bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bacterial extracellular DNA inhibits settling of motile progeny cells within a biofilm
Authors: Berne Cécile , Kysela David T. , Brun Yves V.
Published: June 2010

In natural systems, bacteria form complex, surface‐attached communities known as biofilms. This lifestyle presents numerous advantages compared with unattached or planktonic life, such as exchange of nutrients, protection from environmental stresses and increased tolerance to biocides. Despite such benefits, dispersal also plays an important role in escaping deteriorating environments and in successfully colonizing favourable, unoccupied habitat patches. The α‐proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces a motile swarmer cell and a sessile stalked cell at each cell division. We show here that C. crescentus extracellular DNA (eDNA) inhibits the ability of its motile cell type to settle in a biofilm. eDNA binds to the polar holdfast, an adhesive structure required for permanent surface attachment and biofilm formation, thereby inhibiting cell attachment. Because stalked cells associate tightly with the biofilm through their holdfast, we hypothesize that this novel mechanism acts on swarmer cells born in a biofilm, where eDNA can accumulate to a sufficient concentration to inhibit their ability to settle. By targeting a specific cell type in a biofilm, this mechanism modulates biofilm development and promotes dispersal without causing a potentially undesirable dissolution of the existing biofilm.
Vancomycin tolerance in clinical and laboratory Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates depends on reduced enzyme activity of the major LytA autolysin or cooperation between CiaH histidine kinase and capsular polysaccharide
Authors: Moscoso Miriam , Domenech Mirian , García Ernesto
Published: June 2010

Vancomycin is frequently added to standard therapy for pneumococcal meningitis. Although vancomycin‐resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains have not been isolated, reports on the emergence of vancomycin‐tolerant pneumococci are a cause of concern. To date, the molecular basis of vancomycin tolerance in S. pneumoniae is essentially unknown. We examined two vancomycin‐tolerant clinical isolates, i.e. a purported autolysin negative (LytA‐), serotype 23F isolate (strain S3) and the serotype 14 strain ‘Tupelo’, which is considered a paradigm of vancomycin tolerance. S3 was characterized here as carrying a frameshift mutation in the lytA gene encoding the main pneumococcal autolysin. The vancomycin tolerance of strain S3 was abolished by transformation to the autolysin‐proficient phenotype. The original Tupelo strain was discovered to be a mixture: a strain showing a vancomycin‐tolerant phenotype (Tupelo_VT) and a vancomycin‐nontolerant strain (Tupelo_VNT). The two strains differed only in terms of a single mutation in the ciaH gene present in the VT strain. Most interestingly, although the vancomycin tolerance of Tupelo_VT could be overcome by increasing the LytA dosage upon transformation by a multicopy plasmid or by externally adding the autolysin, we show that vancomycin tolerance in S. pneumoniae requires the simultaneous presence of a mutated CiaH histidine kinase and capsular polysaccharide.
Living donor liver transplantation for giant cavernous hemangioma of liver in a child
Authors: Sood Disha , Mohan Neelam , Singh Amanjeet , Buxi Tarvinder Bir Singh , Nundy Samiran , Soin Arvinder Singh
Published: June 2010

Sood D, Mohan N, Singh A, Buxi TBS, Nundy S, Soin AS. Living donor liver transplantation for giant cavernous hemangioma of liver in a child. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: E135–E139. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  A 10‐yr‐old girl presented with a seven‐month history of upper abdominal discomfort and weight loss. Physical examination revealed an abdominal lump in the right hypochondrium and epigastrium. Ultrasound examination and a computerized tomographic scan showed a large lobulated mass arising from segments I, 1V, and VIII of liver with arteriovenous shunting and multiple small masses in segments VI and VII. An initial diagnosis of hemangioendothelioma with metastasis was made elsewhere following which she received chemotherapy. She had persistent abdominal discomfort because of which she became dependent on narcotics. The patient had fever because of tumor necrosis and also developed peripheral neuropathy. Finally, owing to progressively worsening of symptoms, she underwent left lobe living donor liver transplantation. Histopathological examination showed the mass to be a cavernous hemangioma, and the patient is now well.
Does living donation have advantages over deceased donation in liver transplantation?
Authors: Kaido Toshimi , Uemoto Shinji
Published: June 2010

Liver transplantation (LT) is the best treatment option for patients with end‐stage liver disease. Living donor LT (LDLT) has developed as an alternative to deceased donor LT (DDLT) in order to overcome the critical shortage of deceased organ donations, particularly in Asia. LDLT offers several advantages over DDLT. The major advantage of LDLT is the reduction in waiting time mortality. Especially among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), LDLT can shorten the waiting time and lower the dropout rate. The Hong Kong group reported that median waiting time was significantly shorter for LDLT than for DDLT. Intention‐to‐treat survival rates of HCC patients with voluntary live donors were significantly higher than those of patients without voluntary live donors. In contrast, a multicenter adult‐to‐adult LDLT retrospective cohort study reported that LDLT recipients displayed a significantly higher rate of HCC recurrence than DDLT recipients, although LDLT recipients had shorter waiting times than DDLT recipients. The advantage of LDLT involves the more liberal criteria for HCC compared with those for DDLT. Various preoperative interventions including nutritional treatment can also be planned for both the donor and recipient in LDLT. Conversely, LDLT has marked unfavorable characteristics in terms of donor risks. Donor morbidity is not infrequent and the donor mortality rate is estimated at around 0.1–0.3%. In conclusion, living donation is not necessarily advantageous over deceased donation in LT. Taking the advantages and disadvantages of each option into consideration, LDLT and DDLT should both be used to facilitate effective LT for patients requiring transplant.
Serum aminotransferase levels instead of etiology affects the accuracy of transient elastography in chronic viral hepatitis patients
Authors: Cho Hye Jin , Seo Yeon Seok , Lee Kwang Gyun , Hyun Jong Jin , An Hyonggin , Keum Bora , Kim Ji Hoon , Yim Hyung Joon , Jeen Yoon Tae , Lee Hong Sik , Chun Hoon Jai , Um Soon Ho , Kim Chang Duck , Ryu Ho Sang
Published: June 2010

Background and Aim:  It is still uncertain whether the accuracy of transient elastography (TE) in predicting the fibrosis stage is similar in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The present study was carried out to evaluate whether the underlying cause of chronic viral hepatitis affects the predictive accuracy of TE.

Methods:  Patients with CHB or CHC who were admitted for a liver biopsy were enrolled. Patients underwent TE and laboratory tests on the same day as the liver biopsy. The predictive accuracy was analyzed by comparing the areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic curves (AUCs).

Results:  Two‐hundred and seven patients were enrolled, comprising 121 CHB patients and 86 CHC patients). The patients were aged 44 ± 14 years, and 121 (58.5%) of them were men. AUCs for predicting significant fibrosis were significantly lower in CHB patients than in CHC patients (P = 0.043). The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was associated with overestimation and underestimation of the fibrosis stage, while the cause of chronic hepatitis was not. AUCs for predicting significant fibrosis were significantly lower in patients with ALT levels >70 IU/L (AUC, 0.830; 95% CI, 0.742–0.898) than in patients with ALT levels ≤70 IU/L (0.944; 0.882–0.979; P = 0.015).

Conclusions:  Although the predictive accuracy of TE in predicting significant fibrosis differed significantly with the cause of chronic hepatitis, this difference was due to the degree of serum ALT levels rather than to the cause of hepatitis itself. Avoiding performing TE in patients with elevated ALT levels is recommended to guarantee the predictive accuracy of TE.
New endoscopic and surgical treatment options for early esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gan Susan , Watson David I
Published: June 2010

Although the outcome for advanced stage esophageal cancer is poor, the early detection and treatment of early stage disease is usually associated with a much better outcome. Until recently, esophagectomy has been the treatment of choice in fit patients. However, morbidity is significant, and this has encouraged the development of newer endoscopic treatments that preserve the esophagus. These techniques include ablation and mucosal resection. Promising results are described, and endoscopic methods might provide a reasonable alternative for the treatment of early esophageal cancer. However, follow‐up remains short and endoscopic treatment does not deal with potential lymphatic spread. Hence, careful selection is required. Minimally invasive techniques for esophageal resection have also been shown to be feasible, although there is only limited evidence that they reduce postoperative morbidity. Better data are still required to demonstrate improved outcomes from endoscopic treatment and minimally invasive esophagectomy.
A systematic review of interventions to support siblings of children with chronic illness or disability
Authors: Hartling Lisa , Milne Andrea , Tjosvold Lisa , Wrightson Dawn , Gallivan Jennifer , Newton Amanda S
Published: June 2010

Aim:  Chronic illness or disability in children can have a deleterious effect on the psychosocial health of well siblings. This systematic review synthesised evidence from studies evaluating sibling‐oriented care aimed at improving behavioural and emotional outcomes in well siblings of children with chronic illness or disability.

Methods:  Twenty electronic databases were searched. Study selection, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality were performed by two independent reviewers.

Results:  Five controlled and nine uncontrolled studies were included. In higher‐quality controlled trials, benefits of sibling‐oriented care included reduced anxiety, improved mood and behavioural adjustment; however, these findings were not consistently demonstrated across studies. Study differences made it difficult to determine which sibling care features were most salient.

Conclusions:  Study findings highlight the potential for enhancing emotional and behavioural outcomes in well siblings. Future evaluations need to clearly identify the intended purpose of the care (what improvements are intended) and which types of siblings are most likely to benefit. This approach may yield more consistent and clinically important results.
Power to the paediatricians: The Australian Paediatric Research Network is born
Authors: Hiscock Harriet , Efron Daryl , Wasserman Richard , Wake Melissa
Published: June 2010

In late 2007, we established the Australian Paediatric Research Network (APRN) – a 350 member strong research network – which aims to facilitate high quality research into common, child health conditions seen in secondary care settings. Through this network we hope to engage paediatricians working at ‘the coal face’ to generate research ideas, take part in projects and ultimately contribute to better health care and policy for Australian children. As for adults, tertiary institutions remain the predominant site of paediatric research. Tertiary research however, is biased towards severe illness, isolated conditions, highly selected patients and single interventions. This is not always relevant to the real world that paediatricians confront every day.

The APRN is off to a strong start. We have worked with members to establish their research priorities and conducted a prospective audit of their caseload to inform the relevance, feasibility and design of future APRN studies. We have developed a website (http://www.aprn.org.au) which will house useful tools for conducting research including child health measures and project design needs. We plan to call for member‐initiated research proposals on an annual basis and to conduct a ‘multi‐topic’ survey addressing up to six research topics at any one time. Although conducting research in secondary care settings poses time, cost and process challenges, all of these are firmly within the APRN's sights.
Engaging parents in child obesity prevention: Support preferences of parents
Authors: Wolfenden Luke , Bell Colin , Wiggers John , Butler Michelle , James Erica , Chipperfield Kelly
Published: June 2010

Helping parents engage in practices that are likely to prevent childhood obesity is a considerable challenge for health professionals, policy makers and researchers. The aim of the study was to determine who is likely to use services designed to help parents prevent overweight and obesity and what types of services they prefer. Two hundred and forty randomly selected parents of children 4–15 years from the Hunter New England region of New South Wales completed a 15 min telephone survey. Most parents would use a service to help them prevent obesity in their children but particularly parents of households from higher socioeconomic areas, female parents, parents of younger children and parents of children who are not consuming sufficient serves of fruits and vegetables, or are less active. Parents preferred personalised mailed print materials (85%), specialist appointments (61%) and emailed information (58%). Parents are interested in using a range of services to support them to encourage their children to eat healthily and be active. Researchers should test the efficacy of promising services.
Restricting cough and cold medicines in children
Authors: Isbister Geoffrey K , Prior Felicity , Kilham Henry A
Published: June 2010

Aims:  Based on concerns about safety and efficacy, international authorities have either advised against the use of cough and cold medication or considering such action. We aimed to systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of cough and cold medicines in children.

Methods:  We conducted a systematic review to identify studies relating to the use of products to treat symptoms of the common cold, influenza or allergic rhinitis, and relating to poisoning or toxicity from unintentional ingestion or overdose in children (<12 years). Medline, Embase and the Cochrane database were searched. No meta‐analysis was undertaken because of the paucity of evidence, multiple medicines available, and the need to consider both effectiveness and safety.

Results:  Seventy two relevant studies or clinical reports were identified. There was little support for the effectiveness of these medicines for acute cough or the common cold in children. However, the majority of these medicines do not appear to be highly toxic in children and are not a major cause of severe effects following unintentional poisoning. The common use of these agents does not appear to be responsible for increased deaths in young children. Many cases of toxicity from cough and cold medications in young children are a result of therapeutic error. Particular medications, including diphenhydramine and codeine, appear to be associated with a high frequency of severe adverse effects and toxicity.

Conclusion:  Restriction of cough and cold medicines in children is supported by currently available evidence.
Water births and the research required to assess the benefits versus the harms
Authors: Davies Mark W
Published: June 2010

The questions that must be asked about any health‐care intervention, including the use of immersion in the second stage of labour with birth into the water, are: is it useful?, does it do any harm? and do any benefits outweigh any harms? There is little subjective evidence (and no reliable, objective evidence) of any benefit to the mother or baby from water birth. There are reports of uncommon, yet significant, adverse outcomes for babies including deaths and significant morbidity directly attributed to water birth. There are also sound physiological mechanisms that can readily explain the significant adverse outcomes reported. It remains unknown whether any benefits from water birth outweigh any harms given the small number of underpowered studies available. An appropriately sized randomised controlled trial of good quality remains the only reliable way to assess both the efficacy and the safety of water births. Babies should not be born into water unless enrolled in such trials.
Business Exit and Strategic Change: Sticking to the Knitting or Striking a New Path?
Authors: Decker Carolin , Mellewigt Thomas
Published: June 2010

The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of business exit for initiating strategic change in divesting parent firms. In contrast to prior literature that mainly investigates the impact of different antecedents on the likelihood of business exit in general, this study additionally tests the influence of these antecedents on the choice between two exit types with a cross‐industry sample of divesting firms listed in the German CDAX over the time period 1999–2004. A divestiture involving strategic change is a strategic business exit; otherwise it is denoted as status quo preserving. The findings reveal that a relatively highly dissipated focus does not automatically enhance the likelihood of business exit in general and status‐quo‐preserving business exit in particular. CEO turnover and pressures exerted by institutional investors predict neither strategic nor status‐quo‐preserving business exit. Low firm performance does not nurture the likelihood of business exit per se but especially promotes status‐quo‐preserving business exit.
Configurations of Rape: Some Issues for Conversation Configurations of Rape in the Hebrew Bible: A Literary Analysis of Three Rape Narratives – By Frank M. Yamada
Authors: Kuan K. Jeffrey
Published: June 2010

While I am in much agreement with Frank Yamada's analysis and reading of the Genesis 34, Judges 19, and 2 Samuel 13 as rape narratives, in that all three texts show a ‘family resemblance’, this review essay is an attempt to engage his work in a conversation by discussing the following issues: (1) his use of ‘family resemblance’; (2) common authorship; (3) insider–outsider category; (4) 2 Samuel 11 as a rape narrative; (5) theological and ethical implications of such readings.
Effects of different calcium salts on properties of milk related to heat stability
Authors: OMOARUKHE ESEREOSA D , ON‐NOM NATTIRA , GRANDISON ALISTAIR S , LEWIS MICHAEL J
Published: June 2010

Insoluble calcium salts were added to milk to increase total calcium by 30 mM, without changing properties influencing heat stability, such as pH and ionic calcium. There were no major signs of instability associated with coagulation, sediment formation or fouling when subjected to ultra high temperature (UHT) and in‐container sterilisation. The buffering capacity was also unaltered. On the other hand, addition of soluble calcium salts reduced pH, increased ionic calcium and caused coagulation to occur. Calcium chloride showed the largest destabilising effect, followed by calcium lactate and calcium gluconate. Milk became unstable to UHT processing at lower calcium additions compared to in‐container sterilisation.
Interleukin‐6‐type cytokines in neuroprotection and neuromodulation: oncostatin M, but not leukemia inhibitory factor, requires neuronal adenosine A1 receptor function
Authors: Moidunny Shamsudheen , Dias Raquel Baptista , Wesseling Evelyn , Sekino Yuko , Boddeke Hendrikus W. G. M. , Sebastião Ana Maria , Biber Knut
Published: June 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 1667–1677.

Neuroprotection is one of the prominent functions of the interleukin (IL)‐6‐type cytokine family, for which the underlying mechanism(s) are not fully understood. We have previously shown that neuroprotection and neuromodulation mediated by IL‐6 require neuronal adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) function. We now have investigated whether two other IL‐6‐type cytokines [oncostatin M (OSM) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)] use a similar mechanism. It is presented here that OSM but not LIF, enhanced the expression of A1Rs (both mRNA and protein levels) in cultured neurons. Whereas the neuroprotective effect of LIF was unchanged in A1R deficient neurons, OSM failed to protect neurons in the absence of A1R. In addition, OSM pre‐treatment for 4 h potentiated the A1R‐mediated inhibition of electrically evoked excitatory post‐synaptic currents recorded from hippocampal slices either under normal or hypoxic conditions. No such effect was observed after LIF pre‐treatment. Our findings thus strongly suggest that, despite known structural and functional similarities, OSM and LIF use different mechanisms to achieve neuroprotection and neuromodulation.
mGluR1 antagonist decreased NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide production after transient focal cerebral ischemia
Authors: Murotomi Kazutoshi , Takagi Norio , Mizutani Reiko , Honda Taka‐aki , Ono Megumi , Takeo Satoshi , Tanonaka Kouichi
Published: June 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 1711–1719.

NADPH oxidase, which is activated by PKC and signaling via the NMDA receptor, is one of the crucial enzymes for superoxide production in the CNS. We showed earlier that the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) plays an important role in the activation of PKC and tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor, which has been implicated in enhancement of the channel activity, after cerebral ischemia. In this study, we sought to determine the role of mGluR1 in the activation of NADPH oxidase and subsequent superoxide production after transient focal cerebral ischemia. The amounts of NADPH oxidase subunits in the membrane fraction were increased after the start of reperfusion. These changes were accompanied by increased NADPH oxidase activity followed by superoxide production. The administration of an mGluR1 antagonist attenuated NADPH oxidase activity, which was coincident with inhibition of superoxide production. We further showed that the increase in the amount of PKCδ, but not of PKCζ, as well as the increase in those of NADPH oxidase subunits, was attenuated by the mGluR1 antagonist. These results suggest that mGluR1 may be linked to the increase in NADPH oxidase activity that is mediated by PKCδ and subsequent superoxide production after cerebral ischemia.
Apolipoprotein B100 secretion by cultured ARPE‐19 cells is modulated by alteration of cholesterol levels
Authors: Wu Tinghuai , Fujihara Masashi , Tian Jane , Jovanovic Miroslava , Grayson Celene , Cano Marisol , Gehlbach Peter , Margaron Philippe , Handa James T.
Published: June 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 1734–1744.

Cholesteryl ester rich apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) lipoproteins accumulate in Bruch’s membrane before the development of age‐related macular degeneration. It is not known if these lipoproteins come from the circulation or local ocular tissue. Emerging, but incomplete evidence suggests that the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) can secrete lipoproteins. The purpose of this investigation was to determine (i) whether human RPE cells synthesize and secrete apoB100, and (ii) whether this secretion is driven by cellular cholesterol, and if so, (iii) whether statins inhibit this response. The established, human derived ARPE‐19 cells challenged with 0–0.8 mM oleic acid accumulated cellular cholesterol, but not triglycerides. Oleic acid increased the amount of apoB100 protein recovered from the medium by both western blot analysis and 35S‐radiolabeled immunoprecipitation while negative stain electron microscopy showed lipoprotein‐like particles. Of nine statins evaluated, lipophilic statins induced HMG‐CoA reductase mRNA expression the most. The lipophilic Cerivastatin (5 μM) reduced cellular cholesterol by 39% and abrogated apoB100 secretion by 3‐fold. In contrast, the hydrophilic statin Pravastatin had minimal effect on apoB100 secretion. These data suggest that ARPE‐19 cells synthesize and secrete apoB100 lipoproteins, that this secretion is driven by cellular cholesterol, and that statins can inhibit apoB100 secretion by reducing cellular cholesterol.
Genotypic and phenotypic variation in diatom silicification under paleo‐oceanographic conditions
Authors: FINKEL Z. V. , MATHESON K. A. , REGAN K. S. , IRWIN A. J.
Published: June 2010

Diatoms have co‐evolved with the silicon cycle and are largely responsible for reducing surface concentrations of silicate in the ocean to their present levels. We quantify silicification in marine diatoms at a range of high silicate concentrations representative of environments found over their geological history. The species examined include Stephanopyxis turris, an ancient centric species found throughout the Cenozoic, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Thalassiosira weissflogii, two younger centric species, and two pennate ecotypes of Staurosirella pinnata isolated from different nutrient regimes. Frustule thickness and micromorphological structure are strongly affected by silicate concentration. All species become increasingly silicified with silicate concentrations at concentrations vastly in excess of surface ocean concentrations today. In contrast, the half‐saturation constant for silicate uptake for most modern diatoms is below 2 μm. Based on the results, we hypothesize that silicate uptake is multiphasic in diatoms and that multiple silicate transport systems may have evolved in response to decreases in surface silicate concentration over geological time. The oldest species examined is more heavily silicified than the more modern species, presumably reflecting the conditions under which it originated. Yet diversification in silicification can be rapid, as illustrated by greater silicification in onshore versus the offshore ecotype of the same modern species. This work suggests that silicification of fossil frustules may eventually provide a paleoproxy for surface silicate concentrations over the Cenozoic, although development of species‐specific calibrations will be necessary and the effects of a range of environmental conditions must be investigated.
Plasma myeloperoxidase, NT‐proBNP, and troponin‐I in patients on CAPD compared with those on regular hemodialysis
Authors: AL‐HWEISH Abdulla , SULTAN Sherif S. , MOGAZI Khaled , ELSAMMAK Mohamed Y.
Published: June 2010

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a hemoprotein that is released during inflammation and may lead to irreversible protein and lipid modification, increasing levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein, and promoting athrogenesis. Recently, it has been considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, the measurement of carotid intima‐media thickness gives an indication about the degree of atherosclerosis and prediction of clinical cardiovascular events. Elevated white blood cells counts may indicate a state of acute inflammation and follow its progression. Dialysis patients are at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with healthy subjects. The role of N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide and increased cardiac troponin in identification and prognostication of cardiovascular diseases in end‐stage renal disease patients has been investigated. The current study aimed to evaluate plasma MPO and its possible relationship with carotid intima‐media thickness, troponin I, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), and insulin resistance as measured by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA index) in a cohort of Saudi patients who are undergoing hemodialysis (HD) vs. continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for end‐stage renal disease. Plasma MPO was significantly higher in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) than in those on HD and in normal subjects (P<0.001). Conversely, NT‐proBNP plasma levels were significantly higher in patients on HD (both predialysis and postdialysis) than in those on CAPD (P<0.01) and than normal subjects. Similarly, plasma troponin‐I levels were significantly higher in patients on HD compared with those of CAPD and than normal subjects (P<0.001). Plasma troponin‐I and NT‐proBNP levels were positively correlated in the 3 groups namely those on CAPD, Pre‐HD, and post‐HD (r: 0.464 and P=0.047; r: 0.330 and P=0.013; and r: 0.452 and P=0.024), respectively. There was no correlation between the MPO level and carotid intima‐media thickness (P>0.05). However, plasma MPO level correlated positively with the white blood cell count in patients on CAPD and in those on HD (P<0.05). Our findings suggest an increased oxidative stress in CAPD patients compared with HD patients, while the reported difference in plasma NT‐proBNP and troponin‐I may be related to the rapid decline of residual renal function in HD and type of membrane used in the HD dialysis procedure itself.
Fine mapping of QTL for prepulse inhibition in LG/J and SM/J mice using F2 and advanced intercross lines
Authors: Samocha K. E. , Lim J. E. , Cheng R. , Sokoloff G. , Palmer A. A.
Published: June 2010

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response is a measure of sensorimotor gating, a process that filters out extraneous sensory, motor and cognitive information. Humans with neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, obsessive‐compulsive disorder and Huntington's disease, exhibit a reduction in PPI. Habituation of the startle response is also disrupted in schizophrenic patients. In order to elucidate the genes involved in sensorimotor gating, we phenotyped 472 mice from an F2 cross between LG/J × SM/J for PPI and genotyped these mice genome‐wide using 162 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We used prepulse intensity levels that were 3, 6 and 12 dB above background (PPI3, PPI6 and PPI12, respectively). We identified a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 12 for all three prepulse intensities as well as a significant QTL for both PPI6 and PPI12 on chromosome 11. We identified QTLs on chromosomes 7 and 17 for the startle response when sex was included as an interactive covariate and found a QTL for habituation of the startle response on chromosome 4. We also phenotyped 135 mice from an F34 advanced intercross line (AIL) between LG/J × SM/J for PPI and genotyped them at more than 3000 SNP markers. Inclusions of data from the AIL mice reduced the size of several of these QTLs to less than 5 cM. These results will be useful for identifying genes that influence sensorimotor gaiting and show the power of AIL for fine mapping of QTLs.
Exercise improves the ApoB/ApoA‐I ratio, a marker of the metabolic syndrome in obese children
Authors: Ben Ounis O , Elloumi M , Makni E , Zouhal H , Amri M , Tabka Z , Lac G
Published: June 2010

Aim:  This study was designed to examine the effect of training on components of the metabolic syndrome and ApoB/ApoA‐I ratio in obese children.

Methods:  We studied thirty‐two obese children (13.3 ± 0.4 years) with 16 subjects who participated to 8‐week training and 16 subjects serving as a control group. Training was individualized at the point where fat oxidation was maximal (Fat max). In each subject, pre‐ and postintervention anthropometric measures and biochemical tests on fasting blood were performed.

Results:  After the programme, the training group showed an increase in VO2peak and fat oxidation during exercise. Body mass index (BMI), blood glucose and triglycerides were reduced, and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased. ApoB/ApoA‐I ratio decreased significantly (−0.43%, p < 0.01). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure also decreased (−8.4% and −10.9%, respectively). Among the training group, 10 subjects were classified as having the metabolic syndrome before the intervention and none after. No significant changes in any other variables were measured in the control group.

Conclusions:  Training targeted at Fat max reduces the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors in obese children. In particular, this intervention decreases the ApoB/ApoA‐I ratio, which may be considered as a marker for following this syndrome.
Penicillium chrysogenum Pex14/17p – a novel component of the peroxisomal membrane that is important for penicillin production
Authors: Opaliński Łukasz , Kiel Jan A. K. W. , Homan Tim G. , Veenhuis Marten , van der Klei Ida J.
Published: June 2010

By genome analysis, we previously identified Pex14/17p as a putative novel peroxin of Penicillium chrysogenum. Here, we show that Pex14/17p is a component of the peroxisomal membrane that is essential for efficient peroxisomal targeting signal 1 and peroxisomal targeting signal 2 matrix protein import, implying that the protein is indeed a genuine peroxin. Additionally, a PEX14/17 deletion strain is affected in conidiospore formation. Pex14/17p has properties of both Pex14p and Pex17p, in that the N‐terminus of this protein is similar to the highly conserved Pex5p‐binding region present in the N‐termini of Pex14p proteins, whereas its C‐terminus shows weak similarity to yeast Pex17p proteins. We have identified a novel motif in both Pex17p and Pex14/17p that is absent in Pex14p. We show that an N‐terminally truncated, but not a C‐terminally truncated, Pex14/17p is able to complement both the matrix protein import and sporulation defects of a Δpex14/17 strain, implying that it is the Pex17p‐related portion of the protein that is crucial for its function as a peroxin. Possibly, this compensates for the fact that P. chrysogenum lacks an authenthic Pex17p. We also show that, in P. chrysogenum, Pex14/17p plays a role in making the penicillin biosynthesis process more efficient.
Many patients with Type 1 diabetes estimate their prandial insulin need inappropriately
Authors: AHOLA Aila J. , MÄKIMATTILA Sari , SARAHEIMO Markku , MIKKILÄ Vera , FORSBLOM Carol , FREESE Riitta , GROOP Per‐Henrik ,   on behalf of the FinnDIANE Study Group
Published: June 2010

Background:  Many factors contribute to the need for prandial insulin in Type 1 diabetes. However, patients’ success in achieving normal postprandial glucose concentration is understudied. The aim of the present study was to determine how often patients with Type 1 diabetes achieve normal postprandial glucose concentrations and to evaluate factors associated with postprandial hypo‐ and hyperglycemia.

Methods:  Data on food intake, physical activity, insulin administration, and blood glucose concentration were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire from 331 patients with Type 1 diabetes (43% men; mean age 49 ± 12 years; mean diabetes duration 32 ± 13 years). Of these, 179 provided data on blood glucose concentrations measured 110–150 min postprandially. One such meal per patient was randomized for analyses.

Results:  Hypoglycemia (<4.0 mmol/L), normoglycemia (4.0–7.9 mmol/L), and hyperglycemia (≥8.0 mmol/L) were observed after 23%, 36%, and 41% of meals, respectively. The three postprandial glycemia groups did not differ with respect to the meal composition or the timing of the postprandial blood glucose measurement. In women, postprandial hyperglycemia was associated with shorter diabetes duration and higher preprandial blood glucose concentration, whereas postprandial hypoglycemia was associated with higher physical activity. No single factor explained the postprandial glycemic state in men.

Conclusions:  A total of 64% of patients estimated their prandial insulin need inappropriately, suggesting that estimation of the optimal prandial insulin dose is not easy, even after a long duration of diabetes.
Review of methods for deriving areal reduction factors
Authors: Svensson C. , Jones D.A.
Published: June 2010

The design of hydraulic structures requires knowledge of how much rain is likely to fall within a certain amount of time and over a specific area. Point rainfalls are only representative for a very limited area, and for larger areas, the areal average rainfall depth is likely to be much smaller than at the point of the maximum observed depth. The estimation of areal reduction factors (ARFs) is concerned with the relationship between the point and areal rainfalls. This relationship has been found to vary with, for example, predominant weather type, season and return period. Traditionally, ARF estimates are based on empirical methods, although, more recently, a range of analytical methods have been applied. The review has found that no method is unambiguously correct. However, the traditional data‐intensive, empirical, fixed‐area methods still have advantages, including probabilistically correct ARF estimates and applicability over a comprehensive range of spatial and temporal scales. Although the analytical techniques attempt to place ARF estimation on a sounder scientific basis, they tend to rely on simplified assumptions and/or are only applicable within limited scales. The use of radar is problematic because of inhomogeneities and short data records, as well as possible biases in the ARF estimates.
The autoimmunity conundrum: clotting or inflammation
Authors: YEE Dennis Z. Y. , TENG Gim Gee , LIM Anita Y. N. , LOW Adrian F. , VASOO Sheila
Published: June 2010

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition with a myriad of clinical manifestations ranging from cardiovascular, neurologic, renal involvement to cutaneous manifestations and thrombocytopenia. We describe a young woman who presented with fever, cough and dyspnea. She had a history of recurrent pregnancy losses and her antiphospholipid antibodies and lupus serologies were positive. Echocardiography showed mobile mitral and aortic valve vegetations. She was treated as for infective endocarditis and diagnosed with primary APS with lupus‐like disease. Vigilance is required to establish if there is an underlying rheumatological condition in a patient who presents with presumptive infective endocarditis in the absence of risk factors. Treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus and primary APS are distinct.
The N‐terminal kinase suppressor of Ras complex has a weak nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity
Authors: Yang Xueqin , You Jiacong , Luo Wei , Yue Jiao , Ma Li , Xiao Wen , Zhu Daxing , Wu Zhihao , Wang Dong , Nadiminty Nagalakshmi , Gao Allen C. , Zhou Qinghua
Published: June 2010

Introduction:  An increasing number of studies have proven that the kinase suppressor of Ras (KSR1) functions as a scaffolding protein that coordinates the assembly of a multiprotein complex containing mitogen‐activated protein kinase and its upstream regulators. However, a few studies have reported that KSR1 can activate c‐Raf‐1. Therefore, whether KSR1 possesses a kinase activity has been an unresolved issue until now.

Materials and Methods:  pCMV‐Tag2b‐KSR plasmids were transfected into 293T cells. In vitro autophosphorylation was assayed by autoradiography and in vitro kinase was assayed by reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Results:  We observed that wild‐type KSR1 (WT‐KSR) and N‐terminal KSR1 (N‐KSR) were phosphorylated, but the C‐terminal KSR1 (C‐KSR) and vector proteins were not. The high performance liquid chromatography profile showed not only the adenosine diphosphate peak but also the uridine triphosphate peak in the WT‐KSR and N‐KSR groups; both peaks were considerably more significant in these groups than in the others. The WT‐KSR and N‐KSR groups exhibited transphosphorylation and autophosphorylation activities, while the other groups revealed almost no activity.

Discussion:  Here, we demonstrate the nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity of the KSR1 complex and that this activity can be independent of the C‐terminus of KSR1. Additionally, we found the autophosphorylation activity of the KSR1 complex to be extremely weak, suggesting that the KSR1 complex possesses an extremely weak kinase activity irrespective of whether it is nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity or serine/threonine protein kinase activity. These data suggest that the kinase activity of the KSR1 complex is derived from its associated proteins.
Continuous cell air-extracting technique used for fast cell filling of flexible liquid-crystal displays
Authors: Wu Wen-Tuan , Chang Chia-Jen , Cheng Hsyi-En , Hsu Ching-Ming , Tsen Kun-San
Published: June 2010

A continuous cell air-extracting technique (CCAE) has been successfully applied for cell filling of flexible liquid-crystal displays. This CCAE technique can conduct cell filling of liquid crystals in an atmospheric ambient and keep cell pressure constant during the entire cell-filling period. Cell-filling efficiency was found to be dependent on cell pressure, spacer-area density, and injection-port width at room temperature. A filling time of 141 s was achieved for a polyethylene-terephthalate substrate with a 67×55 mm2 cell at a constant cell pressure of 2 torr, which is faster than the traditional method by at least a factor of 2. The enhanced cell-filling efficiency is mainly attributed to the fact that the flow speed of liquid crystal is not largely reduced in the cell because of the constant cell pressure. The cell-filling efficiency was, however, found to be limited by cell-deformation-caused cell resistance.
Semiconductor-superconductor transition and magnetoresistance terraces in an ultrathin superconducting Pb nanobridge
Authors: Wang Jian , Jia Jin-Feng , Ma Xu-Cun , Shen Quan-Tong , Han Tie-Zhu , Jin Ai-Zi , Lu Li , Gu Chang-Zhi , Tian Ming-Liang , Xie X. C. , Xue Qi-Kun
Published: June 2010

Using focused ion beam etching technique, the authors fabricated a 28 atomic monolayers thick, 500 nm wide, and 10 μm long Pb nanobridge from an atomically flat Pb thin film grown on Si by molecular beam epitaxy. Electric transport measurements show exotic resistance oscillations in the superconducting state far below its critical field HC and cascading terraces near the superconducting transition region. Furthermore, the bridge shows an unusual semiconducting behavior above the superconducting transition temperature TC. The results are in contrast to those observed in its counterpart of the two-dimensional thin film.
Novel split-tip proximal probe for fabrication of nanometer-textured, in-plane oriented polymer films
Authors: Clark Beverly , Taylor M. P. , Hallen H. D.
Published: June 2010

Novel fabrication schemes are required to deposit nanoscale materials that contain molecules oriented in the plane of the surface. The breakage of in-plane symmetry allows devices to be fabricated in this plane, enabling molecular electronics to follow this successful paradigm of semiconductor devices. The authors discuss here the fabrication of a unique split-tip optical nanoprobe that can be used to both orient molecules on a surface with a strong, localized electric field and deposit them with nanoscale resolution. Ultraviolet light injected through the probe into the region of aligned molecules causes the deposition. The production of the split-tip probe is significantly different than that of the related near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) probe, since the stresses in the metal layer must be held by the metal film–silica interface rather than within the film as it encircles the silica of a NSOM probe. Mounting of the probe to ensure reliable electrical contacts is also described.
Extension of active region in crossbar-type polymer solar photovoltaics induced by highly conductive PEDOT:PSS buffer layer
Authors: Huang Tsung-Syun , Huang Chun-Yuan , Su Yan-Kuin , Chen Ying-Chih , Fang Jiun-Shiang , Wen Ten-Chin
Published: June 2010

The authors have demonstrated and estimated the extension of active region in P3HT:PCBM solar photovoltaics due to the increase in the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS. For the polymer photovoltaics with a crossbar-type electrode geometry, the excess photogenerated carriers outside the nominal active region have contributed the measured photocurrent and thus affected the derived power conversion efficiency. In this work, glycerol and dimethyl-sulfoxide were, respectively, incorporated into PEDOT:PSS to increase the conductivity and therefore improve the performance of the devices. The method of restrictively illuminating the partially shielded device was introduced to eliminate the excess photocurrent and well define the real active region. The extension of active area was also figured out by fitting the short-circuit current of shielded device.
Increased Mutation Frequency in Redox-Impaired
Escherichia coli
Due to RelA- and RpoS-Mediated Repression of DNA Repair
Authors: Singh Amarjeet , Karimpour-Fard Anis , Gill Ryan T.
Published: June 2010

Balancing of reducing equivalents is a fundamental issue in bacterial metabolism and metabolic engineering. Mutations in the key metabolic genes
ldhA
and
pflB
of
Escherichia coli
are known to stall anaerobic growth and fermentation due to a buildup of intracellular NADH. We observed that the rate of spontaneous mutation in
E. coli
BW25113 (Δ
ldhA
Δ
pflB
) was an order of magnitude higher than that in wild-type (WT)
E. coli
BW25113. We hypothesized that the increased mutation frequency was due to an increased NADH/NAD
+
ratio in this strain. Using several redox-impaired strains of
E. coli
and different redox conditions, we confirmed a significant correlation (
P
< 0.01) between intracellular-NADH/NAD
+
ratio and mutation frequency. To identify the genetic basis for this relationship, whole-genome transcriptional profiles were compared between BW25113 WT and BW25113 (Δ
ldhA
Δ
pflB
). This analysis revealed that the genes involved in DNA repair were expressed at significantly lower levels in BW25113 (Δ
ldhA
Δ
pflB
). Direct measurements of the extent of DNA repair in BW25113 (Δ
ldhA
Δ
pflB
) subjected to UV exposure confirmed that DNA repair was inhibited. To identify a direct link between DNA repair and intracellular-redox ratio, the stringent-response-regulatory gene
relA
and the global-stress-response-regulatory gene
rpoS
were deleted. In both cases, the mutation frequencies were restored to BW25113 WT levels.
Conservation of Genomic Localization and Sequence Content of Sau3AI-Like Restriction-Modification Gene Cassettes amongListeria monocytogenesEpidemic Clone I and Selected Strains of Serotype 1/2a
Authors: Yildirim Suleyman , Elhanafi Driss , Lin Wen , Hitchins Anthony D. , Siletzky Robin M. , Kathariou S.
Published: June 2010

Listeria monocytogenesis a food-borne pathogen with a clonal population structure and apparently limited gene flow between strains of different lineages. Strains of epidemic clone I (ECI) have been responsible for numerous outbreaks and invariably have DNA that is resistant to digestion by Sau3AI, suggesting methylation of cytosine at GATC sites. A putative restriction-modification (RM) gene cassette has been identified in the genome of the ECI strain F2365 and all other tested ECI strains but is absent from other strains of the same serotype (4b). Homologous RM cassettes have not been reported amongL. monocytogenesisolates of other serotypes. Furthermore, conclusive evidence for the involvement of this RM cassette in the Sau3AI resistance phenotype of ECI strains has been lacking. In this study, we describe a highly conserved RM cassette in certain strains of serotypes 1/2a and 4a that have Sau3AI-resistant DNA. In these strains the RM cassette was in the same genomic location as in the ECI reference strain F2365. The cassette included a gene encoding a putative recombinase, suggesting insertion via site-specific recombination. Deletion of the RM cassette in the ECI strain F2365 and the serotype 1/2a strain A7 rendered the DNA of both strains susceptible to Sau3AI digestion, providing conclusive evidence that the cassette includes a gene required for methylation of cytosine at GATC sites in both strains. The findings suggest that, in addition to its presence in ECI strains, this RM cassette and the accompanying genomic DNA methylation is also encountered among selected strains of other lineages.