bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The publication and citation impact profiles of Angewandte Chemie and the Journal of the American Chemical Society based on the sections of Chemical Abstracts: A case study on the limitations of the Journal Impact Factor
Authors: Neuhaus Christoph , Marx Werner , Daniel Hans‐Dieter
Published: September 2008

The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) published by Thomson
Reuters is often used to evaluate the significance and performance of
scientific journals. Besides methodological problems with the JIF,
the critical issue is whether a single measure is sufficient for characterizing the impact of journals, particularly the impact of multidisciplinary and wide‐scope journals that publish articles in a broad range of research fields. Taking Angewandte Chemie International Edition and the Journal of the American Chemical Society as examples, we examined the two journals' publication and impact profiles across the sections of Chemical Abstracts and compared the results with the JIF. The analysis was based primarily on Communications published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition and the Journal of the American Chemical Society during 2001 to 2005. The findings show that the information available in the Science Citation Index is a rather unreliable indication of the document type and is therefore inappropriate for comparative analysis. The findings further suggest that the composition of the journal in terms of contribution types, the length of the citation window, and the thematic focus of the journal in terms of the sections of Chemical Abstracts has a significant influence on the overall journal citation impact. Therefore, a single measure of journal citation impact such as the JIF is insufficient for characterizing the significance and performance of wide‐scope journals. For the comparison of journals, more sophisticated methods such as publication and impact profiles across subject headings of bibliographic databases (e.g., the sections of Chemical Abstracts) are valuable.
SIRT1 longevity factor suppresses NF‐κB ‐driven immune responses: regulation of aging via NF‐κB acetylation?
Authors: Salminen Antero , Kauppinen Anu , Suuronen Tiina , Kaarniranta Kai
Published: September 2008

The aging process involves changes in immune regulation, i.e. adaptive immunity declines whereas innate immunity becomes activated. NF‐κB signaling is the master regulator of the both immune systems. Two recent articles highlight the role of the NF‐κB system in aging and immune responses. Adler et al1 showed that the NF‐κB binding domain is the genetic regulatory motif which is most strongly associated with the aging process. Kwon et al2 studying HIV‐1 infection and subsequent immune deficiency process demonstrated that HIV‐1 Tat protein binds to SIRT1 protein, a well‐known longevity factor, and inhibits the SIRT1‐mediated deacetylation of the p65 component of the NF‐κB complex. As a consequence, the transactivation efficiency of the NF‐κB factor was greatly potentiated, leading to the activation of immune system and later to the decline of adaptive immunity. These observations support the scenario where immune responses and aging process can be enforced by the potentiation of NF‐κB transactivation efficiency. Longevity factors, such as SIRT1 and its activators, might regulate the efficiency of the NF‐κB signaling, the major outcome of which is inflamm‐aging via proinflammatory responses. BioEssays 30:939–942, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Opsins and cell fate in the Drosophila Bolwig organ: tricky lessons in homology inference
Authors: Friedrich Markus
Published: September 2008

The Drosophila Bolwig organs are small photoreceptor bundles that facilitate the phototactic behavior of the larva. Comparative literature suggests that these highly reduced visual organs share evolutionary ancestry with the adult compound eye. A recent molecular genetic study produced the first detailed account of the mechanisms controlling differential opsin expression and photoreceptor subtype determination in these enigmatic eyes of the Drosophila larva. Here, the evolutionary implications are examined, taking into account the dynamic diversification of opsin genes and the spatial regulation of opsin homolog expression in other insects. It is concluded that, consistent with their common evolutionary roots, the Drosophila larval and adult eyes use the same mechanisms for the regulation of opsin expression and photoreceptor cell fate specification. Strikingly, the structurally highly derived Bolwig organs retained a more ancestral state of opsin expression and regulation. Inconspicuous in size, the Drosophila larval eyes deliver useful lessons in the reconstruction of homology between neuronal cell types with gene expression data, and on the conservative nature of gene regulatory network evolution during the emergence of novel organs from ancestral templates. BioEssays 30:980–993, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compagen, a comparative genomics platform for early branching metazoan animals, reveals early origins of genes regulating stem‐cell differentiation
Authors: Hemmrich Georg , Bosch Thomas C.G.
Published: September 2008

Large‐scale species comparisons at genome and expressed sequence tag (EST) levels have revealed that early branching metazoans such as sponges and cnidarians share many if not most of their genes with the allegedly advanced vertebrates including man. The ancestor of all animals may thus have been much more complex than anticipated. To facilitate and support analysis of genomic and transcriptomic resources in early branching metazoans, we have established a local bio‐computational platform, Compagen (http://www.compagen.org). The platform contains searchable databases with selected raw genomic and EST sequence datasets from sponges and cnidarians up to the lower vertebrates. In addition to the public datasets, Compagen also provides processed data like CAP3 assembled ESTs or predicted peptides. Evaluating the efficacy of the platform by screening for genes reported to be essential in controlling stem‐cell behavior in higher organisms uncovered ancient origins for some but not all components of the vertebrate stem‐cell system. BioEssays 30:1010–1018, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How Mycobacterium tuberculosis subverts host immune responses
Authors: Józefowski Szczepan , Sobota Andrzej , Kwiatkowska Katarzyna
Published: September 2008

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis which has infected one third of the mankind and causes 2–3 million deaths worldwide each year. The persistence of the infection ensues from the ability of M. tuberculosis to subvert host immune responses in favor of survival and growth of mycobacteria in macrophages. The mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis manipulates the host immune system have only recently come to light. These activities are attributed to lipoarabinomannans (LAM) and their precursors lipomannans (LM), two predominant glycolipids of M. tuberculosis cell wall. LM are able to skew anti‐mycobacterial immune responses into un‐protective ones, while LAM evoke immunosupression upon binding to macrophage and dendritic cell receptors specialized in binding to “self” host components. A newly emerging idea implicates plasma membrane rafts in LM and LAM signaling. Depending on acylation patterns, the glycolipids may either directly incorporate into the raft membrane via mannosylphosphatidylinositol anchors or interact with raft‐associated proteins to affect the assembly of receptor signaling complexes. BioEssays 30:943–954, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of trace amounts of prulifloxacin using the aluminium(III)–prulifloxacin system
Authors: Yu Fengshan , Liu Weizhou , Chen Fang , Cai Ping
Published: September 2008

The fluorescence of the prulifloxacin (PUFX)–Al(III) system was investigated . Experiments indicated that the fluorescence intensity of prulifloxacin could be greatly enhanced by Al(III) and sensitized by sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS). Accordingly, a sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of prulifloxacin was established. While excited at 275 nm, the enhanced fluorescence intensity at 412 nm of the system (ΔF) showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of prulifloxacin within the range 4.0 × 10–8–3.0 × 10–6 mol/L. The regression equation was ΔF = 9.83 + 10.8 × 107c (mol/L); the correlation coefficient and detection limit (3σ/k) were 0.99901 and 2.0 × 10–8 mol/L, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied to determine prulifloxacin in real pharmaceutical samples. The luminescence mechanism of the system is also discussed in detail. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disorganization of the Mn4Ca complex of photosystem II by ruthenium red: a thermoluminescence study
Authors: Gauthier Alain , Carpentier Robert
Published: September 2008

Ruthenium red (RR) is known to be an inhibitor that binds to Ca2+ sites. It releases Ca2+ and Cl− together with the extrinsic polypeptide of 17 kDa associated with the oxygen evolving complex of photosystem II. In this work we used thermoluminescence to study S2/3QB− and S2QA− charge recombination. It is shown that RR produced a deeper inhibition of oxygen evolution compared with the effect of extrinsic polypeptide or Ca2+/Cl− depletion. Even though Mn is not released, the Mn cluster is disorganized by RR and the S1 → S2 transition is inhibited. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of an on‐line two‐dimensional reversed‐phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of prostaglandins E2 and F2α and 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto prostaglandin F2α levels in human plasma
Authors: Komaba Junji , Matsuda Dai , Shibakawa Kimio , Nakade Susumu , Hashimoto Yoshitaka , Miyata Yasuyuki , Ogawa Mikio
Published: September 2008

We developed and validated an on‐line reverse‐phase two‐dimensional LC/MS/MS (2D‐LC/MS/MS) system for simultaneous determination of the levels of prostaglandin (PG) E2 as well as PGF2α and its metabolite 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto PGF2α (F2α‐M) in human plasma. Analytes were extracted by a three‐step solid‐phase extraction. Samples were then analyzed by on‐line 2D‐LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization in negative mode. The 2D‐LC system is composed of two reverse‐phase analytical columns with a trapping column linking the two analytical columns. While an acidic buffer was used for both separation dimensions, differing organic solvents were employed for each dimension: methanol for the first and acetonitrile for the second to increase resolving power. The 2D‐LC/MS/MS method was highly selective and sensitive with a significantly lower limit of quantitation (0.5 pg/mL for PGE2 and 2.5 pg/mL for PGF2α and F2α‐M, respectively). Linearity of the 2D‐LC/MS/MS system was demonstrated for the calibration ranges of 0.5–50 pg/mL for PGE2 and 2.5–500 pg/mL for PGF2α and F2α‐M, respectively. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained throughout the calibration curve ranges. This highly selective and sensitive method was successfully utilized to determine the endogenous levels of PGE2, PGF2α, and F2α‐M in plasma samples from six (four male and two female) normal volunteers. The mean concentrations for each analyte were 0.755 pg/mL for PGE2, 5.70 pg/mL for PGF2α and 9.48 pg/mL for F2α‐M. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introducing natural‐convective chilling to food engineering undergraduate freshmen: Case studied assisted by CFD simulation and field visualization
Authors: Rabi J. A. , Cordeiro R. B. , Oliveira A. L.
Published: September 2008

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)‐assisted didactic activity has been applied to Food Engineering freshmen aiming at introducing basic concepts of process modeling and simulation towards the food industry. Evoking natural convection, a relatively simple case study was proposed involving two initially room temperature porous samples (identified as two fruits) that were placed inside a refrigeration chamber. Three different configurations were suggested for placing such warmer samples so that students were asked to order them with respect to their chilling capability, that is, to their ability to chill samples as fast as possible. Freshmen's written answers were collected before CFD was used to simulate and visualize each distinct chilling scenario. Accordingly, a finite‐volume FORTRAN simulator for transport phenomena in domains fully or partially filled up with porous matrix was used to help compare each chilling performance. Among all possible combinations, answer distribution is presented and discussed in the light of freshmen's scholar background as well as based on the way natural convection concepts were introduced. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 34–43, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20161
Teaching application of MATLAB fuzzy logic toolbox to modeling coplanar waveguides
Authors: Übeyli̇ Elif Derya
Published: September 2008

Adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) have recently gained attention as fast and flexible vehicles to microwave modeling, simulation, and optimization. This article presents an initiative to teach the concept of modeling coplanar waveguides (CPWs) in the fuzzy logic toolbox of MATLAB to the electrical engineering students. The approach was based on illustrative applications that highlight the performance of ANFIS in the computation of the parameters of the microwave components. Following a brief description of CPWs, applications of the ANFIS modeling to the CPWs were done by means of a series of MATLAB functions. The author suggests that the use of MATLAB exercises will assist the students in gaining a better understanding of modeling CPWs by the use of ANFIS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 223–232, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20166
Digital simulation of the transformation of plane stress
Authors: Lee Wei‐Pin , Chiu Chang‐Hsuan , Hwan Chung‐Li , Ma John
Published: September 2008

In this study, we developed a computer program to simulate the transformation of plane stress by using Visual Basic.NET. We applied the equations of stress transformation to plane stress problems to calculate the stresses with respect to the 1–2 axes, which are rotated counterclockwise through an angle θ about the x–y origin, and showed the visual results on the screen. In addition, we used animation to observe the change of plane stress. This program was then used in teaching courses, such as Mechanics of Materials and Linear Algebra. Use of the software may help students to understand principal stresses, principal axes, Mohr's circle, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, similar matrices, and invariants. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 25–33, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20180
Psychopathy and personality. An investigation of the relationship between the NEO‐Five Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI) and the Psychopathy Checklist‐Revised (PCL‐R) in a hospitalized sample of male offenders with personality disorder
Authors: Pereira Nedra , Huband Nick , Duggan Conor
Published: September 2008

Background The concept of psychopathy, as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist‐Revised (PCL‐R), has good reliability and validity and there is a small amount of literature relating it to more general personality traits. Such relationships have not, however, been demonstrated across a variety of populations.

Aim To examine the relationship between the PCL‐R and the NEO‐Five Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI) in a sample of men detained in a secure hospital unit because of personality disorder and having been convicted of at least one criminal offence.

Method PCL‐R and NEO‐FFI measures were obtained for 100 men as part of a pre‐admission assessment to a specialist personality disorder treatment unit.

Results After controlling for Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and scores on the other four NEO‐FFI domains, PCL‐R total scores were significantly negatively correlated with agreeableness (r = −0.36) and neuroticism (r = −0.22). No other correlations with total scores were significant. PCL‐R Factor 1 scores were significantly negatively correlated with agreeableness (r = −0.31) and with neuroticism (r = −0.26) whereas Factor 2 scores were significantly positively correlated with extraversion (r = 0.22) and negatively with agreeableness (r = −0.21).

Conclusions Results were in line with findings from previous studies and were explained in part by considering how facets of the NEO‐FFI map onto the concept of psychopathy. Further research is needed to ascertain whether similar relationships also apply among women, and to examine the relationship between psychopathy and specific facets of the five factor model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of a treatment programme for alcohol‐related aggression
Authors: McCulloch Anna , McMurran Mary
Published: September 2008

Background The development of effective treatments for alcohol‐related aggression and violence is important in binge drinking cultures, as in parts of the UK.

Aim The aim was to evaluate the progress and experience of 10 participants in Control of Violence for Angry Impulsive Drinkers (COVAID) using a single case methodology.

Method Participants completed 10 individual weekly sessions with trained facilitators following the COVAID manual. Change scores on psychometric questionnaires were examined by calculating clinical significance and reliability of change. Self‐reports of alcohol consumption and aggression were examined. Follow‐up data on convictions were collected. Participants were asked their opinions about COVAID.

Results Scores on the Alcohol‐Related Aggression Questionnaire (ARAQ) improved for nine participants; change was both clinically significant and reliable in five cases. Nine participants improved on the Controlled Drinking Self‐Efficacy Scale (CDSES), with seven showing clinically significant improvement. Six participants reported a reduction in alcohol consumption from the first to the second half of the programme. At a mean of 29 weeks post‐treatment, none of the participants had been reconvicted for a violent offence. Participants reported finding COVAID useful and interesting.

Conclusion Overall, our findings support the possibility that COVAID may assist in reducing alcohol‐related violence and violent offending. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective information processing in hypnotic identity delusion: the impact of time of encoding and retrieval
Authors: Cox Rochelle E. , Barnier Amanda J.
Published: September 2008

This experiment indexed the impact of hypnotic identity delusion on information processing. During hypnosis, high and low hypnotizable participants received a suggestion to become a same‐sex friend (with opposite personality characteristics) and listened to a structured story about two characters with opposite personality characteristics. Importantly, half the participants encoded the story before the delusion suggestion and retrieved it after the suggestion, and half encoded the story after the delusion suggestion and retrieved it after cancellation. The majority of highs, but few lows, passed the suggestion and reported a compelling delusion experience. Of particular interest is that whereas lows' processing of the story was not influenced by the delusion suggestion or the time of encoding and retrieval (they recalled more than highs overall, identified with the story character consistent with their actual identity, and showed no selectivity in recall), highs' processing was influenced both by their delusional experience and the time of encoding and retrieval. Highs who encoded the story after the delusion suggestion identified with the character consistent with their suggested identity and retrieved more information about this character. In discussing these findings we consider the role of encoding vs. retrieval processes, the impact of current conceptions of self on information processing, and the relevance of this work to memory and clinical delusions. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase 2 trial of oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) as second‐line therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Xiong Henry Q. , Varadhachary Gauri R. , Blais Joan C. , Hess Kenneth R. , Abbruzzese James L. , Wolff Robert A.
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND.

To the authors' knowledge, there is no established second‐line chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer who have received gemcitabine‐based therapy. A phase 2 trial was conducted to explore the efficacy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer previously who were treated with gemcitabine.

METHODS.

Patients aged ≤65 years who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 to 1 received oxaliplatin at a dose of 130 mg/m2 given on Day 1 and capecitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days. For patients aged >65 years or with an ECOG PS of 2, the oxaliplatin dose was 110 mg/m2 on Day 1 and the capecitabine dose was 750 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Tumor measurements were performed every 9 weeks and the primary study objective was 6‐month overall survival.

RESULTS.

The study enrolled 41 patients. Of the 39 evaluable patients, 1 patient had a partial response and 10 patients demonstrated stable disease. The Kaplan‐Meier estimate of the overall median survival was 23 weeks (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 17.0‐31.0 weeks). Progression‐free survival was 9.9 weeks (95% CI, 9.6‐14.5 weeks). The 6‐month and 1‐year survival rates were 44% (95% CI, 31%‐62%) and 21% (95% CI, 11%‐38%), respectively. The most common grade 3‐4 nonhematologic toxicity was fatigue (toxicity was graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]).

CONCLUSIONS.

The combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin is active in gemcitabine‐pretreated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, especially in patients with a good PS and those who have responded to first‐line chemotherapy. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Morphological differences between wild‐type and transgenic superoxide dismutase 1 lumbar motoneurons in postnatal mice
Authors: Amendola Julien , Durand Jacques
Published: September 2008

Quantitative analysis of the dendritic arborizations of wild‐type (WT) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) postnatal mouse motoneurons was performed following intracellular staining and 3D reconstructions with Neurolucida system. The population of lumbar motoneurons was targeted in the caudal part of the L5 segment, and all labeled motoneurons were located within the same ventrolateral pool. Despite the similar size of the soma and the mean diameter of primary dendrites, the dendritic arborizations of the WT and SOD1 motoneurons showed significant differences in terms of their morphometric parameters. The metric and topological parameters of dendrites show that the total dendritic length and surface area and total number of segments, branching nodes, and tips per motoneuron were significantly higher in SOD1 motoneurons. Our main finding concerns a proliferation of dendritic branches starting at about 100 μm from the soma in the SOD1 motoneurons. However, the longest and mean dendritic paths from soma to terminations were similar, giving a comparable envelope of the dendritic fields. Indeed, the SOD1 motoneurons were larger as a result of abnormal branching. The results suggest that a defect in pruning mechanisms occurs during this developmental period. The abnormal growth of the dendritic arborizations and the reduced excitability of postnatal SOD1 motoneurons could be a neuroprotective response and would represent an early compensatory mechanism against the activity‐induced toxicity. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:329–341, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reinforcement of cell junctions correlates with the absence of hair cell regeneration in mammals and its occurrence in birds
Authors: Burns Joseph , Christophel J. Jared , Collado Maria Sol , Magnus Christopher , Carfrae Matthew , Corwin Jeffrey T.
Published: September 2008

Debilitating hearing and balance deficits often arise through damage to the inner ear's hair cells. For humans and other mammals, such deficits are permanent, but nonmammalian vertebrates can quickly recover hearing and balance through their innate capacity to regenerate hair cells. The biological basis for this difference has remained unknown, but recent investigations in wounded balance epithelia have shown that proliferation follows cellular spreading at sites of injury. As mammalian ears mature during the first weeks after birth, the capacity for spreading and proliferation declines sharply. In seeking the basis for those declines, we investigated the circumferential bands of F‐actin that bracket the apical junctions between supporting cells in the gravity‐sensitive utricle. We found that those bands grow much thicker as mice and humans mature postnatally, whereas their counterparts in chickens remain thin from hatching through adulthood. When we cultured utricular epithelia from chickens, we found that cellular spreading and proliferation both continued at high levels, even in the epithelia from adults. In contrast, the substantial reinforcement of the circumferential F‐actin bands in mammals coincides with the steep declines in cell spreading and production established in earlier experiments. We propose that the presence of thin F‐actin bands at the junctions between avian supporting cells may contribute to the lifelong persistence of their capacity for shape change, cell proliferation, and hair cell replacement and that the postnatal reinforcement of the F‐actin bands in maturing humans and other mammals may have an important role in limiting hair cell regeneration. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:396–414, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selective contribution of interleukin‐6 and leptin to brain inflammatory signals induced by systemic LPS injection in mice
Authors: Rummel Christoph , Inoue Wataru , Sachot Christelle , Poole Stephen , Hübschle Thomas , Luheshi Giamal N.
Published: September 2008

This study aimed to address the relative contributions of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and the cytokine‐like hormone leptin to the genomic activation of brain cells during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced systemic inflammation. Wildtype and IL‐6KO mice were injected with LPS (50 μg/kg, intraperitoneally) and the brains analyzed by immunohistochemistry and reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). LPS induced a pronounced nuclear translocation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) throughout the brains of wildtype mice, an effect that was significantly diminished, but not abolished, in the IL‐6KOs. The remnant STAT3‐activation, although still observed within some of the same areas activated by IL‐6, was most intense in ependymal and meningial cells and along distinct blood vessels throughout the brain. This expression was almost totally abolished in the presence of an anti‐leptin antiserum. Interestingly, the induction of cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES), the rate‐limiting enzymes for synthesis of PGE2 by LPS, was diminished to a degree that correlated with the absence of IL‐6 but not entirely with leptin. These results demonstrate that the induction of the inflammatory pathway in the brain is mediated by both IL‐6 and leptin, which appear to work in tandem. Unlike IL‐6, however, the contribution of leptin to this response was limited to distinct cell types/brain areas and STAT3‐responsive target genes implicated in the brain‐controlled sickness‐type response. The physiological significance of leptin's action on meningeal and endothelial cells remains to be clarified but might reflect a role in LPS‐induced immune cell infiltration into the brain. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:373–395, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flow cytometric quantitation of natural killer cells and T lymphocytes expressing T‐cell receptors alpha/beta and gamma/delta is not helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant body cavity effusions
Authors: Cornfield Dennis B. , Gheith Shereen M. F.
Published: September 2008

Background

Quantitation of natural killer (NK) cells in benign and malignant effusions has yielded conflicting results in the past. Studies have claimed higher, lower, and essentially equal percentages of NK cells for benign and malignant effusions. In addition, virtually no literature exists on the numbers and distribution of T lymphocytes expressing T‐cell receptor alpha/beta (TCR α/β) and T‐cell receptor gamma/delta (TCR γ/δ) in body effusions.

Methods

Using multicolor flow cytometry and sequential gating techniques, NK cells and T lymphocytes expressing TCR α/β and TCR γ/δ were identified and quantitated in 30 benign and 30 malignant effusions.

Results

No significant difference in percentage of NK cells was found between benign and malignant effusions. The absolute number per miroliter of CD16(+)CD56(+) NK cells was higher in malignant than in benign effusions, but only at a borderline level of statistical significance. T cells expressing TCR α/β far outnumbered those expressing TCR γ/δ in all effusions, a distribution similar to that in normal adult peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue. The percentages and absolute numbers of these T‐cell subsets were the same in benign and malignant effusions.

Conclusions

Enumeration of NK cells and of T lymphocytes expressing TCR α/β or TCR γ/δ in human body effusions is not helpful in attempting to distinguish between benign and malignant effusions. Values for the two T‐lymphocyte subsets in human effusions are, to our knowledge, established for the first time by flow cytometric determination. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society
Aromatic amino acids in weight‐recovered females with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Ehrlich Stefan , Franke Leonora , Schneider Nora , Salbach‐Andrae Harriet , Schott Regina , Craciun Eugenia M. , Pfeiffer Ernst , Uebelhack Ralf , Lehmkuhl Ulrike
Published: September 2008

Objective:

Most previous studies investigating amino acid levels in anorexia nervosa (AN) have focused on acutely underweight patients. The present study assessed the availability of aromatic amino acids in the plasma of weight‐recovered outpatients with AN (recAN) in comparison to acutely underweight AN patients (acAN) and healthy control woman (HCW).

Method:

Plasma tryptophan (TRP), tyrosine (TYR), and phenylalanine (PHEN) as well as leptin concentration were determined in 32 recAN, 32 acAN, and 32 HCW.

Results:

Both recAN and acAN patients showed significantly lower levels of TRP and PHEN when compared to HCW. TYR was reduced in acAN patients only.

Discussion:

Normal weight and normal leptin levels but lower availability of TRP and PHEN in recAN patients might indicate that outside a tightly controlled setting these patients still engage in abnormal eating patterns. Reduced peripheral availability of these precursor amino acids could impact on 5‐HT and catecholamine functioning in the brain. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009.
The development of hunger and fullness during a laboratory meal in patients with binge eating disorder
Authors: Samuels Francine , Zimmerli Ellen J. , Devlin Michael J. , Kissileff Harry R. , Walsh B. Timothy
Published: September 2008

Objective:

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that, compared to similarly obese participants without BED, individuals with BED have a disturbance in the development of fullness and reduction of hunger during the course of a standard meal of large size.

Method:

Thirteen patients with BED and 14 obese control participants consumed 975 g of a milkshake. Participants received no information about how much they had eaten or how much of the meal remained to be consumed. Participants were interrupted after every 75 g consumed to rate hunger and fullness.

Results:

Final fullness ratings were higher in patients with BED, but there were no differences in mean duration or mean rate of eating, or in changes in subjective ratings of hunger and fullness per gram of food.

Discussion:

The current study reports the surprising finding of no difference in reports of hunger and fullness between patients with BED and obese controls. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009.
Generation of a Hydroperoxidochromium Complex from Nitratochromium(III) Ions and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Cheng Mingming , Song Wenjing , Bakac Andreja
Published: September 2008

Accelerated substitution at chromium(III) in CraqONO22+ provides the basis for a novel route to the corresponding hydroperoxidochromium complex in aqueous solutions. Despite the great concentration advantage of water, the reaction of CraqONO22+ with 10–100 mM H2O2 generates >50 % yields of CraqOOH2+, which makes this reaction useful for preparative purposes, and may also represent a potential source of high‐valent chromium in biological environments. In a minor, parallel path, small concentrations of a superoxidochromium(III) complex, CraqOO2+, are also produced. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Comparison of CZE, open‐tubular CEC and non‐aqueous CE coupled to electrospray MS for impurity profiling of drugs
Authors: Vassort Aurélie , Shaw Paul Nicholas , Ferguson Paul D. , Szücs Roman , Barrett David A.
Published: September 2008

Open‐tubular CEC and non‐aqueous CE (NACE) methods were developed for the analysis of six pharmaceutical compounds and their respective process‐related impurities, comprising 22 analytes in total with a range of functional groups and lipophilicities. These methods were assessed for orthogonality of analyte separation with respect to existing CZE‐ESI‐MS and HPLC‐ESI‐MS methods, in order to complement a generic analytical strategy for impurity profiling of pharmaceutical compounds. Open‐tubular CEC, using etched and chemically modified capillaries, induced weak reversed‐phase‐type interactions between some of the analytes and the bonded phases (0.811<kapp<0.996). However, the separations were primarily influenced by electrophoretic mobility rather than chromatographic retention, and hence no significant change in selectivity compared with CZE was observed. NACE optimum separating conditions were 10 mM ammonium acetate–100 mM acetic acid in methanol far UV acetonitrile (1/1 v/v ratio). The ion‐pair reagents triethylamine or dimethylhexylamine did not induce further changes in selectivity, but tridecafluoroheptanoic acid significantly modified the electrophoretic mobility of bases. The results indicate that one of three generic CZE methods previously reported should be replaced by NACE, due to its improved separation capabilities. The NACE‐ESI‐MS method complements the two CZE‐ESI‐MS and the four HPLC‐ESI‐MS methods recommended in a previous publication; these together form the basis of a generic approach to impurity profiling of pharmaceutical compounds.
Development and validation of an MEKC method for determination of nitrogen‐containing drugs in pharmaceutical preparations
Authors: Buiarelli Francesca , Coccioli Franco , Jasionowska Renata , Terracciano Alessandro
Published: September 2008

A fast and accurate micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography method was developed for quality control of pharmaceutical preparations containing cold remedies as acetaminophen, salicylamide, caffeine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine and chlorpheniramine. The method optimization was realized on a Beckman P/ACE System MDQ instrument. The baseline separation of seven analytes was performed in an uncoated fused silica capillary internal diameter (ID)=50 µm using tris‐borate (20 mM, pH=8.5) containing sodium dodecyl sulphate 30 mM BGE. On line‐UV detection at 214 nm was performed and the applied voltage was 10 kV. The operating temperature was 25°C. After experimental conditions optimization, the proposed method was validated. The evaluated parameters were: precision of migration time and of corrected peak area ratio, linearity range, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy (recovery), ruggedness and applicability. The method was then successfully applied for the analysis of three pharmaceutical preparations containing some of the analytes listed before.
Fluorescence‐based Western blotting for quantitation of protein biomarkers in clinical samples
Authors: Zellner Maria , Babeluk Rita , Diestinger Michael , Pirchegger Petra , Skeledzic Senada , Oehler Rudolf
Published: September 2008

Since most high throughput techniques used in biomarker discovery are very time and cost intensive, highly specific and quantitative analytical alternative application methods are needed for the routine analysis. Conventional Western blotting allows detection of specific proteins to the level of single isotypes while its quantitative accuracy is rather limited. We report a novel and improved quantitative Western blotting method. The use of fluorescently labelled secondary antibodies strongly extends the dynamic range of the quantitation and improves the correlation with the protein amount (r=0.997). By an additional fluorescent staining of all proteins immediately after their transfer to the blot membrane, it is possible to visualise simultaneously the antibody binding and the total protein profile. This allows for an accurate correction for protein load. Applying this normalisation it could be demonstrated that fluorescence‐based Western blotting is able to reproduce a quantitative analysis of two specific proteins in blood platelet samples from 44 subjects with different diseases as initially conducted by 2D‐DIGE. These results show that the proposed fluorescence‐based Western blotting is an adequate application technique for biomarker quantitation and suggest possibilities of employment that go far beyond.
Impurity analysis of pharmaceuticals using capillary electromigration methods
Authors: Jouyban Abolghasem , Kenndler Ernst
Published: September 2008

This review deals with the determination of impurities in pharmaceuticals by electromigration methods in the capillary format. These separation methods are either based on the different effective mobility of the charged analytes (as in zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis) or include hybrid methods such as micellar electrokinetic chromatography, microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography and electrochromatography. The pharmaceutically active compounds under consideration belong to chemotherapeutic agents, central nervous system drugs, histamine receptor drugs, cardiovascular drugs, anticancer drugs, anti‐inflammatory drugs and some other drugs. The review discusses about 150 publications from the period between 1980 and 2007 with special emphasis on the recent trends and gives details about the experimental conditions applied for analyses and the obtained analytical performance parameters.
A method for rapidly predicting drug tissue distribution using surfactant vesicle electrokinetic chromatography
Authors: Jiang Zhengjin , Reilly John , Everatt Brian
Published: September 2008

Lung tissue distribution of an inhaled drug is important for its potency in the airways and with minimum systemic effects within its dose range. As the lung has the smallest diffusion distance of all the organs in the body and negligible diffusion delays, the characteristics of drug distribution in the lung will mainly depend on drug binding to both tissue and plasma protein. This research aims to develop and evaluate surfactant vesicle electrokinetic chromatography (SEKC) methods for high throughput profile prediction of tissue distribution for inhaled drugs. Several electrokinetic chromatography methods reported in the literature, as well as immobilised artificial membrane chromatography, were compared and evaluated in respect to chromatographic characteristics and statistical correlations. Among these methods, the docusate sodium salt (AOT) SEKC system showed good reproducibility, short run time, and the highest selectivity for alkylphenone test compounds. It also showed a significant statistical correlation between the retention of inhaled drugs and their in vivo volume of distribution at steady‐state (Vss) in whole human body neglecting the plasma protein‐binding differences. Stronger correlations were observed between the AOT SEKC retention of a series of basic drugs and their rat lung tissue‐to‐plasma water partitioning coefficient (Kpu), which is affected only by drug binding to the tissue constituent. Further, on comparing correlations between AOT SEKC retention and Kpu at various rat tissues, it was observed that the strongest correlation was with lung tissue distribution, while the weakest was with brain tissue distribution.
Multipronged evaluation of genotoxicity in Indian petrol‐pump workers
Authors: Pandey Alok K. , Bajpayee Mahima , Parmar Devendra , Kumar Rakesh , Rastogi Subodh K. , Mathur Neeraj , Thorning Paul , de Matas Marcel , Shao Qun , Anderson Diana , Dhawan Alok
Published: September 2008

Petrol (gasoline) contains a number of toxicants. This study used human biomonitoring to evaluate the genotoxic effects of exposure to benzene in petrol fumes in 100 Indian petrol‐pump workers (PPWs) and an equal number of controls. The study was corroborated with in silico assessments of the Comet assay results from the human biomonitoring study. An in vitro study in human lymphocytes was also conducted to understand the genotoxicity of benzene and its metabolites. In a subset of the population studied, higher blood benzene levels were detected in the PPWs (n = 39; P < 0.01) than the controls (n = 18), and 100–250 ppb benzene was also detected in air samples from the petrol pumps. PPWs had higher levels of DNA damage than the controls (P < 0.01). In addition, the micronucleus assay was performed on lymphocytes from a subset of the subjects, and the micronucleus frequency for PPWs was significantly higher (n = 39; 14.79 ± 3.92‰) than the controls (n = 18; 7.54 ± 3.00‰). Human lymphocytes were treated in vitro with benzene and several of its metabolites and assayed for DNA damage with the Comet assay. Benzene and its metabolites produced significant (P < 0.05) levels of DNA damage at and above concentrations of 10 μM. The metabolite, p‐benzoquinone, produced the greatest amount of DNA damage, followed by hydroquinone > benzene > catechol > 1,2,4,‐benzenetriol > muconic acid. This study demonstrates that, using sensitive techniques, it is possible to detect human health risks at an early stage when intervention is possible. possible. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of the XRCC1 gene‐environment interactions on DNA damage in healthy Japanese workers
Authors: Weng Zuquan , Lu Yuquan , Weng Huachuan , Morimoto Kanehisa
Published: September 2008

X‐ray repair crosscomplementing group 1 (XRCC1) has a central role in base excision repair (BER) and single‐strand break repair (SSBR). XRCC1 gene polymorphisms (codons 194, 280, and 399) have been identified, and in some cases have been reported to contribute to variations in DNA repair capacity and susceptibility to cancer. To further characterize the effects of XRCC1 gene polymorphisms and their possible interactions with environmental factors on individual levels of DNA damage, we investigated the XRCC1 genotypes of 222 healthy Japanese workers and analyzed data with respect to smoking, drinking habits, age, and health practice index (HPI). Our results showed that poor HPI would associate with a higher level of tail moment (TM). Individuals with one or two XRCC1R280H variant alleles exhibited significantly higher TM values, and these differences were enhanced by alcohol consumption and aging, whereas smoking and poor HPI may cover up the differences. On the other hand, using a stratified analysis, we found that the XRCC1R194W variant was associated with a higher TM value in the 40–50 year‐old age group, and the XRCC1R399Q variant was associated with a lower TM value in the ≤20 pack‐years group or in the 40–50 year‐old age group. These data suggest that XRCC1 polymorphisms could influence individual DNA repair capacity by interacting with lifestyle factors, and specifically, the data indicated that the XRCC1R280H allele may be more important than codon 194 or 399 alleles. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene expression changes associated with xenobiotic metabolism pathways in mice exposed to acrylamide
Authors: Mei Nan , Guo Lei , Tseng Jo , Dial Stacey L. , Liao Wayne , Manjanatha Mugimane G.
Published: September 2008

The discovery of acrylamide (AA) in a variety of fried foods has raised public health concerns. In this study, groups of male mice were administered 500 mg/L AA in drinking water for 3 weeks, and gene expression changes were evaluated in the livers of AA‐treated mice within 24 hr of the last treatment. When a two‐fold cutoff value and aP‐value less than 0.05 were selected, 696 genes (233 up‐regulated and 463 down‐regulated) were identified as differentially expressed genes in AA‐treated mice when compared with the controls. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the principle pathways affected by AA were xenobiotic metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and glutathione metabolism, suggesting that drug and/or xenobiotic metabolism is most affected by exposure. The results provide more information about AA metabolism and further insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in AA‐induced toxicity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A high–low model of daily stock price ranges
Authors: Cheung Yan‐Leung , Cheung Yin‐Wong , Wan Alan T. K.
Published: September 2008

We observe that daily highs and lows of stock prices do not diverge over time and, hence, adopt the cointegration concept and the related vector error correction model (VECM) to model the daily high, the daily low, and the associated daily range data. The in‐sample results attest to the importance of incorporating high–low interactions in modeling the range variable. In evaluating the out‐of‐sample forecast performance using both mean‐squared forecast error and direction of change criteria, it is found that the VECM‐based low and high forecasts offer some advantages over alternative forecasts. The VECM‐based range forecasts, on the other hand, do not always dominate—the forecast rankings depend on the choice of evaluation criterion and the variables being forecast. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.