bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotection of mild hypothermia beginning at different time intervals on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Zhang H. , Tong E. T.
Published: July 2010

The effects of mild hypothermia beginning at different time intervals on cerebral ischemia was studied in SD rats which were divided into sham‐operated, normothermia (37–38°C) ischemia and mild hypothermia (31–32°C) group. The latter was subdivided into: 240 min hypothermia, 30 min normothermia plus 210 min hypothermia, 60 min normothermia plus 180 min hypothermia and 90 min normothermia plus 150 min hypothermia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by modified 4‐vessel occlusion model. 240 min reperfusion following 20 min cerebral ischemia. Results showed that in normothermia group, the amount of SOD, GSH‐Px, GSH, ATP, K+ were lower and MDA, lactate, water content, Ca++ were higher than those in sham‐operated group. Mild hypothermia beginning immediately within 60 min delayed the consumption of SOD, GSH‐Px, GSH, ATP and decreased the accumulation of MDA, lactate, water content and Ca++ as compared with normothermia group. Mild hypothermia beginning immediately within 30 min significantly decreased the elevation of Na+, Ca++ and increased K+ in brain tissue when compared with normothermia. Mild hypothermia beginning immediately at 90 min has little effect on the content of SOD, GSH‐Px, GSH, MDA, lactate, ATP, water content and Na+, K+, Ca++ as compared with the normothermia group. Mild brain hypothermia beginning immediately after ischemia delay consumption of endogenous antioxidant enzyme and energy metabolism, decrease accumulation of lactate and lipid peroxidation and the development of brain edema, which is involved in the mechanism of cerebral protection by mild hypothermia. Mild hypothermia limits ischemia injury beginning immediately within 30 or 60 min, but lost its function when beginning at 90 min following ischemia.
Acidification‐induced changes in Cx43 protein–protein interactions
Authors: Duffy H. S. , Sorgen P. , Coombs W. , Taffet S. , Girvin M. , Delmar M. , Spray D. C.
Published: July 2010

Astrocytic gap junctions close in response to low intracellular pH, a process that may occur during ischemia. We propose that pH gating of Connexin43 (Cx43) involves binding of the carboxyl terminal domain (Cx43CT) to a pore‐affiliated ‘receptor’ and, possibly, interaction of Cx43 with other molecular partners. We studied the role of intra– and intermolecular interactions in Cx43 pH gating. Peptides were made corresponding to intracellular regions of Cx43. Using Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) we found pH dependent binding of the second half of the cytoplasmic loop to Cx43CT (Kd = 80 and 225 mm, pH 6.5 and 7.4, respectively). Binding was inhibited by preincubation with a synthetic peptide from region 346–362 of Cx43CT and by an antibody to this epitope, suggesting the binding site lies partially within this region. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies showed formation of alpha helices in response to low pH in amino acid sequences VEMHL (aa 123–127) and IEEHGK (aa 139–143) in the loop, and a helical region within the suggested Cx43CT binding site. In addition, we found that acidification of astrocytes in vitro led to dissociation of Cx43 from its scaffold protein ZO‐1. SPR showed that this was not due to pH dependence of Cx43‐ZO‐1 interaction (Kd = 2.23 mm at pH 7.4, 1.71 mm at pH 6.5) but to a strong pH–dependent interaction of Cx43 with c‐Src (Kd = 0.63 mm at pH 7.4, 0.04 mm at pH 6.5) which caused ZO‐1 to dissociate from Cx43CT. Separate experiments showed activation of astrocytic src at low pH. These changes in the composition of the Cx43 Nexus may play a major role in limiting tissue damage during brain ischemia.

Acknowledgements:  Supported by NIH grants NS 07098 (HSD) NS34931 & NS41282 (DCS) and GM57691 (MD).
Aggregation of peripheral myelin protein 22 in Trembler J neuropathy nerves
Authors: Notterpek L. , Fortun J. , Ferguson T. A.
Published: July 2010

Mutations in the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene are associated with demyelinating neuropathies leading to muscle atrophy. Altered subcellular trafficking and aggregation of mutant PMP22s have been proposed as mechanisms for the neuropathy. Indeed, wild type PMP22 accumulates in aggresomes when the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway is inhibited or PMP22 is overexpressed. Therefore, we investigated the presence of PMP22 aggregates in sciatic nerves of adult heterozygote Trembler J (TrJ) mice. Our studies show the accumulation of PMP22 in perinuclear, as well as peripheral aggregates in affected samples. PMP22 aggregates are surrounded by a vimentin cage and often colocalize with ubiquitin. Other myelin proteins, including myelin basic protein, are diverted to PMP22 aggregates in TrJ nerves. In addition, connexin 32 and protein 0 aggregates are detected in affected Schwann cells. Biochemical analyses of nerve lysates confirm the up‐regulation of the ubiquitin‐proteasomal and lysosomal protein degradation pathways. In addition, missfolding of the mutant TrJ PMP22 induces a stress response in the Schwann cells, as revealed by the elevated levels of molecules involved in protein folding, such as Hsp60, Hsp70 and alpha β crystalline. Our results support a possible mechanism by which the L16P mutation in PMP22 increases the tendency of the protein to aggregate and sequester other proteins, such as chaperones and myelin proteins, interfering with normal processes in Schwann cells.

Acknowledgements:  These studies are supported by funds from the NIH and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Hierarchical interactions among cytokines establish the functional state of microglia
Authors: Levison S. W.
Published: July 2010

Microglia rapidly respond to CNS injury yet the mechanisms leading to their activation and inactivation remain poorly defined. In particular, few studies have established how interactions among inflammatory mediators affect the innate immune response of microglia. To begin to understand the hierarchy of cytokine signalling we examined the effects of several cytokines on purified newborn and adult rat microglia in vitro, and we have examined the microglial response to injury in mice deficient in the IL‐1 type 1 receptor (IL‐1R1). Using several indices of activation, we find that IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 are potent microglial activators. By contrast, TGF‐β1 did not activate the cells and when TGFβ1 was administered prior to IL‐1β, it blocked the effects of IL‐1β. However, TGFβ1 was ineffective in antagonizing IL‐6. In null mice lacking the IL‐1R1, microglia inefficiently responded to injury, and IL‐6 induction was severely curtailed. These data establish a model of hierarchical signalling, whereby constitutive expression of TGF‐β1 in the CNS maintains microglia in a resting state. IL‐1, while an important microglial activator, is modifiable, whereas, the downstream cytokine, IL‐6, is a strong stimulus that is unaffected by other modifiers of the innate immune response.

Acknowledgements:  Supported by NMSS award #RG 3837.
Desensitization, phosphorylation and sequestration of the human P2Y2 nucleotide receptor
Authors: Gonzalez F. A. , Aquino E. , Flores R. V. , Garrad R. C. , Weisman G. A.
Published: July 2010

Human 1321 N1 astrocytoma cells transfected with HA‐tagged P2Y2 receptors cDNA were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in P2Y2 receptor signalling. Immunoprecipitation of wild‐type P2Y2 receptor revealed a heterogeneous distribution of the receptor protein ranging in Mr from 57 to 76 kDa which is typical of membrane glycoproteins with heterogeneous complex glycosylation. The human HA‐tagged P2Y2 receptor stably transfected in 1321 N1 cells exhibited an EC50 value of 0.25 ± 0.03 that is similar to that of the P2Y2 receptor endogenously expressed in human monocytic U‐937 cells. The HA‐P2Y2 receptor is rapidly desensitized with UTP showing an IC50 of 0.43 ± 0.1 μm. The protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, inhibited the recovery of receptor activity from the desensitized state, suggesting a role for P2Y2 receptor phosphorylation in desensitization. Indeed, a 3.8 ± 0.2‐fold increase in [32P]‐PO43– radioactivity content in the immunoprecipitated HA‐P2Y2 receptor was detected in cells after a 15‐min treatment with 100 μm UTP when compared receptor from to control untreated cells. Receptor sequestration studies revealed that greater than 80% of the surface HA‐P2Y2 receptors were internalized after a 15 min stimulation of 100 μm UTP. Our results support the hypothesis that receptor desensitization implicates an increase in receptor phosphorylation of sequestered P2Y2 nucleotide receptors. These results lay the grounds for further studies to identify the specific amino acid residues that are phosphorylated and the protein kinases involved in homologous desensitization of the P2Y2 nucleotide receptor.
Workshop 5: NAAG and NAALADase: Functional Properties in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System. Naaladase (GCPII) knockout mice are less susceptible to neuropathy and stroke
Authors: Bacich D. , O'Keefe D. S. , Heston W. D. W. , Callizot N. , Poindron P. , Baillet C. , Tiffany C. , Lu X. C. , Wozniak K. M. , Slusher B. S.
Published: July 2010

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII, also known as N‐acetylated‐alpha‐linked acidic dipeptidase or NAALADase) knockout (KO) mice were generated by inserting a GCPII targeting cassette containing a PGK‐Neo resistance marker and stop codons in exons 1 and 2, and removal of exons 1 and 2 intron/exon boundary sequence. Embryonic stem cells were injected into C57BL6 blastocysts, and chimeric offspring born. Germline transmission was confirmed by mating the chimeras to generate heterozygous KO mice. Crossing heterozygous mice generated F2 generation mice homozygous for the null mutant, as confirmed by loss of GCPII protein. NAAG hydrolyzing activity was minimal (0.07 pmol/mg/min) in KO tissue, with normal levels (4.82 pmol/mg/min) in wild types and intermediate levels (1.73 pmol/mg/min) in heterozygotes. Preliminary neuropathy experiments showed KO mice are less affected by nerve‐crush and recover faster from the damage‐induced neuropathy, as indicated by EMG recording and nerve morphology. Similarly, GCPII KO mice subjected to high dose vitamin B6 displayed less severe neuropathy than wild types, as indicated by reduced sensory nerve conduction velocity and morphological deficits. Also, in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model, GCPII KO mice were significantly more resistant to the effects of cerebral ischemia than their wildtype littermates. Findings support GCPII involvement in stroke and in mediating chronic neuropathic conditions and suggest GCPII inhibitors may be useful in treatment of brain ischemia as well as peripheral neuropathies.
Atomistic modeling of the tensile behavior of monoclinic ZrO2 bicrystal
Authors: Wang C. , Feng R. , Diestler D. J. , Zeng X. C.
Published: July 2010

Molecular dynamics was used to simulate the tensile behavior of monoclinic ZrO2 bicrystals constructed by fusing two symmetrically tilted single crystals at several temperatures ranging from 300 to 1200 K and then annealing them to 300 K. The average amorphous grain boundary (GB) is about 11 Å thick (approximately twice the average unit-cell dimension). Axial elongation of the typical bicrystal at constant (boundary) velocity leads to failure at a global strain of about 4%, at which the maximum stress (i.e., the tensile strength) is approximately 6 GPa. The failure process is ductile, driven by growth and coalescence of voids in the GB, in contrast with that of the monoclinic single crystal, which undergoes essentially brittle fracture at a tensile stress of around 10 GPa. The tensile strength of the bicrystal is approximately inversely proportional to the thickness of the GB. Decreasing the fusion temperature increases the thickness of the GB and lowers the tensile strength accordingly. The dependence of tensile strength on the loading rate is insignificant for the range of tilt angles and loading conditions examined. The influence of the GB on the small-strain effective elastic response of the bicrystal is also insignificant.
Depleted-heterojunction colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics employing low-cost electrical contacts
Authors: Debnath Ratan , Greiner Mark T. , Kramer Illan J. , Fischer Armin , Tang Jiang , Barkhouse D. Aaron R. , Wang Xihua , Levina Larissa , Lu Zheng-Hong , Sargent Edward H.
Published: July 2010

With an aim to reduce the cost of depleted-heterojunction colloidal quantum dot solar cells, we describe herein a strategy that replaces costly Au with a low-cost Ni-based Ohmic contact. The resultant devices achieve 3.5% Air Mass 1.5 power conversion efficiency. Only by incorporating a 1.2-nm-thick LiF layer between the PbS quantum dot film and Ni, we were able to prevent undesired reactions and degradation at the metal-semiconductor interface.
Evidence for a third sodium-binding site in glutamate transporters suggests an ion/substrate coupling model
Authors: Larsson H. Peter , Wang Xiaoyu , Lev Bogdan , Baconguis Isabelle , Caplan David A. , Vyleta Nicholas P. , Koch Hans P. , Diez-Sampedro Ana , Noskov Sergei Y.
Published: July 2010

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) remove glutamate from synapses. They maintain an efficient synaptic transmission and prevent glutamate from reaching neurotoxic levels. Glutamate transporters couple the uptake of one glutamate to the cotransport of three sodium ions and one proton and the countertransport of one potassium ion. The molecular mechanism for this coupled uptake of glutamate and its co- and counter-transported ions is not known. In a crystal structure of the bacterial glutamate transporter homolog, Glt
Ph
, only two cations are bound to the transporter, and there is no indication of the location of the third sodium site. In experiments using voltage clamp fluorometry and simulations based on molecular dynamics combined with grand canonical Monte Carlo and free energy simulations performed on different isoforms of Glt
Ph
as well on a homology model of EAAT3, we sought to locate the third sodium-binding site in EAAT3. Both experiments and computer simulations suggest that T370 and N451 (T314 and N401 in Glt
Ph
) form part of the third sodium-binding site. Interestingly, the sodium bound at T370 forms part of the binding site for the amino acid substrate, perhaps explaining both the strict coupling of sodium transport to uptake of glutamate and the ion selectivity of the affinity for the transported amino acid in EAATs.
Community Transmission of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in China
Authors: Liu Wei , Jiang Tao , Li Xiao-Feng , Tang Fang , Wei Mao-Ti , Yu Man , Zhao Hui , Yu Xue-Dong , Liu Li-Juan , Qin Cheng-Feng , Cao Wu-Chun
Published: July 2010

Prophylaxis and treatment with oseltamivir effectively controlled a community outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in China. The genetic makeup of strains of different generations seemed to be stable. Travel in confined settings might accelerate the transmission of pandemic influenza in a community outbreak.
Interplay between collective pinning and artificial defects on domain wall propagation in Co/Pt multilayers
Authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez G , Menéndez J L , Hierro-Rodriguez A , Pérez-Junquera A , Montenegro N , Ravelosona D , Alameda J M , Vélez M
Published: July 2010

The interplay between collective pinning on intrinsic structural defects and artificial pinning at a patterned hole is studied in magnetic multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. The pinning strength of a patterned hole is measured through its efficiency to stop domain wall (DW) propagation into a consecutive unpatterned nanowire section (using antisymmetric magnetoresistance to detect the direction of DW propagation) whereas collective pinning is characterized by the field dependence of DW velocity. Close to room temperature, collective pinning becomes weaker than artificial pinning so that pinning at the hole compensates nucleation-pad geometry, blocking DW propagation across the nanowire.
Epitaxial Heusler alloy Co2FeSi films on Si(1 1 1) substrates grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Zander M , Herfort J , Kumakura K , Scöhnherr H-P , Trampert A
Published: July 2010

The influence of growth temperature on the structural and magnetic properties of Heusler alloy Co2FeSi films grown on Si(1 1 1) substrates has been studied. Reflection high energy electron diffraction, double crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements revealed that Co2FeSi layers were epitaxially grown on Si(1 1 1) substrates in an optimized growth temperature range 150 °C < T
G < 200 °C. From DCXRD measurements and TEM, it was shown that in the optimized temperature range the Co2FeSi/Si(1 1 1) films crystallize in the B2 + L21 structures. All layers are ferromagnetic and well-ordered films on Si(1 1 1) show high magnetic moments with an average value of (1140 ± 250) emu cm−3, which is in good agreement with the value of bulk Co2FeSi at 300 K. The magnetic anisotropy is correlated with the structural properties of the layers.
The effects of growth parameters on the RF-MBE growth of dilute InNSb films
Authors: Zhang Y H , Chen P P , Yin H , Li T X , Lu W
Published: July 2010

A series of InNSb films have been grown on InSb (0 0 1) substrates under various growth conditions by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The InNSb films were characterized by high-resolution x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectra. High quality single crystal InNSb films with N compositions up to 1.34% (from x-ray diffraction) were grown. It was found that the N composition of the films can be increased by increasing the In/Sb flux ratio and radio frequency (RF) power or by decreasing the growth temperature. The effects of growth parameters on the crystalline quality of the InNSb films were also discussed in detail.
Getting the Most from the Host: How Pathogens Force Plants to Cooperate in Disease
Authors: Hok Sophie , Attard Agnès , Keller Harald
Published: July 2010

Plant diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms remain a major limitation in many crop production systems. Nonetheless, constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms render most plants inaccessible to pathogens, making disease an exception rather than a common outcome of plant-microbe interactions. Defense mechanisms and associated pathogen resistance were thus of key interest to many plant pathologists, and many of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance have been elucidated over the last few decades. In recent years, the analysis of physiological and molecular determinants accounting for successful infection and eventual disease has become a topic of prime scientific interest. The hunt is now on for pathogen effectors subverting the host cell and for the plant compatibility functions manipulated by these effectors. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying successful infection should make it possible to develop new crop protection strategies based on interference with compatibility to prevent disease. This review is addressing plant susceptibility and highlights a number of host processes that have been shown to be induced or subverted to facilitate infection. In particular, we focus on those processes that appear to be manipulated by filamentous fungal and oomycete pathogens.
Does membership of the Royal Society affect careers? A trio in twentieth-century organic chemistry
Authors: Morris Peter J. T.
Published: July 2010

The issue of how the Royal Society has influenced science in the twentieth century is a complex one, and it is not easy to show its impact. It is even more difficult to demonstrate the effect of being a FRS on individual careers. This paper looks at three leading organic chemists in twentieth-century Britain who were connected academically—Perkin, Robinson and Todd. Did their relatively early Fellowships of the Royal Society deliver glittering careers? This study shows that career advancement in twentieth-century chemistry was a complex interaction between scientific merit, social networks and that elusive quality, scientific reputation. Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is one element in this mix, but it was not the decisive one for our trio. However, this paper suggests that having a supervisor who is a FRS is a key factor both in achieving a glittering career and becoming a FRS.
The exception and the rule: women and the Royal Society 1945–2010
Authors: Ferry Georgina
Published: July 2010

The Royal Society is celebrating 350 years of its Fellowship in 2010. It has admitted women as Fellows only during the past 65 years of its history, and women remain significantly under-represented. In reviewing the Society's activities during the twentieth century, the admission of women for the first time was a key development. Understanding the characteristics of those women who have achieved election may help in the design of policies to increase their number further in future.
The Royal Society and the Commonwealth: old friendships, new frontiers
Authors: MacLeod Roy
Published: July 2010

For more than three centuries, the Royal Society has played a notable part in the history of the British Empire and in the Commonwealth that succeeded it. In many ways, the history of the Royal Society itself reflects the history of Britain, its colonies, and its Dominions in the pursuit of natural knowledge. This paper considers leading features in the history of Anglo-Commonwealth relations, paying particular attention to people and events that, during the twentieth century, presented the Royal Society—and, by extension, British science—with choices that shape the Western world today.
The Royal Society in Cold War Europe
Authors: Cox Stephen
Published: July 2010

The Royal Society had an internationalist outlook from its earliest days. In the aftermath of World War II, and despite the political and bureaucratic constraints of the Cold War, the Society put a great deal of effort into using its connections with academies behind the Iron Curtain to facilitate international scientific collaboration. It also promoted links with western Europe through the European Science Exchange Programme.
Capnocytophaga sputigena primary iliopsoas abscess
Authors: Chan Jasper F. W. , Wong Samson S. Y. , Leung Sally S. M. , Li Iris W. S. , To Kelvin K. W. , Cheng Vincent C. C. , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: July 2010

Iliopsoas abscess is usually secondary to the spread of infection from a contiguous focus. Primary disease is uncommon, except in children where Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogen. We report a 60-year-old woman who developed a primary iliopsoas abscess as a result of haematogenous spread of Capnocytophaga sputigena from a palatal fistula and chronic sinusitis due to previous treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Pyomyositis due to unusual and fastidious Gram-negative bacilli should be considered in patients with head and neck tumours who have previously received radiotherapy.
Successful treatment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium ventriculitis with combined intravenous and intraventricular chloramphenicol in a newborn
Authors: Hartmann Carolin , Peter Corinna , Hermann Elvis , Ure Benno , Sedlacek Ludwig , Hansen Gesine , Bohnhorst Bettina
Published: July 2010

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) infection is a rare event in paediatric patients and often occurs under immunosuppression or after surgical intervention. We report what we believe to be the first paediatric case of ventriculitis due to VRE (in a 2-month-old infant) to be successfully treated with combined intravenous (i.v.) and intraventricular chloramphenicol after failure of i.v. linezolid and intraventricular gentamicin.
An insert in the covS gene distinguishes a pharyngeal and a blood isolate of Streptococcus pyogenes found in the same individual
Authors: Garcia Alan F. , Abe Lucienne M. , Erdem Guliz , Cortez Chari L. , Kurahara David , Yamaga Karen
Published: July 2010

Expression of the extensive arsenal of virulence factors by Streptococcus pyogenes is controlled by many regulators, of which CovRS is one of the best characterized and can influence ∼15 % of the genome. Animal models have established that mutants of covRS arise spontaneously in vivo resulting in highly invasive organisms. We analysed a pharyngeal and a blood isolate of S. pyogenes recovered from the same individual 13 days apart. The two isolates varied in many phenotypic properties including SpeB production, which were reflected in transcriptomic analyses. PFGE, multilocus sequence typing and partial sequencing of some key genes failed to show any differences except for an 11 bp insert in the covS gene in the blood isolate which caused a premature termination of transcription. Complementation of a fully functional covS gene into the blood isolate resulted in high expression of CovS and expression of speB. These results, showing a pharyngeal and a blood isolate from a single individual differing by a simple insertion, provide evidence for the model that regulatory gene mutations allow S. pyogenes to invade different niches in the body.
research paper: Role of the cold shock domain protein A in the transcriptional regulation of HBG expression
Authors: Petruzzelli Raffaella , Gaudino Sara , Amendola Giovanni , Sessa Raffaele , Puzone Stella , Di Concilio Rosanna , D’Urzo Giovanna , Amendolara Maria , Izzo Paola , Grosso Michela
Published: July 2010

Impaired switching from fetal haemoglobin (HbF) to adult globin gene expression leads to hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH) in adult life. This is of prime interest because elevated HbF levels ameliorate β‐thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia. Fetal haemoglobin levels are regulated by complex mechanisms involving factors linked or not to the β‐globin gene (HBB) locus. To search for factors putatively involved in the expression of the γ‐globin genes (HBG1, HBG2), we examined the reticulocyte transcriptome of three siblings who had different HbF levels and different degrees of β‐thalassaemia severity although they had the same ΗBA‐ and ΗΒB cluster genotypes. By mRNA differential display we isolated the cDNA coding for the cold shock domain protein A (CSDA), also known as dbpA, previously reported to interact in vitro with the HBG2 promoter. Expression studies performed in K562 and in primary erythroid cells showed an inverse relationship between HBG and CSDA expression levels. Functional studies performed by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and reporter gene assays in K562 cells demonstrated that CSDA is able to bind the HBG2 promoter and suppress its expression. Therefore, our study demonstrated that CSDA is a trans‐acting repressor factor of HBG expression and modulates the HPFH phenotype.
review: Current status of stem cell mobilization
Authors: Gertz Morie A.
Published: July 2010

New advances in effective mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells have permitted a greater proportion of patients to benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation. In this review, the relative merits of peripheral blood and mobilized bone marrow are discussed. All available agents are reviewed. A critical assessment of the appropriate dosing and frequency of available growth factors is undertaken, and the most commonly used chemotherapy plus growth factor combinations are covered. Specific recommendations for patients who are poor mobilizers are dealt with including the role of plerixafor.
Plasma urocortin in acute myocardial infarction patients
Authors: Phrommintikul Arintaya , Sivasinprasasn Sivaporn , Lailerd Narissara , Chattipakorn Siriporn , Kuanprasert Srun , Chattipakorn Nipon
Published: July 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 874–882

Background  Despite its proposed cardioprotective effect, the role of plasma urocortin in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unknown. We investigated plasma profile of urocortin in AMI patients and evaluated its long‐term prognostic performance.

Material and methods  Sixty‐six AMI patients and 21 healthy subjects were included in this study. Blood samples for urocortin were collected on days 0 (onset), 1, 3 and 5 and at 3 and 6 months. Primary endpoint was mortality within 1 year of follow‐up. Secondary endpoint was combined death and nonfatal adverse cardiac events (i.e. myocardial reinfarction, urgent revascularization or hospitalization due to heart failure) within 1 year.

Results  During follow‐up at 1 year, 38 (57·6%) patients were alive without cardiac events, nine (13·6%) had nonfatal cardiac events and 17 (25·8%) died. Plasma urocortin in AMI patients were increased on days 0, 1, 3 and 5 (P < 0·05 vs. control). The receiver‐operating characteristic curve showed an area under curve (AUC) of day 0 urocortin to be 0·750 with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0·619–0·881 (P = 0·004), whereas AUC of NT‐proBNP was 0·857 (95% CI, 0·722–0·992; P = 0·003). Sensitivity values for predicting the mortality of urocortin NT‐proBNP and a combined urocortin and NT‐proBNP were 0·81 (95% CI, 0·54–0·95), 0·86 (95% CI, 0·42–0·99) and 1·0 (95% CI, 0·56–1·0), respectively.

Conclusions  Plasma urocortin level is elevated in AMI patients for 5 days from onset. High plasma urocortin within 24 h after the onset is associated with increased mortality. Combined urocortin and NT‐proBNP enhance prognostic performance in AMI patients.
Antibody injection in the egg yolk: maternal antibodies affect humoral immune response of the offspring
Authors: Staszewski Vincent , Siitari Heli
Published: July 2010

1. In vertebrate species, maternal antibodies specific for the pathogens to which mothers have been exposed can be transmitted to offspring before birth. This is assumed to be adaptive as these antibodies can be essential in protecting offspring early in life before their own immune system is fully developed. However, fitness consequences in natural conditions and the long‐term effects of these mechanisms have yet to be fully examined.

2. Exploring the ecological and evolutionary implications of such maternal effects requires experimental manipulations to avoid potential confounding maternal effects. In birds, maternal antibodies are transmitted via the egg yolk – a self contained embryonic environment in which antibodies can be manipulated independently outside the maternal environment.

3. Here we use a novel technique to extract and experimentally manipulate maternal antibodies in the egg. Using the common quail (Coturnix coturnix), we demonstrate a blocking effect of antigen specific maternal antibodies received via egg injection, on the offspring’s antibody response to an immune challenge with this antigen. Our results also suggest lower antibody production after a second immune challenge if maternal antibodies were present during first infection.

4. Maternal antibodies thus have the potential to affect the development of offspring immunity. Our innovative technique will enable further work to manipulate the transfer of maternal antibodiesper sewhilst controlling for confounding effects linked to maternal vaccination. Because it also enables to manipulate the amount of antibodies transferred, it will facilitate further study of their adaptive value and ecological consequences in natural host‐parasite systems.
GATA‐binding protein‐3 regulates T helper type 2 cytokine and ifng loci through interaction with metastasis‐associated protein 2
Authors: Hwang Soo Seok , Lee Sumin , Lee Wonyong , Lee Gap Ryol
Published: July 2010

GATA‐binding protein‐3 (GATA‐3) regulates the T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine locus through induction of chromatin remodelling. However, the molecular mechanism for this is poorly understood. To understand this mechanism better, we screened GATA‐3 interacting proteins using affinity purification and mass spectrometry. We found that GATA‐3 bound to metastasis‐associated protein 2 (MTA‐2), a component of the NuRD chromatin remodelling complex. GATA‐3 and MTA‐2 in turn bound to several regulatory regions of the Th2 cytokine locus and the ifng promoter. Cell transfection assay showed that MTA‐2 acted as an antagonist with GATA‐3 in the expression of Th2 cytokines, but co‐operated with GATA‐3 in the repression of the ifng gene expression. These results suggest that GATA‐3 interacts with MTA‐2 to co‐ordinately regulate Th2 cytokine and ifng loci during T helper cell differentiation.
Dynamic organization of lymphocyte plasma membrane: lessons from advanced imaging methods
Authors: Owen Dylan M. , Gaus Katharina , Magee Anthony I. , Cebecauer Marek
Published: July 2010

Lipids and lipid domains are suggested to play an essential role in the heterogeneous organization of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells, including cells of the immune system. We summarize the results of advanced imaging and physical studies of membrane organization with special focus on the plasma membrane of lymphocytes. We provide a comprehensive up‐to‐date view on the existence of membrane lipid and protein clusters such as lipid rafts and suggest research directions to better understand these highly dynamic entities on the surface of immune cells.
Effects of Solvent, Temperature, Time, Solvent‐to‐Sample Ratio, Sample Size, and Defatting on the Extraction of Soluble Sugars in Soybean
Authors: Giannoccaro Enzo , Wang Ya‐Jane , Chen Pengyin
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT Extraction solvent, temperature, time, and solvent‐to‐sample ratio were studied to identify the optimal conditions for extracting sugars from nondefatted soybean. Water and 10%, 50%, and 80% (v/v) ethanol were used as the solvents. Extraction temperatures of 25 °C, 50 °C, and 80 °C, for 15, 30, and 60 min and solvent‐to‐sample ratios of 5:1, 10:1, and 15:1 (v/w) were combined with different solvents. The sugar composition in the soybean extracts was analyzed by high‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. The sugar appropriate to be used as the standard in the phenol‐sulfuric acid method in sugar quantification, and effects of sample size and defatting on sugar extraction were also evaluated. The optimum extraction protocol concluded from this study includes the use of water as the solvent at a solvent‐to‐sample ratio of 5:1 at 25 °C or 50 °C for 15 min. Sucrose was shown to be the best sugar as the standard to quantify the total soluble sugars in soybean. Extractions from sample size of 1 g and 0.1 g yielded similar soluble sugars. A greater amount of sugars was extracted with the defatted soybean meal than with the nondefatted sample.
Genetic contribution of the interferon gamma dinucleotide‐repeat polymorphism in South Indian women with endometriosis
Authors: Rozati Roya , Vanaja Maria Celestina , Nasaruddin Khaja
Published: July 2010

Aim:  To investigate whether the interferon‐γ (IFNG) gene dinucleotide (CA)‐repeat polymorphism is responsible in part for genetic susceptibility to endometriosis in South Indian women.

Methods:  Following extraction of genomic DNA, genotyping of interferon‐γ CA‐repeat polymorphism was performed using genescan technology.

Results:  The global IFNG allele frequencies in all patients with endometriosis were significantly different from those in the control women (χ2 = 37.062; 6 degrees of freedom; P ≤ 0.0001). Significant difference was observed in global allele frequencies between the control women and each clinical subgroup of patients with endometriosis except for patients suffering from endometriosis associated with adenomyosis. The difference was due to an increase in a12 (112 bp) allele in the patients with endometriosis and each clinical subgroup of patients with endometriosis.

The distribution of the IFNG a12 genotypes was significantly different between patients with endometriosis and the control women. (χ2 = 10.635; 2 degrees of freedom; P = 0.0049). A significant difference in the IFNG a12 genotypes was found only among the three clinical subgroups.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that the IFNG gene CA‐repeat polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to endometriosis in South Indian women.
Primary and bilateral tubal carcinoma is associated with long‐standing granulomatous inflammation and primary infertility: A case report
Authors: Muberra Kocak , Yasemin Tasci , Nurettin Boran , Zuhal Isikdogan , Berna Dilbaz
Published: July 2010

We report a case of bilateral and primary tubal carcinoma associated with granulomatous inflammation and long‐standing primary infertility. A 38‐year‐old woman with a 17‐year history of primary infertility presented with lower abdominal pain and granulomatous inflammation in the endometrial biopsy. Bilateral adnexal masses measuring 4 and 6 cm in size were detected and the serum cancer antigen 125 level was 141 IU/ml. Laparoscopic surgical exploration and frozen section on the resected tubes revealed bilateral fallopian tube adenocarcinoma and then a staging laparotomy was performed. Histopathological examination showed a primary bilateral Grade 2 tubal serous adenocarcinoma of Stage 1b associated with granulomatous salpingitis. Primary fallopian tube carcinomas in young women are extremely rare gynecological tumors that are infrequently diagnosed prior to surgical exploration and their cause is unknown. A definitive diagnosis could be made on the histopathological examination in our case with the evidence of chronic pelvic inflammation. Our findings suggest that chronic pelvic inflammation may play a role in carcinogenesis in the tubes of infertile women.
A stress survival response in retinal cells mediated through inhibition of the serine / threonine phosphatase PP2A
Authors: Finnegan Sorcha , Mackey Ashley M. , Cotter Thomas G.
Published: July 2010

Cell survival signalling involving the PI3K/Akt survival pathway can be negatively regulated by several phosphatases including PP2A. When retinal‐derived 661W cells were subjected to trophic factor deprivation this initiated a survival response through inhibition of the activity of PP2A and subsequent upregulation of the Erk and Akt survival pathways. We show this survival response via inhibition of PP2A activity was due in part to increased reactive oxygen species production when retinal cells were deprived of trophic factors. Inhibition of PP2A activity was mediated by a rapid and transient increase in phosphorylation at Tyr307, accompanied by an increase in demethylation and a decrease in the methylated form. Pre‐treatment withN‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine, which is involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species, prevented PP2A inhibition and subsequent upregulation of survival pathways. Pre‐treatment with the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 resulted in approximately 50% reduction in cellular levels of phospho‐PP2A in trophic factor‐deprived 661W cells, suggesting an Src tyrosine kinase had a role to play in this redox regulation of cell survival. We observed similar events in the rd10 mouse retina where there was an increased survival response prior to retinal cell death mediated through an increase in both phospho‐PP2A and phospho‐Gsk. Together, these results demonstrate that when retinal cells are stressed there is an initial struggle to survive, mediated through inhibition of PP2A and subsequent upregulation of survival pathways, and that these events occur simultaneously with production of reactive oxygen species, thus suggesting an important cell‐signalling role for reactive oxygen species.
In vivo effects of morphine on neuronal fate and opioid receptor expression in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Sanchez‐Simon Fatima Macho , Arenzana Francisco J. , Rodriguez Raquel E.
Published: July 2010

Morphine remains one of the most potent analgesic compounds used to control chronic pain despite its known adverse effects. It binds to the opioid receptors mu, delta and kappa, which are involved in aspects of neuronal fate such as cell proliferation, neuroprotection and neuronal differentiation. However, the effect of morphine on these processes is controversial and in vitro studies, as well as in vivo studies on adults and neonates in mammalian models, have not been able to clarify the diverse roles of morphine in the central nervous system. We have used zebrafish embryos to determine in vivo how morphine affects neuronal fate and opioid receptor gene expression and to elucidate if there is a link between these processes. Our results show that at 24 and 48 h post fertilization (hpf) morphine enhances cell proliferation, although it has opposing effects as an inducer of neuronal differentiation at these two stages, increasing the number of certain neuronal populations at 24 hpf and decreasing it at 48 hpf. The present study also demonstrates that in 24‐hpf embryos morphine acts as a neuroprotector against glutamate damage in motor neurons and Pax‐6‐positive neurons. Furthermore, the gene expression of the opioid receptors is altered by embryonic exposition to morphine. In conclusion, our study sheds new light on the in vivo roles of morphine, and it indicates for the first time that its implication in cell proliferation and neuroprotection might be related to changes in the gene expression of opioid receptors.
Group Leaders as Gatekeepers: Testing Safety Climate Variations across Levels of Analysis
Authors: Zohar Dov , Luria Gil
Published: July 2010

This paper tests the moderating effect of transformational supervisory leadership on the relationship between organisational and group climates, using safety climate in risky operations as an exemplar. Results indicated that under low or poor organisational climate, indicative of limited organisational commitment to employee safety, transformational leaders promoted a higher group climate as compared to the organisational climate. Similarly, under a weak organisational climate, indicative of limited consensus among company employees regarding the priority of safety, transformational leaders promoted a stronger group climate, reflecting greater consensus among group members. This pattern suggests that supervisory leaders can act as gatekeepers, with transformational leaders offering better protection against potentially harmful organisation‐level priorities. Furthermore, transformational supervisors better informed their members of the organisational priorities as they perceived them, resulting in a stronger relationship between individual supervisors' perceptions and members' organisational climate perceptions. Implications for climate and leadership research are discussed.

On s'intéresse dans cet article à l'impact régulateur du leadership hiérarchique de transformation sur la relation entre les climats organisationnels et de groupe en utilisant comme exemple la sécurité dans les opérations à risque. Les résultats montrent qu'en cas de climat organisationnel médiocre signifiant une implication organisationnelle minimale à propos de la sécurité du personnel, les leaders de transformation favorisent l'émergence d'un climat de groupe plus satisfaisant que le climat organisationnel. De même, si le climat organisationnel est fragile, traduisant un accord approximatif des salariés sur la prioritéà accorder à la sécurité, les leaders de transformation sont à l'origine d'un climat de groupe renforcé, expression d'un meilleur consensus parmi les membres du groupe. Ce schéma laisse penser que les leaders hiérarchiques peuvent intervenir comme gardiens, les leaders de transformation offrant une meilleure protection contre les priorités organisationnelles potentiellement nocives. De plus, les managers de transformation informent mieux leur équipe des priorités organisationnelles telles qu'ils les perçoivent, ce qui provoque une relation plus étroite entre les perceptions personnelles du manager et celles que son groupe a du climat organisationnel. On réfléchit aux retombées de ce travail sur les recherches portant sur le climat et le leadership.
Core Self‐Evaluations in Germany: Validation of a German Measure and its Relationships with Career Success
Authors: Stumpp Thorsten , Muck Peter M. , Hülsheger Ute R. , Judge Timothy A. , Maier Günter W.
Published: July 2010

The present study reports the results of a validation of a German version of the Core Self‐Evaluations Scale (CSES) and its relationships with career success. Data were collected in three occupational samples to address various aspects of validation. Our results confirm the proposed one‐factor structure of the scale as well as convergent, discriminant, criterion, and predictive validity. Furthermore, the German CSES shows incremental validity over the individual core traits (neuroticism, self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, and locus of control), the Big Five, and positive and negative affect. Thus, the German version of the Core Self‐Evaluations Scale is a reliable, valid, and economic measure for both research and practical applications. Furthermore, hypothesised relationships of core self‐evaluations with objective as well as subjective career success were confirmed. Possible explanations of these relationships are discussed.

On présente dans cet article une étude de validation d'une version allemande de la Core Self‐Evaluation Scale (CSES) avec son rapport au succès professionnel. Les données ont été recueillies auprès d'échantillons relevant de trois métiers pour couvrir plusieurs aspects de la validation. Nos résultats confirment la structure unifactorielle attendue ainsi que les validités convergente, discriminante, prédictive et critérielle. En outre, la CSES allemande présente une validité incrémentielle pour le Big Five, les émotions positives et négatives et les traits centraux individuels (névrotisme, estime de soi, auto‐efficience et locus of control). La version allemande de la CSES est par conséquent un outil fidèle, valide et économique aussi bien pour la recherche que pour les applications pratiques. Sans compter qu'ont été confirmées les relations supposées des auto‐évaluations centrales avec le succès professionnel, qu'il soit objectif ou subjectif. On analyse les raisons possibles de ces relations.
Values and Justice as Predictors of Perceived Stress in Lebanese Organisational Settings
Authors: Dbaibo Dania , Harb Charles , Van Meurs Nathalie
Published: July 2010

Research investigating predictors of stress perceptions in organisational settings has been extensive. Value incongruence between employees and the organisation as well as organisational justice (distributive, procedural, informational, and interpersonal) are thought to be significant predictors of organisational outcomes. The current study investigated value incongruence and organisational justice as predictors of perceived stress in a sample of 362 organisational employees in Beirut, Lebanon. Results indicated that incongruence on value types of benevolence, power, and self‐direction are weakly predictive of perceived stress, while perceptions of interpersonal and distributive injustice are strongly predictive of perceived stress in the Lebanese organisational context. Implications of these differential findings for organisational and cross‐cultural research are discussed.

Nombreuses ont été les recherches sur les prédicteurs du vécu du stress dans les organisations. La contradiction des valeurs des salariés et de l'organisation ainsi que la justice organisationnelle (distributive, procédurale, informationnelle et interpersonnelle) sont considérées comme étant des prédicteurs efficaces des réalités organisationnelles. Ce travail porte sur l'incohérence des valeurs et la justice organisationnelle en tant que prédicteurs du stress ressenti dans un échantillon de 362 salariés de Beyrouth (Liban). Les résultats montrent que des contradictions sur des valeurs comme la bienveillance, le pouvoir et l'autonomie sont peu prédictives du stress perçu, tandis que la perception des injustices interpersonnelle et distributive est fortement prédictive du stress ressenti dans le contexte organisationnel libanais. On discute des retombées de ces résultats différentiels sur les travaux organisationnels et transculturels.