bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth of etiolated barley plants in weak static and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields tuned to calcium ion cyclotron resonance
Authors: Pazur Alexander , Rassadina Valentina , Dandler Jörg , Zoller Jutta
Published: February 2006

Background

The effects of weak magnetic and electromagnetic fields in biology have been intensively studied on animals, microorganisms and humans, but comparably less on plants. Perception mechanisms were attributed originally to ferrimagnetism, but later discoveries required additional explanations like the "radical pair mechanism" and the "Ion cyclotron resonance" (ICR), primarily considered by Liboff. The latter predicts effects by small ions involved in biological processes, that occur in definite frequency- and intensity ranges ("windows") of simultaneously impacting magnetic and electromagnetic fields related by a linear equation, which meanwhile is proven by a number of in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Methods

Barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare, L. var. Steffi) were grown in the dark for 5 and 6 days under static magnetic and 50 Hz electromagnetic fields matching the ICR conditions of Ca2+. Control cultures were grown under normal geomagnetic conditions, not matching this ICR. Morphology, pigmentation and long-term development of the adult plants were subsequently investigated.

Results

The shoots of plants exposed to Ca2+-ICR exposed grew 15–20% shorter compared to the controls, the plant weight was 10–12% lower, and they had longer coleoptiles that were adhering stronger to the primary leaf tissue. The total pigment contents of protochlorophyllide (PChlide) and carotenoids were significantly decreased. The rate of PChlide regeneration after light irradiation was reduced for the Ca2+-ICR exposed plants, also the Shibata shift was slightly delayed. Even a longer subsequent natural growing phase without any additional fields could only partially eliminate these effects: the plants initially exposed to Ca2+-ICR were still significantly shorter and had a lower chlorophyll (a+b) content compared to the controls. A continued cultivation and observation of the adult plants under natural conditions without any artificial electromagnetic fields showed a retardation of the originally Ca2+-ICR exposed plants compared to control cultures lasting several weeks, with an increased tendency for dehydration.

Conclusion

A direct influence of the applied MF and EMF is discussed affecting Ca2+ levels via the ICR mechanism. It influences the available Ca2+ and thereby regulatory processes. Theoretical considerations on molecular level focus on ionic interactions with water related to models using quantum electrodynamics.
Structural ambiguity of the Chinese version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Wang Wenru , Lopez Violeta , Thompson David , Martin Colin R
Published: February 2006

Background

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a widely used screening tool designed as a case detector for clinically relevant anxiety and depression. Recent studies of the HADS in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in European countries suggest it comprises three, rather than two, underlying sub-scale dimensions. The factor structure of the Chinese version of the HADS was evaluated in patients with CHD in mainland China.

Methods

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on self-report HADS forms from 154 Chinese CHD patients.

Results

Little difference was observed in model fit between best performing three-factor and two-factor models.

Conclusion

The current observations are inconsistent with recent studies highlighting a dominant underlying tri-dimensional structure to the HADS in CHD patients. The Chinese version of the HADS may perform differently to European language versions of the instrument in patients with CHD.
The effect of inpatient rehabilitation programmes on quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis: A multi-center study
Authors: Schmitz Tim G , Goldbeck Lutz
Published: February 2006

Background

Disease-specific, multimodal inpatient rehabilitation programmes are designed to improve the physical, emotional, and social functioning of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

This study investigates the effects of a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program on health-related quality of life (QL).

Methods

84 German patients with CF (16–62 years of age, FEV1 mean 52.9% of the predicted), participating in an inpatient rehabilitation programme, completed the Questions on Life Satisfaction-Modules (FLZM) at the beginning and one month after the end of intervention. The FLZM allows the multi-dimensional evaluation of subjectively perceived satisfaction with general and health-specific life domains. In addition, medical parameters (FEV1, Body Mass Index) and socio-demographic data were registered.

Results

Compared to the baseline scores, after rehabilitation, participants were significantly more satisfied with general, health-related, and CF-related aspects of their lives. Specifically, improvement was noted in the following items: breathing difficulties/cough, sleep, integration of therapy into daily routine, leisure activities, general health perception, physical condition and being free from anxiety.

Conclusion

Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programmes are a promising strategy to improve the quality of life of adolescent and adult CF-patients.
Progesterone improves the number and quality of hormone induced Fowler toad (Bufo fowleri) oocytes
Authors: Browne Robert K , Li Hong , Seratt Jessica , Kouba Andrew
Published: February 2006

Combinations of progesterone, lutenizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and the dopamine-2 (DA2) receptor antagonist 1-[1-[4,4-bis(4-Fluorophenyl)butyl]-4-piperidinyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (Pimozide; Orap) were tested for improvement of spawning rates, oocyte numbers, fertilization and neurulation rates of the Fowler toad (Bufo fowleri). Only treatments combined with progesterone produced large numbers of oocytes. The best treatment on oocyte numbers, neurulation rates, and the number of neurulas was with 5 mg progesterone, 20 mic.g LHRHa, and 0.25 mg Pimozide. Progesterone (5 mg) with 60 mic.g LHRHa gave high spawning rates, oocyte numbers, and fertilization rates but neurulation rates were low. Progesterone alone in high repeated doses did not result in ovulation. High doses of LHRHa (60 mic.g) with hCG, progesterone, and Pimozide gave the greatest number of toads spawning, however, they resulted in low oocyte numbers, fertilization and neurulation rates. A low dose of LHRHa (4 mic.g) with hCG, or hCG alone as a second administration, and progesterone with Pimozide produced few good quality oocytes. Toads were given normal ovulatory doses of hormones 24 or 48 hrs after their initial dose, but these resulted in low oocyte numbers followed by poor fertilization. Overall, these results suggest that progesterone with a dose between 20 mic.g and 60 mic.g of LHRHa may be optimal for the induction of ovulation in these toads. Moreover, Pimozide can supplement low doses of LHRHa but not replace it.
Two unrelated putative membrane-bound progestin receptors, progesterone membrane receptor component 1 (PGMRC1) and membrane progestin receptor (mPR) beta, are expressed in the rainbow trout oocyte and exhibit similar ovarian expression patterns
Authors: Mourot Brigitte , Nguyen Thaovi , Fostier Alexis , Bobe Julien
Published: February 2006

Background

In lower vertebrates, steroid-induced oocyte maturation is considered to involve membrane-bound progestin receptors. Two totally distinct classes of putative membrane-bound progestin receptors have been reported in vertebrates. A first class of receptors, now termed progesterone membrane receptor component (PGMRC; subtypes 1 and 2) has been studied since 1996 but never studied in a fish species nor in the oocyte of any animal species. A second class of receptors, termed membrane progestin receptors (mPR; subtypes alpha, beta and gamma), was recently described in vertebrates and implicated in the progestin-initiated induction of oocyte maturation in fish.

Methods

In the present study, we report the characterization of the full coding sequence of rainbow trout PGMRC1 and mPR beta cDNAs, their tissue distribution, their ovarian expression profiles during oogenesis, their hormonal regulation in the full grown ovary and the in situ localization of PGMRC1 mRNA in the ovary.

Results

Our results clearly show, for the first time in any animal species, that rainbow trout PGMRC1 mRNA is present in the oocyte and has a strong expression in ovarian tissue. In addition, we show that both mPR beta and PGMRC1, two members of distinct membrane-bound progestin receptor classes, exhibit highly similar ovarian expression profiles during the reproductive cycle with maximum levels during vitellogenesis and a down-expression during late vitellogenesis. In addition, the mRNA abundance of both genes is not increased after in vitro hormonal stimulation of full grown follicles by maturation inducing hormones.

Conclusion

Together, our findings suggest that PGMRC1 is a new possible participant in the progestin-induced oocyte maturation in fish. However, its participation in the process of oocyte maturation, which remains to be confirmed, would occur at post-transcriptional levels.
Tissue distribution of a plasmid DNA encoding Hsp65 gene is dependent on the dose administered through intramuscular delivery
Authors: Coelho-Castelo AAM , Trombone AP , Rosada RS , Santos RR , Bonato VLD , Sartori A , Silva CL
Published: February 2006

In order to assess a new strategy of DNA vaccine for a more complete understanding of its action in immune response, it is important to determine thein vivobiodistribution fate and antigen expression. In previous studies, our group focused on the prophylactic and therapeutic use of a plasmid DNA encoding theMycobacterium leprae65-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp65) and achieved an efficient immune response induction as well as protection against virulentM. tuberculosischallenge. In the present study, we examinedin vivotissue distribution of naked DNA-Hsp65 vaccine, the Hsp65 message, genome integration and methylation status of plasmid DNA. The DNA-Hsp65 was detectable in several tissue types, indicating that DNA-Hsp65 disseminates widely throughout the body. The biodistribution was dose-dependent. In contrast, RT-PCR detected the Hsp65 message for at least 15 days in muscle or liver tissue from immunized mice. We also analyzed the methylation status and integration of the injected plasmid DNA into the host cellular genome. The bacterial methylation pattern persisted for at least 6 months, indicating that the plasmid DNA-Hsp65 does not replicate in mammalian tissue, and Southern blot analysis showed that plasmid DNA was not integrated. These results have important implications for the use of DNA-Hsp65 vaccine in a clinical setting and open new perspectives for DNA vaccines and new considerations about the inoculation site and delivery system.
Human hair genealogies and stem cell latency
Authors: Kim Jung Yeon , Tavaré Simon , Shibata Darryl
Published: February 2006

Background

Stem cells divide to reproduce themselves and produce differentiated progeny. A fundamental problem in human biology has been the inability to measure how often stem cells divide. Although it is impossible to observe every division directly, one method for counting divisions is to count replication errors; the greater the number of divisions, the greater the numbers of errors. Stem cells with more divisions should produce progeny with more replication errors.

Methods

To test this approach, epigenetic errors (methylation) in CpG-rich molecular clocks were measured from human hairs. Hairs exhibit growth and replacement cycles and "new" hairs physically reappear even on "old" heads. Errors may accumulate in long-lived stem cells, or in their differentiated progeny that are eventually shed.

Results

Average hair errors increased until two years of age, and then were constant despite decades of replacement, consistent with new hairs arising from infrequently dividing bulge stem cells. Errors were significantly more frequent in longer hairs, consistent with long-lived but eventually shed mitotic follicle cells.

Conclusion

Constant average hair methylation regardless of age contrasts with the age-related methylation observed in human intestine, suggesting that error accumulation and therefore stem cell latency differs among tissues. Epigenetic molecular clocks imply similar mitotic ages for hairs on young and old human heads, consistent with a restart with each new hair, and with genealogies surreptitiously written within somatic cell genomes.
The complete chloroplast DNA sequence of the green alga Oltmannsiellopsis viridis reveals a distinctive quadripartite architecture in the chloroplast genome of early diverging ulvophytes
Authors: Pombert Jean-François , Lemieux Claude , Turmel Monique
Published: February 2006

Background

The phylum Chlorophyta contains the majority of the green algae and is divided into four classes. The basal position of the Prasinophyceae has been well documented, but the divergence order of the Ulvophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae and Chlorophyceae is currently debated. The four complete chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences presently available for representatives of these classes have revealed extensive variability in overall structure, gene content, intron composition and gene order. The chloroplast genome of Pseudendoclonium (Ulvophyceae), in particular, is characterized by an atypical quadripartite architecture that deviates from the ancestral type by a large inverted repeat (IR) featuring an inverted rRNA operon and a small single-copy (SSC) region containing 14 genes normally found in the large single-copy (LSC) region. To gain insights into the nature of the events that led to the reorganization of the chloroplast genome in the Ulvophyceae, we have determined the complete cpDNA sequence of Oltmannsiellopsis viridis, a representative of a distinct, early diverging lineage.

Results

The 151,933 bp IR-containing genome of Oltmannsiellopsis differs considerably from Pseudendoclonium and other chlorophyte cpDNAs in intron content and gene order, but shares close similarities with its ulvophyte homologue at the levels of quadripartite architecture, gene content and gene density. Oltmannsiellopsis cpDNA encodes 105 genes, contains five group I introns, and features many short dispersed repeats. As in Pseudendoclonium cpDNA, the rRNA genes in the IR are transcribed toward the single copy region featuring the genes typically found in the ancestral LSC region, and the opposite single copy region harbours genes characteristic of both the ancestral SSC and LSC regions. The 52 genes that were transferred from the ancestral LSC to SSC region include 12 of those observed in Pseudendoclonium cpDNA. Surprisingly, the overall gene organization of Oltmannsiellopsis cpDNA more closely resembles that of Chlorella (Trebouxiophyceae) cpDNA.

Conclusion

The chloroplast genome of the last common ancestor of Oltmannsiellopsis and Pseudendoclonium contained a minimum of 108 genes, carried only a few group I introns, and featured a distinctive quadripartite architecture. Numerous changes were experienced by the chloroplast genome in the lineages leading to Oltmannsiellopsis and Pseudendoclonium. Our comparative analyses of chlorophyte cpDNAs support the notion that the Ulvophyceae is sister to the Chlorophyceae.
Primary glia expressing the G93A-SOD1 mutation present a neuroinflammatory phenotype and provide a cellular system for studies of glial inflammation
Authors: Hensley Kenneth , Abdel-Moaty Haitham , Hunter Jerrod , Mhatre Molina , Mou Shenyun , Nguyen Kim , Potapova Tamara , Pye Quentin N , Qi Min , Rice Heather , Stewart Charles , Stroukoff Katharine , West Melinda
Published: February 2006

Detailed study of glial inflammation has been hindered by lack of cell culture systems that spontaneously demonstrate the "neuroinflammatory phenotype". Mice expressing a glycine → alanine substitution in cytosolic Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (G93A-SOD1) associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) demonstrate age-dependent neuroinflammation associated with broad-spectrum cytokine, eicosanoid and oxidant production. In order to more precisely study the cellular mechanisms underlying glial activation in the G93A-SOD1 mouse, primary astrocytes were cultured from 7 day mouse neonates. At this age, G93A-SOD1 mice demonstrated no in vivo hallmarks of neuroinflammation. Nonetheless astrocytes cultured from G93A-SOD1 (but not wild-type human SOD1-expressing) transgenic mouse pups demonstrated a significant elevation in either the basal or the tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα)-stimulated levels of proinflammatory eicosanoids prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4); inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and •NO (indexed by nitrite release into the culture medium); and protein carbonyl products. Specific cytokine- and TNFα death-receptor-associated components were similarly upregulated in cultured G93A-SOD1 cells as assessed by multiprobe ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs) for their mRNA transcripts. Thus, endogenous glial expression of G93A-SOD1 produces a metastable condition in which glia are more prone to enter an activated neuroinflammatory state associated with broad-spectrum increased production of paracrine-acting substances. These findings support a role for active glial involvement in ALS and may provide a useful cell culture tool for the study of glial inflammation.
A review of the correlation of tergites, sternites, and leg pairs in diplopods
Authors: Janssen Ralf , Prpic Nikola-Michael , Damen Wim GM
Published: February 2006

In some arthropods there is a discrepancy in the number of dorsal tergites compared to the number of ventral sternites and leg pairs. The posterior tergites of the Diplopoda (millipedes) each cover two sternites and two pairs of legs. This segment arrangement is called diplosegmentation. The molecular nature of diplosegmentation is still unknown. There are even conflicting theories on the way the tergites and sternites/leg pairs should be correlated to each other. The different theories are based either on embryological analyses or on studies of the adult morphology and turned out to be not compatible with each other. We have previously used the expression patterns of segmentation genes in the pill millipede Glomeris marginata (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) to study millipede segmentation. Here we review the existing models on the alignment of tergites and leg pairs in millipedes with special emphasis on the implications the gene expression data have on the debate of tergite and leg pair assignment in millipedes. The remarkable outcome of the gene expression analysis was that (1) there is no coupling of dorsal and ventral segmentation and, importantly, that (2) the boundaries delimiting the tergites do neither correlate to the embryonic boundaries of the dorsal embryonic segments nor to the boundaries of the ventral embryonic segments. Using these new insights, we critically reinvestigated the correlation of tergites, sternites, and leg pairs in millipedes. Our model, which takes into account that the tergite boundaries are different from the dorsal embryonic segment boundaries, provides a solution of the problem of tergite to sternite/leg pair correlation in basal milipedes with non-fused exoskeletal elements and also has implications for derived species with exoskeletal rings. Moreover, lack of coupling of dorsal and ventral segmentation may also explain the discrepancy in numbers of dorsal tergites and ventral leg pairs seen in some other arthropods.
Pulmonary toxicity screening studies in male rats with TiO2 particulates substantially encapsulated with pyrogenically deposited, amorphous silica
Authors: Warheit DB , Webb TR , Reed KL
Published: February 2006

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute lung toxicity in rats of intratracheally instilled TiO2 particles that have been substantially encapsulated with pyrogenically deposited, amorphous silica. Groups of rats were intratracheally instilled either with doses of 1 or 5 mg/kg of hydrophilic Pigment A TiO2 particles or doses of 1 or 5 mg/kg of the following control or particle-types: 1) R-100 TiO2 particles (hydrophilic in nature); 2) quartz particles, 3) carbonyl iron particles. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instilled rats served as additional controls. Following exposures, the lungs of PBS and particle-exposed rats were evaluated for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid inflammatory markers, cell proliferation, and by histopathology at post-instillation time points of 24 hrs, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months.

The bronchoalveolar lavage results demonstrated that lung exposures to quartz particles, at both concentrations but particularly at the higher dose, produced significant increases vs. controls in pulmonary inflammation and cytotoxicity indices. Exposures to Pigment A or R-100 TiO2 particles produced transient inflammatory and cell injury effects at 24 hours postexposure (pe), but these effects were not sustained when compared to quartz-related effects. Exposures to carbonyl iron particles or PBS resulted only in minor, short-term and reversible lung inflammation, likely related to the effects of the instillation procedure.

Histopathological analyses of lung tissues revealed that pulmonary exposures to Pigment A TiO2 particles produced minor inflammation at 24 hours postexposure and these effects were not significantly different from exposures to R-100 or carbonyl iron particles. Pigment A-exposed lung tissue sections appeared normal at 1 and 3 months postexposure. In contrast, pulmonary exposures to quartz particles in rats produced a dose-dependent lung inflammatory response characterized by neutrophils and foamy (lipid-containing) alveolar macrophage accumulation as well as evidence of early lung tissue thickening consistent with the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Based on our results, we conclude the following: 1) Pulmonary instillation exposures to Pigment A TiO2 particles at 5 mg/kg produced a transient lung inflammatory response which was not different from the lung response to R-100 TiO2 particles or carbonyl iron particles; 2) the response to Pigment A was substantially less active in terms of inflammation, cytotoxicity, and fibrogenic effects than the positive control particle-type, quartz particles. Thus, based on the findings of this study, we would expect that inhaled Pigment A TiO2 particles would have a low risk potential for producing adverse pulmonary health effects.
Reliability and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y: Preliminary data
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N , Papadopoulou Marina , Kleanthous Soula , Papadopoulou Anna , Bizeli Vasiliki , Nimatoudis Ioannis , Iacovides Apostolos , Kaprinis George S
Published: February 2006

Background

The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y is a brief self-rating scale for the assessment of state and trait anxiety. The aim of the current preliminary study was to assess the psychometric properties of its Greek translation.

Materials and methods

121 healthy volunteers 27.22 ± 10.61 years old, and 22 depressed patients 29.48 ± 9.28 years old entered the study. In 20 of them the instrument was re-applied 1–2 days later. Translation and Back Translation was made. The clinical diagnosis was reached with the SCAN v.2.0 and the IPDE. The Symptoms Rating Scale for Depression and Anxiety (SRSDA) and the EPQ were applied for cross-validation purposes. The Statistical Analysis included the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and the calculation of Cronbach's alpha.

Results

The State score for healthy subjects was 34.30 ± 10.79 and the Trait score was 36.07 ± 10.47. The respected scores for the depressed patients were 56.22 ± 8.86 and 53.83 ± 10.87. Both State and Trait scores followed the normal distribution in control subjects. Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 for the State and 0.92 for the Trait subscale. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient between State and Trait subscales was 0.79. Both subscales correlated fairly with the anxiety subscale of the SRSDA. Test-retest reliability was excellent, with Pearson coefficient being between 0.75 and 0.98 for individual items and equal to 0.96 for State and 0.98 for Trait.

Conclusion

The current study provided preliminary evidence concerning the reliability and the validity of the Greek translation of the STAI-form Y. Its properties are generally similar to those reported in the international literature, but further research is necessary.
Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older
Authors: Hawk Cheryl , Hyland John K , Rupert Ronald , Colonvega Makasha , Hall Stephanie
Published: February 2006

Background

Falls are a major health concern for older adults and their impact is a significant public health problem. The chief modifiable risk factors for falls in community-dwellers are psychotropic drugs, polypharmacy, environmental hazards, poor vision, lower extremity impairments, and balance impairments. This study focused on balance impairments. Its purpose was to assess the feasibility of recruiting older adults with possible balance problems for research conducted at a chiropractic research center, and to explore the utility of several widely used balance instruments for future studies of the effect of chiropractic care on balance in older adults.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted from September through December 2004. Participants were recruited through a variety of outreach methods, and all were provided with an educational intervention. Data were collected at each of two visits through questionnaires, interviews, and physical examinations. Balance was assessed on both visits using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABCS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the One Leg Standing Test (OLST).

Results

A total of 101 participants enrolled in the study. Advertising in the local senior newspaper was the most effective method of recruitment (46%). The majority of our participants were white (86%) females (67%). About one third (32%) of participants had a baseline BBS score below 46, the cut-off point for predicting risk of falling. A mean improvement in BBS scores of 1.7 points was observed on the second visit. For the subgroup with baseline scores below 46, the mean change was 4.5 points, but the group mean remained below 46 (42.5).

Conclusion

Recruitment of community-dwelling seniors for fall-related research conducted at a chiropractic research center appears feasible, and the most successful recruitment strategies for this center appeared to be a combination of targeted newspaper ads and personal contact through senior centers. The BBS and OLST appear to be promising screening and assessment instruments, which might have utility in future investigations of the possible effects of chiropractic care on balance.
Kenyan medicinal plants used as antivenin: a comparison of plant usage
Authors: Owuor Bethwell O , Kisangau Daniel P
Published: February 2006

The success of snake bite healers is vaguely understood in Kenya, partly due to their unknown materia medica and occult-mystical nature of their practice. A comparison is made of plants used in snake bite treatments by two culturally distinct African groups (the Kamba and Luo). Thirty two plants used for snakebite treatment are documented. The majority of the antidotes are prepared from freshly collected plant material – frequently leaves. Though knowledge of snake bite conditions etiological perceptions of the ethnic groups is similar, field ethnobotanical data suggests that plant species used by the two ethnic groups are independently derived. Antivenin medicinal plants effectively illustrate the cultural context of medicine. Randomness or the use of a variety of species in different families appears to be a feature of traditional snake bite treatments. A high degree of informant consensus for the species was observed. The study indicates rural Kenya inhabitants rely on medicinal plants for healthcare.
Household dyeing plants and traditional uses in some areas of Italy
Authors: Guarrera Paolo Maria
Published: February 2006

Background

This paper reports the results of investigations carried out from 1977 to today in some areas of Italy (Latium, Marche, Abruzzo and to a limited extent in Sardinia) concerning traditional uses of dyeing plants in the household.

Results

Twenty-nine plants are described, distributed in 23 families, and for each species the vernacular name, the way it is used and the locations of traditional use are given. Other plants used in the past in the above-mentioned regions are recalled.

Conclusion

Among the new findings – not mentioned in previous literature, see references – is Muscari neglectum (purplish). Nowadays atavistic dye uses still persist only in Nule (Sardinia).
CXCL12 is displayed by rheumatoid endothelial cells through its basic amino-terminal motif on heparan sulfate proteoglycans
Authors: Santiago Begoña , Baleux Françoise , Palao Guillermo , Gutiérrez-Cañas Irene , Ramírez Juan C , Arenzana-Seisdedos Fernando , Pablos José L
Published: February 2006

The chemokine CXCL12 (also known as stromal cell-derived factor, SDF-1) is constitutively expressed by stromal resident cells and is involved in the homeostatic and inflammatory traffic of leukocytes. Binding of CXCL12 to glycosaminoglycans on endothelial cells (ECs) is supposed to be relevant to the regulation of leukocyte diapedesis and neoangiogenesis during inflammatory responses. To improve our understanding of the relevance of this process to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we have studied the mechanisms of presentation of exogenous CXCL12 by cultured RA ECs. RA synovial tissues had higher levels of CXCL12 on the endothelium than osteoarthritis (OA) tissues; in both, CXCL12 colocalized to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and high endothelial venules. In cultured RA ECs, exogenous CXCL12α was able to bind in a CXCR4-independent manner to surface HSPGs. Desulfation of RA EC HSPGs by pretreatment with sodium chlorate, or by replacing in a synthetic CXCL12α the residues Lys24 and Lys27 by Ser (CXCL12α-K2427S), decreased or abrogated the ability of the chemokine to bind to RA ECs. Ex vivo, synovial ECs from patients with either OA or RA displayed a higher CXCL12-binding capacity than human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), and in HUVECs the binding of CXCL12 was increased on exposure to tumor necrosis factor-α or lymphotoxin-α1β2. Our findings indicate that CXCL12 binds to HSPGs on ECs of RA synovium. The phenomenon relates to the interaction of HSPGs with a CXCL12 domain with net positive surface charge located in the first β strand, which encompasses a canonical BXBB HSPG-binding motif. Furthermore, we show that the attachment of CXCL12 to HSPGs is upregulated by inflammatory cytokines. Both the upregulation of a constitutive chemokine during chronic inflammation and the HSPG-dependent immobilization of CXCL12 in EC surfaces are potential sites for therapeutic intervention.
Imposed work of breathing during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation: a bench study
Authors: van Heerde Marc , van Genderingen Huib R , Leenhoven Tom , Roubik Karel , Plötz Frans B , Markhorst Dick G
Published: February 2006

Introduction

The ventilator and the endotracheal tube impose additional workload in mechanically ventilated patients breathing spontaneously. The total work of breathing (WOB) includes elastic and resistive work. In a bench test we assessed the imposed WOB using 3100 A/3100 B SensorMedics high-frequency oscillatory ventilators.

Methods

A computer-controlled piston-driven test lung was used to simulate a spontaneously breathing patient. The test lung was connected to a high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) ventilator by an endotracheal tube. The inspiratory and expiratory airway flows and pressures at various places were sampled. The spontaneous breath rate and volume, tube size and ventilator settings were simulated as representative of the newborn to adult range. The fresh gas flow rate was set at a low and a high level. The imposed WOB was calculated using the Campbell diagram.

Results

In the simulations for newborns (assumed body weight 3.5 kg) and infants (assumed body weight 10 kg) the imposed WOB (mean ± standard deviation) was 0.22 ± 0.07 and 0.87 ± 0.25 J/l, respectively. Comparison of the imposed WOB in low and high fresh gas flow rate measurements yielded values of 1.63 ± 0.32 and 0.96 ± 0.24 J/l (P = 0.01) in small children (assumed body weight 25 kg), of 1.81 ± 0.30 and 1.10 ± 0.27 J/l (P < 0.001) in large children (assumed body weight 40 kg), and of 1.95 ± 0.31 and 1.12 ± 0.34 J/l (P < 0.01) in adults (assumed body weight 70 kg). High peak inspiratory flow and low fresh gas flow rate significantly increased the imposed WOB. Mean airway pressure in the breathing circuit decreased dramatically during spontaneous breathing, most markedly at the low fresh gas flow rate. This led to ventilator shut-off when the inspiratory flow exceeded the fresh gas flow.

Conclusion

Spontaneous breathing during HFOV resulted in considerable imposed WOB in pediatric and adult simulations, explaining the discomfort seen in those patients breathing spontaneously during HFOV. The level of imposed WOB was lower in the newborn and infant simulations, explaining why these patients tolerate spontaneous breathing during HFOV well. A high fresh gas flow rate reduced the imposed WOB. These findings suggest the need for a demand flow system based on patient need allowing spontaneous breathing during HFOV.
DC-SIGN (CD209) recognition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is circumvented by lipooligosaccharide variation
Authors: Zhang Pei , Schwartz Olivier , Pantelic Milica , Li Geling , Knazze Quita , Nobile Cinzia , Radovich Milan , He Johnny , Hong Soon-Cheol , Klena John , Chen Tie
Published: February 2006

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) or Escherichia coli HB101 (hereafter referred to as E. coli) expressing opacity (Opa) proteins adhere to human host cells and stimulate phagocytosis as a result of the interaction of certain Opa proteins to carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1; CD66a) receptors. Our experiments show that the Opa-CEACAM1 interaction does not play a significant role in adherence between these bacteria and dendritic cells (DCs). Instead, phagocytosis of GC and E. coli by DCs is mediated by the DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin, (SIGN; CD209) receptor. DC-SIGN recognition and subsequent phagocytosis of GC are limited, however, to a lipooligosaccharide (LOS) mutant (lgtB) of GC. This conclusion is supported by experiments demonstrating that HeLa cells expressing human DC-SIGN (HeLa-DC-SIGN) bind exclusively to and engulf an lgtB mutant of GC, and this interaction is blocked specifically by an anti-DC-SIGN antibody. The experiments suggest that LOS variation may have evolved as a mechanism for GC to avoid phagocytosis by DCs.
Imatinib mesylate minimally affects bcr-abl+ and normal monocyte-derived dendritic cells but strongly inhibits T cell expansion despite reciprocal dendritic cell-T cell activation
Authors: Boissel Nicolas , Rousselot Philippe , Raffoux Emmanuel , Cayuela Jean-Michel , Soulier Jean , Mooney Nuala , Charron Dominique , Dombret Hervé , Toubert Antoine , Rea Delphine
Published: February 2006

In chronic myeloid leukemia, bcr-abl+ monocytes provide a unique opportunity to generate dendritic cells (DC) expressing a broad spectrum of leukemic antigens, and bcr-abl+ DC vaccines may allow immunological eradication of leukemic cells persisting under treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. However, the efficiency of bcr-abl+ DC vaccines will critically depend on the absence of deleterious effects of bcr-abl and of imatinib on DC functions. We show that bcr-abl+ monocytes, devoid of contamination of CD14low granulocytic precursors, differentiate into DC with typical immunophenotypical and functional features, and bcr-abl transcription decreases simultaneously. During differentiation, imatinib induces a slight increase of DC apoptosis and prevents CD1a up-regulation in a dose-dependent manner in bcr-abl+ and normal monocyte-derived DC, but at most, 25% of DC fail to acquire CD1a. When DC maturation is induced in the presence of imatinib, bcr-abl+ and normal monocyte-derived DC up-regulate major histocompatibility complex and costimulatory molecules, CC chemokine receptor 7 and CD83. However, secretion of interleukin-12p70 is decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Imatinib exposure of bcr-abl+ and normal monocyte-derived DC during differentiation and maturation is not detrimental to T cell immunostimulatory functions of DC. In sharp contrast, imatinib, when added to DC-T cell cultures, profoundly suppresses DC-mediated T cell proliferation, despite reciprocal DC-T cell activation attested by up-regulation of CD25 on T cells and of CD86 on DC. Our findings demonstrate that T cells, not normal or bcr-abl+ monocyte-derived DC, are major targets for imatinib immunomodulatory effects. It can be envisioned already that imatinib-free windows will be required to enable vaccination-induced, leukemia-specific T cell expansion.
Divergent expression and function of glucocorticoid receptor β in human monocytes and T cells
Authors: Li Ling-bo , Leung Donald Y M , Hall Clifton F , Goleva Elena
Published: February 2006

Glucocorticoid (GC) insensitivity is a significant problem in the treatment of immune-mediated diseases. The current study examined whether T cells and monocytes differed in their response to GC and the potential molecular basis for their variation in response to steroids. Functional studies revealed that dexamethasone (DEX) inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin-induced tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 production to a significantly lesser extent in monocytes than T cells. In parallel, a significantly longer period of time was required for DEX to induce the steroid-responsive gene, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), in human monocytes as compared with T cells. It is interesting that such differences were not observed between murine T cells and monocytes. GC receptor β (GCRβ) is a splicing variant of the classic GCR, GCRα, which functions as a dominant-negative inhibitor of GCRα in humans, not mice (as mice do not express GCRβ mRNA as a result of a difference in the murine GCR 9b exon sequence). It was found that human monocytes had a significantly higher level of GCRβ than T cells. Furthermore, GCRβ was found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of monocytes, and GCRβ was localized to the nucleus of T cells. This raised the possibility that GCRβ in the cytoplasm could affect GCRα cellular shuttling in response to DEX. Indeed, we found that DEX-induced nuclear translocation of GCRα was decreased in monocytes as compared with T cells. Specific RNA silencing of GCRβ in human monocytes resulted in enhanced steroid-induced GCRα transactivation and transrepression. Our data suggest that GCRβ contributes to variation in the GC responses of monocytes versus T cells.
Connexin31 cannot functionally replace connexin43 during cardiac morphogenesis in mice
Authors: Zheng-Fischhöfer Qingyi , Ghanem Alexander , Kim Jung-Sun , Kibschull Mark , Schwarz Gaby , Schwab Jörg O. , Nagy James , Winterhager Elke , Tiemann Klaus , Willecke Klaus
Published: February 2006

In the gastrulating mouse embryo, the gap junction protein connexin43 is expressed exclusively in cells derived from the inner cell mass, whereas connexin31 is expressed in cells of the trophoblast lineage. Since connexin43 and connexin31 do not form heterotypic gap junction channels in exogenous expression systems, such as HeLa cells and Xenopus oocytes, previous studies have suggested that the incompatibility of these two connexins could contribute to the separation of connexin43-expressing and connexin31-expressing compartments between embryo and extraembryonic tissues at gastrulation, respectively. Thus, we have generated connexin43 knock-in connexin31 mice, in which the coding region of the connexin43 gene was replaced by that of connexin31. Interbreeding of heterozygous connexin43 knock-in connexin31 mice resulted in homozygous connexin43 knock-in connexin31 mice, but none of them survived to adulthood. As these mice were born at the expected Mendelian frequency, we conclude that the reported incompatibility of connexin43 and connexin31 to form heterotypic gap junction channels does not interfere with normal embryonic development. Neonatal homozygous connexin43 knock-in connexin31 hearts showed malformation in the subpulmonary outlet of the right ventricle, similar to general connexin43-deficient mice. Electrocardiograms of neonatal hearts in homozygous connexin43 knock-in connexin31 mice revealed significantly low voltage of the QRS complex. This is in contrast to previous results from our laboratory which showed that replacement of connexin43 by connexin40 resulted in morphologically and functionally normal hearts. We conclude that connexin31 cannot functionally replace connexin43 during cardiac morphogenesis.
Intermolecular Potential Energy Functions for He–Ne, He–Ar, He–Kr, and He–Xe from the Corresponding States Viscosity
Authors: Maghari Ali , Behnejad Hassan
Published: February 2006

Intermolecular potential-energy functions are given for helium–heavier-noble gas interactions directly from the inversion of experimental reduced viscosity collision integrals obtained from the corresponding-states correlation. The results are in excellent agreement with the potentials proposed by L. J. Danielson and M. Keil.
Preparations, Structures, and Properties of Copper(II) Complexes with a New Tripodal Tetradentate Ligand, N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)bis(6-pivalamido-2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and Reactivities of the Cu(I) Complex with Dioxygen
Authors: Harata Manabu , Hasegawa Koji , Jitsukawa Koichiro , Masuda Hideki , Einaga Hisahiko
Published: February 2006

Copper complexes of a tripodal tetradentate ligand, N-(2-pyridylmethyl)bis(6-pivalamido-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Hbppa), have been prepared as a model of metal centers of mononuclear copper enzymes; their structures and properties have been examined together with those having several secondary ligands by electronic absorption, ESR and FAB mass spectral, cyclic voltammetric, and X-ray diffraction methods. The complexes, [Cu(Hbppa)](ClO4)2 and [Cu(Hbppa)(N3)]ClO4·H2O, were obtained as single crystals, whose crystal structures revealed square-planar and trigonal-bipyramidal geometries, respectively. The electronic absorption and ESR spectra for the CuII(Hbppa)–X systems (X = no, Cl−, Br−, I−, N3−, and CH3COO−) allowed us to conclude that the complexes form several coordination geometries, such as square-planar, square-pyramidal, and trigonal-bipyramidal, depending upon the solvents (MeOH, MeCN). The redox potentials of [Cu(Hbppa)Cl]Cl in MeCN, THF, MeOH, and CH2Cl2 showed quasi-reversible CuI/CuII couples in the range of −0.056 — +0.085 V vs. Ag/AgCl at room temperature. The addition of dioxygen to the Cu(I)–Hbppa, which was prepared from [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 and Hbppa (1 : 1) in EtCN at −78 °C, resulted in a graduate absorption spectral change with two well-separated absorption maxima at 665 (ε = 162 M−1 cm−1) and 837 nm (ε = 305 M−1 cm−1) and an intense band at 375 nm (ε = 641 M−1 cm−1) as a shoulder. Simultaneous ESR experiments of the same complex solution exhibited a silent spectrum, indicating that the complex is diamagnetic. A similar electronic absorption spectral change was observed in MeOH with absorption peaks at 387 nm (ε = 843 M−1 cm−1), 640 (ε = 183 M−1 cm−1) and 828 (ε = 289 M−1 cm−1), although the ESR spectrum did not continue to be completely silent. Increasing the temperature of the solution up to room temperature demonstrated the formation of [Cu(Hbppa)(OH)]− species, whose X-ray structure was [Cu(Hbppa)(OH)]PF6·H2O. The reaction of the [Cu(Hbppa)]ClO4–sodium benzoylformate system with dioxygen in DMF resulted in production of carbon dioxide and benzoic acid, as analyzed by GC and HPLC.
Complex Metal Halide Oxides (2). Layered Complex Metal Chloride Oxides Having the X1X2 Structure as Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane
Authors: Lin Sui Wen , Kim Young Chul , Ueda Wataru
Published: February 2006

SrBi3O4Cl3 with the X1X2 structure, in which metal–oxygen sheets were separated by single chlorine layers and double chlorine layers alternately, has been prepared and tested as a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. SrBi3O4Cl3 crystallized in space-group I4/mmm with lattice parameters of a = 3.9370(1), c = 27.0177(7) Å. The structure was refined by a Rietveld analysis, which showed that between two Bi(1) and Bi(2) sites, the former being of Bi in the metal–oxygen sheet faced the single chlorine sheet and the later faced the double chlorine sheet, strontium ions occupied the Bi(2) site only, and did not occupy the Bi(1) site. The SrBi3O4Cl3 catalyst showed a good catalytic performance for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. Particularly, a high selectivity to ethene of more than 90% was obtained. Based upon an investigation of the potential role of chlorine during the cource of the reaction, it was apparently shown that a role of surface chlorine species was important, rather than gas-phase chlorine, for the reaction. It is considered that the high selectivity to ethene can be attributed to the fact that the chlorine radical mechanism operates on the catalysts, and that the surface chlorine blocks the formation of active-oxygen species to prevent destructive oxidation reactions.
An Efficient Synthetic Method of 4-Penteneselenoamides: Four-Component Coupling Reaction of Terminal Acetylenes, Selenium, Amines, and Allylic Bromides
Authors: Murai Toshiaki , Ezaka Tatsuya , Kato Shinzi
Published: February 2006

The reaction of lithium alkyneselenolates generated from terminal acetylenes, butyllithium, and selenium with amines and allylic bromides proceeded smoothly in THF at 67 °C to give 4-penteneselenoamides in moderate to high yields. The reaction may proceed via selenoketene intermediates bearing an allylic group, followed by the attack of amines to give the products. Aliphatic and aromatic acetylenes, silylacetylene, and enynes were employed as terminal acetylenes. One molar amount of secondary amines was effective, whereas an excess of primary amines was necessary. The reactions with 2-butenyl bromide exhibited high regioselectivity, although they gave the stereoisomeric mixtures. The reactions of silyl ethers of propargylic alcohols gave α,β-unsaturated selenoamides as a product.
Amphiphilic Cycloinulohexaose: Preparation, Surface-Active Properties, and Complexing Abilities toward Various Metal Chlorides
Authors: Kida Toshiyuki , Inoue Yasuhiko , Zhang Wanbin , Nakatsuji Yohji , Ikeda Isao
Published: February 2006

Mono-6-O-acylated cycloinulohexaoses 1 and mono-6-O-alkylated cycloinulohexaoses 2 were prepareds by the reaction of cycloinulohexaose with long-chain acyl chlorides and long-chain alkyl bromides, respectively. These amphiphilic cycloinulohexaoses showed good water solubilities. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of each amphiphilic compound, which was determined by a dye method, decreased along with an increase in the alkyl chain length. The micelle-forming ability of compound 2 was higher than that of compound 1 bearing the same carbon number in the hydrophobic part. The aggregation numbers of mono(6-O-tetradecanoyl)cycloinulohexaose 1b and mono(6-O-tetradecyl)cycloinulohexaose 2b, which were obtained with fluorescence measurements, were 4.8 and 6.5, respectively. The cmcs of compounds 1b and 2b were increased by the addition of either KCl, RbCl, or BaCl2, though they were decreased by the addition of LiCl or NaCl. These results indicate that compounds 1b and 2b complex with K+, Rb+, or Ba2+ in water, but negligibly with Li+ or Na+.