bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making a Good Impression
Authors: Levin David
Published: October 2007

While many studies have investigated what social and political movement actions are covered by the mass media from a largely event-based media routine perspective and many studies have investigated what activists want to say, few studies have looked into the signaling process by which movements let media know when the movement has information it wishes to express. In particular, there has been little quantitative methodological research on the critical link that press releases provide between movements and media. Are movement press releases more likely to be covered by the news media when the press releases are of good quality? Using Israeli newspaper coverage of two Israeli peace movements and press releases by the two groups, the author tested the relevance of knowing the attributes of a press release independent of event-based information. After controlling for time, place, and manner information that can be derived from an event-based approach, information that can be derived either solely from press releases or most accurately from press releases remained significant predictors of newspaper coverage. Peace movement press releases that (1) emphasize socially resonant themes,(2) emphasize the movement’s possession of new factual data, (3) have short and informative titles, (4) are part of a group of releases on the same issue or event, and (5) are written or presented by the movement’s regular spokesperson are more likely to be reflected in newspaper media coverage.
Polls, Polls, and More Polls
Authors: Welch Reed L.
Published: October 2007

This article examines the information the news media provide about public opinion polls. To do this, the study uses standards established by the American Association for Public Opinion Researchers and the National Council on Public Polls to evaluate how polls about the presidential election were reported in four major national newspapers and four smaller newspapers in the fall of 2000. The study found that some newspapers do better at providing information about polls than others, almost all articles do not disclose important information about polls, a newspaper does a better job at providing information about polls sponsored by the newspaper itself than it does about outside polls, and large, national newspapers do no better at reporting information about polls than smaller, more locally oriented newspapers. The article concludes that the media do not disclose the “minimal essential information” for the public to determine a poll’s reliability and validity and that it would be in the best interest of polling organizations, newspapers, and the public for more information to be provided about the polls that are made public.
Was It Russian Public Television That Won It?
Authors: White Stephen , McAllister Ian , Oates Sarah
Published: October 2007

A nationally representative survey conducted immediately after the December 1999 Russian Duma election indicates that national television was the most important source of news for voters and that there were few differences between the party supporters in their patterns of viewing. Voters for the pro-Kremlin Unity party, however, were the most likely to say they had been influenced by state television, and regression analysis indicates that state television was by far the most important of all the variables that contributed to their voting choices. The Russian Duma election accordingly provides a striking illustration of the extent to which a determined regime can resist a challenge to its authority by using its control of the media, particularly state television.
Watching the Watchers
Authors: Frantzich Stephen
Published: October 2007

Since David Broder issued a challenge to journalists after the 1988 presidential campaign to move from being “color commentators” to “referees,” political campaign ad watches have proliferated. This article uses originally coded data to empirically document the growth, increasing diversity, and content of all original print ad watches from the 1992,1996, and 2000 election cycles. Testing a series of standard political communication hypotheses, the analysis indicates that while ad watches have increased in frequency, source, and target, they have been molded more to emphasize the strategic aspect of advertising than to evaluate the veracity of content. Systematic bias emerges in the form of local sources’ being easier on local incumbents, a penchant for carrying out ad watches on negative ads, and treating Democratic ads more favorably than Republican.
Peace Journalism
Authors: Tehranian Majid
Published: October 2007

The terrorist attack on the United States on September 11,2001, demonstrated that we live in an interdependent, vulnerable, and fragile global village. This village, however, does not enjoy the intimacy of face-to-face communication among the villagers. We live in a largely mediated world ruled by government media monopolies or commercial media oligopolies that construct images of “the other.” Promotion of particular commodities and identities are the main preoccupations of the two commercial and government systems. The two systems thus tend to exacerbate international tensions by dichotomizing, dramatizing, and demonizing “them” against “us.” Is there an alternative media system to promote peace journalism for international and intercultural understanding? This article argues that ethically responsible journalism is a sine qua non of peace journalism. The locus of most media ethics has hitherto been the individual journalist. But the individual journalist operates in the context of institutional, national, and international regimes. In a globalized world, media ethics must be negotiated not only professionally but also institutionally, nationally, and internationally. Such ethics must be based on international agreements that have already established the right to communicate as a human right. However, ethics without commensurate institutional frameworks and sanctions often translate into pious wishes. To obtain a pluralism of content to reflect the diversity and complexity of the world, this article calls for a pluralism of media structures at the local, national, and global levels. The article concludes with pro posals to promote peace journalism through greater freedom, balance, and diversity in media representations.
Strict Scrutiny
Authors: Chester Jeff
Published: October 2007

The current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review of media ownership rules is likely to be influenced by FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s deregulatory, market-oriented bias. Among the rules under review are those prohibiting newspaper-broadcast and broadcast-cable cross-ownership and those placing a ceiling on the number of cable systems or broadcast outlets that any one company can own—all of which have come under attack by industry lobbyists asserting corporate “First Amendment” rights. The likely loss of these public-interest protections will have a profound effect, not only on the public’s access to a wide range of antagonistic voices in the traditional media, but also on the evolution of the Internet, which is already reflecting many of the ownership-consolidation patterns of the mass media. The FCC has thus far failed to examine the impact of its media policies on journalism in general and on civic discourse in particular, a failure that is unlikely to be covered by the mainstream press itself, beholden as that institution has become to its corporate owners. It is now time for a much-needed public inquiry, during this critical period of transition, into how the media are structured and how the public is served.
When Bad Press Is Good News
Authors: Burden Barry C.
Published: October 2007

This article identifies conditions under which bad press can help rather than hurt a congressional campaign. In elections such as congressional primaries, where information levels are extremely low and party cues do not help voters distinguish candidates, name recognition is perhaps the most important factor. In these situations, even negative coverage can benefit a campaign because it raises voter familiarity with the candidate. The author illustrates this phenomenon using two cases studies, the 1992 Republican primary in Ohio’s 15th district and the 2001 Democratic primary in Massachusetts’ 9th district. In both cases, the victor was also the candidate who received the most negative news coverage. It seems that the volume but not the tone affected voters’ assessments of the candidates. The article concludes with thoughts about how these observations speak to the larger literatures on campaigns and the media.
Antipress Violence and the Crisis of the State
Authors: Waisbord Silvio
Published: October 2007

Although it is an issue of immediate interest to reporters and press organizations, antipress violence has not elicited a great deal of scholarly attention. While in the context of developed democracies, studies have concluded that violence against the press has significantly diminished in the twentieth century, the situation is markedly different elsewhere. This gap is not surprising considering that the literature on press and democracy has been largely produced in the West and has largely reflected the absence of antipress violence in Western nations. The persistence of attacks against journalists outside the West, however, makes it necessary to put it at the center to analyze the situation of journalistic labor and the prospects for the press in historically weak democracies. This article analyzes antipress violence by focusing on the Latin American case. The argument is that in postauthoritarian situations, the breakdown of the state accounts for why the press, particularly investigative reporters and publications, is the target of violence. Antipress violence reflects the impossibility of the state’s fulfilling its mission to monopolize the legitimate use of violence and the lack of accountability of those responsible for the attacks. Because it is a central arena in the battle for public expression, the press becomes a prominent target when naked violence replaces the rule of law. The fate of the press is intrinsically linked to the fate of the democratic state. There cannot be a democratic press as long as the state does not secure minimal institutional conditions that democracy demands.
Project based approach to increasing uptake of influenza vaccine in an underachieving GP practice
Authors: Taylor E.
Published: October 2007

Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality (DH, 2006; Watson et al 2001). In the United Kingdom (UK), the policy of encouraging influenza vaccine uptake in elderly people is a central tenet of managing winter pressures in the National Health Service (NHS) and preventing ill health among older people in the community. A project based management approach was used to evaluate the organisational practice within a single-handed general practitioner (GP) practice during the 2005/06 Influenza Immunisation Programme. The project highlighted a number of problems such as a poorly structured programme, insufficient knowledge about the severity of influenza or the efficacy of the vaccine, and insufficient computer technology. A stepwise process and a number of evidence based interventions were implemented with the aim of increasing the uptake of influenza vaccine in the target population. The overall aim of the project was to show a measured practice increase in the number of older people, defined as 65 years and over, taking up influenza vaccine within one influenza campaign. An increase of 35.71% was achieved. The findings of this project have the potential to inform and enhance the design and implementation of the influenza programmes in other practices that are experiencing difficulties in achieving a good influenza immunisation uptake.
Creuzfeldt Jacob Disease
Authors: Weaving P.
Published: October 2007

Creuzfeldt Jacob disease is a fatal neurodegenerative condition that is caused by an unconventional infectious agent that can be transmitted through some healthcare interventions. This article describes the etiology and epidemiology of the disease and discusses measures to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated transmission
Evaluation of ATP bioluminescence swabbing as a monitoring and training tool for effective hospital cleaning
Authors: Willis C. , Morley R. , Westbury J. , Greenwood M. , Pallett A.
Published: October 2007

Effective cleaning in hospitals is an important aspect of infection control of pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There is a need for simple, rapid methods of assessing cleanliness in order to effectively audit cleaning programmes and to educate staff. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence swabs for assessing cleanliness in hospitals. Sites (n=108) in three hospital wards, including floors, patient equipment and clinical workstations were examined by visual assessment, microbiological swabbing and ATP bioluminescence swabbing. Overall, ATP swabbing detected a similar number of undesirably high results compared to microbiological swabbing, but visual assessment gave significantly fewer unsatisfactory results. Highest median contamination levels (both ATP and microbiological) were obtained from floor sites under patient beds, and the lowest levels from patient equipment. It was concluded that ATP bioluminescence swabbing, while not directly equivalent to microbiological swabbing, was a useful tool for monitoring cleanliness. In addition, because of its ability to produce on-the-spot results, it proved useful during education sessions with ward staff and cleaning staff, as a novel way of demonstrating the importance of cleaning.
Implementing a continuing education strategy to advance practice and practitioner development within an infection control service
Authors: Olley M.L.
Published: October 2007

This article will focus upon a change management project designed to optimise and advance service delivery within an infection prevention and control service. The development and implementation of a continuing education strategy was designed to enable healthcare professionals to develop an educational forum, in which professional development and peer support was the main aim. Working within an action-learning framework, infection control practitioners were encouraged to develop their knowledge and skills in infection control practice, whilst encouraging collaborative working to challenge organisational issues. This included the extension of the current clinical service to meet the service needs of an intermediate care facility.
Understanding Youth: Using Qualitative Methods to Verify Quantitative Community Indicators
Authors: Makhoul Jihad , Nakkash Rima
Published: October 2007

Community- and individual-level data were collected from interviews with 1,294 boys and girls, 13 to 19 years old, in three impoverished urban communities of Beirut. Univariate analyses of variables provide quantitative indicators of adolescents' lives and communities. Researchers including the authors, interested in using these indicators to plan for community interventions with youth in the Palestinian refugee camp, discuss the pertinent results with youth from the camp in six focus groups. The authors find that many indicators misrepresent the situation of youth in the camp. For example, adolescents may have underreported cigarette and argileh (water pipe) smoking (8.3% and 22.4%, respectively) because of the lack of social desirability of these behaviors; other questions may have been misunderstood, such as perceived health and health compared to others. Also, important issues for them such as drug abuse, violence, and school problems were not asked. Implications for intervention research are discussed.
Strontium can increase some osteoblasts without increasing hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Lymperi Stefania , Horwood Nicole , Marley Stephen , Gordon Myrtle Y. , Cope Andrew P. , Dazzi Francesco
Published: October 2007

Osteoblasts are a key component in the regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. Manipulating osteoblast numbers results in a parallel change in HSC numbers. We tested the activity of strontium (Sr), a bone anabolic agent that enhances osteoblast function and inhibits osteoclast activity, on hematopoiesis. In vitro treatment of primary murine osteoblasts with Sr increased their ability to form bone nodules, and in vivo it increased osteoblast number, bone volume, and trabecular thickness and decreased trabecular pattern factor. However, the administration of Sr had no influence on primitive HSCs, although the number of hematopoietic progenitors was higher than in control cells. When Sr-treated mice were used as donors for HSC transplantation, no difference in the engraftment ability was observed, whereas hematopoietic recovery was delayed when they were used as recipients. Despite the changes in osteoblast numbers, no increment in the number of N-cadherin+ osteoblasts and N-cadherin transcripts could be detected in Sr-treated mice. Therefore, increasing the overall number and function of osteoblasts without increasing N-cadherin+ cells is not sufficient to enhance HSC quantity and function. Our study further supports the notion that N-cadherin+ osteoblasts are fundamental in the hematopoietic niche.
Identification of distinct prognostic subgroups in low- and intermediate-1–risk myelodysplastic syndromes by flow cytometry
Authors: van de Loosdrecht Arjan A. , Westers Theresia M. , Westra August H. , Dräger Angelika M. , van der Velden Vincent H. J. , Ossenkoppele Gert J.
Published: October 2007

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification contributes to refined classification and prognostication of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). Flow cytometry might add significantly to diagnostic and prognostic criteria. Our analysis of bone marrow samples from 50 patients with MDS showed aberrant expression of differentiation antigens in the myelomonocytic lineage. This also accounted for refractory anemia (RA) with or without ringed sideroblasts (RS), indicating multilineage dysplasia. In 38% of patients, CD34+ myeloid blasts expressed CD5, CD7, or CD56. Flow cytometry data were translated into a numerical MDS flow-score. Flow-scores increased significantly from RA with or without RS, refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) with or without RS up to refractory anemia with excess of blasts-1 (RAEB-1) and RAEB-2. No significant differences were observed between WHO cytogenetic subgroups. Flow-scores were highly heterogeneous within International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) subgroups. Patients in progression to advanced MDS or acute myeloid leukemia had a significantly higher flow-score compared with non–transfusion-dependent patients. In 60% of patients with transfusion dependency or progressive disease, myeloid blasts expressed CD7 or CD56, in contrast to only 9% of non–transfusion-dependent patients. Moreover, all patients with pure RA with or without RS with aberrant myeloid blasts showed an adverse clinical course. In conclusion, flow cytometry in MDS identified aberrancies in the myelomonocytic lineage not otherwise determined by cytomorphology. In addition, flow cytometry identified patients at risk for transfusion dependency and/or progressive disease independent of known risk groups, which might have impact on treatment decisions and the prognostic scoring system in the near future.
Interferon regulatory factors 4 and 8 induce the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos to down-regulate pre–B-cell receptor and promote cell-cycle withdrawal in pre–B-cell development
Authors: Ma Shibin , Pathak Simanta , Trinh Long , Lu Runqing
Published: October 2007

Pre-B lymphocytes consist of 2 distinct cell populations: large pre-B and small pre-B. The large pre-B cells are newly generated pre-B cells that express pre–B-cell receptor (pre-BCR) on the surface and are highly proliferative; small pre-B cells are derived from large pre-B cells that have down-regulated pre-BCR and withdrawn from cell cycle. The molecular events that mediate the transition from cycling pre-B to small, resting pre-B have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that interferon regulatory factors 4 and 8 (IRF4,8) suppress surrogate light chain expression and down-regulate pre-BCR in pre-B cells. Our studies further reveal that IRF4,8 induce the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos in pre-B cells, and reconstitution of expression of either one is sufficient to suppress surrogate light chain expression and down-regulate pre-BCR in pre-B cells lacking IRF4,8. Interestingly, our results also indicate that pre-B cells undergo growth inhibition and cell-cycle arrest in the presence of IRF4,8. Moreover, we provide evidence that Ikaros and Aiolos are indispensable for the down-regulation of pre-BCR and the cell-cycle withdrawal mediated by IRF4,8. Thus, IRF4,8 orchestrate the transition from large pre-B to small pre-B cells by inducing the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos.
Aminopeptidase B, a glucagon-processing enzyme: site directed mutagenesis of the Zn2+-binding motif and molecular modelling
Authors: Pham Viet-Laï , Cadel Marie-Sandrine , Gouzy-Darmon Cécile , Hanquez Chantal , Beinfeld Margery C , Nicolas Pierre , Etchebest Catherine , Foulon Thierry
Published: October 2007

Background

Aminopeptidase B (Ap-B; EC 3.4.11.6) catalyzes the cleavage of basic residues at the N-terminus of peptides and processes glucagon into miniglucagon. The enzyme exhibits, in vitro, a residual ability to hydrolyze leukotriene A4 into the pro-inflammatory lipid mediator leukotriene B4. The potential bi-functional nature of Ap-B is supported by close structural relationships with LTA4 hydrolase (LTA4H ; EC 3.3.2.6). A structure-function analysis is necessary for the detailed understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms of Ap-B and to design inhibitors, which could be used to determine the complete in vivo functions of the enzyme.

Results

The rat Ap-B cDNA was expressed in E. coli and the purified recombinant enzyme was characterized. 18 mutants of the H

325

E XXH X18
E
348 Zn2+-binding motif were constructed and expressed. All mutations were found to abolish the aminopeptidase activity. A multiple alignment of 500 sequences of the M1 family of aminopeptidases was performed to identify 3 sub-families of exopeptidases and to build a structural model of Ap-B using the x-ray structure of LTA4H as a template. Although the 3D structures of the two enzymes resemble each other, they differ in certain details. The role that a loop, delimiting the active center of Ap-B, plays in discriminating basic substrates, as well as the function of consensus motifs, such as RNP1 and Armadillo domain are discussed. Examination of electrostatic potentials and hydrophobic patches revealed important differences between Ap-B and LTA4H and suggests that Ap-B is involved in protein-protein interactions.

Conclusion

Alignment of the primary structures of the M1 family members clearly demonstrates the existence of different sub-families and highlights crucial residues in the enzymatic activity of the whole family. E. coli recombinant enzyme and Ap-B structural model constitute powerful tools for investigating the importance and possible roles of these conserved residues in Ap-B, LTA4H and M1 aminopeptidase catalytic sites and to gain new insight into their physiological functions. Analysis of Ap-B structural model indicates that several interactions between Ap-B and proteins can occur and suggests that endopeptidases might form a complex with Ap-B during hormone processing.
SABERTOOTH: protein structural alignment based on a vectorial structure representation
Authors: Teichert Florian , Bastolla Ugo , Porto Markus
Published: October 2007

Background

The task of computing highly accurate structural alignments of proteins in very short computation time is still challenging. This is partly due to the complexity of protein structures. Therefore, instead of manipulating coordinates directly, matrices of inter-atomic distances, sets of vectors between protein backbone atoms, and other reduced representations are used. These decrease the effort of comparing large sets of coordinates, but protein structural alignment still remains computationally expensive.

Results

We represent the topology of a protein structure through a structural profile that expresses the global effective connectivity of each residue. We have shown recently that this representation allows explicitly expressing the relationship between protein structure and protein sequence. Based on this very condensed vectorial representation, we develop a structural alignment framework that recognizes structural similarities with accuracy comparable to established alignment tools. Furthermore, our algorithm has favourable scaling of computation time with chain length. Since the algorithm is independent of the details of the structural representation, our framework can be applied to sequence-to-sequence and sequence-to-structure comparison within the same setup, and it is therefore more general than other existing tools.

Conclusion

We show that protein comparison based on a vectorial representation of protein structure performs comparably to established algorithms based on coordinates. The conceptually new approach presented in this publication might assist to unify the view on protein comparison by unifying structure and sequence descriptions in this context. The framework discussed here is implemented in the 'SABERTOOTH' alignment server, freely accessible at http://www.fkp.tu-darmstadt.de/sabertooth/.
CYR61/CCN1 and WISP3/CCN6 are chemoattractive ligands for human multipotent mesenchymal stroma cells
Authors: Schütze Norbert , Schenk Rita , Fiedler Jörg , Mattes Thomas , Jakob Franz , Brenner Rolf E
Published: October 2007

Background:

CCN-proteins are known to be involved in development, homeostasis and repair of mesenchymal tissues. Since these processes implicate recruitment of cells with the potential to be committed to various phenotypes, we studied the effect of CYR61/CCN1 and WISP3/CCN6 on migration of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) in comparison to in vitro osteogenic differentiated MSCs using a modified Boyden chamber assay.

Results:

CYR61 and WISP3 were purified as fusion proteins with a C-terminal Fc-tag from baculovirus infected SF21 cells using protein G sepharose columns. CYR61 and WISP3 stimulated cell migration of undifferentiated MSCs in a dose-dependent manner. CYR61 and WISP3 had similar effects on committed osteogenic precursor cells. Checkerboard analysis revealed that CYR61 and WISP3 stimulated true directed cell migration (chemotaxis) of MSCs and committed osteogenic precursors. In MSCs the chemotactic activity of WISP3 but not CYR61 was mediated through integrin ανß 5.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that CYR61 and WISP3 can function as soluble ligands transmitting chemotactic signals to human MSCs but differ in the involvement of integrin ανß 5. This may be relevant for their possible role in connective tissue repair.
Innate gene repression associated with Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle: toward a gene signature of disease
Authors: Meade Kieran G , Gormley Eamonn , Doyle Mairéad B , Fitzsimons Tara , O'Farrelly Cliona , Costello Eamon , Keane Joseph , Zhao Yingdong , MacHugh David E
Published: October 2007

Background

Bovine tuberculosis is an enduring disease of cattle that has significant repercussions for human health. The advent of high-throughput functional genomics technologies has facilitated large-scale analyses of the immune response to this disease that may ultimately lead to novel diagnostics and therapeutic targets. Analysis of mRNA abundance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from sixMycobacterium bovisinfected cattle and six non-infected controls was performed. A targeted immunospecific bovine cDNA microarray with duplicated spot features representing 1,391 genes was used to test the hypothesis that a distinct gene expression profile may exist inM. bovisinfected animalsin vivo.

Results

In total, 378 gene features were differentially expressed at theP≤ 0.05 level in bovine tuberculosis (BTB)-infected and control animals, of which 244 were expressed at lower levels (65%) in the infected group. Lower relative expression of key innate immune genes, including the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) andTLR4genes, lack of differential expression of indicator adaptive immune gene transcripts (IFNG, IL2, IL4), and lowerBOLAmajor histocompatibility complex – class I (BOLA) and class II (BOLA-DRA) gene expression was consistent with innate immune gene repression in the BTB-infected animals. Supervised hierarchical cluster analysis and class prediction validation identified a panel of 15 genes predictive of disease status and selected gene transcripts were validated (n= 8 per group) by real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Conclusion

These results suggest that large-scale expression profiling can identify gene signatures of disease in peripheral blood that can be used to classify animals on the basis ofin vivoinfection, in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation.
The impact of severity of hypertension on association of PGC-1αGene with blood pressure and risk of hypertension
Authors: Xie Gaoqiang , Guo Dongshuang , Li Ying , Liang Shengying , Wu Yangfeng
Published: October 2007

Background

Little is known about the impact of severity of hypertension on the association of genes with high blood pressure, which may cause the inconsistently reported associations of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) gene with blood pressure.

Methods

A cardiovascular epidemiology survey and genotyping were performed in a population-based sample of 1642 apparently healthy residents (648 men and 994 women aged 35–91 years).

Results

After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and antihypertensive medication, G482S and +2962A/G polymorphisms were significantly associated with systolic blood pressures in hypertension patients with medication use (p = 0.023 and 0.022 for G482S and +2962A/G respectively) but not in all participants, normotensives, and patients with no medication use. Multivariable logistic models showed that the two polymorphisms were significantly associated with severe hypertension (SBP ≥ 160 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 100 mm Hg regardless of medication use), with an OR of 0.6(95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4–0.98) for S482S vs. G482G and an OR of 1.9(95% CI: 1.2–3.0) for +2962G/G vs. +2962A/A, but not with regular hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medications), with an OR of 0.9(95% CI: 0.7–1.2) for S482S vs. G482G and an OR of 0.9(95% CI: 0.7–1.4) for +2962G/G vs. +2962A/A. Haplotype combination analyses showed a significant synthetic effect (OR of severe hypertension for persons with G482X and +2962G/G = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.5–4.4, with reference to persons with S482S and +2962A/X).

Conclusion

In this study, we found that G482S and +2962A/G polymorphisms of PGC-1α gene were only significantly associated with severe hypertension defined by occasional clinic blood pressure measurements. This finding suggested severe hypertension rather than regular hypertension should be used as the outcome in studies on association of genes with blood pressure or hypertension, in order to have a better power.
Monitoring the operational impact of insecticide usage for malaria control on Anopheles funestus from Mozambique
Authors: Casimiro Sonia LR , Hemingway Janet , Sharp Brian L , Coleman Michael
Published: October 2007

Background

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) has again become popular for malaria control in Africa. This combined with the affirmation by WHO that DDT is appropriate for use in the absence of longer lasting insecticide formulations in some malaria endemic settings, has resulted in an increase in IRS with DDT as a major malaria vector control intervention in Africa. DDT was re-introduced into Mozambique's IRS programme in 2005 and is increasingly becoming the main insecticide used for malaria vector control in Mozambique. The selection of DDT as the insecticide of choice in Mozambique is evidence-based, taking account of the susceptibility of Anopheles funestus to all available insecticide choices, as well as operational costs of spraying.

Previously lambda cyhalothrin had replaced DDT in Mozambique in 1993. However, resistance appeared quickly to this insecticide and, in 2000, the pyrethroid was phased out and the carbamate bendiocarb introduced. Low level resistance was detected by biochemical assay to bendiocarb in 1999 in both An. funestus and Anopheles arabiensis, although this was not evident in WHO bioassays of the same population.

Methods

Sentinel sites were established and monitored for insecticide resistance using WHO bioassays. These assays were conducted on 1–3 day old F1 offspring of field collected adult caught An. funestus females to determine levels of insecticide resistance in the malaria vector population. WHO biochemical assays were carried out to determine the frequency of insecticide resistance genes within the same population.

Results

In surveys conducted between 2002 and 2006, low levels of bendiocarb resistance were detected in An. funestus, populations using WHO bioassays. This is probably due to significantly elevated levels of Acetylcholinesterase levels found in the same populations. Pyrethroid resistance was also detected in populations and linked to elevated levels of p450 monooxygenase activity. One site had shown reduction in pyrethroid resistance since the base line in 1999.
Continuous negative extrathoracic pressure combined with high-frequency oscillation improves oxygenation with less impact on blood pressure than high-frequency oscillation alone in a rabbit model of surfactant depletion
Authors: Naito Sachie , Hiroma Takehiko , Nakamura Tomohiko
Published: October 2007

Background

Negative air pressure ventilation has been used to maintain adequate functional residual capacity in patients with chronic muscular disease and to decrease transpulmonary pressure and improve cardiac output during right heart surgery. High-frequency oscillation (HFO) exerts beneficial effects on gas exchange in neonates with acute respiratory failure. We examined whether continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (CNEP) combined with HFO would be effective for treating acute respiratory failure in an animal model.

Methods

The effects of CNEP combined with HFO on pulmonary gas exchange and circulation were examined in a surfactant-depleted rabbit model. After induction of severe lung injury by repeated saline lung lavage, 18 adult white Japanese rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Group 1, CNEP (extra thoracic negative pressure, -10 cmH2O) with HFO (mean airway pressure (MAP), 10 cmH2O); Group 2, HFO (MAP, 10 cmH2O); and Group 3, HFO (MAP, 15 cmH2O). Physiological and blood gas data were compared among groups using analysis of variance.

Results

Group 1 showed significantly higher oxygenation than Group 2, and the same oxygenation with significantly higher mean blood pressure compared to Group 3.

Conclusion

Adequate CNEP combined with HFO improves oxygenation with less impact on blood pressure than high-frequency oscillation alone in an animal model of respiratory failure.
Exercise and postprandial lipaemia: effects on peripheral vascular function, oxidative stress and gastrointestinal transit
Authors: Clegg Miriam , McClean Conor , Davison W. Gareth , Murphy H. Marie , Trinick Tom , Duly Ellie , McLaughlin Jim , Fogarty Mark , Shafat Amir
Published: October 2007

Postprandial lipaemia may lead to an increase in oxidative stress, inducing endothelial dysfunction. Exercise can slow gastric emptying rates, moderating postprandial lipaemia. The purpose of this study was to determine if moderate exercise, prior to fat ingestion, influences gastrointestinal transit, lipaemia, oxidative stress and arterial wall function. Eight apparently healthy males (age 23.6 ± 2.8 yrs; height 181.4 ± 8.1 cm; weight 83.4 ± 16.2 kg; all data mean ± SD) participated in the randomised, crossover design, where (i) subjects ingested a high-fat meal alone (control), and (ii) ingested a high-fat meal, preceded by 1 h of moderate exercise. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) was examined at baseline, post-exercise, and in the postprandial period. Gastric emptying was measured using the 13C-octanoic acid breath test. Measures of venous blood were obtained prior to and following exercise and at 2, 4 and 6 hours post-ingestion. PWV increased (6.5 ± 1.9 m/sec) at 2 (8.9 ± 1.7 m/sec) and 4 hrs (9.0 ± 1.6 m/sec) post-ingestion in the control group (time × group interaction, P < 0.05). PWV was increased at 2 hrs post-ingestion in the control compared to the exercise trial; 8.9 ± 1.7 vs. 6.2 ± 1.5 m/sec (time × group interaction, P < 0.05). Lipid hydroperoxides increased over time (pooled exercise and control data, P < 0.05). Serum triacylglycerols were elevated postprandially (pooled exercise and control data, P < 0.05). There were no changes in gastric emptying, cholesterol, or C-reactive protein levels. These data suggest that acute exercise prior to the consumption of a high-fat meal has the potential to reduce vascular impairments.
Coordination of the dynamics of yeast sphingolipid metabolism during the diauxic shift
Authors: Alvarez-Vasquez Fernando , Sims Kellie J , Voit Eberhard O , Hannun Yusuf A
Published: October 2007

Background

The diauxic shift in yeast requires cells to coordinate a complicated response that involves numerous genes and metabolic processes. It is unknown whether responses of this type are mediated in vivo through changes in a few "key" genes and enzymes, which are mathematically characterized by high sensitivities, or whether they are based on many small changes in genes and enzymes that are not particularly sensitive. In contrast to global assessments of changes in gene or protein interaction networks, we study here control aspects of the diauxic shift by performing a detailed analysis of one specific pathway–sphingolipid metabolism–which is known to have signaling functions and is associated with a wide variety of stress responses.

Results

The approach uses two components: publicly available sets of expression data of sphingolipid genes and a recently developed Generalized Mass Action (GMA) mathematical model of the sphingolipid pathway. In one line of exploration, we analyze the sensitivity of the model with respect to enzyme activities, and thus gene expression. Complementary to this approach, we convert the gene expression data into changes in enzyme activities and then predict metabolic consequences by means of the mathematical model. It was found that most of the sensitivities in the model are low in magnitude, but that some stand out as relatively high. This information was then deployed to test whether the cell uses a few of the very sensitive pathway steps to mount a response or whether the control is distributed throughout the pathway. Pilot experiments confirm qualitatively and in part quantitatively the predictions of a group of metabolite simulations.

Conclusion

The results indicate that yeast coordinates sphingolipid mediated changes during the diauxic shift through an array of small changes in many genes and enzymes, rather than relying on a strategy involving a few select genes with high sensitivity. This study also highlights a novel approach in coupling data mining with mathematical modeling in order to evaluate specific metabolic pathways.
Cellular apoptosis induced by replication of hepatitis B virus: possible link between viral genotype and clinical outcome
Authors: Lu Yi Wei , Tan Tuan Lin , Zhang Jianhua , Chen Wei Ning
Published: October 2007

HBV remains one of the major pathogens of liver diseases but the outcomes as inflammation, cirrhosis and cancer of the liver are greatly related to different viral genotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the pro-apoptotic effect of HBSP from three HBV genotypes on liver derived cells. HepG2 cells were applied in our system and transfected by HBV genotype A, B, and C. Cells were observed under phase contrast microscope, stained by apoptosis marker and analyzed by flow cytometre. HBSP expression was detected by western blot assay. BH3 sequences were aligned and analyzed by Vector NTI. HBV genotypes A, B, and C transfected cells displayed evidence of cell death which was further proved as apoptosis. Natural expression of a pro-apoptotic protein HBSP was detected during genomes transfection. The different apoptotic effects were correlated to the HBSP expression from each genome. Alignment and analysis of the BH3 domains from the three genomes revealed slight variance which might also contribute to the result. Our results suggested that variant HBSP expression and BH3 sequence of HBV genotypes may be involved in differential apoptotic effect in transfected cells. Detailed analysis of the role of HBV genotypes in cellular apoptotic process should provide molecular information on the reported clinical outcome of infection by different HBV genotypes.
Retraction Note to: Universal primers for HBV genome DNA amplification across subtypes: a case study for designing more effective viral primers
Authors: Zhang Qingrun , Wu Guanghua , Richards Elliott , Jia Shan'gang , Zeng Changqing
Published: October 2007

This is a retraction of the article submitted by Zhang et al. Virology J 2007, 4:92
Effects of low carbohydrate diets high in red meats or poultry, fish and shellfish on plasma lipids and weight loss
Authors: Cassady Bridget A , Charboneau Nicole L , Brys Emily E , Crouse Kristin A , Beitz Donald C , Wilson Ted
Published: October 2007

Background

Low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) have been demonstrated to be effective tools for promoting weight loss and an improved plasma lipid profile. Such diets are often associated with increased meat consumption, either poultry, fish, and shellfish (PFS), which are generally high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) or red meats (RM), generally high in saturated fat (SFA). The fatty acid profile and content of a diet may influence the plasma lipid profile of humans. This study examined whether the type of meat consumed could influence the outcome of an LCD.

Methods

Moderately obese subjects consumed two different LCDs as part of a weight loss regimen: 1) a diet high in foods of mammalian origin (RM) intended to contain more SFA, or 2) a diet high in PFS intended to contain more PUFA. Diet dependent changes in body weight, nutritional intake, and plasma lipids were evaluated during a 28 day study period.

Results

Both diets were associated with significant weight loss after 28 days, -5.26 ± 0.84 kg and -5.74 ± 0.63 kg for RM and PFS groups, respectively. The PFS diet was associated with a significantly higher intake of PUFA and cholesterol. Despite high cholesterol and fat intakes, neither diet was associated with significant changes in plasma cholesterol or the plasma lipoprotein cholesterol profile. While plasma triglycerides were reduced in both groups, the effect was only statistically significant for the PFS diet.
Cough reflex and oral chemesthesis induced by capsaicin and capsiate in healthy never-smokers
Authors: Yamasaki Miyako , Ebihara Satoru , Ebihara Takae , Freeman Shannon , Yamanda Shinsuke , Asada Masanori , Yoshida Motoki , Arai Hiroyuki
Published: October 2007

Background

Many tussive agents are components of foods, but little is known about the relationship between cough reflex and oral chemesthesis sensitivities. We investigated the relationships between cough reflex and oral chemesthesis in individuals using two transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonists with different potencies: capsaicin and capsiate.

Methods

Twenty-eight healthy never-smokers were allocated to evaluate cough and oral chemesthesis of capsinoids. Cough reflex sensitivities are estimated by the lowest concentrations generating five coughs by each TRPV1 agonist inhalation. Oral chemesthesis sensitivities are estimated by the lowest concentrations which generate a hot sensation when filter paper loaded with each TRPV1 agonist is placed on the tongue.

Results

There were strong correlations between capsaicin- and capsiate-induced cough reflex sensitivities, and between capsaicin- and capsiate-induced oral chemesthesis sensitivities. However, there were no significant correlations between cough reflex and oral chemesthesis sensitivities induced by both capsaicin and capsiate. The cough reflex sensitivities are significantly greater in females than in males whereas there were no gender differences in oral chemesthesis.

Conclusion

The results showed that the sensitivities of sensory afferents were different between cough reflex and oral chemesthesis, suggesting that TRPV1 sensitivities differ between organs within healthy individuals. Capsiate could be a tussigen for the cough challenge test.
Analysis of Lrrn1 expression and its relationship to neuromeric boundaries during chick neural development
Authors: Andreae Laura C , Peukert Daniela , Lumsden Andrew , Gilthorpe Jonathan D
Published: October 2007

Background

The Drosophila leucine-rich repeat proteins Tartan (TRN) and Capricious (CAPS) mediate cell affinity differences during compartition of the wing imaginal disc. This study aims to identify and characterize the expression of a chick orthologue of TRN/CAPS and examine its potential function in relation to compartment boundaries in the vertebrate central nervous system.

Results

We identified a complementary DNA clone encoding Leucine-rich repeat neuronal 1 (Lrrn1), a single-pass transmembrane protein with 12 extracellular leucine-rich repeats most closely related to TRN/CAPS. Lrrn1 is dynamically expressed during chick development, being initially localized to the neural plate and tube, where it is restricted to the ventricular layer. It becomes downregulated in boundaries following their formation. In the mid-diencephalon, Lrrn1 expression prefigures the position of the anterior boundary of the zona limitans intrathalamica (ZLI). It becomes progressively downregulated from the presumptive ZLI just before the onset of expression of the signalling molecule Sonic hedgehog (Shh) within the ZLI. In the hindbrain, downregulation at rhombomere boundaries correlates with the emergence of specialized boundary cell populations, in which it is subsequently reactivated. Immunocolocalization studies confirm that Lrrn1 protein is endocytosed from the plasma membrane and is a component of the endosomal system, being concentrated within the early endosomal compartment.

Conclusion

Chick Lrrn1 is expressed in ventricular layer neuroepithelial cells and is downregulated at boundary regions, where neurogenesis is known to be delayed, or inhibited. The timing of Lrrn1 downregulation correlates closely with the activation of signaling molecule expression at these boundaries. This expression is consistent with the emergence of secondary organizer properties at boundaries and its endosomal localisation suggests that Lrrn1 may regulate the subcellular localisation of specific components of signalling or cell-cell recognition pathways in neuroepithelial cells.
The use of nerve growth factor in herpetic keratitis: a case report
Authors: Cellini Mauro , Leonetti Pietro , Campos Emilio C
Published: October 2007

Background

We evaluate the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) eye drops to treat a herpetic corneal ulcer resistant to systemic and local acyclovir treatment in an HIV-positive patient.

Case Presentation

A 68 year old HIV-positive male presented with a herpetic corneal ulcer which was treated unsuccessfully with acyclovir. Acyclovir sensitivity of herpes simplex virus was tested with a dye uptake assay and we found that the herpes simplex virus isolated was resistant to acyclovir. We started eye drop therapy with NGF and the corneal herpetic ulcer healed in 23 treatment days.

Conclusion

The case presented here is the first described in the literature in which a herpetic corneal ulcer was successfully treated with NGF. We recommend that trials of NGF therapy in herpetic keratitis should be carried out on a larger number of acyclovir resistant cases.