bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endovascular Repair of a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Patient With Unfavorable Anatomy
Authors: Bellosta Raffaello , Luzzani Luca , Carugati Claudio , Cossu Luisa , Sarcina Antonio
Published: October 2009

Endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) offers hope of improved outcomes in patients presenting with acute rupture. However, a high proportion of such patients have unfavorable proximal neck anatomy and are not suitable for treatment with conventional endografts. In this case report, the authors describe a successful endovascular repair of a ruptured AAA with very short and angulated proximal neck.
Percutaneous Endovascular Management of Occluded HeRO Dialysis Access Device
Authors: Vasquez Julio C. , DeLaRosa Jacob , Leon Juan J. , Rahim Naeem , Rahim Fahim
Published: October 2009

The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) device is a novel alternative for dialysis access in patients with no suitable veins in the upper extremities. We placed a HeRO device in a 67-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease and 2 months later, it was being used for hemodialysis. After 1 month of uneventful use, the device thrombosed and it was rescued with a percutaneous endovascular approach. The device remains patent 6 months after the intervention.
Management of a Chronic Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Baker Aaron C. , Arko Frank R. , Zarins Christopher K. , Lee Eugene S.
Published: October 2009

An 82-year-old female with a history of right carotid endarterectomy with patch closure 12 years prior presents with a pulsatile right neck mass with skin erosion and bleeding. The patient had been previously evaluated but refused the surgical intervention because a median sternotomy was recommended to obtain adequate proximal control. Her aneurysm was successfully repaired using a combination of open and endovascular method. The repair was performed through a right-hand side anterior sternocleidomastoid neck incision, and proximal vascular control was obtained with an 8.5-mm balloon positioned under fluoroscopic guidance via a femoral puncture.
Initial Results of Concomitant Cryoplasty After Remote Endarterectomy of the Superficial Femoral Artery: A Feasibility Study (Cryoplasty Following Remote Endarterectomy)
Authors: Gisbertz Suzanne S. , de Borst Gert-Jan , Overtoom Tim Th. C. , Moll Frans L. , de Vries Jean-Paul P.M.
Published: October 2009

Objective: Remote endarterectomy is a less invasive technique compared with supragenicular bypass surgery for superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease. Early restenosis remains one of the drawbacks of this procedure. To prevent restenosis following remote endarterectomy, concomitant cryoplasty of the desobstruct SFA was introduced.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was initiated with 17 patients treated with cryoplasty of the SFA after remote endarterectomy. Indications for surgery were claudication (n = 12), rest pain (n = 3), or tissue loss (n = 2).

Results: There were no technical failures. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the primary and assisted primary patency rate after 1 year of follow-up was 74%. Secondary patency was 89%. Limb salvage was 100%. No aneurysmal degeneration and no other adverse events occurred during the follow-up.

Conclusions: This pilot study showed that cryoplasty after remote SFA endarterectomy is a safe procedure, with promising patency rates.
Deriving grain boundary character distributions and relative grain boundary energies from three-dimensional EBSD data
Authors: Rohrer G. S. , Li J. , Lee S. , Rollett A. D. , Groeber M. , Uchic M. D.
Published: October 2009

Three-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction data, obtained by serial sectioning a nickel–base superalloy, has been analysed to measure the geometric arrangement of grain boundary planes at triple junctions. This information has been used to calculate the grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) and the grain boundary energy distribution (GBED). The twin content from the three-dimensional GBCD calculation compares favourably with the twin content estimated by stereology. Important factors in the analysis are the alignment of the parallel layers, the ratio of the out-of-plane to in-plane spacing of the discrete orientation data and the discretisation of the domain of grain boundary types. The results show that grain boundaries comprised of (111) planes occur most frequently and that these grain boundaries have a relatively low energy. The GBCD and GBED are inversely correlated.
Hot deformation behaviour of precipitation hardening stainless steel
Authors: Mirzadeh H. , Najafizadeh A. , Moazeny M.
Published: October 2009

The behaviour of 17-4 precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steel was studied using the hot compression test at temperatures of 950–1150°C with strain rates of 0·001–10 s−1. The stress–strain curves were plotted by considering the effect of friction. The work hardening rate versus stress curves were used to reveal whether or not dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) occurred. Using the constitutive equations, the activation energy of hot working for 17-4 PH stainless steel was determined as 337 kJ mol−1. The effect of Zener–Hollomon parameter Z on the peak stress and strain was studied using the power law relation. The normalised critical stress and strain for initiation of DRX were found to be 0·89 and 0·47 respectively. Moreover, these behaviours were compared to other steels.
Synthesis and kinetics research of ZnS nanoparticles prepared by sonochemical process
Authors: Li J.-R. , Huang J.-F. , Cao L.-Y. , Wu J.-P. , He H.-Y.
Published: October 2009

ZnS nanocrystallites have been successfully prepared by a sonochemical process. The reaction kinetics of the process was also investigated. The as prepared ZnS nanocrystallites were characterised by XRD and TEM. Results show that ZnS nanoparticles can be obtained by sonochemical process using ZnCl2 and thiacetamide as raw materials. It is found that the as prepared ZnS nanoparticles are hexagonal phase with spherical or spherical-like morphologies. The grain size decreases with increasing ultrasonic irradiation power. Reaction kinetics shows that the weight content of ZnS nanoparticles increases linearly with reaction time at different temperatures. The synthesis activation energy of ZnS nanoparticles is calculated to be 27·80 kJ mol–1.
Influence of feedstock particle size on corrosion resistance of air plasma sprayed NiTi coatings applied to AISI 1045 steel
Authors: Verdian M. M. , Salehi M. , Raeissi K.
Published: October 2009

NiTi coatings were sprayed on AISI 1045 steel coupons by air plasma spraying. Two types of amorphous/nanocrystalline NiTi powders, one of nominal size range (–63 to +20 μm) and the other of nominal size (–125 to +63 μm), were used. Open circuit potential EOC measurements and Tafel polarisation tests were employed to study corrosion behaviour of the coatings in 3·5% NaCl solution at 23°C. These tests indicated that the corrosion performance of the coating produced by using finer powder was better than that of the coating produced by using coarser powder. After 10 h of immersion, the steel substrate had not been corroded in the former case, while it had been corroded in the latter case. In addition, it was shown that corrosion current densities are six times lower in the coating produced by using finer powder than in that sprayed by using coarser powder.
Increased tissue factor expression on circulating monocytes in chronic HIV infection: relationship to in vivo coagulation and immune activation
Authors: Funderburg Nicholas T. , Mayne Elizabeth , Sieg Scott F. , Asaad Robert , Jiang Wei , Kalinowska Magdalena , Luciano Angel A. , Stevens Wendy , Rodriguez Benigno , Brenchley Jason M. , Douek Daniel C. , Lederman Michael M.
Published: October 2009

HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis; and as antiretroviral therapy has increased the lifespan of HIV-infected patients, their risk for cardiovascular events is expected to increase. A large clinical study found recently that all-cause mortality for HIV+ patients was related to plasma levels of interleukin-6 and to D-dimer products of fibrinolysis. We provide evidence that this elevated risk for coagulation may be related to increased proportions of monocytes expressing cell surface tissue factor (TF, thromboplastin) in persons with HIV infection. Monocyte TF expression could be induced in vitro by lipopolysaccharide and flagellin, but not by interleukin-6. Monocyte expression of TF was correlated with HIV levels in plasma, with indices of immune activation, and with plasma levels of soluble CD14, a marker of in vivo lipopolysaccharide exposure. TF levels also correlated with plasma levels of D-dimers, reflective of in vivo clot formation and fibrinolysis. Thus, drivers of immune activation in HIV disease, such as HIV replication, and potentially, microbial translocation, may activate clotting cascades and contribute to thrombus formation and cardiovascular morbidities in HIV infection.
Evidence for a novel human-specific xeno-auto-antibody response against vascular endothelium
Authors: Pham Tho , Gregg Christopher J. , Karp Felix , Chow Renee , Padler-Karavani Vered , Cao Hongzhi , Chen Xi , Witztum Joseph L. , Varki Nissi M. , Varki Ajit
Published: October 2009

Humans are genetically unable to synthesize the common mammalian sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). However, Neu5Gc can be metabolically incorporated and covalently expressed on cultured human cell surfaces. Meanwhile, humans express varying and sometimes high titers of polyclonal anti-Neu5Gc antibodies. Here, a survey of human tissues by immunohistochemistry with both a monospecific chicken anti-Neu5Gc antibody and with affinity-purified human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies demonstrates endothelial expression of Neu5Gc, likely originating from Neu5Gc-rich foods like red meats. We hypothesized that the combination of Neu5Gc incorporation and anti-Neu5Gc antibodies can induce endothelial activation. Indeed, the incubation of high-titer human sera with Neu5Gc-fed endothelial cells led to Neu5Gc-dependent antibody binding, complement deposition, endothelial activation, selectin expression, increased cytokine secretion, and monocyte binding. The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α also selectively enhanced human anti-Neu5Gc antibody reactivity. Anti-Neu5Gc antibodies affinity-purified from human serum also directed Neu5Gc-dependent complement deposition onto cultured endothelial cells. These data indicate a novel human-specific mechanism in which Neu5Gc-rich foods deliver immunogenic Neu5Gc to the endothelium, giving anti-Neu5Gc antibody- and complement-dependent activation, and potentially contributing to human vascular pathologies. In the case of atherosclerosis, Neu5Gc is present both in endothelium overlying plaques and in subendothelial regions, providing multiple pathways for accelerating inflammation in this disease.
Cotreatment with panobinostat and JAK2 inhibitor TG101209 attenuates JAK2V617F levels and signaling and exerts synergistic cytotoxic effects against human myeloproliferative neoplastic cells
Authors: Wang Yongchao , Fiskus Warren , Chong Daniel G. , Buckley Kathleen M. , Natarajan Kavita , Rao Rekha , Joshi Atul , Balusu Ramesh , Koul Sanjay , Chen Jianguang , Savoie Andrew , Ustun Celalettin , Jillella Anand P. , Atadja Peter , Levine Ross L. , Bhalla Kapil N.
Published: October 2009

The mutant JAK2V617F tyrosine kinase (TK) is present in the majority of patients with BCR-ABL–negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). JAK2V617F activates downstream signaling through the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT), RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)/AKT pathways, conferring proliferative and survival advantages in the MPN hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Treatment with the pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor panobinostat (PS) is known to inhibit the chaperone function of heat shock protein 90, as well as induce growth arrest and apoptosis of transformed HPCs. Here, we demonstrate that PS treatment depletes the autophosphorylation, expression, and downstream signaling of JAK2V617F. Treatment with PS also disrupted the chaperone association of JAK2V617F with hsp90, promoting proteasomal degradation of JAK2V617F. PS also induced apoptosis of the cultured JAK2V617F-expressing human erythroleukemia HEL92.1.7 and Ba/F3-JAK2V617F cells. Treatment with the JAK2 TK inhibitor TG101209 attenuated JAK2V617F autophosphorylation and induced apoptosis of HEL92.1.7 and Ba/F3-JAK2V617F cells. Cotreatment with PS and TG101209 further depleted JAK/STAT signaling and synergistically induced apoptosis of HEL92.1.7 and Ba/F3-JAK2V617F cells. Cotreatment with TG101209 and PS exerted greater cytotoxicity against primary CD34+ MPN cells than normal CD34+ HPCs. These in vitro findings suggest combination therapy with HDAC and JAK2V617F inhibitors is of potential value for the treatment of JAK2V617F-positive MPN.
Significant functional heterogeneity among KIR2DL1 alleles and a pivotal role of arginine245
Authors: Bari Rafijul , Bell Teresa , Leung Wai-Hang , Vong Queenie P. , Chan Wing Keung , Das Gupta Neha , Holladay Martha , Rooney Barbara , Leung Wing
Published: October 2009

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) play an essential role in the regulation of natural killer cell functions. KIR genes are highly polymorphic in nature, showing both haplotypic and allelic variations among people. We demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models a significant heterogeneity in function among different KIR2DL1 alleles, including their ability to inhibit YT-Indy cells from degranulation, interferon γ production, and cytotoxicity against target cells expressing the HLA-Cw6 ligand. Subsequent experiments showed that the molecular determinant was an arginine residue at position 245 (R245) in its transmembrane domain that mechanistically affects both the efficiency of inhibitory signaling and durability of surface expression. Specifically, in comparison with R245-negative alleles, KIR2DL1 that included R245 recruited more Src-homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 and β-arrestin 2, showed higher inhibition of lipid raft polarization at immune synapse, and had less down-regulation of cell-surface expression upon interaction with its ligand. Thus, our findings provide novel insights into the molecular determinant of KIR2DL1 and conceivably a fundamental understanding of KIR2DL1 allelic polymorphism in human disease susceptibility, transplant outcome, and donor selection.
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: clinical features, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and outcome from the large randomized prospective trial (UKALL XII/ECOG 2993)
Authors: Marks David I. , Paietta Elisabeth M. , Moorman Anthony V. , Richards Susan M. , Buck Georgina , DeWald Gordon , Ferrando Adolfo , Fielding Adele K. , Goldstone Anthony H. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Litzow Mark R. , Luger Selina M. , McMillan Andrew K. , Mansour Marc R. , Rowe Jacob M. , Tallman Martin S. , Lazarus Hillard M.
Published: October 2009

The biology and outcome of adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are poorly understood. We present here the clinical and biologic features of 356 patients treated uniformly on the prospective trial (UKALL XII/ECOG 2993) with the aim of describing the outcome and identifying prognostic factors. Complete remission was obtained in 94% of patients, and 48% survived 5 years. Positivity of blasts for CD1a and lack of expression of CD13 were associated with better survival (P = .01 and < .001, respectively). NOTCH1 and CDKN2A mutations were seen in 61% and 42% of those tested. Complex cytogenetic abnormalities were associated with poorer survival (19% vs 51% at 5 years, P = .006). Central nervous system involvement at diagnosis did not affect survival (47% vs 48%, P = not significant). For 99 patients randomized between autograft and chemotherapy, 5-year survival was 51% in each arm. Patients with a matched sibling donor had superior 5-year survival to those without donors (61% vs 46%, χ2, P = .02); this was the result of less relapse (25% vs 51% at 5 years, P < .001). Only 8 of 123 relapsed patients survive. This study provides a baseline for trials of new drugs, such as nelarabine, and may allow risk-adapted therapy in patients with poor-prognosis T-cell ALL.
A novel thromboxane A2 receptor D304N variant that abrogates ligand binding in a patient with a bleeding diathesis
Authors: Mumford Andrew D. , Dawood Ban B. , Daly Martina E. , Murden Sherina L. , Williams Michael D. , Protty Majd B. , Spalton Jennifer C. , Wheatley Mark , Mundell Stuart J. , Watson Steve P.
Published: October 2009

We investigated the cause of mild mucocutaneous bleeding in a 14-year-old male patient (P1). Platelet aggregation and ATP secretion induced by arachidonic acid and the thromboxane A2 receptor (TxA2R) agonist U46619 were reduced in P1 compared with controls, whereas the responses to other platelet agonists were retained. P1 was heterozygous for a transversion within the TBXA2R gene predictive of a D304N substitution in the TxA2R. In Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells expressing the variant D304N TxA2R, U46619 did not increase cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, indicating loss of receptor function. The TxA2R antagonist [3H]-SQ29548 showed an approximate 50% decrease in binding to platelets from P1 but absent binding to Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells expressing variant D304N TxA2R. This is the second naturally occurring TxA2R variant to be associated with platelet dysfunction and the first in which loss of receptor function is associated with reduced ligand binding. D304 lies within a conserved NPXXY motif in transmembrane domain 7 of the TxA2R that is a key structural element in family A G protein-coupled receptors. Our demonstration that the D304N substitution causes clinically significant platelet dysfunction by reducing ligand binding establishes the importance of the NPXXY motif for TxA2R function in vivo.
A permutation-based multiple testing method for time-course microarray experiments
Authors: Sohn Insuk , Owzar Kouros , George Stephen L , Kim Sujong , Jung Sin-Ho
Published: October 2009

Background

Time-course microarray experiments are widely used to study the temporal profiles of gene expression. Storeyet al. (2005) developed a method for analyzing time-course microarray studies that can be applied to discovering genes whose expression trajectories change over time within a single biological group, or those that follow different time trajectories among multiple groups. They estimated the expression trajectories of each gene using natural cubic splines under the null (no time-course) and alternative (time-course) hypotheses, and used a goodness of fit test statistic to quantify the discrepancy. The null distribution of the statistic was approximated through a bootstrap method. Gene expression levels in microarray data are often complicatedly correlated. An accurate type I error control adjusting for multiple testing requires the joint null distribution of test statistics for a large number of genes. For this purpose, permutation methods have been widely used because of computational ease and their intuitive interpretation.

Results

In this paper, we propose a permutation-based multiple testing procedure based on the test statistic used by Storeyet al. (2005). We also propose an efficient computation algorithm. Extensive simulations are conducted to investigate the performance of the permutation-based multiple testing procedure. The application of the proposed method is illustrated using theCaenorhabditis elegansdauer developmental data.

Conclusion

Our method is computationally efficient and applicable for identifying genes whose expression levels are time-dependent in a single biological group and for identifying the genes for which the time-profile depends on the group in a multi-group setting.
Analysis and modelling of motility of cell populations with MotoCell
Authors: Cantarella Concita , Sepe Leandra , Fioretti Francesca , Ferrari Maria Carla , Paolella Giovanni
Published: October 2009

Background

Cell motility plays a central role in development, wound-healing and tumour invasion. Cultures of eucariotic cells are a complex system where most cells move according to 'random' patterns, but may also be induced to a more coordinate migration by means of specific stimuli, such as the presence of chemical attractants or the introduction of a mechanical stimulus. Various tools have been developed that work by keeping track of the paths followed by specific objects and by performing statistical analysis on the recorded path data. The available tools include desktop applications or macros running within a commercial package, which address specific aspects of the process.

Results

An online application, MotoCell, was developed to evaluate the motility of cell populations maintained in various experimental conditions. Statistical analysis of cell behaviour consists of the evaluation of descriptive parameters such as average speed and angle, directional persistence, path vector length, calculated for the whole population as well as for each cell and for each step of the migration; in this way the behaviour of a whole cell population may be assessed as a whole or as a sum of individual entities. The directional movement of objects may be studied by eliminating the modulo effect in circular statistics analysis, able to evaluate linear dispersion coefficient (R) and angular dispersion (S) values together with average angles. A case study is provided where the system is used to characterize motility of RasV12 transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts.

Conclusion

Here we describe a comprehensive tool which takes care of all steps in cell motility analysis, including interactive cell tracking, path editing and statistical analysis of cell movement, all within a freely available online service. Although based on a standard web interface, the program is very fast and interactive and is immediately available to a large number of users, while exploiting the web approach in a very effective way. The ability to evaluate the behaviour of single cells allows to draw the attention on specific correlations, such as linearity of movement and deviation from the expected direction. In addition to population statistics, the analysis of single cells allows to group the cells into subpopulations, or even to evaluate the behaviour of each cell with respect to a variable reference, such as the direction of a wound or the position of the closest cell.
Clinical bioinformatics for complex disorders: a schizophrenia case study
Authors: Schwarz Emanuel , Leweke F Markus , Bahn Sabine , Liò Pietro
Published: October 2009

Background

In the diagnosis of complex diseases such as neurological pathologies, a wealth of clinical and molecular information is often available to help the interpretation. Yet, the pieces of information are usually considered in isolation and rarely integrated due to the lack of a sound statistical framework. This lack of integration results in the loss of valuable information about how disease associated factors act synergistically to cause the complex phenotype.

Results

Here, we investigated complex psychiatric diseases as networks. The networks were used to integrate data originating from different profiling platforms. The weighted links in these networks capture the association between the analyzed factors and allow the quantification of their relevance for the pathology. The heterogeneity of the patient population was analyzed by clustering and graph theoretical procedures. We provided an estimate of the heterogeneity of the population of schizophrenia and detected a subgroup of patients featuring remarkable abnormalities in a network of serum primary fatty acid amides. We compared the stability of this molecular network in an extended dataset between schizophrenia and affective disorder patients and found more stable structures in the latter.

Conclusion

We quantified robust associations between analytes measured with different profiling platforms as networks. The methodology allows the quantitative evaluation of the complexity of the disease. The identified disease patterns can then be further investigated with regards to their diagnostic utility or help in the prediction of novel therapeutic targets. The applied framework is able to enhance the understanding of complex psychiatric diseases, and may give novel insights into drug development and personalized medicine approaches.
Positive selection for the male functionality of a co-retroposed gene in the hominoids
Authors: Zhang Yong , Lu Shujuan , Zhao Shuqi , Zheng Xiaofeng , Long Manyuan , Wei Liping
Published: October 2009

Background

New genes generated by retroposition are widespread in humans and other mammalian species. Usually, this process copies a single parental gene and inserts it into a distant genomic location. However, retroposition of two adjacent parental genes,i.e. co-retroposition, had not been reported until the hominoid chimeric gene,PIPSL, was identified recently. It was shown how two genes linked in tandem (phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase, type I, alpha,PIP5K1Aand proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase, 4,PSMD4) could be co-retroposed from a single RNA molecule to form this novel chimeric gene. However, understanding of the origination and biological function ofPIPSLrequires determination of the coding potential of this gene as well as the evolutionary forces acting on its hominoid copies.

Results

We tackled these problems by analyzing the evolutionary signature in both within-species variation and between species divergence in the sequence and structure of the gene. We revealed a significant evolutionary signature: the coding region has significantly lower sequence variation, especially insertions and deletions, suggesting that the human copy may encode a protein. Moreover, a survey across five different hominoid species revealed that all adaptive changes ofPSMD4-derived regions occurred on branches leading to human and chimp rather than other hominoid lineages. Finally, computational analysis suggests testis-specific transcription ofPIPSLis regulated by tissue-dependent methylation rather than some transcriptional leakage.

Conclusion

Therefore, this set of analyses showed thatPIPSLis an extraordinary co-retroposed protein-coding gene that may participate in the male functions of humans and its close relatives.
Metabolic fluxes in the central carbon metabolism of Dinoroseobacter shibae and Phaeobacter gallaeciensis, two members of the marine Roseobacter clade
Authors: Fürch Tobias , Preusse Matthias , Tomasch Jürgen , Zech Hajo , Wagner-Döbler Irene , Rabus Ralf , Wittmann Christoph
Published: October 2009

Background

In the present work the central carbon metabolism of Dinoroseobacter shibae and Phaeobacter gallaeciensis was studied at the level of metabolic fluxes. These two strains belong to the marine Roseobacter clade, a dominant bacterial group in various marine habitats, and represent surface-associated, biofilm-forming growth (P. gallaeciensis) and symbiotic growth with eukaryotic algae (D. shibae). Based on information from recently sequenced genomes, a rich repertoire of pathways has been identified in the carbon core metabolism of these organisms, but little is known about the actual contribution of the various reactions in vivo.

Results

Using 13C labelling techniques in specifically designed experiments, it could be shown that glucose-grown cells of D. shibae catabolise the carbon source exclusively via the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, whereas alternative routes of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway are obviously utilised for anabolic purposes only. Enzyme assays confirmed this flux pattern and link the lack of glycolytic flux to the absence of phosphofructokinase activity. The previously suggested formation of phosphoenolpyruvate from pyruvate during mixotrophic CO2 assimilation was found to be inactive under the conditions studied. Moreover, it could be shown that pyruvate carboxylase is involved in CO2 assimilation and that the cyclic respiratory mode of the TCA cycle is utilised. Interestingly, the use of intracellular pathways was highly similar for P. gallaeciensis.

Conclusion

The present study reveals the first insight into pathway utilisation within the Roseobacter group. Fluxes through major intracellular pathways of the central carbon metabolism, which are closely linked to the various important traits found for the Roseobacter clade, could be determined. The close similarity of fluxes between the two physiologically rather different species might provide the first indication of more general key properties among members of the Roseobacter clade which may explain their enormous success in the marine realm.
Population diversity and antibody selective pressure to Plasmodium falciparum MSP1 block2 locus in an African malaria-endemic setting
Authors: Noranate Nitchakarn , Prugnolle Franck , Jouin Hélène , Tall Adama , Marrama Laurence , Sokhna Cheikh , Ekala Marie-Thérèse , Guillotte Micheline , Bischoff Emmanuel , Bouchier Christiane , Patarapotikul Jintana , Ohashi Jun , Trape Jean-François , Rogier Christophe , Mercereau-Puijalon Odile
Published: October 2009

Background

Genetic evidence for diversifying selection identified the Merozoite Surface Protein1 block2 (PfMSP1 block2) as a putative target of protective immunity againstPlasmodium falciparum. The locus displays three family types and one recombinant type, each with multiple allelic forms differing by single nucleotide polymorphism as well as sequence, copy number and arrangement variation of three amino acid repeats. The family-specific antibody responses observed in endemic settings support immune selection operating at the family level. However, the factors contributing to the large intra-family allelic diversity remain unclear. To address this question, population allelic polymorphism and sequence variant-specific antibody responses were studied in a single Senegalese rural community where malaria transmission is intense and perennial.

Results

Family distribution showed no significant temporal fluctuation over the 10 y period surveyed. Sequencing of 358 PCR fragments identified 126 distinct alleles, including numerous novel alleles in each family and multiple novel alleles of recombinant types. The parasite population consisted in a large number of low frequency alleles, alongside one high-frequency and three intermediate frequency alleles. Population diversity tests supported positive selection at the family level, but showed no significant departure from neutrality when considering intra-family allelic sequence diversity and all families combined. Seroprevalence, analysed using biotinylated peptides displaying numerous sequence variants, was moderate and increased with age. Reactivity profiles were individual-specific, mapped to the family-specific flanking regions and to repeat sequences shared by numerous allelic forms within a family type. Seroreactivity to K1-, Mad20- and R033 families correlated with the relative family genotype distribution within the village. Antibody specificity remained unchanged with cumulated exposure to an increasingly large number of alleles.

Conclusion

ThePfmsp1block2 locus presents a very large population sequence diversity. The lack of stable acquisition of novel antibody specificities despite exposure to novel allelic forms is reminiscent of clonal imprinting. The locus appears under antibody-mediated diversifying selection in a variable environment that maintains a balance between the various family types without selecting for sequence variant allelic forms. There is no evidence of positive selection for intra-family sequence diversity, consistent with the observed characteristics of the antibody response.
Experiences from treatment-predictive KRAS testing; high mutation frequency in rectal cancers from females and concurrent mutations in the same tumor
Authors: Jönsson Mats , Ekstrand Anna , Edekling Thomas , Eberhard Jakob , Grabau Dorthe , Borg David , Nilbert Mef
Published: October 2009

Background

KRAS mutations represent key alterations in colorectal cancer development and lead to constitutive EGFR signaling. Since EGFR inhibition represents a therapeutic strategy in advanced colorectal cancer, KRAS mutation analysis has quickly been introduced as a treatment-predictive test.

Methods

We used a real-time PCR based method to determine KRAS mutations in 136 colorectal cancers with mutations identified in 53 (39%) tumors.

Results

KRAS mutations were significantly more often found in rectal cancer (21/38, 55%) than in colon cancer (32/98, 33%) (P = 0.02). This finding was explained by marked differences mutation rates in female patients who showed mutations in 33% of the colon cancers and in 67% of the rectal cancers (P = 0.01). Concurrent KRAS mutations were identified in three tumors; two colorectal cancers harbored Gly12Asp/Gly13Asp and Gly12Cys/Gly13Asp and a third tumor carried Gly12Cys/Gly12Asp in an adenomatous component and additionally acquired Gly12Val in the invasive component.

Conclusion

The demonstration of a particularly high KRAS mutation frequency among female rectal cancer patients suggests that this subset is the least likely to respond to anti-EGFR therapies, whereas the observation of concurrent KRAS mutations imply that repeated KRAS targeting may occur during tumor progression in a subset of colorectal cancers.
Meta-analysis: Adefovir dipivoxil in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus
Authors: Chen En-Qiang , Wang Li-Chun , Lei Jun , Xu Lu , Tang Hong
Published: October 2009

Background

Currently, there are no conclusive results on the efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) plus lamivudine (LAM) in LAM-resistant patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of study was to evaluate the efficacy of rescue therapy with ADV plus LAM compared to ADV monotherapy in LAM-resistant CHB patients.

Results

We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI (National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP database, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Six eligible trials (442 patients in total) were included and evaluated for methodologic quality and heterogeneity. Greater virological response and lower emergence rate of ADV-associated mutants was observed in ADV plus LAM compared to ADV monotherapy (bothP< 0.05). On the contrary, the rate of ALT normalization, HBeAg clearance and seroconversion were all similar between ADV plus LAM and ADV (allP> 0.05). Additionally, adding-on or switch-to ADV was both well tolerated.

Conclusion

The combination of ADV with LAM was superior in inhibiting HBV replication and preventing drug resistance as compared to ADV alone for LAM-resistant CHB patients.
Characterization of intracortical synaptic connections in the mouse anterior cingulate cortex using dual patch clamp recording
Authors: Wu Long-Jun , Li Xiangyao , Chen Tao , Ren Ming , Zhuo Min
Published: October 2009

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in sensory, cognitive, and executive functions. Studies of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the ACC provide an understanding of basic cellular and molecular mechanisms for brain functions. Previous anatomic studies suggest complex local interactions among neurons within the ACC. However, there is a lack of functional studies of such synaptic connections between ACC neurons. In the present study, we characterized the neuronal connections in the superficial layers (I-III) of the mouse ACC using dual whole-cell patch clamp recording technique. Four types of synaptic connections were observed, which are from a pyramidal neuron to a pyramidal neuron, from a pyramidal neuron to an interneuron, from an interneuron to a pyramidal neuron and from an interneuron to an interneuron. These connections exist among neurons in layer II/III or between neurons located layer I and II/III, respectively. Moreover, reciprocal connections exist in all four types of paired neurons. Our results provide the first key evidence of functional excitatory and inhibitory connections in the ACC.
The prognostic value of baseline erosions in undifferentiated arthritis
Authors: Thabet Mohamed M , Huizinga Thomas WJ , van der Heijde Désirée M , van der Helm-van Mil Annette HM
Published: October 2009

Introduction

Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) has a variable disease course; 40 to 50% of UA patients remit spontaneously, while 30% develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Identifying the UA patients who will develop RA is essential to initiate early disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Although the presence of bone erosions at baseline is predictive for a severe destructive disease course in RA, the prognostic importance of erosive joints for disease outcome in UA is unknown. This study evaluates the predictive value of erosive joints for the disease outcome in UA as measured by RA development and disease persistency.

Methods

Baseline hands and feet radiographs of 518 UA patients were evaluated for erosions using a clinical definition as well as the Sharp/van der Heijde method. After 1 year follow-up, patients were re-assessed for the fulfilment of the 1987 ACR classification criteria for RA. Disease persistency was defined as the absence of sustained remission during all available follow-up (mean 8 ± 3 years).

Results

At baseline, 28.6% of UA patients had erosive joints. Presence of ≥2 erosive joints showed a positive predictive value for RA development of 53% and for persistent disease of 68%. Patients with erosions that did not develop RA were less often anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)+ve, rheumatoid factor (RF)+ve and had lower C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocytic sedimentation rate (ESR) and number of swollen joints compared to those who developed RA. Feet erosions are equally predictive compared to erosions at hands.

Conclusions

Presence of ≥2 erosive joints at baseline in UA patients gives a risk for RA development of 53% and for persistent disease of 68%, indicating that erosions in UA are not always predictive for unfavorable disease outcomes.
Transcriptome analysis of functional differentiation between haploid and diploid cells of Emiliania huxleyi, a globally significant photosynthetic calcifying cell
Authors: von Dassow Peter , Ogata Hiroyuki , Probert Ian , Wincker Patrick , Da Silva Corinne , Audic Stéphane , Claverie Jean-Michel , de Vargas Colomban
Published: October 2009

Background

Eukaryotes are classified as either haplontic, diplontic, or haplo-diplontic, depending on which ploidy levels undergo mitotic cell division in the life cycle. Emiliania huxleyi is one of the most abundant phytoplankton species in the ocean, playing an important role in global carbon fluxes, and represents haptophytes, an enigmatic group of unicellular organisms that diverged early in eukaryotic evolution. This species is haplo-diplontic. Little is known about the haploid cells, but they have been hypothesized to allow persistence of the species between the yearly blooms of diploid cells. We sequenced over 38,000 expressed sequence tags from haploid and diploid E. huxleyi normalized cDNA libraries to identify genes involved in important processes specific to each life phase (2N calcification or 1N motility), and to better understand the haploid phase of this prominent haplo-diplontic organism.

Results

The haploid and diploid transcriptomes showed a dramatic differentiation, with approximately 20% greater transcriptome richness in diploid cells than in haploid cells and only ≤ 50% of transcripts estimated to be common between the two phases. The major functional category of transcripts differentiating haploids included signal transduction and motility genes. Diploid-specific transcripts included Ca2+, H+, and HCO3- pumps. Potential factors differentiating the transcriptomes included haploid-specific Myb transcription factor homologs and an unusual diploid-specific histone H4 homolog.

Conclusions

This study permitted the identification of genes likely involved in diploid-specific biomineralization, haploid-specific motility, and transcriptional control. Greater transcriptome richness in diploid cells suggests they may be more versatile for exploiting a diversity of rich environments whereas haploid cells are intrinsically more streamlined.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Armoire: Lexical Variation in Case Furniture Terms
Authors: BURKETTE ALLISON
Published: October 2009

This article explores the vast amount of lexical variation in case furniture terms found within databases of the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States and the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States as well as more recent picture-elicited survey data from Georgia and Mississippi. The history of case furniture is explored briefly in order to highlight the origins of some of the lexical variation found within the data. Also discussed is the larger issue of the general pattern of lexical variation. The variation itself is addressed as the responses to the Linguistic Atlas bureau/dresser question and wardrobe question are examined more closely as well as the data from the Georgia and Mississippi picture surveys.
Removal of Lead(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Manganese Oxide-Coated Adsorbents: Characterization and Kinetic Study
Authors: Boujelben N. , Bouzid J. , Elouear Z.
Published: October 2009

Manganese oxide-coated sand (MOCS) and manganese oxide-coated crushed brick (MOCB) were characterized and employed for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods and BET analyses were used to study the surface properties of the adsorbents. Adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated by batch experiments. The estimated optimum pH for Pb(II) ion retention by the considered adsorbents was 5.

Both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms provided a reasonable fit to the experimental data for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions. The adsorption capacities of the coated adsorbents at a pH value of 5 and a temperature of 20 °C were 0.029 mmol/g and 0.030 mmol/g for MOCS and MOCB, respectively. The adsorption kinetics were tested using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations as well as the intraparticle diffusion model, with the rate constants from the three kinetic models being calculated. The best correlation coefficients were obtained using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Results from this study suggest that the manganese oxide-coated sorbent is potentially suitable for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions.
Adsorption and Movement of Carbofuran in Four Different Soils Varying in Physical and Chemical Properties
Authors: Singh R.P. , Srivastava Garima
Published: October 2009

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the adsorption and movement of carbofuran on four divergent textured Indian soils at a fixed volume fraction (fs = 0.1) of methanol/water mixtures using batch equilibrium and soil thin layer chromatography (soil TLC) techniques. The measured equilibrium adsorption isotherms for silt loam (FSL and ASL) and loam (KL) soils were L-shaped and for sandy loam (BSL) soil S-shaped, all being well fitted by the Freundlich isotherm. A higher adsorption of carbofuran was observed on FSL followed by ASL, KL and BSL soils as anticipated by the values obtained for the Freundlich constant, KF and partition coefficient, KD. The Frontal Retardation factor (FRf) values obtained from soil TLC studies were inversely proportional to the KF and KD values.

The affinity of carbofuran towards organic carbon, organic matter and clay content of the soils was evaluated by calculating the KOC, KOM and KC values. The negative magnitude of the Gibbs'free energy (ΔG0) indicated the spontaneity of the adsorption of carbofuran onto the soils studied. The leaching index (LI) of carbofuran calculated for the soils studied indicated its high potential to leach into shallow aquifers and ground water. Pearson's correlations calculated for KF and KD against the soil properties showed a highly significant correlation with the clay + silt content of the soils. Multiple regression of KF and KD against the soil properties indicated that the mineral content of the soils (clay and clay + silt) is the best predictor of carbofuran adsorption, followed by soil pH. Predicted log KOM values were also evaluated by using the aqueous solubility, the 1-octanol/ water partition coefficient (KOW), the adsorbability index (AI) and the first-order molecular connectivity index (1χ) of carbofuran. Use of the aqueous solubility, and the 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (KOW) to predict the extent of adsorption gave values which displayed a considerable error in comparison to those measured experimentally, whereas the use of the adsorbability index (AI) and the first-order molecular connectivity index (1χ) of carbofuran improved the predictions considerably.
Adsorption of Cationic and Anionic Dyes onto Commercial Kaolin
Authors: Ziólkowska D. , Shyichuk A. , Karwasz I. , Witkowska M.
Published: October 2009

Commercial kaolin from a Polish deposit has been examined as a low-cost adsorbent for effluent remediation using five cationic and five anionic industrial dyes. Methylene Blue dye was also used as a reference. The anionic dyes studied showed no affinity towards the kaolin surface, whereas the experimental isotherms for the adsorption of the cationic dyes could all be well described by the Langmuir equation. The values of the adsorption capacity of kaolin towards the cationic dyes ranged from 4 mg/g to 29 mg/g, being probably dependent on the geometry of the dye molecules. The resulting degrees of decolourization attained values of 85–90% for initial dye concentrations in the range 6–20 mg/dm3 and for kaolin loadings of 0.5–3 g/dm3. Adsorption of the cationic dyes onto kaolin increased at higher solution pH values.
A Time-Series Energy Input-Output Analysis for Building an Infrastructure for the Energy and Environment Policy in South Korea
Authors: Chung Whan-Sam , Tohno Susumu
Published: October 2009

From an average annual growth rate point of view, it might be concluded that the government's efforts in reducing Korea's GHG emission have been making progress; the growth rate of South Korea's GHG emission (4.8%) was less than that of its primary energy consumption (6.2%) during 1990–2000. To cope with a more strict protocol worldwide, South Korea should avoid the usual political rhetoric or declaration of principles and it should launch an effective action. Such a transition from a policy perspective would begin by the analysis of the interrelations among economic activities, energy use, and GHG emissions. The application of an input-output approach, which incorporates a material flow analysis, could be a very useful tool for such an analysis. In this study, four sequential 96 × 96 hybrid units energy IO tables from 1985 to 2000 were generated. Using these four sequential matrices, the energy intensities and the GHG emission intensities, caused by energy use, were estimated for each sector. It was revealed that even though the energy consumption and GHG emissions have increased, the intensities have gradually improved in Korea. The estimated values were compared to national statistics and the differences were found to be acceptable. It was found that the energy input-output analysis can supply useful data for energy and environment policy makers. Some recommendations were made to improve this model.