bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellular response to tissue hypoxia and its involvement in disease progression
Authors: Ikeda Eiji
Published: September 2005

Multicellular organisms show adaptive reactions for their survival when they are exposed to an atmosphere with reduced oxygen concentration. These reactions include increase in respiratory volume, switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, erythropoiesis and angiogenesis. For these reactions, cells must change the expression of several hypoxia‐responsive molecules such as erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor. Hypoxia‐responsible element (HRE) was delineated in the genes of hypoxia‐responsive molecules as the sequence indispensable for their hypoxia‐induced transcriptional activation, and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) was identified as a transcriptional factor that binds to HRE and regulates the expression of various hypoxia‐responsive molecules. Increasing evidence has revealed that HIF‐1 is a key molecule regulating the cellular response to tissue hypoxia. HIF‐1 is composed of two subunits, HIF‐1α and HIF‐1β, and HIF‐1 activity depends mainly on the intracellular level of HIF‐1α protein, which is regulated to be in inverse relation to the oxygen concentration by an oxygen‐dependent enzyme, prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2). Thus, cells respond to tissue hypoxia by sensing the oxygen concentration as the enzyme activity of PHD2, regulating the HIF‐1 activity and consequently changing the expression of various hypoxia‐responsive molecules. Cellular response controlled by hypoxia‐HIF‐1 cascade is also involved in pathological situations such as solid tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis. Under these pathological situations, the activation of hypoxia‐HIF‐1 cascade often leads to the acceleration of disease progression. Understanding an aspect of disease progression triggered by tissue hypoxia might provide a clue to new therapeutic strategies for intractable diseases.
Colonic and small‐intestinal phenotypes in gastric cancers: Relationships with clinicopathological findings
Authors: Mizoshita Tsutomu , Tsukamoto Tetsuya , Tanaka Harunari , Takenaka Yoshiharu , Kato Sosuke , Cao Xueyuan , Joh Takashi , Tatematsu Masae
Published: September 2005

The clinicopathological significance of colonic and small‐intestinal phenotypes has hitherto remained unclear in gastric cancers. The purpose of the present study was therefore to examine 86 gastric carcinomas histologically and phenotypically using several phenotypic markers, including colon‐specific carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) and sucrase as small‐intestine specific marker. Of 86 gastric cancers, sucrase and CA1 expression was observed in 12 (14.0%) and only in two cases (2.3%), respectively, associated with other intestinal markers such as villin and mucin core protein (MUC)2. In the sucrase cases, expression appeared independent of the stage. However, CA1 expression was observed only in two advanced cases. No association was observed between colonic and small‐intestinal phenotypes, and lymph node metastasis and postoperative survival in the advanced gastric cancer cases with intestinal phenotypic expression. Cdx2 appeared to be linked to upregulation of both CA1 and sucrase. In conclusion, the data suggest that colonic phenotype occurs rarely in gastric carcinogenesis. Colonic and small‐intestinal phenotypes appear with expression of several intestinal phenotypic markers under the control of Cdx2 and presumably other related transcription factors.
Papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung is a more advanced adenocarcinoma than bronchioloalveolar carcinoma that is composed of two distinct histological subtypes
Authors: Jian Zhang , Tomizawa Yoshio , Yanagitani Noriko , Iijima Hironobu , Sano Takaaki , Nakajima Takashi
Published: September 2005

To clarify the clinicopathological nature of papillary adenocarcinoma (PA) of the lung, 20 cases of PA were collected consecutively from resected adenocarcinoma of the lung, studied immunohistochemically and, using molecular techniques, compared with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC). Clinicopathologically, PA occurred in 7.4% and dominantly in female patients. Morphologically, PA was divided into two subtypes according to the presence of residual alveolar structures, detected by elastica van Gieson stain. One of these subtypes was closely related to the morphology of BAC and might be diagnosed as adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes. The other PA subtype was composed of tall columnar cells and grew compressively, which was similar to type F adenocarcinoma previously reported by Noguchi et al. Immunohistochemical studies using lung tissue‐specific antigens, progression markers and tumor suppressor products found that PA seemed a more advanced adenocarcinoma than BAC, but no differences were observed among PA subtypes. Molecular biological analysis using three microsatellite markers at chromosome 3p revealed more frequent loss of heterozygosity in PA than BAC, with no differences among PA subtypes. These findings suggest that PA is a more advanced adenocarcinoma subtype than BAC. Further investigations are needed to clarify true PA as clinicopathologically and biologically independent from other histological subtypes of adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Bilateral extensive cerebral infarction and mesenteric ischemia associated with segmental arterial mediolysis in two young women
Authors: Basso Monique Camila , Flores Patrícia Carrasco , De Azevedo Marques Ary , De Souza Guilherme Leme , D’Elboux Guimarães Brescia Marília , Campos Cynthia Resende , De Cleva Roberto , Saldiva Paulo Hilario Nascimento , Mauad Thais
Published: September 2005

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non‐atherosclerotic non‐inflammatory vascular disease that affects mainly muscular arteries of the splanchnic and cerebral territories. Reported herein are two cases of SAM in young women with fatal outcome. One of the patients had an atypical form of the disease, which primarily affected small intestinal submucosal and subserosal arteries, and resulted in acute mesenteric ischemia. The other had bilateral brain infarction with SAM of internal carotid arteries (ICA). Pathological examination of both cases did not reveal the cause of blood flow disturbance: large mesenteric branches of the former and ICA of the latter were free of either dissection or thrombosis; in addition, small intestinal arteries of the first patient did not show signs of vasculitis. These findings suggest that unusual pathways of arterial occlusion and dissection may occur in the context of SAM.
Detection of ABCA7‐positive cells in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Toda Yoshinobu , Aoki Ryo , Ikeda Yuika , Azuma Yuya , Kioka Noriyuki , Matsuo Michinori , Sakamoto Maya , Mori Shiro , Fukumoto Manabu , Ueda Kazumitsu
Published: September 2005

ABCA7 is a member of the subfamily A of adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette (ABC) proteins, and highly homologous to ABCA1, which mediates the release of cellular cholesterol and phospholipid to form high‐density lipoprotein. ABCA1 and ABCA7 contain two large extracellular domains, ECD1 and 2, which are thought to be important for their functions. Interestingly, part of ECD1 of ABCA7 is deposited as an autoantigen of Sjögren's syndrome. To determine the relationship between ABCA7 and Sjögren's syndrome, an immunohistochemical study was conducted with salivary gland biopsy samples from patients with Sjögren's syndrome. ECD1 of human ABCA7 (amino acids 45–549) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a protein fused with glutathione‐S‐transferase and a monoclonal antibody, KM3095, was generated. KM3095‐immunoreactive cells were observed in salivary glands from 10 of 18 patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Immunostaining of serial sections with the plasma cell marker NCL‐PC indicated that most of the plasma cells infiltrating salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome were KM3095‐immunoreactive. Although the pathological or biological significance is not clear, it will be intriguing to further examine the relationship between ABCA7 and Sjögren's syndrome.
Metastatic germ cell tumor of the lung masquerading as primary rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Amin Randa Mahmoud Sobhy , Kokubo Takeshi , Hiroshima Kenzo , Narita Makoto , Itou Kensuke , Kuroki Motoo , Tanizawa Tohru , Nakatani Yukio
Published: September 2005

Two years after testicular resection was carried out in a 40‐year‐old man that revealed mixed germ cell tumor of more than one histological type (seminoma, embryonal cell carcinoma, and yolk sac tumor), he presented with an asymptomatic pulmonary nodule in his left lower lobe. Video‐assisted thoracoscopic partial resection of the tumor revealed a 24 × 20 mm teratoma with somatic‐type malignancy in which pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma was a major element. One year later, asymptomatic tumor recurrence occurred at both edges of the stapler line as 22 × 20 mm and 10 × 5 mm nodules composed only of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. Throughout the course there was no abdominal lymph node swelling detected by computed tomography (CT) and tumor markers were normal. Adjuvant chemotherapy was started after the tumor recurrence. Currently, the patient is still undergoing chemotherapy 5 months after the tumor recurrence. In conclusion, despite the fact that primary pulmonary rhabdromyosarcoma is a rare neoplasm, metastatic pulmonary germ cell tumor with somatic‐type malignancy showing predominantly rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions of the lung.
Adenomatoid tumor of the adrenal gland: Case report with immunohistochemical study
Authors: Hamamatsu Akihiko , Arai Tomio , Iwamoto Masao , Kato Tomoyuki , Sawabe Motoji
Published: September 2005

Adrenal adenomatoid tumor (AT) is a recently recognized disease with marked male predominance. Herein is presented a case of adrenal AT incidentally found in a 30‐year‐old man and results of immunohistochemical examination of the tumor. The left adrenal gland, weighing 17 g, contained a mass measuring 3 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm in the cortical tissue. Cut surface showed a relatively well‐circumscribed firm tumor with a white solid appearance. Histologically, the tumor had the typical appearance of AT described in the genital tract. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for calretinin, D2‐40, WT1, mesothelial cell antigen, CA125, thrombomodulin, vimentin and cytokeratins (stained by AE1 + AE3, OV‐TL 12/30, CAM5.2 and MNF116), and negative for endothelial markers (CD31, CD34 and factor VIII‐related antigen) and CD56. CD56‐positive adrenocortical cells were diffusely scattered in the tumor, especially in its periphery. Immunohistochemistry of estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors was negative. These findings confirm mesothelial origin of the tumor and suggest that this tumor has little relation to sex hormone despite male predominance.
Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney in a 12‐year‐old girl
Authors: Hara Noboru , Kawaguchi Makoto , Murayama Shinichirou , Maruyama Ryo , Tanikawa Toshiki , Takahashi Kota
Published: September 2005

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney (MESTK) is a rare kidney neoplasm that almost exclusively occurs in perimenopausal women, and long‐term estrogen replacement is relevant to its pathogenesis. Herein is described an atypical case of MESTK uncovered in a 12‐year‐old premenarcheal girl without a history of prior estrogen use. On surgical specimen it was found that the well‐circumscribed tumor measuring 14 cm arose from the lower pole of the right kidney, showing solid and fibrous‐cystic areas. Microscopically, it was composed both of epithelial structures similar to renal tubules and stroma comprising non‐specific spindle cells. Some intratumoral tubules showed affinities to distal‐nephron‐specific lectins, and those immunoreactive for proximal‐tubule‐specific CD15 were also present. In addition, primitive ductal structures were reactive both for CD15 and lectins, but immature epithelial elements typical of nephroblastoma were absent. Spindle cells were positive for actin, desmin and vimentin, and expressed progesterone and estrogen receptors. The tumor was comparable with MESTK, although some epithelia were associated with the immunophenotype of proximal tubules. The patient was free of disease postoperatively for 40 months. In the present case, remnants of the primitive periductal mesenchyme might be promoted to neoplastic cells by a sex‐steroid surge during puberty.
Maladaptive Appraisals as a Risk Factor for Posttraumatic Stress
Authors: Bryant Richard A. , Guthrie Rachel M.
Published: September 2005

This study tested the proposal that catastrophic appraisals are a risk factor for developing stress reactions after trauma. Trainee firefighters (N = 82) were assessed during training (and before trauma exposure), and 68 firefighters were subsequently reassessed 6 months after commencing firefighter duty (after trauma exposure). Initial assessment included the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, the Traumatic Events Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale was again administered approximately 20 months after initial assessment and after trauma exposure. Posttraumatic stress at follow-up was predicted by pretrauma catastrophic thinking (24% of variance). These findings accord with cognitive models predicting that a tendency to catastrophize about negative events is a risk factor for developing posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Attentional Inhibition Has Social-Emotional Consequences for Unfamiliar Faces
Authors: Fenske Mark J. , Raymond Jane E. , Kessler Klaus , Westoby Nikki , Tipper Steven P.
Published: September 2005

Visual attention studies often rely on response time measures to show the impact of attentional facilitation and inhibition. Here we extend the investigation of the effects of attention on behavior and show that prior attentional states associated with unfamiliar faces can influence subsequent social-emotional judgments about those faces. Participants were shown pairs of face images and were asked to withhold a response if a transparent stop-signal cue appeared over one of the faces. This served to associate the cued face with an inhibitory state. Later, when asked to make social-emotional choices about these face pairs, participants chose uncued faces more often than cued faces as “more trustworthy” and chose cued faces more often than uncued faces as “less trustworthy.” For perceptual choices, there was no effect of how the question was framed (which face is “on a lighter background” vs. “on a darker background”). These results suggest that attentional inhibition can be associated with socially relevant stimuli, such as faces, and can have specific, deleterious effects on social-emotional judgments.
Variation in Perceived Attractiveness
Authors: Rubenstein Adam J.
Published: September 2005

Studies that attempt to define facial attractiveness often do so in terms of structural features of the face (e.g., symmetry, averageness). However, these studies typically use static images of faces that may not be analogous to dynamic faces that are frequently used in other areas of attractiveness research, such as research investigating the impact of attractiveness on social interaction. The current studies investigated similarities and differences in how dynamic and static faces are perceived and evaluated. Study 1 demonstrated that dynamic and static faces are judged by different evaluative standards. Study 2 demonstrated that perceived emotion may be more salient in judging the attractiveness of dynamic faces than in judging the attractiveness of static faces. These findings illustrate the need to more fully explore the differences between dynamic and static faces to facilitate a better understanding of the characteristics underlying perceived attractiveness.
With Sadness Comes Accuracy; With Happiness, False Memory
Authors: Storbeck Justin , Clore Gerald L.
Published: September 2005

The Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm lures people to produce false memories. Two experiments examined whether induced positive or negative moods would influence this false memory effect. The affect-as-information hypothesis predicts that, on the one hand, positive affective cues experienced as task-relevant feedback encourage relational processing during encoding, which should enhance false memory effects. On the other hand, negative affective cues are hypothesized to encourage item-specific processing at encoding, which should discourage such effects. The results of Experiment 1 are consistent with these predictions: Individuals in negative moods were significantly less likely to show false memory effects than those in positive moods or those whose mood was not manipulated. Experiment 2 introduced inclusion instructions to investigate whether moods had their effects at encoding or retrieval. The results replicated the false memory finding of Experiment 1 and provide evidence that moods influence the accessibility of lures at encoding, rather than influencing monitoring at retrieval of whether lures were actually presented.
Associative and Categorical Relations in the Associative Memory Illusion
Authors: Park Lillian , Shobe Katharine K. , Kihlstrom John F.
Published: September 2005

What kinds of associations underlie the associative memory illusion? In Experiment 1, lists composed of horizontal, or coordinate, free associates elicited false recognition of critical lures much more often than did lists composed of vertical, or subordinate, category instances. Experiment 2 replicated this result, and showed that the difference between free associates and category instances was not an artifact of differential levels of forward or backward associative strength. Associative structure plays an important role in the associative memory illusion: The illusion is strongest when the critical lure lies at the same level of categorization as the studied items.
How Can I Connect With Thee?
Authors: Hawkley Louise C. , Browne Michael W. , Cacioppo John T.
Published: September 2005

Two studies were conducted to examine mental representations of loneliness and social connectedness. In Study 1, young adults (N = 2,531) completed the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA scale) and demographic questionnaires. An exploratory factor analysis of the R-UCLA scale on half the sample revealed a three-dimensional conceptual structure that generalized across gender. This mental representation consisted of correlated facets labeled Isolation, Relational Connectedness, and Collective Connectedness. A confirmatory factor analysis on the other half of the sample corroborated this three-factor solution. In Study 2, a population-based sample of 197 older males and females (Mage = 57.5 years) completed the R-UCLA scale and measures of objective social circumstances. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure in this diverse and older adult sample. Each facet was uniquely predicted by theoretically related social circumstances. These findings suggest how humans make meaning of their social relationships in their mental representations of loneliness and connectedness.
Frontal Brain Asymmetry and Reward Responsiveness
Authors: Pizzagalli Diego A. , Sherwood Rebecca J. , Henriques Jeffrey B. , Davidson Richard J.
Published: September 2005

The influence of approach and avoidance tendencies on affect, reasoning, and behavior has attracted substantial interest from researchers across various areas of psychology. Currently, frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry in favor of left prefrontal regions is assumed to reflect the propensity to respond with approach-related tendencies. To test this hypothesis, we recorded resting EEG in 18 subjects, who separately performed a verbal memory task under three incentive conditions (neutral, reward, and punishment). Using a source-localization technique, we found that higher task-independent alpha2 (10.5–12 Hz) activity within left dorsolateral prefrontal and medial orbitofrontal regions was associated with stronger bias to respond to reward-related cues. Left prefrontal resting activity accounted for 54.8% of the variance in reward bias. These findings not only confirm that frontal EEG asymmetry modulates the propensity to engage in appetitively motivated behavior, but also provide anatomical details about the underlying brain systems.
Digital Chameleons
Authors: Bailenson Jeremy N. , Yee Nick
Published: September 2005

Previous research demonstrated social influence resulting from mimicry (the chameleon effect); a confederate who mimicked participants was more highly regarded than a confederate who did not, despite the fact that participants did not explicitly notice the mimicry. In the current study, participants interacted with an embodied artificial intelligence agent in immersive virtual reality. The agent either mimicked a participant's head movements at a 4-s delay or utilized prerecorded movements of another participant as it verbally presented an argument. Mimicking agents were more persuasive and received more positive trait ratings than nonmimickers, despite participants' inability to explicitly detect the mimicry. These data are uniquely powerful because they demonstrate the ability to use automatic, indiscriminate mimicking (i.e., a computer algorithm blindly applied to all movements) to gain social influence. Furthermore, this is the first study to demonstrate social influence effects with a nonhuman, nonverbal mimicker.
Teaching Pigeons to Commit Base-Rate Neglect
Authors: Fantino Edmund , Kanevsky Inna Glaz , Charlton Shawn R.
Published: September 2005

Whereas humans display base-rate neglect in a behavioral analogue of the base-rate problem, pigeons have been shown to behave optimally in a comparable task, appropriately weighting base-rate and case-cue information. Previous studies have shown that prior experience may interfere with optimal decisions for human subjects, a result consistent with the position that poor and illogical decisions often follow from the misapplication of learned rules. The present study shows that pigeons will also display base-rate neglect if given extensive pretraining with informative case cues. Two experiments with pigeons, in a matching-to-sample procedure designed to mimic the classic base-rate problem, show that pigeons display base-rate neglect after extensive pretraining with the matching task.
Explanations Versus Applications
Authors: Preston Jesse , Epley Nicholas
Published: September 2005

People hold beliefs that vary not only in their perceived truth, but also in their value to the believer— their meaning, relevance, and importance. We argue that a belief's value is determined, at least in part, by its explanatory power. Highly valuable beliefs are those that can uniquely explain and organize a diverse set of observations. Less valuable beliefs, in contrast, are those that can be explained by other observations, or that explain and organize few observations. The results of three experiments are consistent with these hypotheses. These experiments demonstrate that applying either scientific or religious beliefs to explain other observations increases the perceived value of those beliefs, whereas generating explanations for the existence of beliefs decreases their perceived value. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for people's resistance to explaining their own beliefs, for the perceived value of science and religion, and for culture wars between people holding opposing beliefs.
Increased Control Demand Results in Serial Processing
Authors: Luria Roy , Meiran Nachshon
Published: September 2005

Increased demands on cognitive control trigger changes in processing mode. One such modulation involves a shift from parallel to serial processing. This study assessed the role of control demand in determining whether dual-task processing is performed serially or in parallel. We used two critical indices, based on the response-selection bottleneck model, to show that response selection was serial when a task switch was involved, but partly parallel when the simultaneous performance of the tasks did not involve task switching.
Preliminary Findings of Health Promotion Plans among Institutions Caring for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: A National Survey in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Jin‐Ding , Loh Ching‐Hui , Yen Chia‐Feng , Lee Jiunn‐Tay , Chwo Miao‐Ju , Wu Jia‐Ling , Li Chi‐Wei , Lin Ya‐Wen
Published: September 2005

Background  In encouraging good health for people with intellectual disabilities, health promotion serves as an effective intervention. However, little is known about health promotion strategies for this sector of the population. The objectives of this study were to describe the current profile of health promotion planning among institutions caring for people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan, and to examine differences among institutions.

Method  The study employed a cross‐sectional survey of 157 directors of institutions caring for people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was posted to obtain information relating to the planning, budget appropriations, and decision‐making processes concerning health promotion at these institutions.

Results  A total of 120 directors of institutions completed the posted questionnaire. Health promotion plans were operative at 88.4% of the institutions. Among these institutions, 82 settings (76.6%) set aside funding on an annual basis for health promotion programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. With regard to budget spending, most of the respondents did not know exactly what percentage of the annual budget was spent on the health promotion programmes operating in their institutions. The process of health promotion implementation was multidisciplinary and intersectoral in terms of the staff involved. Those institutions that employed skilled nurses were more likely to run health promotion programmes than those institutions without nursing staff.

Conclusions  Further research should be focused on the efficacy of health promotion programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, and on the creation of supportive environments in institutions for enabling these people to participate in the process of decision‐making on health promotion issues.
Facial surface analysis by 3D laser scanning and geometric morphometrics in relation to sexual dimorphism in cerebral–craniofacial morphogenesis and cognitive function
Authors: Hennessy Robin J. , McLearie Stephen , Kinsella Anthony , Waddington John L.
Published: September 2005

Over early fetal life the anterior brain, neuroepithelium, neural crest and facial ectoderm constitute a unitary, three‐dimensional (3D) developmental process. This intimate embryological relationship between the face and brain means that facial dysmorphogenesis can serve as an accessible and informative index of brain dysmorphogenesis in neurological and psychiatric disorders of early developmental origin. There are three principal challenges in seeking to increase understanding of disorders of early brain dysmorphogenesis through craniofacial dysmorphogenesis: (i) the first, technical, challenge has been to digitize the facial surface in its inherent three‐dimensionality; (ii) the second, analytical, challenge has been to develop methodologies for extracting biologically meaningful shape covariance from digitized samples, making statistical comparisons between groups and visualizing in 3D the resultant statistical models on a ‘whole face’ basis; (iii) the third, biological, challenge is to demonstrate a relationship between facial morphogenesis and brain morphogenesis not only in anatomical–embryological terms but also at the level of brain function. Here we consider each of these challenges in turn and then illustrate the issues by way of our own findings. These use human sexual dimorphism as an exemplar for 3D laser surface scanning of facial shape, analysis using geometric morphometrics and exploration of cognitive correlates of variation in shape of the ‘whole face’, in the context of studies relating to the early developmental origins of schizophrenia.
The interleukin‐1 signalling pathway in astrocytes: a key contributor to inflammation in the brain
Authors: Moynagh Paul N.
Published: September 2005

A dysregulated inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) lies at the heart of many neuropathological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. A key component of these inflammatory conditions is the accumulation of leukocytes in the CNS. The infiltration of leukocytes into the brain is dependent on the induction of leukocyte adhesion molecules and chemoattractant chemokines. Recent studies have suggested the astrocyte to be a key cell in mediating the inflammatory process in the brain and in expressing adhesion molecules and chemokines. Here I overview work in my laboratory and others that demonstrates interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) to be a key inducer of the expression of these molecules in astrocytes. The temporal expression is sustained in nature and this is due to prolonged activation of the transcription factor NFκB. The molecular basis to the sustained activation of NFκB is also discussed. The IL‐1 signalling pathway thus emerges as a valuable therapeutic target in the treatment of presently incurable neuropathological conditions.
The subiculum: what it does, what it might do, and what neuroanatomy has yet to tell us
Authors: O'Mara Shane
Published: September 2005

The subiculum is a pivotal but under‐investigated structure positioned between the hippocampus proper and entorhinal and other cortices, as well as a range of subcortical structures. The subiculum has a range of electrophysiological and functional properties which are quite distinct from its input areas; given the widespread set of cortical and subcortical areas with which it interacts, it is able to influence activity in quite disparate brain regions. The rules governing plasticity of synaptic transmission in the hippocampal–subicular axis are poorly understood; this axis appears to share some properties in common with the hippocampus proper, but behaves quite differently in other respects. Equally, its functional properties are not well understood; it plays an important but ill‐defined role in spatial navigation, mnemonic processing and control of the response to stress. Here, I review investigations of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal–subicular pathway, recordings of subicular neurons in the freely moving behaving animal, the effects of behavioural and other stressors on subicular synaptic plasticity, and anatomical data on the dorso‐ventral organization of the subiculum in relation to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. I argue that there is a dorso‐ventral segregation of function within the subiculum: the dorsal component appears principally concerned with the processing of information about space, movement and memory, whereas the ventral component appears to play a major regulatory role in the inhibition of the HPA axis.
The role of growth/differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) in the induction and survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurones: relevance to Parkinson's disease treatment
Authors: Sullivan Aideen M. , O'Keeffe Gerard W.
Published: September 2005

Growth/differentiation factor‐5 (GDF5) is a member of the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily which has potent effects on dopaminergic neurones in vitro and in vivo. GDF5 is under investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease (PD), which is caused by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurones projecting from the substantia nigra (SN) to the striatum. In the rat ventral mesencephalon (VM; the developing SN), GDF5 expression peaks at embryonic day 14, the time at which dopaminergic neurones undergo terminal differentiation. Addition of GDF5 protein to cultures of embryonic rat VM increases the survival and improves the morphology of dopaminergic neurones in these cultures. GDF5 treatment also increases the number of cells which adopt a dopaminergic phenotype in cultures of VM progenitor cells. Intracerebral administration of GDF5 has potent neuroprotective and restorative effects on the nigrostriatal pathway in animal models of PD. Furthermore, addition of GDF5 protein to embryonic rat dopaminergic neuronal transplants improves their survival and function in a rat model of PD. Thus, GDF5 has potential applications to PD therapy as a dopaminergic neuroprotective agent and as a factor that may induce a dopaminergic neuronal fate in unrestricted progenitor cells.
The survival of neural precursor cell grafts is influenced by in vitro expansion
Authors: Zietlow Rike , Pekarik Vladimir , Armstrong Richard J. E. , Tyers Pamela , Dunnett Stephen B. , Rosser Anne E.
Published: September 2005

Embryonic neural precursor cells (ENPs) provide a potential alternative for transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases, as they can be expanded in culture, avoiding many of the practical obstacles that limit the application of transplanting primary neurones. However, grafts of ENPs into animal models show variable survival and limited differentiation into neurones. The effect of expansion time on their ability to survive and differentiate may be an important factor in this and has not been examined directly. In these experiments, murine and human ENPs were expanded for short (4 weeks) and long (20 weeks) periods before transplantation into the adult rat striatum. Whereas grafts of both short‐ and long‐term expanded human ENPs survived for 4 weeks following transplantation, by 20 weeks all long‐term expanded grafts had disappeared. Murine ENPs behaved similarly: only grafts of short‐term expanded ENPs survived at 12 weeks following transplantation. RT‐PCR analysis of ENP cultures after 4 and 20 weeks of expansion demonstrated changes in expression of a number of different groups of genes. We conclude that long‐term expansion of ENPs profoundly impairs their ability to survive long‐term after transplantation into the adult brain. This has implications for the potential use of these cells for neural transplantation strategies.
Midbrain dopaminergic development in vivo and in vitro from embryonic stem cells
Authors: Maxwell Sarah L. , Li Meng
Published: September 2005

The midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons play a key role in the function of a variety of brain systems, including motor control and reward pathways. This has led to much interest in these neurons as targets for intervention in human disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. A major area of interest is to direct embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into mDA neurons in vitro, which can then be used for cell therapy or drug screening. At present, our understanding of mDA development in vivo is limited. However, recent studies have identified a number of regulatory factors that influence the development of mDA neurons in vivo. Such studies will not only increase our understanding of mDA development in vivo, they may also promote new paradigms for regulating mDA production from ES cells in vitro. Here we review the current knowledge on mDA development in vivo and mDA differentiation.
Oxidative stress activates MMP‐2 in cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells
Authors: Valentin François , Bueb Jean‐Luc , Kieffer Pascal , Tschirhart Eric , Atkinson Jeffrey
Published: September 2005

Oxidative stress is a cardinal feature of the inflammatory process and is involved in various pathologies including atherosclerosis. One of the important mechanisms in which oxidative stress may play a role is activation of matrix metalloproteinases such as MMP‐2, which are involved in plaque destabilization. We investigated the mechanisms by which oxidative stress induces MMP‐2 activation in cultured human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Using zymography and Western blot analysis, we showed that oxidized low‐density lipoproteins activate MMP‐2 through up‐regulation of the expression and activation of a membrane‐type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP). A second mechanism of MMP‐2 activation involves oxidative radicals generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase complex (X/Xo). Research on these two mechanisms of MMP activation could lead to the elaboration of new vascular therapies for the treatment of atheroma based on interruption of a specific oxidative stress pathway.
Inhibition of angiotensin II‐ and endothelin‐1‐stimulated proliferation by selective MEK inhibitor in cultured rabbit gingival fibroblasts†
Authors: Ohsawa Masami , Ohuchi Nozomi , Taniguchi Yumiko , Kizawa Yasuo , Koike Katsuo , Iwamoto Keishi , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Murakami Hajime
Published: September 2005

We investigated the implication of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the proliferation stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in cultured rabbit gingival fibroblasts (CRGF). Ang II stimulated activation of ERK1/2 and the activation was inhibited by CV‐11974, an AT1 antagonist, and saralasin, an AT1/AT2 antagonist, but not by PD123,319, an AT2 antagonist in the CRGF. Ang II‐stimulated proliferation was inhibited by PD98059 or U0126, selective MEK inhibitors. Furthermore, ET‐1 stimulated proliferation via G‐protein‐coupled ETA receptors, which were identified by Western blot analysis of membrane protein from the CRGF. ET‐1 also stimulated activation of ERK1/2 and the activation was inhibited by BQ‐123, an ETA inhibitor, and TAK044, an ETA/ETB inhibitor, but not by BQ‐788, an ETB inhibitor. ET‐1‐stimulated proliferation was inhibited by PD98059 or U0126. These findings suggest that ERK1/2 play a role in the signaling process leading to proliferation stimulated by Ang II and ET‐1 via G‐protein‐coupled receptors, AT1 and ETA in CRGF.
New host record for three scuttle flies, Megaselia flava, M. kanekoi and M. gotoi (Diptera: Phoridae), on the poisonous fungus Amanita ibotengutake (Agaricales: Amanitaceae)
Authors: YAMASHITA Hiroshi , TANAKA Chihiro , NAKAYAMA Hiroto , TUNO Nobuko , OSAWA Naoya
Published: September 2005

We identified three species of fungivorous scuttle fly –Megaselia flava, M. kanekoi and M. gotoi– from eight fruit bodies of a fungus, Amanita ibotengutake, which has not previously been recorded as the host of these flies.
Techniques for continuous rearing and assessing host preference of a multivoltine leaf‐mining moth, Acrocercops transecta (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Authors: OHSHIMA Issei
Published: September 2005

Techniques for rearing the leaf‐mining moth Acrocercops transecta successively over several generations are described. Based on continuous rearing, some life historical parameters in A. transecta were determined. Because of its short generation time, successive rearing makes the moth suitable for mating experiments and a model organism to elucidate the mechanism of host‐associated speciation.
Effect of gall formation by a cynipid wasp, Andricus symbioticus, on the development of the leaves and shoots of Quercus dentata
Authors: ITO Masato
Published: September 2005

The sexual generation of a cynipid wasp, Andricus symbioticus Kovalev, forms its leaf galls most frequently near and on the leaf petiole of Quercus trees. I examined the effect of gall formation by A. symbioticus on the leaf development of a host plant, Quercus dentata Thunberg, by comparing the size and shape of galled and ungalled leaves. I also examined the effect of gall formation on shoot development by comparing the length of shoots with and without galled leaves. Three of seven Q. dentata trees surveyed were heavily infested with A. symbioticus. Leaf size did not differ between galled and ungalled leaves. However, the ratio of leaf width to length was greater in galled leaves, which is regarded to be a result of gall formation by A. symbioticus inhibiting the growth in length of Q. dentata leaves. Shoot length did not differ significantly between shoots with and without galled leaves. These results suggest that galls of A. symbioticus act as a sink that competes with leaves for reserved photoassimilates.
Functional association between female sperm storage organs and male sperm removal organs in calopterygid damselflies
Authors: HAYASHI Fumio , TSUCHIYA Kaori
Published: September 2005

Female damselflies in the family Calopterygidae have two sperm storage organs: a spherical bursa copulatrix and a tubular spermatheca. Male flies have a peculiar aedeagus with a recurved head with which to remove bursal sperm, and lateral spiny processes to remove spermathecal sperm. The lateral processes differ among species and populations in terms of their width relative to the spermathecal duct: the narrower processes are physically able to access spermathecal sperm, while the wider ones are not. In the present study, sperm storage patterns and aedeagal structures were compared between two calopterygid species with different spermathecal structures –Calopteryx cornelia and Mnais pruinosa– with respect to not only sperm quantity (number) but also sperm quality (viability), by using a recently developed method based on live/dead dual fluorescence. Calopteryx cornelia is a typical spermathecal sperm remover. In this species, viability was similar between bursal and spermathecal sperm. In contrast, in M. pruinosa, the spermatheca was much smaller than the bursa and often contained no sperm. Even when the spermatheca of this species did contain sperm, a high percentage of it was dead. Although the spermatheca of M. pruinosa has such atrophic tendencies, males have nevertheless developed long and spiny lateral processes similar to those of C. cornelia, suggesting the processes have functions other than spermathecal sperm removal. They possibly function as stoppers or guides for manipulating the aedeagal head to remove the sperm mass from the bursa.
Factors affecting internest variation in the aggressiveness of a polygynous ant, Camponotus yamaokai
Authors: SATOH Toshiyuki , HIROTA Tadao
Published: September 2005

The facultatively polygynous ant Camponotus yamaokai shows various degrees of internest hostility. We examined the relationship between aggressiveness and possible factors that affect the level of hostility, such as internest distance, numbers of queens and workers, and brood size. We found that the aggression level did not significantly correlate with these factors. Our study suggests that information on the colony genetic structure is important in understanding variation in the aggressiveness of polygynous colonies.
An In‐vitro Study on Regeneration of Human Nucleus Pulposus by Using Gelatin/Chondroitin‐6‐Sulfate/Hyaluronan Tri‐copolymer Scaffold
Authors: Yang Shu‐Hua , Chen Po‐Quang , Chen Yi‐Fang , Lin Feng‐Huei
Published: September 2005

Abstract:  Tissue engineering approaches for treating degenerative intervertebral discs aim to promote tissue regeneration then retard or even reverse the degenerative process. A gelatin/chondroitin‐6‐sulfate/hyaluronan tri‐copolymer was developed to serve as a bioactive scaffold that could help human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells to preserve their cell viability/proliferation and promote matrix synthesis. Each scaffold was seeded with 1 × 106 monolayer‐expanded human NP cells and then cultured in vitro. Over a 4‐week cultivation period, cell–scaffold hybrids demonstrated active cell viability/proliferation and a progressive increase in net production of glycosaminoglycans. In comparison to monolayer cells, scaffold‐cultured cells showed significantly higher mRNA expression in collagen II, aggrecan, Sox9, TGFβ1, and TIMP1. Expression of mRNA was significantly suppressed in collagen I, collagen X, IL1, and Fas‐associating death domain protein. Histological studies showed newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans deposits and collagen II in scaffolds. These results indicate that the tri‐copolymer scaffold could be considered as a promising bioactive scaffold for regenerating  human NP.
Synthetic Vascular Prosthesis Impregnated With Genetically Modified Bone Marrow Cells Produced Recombinant Proteins
Authors: Kanki‐Horimoto Sachiko , Horimoto Hitoshi , Mieno Shigetoshi , Kishida Kenji , Watanabe Fusao , Furuya Eisuke , Katsumata Takahiro
Published: September 2005

Abstract:  The aim of this study is to develop an experimental model of small caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular prostheses that produce recombinant proteins by seeding genetically modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Beta‐galactosidase (beta‐gal) cDNA was transduced into rat MSC mediated by an adenovirus vector. The cells were impregnated into the ePTFE vascular prostheses measuring 2 mm in internal diameter and 90 µm in fibril length, followed by 48 h of incubation. The expressions of beta‐gal were determined by X‐gal staining. The luminal surface of the ePTFE vascular prostheses was covered with the MSC expressing beta‐gal. Most of the gene‐transduced MSC spread along the fibers forming colonies. These results suggest that small caliber vascular prostheses, in which the inner surface was seeded by genetically modified MSC, produced recombinant proteins. This may be a preliminary model to autocrine  functioning vascular prostheses.
Is the Guideline the Cause of Structural Failure in Current Polyester Vascular Prostheses? An Experimental Study
Authors: Kawata Mitsuhiro , Takamoto Shinichi , Morota Tetsuro , Ono Minoru , Motomura Noboru , Murakami Arata , Suematsu Yoshihiro
Published: September 2005

Abstract:  To evaluate the impact of the guideline on the structural failure of current polyester vascular prostheses, we studied seven unsealed polyester vascular prostheses. An accelerated time test was used for assessing degradation of polymeric medical materials at pH 7.4 in phosphate buffer at a temperature of 95°C. Probe burst strength was determined on the guideline and on standard parts of the prostheses during the accelerated time test. Weight‐average molecular weights of the guideline and of the standard parts in all knitted grafts during the accelerated time test were measured. The guideline was significantly weaker than the standard parts in most prostheses. The guideline had significantly lower values of weight‐average molecular weights than the standard parts in most knitted grafts. This study showed that guideline degeneration was one factor responsible for the structural failure of some current polyester vascular prostheses.