>dbp2Δ</i> strains was conducted by isolating RNA from cells at 30 min intervals prior to and immediately following a nutritional shift from repressive (+glucose) to activated (+galactose) conditions. Transcripts were detected by northern blotting using ³²P-labeled, double-stranded (ds)DNA probes corresponding to <i>GAL7</i>, <i>GAL10</i>, or <i>SCR1</i> RNA as indicated. Each time course was conducted in triplicate. Average lag times to induction are shown with the standard deviation (s.d.) for three, independent biological replicates and correspond to the first time point in a series of time points with increasing <i>GAL</i> transcript levels after normalization to <i>SCR1</i>. An s.d. of zero indicates no variation between biological samples with 30 min time points, whereas an s.d. of 17 indicates a variance of 30 min between replicates. (D, Top) Schematic diagram of the <i>lncRNAΔ</i> strain with <i>GAL10</i> and <i>GAL10s</i> lncRNAs and primer sets for RT-qPCR. The four previously identified binding sites for the Reb1 transcription factor are present within the 3′ end of the <i>GAL10</i> coding region <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Houseley1" target="_blank">[24]</a>. The <i>lncRNA</i>Δ harbors silent mutations that disrupt all binding sites for the Reb1 transcription factor <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Houseley1" target="_blank">[24]</a>. (D, Bottom) The <i>lncRNA</i>Δ mutation abolishes expression of both the <i>GAL10</i> and <i>GAL10s</i> lncRNA in wild-type and <i>dbp2</i>Δ cells. <i>GAL10</i> and <i>GAL10s</i> lncRNAs were detected in the indicated strains following growth in glucose using RT-qPCR as previously described with primers nc10 and nc10s <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio.1001715-Cloutier1" target="_blank">[37]</a>. Transcript levels were normalized to <i>ACT1</i>, which does not vary between these strains, and is the average of three biological replicates with respect to wild type and standard error from the mean (SEM). (E–F) Loss of <i>GAL10</i> and <i>GAL10s</i> lncRNAs restores repression at <i>GAL7</i> (E) and <i>GAL10</i> (F) loci in <i>DBP2</i>-deficient cells. Transcriptional induction assays from repressive conditions were conducted with isogenic <i>dbp2</i>Δ and <i>dbp2</i>Δ<i> lncRNA</i>Δ strains as in <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio-1001715-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1B–C</a>.</p

RT-qPCR oligos.

<p>RT-qPCR oligos.</p

All three <i>GAL</i> cluster genes are rapidly induced from repressed conditions upon loss of <i>DBP2</i> or the RNA decay factors <i>XRN1</i> and <i>DCP2</i>.

<p>(A–C) <i>GAL7</i> (A), <i>GAL10</i> (B), and <i>GAL1</i> (C) are rapidly induced from repressed conditions in <i>dbp2</i>Δ, <i>xrn1</i>Δ, and <i>dcp2</i>Δ strains. Induction assays were conducted as in <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio-1001715-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a> with isogenic <i>xrn1</i>Δ, <i>dbp2</i>Δ, <i>dcp2</i>Δ, and wild-type strains. Asterisks mark the <i>GAL10</i> lncRNA transcripts, which are visible in the <i>xrn1</i>Δ and <i>dcp2</i>Δ strains due to high abundance and the use of dsDNA probes (most visible from 0–90 min). Lag times represent the average of three biological replicates and the s.d. as in <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001715#pbio-1001715-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a>. (D–F) Induction of <i>GAL7</i> (D), <i>GAL10</i> (E), and <i>GAL1</i> (F) from derepressed (+raffinose) conditions in <i>dbp2</i>Δ<i>, xrn1Δ, and dcp2Δ cells occurs with wild-type kinetics. Transcriptional induction was measured as above following a nutritional shift from derepressed (+raffinose) to activated (+galactose) conditions.</i></p

Short-Term Curative Effect of Endovascular Stent-Graft Treatment for Aortic Diseases in China: A Systematic Review

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>We analyzed the short-term efficacy of endovascular treatment for aortic diseases by summarizing all available published data on endovascular stent-graft treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), type A aortic dissection (type A AD) and type B aortic dissection (type B AD) in China.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We performed a systematic analysis of 935 published series on retrograde endovascular treatment for aortic diseases in China from January 1996 to November 2010. Based on the inclusion criteria, 159 studies, involving a total of 5531 patients, were included.</p><p>Results</p><p>There were no significant differences in procedural success among the studies (P>0.05). The rates of overall neurologic complications and stroke were significantly different in all two-group comparisons (P<0.01). The type A AD patients had the highest rates of neurologic complications (both 6.67±0.00%), and the AAA patients had the lowest rates (0.31±0.04% and 0.11±0.02%). Significant differences were noted in the rates of cardiac, renal, pulmonary and visceral complications, which were all higher in the type A AD patients than in the other three groups (P<0.01). The endoleak rate was highest in the TAA patients (19.27±5.74%) and was similar in the type A AD patients (P>0.05). A significant difference was noted between the 30-day mortality rate of the type A AD patients and the AAA or type B AD patients (P<0.05).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Endovascular stent-graft is a feasible and safe treatment for aortic diseases, with high procedural success and low incidences of post-procedural complications and short-term mortality. Endovascular treatment for AAA and type B AD is more efficient than for type A AD and TAA.</p></div