bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Triterpenoid Saponin from Pulsatilla cernua
Authors: Xu Yajuan , Bai Lu , Liu Yonghong , Liu Yue , Xu Tunhai , Xie Shengxu , Si Yunshan , Zhou Haiou , Liu Tonghua , Xu Dongming
Published: March 2010

A new triterpenoid saponin was isolated from Pulsatilla cernua, along with eight known triterpenoids and triterpenoid glycosides. The new compound was identified as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-bayogenin-28-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) on the basis of 1D, 2D-NMR techniques, including COSY, HMBC, and HMQC correlations, MS analysis, as well as chemical methods.
Pilot-scale Production and Viability Analysis of Freeze-Dried Probiotic Bacteria Using Different Protective Agents
Authors: Savini Michele , Cecchini Cinzia , Verdenelli Maria Cristina , Silvi Stefania , Orpianesi Carla , Cresci Alberto
Published: March 2010

The functional food industry requires an improvement of probiotic strain stability during storage, especially when they are stored at room temperature. In this study, the viability of freeze-dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502® using different protective agents (i.e., glycerine, mannitol, sorbitol, inulin, dextrin, Crystalean®) was determined and compared with semi skimmed milk (SSM) control. No significant differences were observed between the tested protectants and the control (SSM) during storage at refrigerated conditions. During storage at room temperature, only glycerine was found to stabilize viability better than other tested substances.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)/PDGF Receptors (PDGFR) Axis as Target for Antitumor and Antiangiogenic Therapy
Authors: Raica Marius , Cimpean Anca Maria
Published: March 2010

Angiogenesis in normal and pathological conditions is a multi-step process governed by positive and negative endogenous regulators. Many growth factors are involved in different steps of angiogenesis, like vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 or platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF). From these, VEGF and FGF-2 were extensively investigated and it was shown that they significantly contribute to the induction and progression of angiogenesis. A lot of evidence has been accumulated in last 10 years that supports the contribution of PDGF/PDGFR axis in developing angiogenesis in both normal and tumoral conditions. The crucial role of PDGF-B and PDGFR-β in angiogenesis has been demonstrated by gene targeting experiments, and their expression correlates with increased vascularity and maturation of the vascular wall. PDGF and their receptors were identified in a large variety of human tumor cells. In experimental models it was shown that inhibition of PDGF reduces interstitial fluid pressure in tumors and enhances the effect of chemotherapy. PDGFR have been involved in the cardiovascular development and their loss leads to a disruption in yolk sac blood vessels development. PDGFRβ expression by pericytes is necessary for their recruitment and integration in the wall of tumor vessels. Endothelial cells of tumor-associated blood vessels can express PDGFR. Based on these data, it was suggested the potential benefit of targeting PDGFR in the treatment of solid tumors. The molecular mechanisms of PDGF/PDGFR-mediated angiogenesis are not fully understood, but it was shown that tyrosine kinase inhibitors reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis in experimental xenograft models, and recent data demonstrated their efficacy in chemoresistant tumors. The in vivo effects of PDGFR inhibitors are more complex, based on the cross-talk with other angiogenic factors. In this review, we summarize data regarding the mechanisms and significance of PDGF/PDGFR expression in normal conditions and tumors, focusing on this axis as a potential target for antitumor and antiangiogenic therapy.
Targeting the Tumour: Cell Penetrating Peptides for Molecular Imaging and Radiotherapy
Authors: Kersemans Veerle , Cornelissen Bart
Published: March 2010

Over the last couple of years, the number of original papers and reviews discussing various applications of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) has grown exponentially. This is not remarkable since CPPs are capable of transporting the most varying cargo across cell membranes which is one of the biggest problems in drug delivery and targeted therapy. In this review, we focus on the use of CPPs and related peptides for delivery of imaging contrast agents and radionuclides to cells and tissues with the ultimate goal of in vivo molecular imaging and molecular radiotherapy of intracellular and even intranuclear targets.
Distribution of CPP-Protein Complexes in Freshly Resected Human Tissue Material
Authors: Saar Külliki , Saar Helgi , Hansen Mats , Langel Ülo , Pooga Margus
Published: March 2010

Interest in cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) as delivery agents has fuelled a large number of studies conducted on cultured cells and in mice. However, only a few studies have been devoted to the behaviour of CPPs in human tissues. Therefore, we performed ex vivo tissue-dipping experiments where we studied the distribution of CPP-protein complexes in samples of freshly harvested human tissue material. We used the carcinoma or hyperplasia-containing specimens of the uterus and the cervix, obtained as surgical waste from nine hysterectomies. Our aim was to evaluate the tissue of preference (epithelial versus muscular/connective tissue, carcinoma versus adjacent histologically normal tissue) for two well-studied CPPs, the transportan and the TAT-peptide. We complexed biotinylated CPPs with avidin--galactosidase (ABG), which enabled us to apply whole-mount X-gal staining as a robust detection method. Our results demonstrate that both peptides enhanced the tissue distribution of ABG. The enhancing effect of the tested CPPs was more obvious in the normal tissue and in some specimens we detected a striking selectivity of CPP-ABG complexes for the normal tissue. This unexpected finding encourages the evaluation of CPPs as local delivery agents in non-malignant situations, for example in the intrauterine gene therapy of benign gynaecological diseases.
Dendritic Guanidines as Efficient Analogues of Cell Penetrating Peptides
Authors: Bonduelle Colin V. , Gillies Elizabeth R.
Published: March 2010

The widespread application of cell penetrating agents to clinical therapeutics and imaging agents relies on the ability to prepare them on a large scale and to readily conjugate them to their cargos. Dendritic analogues of cell penetrating peptides, with multiple guanidine groups on their peripheries offer advantages as their high symmetry allows them to be efficiently synthesized, while orthogonal functionalities at their focal points allow them to be conjugated to cargo using simple synthetic methods. Their chemical structures and properties are also highly tunable as their flexibility and the number of guanidine groups can be tuned by altering the dendritic backbone or the linkages to the guanidine groups. This review describes the development of cell-penetrating dendrimers based on several different backbones, their structure-property relationships, and comparisons of their efficacies with those of known cell penetrating peptides. The toxicities of these dendritic guanidines are also reported as well as their application towards the intracellular delivery of biologically significant cargos including proteins and nanoparticles.
Decadal Variations in NDVI and Food Production in India
Authors: Milesi Cristina , Samanta Arindam , Hashimoto Hirofumi , Kumar K. Krishna , Ganguly Sangram , Thenkabail Prasad S. , Srivastava Ashok N. , Nemani Ramakrishna R. , Myneni Ranga B.
Published: March 2010

In this study we use long-term satellite, climate, and crop observations to document the spatial distribution of the recent stagnation in food grain production affecting the water-limited tropics (WLT), a region where 1.5 billion people live and depend on local agriculture that is constrained by chronic water shortages. Overall, our analysis shows that the recent stagnation in food production is corroborated by satellite data. The growth rate in annually integrated vegetation greenness, a measure of crop growth, has declined significantly (p < 0.10) in 23% of the WLT cropland area during the last decade, while statistically significant increases in the growth rates account for less than 2%. In most countries, the decade-long declines appear to be primarily due to unsustainable crop management practices rather than climate alone. One quarter of the statistically significant declines are observed in India, which with the world’s largest population of food-insecure people and largest WLT croplands, is a leading example of the observed declines. Here we show geographically matching patterns of enhanced crop production and irrigation expansion with groundwater that have leveled off in the past decade. We estimate that, in the absence of irrigation, the enhancement in dry-season food grain production in India, during 1982–2002, would have required an increase in annual rainfall of at least 30% over almost half of the cropland area. This suggests that the past expansion of use of irrigation has not been sustainable. We expect that improved surface and groundwater management practices will be required to reverse the recent food grain production declines.
A Comparison of Spectral Angle Mapper and Artificial Neural Network Classifiers Combined with Landsat TM Imagery Analysis for Obtaining Burnt Area Mapping
Authors: Petropoulos George P. , Vadrevu Krishna Prasad , Xanthopoulos Gavriil , Karantounias George , Scholze Marko
Published: March 2010

Satellite remote sensing, with its unique synoptic coverage capabilities, can provide accurate and immediately valuable information on fire analysis and post-fire assessment, including estimation of burnt areas. In this study the potential for burnt area mapping of the combined use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classifiers with Landsat TM satellite imagery was evaluated in a Mediterranean setting. As a case study one of the most catastrophic forest fires, which occurred near the capital of Greece during the summer of 2007, was used. The accuracy of the two algorithms in delineating the burnt area from the Landsat TM imagery, acquired shortly after the fire suppression, was determined by the classification accuracy results of the produced thematic maps. In addition, the derived burnt area estimates from the two classifiers were compared with independent estimates available for the study region, obtained from the analysis of higher spatial resolution satellite data. In terms of the overall classification accuracy, ANN outperformed (overall accuracy 90.29%, Kappa coefficient 0.878) the SAM classifier (overall accuracy 83.82%, Kappa coefficient 0.795). Total burnt area estimates from the two classifiers were found also to be in close agreement with the other available estimates for the study region, with a mean absolute percentage difference of ~1% for ANN and ~6.5% for SAM. The study demonstrates the potential of the examined here algorithms in detecting burnt areas in a typical Mediterranean setting.
Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Photoacoustic Spectroscopy for Trace Vapor Detection and Molecular Discrimination
Authors: Holthoff Ellen , Bender John , Pellegrino Paul , Fisher Almon
Published: March 2010

We report on the development of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-scale photoacoustic sensor for the detection of trace gases. A mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL) was used to determine detection limits for acetic acid, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, and vinyl acetate. The source was continuously tunable from 1015 cm-1 to 1240 cm-1, allowing for the collection of photoacoustic vibrational spectra for these gases. Exceptional agreement between the measured photoacoustic spectra and the infrared spectra for acetic acid, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, and vinyl acetate was observed. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression was used to develop an algorithm for classification of these compounds based solely on photoacoustic spectra.
Distributed Power Allocation for Sink-Centric Clusters in Multiple Sink Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Cao Lei , Xu Chen , Shao Wei , Zhang Guoan , Zhou Hui , Sun Qiang , Guo Yuehua
Published: March 2010

Due to the battery resource constraints, saving energy is a critical issue in wireless sensor networks, particularly in large sensor networks. One possible solution is to deploy multiple sink nodes simultaneously. Another possible solution is to employ an adaptive clustering hierarchy routing scheme. In this paper, we propose a multiple sink cluster wireless sensor networks scheme which combines the two solutions, and propose an efficient transmission power control scheme for a sink-centric cluster routing protocol in multiple sink wireless sensor networks, denoted as MSCWSNs-PC. It is a distributed, scalable, self-organizing, adaptive system, and the sensor nodes do not require knowledge of the global network and their location. All sinks effectively work out a representative view of a monitored region, after which power control is employed to optimize network topology. The simulations demonstrate the advantages of our new protocol.
Signal Amplification by Enzymatic Reaction in an Immunosensor Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR)
Authors: Lee Tae-Han , Lee Seung-Woo , Jung Ji-Ae , Ahn Junhyoung , Kim Min-Gon , Shin Yong-Beom
Published: March 2010

An enzymatic reaction was employed as a means to enhance the sensitivity of an immunosensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The reaction occurs after intermolecular binding between an antigen and an antibody on gold nano-island (NI) surfaces. For LSPR sensing, the gold NI surface was fabricated on glass substrates using vacuum evaporation and heat treatment. The interferon-g (IFN-g) capture antibody was immobilized on the gold NIs, followed by binding of IFN-g to the antibody. Subsequently, a biotinylated antibody and a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated with avidin were simultaneously introduced. A solution of 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) was then used for precipitation; precipitation was the result of the enzymatic reaction catalyzed the HRP on gold NIs. The LSPR spectra were obtained after each binding process. Using this method, the enzyme-catalyzed precipitation reaction on the gold NI surface was found to effectively amplify the change in the signal of the LSPR immunosensor after intermolecular binding.
Locally Grown Foods and Farmers Markets: Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors
Authors: Conner David , Colasanti Kathryn , Ross R. Brent , Smalley Susan B.
Published: March 2010

Farm viability poses a grave challenge to the sustainability of agriculture and food systems: the number of acres in production continues to decline as the majority of farms earn negative net income. Two related and often overlapping marketing strategies, (i) locally grown foods and (ii) distribution at farmers markets, can directly enhance food system sustainability by improving farm profitability and long-term viability, as well as contributing to an array of ancillary benefits. We present results of a representative Michigan telephone survey, which measured consumers’ perceptions and behaviors around local foods and farmers markets. We discuss the implications of our findings on greater farm profitability. We conclude with suggestions for future research to enhance the contributions of locally grown foods and farmers markets to overall food system sustainability.
Association of theMCP-1−2518 A/G Polymorphism and No Association of Its ReceptorCCR2−64 V/I Polymorphism with Lupus Nephritis
Authors: MALAFRONTE PATRICIA , VIEIRA JOSE MAURO , PEREIRA ALEXANDRE CARLOS , KRIEGER JOSE EDUARDO , BARROS RUI TOLEDO , WORONIK VIKTORIA
Published: March 2010

Objective.

To evaluate whether the A/G polymorphism at position −2518 in the regulatory region of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) or the V/I polymorphism at position −64 of the receptor, CCR2, are associated with lupus nephritis (LN) or any clinical characteristics of the disease or with renal survival in a patient population.

Methods.

We selected 197 patients with lupus nephritis and 220 matched healthy controls for study.MCP-1andCCR2genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Clinical and laboratory data were compiled from patients’ charts over followup that ranged from 6 months to 10 years.

Results.

The G/G genotype ofMCP-1was more common in LN patients (p = 0.019), while the A allele was associated with healthy controls (p = 0.007) as was the V allele ofCCR2(p = 0.046) compared to LN patients. Clinical index measures [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], immunological markers, renal histology, renal function at enrollment, and renal survival were not influenced by these polymorphisms. A less aggressive renal disease, measured by renal SLEDAI index, was associated with the V allele of theCCR2gene polymorphism.

Conclusion.

These findings support thatMCP-1−2518 G/G is associated with LN but there was no association of this genotype with renal function or renal survival. When studyingCCR2−64 V/I polymorphism we showed a positive association of the V allele with healthy controls but no association of the genotype with LN patients.
Reproducibility of Joint Swelling Assessment by Sonography in Patients with Long-lasting Rheumatoid Arthritis (SEA-Repro Study Part II)
Authors: JOUSSE-JOULIN SANDRINE , d’AGOSTINO MARIA ANTONIETTA , MARHADOUR THIERRY , ALBERT JEAN DAVID , BENTIN JACQUES , CHARY VALCKENAERE ISABELLE , ETCHEPARE FABIEN , GAUDIN PHILIPPE , HUDRY CHRISTOPHE , CHALÈS GÉRARD , GRANGE LAURENT , HACQUARD CÉCILE , LOEUILLE DAMIEN , SELLAM JÉRÉMIE , DOUGADOS MAXIME , SARAUX ALAIN
Published: March 2010

Objective.

To evaluate the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of B-mode and power Doppler (PD) sonography in patients with active long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comparatively with clinical data.

Methods.

In each of 7 patients being considered for a change in their RA treatment regimen, 7 healthcare professionals examined the 28 joints used in the Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28). Then 7 sonographers examined each of the 7 patients twice, using previously published B-mode and PD grading systems. The clinical reference standard was presence of synovitis according to at least 4/7 examiners. The sonographic reference standard was at least grade 1 (ALG1) or 2 (ALG2) synovitis according to at least 4/7 sonographers. Interobserver reproducibility of sonography was assessed versus the sonographer having the best intraobserver reproducibility. Agreement was measured by Cohen’s kappa statistic.

Results.

Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of B-mode and PD used separately was fair to good. Agreement between clinicians and sonographers at all sites using B-mode, PD, and both was 0.46, 0.37, and 0.36, respectively, for grade 1 synovitis; and 0.58, 0.19, and 0.19 for grade 2 synovitis. The number of joints with synovitis was smaller by physical examination (36.7%) than by B-mode with ALG1 (58.6%; p < 0.001). The number of joints with synovitis was higher by physical examination than by PD with both ALG1 (17.8%; p < 0.0001) and ALG2 (6.6%; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion.

PD findings explain most of the difference between clinical and sonographic joint assessments for synovitis in patients with long-standing RA.
Health Literacy Predicts the Discrepancy Between Patient and Provider Global Assessments of Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity at a Public Urban Rheumatology Clinic
Authors: HIRSH JOEL M. , BOYLE DENNIS J. , COLLIER DAVID H. , OXENFELD ABBEY J. , CAPLAN LIRON
Published: March 2010

Objective.

Numerous studies report that significant discordance exists between patient and provider [physician] measures of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined whether health literacy explains this discordance.

Methods.

We recruited English-speaking adult patients with RA for this cross-sectional study. Subjects completed 2 versions of patient global assessments of disease activity (PTGA), using standard terminology from the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) and the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). The provider global assessment (MDGA) was also obtained. The discrepancy between PTGA and MDGA was calculated as the absolute difference between these assessments. We used validated instruments [Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) and Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM)] and linear regression to determine whether health literacy predicts disease measure discrepancy.

Results.

The study included 110 subjects. Limited health literacy was a common finding by both the REALM and S-TOFHLA. PTGA and MDGA showed fair to good correlation (r = 0.66–0.68), although both versions of the PTGA were significantly higher than MDGA by the t-test (p < 0.001). The S-TOFHLA and REALM both were associated with the absolute difference between the MDGA and PTGA by linear regression, and results remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion.

Health literacy was independently associated with the extent of discrepancy between PTGA and MDGA in English-speaking patients with RA at an urban clinic. This finding should influence our interpretation of disease measures.
Relationship Between Arterial Stiffness and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Overt Arterial Disease
Authors: CRILLY MICHAEL A. , CLARK HAZEL J. , KUMAR VINOD , SCOTT NEIL W. , MacDONALD ALAN G. , WILLIAMS DAVID J.
Published: March 2010

Objective.

To quantify the relationship between Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

A consecutive series of 114 patients with RA but without overt arterial disease, aged 40–65 years, were recruited from rheumatology clinics. A research nurse measured blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness (heart rate-adjusted augmentation index), fasting lipids, glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor (RF). A self-completed patient questionnaire included HAQ, damaged joint count, EuroQol measure of health outcome, and Godin physical activity score. Multiple linear regression (MLR) adjusted for age, sex, smoking pack-years, cholesterol, mean arterial BP, physical activity, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, arthritis duration, ESR, and RA criteria.

Results.

Mean age was 54 years (81% women) with a median HAQ of 1.13 (interquartile range 0.50; 1.75). Median RA duration was 10 years, 83% were RF-positive, and median ESR was 16 mm/h. Mean arterial stiffness was 31.5 (SD 7.7), BP 125/82 mm Hg, cholesterol 5.3 mmol/l, and 24% were current smokers. Current therapy included RA disease-modifying agents (90%), prednisolone (11%), and antihypertensive therapy (18%). Arterial stiffness was positively correlated with HAQ (r = 0.42; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.56). On MLR, a 1-point increase in HAQ disability was associated with a 2.8 increase (95% CI 1.1 to 4.4; p = 0.001) in arterial stiffness. Each additional damaged joint was associated with a 0.17 point increase (95% CI 0.04 to 0.29; p = 0.009) in arterial stiffness. The relationship between EuroQol and arterial stiffness was not statistically significant.

Conclusion.

In patients with RA who are free of overt arterial disease, higher RA disability is associated with increased arterial stiffness independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and RA characteristics.
Decreased Circulating CD28-negative T Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Abatacept Are Correlated with Clinical Response
Authors: SCARSI MIRKO , ZIGLIOLI TAMARA , AIRÒ PAOLO
Published: March 2010

Objective.

To verify the hypothesis that blockade of CD28 costimulation by treatment with abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) might induce a reduction in the number of CD28– T cells, as well as other effector T cell populations. We evaluated whether these variations correlate with clinical response.

Methods.

Peripheral blood T cell subsets were longitudinally evaluated by flow cytometry through the analysis of CD28, CD45RA, and CCR7 expression in 16 patients with RA who were treated with abatacept.

Results.

After 48 weeks of treatment, the proportion and the absolute number of circulating CD8+CD28– T cells decreased (p = 0.008, p = 0.055, respectively, compared with baseline), as well as the proportion of the CD8+CD45RA+CCR7– cells, thought to represent terminally differentiated effector T cells (p = 0.03). Reductions of percentages of circulating CD4+CD28– and CD8+CD28– T cells, and (CCR7–) CD8+ total effector T cells were directly correlated with the reduction of Disease Activity Score 28 C-reactive protein (r = 0.58, p = 0.014; r = 0.47, p = 0.059; r = 0.59, p = 0.012, respectively).

Conclusion.

After therapy with abatacept, circulating CD28– T cells and other effector populations decrease in patients with RA. This decrease is correlated with clinical response.
Relative Over-Reactivity of Human versus Chimpanzee Lymphocytes: Implications for the Human Diseases Associated with Immune Activation
Authors: Soto Paula C. , Stein Lance L. , Hurtado-Ziola Nancy , Hedrick Stephen M. , Varki Ajit
Published: March 2010

Although humans and chimpanzees share >99% identity in alignable protein sequences, they differ surprisingly in the incidence and severity of some common diseases. In general, humans infected with various viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, appear to develop stronger reactions and long-term complications. Humans also appear to suffer more from other diseases associated with over-reactivity of the adaptive immune system, such as asthma, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we show that human T cells are more reactive than chimpanzee T cells to a wide variety of stimuli, including anti-TCR Abs of multiple isotypes, l-phytohemagglutin, Staphylococcus aureus superantigen, a superagonist anti-CD28 Ab, and in MLRs. We also extend this observation to B cells, again showing a human propensity to react more strongly to stimuli. Finally, we show a relative increase in activation markers and cytokine production in human lymphocytes in response to uridine-rich (viral-like) ssRNA. Thus, humans manifest a generalized lymphocyte over-reactivity relative to chimpanzees, a finding that is correlated with decreased levels of inhibitory sialic acid-recognizing Ig-superfamily lectins (Siglecs; particularly Siglec-5) on human T and B cells. Furthermore, Siglec-5 levels are upregulated by activation in chimpanzee but not human lymphocytes, and human T cell reactivity can be downmodulated by forced expression of Siglec-5. Thus, a key difference in the immune reactivity of chimp and human lymphocytes appears to be related to the differential expression of Siglec-5. Taken together, these data may help explain human propensities for diseases associated with excessive activation of the adaptive immune system.
Different Proliferative Potential and Migratory Characteristics of Human CD4+ Regulatory T Cells That Express either CD45RA or CD45RO
Authors: Booth Nicola J. , McQuaid Arthur J. , Sobande Toni , Kissane Steve , Agius Elaine , Jackson Sarah E. , Salmon Mike , Falciani Francesco , Yong Kwee , Rustin Malcolm H. , Akbar Arne N. , Vukmanovic-Stejic Milica
Published: March 2010

Although human naturally occurring regulatory T cells (Tregs) may express either CD45RA or CD45RO, we find in agreement with previous reports that the (∼80%) majority of natural Tregs in adults are CD45RO+. The proportion of CD45RA+ Tregs decreases, whereas CD45RO+ Tregs increase significantly with age. Nevertheless, a small proportion of CD45RA+ Tregs are found even in old (>80 y) adults and a proportion of these express CD31, a marker for recent thymic emigrants. We found that CD45RO+ Tregs were highly proliferative compared with their CD45RA+ counterparts. This was due in part to the conversion of CD45RA Tregs to CD45RO expression after activation. Another difference between these two Treg populations was their preferential migration to different tissues in vivo. Whereas CD45RA+ Tregs were preferentially located in the bone marrow, associated with increased CXCR4 expression, CD45RO+ Tregs were preferentially located in the skin, and this was associated with their increased expression of CLA and CCR4. Our studies therefore show that proliferation features strongly in maintenance of the adult Treg pool in humans and that the thymus may make a minor contribution to the maintenance of the peripheral pool of these cells, even in older adults. Furthermore, the different tissue compartmentalization of these cells suggests that different Treg niches exist in vivo, which may have important roles for their maturation and function.
Predictors of the Progression of Dementia Severity in Brazilian Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia
Authors: Chaves Márcia L. , Camozzato Ana L. , Köhler Cristiano , Kaye Jeffrey
Published: March 2010

Introduction. This study evaluates the progression of dementia and identifies prognostic risk factors for dementia.Methods. A group of 80 Brazilian community residents with dementia (34 with Alzheimer's disease and 46 with vascular dementia) was assessed over the course of 2 years. Data were analyzed with Cox regression survival analysis.Results. The data showed that education predicted cognitive decline (HR=1.2;P<.05) when analyzed without controlling for vascular risk factors. After the inclusion of vascular risk factors, education (HR=1.32;P<.05) and hypertension were predictive for cognitive decline (HR=38;P<.05), and Alzheimer's disease diagnosis was borderline predictive (P=.055).Conclusion.Vascular risk factors interacted with the diagnosis of vascular dementia. Education was a strong predictor of decline.
GADD45βDetermines Chemoresistance and Invasive Growth of Side Population Cells of Human Embryonic Carcinoma
Authors: Inowa Toshihiko , Hishikawa Keiichi , Matsuzaki Yumi , Isagawa Takayuki , Takeuchi Takumi , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Kitamura Tadaichi , Fujita Toshiro
Published: March 2010

Side population (SP) cells are an enriched population of stem, and the existence of SP cells has been reported in human cancer cell lines. In this study, we performed an SP analysis using 11 human cancer cell lines and confirmed the presence of SP cells in an embryonic carcinoma cell line, NEC8. NEC8 SP cells showed characteristics of cancer stem cells, such as high growth rate, chemoresistance and high invasiveness. To further characterize the NEC8 SP cells, we used DNA microarrays. Among 38,500 genes, we identified 12 genes that were over-expressed in SP cells and 1 gene that was over-expressed in non-SP cells. Among these 13 genes, we focused on GADD45b. GADD45b was over-expressed in non-SP cells, but the inhibition of GADD45b had no effect on non-SP cells. Paradoxically, the inhibition of GADD45b significantly reduced the viability of NEC8 SP cells. The inhibition of ABCG2, which determines the SP phenotype, had no effect on the invasiveness of NEC8 SP cells, but the inhibition of GADD45b significantly reduced invasiveness. These results suggest that GADD45b, but not ABCG2, might determine the cancer stem cell-like phenotype, such as chemoresistance and the high invasiveness of NEC8 SP cells, and might be a good therapeutic target.
In Stent Restenosis Predictors after Carotid Artery Stenting
Authors: Cosottini Mirco , Michelassi Maria Chiara , Bencivelli Walter , Lazzarotti Guido , Picchietti Silvia , Orlandi Giovanni , Parenti Giuliano , Puglioli Michele
Published: March 2010

Purpose. The long-term efficacy of carotid artery stenting is debated. Predictors of stent restenosis are not fully investigated. Our aim was to assess the incidence of long term restenosis after CAS and to identify some predictors of restenosis.Methods. We retrospectively selected 189 treated patients and we obtained the survival Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival, for freedom from stroke or death and from restenosis. To correlate clinical, radiological, and procedural variables to stent restenosis, an univariate analysis was performed while to determine independent predictors of restenosis, a multivariate analysis was applied.Results. At 1, 3, and 5 years, the cumulative overall survival rate was 98%, 94%, and 92% with a cumulative primary patency rate of 87%, 82.5%, and 82.5%. The percentage residual stenosis after CAS and multiple stents deployment were independent predictors of restenosis, while diabetes and tumors are suggestive but not significant predictors of restenosis.Conclusions. In our CAS experience, encouraging long-term results seem to derive from both neurological event free rate and restenosis incidence. Adequate recanalization of the treated vessel is important to limit the development of stent restenosis. Multiple stents deployment, and with less evidence, diabetes, or neoplasms has to be considered to facilitate restenosis.
COMPARAISON DE DIVERSES METHODES DE CASTRATION ET DE STERILISATION DES AGNEAUX: I. INFLUENCE DE CES METHODES SUR LA CROISSANCE, L’EFFICIENCE ALIMENTAIRE, LE RENDEMENT A L’AHATTAGE ET LA RENTABILITE
Authors: BAILLARGEON J. M. , LEMAY J. P. , HOLTMANN W. B. , CHARETTE L. A.
Published: March 2010

An experiment was conducted to compare various physical and chemical methods of castration of lambs at 15 and 60 days of age. Their effects on body growth, feed efficiency, dressing percentage and profitability were studied. At birth 100 lambs were divided among the 16 different treatments according to sex and the following breeding groups: Suffolk, North Country Cheviot, two-breed cross and three-breed cross. The different methods of castration were: complete removal of the testicles, Burdizzo, elastrator and partial castration. The sterilization methods consisted of intramuscular, intratesticular and intraveinous injection of cadmium chloride. All lambs were weaned at 30 days of age and placed in individual pens. They were subjected to similar environmental conditions and shipped to slaughter at approximately 45 kg body weight. Significant differences were observed among breeds, sexes and the various castration methods for daily gain, feed efficiency, days required to reach market and profitability. Age at castration did not have any important effect ort the variables measured. Superior gains, feed efficiency and profitability were observed for the partially castrated group, for the lambs that received an intramuscular injection of cadmium chloride and for the non-castrated males. All treatment groups involving males were superior to the females for the characters studied except for dressing percentage.
COMPARAISON DE DIVERSES METHODES DE CASTRATION ET DE STERILISATION DES AGNEAUX: II. INFLUENCE SUR LA CARCASSE
Authors: BAILLARGEON J. M. , LEMAY J. P. , HOLTMANN W. B. , CHARETTE L. A.
Published: March 2010

An experiment was undertaken to study the effect of various physical and chemical methods of castrating and sterilizing lambs at 15 and 60 days of age on the classification, tenderness, flavor and several physical and chemical measurements of the carcass. The effects of breed and sex were also investigated. Based on the official grading system, females and completely or partially castrated males produced superior carcasses when compared with non-castrated males. No significant differences were observed among treatments, age of treatment, sex and breeds, for tenderness and flavor. However, there was a preference for the carcasses of partially castrated lambs. Treatment and sex had a highly significant effect on the chemical composition of the carcasses. The meat from non-castrated and partially castrated lambs contained more water and protein but less external and intramuscular fat than meat from females and castrated males. No significant differences were observed among the treatments, age at treatment, sex and breeds for loin-eye area, melting point of the fat and pH of the "longissimus dorsi" muscle.
NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWING AND FINISHING PIGS
Authors: OWUSU-DOMFEH K. , BELL J. M.
Published: March 2010

Pig diets for growth and finishing were formulated by linear programming for least cost, and according to the nutrient requirements specified by the U.S. NRC and the British ARC. They were fed to 72 pigs from weaning to finishing, and provided observations on the digestibility of feed, utilization of feed, digestible energy and digestible crude protein, gain in body weight, and quality of carcass. The pigs gained faster and more efficiently than expected from NRC and ARC standards. Pigs fed the ARC diets required less digestible energy per kg gain than pigs fed the NRC diets. The higher levels of protein, vitamins A and D, calcium and phosphorus of ARC standards did not enhance performance. The higher NRC level of digestible energy was not essential to maintain maximum daily gain. The ARC recommendations for lysine and methionine were found to be adequate.
NUTRITIONAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SAPONINS: A REVIEW
Authors: CHEEKE P. R.
Published: March 2010

not available
EFFECT OF DIETARY EDTA ON THE ABILITY OF CHICKS TO TOLERATE SODIUM CHLORIDE IN THE WATER
Authors: COWAN T. K. J. , PHILLIPS G. D. , BRAGG D. B.
Published: March 2010

Broiler chicks, allocated in a randomized block design, were fed four diets containing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) at 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% of the diet and drinking water with a high salt concentration (6000 ppm). A control group received tap water and the EDTA-free diet. The addition of 6000 ppm NaCl in the drinking water had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion. Similarly, the inclusion of up to 0.4% EDTA in the feed had no adverse effect on weight gain. Analyses of packed-cell volume (PCV) and plasma sodium, chloride and calcium concentrations showed no changes as a result of treatment. Water consumption almost doubled for the chicks subjected to high salt water regimens compared with the control. Two groups of chicks received the EDTA-free diet, and significantly (P < 0.10) higher mortality was found for the group on the salt water compared with the tap water controls. The mortality in the former was also significantly (P < 0.10) higher than for the group receiving 0.2% EDTA in the diet and salt water. The chicks on the 0.4% EDTA diet had significantly (P < 0.05) higher mortality than control chicks on tap water and those chicks receiving salt water and diets containing 0.1% and 0.2% EDTA. Postmortem examination indicated that ascites and widespread edema were the causes of death in chicks that drank salt water and consumed diets containing no EDTA or 0.4% EDTA. The death of chicks on treatments that resulted in low mortality rates was not attributable to ascites. The reason for the apparent beneficial effect of feeding 0.2% EDTA in the diet in conjunction with the salt water remains open to conjecture.
EFFECT OF THEOPHYLLINE ON THE MOBILIZATION AND OXIDATION OF BODY FAT AND THE CARCASS QUALITY OF PIGS
Authors: CUNNINGHAM H. M. , FRIEND D. W.
Published: March 2010

The body fat of three 50-kg pigs was labelled with 14C by feeding them 14C-palmitic acid. When later given a single, oral dose of 3.0 g of theophylline, these pigs expired six times as much 14CO2 during the subsequent 12 hr compared with control periods when no theophylline was given. Similarly, in the 12- to 24-hr interval after theophylline was administered, 29% more 14CO2 and 22% more CO2 was expired. In an experiment with 12 pairs of pigs, those fed theophylline from weaning until market weight had a 13% increase (P < 0.01) in the area of loin eye, a 12% decrease (P < 0.05) in the average depth of backfat and a 32% decrease (P < 0.01) in the depth of backfat over the loin eye. Significant improvements were also recorded in carcass length, predicted yield and carcass index.
EFFECT OF A SINGLE AND A DOUBLE HORMONE IMPLANT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN STEERS FINISHED ON A TOTAL OR RESTRICTED CONCENTRATE FINISHING RATION
Authors: FORREST R. J.
Published: March 2010

Implanting Holstein-Friesian steers twice with hormones during the finishing phase did not improve growth performance beyond that obtained from a single implant. Steers implanted twice and finished on a 40% concentrate and 60% hay ration grew as rapidly as steers finished on 100% concentrate; they had significantly less grams of fat (P < 0.05), but not grams of bone or lean, in their carcass rib sections. However, when the rib data were expressed on a proportional basis the animals in the roughage-fed group had significantly less lean and more bone (P < 0.05) as well as a lower percentage of fat in their rib sections than concentrate-fed animals.
LOSS IN DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS WHEN ENSILED BARLEY IS FED WHOLE
Authors: NICHOLSON J. W. G. , GORRILL A. D. L. , BURGESS P. L.
Published: March 2010

Two experiments were conducted to determine the proportion of whole and milled ensiled barley which passed through the digestive tract of cattle. Four three-year-old Holstein steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Six kg/day of whole barley or barley milled through a hammermill with a 1.3-cm diameter screen was fed either as the sole ration or with 2 kg/day of long hay. Milling the barley resulted in a 25 to 30% increase in the digestion coefficients for dry matter, organic matter and energy. The whole barley kernels recovered from the feces were similar to the barley as fed in chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility. Feeding hay did not increase the digestion of barley in spite of increased rumination. Whole barley recovered from the feces was only 15% of that consumed by four yearling heifers in a switch-back experiment. The barley recovered was lower in in vitro dry matter digestibility than the barley as fed. It was concluded that the younger animals chewed the whole barley more efficiently than the three-year-old steers. The loss of potentially digestible dry matter, organic matter and energy, when ensiled barley was fed whole as compared with milled, ranged from 10 to 30%. It was concluded that ensiled barley should not be fed whole to cattle.
DIGESTIBILITY OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE-TREATED STRAW FED ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ALFALFA SILAGE
Authors: MAENG W. J. , MOWAT D. N. , BILANSKI W. K.
Published: March 2010

Rations were fed at a constant level of dry matter intake to eight wethers in a double 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cell walls and energy of wet barley straw treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 100 C were more digestible (P < 0.01) than with alfalfa silage. Mixing treated straw with alfalfa silage resulted in associative effects on digestibility, particularly with the lowest level of straw in the ration. Assuming the digestibility of alfalfa silage to remain constant, treated straw was 11.4 units higher in energy digestibility when fed at a level of 22% compared with 80% of dry matter intake. Increased cellulose digestibility accounted for only part of this improvement. Sheep fed mainly NaOH straw consumed the least nitrogen but had the highest nitrogen retention (P < 0.01). Marked increases in water intake and urine output occurred with sheep fed high levels of treated straw. With all rations, the majority of ingested sodium was excreted in the urine.
EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE MATING ON SIRE PROOFS FOR MILK PRODUCTION, PERCENT MILK FAT AND FINAL TYPE SCORE
Authors: MAYNARD E. , WILTON J. W. , BURNSIDE E. B. , FREEMAN M. G.
Published: March 2010

A study was made of the effects of selective mating on the milk yield and percent milk fat proofs of 325 sires and the final type score proofs of 434 sires. Sires were grouped by type of ownership into artificial insemination (AI) unit ownership, private ownership with daughters in 10 or fewer herds, private ownership with daughters in more than 10 herds and private then AI ownership categories. Each group of sires was mated to cows above average for milk yield. With one exception, each group was also mated to better than average cows for percent milk fat. The average weighted bias for AI sires with a first proof for milk yield was 0.16 and with a second proof, 0.18 breed class average (BCA) points. The average weighted bias for percent milk fat was zero for AI sires for both first and second proofs. The greatest average bias for a group of sire proofs in milk yield was 0.31 BCA points for the privately owned sires used in more than 10 herds and in milk fat percent was −0.02% for the privately owned sires used in 10 or fewer herds. Selection indices that included the dams’ deviation records for milk yield and percent milk fat were only slightly different from the indices using daughter records only. Failure to use the dams’ records led to a maximum bias of 1.64 BCA points in first milk yield proofs of AI sires. The difference between the two sires with the largest positive and negative biases led to a maximum bias of 0.14% in the milk fat proofs of the sires studied. With respect to final type score, mates of young AI sires were inferior to mates of privately owned sires. Mates of sires entering AI studs on the basis of a natural service proof were also superior to those of young AI sires. The average bias in first proofs for AI, [Formula: see text], private > 10 herds, and private then AI sires, was 0.06, 0.09, 0.26, and 0.20 points, respectively, with significant differences in mate merit among and within sire groups. The maximum bias between two sires in final type score proofs was 0.94 points.
COMPARISON OF SILAGES MADE FROM GRASS, GRASS-LEGUME AND CORN FED TO STEERS WITH AND WITHOUT DIETHYLSTILBESTROL
Authors: CALDER F. W. , LANGILLE J. E. , NICHOLSON J. W. G.
Published: March 2010

Three silage crops were evaluated as the major source of nutrients for finishing beef steers in terms of the efficiency of animal gain per unit weight of crop harvested and per unit of land used to grow the crops. Silage was made from (1) grass −65% timothy (Phleum pratense L.); 10% couch grass (Agropyron repens L.), 10% bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 15% brown top (Agrostis sp.); (2) grass–legume −50% bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss), 50% alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); and (3) corn (Zea mays L.). The three silages were fed to yearling Hereford steers for a period of 126 days. In addition to silage, all steers received 1 kg of coarse ground barley per head per day and one-half of those fed each silage received, in addition, 10 mg of diethylstilbestrol (DES) mixed in the barley. Dry matter percentage at harvest was 25.8 for grass, 18.4 for grass–legume and 24.1 for corn, resulting in a loss from seepage, respiration and fermentation during storage of 9.5, 15.3 and 0.1%, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) for steers fed corn was 1.05 kg; for grass–legume, 0.89 kg and for grass, 0.56 kg. When DES was added the ADG increased to 1.15, 0.96 and 0.74 kg, respectively. The calculated animal gains per hectare of each crop were 695, 1,414 and 1,415 kg for grass, grass–legume and corn, respectively. Higher grades of carcasses were obtained from steers fed corn silage than steers fed grass–legume silage which in turn were better than those from steers fed grass silage.
FERTILIZATION IN SWINE AND CATTLE
Authors: BAKER R. D. , POLGE C.
Published: March 2010

Fertilization and its prerequisites, i.e. sperm transport, capacitation and oocyte maturation, were discussed with emphasis on the occurrence of these processes in the pig and cow. Attempts to fertilize porcine and bovine ova in a micro-droplet system which was used successfully to fertilize mouse and hamster ova were not successful. Many droplets contained highly motile spermatozoa which were effective in removing the follicular cells from around the zonae. Spermatozoa attached to the zonae but did not penetrate the ova in vitro. No motile bull or boar spermatozoa with an "acrosome reaction" were observed in the droplets. When droplets which contained boar spermatozoa and pig follicular oocytes for 4 h were transferred into the oviducts of estrous females, spermatozoa exhibited acrosome reactions and ova were penetrated. Reducing oocyte maturation time and injecting progesterone before ovulation increased (P < 0.05) the incidence of polyspermy in pigs. Bovine oocytes underwent maturation and were penetrated by bull spermatozoa in pig oviducts. Culture systems, other than the oviduct, did not provide satisfactory conditions for fertilization of bovine or porcine ova.