bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mercury and zinc differentially inhibit shark and human CFTR orthologues: involvement of shark cysteine 102
Authors: Weber Gerhard J. , Mehr Ali Poyan , Sirota Jeffrey C. , Aller Stephen G. , Decker Sarah E. , Dawson David C. , Forrest John N.
Published: October 2005

The apical membrane is an important site of mercury toxicity in shark rectal gland tubular cells. We compared the effects of mercury and other thiol-reacting agents on shark CFTR (sCFTR) and human CFTR (hCFTR) chloride channels using two-electrode voltage clamping of cRNA microinjected Xenopus laevis oocytes. Chloride conductance was stimulated by perfusing with 10 μM forskolin (FOR) and 1 mM IBMX, and then thio-reactive species were added. In oocytes expressing sCFTR, FOR + IBMX mean stimulated Cl− conductance was inhibited 69% by 1 μM mercuric chloride and 78% by 5 μM mercuric chloride (IC50 of 0.8 μM). Despite comparable stimulation of conductance, hCFTR was insensitive to 1 μM HgCl2 and maximum inhibition was 15% at the highest concentration used (5 μM). Subsequent exposure to glutathione (GSH) did not reverse the inhibition of sCFTR by mercury, but dithiothreitol (DTT) completely reversed this inhibition. Zinc (50–200 μM) also reversibly inhibited sCFTR (40–75%) but did not significantly inhibit hCFTR. Similar inhibition of sCFTR but not hCFTR was observed with an organic mercurial, p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (pCMBS). The first membrane spanning domain (MSD1) of sCFTR contains two unique cysteines, C102 and C303. A chimeric construct replacing MSD1 of hCFTR with the corresponding sequence of sCFTR was highly sensitive to mercury. Site-specific mutations introducing the first but not the second shark unique cysteine in hCFTR MSD1 resulted in full sensitivity to mercury. These experiments demonstrate a profound difference in the sensitivity of shark vs. human CFTR to inhibition by three thiol-reactive substances, an effect that involves C102 in the shark orthologue.
Qdot Nanocrystal Conjugates conjugated to bombesin or ANG II label the cognate G protein-coupled receptor in living cells
Authors: Young Steven H. , Rozengurt Enrique
Published: October 2005

Quantum dots (Qdot Nanocrystal Conjugates; Quantum Dot, Hayward, CA) exhibit high fluorescence and low photobleaching compared with organic dyes, properties that should enhance their detection at low densities. In view of the properties of Qdots and the biological and pharmaceutical importance of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), we attempted to use Qdots to label GPCRs in a variety of live cell types. An agonist consisting of biotinylated bombesin or ANG II was conjugated to Qdot Nanocrystal Conjugates coated with streptavidin through a biotin-streptavidin linkage (Qdot agonist). Herein we demonstrate that Qdot-bombesin conjugate can label the bombesin-preferring GPCR in living mouse Swiss 3T3 cells and in Rat-1 cells. Similarly, we used the Qdot-ANG II conjugate to label GPCR in intact rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC)-18 and in a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line of ductal origin, HPAF-II cells. We demonstrate that Qdot-ANG II is brighter and more photostable than agonist labeled with the organic dye Cy3. Our results demonstrate that Qdot technology can be adapted to monitor ligand binding to GPCRs. Combined with the narrow and symmetric emission profile of Qdot Nanocrystal Conjugates, this information suggests the potential for a new multiplex strategy to determine the effect of agonists and/or antagonists on agonist binding to several GPCRs simultaneously in living cells.
Aldosterone-sensitive repression of ENaCα transcription by a histone H3 lysine-79 methyltransferase
Authors: Zhang Wenzheng , Xia Xuefeng , Jalal Diana I. , Kuncewicz Teresa , Xu William , Lesage Gene D. , Kone Bruce C.
Published: October 2005

Aldosterone is a major regulator of epithelial Na+ absorption. One of its principal targets is the epithelial Na+ channel α-subunit (ENaCα), principally expressed in the kidney collecting duct, lung, and colon. Models of aldosterone-mediated trans-activation of the ENaCα gene have focused primarily on interactions of liganded nuclear receptors with the ENaCα gene promoter. Herein, we demonstrate that the murine histone H3 lysine-79 methyltransferase, murine disruptor of telomeric silencing alternative splice variant “a” (mDot1a), is a novel component in the aldosterone signaling network controlling transcription of the ENaCα gene. Aldosterone downregulated mDot1a mRNA levels in murine inner medullary collecting ducts cells, which was associated with histone H3 K79 hypomethylation in bulk histones and at specific sites in the ENaCα 5′-flanking region, and trans-activation of ENaCα. Knockdown of mDot1a by RNA interference increased activity of a stably integrated ENaCα promoter-luciferase construct and expression of endogenous ENaCα mRNA. Conversely, overexpression of EGFP-tagged mDot1a resulted in hypermethylation of histone H3 K79 at the endogenous ENaCα promoter, repression of endogenous ENaCα mRNA expression, and decreased activity of the ENaCα promoter-luciferase construct. mDot1a-mediated histone H3 K79 hypermethylation and repression of ENaCα promoter activity was abolished by mDot1a mutations that eliminate its methyltransferase activity. Collectively, our data identify mDot1a as a novel aldosterone-regulated histone modification enzyme, and, through binding the ENaCα promoter and hypermethylating histone H3 K79 associated with the ENaCα promoter, a negative regulator of ENaCα transcription.
Serotonin Receptor Antagonists Discriminate Between PKA- and PKC-Mediated Plasticity inAplysiaSensory Neurons
Authors: Dumitriu Bogdan , Cohen Jonathan E. , Wan Qin , Negroiu Andreea M. , Abrams Thomas W.
Published: October 2005

Highly selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptor antagonists developed for mammals are ineffective in Aplysia due to the evolutionary divergence of neurotransmitter receptors and because the higher ionic strength of physiological saline for marine invertebrates reduces antagonist affinity. It has therefore been difficult to identify antagonists that specifically block individual signaling cascades initiated by 5-HT. We studied two broad-spectrum 5-HT receptor antagonists that have been characterized biochemically in Aplysia CNS: methiothepin and spiperone. Methiothepin is highly effective in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase (AC)-coupled 5-HT receptors in Aplysia. Spiperone, which blocks phospholipase C (PLC)-coupled 5-HT receptors in mammals, does not block AC-coupled 5-HT receptors in Aplysia. In electrophysiological studies, we explored whether methiothepin and spiperone can be used in parallel to distinguish between the AC-cAMP and PLC-protein kinase C (PKC) modulatory cascades that are initiated by 5-HT. 5-HT-induced broadening of the sensory neuron action potential in the presence of tetraethylammonium/nifedipine, which is mediated by modulation of the S-K+currents, was used an assay for the AC-cAMP cascade. Spike broadening initiated by 5 μM 5-HT was unaffected by 100 μM spiperone, whereas it was effectively blocked by 100 μM methiothepin. Facilitation of highly depressed sensory neuron-to-motor neuron synapses by 5-HT was used as an assay for the PLC-PKC cascade. Spiperone completely blocked facilitation of highly depressed synapses by 5 μM 5-HT. In contrast, methiothepin produced a modest, nonsignificant, reduction in the facilitation of depressed synapses. Interestingly, these experiments revealed that the PLC-PKC cascade undergoes desensitization during exposure to 5-HT.
Increased Propensity to Seizures After Chronic Cortical Deafferentation In Vivo
Authors: Nita Dragos A. , Cissé Youssouf , Timofeev Igor , Steriade Mircea
Published: October 2005

Cortical injury may lead to clinical seizures. We investigated the changing patterns of the sleeplike slow oscillation and its tendency to develop into paroxysmal activity consisting of spike-wave (SW) complexes at 2–4 Hz after partial deafferentation of the suprasylvian gyrus. Experiments were carried out in anesthetized cats, at different time intervals (wk 1 to wk 5, W1–W5) after cortical undercut. Multisite field potentials and single or dual intracellular recordings from the whole extent of the deafferented gyrus were used. The field components of the slow oscillation increased in amplitudes and were transformed into paroxysmal patterns, expressed by increased firing rates and tendency to neuronal bursting. The incidence of SW seizures was higher with transition from semiacute (W1) to chronic (W2–W5) stages after cortical undercut. The propagation delay of low-frequency activities decreased from W1 to W5, during both the slow oscillation and seizures. The initiation of seizures took place in territories contiguous to the relatively intact cortex (area 5 in the anterior part of the gyrus), as shown by cross-correlations of field potentials from different sites and simultaneous intracellular recordings from the anterior and posterior parts of the gyrus. The increased amplitudes of both slow oscillation and SW seizures, and their enhanced synchrony expressed by shorter time of propagation, are ascribed to increased neuronal and network excitability after cortical undercut.
Saccade-Related, Long-Lead Burst Neurons in the Monkey Rostral Pons
Authors: Kaneko Chris R. S.
Published: October 2005

The paramedian pontine reticular formation contains the premotoneuronal cell groups that constitute the saccadic burst generator and control saccadic eye movements. Despite years of study and numerous investigations, the rostral portion of this area has received comparatively little attention, particularly the cell type known as long-lead burst neurons (LLBNs). Several hypotheses about the functional role of LLBNs in saccade generation have been proposed, although there is little information with which to assess them. To address this issue, I mapped and recorded LLBNs in the rostral pons to measure their discharge characteristics and correlate those characteristics with the metrics of the concurrent saccades. On the basis of their discharge and location, I identified three types of LLBNs in the rostral pons: excitatory (eLLBN), dorsal (dLLBN), and nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (nrtp) LLBNs. The eLLBNs, encountered throughout the pons, discharge for ipsilateral saccades in proportion to saccade amplitude, velocity, and duration. The dLLBNs, found at the pontomesencephalic junction, discharge maximally for ipsilateral saccades of a particular amplitude, usually <10°, and are not associated with a particular anatomical nucleus. The nrtp LLBNs, previously described as vector LLBNs, discharge for saccades of a particular direction and sometimes a particular amplitude. The discharge of the eLLBNs suggests they drive motor neurons. The anatomical projections of the nrtp LLBNs suggest that their involvement in saccade production is less direct. The discharge of dLLBNs is consistent with a role in providing the “trigger” signal that initiates saccades.
Conditional Intrinsic Voltage Oscillations in Mature Vertebrate Neurons Undergo Specific Changes in Culture
Authors: Guertin Pierre A. , Hounsgaard Jørn
Published: October 2005

Although intrinsic neuronal properties in invertebrates are well known to undergo specific adaptive changes in culture, long-term adaptation of similar properties in mature vertebrate neurons remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we used an organotypic slice preparation from the spinal cord of adult turtles maintainable for several weeks in culture conditions. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced-tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant voltage oscillations in motoneurons were ∼10 times faster in culture than in acute preparations. Oscillations in culture were abolished by NMDA receptor antagonists or by high extracellular Mg2+ concentrations. However, in contrast with results from motoneurons in the acute slice, NMDA-induced oscillations in culture did not depend on CaV1.3 channel activation as they still remained after nifedipine application. Other CaV1.3 channel-mediated properties such as metabotropic receptor-induced oscillations and plateau potentials failed to be induced in culture. This study shows that changes specifically affecting CaV1.3 channel contribution to intrinsic oscillatory property expression may occur in culture. The results contribute also to understanding further the potential for plasticity of mature vertebrate neurons.
Miniature Neurologgers for Flying Pigeons: Multichannel EEG and Action and Field Potentials in Combination With GPS Recording
Authors: Vyssotski Alexei L. , Serkov Andrei N. , Itskov Pavel M. , Dell'Omo Giacomo , Latanov Alexander V. , Wolfer David P. , Lipp Hans-Peter
Published: October 2005

To study the neurophysiology of large-scale spatial cognition, we analyzed the neuronal activity of navigating homing pigeons. This is not possible using conventional radio-telemetry suitable for short distances only. Therefore we developed a miniaturized data logger (“neurologger”) that can be carried by a homing pigeon on its back, in conjunction with a micro-global position system (GPS) logger recording the spatial position of the bird. In its present state, the neurologger permits recording from up to eight single-ended or differential electrodes in a walking or flying pigeon. Inputs from eight independent channels are preamplified, band-pass filtered, and directed to an eight-channel, 10-bit analog-digital converter of the microcontroller storing data on a “Multimedia” or “Secure Digital” card. For electroencephalography (EEG), the logger permits simultaneous recordings of up to eight channels during maximally 47 h, depending on memory, while single unit activity from two channels can be stored over 9 h. The logger permits single unit separation from recorded multiunit signals. The neurologger with GPS represents a better alternative to telemetry that will eventually permit to record neuronal activity during cognitive and innate behavior of many species moving freely in their habitats but will also permit automated high-throughput screening of EEG in the laboratory.
A multicenter trial of the efficacy and safety of tigecycline versus imipenem/cilastatin in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections [Study ID Numbers: 3074A1-301-WW; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00081744]
Authors: Oliva María E , Rekha Arcot , Yellin Albert , Pasternak Jacyr , Campos Maria , Rose Gilbert M , Babinchak Timothy , Ellis-Grosse Evelyn J , Loh Evan ,   the 301 Study Group
Published: October 2005

Background

Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) remain challenging to treat because of their polymicrobial etiology including multi-drug resistant bacteria. The efficacy and safety of tigecycline, an expanded broad-spectrum glycylcycline antibiotic, was compared with imipenem/cilastatin (IMI/CIS) in patients with cIAI.

Methods

A prospective, double-blind, multinational trial was conducted in which patients with cIAI randomly received intravenous (IV) tigecycline (100 mg initial dose, then 50 mg every 12 hours [q12h]) or IV IMI/CIS (500/500 mg q6h or adjusted for renal dysfunction) for 5 to14 days. Clinical response at the test-of-cure (TOC) visit (14–35 days after therapy) for microbiologically evaluable (ME) and microbiological modified intent-to-treat (m-mITT) populations were the co-primary efficacy endpoint populations.

Results

A total of 825 patients received ≥ 1 dose of study drug. The primary diagnoses for the ME group were complicated appendicitis (59%), and intestinal (8.8%) and gastric/duodenal perforations (4.6%). For the ME group, clinical cure rates at TOC were 80.6% (199/247) for tigecycline versus 82.4% (210/255) for IMI/CIS (95% CI -8.4, 5.1 for non-inferiority tigecycline versus IMI/CIS). Corresponding clinical cure rates within the m-mITT population were 73.5% (227/309) for tigecycline versus 78.2% (244/312) for IMI/CIS (95% CI -11.0, 2.5). Nausea (31.0% tigecycline, 24.8% IMI/CIS [P = 0.052]), vomiting (25.7% tigecycline, 19.4% IMI/CIS [P = 0.037]), and diarrhea (21.3% tigecycline, 18.9% IMI/CIS [P = 0.435]) were the most frequently reported adverse events.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that tigecycline is as efficacious as imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of patients with cIAI.
The burden of diarrhoea, shigellosis, and cholera in North Jakarta, Indonesia: findings from 24 months surveillance
Authors: Agtini Magdarina D , Soeharno Rooswanti , Lesmana Murad , Punjabi Narain H , Simanjuntak Cyrus , Wangsasaputra Ferry , Nurdin Dazwir , Pulungsih Sri Pandam , Rofiq Ainur , Santoso Hari , Pujarwoto H , Sjahrurachman Agus , Sudarmono Pratiwi , von Seidlein Lorenz , Deen Jacqueline L , Ali Mohammad , Lee Hyejon , Kim Deok Ryun , Han Oakpil , Park Jin Kyung , Suwandono Agus , Ingerani  , Oyofo Buhari A , Campbell James R , Beecham H James , Corwin Andrew L , Clemens John D
Published: October 2005

Background

In preparation of vaccines trials to estimate protection against shigellosis and cholera we conducted a two-year community-based surveillance study in an impoverished area of North Jakarta which provided updated information on the disease burden in the area.

Methods

We conducted a two-year community-based surveillance study from August 2001 to July 2003 in an impoverished area of North Jakarta to assess the burden of diarrhoea, shigellosis, and cholera. At participating health care providers, a case report form was completed and stool sample collected from cases presenting with diarrhoea.

Results

Infants had the highest incidences of diarrhoea (759/1 000/year) and cholera (4/1 000/year). Diarrhea incidence was significantly higher in boys under 5 years (387/1 000/year) than girls under 5 years (309/1 000/year; p < 0.001). Children aged 1 to 2 years had the highest incidence of shigellosis (32/1 000/year). Shigella flexneri was the most common Shigella species isolated and 73% to 95% of these isolates were resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol and tetracycline but remain susceptible to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. We found an overall incidence of cholera of 0.5/1 000/year. Cholera was most common in children, with the highest incidence at 4/1 000/year in those less than 1 year of age. Of the 154 V. cholerae O1 isolates, 89 (58%) were of the El Tor Ogawa serotype and 65 (42%) were El Tor Inaba. Thirty-four percent of patients with cholera were intravenously rehydrated and 22% required hospitalization. V. parahaemolyticus infections were detected sporadically but increased from July 2002 onwards.

Conclusion

Diarrhoea causes a heavy public health burden in Jakarta particularly in young children. The impact of shigellosis is exacerbated by the threat of antimicrobial resistance, whereas that of cholera is aggravated by its severe manifestations.
Cardiac involvement in a patient with clinical and serological evidence of African tick-bite fever
Authors: Bellini Cristina , Monti Matteo , Potin Mathieu , Ave Anne Dalle , Bille Jacques , Greub Gilbert
Published: October 2005

Background

Myocarditis and pericarditis are rare complications of rickettsiosis, usually associated withRickettsia rickettsiiandR. conorii. African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is generally considered as a benign disease and no cases of myocardial involvement due toRickettsia africae, the agent of ATBF, have yet been described.

Case presentation

The patient, that travelled in an endemic area, presented typical inoculation eschars, and a seroconversion againstR. africae, was admitted for chest pains and increased cardiac enzymes in the context of an acute myocarditis.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that ATBF, that usually presents a benign course, may be complicated by an acute myocarditis.
Differential biologic effects of CPD and 6-4PP UV-induced DNA damage on the induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest
Authors: Lo Hsin-Lung , Nakajima Satoshi , Ma Lisa , Walter Barbara , Yasui Akira , Ethell Douglas W , Owen Laurie B
Published: October 2005

Background

UV-induced damage can induce apoptosis or trigger DNA repair mechanisms. Minor DNA damage is thought to halt the cell cycle to allow effective repair, while more severe damage can induce an apoptotic program. Of the two major types of UV-induced DNA lesions, it has been reported that repair of CPD, but not 6-4PP, abrogates mutation. To address whether the two major forms of UV-induced DNA damage, can induce differential biological effects, NER-deficient cells containing either CPD photolyase or 6-4 PP photolyase were exposed to UV and examined for alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis. In addition, pTpT, a molecular mimic of CPD was tested in vitro and in vivo for the ability to induce cell death and cell cycle alterations.

Methods

NER-deficient XPA cells were stably transfected with CPD-photolyase or 6-4PP photolyase to specifically repair only CPD or only 6-4PP. After 300 J/m2 UVB exposure photoreactivation light (PR, UVA 60 kJ/m2) was provided for photolyase activation and DNA repair. Apoptosis was monitored 24 hours later by flow cytometric analysis of DNA content, using sub-G1 staining to indicate apoptotic cells. To confirm the effects observed with CPD lesions, the molecular mimic of CPD, pTpT, was also tested in vitro and in vivo for its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis.

Results

The specific repair of 6-4PP lesions after UVB exposure resulted in a dramatic reduction in apoptosis. These findings suggested that 6-4PP lesions may be the primary inducer of UVB-induced apoptosis. Repair of CPD lesions (despite their relative abundance in the UV-damaged cell) had little effect on the induction of apoptosis. Supporting these findings, the molecular mimic of CPD, (dinucleotide pTpT) could mimic the effects of UVB on cell cycle arrest, but were ineffective to induce apoptosis.

Conclusion

The primary response of the cell to UV-induced 6-4PP lesions is to trigger an apoptotic program whereas the response of the cell to CPD lesions appears to principally involve cell cycle arrest. These findings suggest that CPD and 6-4 PP may induce differential biological effects in the UV-damaged cell.
HDL enhances oxidation of LDL in vitro in both men and women
Authors: Solakivi T , Jaakkola O , Salomäki A , Peltonen N , Metso S , Lehtimäki T , Jokela H , Nikkari ST
Published: October 2005

Background

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a key event in the oxidation hypothesis of atherogenesis. Some in vitro experiments have previously suggested that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) co-incubated with LDL prevents Cu2+-induced oxidation of LDL, while some other studies have observed an opposite effect. To comprehensively clarify the role of HDL in this context, we isolated LDL, HDL2 and HDL3 from sera of 61 free-living individuals (33 women and 28 men).

Results

When the isolated LDL was subjected to Cu2+-induced oxidation, both HDL2 and HDL3 particles increased the rate of appearance and the final concentration of conjugated dienes similarly in both genders. Oxidation rate was positively associated with polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the lipoproteins in that it was positively related to the content of linoleate and negatively related to oleate. More saturated fats thus protected the lipoproteins from damage.

Conclusion

We conclude that in vitro HDL does not protect LDL from oxidation, but is in fact oxidized fastest of all lipoproteins due to its fatty acid composition, which is oxidation promoting.
Human trophoblast function during the implantation process
Authors: Staun-Ram Elsebeth , Shalev Eliezer
Published: October 2005

The implantation process involves complex and synchronized molecular and cellular events between the uterus and the implanting embryo. These events are regulated by paracrine and autocrine factors. Trophoblast invasion and migration through the uterine wall is mediated by molecular and cellular interactions, controlled by the trophoblast and the maternal microenvironment. This review is focused on the molecular constituents of the human trophoblast, their actions and interactions, including interrelations with the uterine endometrium.
The complete chloroplast DNA sequences of the charophycean green algae Staurastrum and Zygnema reveal that the chloroplast genome underwent extensive changes during the evolution of the Zygnematales
Authors: Turmel Monique , Otis Christian , Lemieux Claude
Published: October 2005

Background

The Streptophyta comprise all land plants and six monophyletic groups of charophycean green algae. Phylogenetic analyses of four genes from three cellular compartments support the following branching order for these algal lineages: Mesostigmatales, Chlorokybales, Klebsormidiales, Zygnematales, Coleochaetales and Charales, with the last lineage being sister to land plants. Comparative analyses of the Mesostigma viride (Mesostigmatales) and land plant chloroplast genome sequences revealed that this genome experienced many gene losses, intron insertions and gene rearrangements during the evolution of charophyceans. On the other hand, the chloroplast genome of Chaetosphaeridium globosum (Coleochaetales) is highly similar to its land plant counterparts in terms of gene content, intron composition and gene order, indicating that most of the features characteristic of land plant chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) were acquired from charophycean green algae. To gain further insight into when the highly conservative pattern displayed by land plant cpDNAs originated in the Streptophyta, we have determined the cpDNA sequences of the distantly related zygnematalean algae Staurastrum punctulatum and Zygnema circumcarinatum.

Results

The 157,089 bp Staurastrum and 165,372 bp Zygnema cpDNAs encode 121 and 125 genes, respectively. Although both cpDNAs lack an rRNA-encoding inverted repeat (IR), they are substantially larger than Chaetosphaeridium and land plant cpDNAs. This increased size is explained by the expansion of intergenic spacers and introns. The Staurastrum and Zygnema genomes differ extensively from one another and from their streptophyte counterparts at the level of gene order, with the Staurastrum genome more closely resembling its land plant counterparts than does Zygnema cpDNA. Many intergenic regions in Zygnema cpDNA harbor tandem repeats. The introns in both Staurastrum (8 introns) and Zygnema (13 introns) cpDNAs represent subsets of those found in land plant cpDNAs. They represent 16 distinct insertion sites, only five of which are shared by the two zygnematalean genomes. Three of these insertions sites have not been identified in Chaetosphaeridium cpDNA.

Conclusion

The chloroplast genome experienced substantial changes in overall structure, gene order, and intron content during the evolution of the Zygnematales. Most of the features considered earlier as typical of land plant cpDNAs probably originated before the emergence of the Zygnematales and Coleochaetales.
Endospores of halophilic bacteria of the family Bacillaceae isolated from non-saline Japanese soil may be transported by Kosa event (Asian dust storm)
Authors: Echigo Akinobu , Hino Miki , Fukushima Tadamasa , Mizuki Toru , Kamekura Masahiro , Usami Ron
Published: October 2005

Background

Generally, extremophiles have been deemed to survive in the extreme environments to which they had adapted to grow. Recently many extremophiles have been isolated from places where they are not expected to grow. Alkaliphilic microorganisms have been isolated from acidic soil samples with pH 4.0, and thermophiles have been isolated from samples of low temperature. Numerous moderately halophilic microorganisms, defined as those that grow optimally in media containing 0.5–2.5 Molar (3–15%) NaCl, and halotolerant microorganisms that are able to grow in media without added NaCl and in the presence of high NaCl have been isolated from saline environments such as salterns, salt lakes and sea sands. It has tacitly been believed that habitats of halophiles able to grow in media containing more than 20% (3.4 M) are restricted to saline environments, and no reports have been published on the isolation of halophiles from ordinary garden soil samples.

Results

We demonstrated that many halophilic bacteria that are able to grow in the presence of 20% NaCl are inhabiting in non-saline environments such as ordinary garden soils, yards, fields and roadways in an area surrounding Tokyo, Japan. Analyses of partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of 176 isolates suggested that they were halophiles belonging to genera of the family Bacillaceae, Bacillus (11 isolates), Filobacillus (19 isolates), Gracilibacillus (6 isolates), Halobacillus (102 isolates), Lentibacillus (1 isolate), Paraliobacillus (5 isolates) and Virgibacillus (17 isolates). Sequences of 15 isolates showed similarities less than 92%, suggesting that they may represent novel taxa within the family Bacillaceae.

Conclusion

The numbers of total bacteria of inland soil samples were in a range from 1.4 × 107/g to 1.1 × 106/g. One tenth of the total bacteria was occupied by endospore-forming bacteria. Only very few of the endospore-forming bacteria, roughly 1 out of 20,000, are halophilic bacteria. Most of the halophilic bacteria were surviving as endospores in the soil samples, in a range of less than 1 to about 500/g soil. Samples collected from seashore in a city confronting Tokyo Bay gave the total numbers of bacteria and endospores roughly 1000 time smaller than those of inland soil samples. Numbers of halophilic bacteria per gram, however, were almost the same as those of inland soil samples. A possible source of the halophilic endospore originating from Asian dust storms is discussed.
Mycophenolate mofetil for refractory haemolytic anemia in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Mak A , Mok C C
Published: October 2005

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been increasingly used in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While most information concentrates on lupus nephritis, its efficacy in nonrenal manifestations of SLE has not been systematically studied. We describe the successful use of MMF in a patient with SLE-related hemolytic anemia that was refractory to cyclophosphamide, pulse methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclosporine. The mechanisms of action of MMF are briefly reviewed.
Elimination of anticardiolipin antibodies and cessation of cognitive decline in a UV-A1-irradiated systemic lupus erythematosus patient
Authors: McGrath H
Published: October 2005

In the first patient with high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) treated with ultraviolet-A1 (UV-A1; 320-400 nm) radiation, eight months of twice-weekly low-dose (10 J/cm2) irradiation was accompanied by the decrease of aCL levels to normal, cessation of clinical and positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning evidence of cognitive decline, and reversal of livedo reticularis. All occurred within the framework of an improving Revised Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM-R) score. Further studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with elevated aCL are indicated.
Epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus in rural Wisconsin
Authors: Naleway A L , Davis M E , Greenlee R T , Wilson D A , McCarty D J
Published: October 2005

We investigated the epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area (MESA), a defined rural region where nearly all residents obtain their health care from a large clinic system. Computerized medical records were searched to identify MESA residents diagnosed with SLE from 1991 through 2001. Medical records were manually reviewed for all selected patients to identify cases of SLE using the 1982 revised American College of Rheumatology criteria. Patients with 4 criteria were classified as definite SLE. Age- and gender- specific SLE incidence rates (1991-2001), the population prevalence rate of SLE on 31 December 2001 and survival rates were calculated. We identified 117 MESA residents with definite SLE. The average age-adjusted incidence of definite SLE was 5.1 per 100 000 per year (95% CI: 3.6, 6.6) and the age-adjusted population prevalence was 78.5 per 100 000 (95% CI: 59.0, 98.0). The mean age at diagnosis among the 44 incident cases was 51.7 years (range: 14-90 years). Positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), hematologic abnormalities, arthritis and renal disease were common at diagnosis. Five- and 10-year survival rates were 88% and 76%, respectively. Epidemiologic characteristics of SLE in this rural Caucasian population are generally similar to those reported by other US studies. One notable difference is a relatively high incidence of SLE in older adults.
Serositis related to systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and outcome
Authors: Man B L , Mok C C
Published: October 2005

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and outcome of disease-related serositis in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The records of all SLE patients who attended the medical clinics of Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with disease-related serositis at any stage of their illness were identified and the outcome of these serositis episodes was reported. Three-hundred and ten patients (90% women) who fulfilled at least four of the ACR criteria for SLE were studied. The mean age of SLE onset was 32.6 + 13.1 years. sixty-nine episodes of SLE-related serositis occurred in 37 patients -18 (26%) episodes were pericarditis/pericardial effusion, 30 (44%) were pleuritis/pleural effusion and 21 (30%) were peritonitis/ascites. The prevalence of serositis was 12%. At the time of serositis, 34 (92%) patients had active SLE in other systems. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were initially used in 13 (35%) patients. Moderate to high doses of oral prednisolone was used in 28 (76%) patients for both serositis and concomitant disease activity in other organs. All episodes of serositis resolved completely within two months. Over a mean observation of 46 months, nine patients had 18 relapses of serositis, which were responsive to either NSAIDs or augmentation of prednisolone dosage. Pleural fibrosis developed in three patients. Serosal complications are not uncommon in patients with SLE and can be life-threatening. NSAIDs and corticosteroids are often effective but more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy is required for severe or refractory cases. The prognosis of lupus serositis is generally good. Relapse or progression to fibrotic disease is uncommon.
QT-interval parameters are increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Cardoso C RL , Sales M AO , Papi J AS , Salles G F
Published: October 2005

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. QT-interval parameters are presumed markers of cardiovascular risk and have not been previously evaluated in SLE. Standard 12-lead ECGs were obtained from 140 female SLE outpatients and 37 age and body mass index-matched controls. QT interval was measured in each lead and heart rate-corrected maximum QT-interval duration (QTcmax) and QT-interval dispersion (QTd) were calculated. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and lupus clinical features, disease treatment, disease activity and damage index were recorded. SLE patients have increased QT-interval parameters when compared to controls (QTcmax: 427.91 31.53 ms1/2 versus 410.05 15.45 ms1/2, P 0.001; QTd: 52.38 22.21 ms versus 37.12 12.88 ms, P 0.001). These differences persisted after excluding those patients with arterial hypertension, diabetes and with ECG abnormalities (QTcmax: 419.90 28.78 ms1/2 versus 409.15 15.85 ms1/2, P 0.041; QTd: 54.74 26.00 ms versus 37.96 13.05 ms, P 0.001). Multivariate linear regression for factors associated with QTcmaxselected the presence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) ( P 0.003), nonspecific ST-T-wave abnormalities ( P 0.022) and left atrial enlargement ( P 0.044). Multivariate associates with QTd were age ( P 0.018), ECG-LVH ( P 0.022) and ST-T abnormalities ( P 0.031). In conclusion, SLE patients have increased QT interval parameters when compared to controls. This prolongation may lead to an increased cardiovascular risk. This finding might be due to subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Clinical and serological features of 35 patients with anti-Ki autoantibodies
Authors: Cavazzana I , Franceschini F , Vassalini C , Danieli E , Quinzanini M , Airò P , Cattaneo R
Published: October 2005

The objective of this study was to analyse clinical and serological associations of anti-Ki antibodies. Thirty-five patients with anti-Ki antibodies, detected by CIE, selected from laboratory routine, were studied. All patients were affected by autoimmune diseases: SLE and pSS were the most frequent diagnoses. The cohort was constituted by 27 female and eight males. Main clinical features were skin involvement (60%), xerophtalmia (48.6%), Raynaud’s phenomenon (43%), photosensitivity (34%), xerostomia (31.4%). CNS involvement was present in four (11.4%) and renal disease in seven cases (20%). ANA, anti-dsDNA and RF were detected in 100%, 60% and 34.5%. In SLE, anti-Ki was detected in 6% of cases, more frequently in males compared to other SLE patients without anti-Ki ( P < 0.004). Nineteen anti-Ki positive patients affected by SLE showed more frequently malar rash and multiple autoantibody specificities compared to 16 anti-Ki positive patients with other diseases ( P = 0.044 and P = 0.0003, respectively). Our study confirms a preferential occurrence of anti-Ki antibodies in patients with sicca and skin involvement. Malar rash and multiple ANA specificities were significantly associated with SLE compared to other diseases in our study. Anti-Ki were detected in 6% of patients with SLE with a significant prevalence in males.
High sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the Connective Tissue Disease Screening Questionnaire among urban African-American women
Authors: Karlson E W , Costenbader K H , McAlindon T E , Massarotti E M , Fitzgerald L M , Jajoo R , Husni E , Wright E A , Pankey H , Fraser P A
Published: October 2005

The Connective Tissue Disease Screening Questionnaire (CSQ), developed to screen populations for SLE and other CTDs, has been validated in a predominantly Caucasian population with hospital-based controls. We aimed to test the performance characteristics of the CSQ in an urban, predominantly African-American population. The CSQ was administered by interview to women recruited for a study of environmental risk factors and SLE, including 99 cases with SLE validated by medical record review and 202 healthy controls recruited from the community. Overall, 88% of subjects had African heritage, 6% were Hispanic and 4% were non-Hispanic Caucasian. Controls were more likely to report African heritage than cases (91% versus 82%, P < 0.001). Sensitivity for detecting SLE was 88% and specificity was 91%. In this study, where the prevalence of SLE was 33%, predictive value of a positive CSQ was 82% and predictive value of a negative CSQ was 94%. The CSQ has slightly lower sensitivity but greater specificity for SLE in an urban, predominantly African-American population with community-based controls compared with a Caucasian population with hospital-based controls. These results suggest that the CSQ has adequate sensitivity and specificity and could be used in population studies to screen African-American women for SLE.
Verbs, Time, and Modality*
Authors: Steedman M. J.
Published: October 2005

In the first part of this paper it is argued that Vendler's classification of verbs into aspectual categories, called activities, accomplishments, achievements, and states, is better seen as classifying the meanings of sentences, and a recursive scheme for describing the aspectual character of sentences is presented.

In the second part, this scheme is applied to the discussion of the epistemic and deontic meanings of the modal verbs must, will, and may. In particular, the relation between the “future” and “nonfuture” senses of epistemic will is examined.
Dialogue‐Games: Metacommunication Structures for Natural Language Interaction*
Authors: Levin James A. , Moore James A.
Published: October 2005

Our studies of naturally occurring human dialogue have led to the recognition of a class of regularities which characterize impoltant aspects of communication. People appear to interact according to established patterns which span several turns in a dialogue and which recur frequently. These patterns appear to be organized around the goals which the dialogue serves for each participant. Many things which are said later in a dialogue can only be interpreted as pursuit of these goals, established by earlier dialogue.

These patterns have been represented b) a set of knowledge structures called Dialogue‐Games, capturing shared, conventional knowledge that people have about communication and how it can be used to achieve goals. A Dialogue‐Game has Parameters, which represent those elements that vary across instances of a particular pattern‐the particular dialogue participants and the content topic. The states of the world which must be in effect for a particular Dialogue‐Game to be employed successfully are represented by Specifications of these Parameters. Finally, the expected sequence of intermediate states that occur during instances of a particular conventional pattern are represented by the Components of the corresponding Dialogue‐Game.

Representations for several Dialogue‐Games are presented here, based on our analyses of different kinds of naturally occurring dialogue. A process model is discussed, showing Dialogue‐Game identification, pursuit, and termination as part of the comprehension of dialogue utterances. This Dialogue‐Game model captures some of the important functional aspects of language, especially indirect uses to achieve implicit communication.
POLITICS: Automated Ideological Reasoning*
Authors: Carbonell Jaime G.
Published: October 2005

POLITICS is a system of computer programs which simulates humans in comprehending and responding to world events from a given political or ideological perspective. The primary theoretical motivations were: (1) the implemention of a functional system which applies the knowledge structures of Schank and Abelson (1977) to the domain of simulating political belief systems; (2) the development of a tentative theory of intentional goal conflicts and counterplanning. Secondary goals of the POLITICS project include developing a representation for belief systems, investigating cognitive processes such as goal‐directed inferencing, and the integration of several types of knowledge representations into a functional system.
Remembering, Understanding, and Representation*
Authors: Ortony Andrew
Published: October 2005

Starting with the facts that not everything that is understood is remembered, and that not everything that is remembered is understood. this paper urges that models of language processing should be able to make a distinction between comprehension and memory. To this end. a case is made for a spreading activation process as being the essential ingredient of the comprehension process. It is argued that concepts activated during comprehension not only restrict the search set for candidate concepts to be used in a top‐down fashion, they also constitute part of an episodic representation that can come to be p e of long‐term memory. The way in which these representations atrophy is discussed, as is the way in which their idiosyncratic components are eliminated in producing representations in semantic memory. Some observations on the comprehension and memory of text are made and arguments are presented to show how intrusions and omissions in recall can be handled. Some existing experimental data is reanalyzed in terms of the proposed model and alternative interpretations consistent with the model are shown to be possible.
Diagnostic Models for Procedural Bugs in Basic Mathematical Skills*
Authors: Brown John Seely , Burton Richard R.
Published: October 2005

A new diagnostic modeling system for automatically synthesizing a deep‐structure model of a student's misconceptions or bugs in his basic mathematical skills provides a mechanism for explaining why a student is making a mistake as opposed to simply identifying the mistake. This report is divided into four sections: The first provides examples of the problems that must be handled by a diagnostic model. It then introduces procedural networks as a general framework for representing the knowledge underlying a skill. The challenge in designing this representation is to find one that facilitates the discovery of misconceptions or bugs existing in a particular student's encoding of this knowledge. The second section discusses some of the pedagogical issues that have emerged from the use of diagnostic models within an instructional system. This discussion is framed in the context of a computer‐based tutoring/gaming system developed to teach students and student teachers how to diagnose bugs strategically as well as how to provide a better understanding of the underlying structure of arithmetic skills. The third section describes our uses of an executable network as a tool for automatically diagnosing student behavior, for automatically generating “diagnostic” tests, and for judging the diagnostic quality of a given exam. Included in this section is a discussion of the success of this system in diagnosing 1300 school students from a data base of 20.000 test items. The last section discusses future research directions.
On Deriving Aspectual Sense
Authors: Webber Bonnie Lynn
Published: October 2005

In his recent article “Verbs, Time and Modality,” M. J. Steedman (1977) proposes a recursive scheme for identifying the aspectual character of a proposition. The purpose of this squib is to point out some faults and gaps in that account that may suggest some interesting directions for future research.
Coherence and Coreference*
Authors: Hobbs Jerry R.
Published: October 2005

Coherence in conversations and in texts can be partially characterized by a set of coherence relations, motivated ultimately by the speaker's or writer's need to be understood. In this paper, formal definitions are given for several coherence relations, based on the operations of an inference system; that is, the relations between successive portions of a discourse are characterized in terms of the inferences that can be drawn from each. In analyzing a discourse, it is frequently the case that we would recognize it as coherent, in that it would satisfy the formal definition of some coherence relation, if only we could assume certain noun phrases to be coreferential. In such cases, we will simply assume the identity of the entities referred to, in what might be called a “petty conversational implicature,” thereby solving the coherence and coreference problems simultaneously. Three examples of different kinds of reference problems are presented. In each, it is shown how the coherence of the discourse can be recognized, and how the reference problems are solved, almost as a by‐product, by means of these petty conversational implicatures.
Elements of a Plan‐Based Theory of Speech Acts*
Authors: Cohen Philip R. , Perrault C. Raymond
Published: October 2005

This paper explores the truism hat people think about what hey say. It proposes that, to satisfy heir own goals, people often plan their speech acts to affect their listeners' beliefs, goals, and emotional states. Such language use can be modelled by viewing speech acts as operators in a planning system, thus allowing both physical and speech acts to be integrated into plans.

Methodological issues of how speech acts should be defined in a plan‐based theory are illustrated by defining operators for requesting and informing. Plans containing those operators are presented and comparisons are drawn with Searle's formulation. The operators are show to be inadequate since they cannot be composed to form questions (requests to inform) and multiparty requests (requests to request). By refining the operator definitions and by identifying some of the side effects of requesting, compositional adequacy is achieved. The solution leads to a metatheoretical principle for modelling speech acts as planning operators.