Impact factor rankings for sleep research journals between 2005 and 2018

Impact factors and ranking lists of research journals are very often used to judge our career achievements and progression by employers and granting bodies. However, a comprehensive list for the interdisciplinary field of sleep research does not currently exist because our journals tend to be placed into discipline‐specific lists that do not cope well with our historic interdisciplinarity, which embraces many core disciplines. We aimed to build a ranking list specifically for sleep research journals based on the journal impact factor and the google scholar H₅ indices. We then searched for all sleep journals given an impact factor by Thomson Reuters from 2005 to 2018 and all journals given a current H₅ index by Google Scholar. We provide a ranking list specifically for sleep journals that might be useful for researchers to cite when providing context in their applications for employment, promotion and funding.     

Impact of neonatal kainate treatment on hippocampal insulin-like growth factor receptors.

The insulin-like growth factors-I and -II have neurotrophic properties and act through specific membrane receptors. High levels of binding sites for these growth factors are distributed discretely throughout the brain, being concentrated in the hippocampal formation. Functionally, the insulin-like growth factors, in addition to their growth-promoting actions, are considered to play important roles in normal cell functions, as well as in response to pharmacological or surgical manipulations. In adult rats, we have previously shown that systemic injection of kainate produces an overall decrease, in a time-dependent manner, in insulin-like growth factor-I and -II receptor binding sites in the hippocampus [Kar S. et al. (1997) Neuroscience 80, 1041-1055]. Given the evidence that insulin-like growth factors play a critical role during the early stages of brain development, the present study is a logical extension of this earlier report and established the effect of neonatal kainate injection on the developmental profile of insulin-like growth factor receptors. We have evaluated the time-course alteration of these receptors following systemic injection of kainate to newborn rats. After injection of a sublethal dose of kainate (5 mg/kg, i.p.) to postnatal one-day-old pups, [125I]insulin-like growth factor-I, [125I]insulin-like growth factor-II and [125I]insulin binding sites were studied at different postnatal days (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35) using receptor autoradiography. In the developing hippocampus, insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin binding sites are concentrated primarily in the dentate gyrus and the CA2/CA3 subfields, whereas insulin-like growth factor-II binding is discretely localized to the pyramidal layer and the granular layer of the dentate gyrus. Following kainate injection, we observed a slight increase in insulin-like growth factor-I binding sites in given hippocampal subfields starting at postnatal day 14, being significant at day 21. At later days, a progressive decrease was noted. This transient increase may represent an attempt for neuronal plasticity by up-regulating receptor levels. In contrast, insulin-like growth factor-II and insulin receptor binding sites are found to be decreased in various regions of the hippocampus in kainate-treated pups. Taken together, these results provide further evidence for the existence and differential alterations of insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-II and insulin receptors in the developing rat hippocampus following kainate-induced lesion, suggesting possible involvement of these growth factors in brain plasticity.     

Impact of the SpeB protease on binding of the complement regulatory proteins factor H and factor H-like protein 1 by Streptococcus pyogenes

Microbial pathogens often exploit human complement regulatory proteins such as factor H (FH) and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) for immune evasion. Fba is an FH and FHL-1 binding protein expressed on the surface of the human pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, a common agent of pharyngeal, skin, and soft-tissue infections. Fba has been shown to contribute to phagocytosis resistance, intracellular invasion, and virulence in mice. Here, we look at the role of Fba in recruitment of FH and FHL-1 by five serotype M1 isolates of streptococci. Inactivation of fba greatly inhibited binding of FH and FHL-1 by all isolates, indicating that Fba is a major FH and FHL-1 binding factor of serotype M1 streptococci. For three isolates, FH binding was significantly reduced in stationary-phase cultures and correlated with high levels of protease activity and SpeB (an extracellular cysteine protease) protein in culture supernatants. Analysis of a speB mutant confirmed that SpeB accounts for the loss of Fba from the cell surface, suggesting that the protease may modulate FH and FHL-1 recruitment during infection. Comparisons of fba DNA sequences revealed that the FH and FHL-1 binding site in Fba is conserved among the M1 isolates. Although the ligand binding site is not strictly conserved in Fba from a serotype M49 isolate, the M49 Fba protein was found to bind both FH and FHL-1. Collectively, these data indicate that binding of FH and FHL-1 is a conserved function of Fba while modulation of Fba function by SpeB is variable.     

巨噬细胞移动抑制因子对大肠癌细胞侵袭的影响

目的研究巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF)在体外对大肠癌细胞侵袭能力的影响。方法大肠癌细胞株Lovo在外源性MIF刺激24h后用微孔迁移法检测通过微孔细胞数量的改变。RT-PCR检测基质金属蛋白酶2、9(MMP-2、MMP-9)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)mRNA表达情况。流式细胞术测定自发凋亡率变化。结果(1)MIF刺激后Lovo通过8μm微孔的细胞数增加[(174±9)个比(262±19)个,P=0.002)]。(2)VEGF121,VEGF165和MMP-9mRNA的表达增加(P<0.05)。MMP-2mRNA的表达无明显变化(P=0.616)。(3)Lovo自发凋亡率明显降低(P<0.001)。结论MIF能够抑制体外大肠癌细胞的凋亡,并能提高Lovo的体外侵袭能力。     

巨噬细胞移动抑制因子对大肠癌细胞侵袭的影响

目的 研究巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF)在体外对大肠癌细胞侵袭能力的影响.方法 大肠癌细胞株Lovo在外源性MIF刺激24 h后用微孔迁移法检测通过微孔细胞数量的改变.RT-PCR检测基质金属蛋白酶2、9(MMP-2、MMP-9)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)mRNA表达情况.流式细胞术测定自发凋亡率变化.结果 (1)MIF刺激后Lovo通过8 μm微孔的细胞数增加[(174±9)个比(262±19)个,P=0.002)].(2)VEGF121,VEGF165和MMP-9 mRNA的表达增加(P＜0.05).MMP-2 mRNA的表达无明显变化(P=0.616).(3)Lovo自发凋亡率明显降低(P＜0.001).结论 MIF能够抑制体外大肠癌细胞的凋亡,并能提高Lovo的体外侵袭能力.     

Impact of insulin-like growth factor receptor-I function on angiogenesis,growth, and metastasis of colon cancer

Insulin-like growth factors and their principal receptor, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), are frequently expressed in human colon cancers and play a role in preventing apoptosis, enhancing cell proliferation, and inducing expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The role of IGF-IR in regulating angiogenesis and metastases of human colon cancer has not been elucidated. To determine the in vitro and in vivo effects of IGF-IR in human colon cancer growth and angiogenesis, human KM12L4 colon cancer cells were transfected with a truncated dominant-negative form of IGF-IR (IGF-IR dom-neg). IGF-IR dom-neg-transfected cells demonstrated markedly decreased constitutive expression of VEGF mRNA and protein. Subcutaneous injections of IGF-IR dom-neg-transfected cells in nude mice led to significantly decreased tumor growth (p < 0.05) that was associated with decreased tumor cell proliferation, VEGF expression, and vessel count and with increased tumor cell apoptosis (p < 0.05 for all parameters compared with controls). In addition, pericyte coverage of endothelial cells was significantly decreased in tumors from IGF-IR dom-neg-transfected cells. Following this observation, we demonstrated in vitro that vascular smooth muscle cells migrated significantly less in conditioned medium derived from IGF-IR dom-neg-transfected cells compared with medium from control cells. After splenic injections, IGF-IR dom-neg transfectants failed to produce liver metastases, in contrast to parental cells and mock transfectants (p < 0.05). In addition, IGF-IR dom-neg-transfected cells failed to form liver tumors after direct injection into the liver. These studies demonstrate that the IGF-IR plays an important role in multiple mechanisms that mediate the growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis of human colon cancer. IGF-IR is a valid target for the therapy of human colon cancer.     

Impact of intranasal application of nerve growth factor on the olfactory epithelium in rats with chemically induced diabetes

Recent studies suggest that nerve growth factor (NGF) protects olfactory cells and axons from injury in vitro. Eighteen Wistar-Albino rats randomly divided into three groups: control group, diabetic group without NGF, and diabetic with NGF. Intranasal NGF (6 µg/day) was administered over a 5-day period. At the end of 30 days, the olfactory epithelium (OE) of NGF-applied diabetic rats regenerated, the epithelium thickness was significantly higher, and caspase-3 expression was not significantly different from the control. The current results demonstrate that intranasally administered NGF significantly reversed OE morphological changes in diabetes by decreasing diabetes-related cell death and inflammation.     

Impact of abiotic factor changes in blowfly,Achoetandrus rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in northern Thailand

Understanding how medically important flies respond to abiotic factor changes is necessary for predicting their population dynamics. In this study, we investigated the geographical distribution of the medically important blowfly, Achoetandrus rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and ascertained the response to climatic and physio-environmental factors in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Adult fly surveys were carried out every 2 weeks from May 2009 to May 2010 at 18 systematically randomized study sites in three districts of Chiang Mai province (Mueang Chiang Mai, Mae Rim, and Hang Dong), using reconstructable funnel traps with 1-day tainted beef offal as bait. During the study period, 8,861 adult A. rufifacies were captured, with peak densities being observed at the end of winter (i.e., late February) and throughout most of the summer (May to March). Population density had a weak but significant (α?=?0.05) positive correlation with temperature (r?=?0.329) and light intensity (r?=?0.231), and a weak but significant (α?=?0.05) negative correlation with relative humidity (r?=??0.236). From the six ecological land use types (disturbed mixed deciduous forest, mixed deciduous forest, mixed orchard, lowland village, city town, and paddy field), greater fly densities were observed generally in the disturbed mixed deciduous forest and lowland village, but not in the paddy fields. In conclusion, A. rufifacies are abundant from the end of winter and throughout most of the summer in northern Thailand, with population density being weakly positively correlated with temperature and light intensity, but weakly negatively correlated with relative humidity. The greatest densities of this fly species were collected in disturbed mixed deciduous forest and lowland village land uses. The prediction of annual and season specific distributions of A. rufifacies were provided in each season and all-year patterns using a co-kriging approach (ArcGIS9.2).     

Impact of cell type and density on nerve growth factor distribution and bioactivity in 3-dimensional collagen gel cultures

Local delivery of protein agents is potentially important in many tissue engineering systems. In this report, we evaluate an experimental system for measuring the rate of nerve growth factor (NGF) transport and biological activity within a 3-dimensional, tissue-like environment. Fetal brain cells or PC12 cells were suspended throughout collagen gel cultures; controlled-release matrices were used to control the spatial and temporal pattern of NGF release. Experimentally measured concentration profiles were compared to profiles predicted by a mathematical model encompassing diffusion and first-order elimination. Our results suggest that NGF moves through gels by diffusion while being eliminated at a rate that depends on cell density. Since diffusion and elimination also govern protein transport in brain tissue, the collagen gel serves as a model system that replicates the main features of transport in the brain and, therefore, can be used to identify new strategies that enhance NGF distribution in the central nervous system. As an example of the utility of this biophysical model, we demonstrate that implantation of multiple controlled-release matrices can broaden NGF distribution in gel cultures; this broadening was accompanied by a significant increase in cellular biological activity. This approach may be useful in customizing NGF distribution throughout degenerating or damaged central nervous system tissue while minimizing toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue.     

Impact of Italian legislation regulating assisted reproduction techniques on ICSI outcomes in severe male factor infertility: a multicentric survey

BACKGROUND: In 2004, a law regulating assisted reproduction techniques (ART) was passed in Italy. The new rules allow for the formation and transfer of a maximum of three embryos at one time, whereas embryo selection and embryo storage are prohibited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of these restrictions on ICSI outcome in couples affected by severe male factor infertility. METHODS: Thirteen Italian ART Units were involved in this study. Data were collected on ICSI cycles performed during 2 years before (control group) and 2 years after (study group) the enforcement of the law. Only cases of obstructive azoospermia (OA), non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and severe oligoastenoteratozoospermia (OAT) (sperm count 相似文献   

促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子及其受体的研究

促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（corticotropin-releasing factor,CRF）是一种与应激密切相关的神经内分泌肽,通过与G蛋白偶联的2种受体结合发挥整合、协调内分泌、自主神经系统、免疫系统及行为学各方面对应激的反应。     

一种新的脂肪细胞源性血管舒张因子

血压调节的研究多年来经过许多变革,最初的工作多集中在各种具有血管活性的神经、内分泌因子及其受体、受体亚型上。上世纪80年代起,随着人们发现内皮源性的一氧化氮可扩张血管,便开始将研究兴趣转向血管内皮的调节作用。此间,研究者并未重视血管外周组织可能具有分泌功能,研究     

Skin reactive factor and lymph node permeability factor

We have compared the properties of lymph node extracts from rat tissue with the properties of the supernatant obtained from the lectin-transformed rabbit peritoneal exudate lymphocytes in culture. Both extracts possess large amounts of lysosomal hydrolases, including particularly a cathepsin D-like protease. Both extracts are capable of increasing cutaneous permeability in the rat and causing a significant amount of cellular infiltration into the site of injection in the skin of these animals. This permeability-increasing activity and the cellular infiltration response to injection of these materials is completely inhibited by pepstatin and not by a variety of other inhibitors. Both extracts' permeability-increasing activity has a molecular weight range between 50,000 and 100,000 daltons and an isoelectric point of approximately 4.2. The molecular weight, the isoelectric point, and the inhibition by pepstatin are characteristic of cathepsin D from liver or spleen or granulocytes. Like cathepsin D, the permeability factor from LNPF and SRF extracts will release acid kinins from substrates which have been shown by Greenbaum and Houck to exist in the ground substance of rat skin. Finally, the breakdown products of the hydrolytic action of cathepsin D-like enzymes found in both lymph node extracts and supernatant from transformed lymphocytes are chemotactic for white blood cells. Thus, the two properties of cathepsin D described above, namely (a) the release of acid kinins which are capable of increasing the permeability of the microcirculation, and (b) the generation of chemotactic breakdown products via proteolysis could explain the two primary biological effects of both lymph node permeability factor and skin reactive factor.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor as a multifunctional antitumor factor

The design of new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment is based on the combination of drugs directed against different tumor compartments, including the tumor cells themselves and components of the stroma, such as the tumor vasculature. Indeed, several antiangiogenic compounds have entered clinical trials for use alone or in combination with conventional cytotoxic drugs. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional natural peptide with complex neurotrophic, neuroprotective, antiangiogenic, and proapoptotic biological activities, any of which could potentially be exploited for therapeutic purposes. This review summarizes recent studies that reveal the antitumor potential of PEDF based on its antiangiogenic properties and its newly discovered direct antitumor effects, which involve the induction of differentiation or apoptosis in tumor cells. We also discuss possible therapeutic applications of PEDF, based on these mechanistic insights and on the identification of functional domains that retain specific biological activities.