bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
U6 can be used as a housekeeping gene for urinary sediment miRNA studies of IgA nephropathy
Authors: Duan Zhi-Yu , Cai Guang-Yan , Li Ji-Jun , Bu Ru , Wang NanNan , Yin Pei , Chen Xiang-Mei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRecent studies have indicated that urinary sediment miRNAs not only are able to serve as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for IgA nephropathy (IgAN) but may also be closely related to several clinical and pathological indicators. However, the lack of a suitable internal reference miRNA has hampered research into urinary sediment miRNAs. To date, U6 has been used as a reference gene in urinary sediment miRNA studies mostly based on the results from studies using tissue samples and cell lines. In a total of 330 IgAN patients, 164 disease control patients and 130 normal control patients, there was no significant difference in U6 levels. We also compared the U6 levels in different types of primary glomerular disease groups (IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, minimal change nephrosis and focal segmental glomerular sclerosis). The results confirmed that there was no significant difference in the expression of U6 in different primary glomerular disease groups. Moreover, treatment had no significant effect on the expression levels of U6 in IgA nephropathy. Therefore, U6 is an excellent housekeeping gene for urinary sediment miRNA studies of IgA nephropathy.
Optical polarisation variability of radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies
Authors: Angelakis E. , Kiehlmann S. , Myserlis I. , Blinov D. , Eggen J. , Itoh R. , Marchili N. , Zensus J. A. 
Published: July 2018

Context. Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSy1s) constitute the active galactic nuclei subclass associated with systematically lower black hole masses. A few radio-loud NLSy1s have been detected in MeV-GeV energy bands by Fermi, and evidence that blazar-like jets are operating also in radio-loud NLSy1s, has been accumulated.
Aims. We wish to quantify the temporal behaviour of the optical polarisation, fraction, and angle for a selected sample of radio-loud NLSy1s. We also search for rotations of the polarisation plane similar to those commonly observed in blazars.
Methods. We have conducted R-band optical linear polarisation monitoring of a sample of ten radio-loud NLSy1 galaxies; five of them have previously been detected by Fermi. The dataset obtained with our pivoting instrument, the RoboPol polarimeter of the Skinakas observatory, has been complemented with observations from the KANATA, Perkins, and Steward observatories. When evidence for long rotations of the polarisation plane was found (at least three consecutive measurements covering at least 90°), we carried out numerical simulations to assess the probability that they are caused by intrinsically evolving electric vector position angles (EVPAs) instead of observational noise.
Results. Even our moderately sampled sources show clear indications of variability in both polarisation fraction and angle. For the four best-sampled objects in our sample we find multiple periods of significant polarisation angle variability. Several of these events qualify as long rotations. In the two best-sampled cases, namely J1505+0326 and J0324+3410, we find indications for three long rotations of the polarisation angle. We show that although noise can induce the observed behaviour, it is much more likely that the apparent rotation is indeed caused by intrinsic evolution of the EVPA. To our knowledge, this is the very first detection of such events in this class of sources. In the largest dataset (J0324+3410), we find that the EVPA concentrates around a direction that is at 49.3° to the 15 GHz radio jet, implying a projected magnetic field at an angle of 40.7° to that axis.
Conclusions. We assess the probability that pure measurement uncertainties are the reason behind the observed long rotations of the polarisation plane. We conclude that although this is not improbable, it is much more likely that intrinsic rotations are responsible for the observed phenomenology. We conclude, however, that much better sampled and larger datasets of larger source samples are necessary to constrain the physical mechanism(s) that generate long EVPA rotations in NLSy1s.
Spectroscopic EUV observations of impulsive solar energetic particle event sources
Authors: Bučík R. , Fludra A. , Gómez-Herrero R. , Innes D. E. , Kellett B. , Kumar R. , Mackovjak Š. 
Published: July 2018

Context. Remote observations of solar flare ion acceleration are rather limited. Theoretical predictions for signatures of ion acceleration in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) line profiles have been made. Previous tests involve observations of flares with no evidence for energetic ions.
Aims. We aim to examine a source flare of impulsive (or 3He-rich) solar energetic particle events with EUV line spectroscopy.
Methods. We inspected all (more than 90) reported 3He-rich flares of the previous solar cycle 23 and found only 4 (recurrent) jets in the field of view of the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The jet with the most suitable spatial and temporal coverage was analyzed in detail.
Results. Two enhanced (nonthermal) line broadenings are observed in the cooler chromospheric and transition-region lines, and they are localized near the site where the closed magnetic loops reconnect with the open magnetic field lines. The enhanced broadenings are both found at the sites with redshifts in the lines, surrounded by the region with blueshifts. One enhanced line broadening is associated with a small flare without energetic particle signatures, while another occurs just after the particle acceleration signatures of the main flare terminated.
Conclusions. The observed excess broadening does not appear to be directly related to the energetic ion production and motions. Further investigations are required that cover the critical impulsive phase of the flare, ideally with high-resolution spectrometers that are specifically pointed to the 3He-rich solar energetic particle source.
The Value of an Automated Ultrasound System in the Detection of Synovitis
Authors: Mueller Ruediger , Grunke Mathias , Wendler Jörg , Schuch Florian , Hofmann-Preiss Karina , Boettger Ina , Jakobs Rüdiger , Schulze-Koops Hendrik , von Kempis Johannes 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Background The detection of joint swelling caused by synovitis is important for the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. Ultrasound (US) and MRI have proven to be more sensitive and reliable than physical examination, but they are time-consuming and expensive. The automated breast volume scanner was developed to acquire serial B-mode pictures of the female breast and these can be analyzed in all three dimensions.
Objectives To analyze the value of automated B-mode ultrasound employing the ABVS system in detecting synovitis of the finger joints compared to manual ultrasound (mUS) and physical examination, using MRI as the gold standard.
Methods 19 consecutive patients suffering from active rheumatoid (n=15) or psoriatic (n=4) arthritis were included. Automated and mUS were conducted with a linear array (ACUSON S2000™, 11 MHz). Multiplanar reconstruction enabled examination of the images for the presence of synovitis.
Results 90% of the hand joints were assessable by automated ultrasound. Automated US detected 12.0, mUS 14.2, MRI 13.4, and clinical examination 4.1 positive joints – i. e. joints with synovitis - on average per patient. The inter-observer reliability of both assessors for automated and mUS, MRI, and physical examination, was 66.9%, 72.7%, 95.1%, and 88.9%, respectively. 84.3% of the joints classified as positive on MRI were confirmed by automated ultrasound, 85.5% on mUS, and 36.0 on physical examination. This translated into a sensitivity of 83.5%, 85.5%, and 36.0% for the three methods, respectively. Conclusion: Automated ultrasound is a promising ultrasound method for assessing small joints in patients with inflammatory arthritis.
Altered Glucose Uptake in Muscle, Visceral Adipose Tissue, and Brain Predict Whole-Body Insulin Resistance and may Contribute to the Development of Type 2 Diabetes: A Combined PET/MR Study
Authors: Boersma Gretha , Johansson Emil , Pereira Maria , Heurling Kerstin , Skrtic Stanko , Lau Joey , Katsogiannos Petros , Panagiotou Grigorios , Lubberink Mark , Kullberg Joel , Ahlström Håkan , Eriksson Jan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe assessed glucose uptake in different tissues in type 2 diabetes (T2D), prediabetes, and control subjects to elucidate its impact in the development of whole-body insulin resistance and T2D. Thirteen T2D, 12 prediabetes, and 10 control subjects, matched for age and BMI, underwent OGTT and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) biopsies. Integrated whole-body 18F-FDG PET and MRI were performed during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to asses glucose uptake rate (MRglu) in several tissues. MRglu in skeletal muscle, SAT, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and liver was significantly reduced in T2D subjects and correlated positively with M-values (r=0.884, r=0.574, r=0.707 and r=0.403, respectively). Brain MRglu was significantly higher in T2D and prediabetes subjects and had a significant inverse correlation with M-values (r=–0.616). Myocardial MRglu did not differ between groups and did not correlate with the M-values. A multivariate model including skeletal muscle, brain and VAT MRglu best predicted the M-values (adjusted r2=0.85). In addition, SAT MRglu correlated with SAT glucose uptake ex vivo (r=0.491). In different stages of the development of T2D, glucose uptake during hyperinsulinemia is elevated in the brain in parallel with an impairment in peripheral organs. Impaired glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and VAT together with elevated glucose uptake in brain were independently associated with whole-body insulin resistance, and these tissue-specific alterations may contribute to T2D development.
Three Missense Mutations in the Protein C Heavy Chain Causing Type I and Type II Protein C Deficiency
Authors: Miyata Toshiyuki , Zheng Yan-Zhen , Sakata Toshiyuki , Tsushima Nobuko , Kato Hisao 
Published: July 2018

SummaryWe have studied the molecular basis of protein C deficiency in three families with a history of thromboembolic disease. An approximately 50% reduction in both functional and immunologic levels of protein C was detected in the plasma from two unrelated patients, designated protein C Osaka 1 and protein C Osaka 2. An approximately 50% reduction in functional level but normal immunologic level of protein C was detected in plasma from a third patient, designated protein C Osaka 3. DNA sequencing of the amplified DNA revealed one missense mutation in each case. Additional mutations in the coding sequence were excluded by DNA sequencing of all protein C exons. We identified a C-to-T change at nucleotide number 6,218 of the protein C gene in protein C Osaka 1. This results in the amino acid substitution of Arg-169 by Trp at the a-thrombin cleavage site. In protein C Osaka 2, a G-to-A change at nucleotide number 8,807 was identified leading to the amino acid substitution of Met-364 by lie in the protease domain. This substitution may impair the synthesis or stability of protein C Osaka 2. In protein C Osaka 3, a G-to-C change at nucleotide number 8,868 was identified. This results in substitution of Gly-385 by Arg in the protease domain. Based on these, it was concluded that Arg-169-to-Trp mutation and Met-364-to-Ile mutation cause type I protein C deficiency and Gly-385-to-Arg mutation causes type II deficiency.
The Prevalence of Moderate and Severe FXII (Hageman Factor) Deficiency among the Normal Population: Evaluation of the Incidence of FXII Deficiency among 300 Healthy Blood Donors
Authors: Halbmayer Walter-Michael , Haushofer Alexander , Schön Renate , Mannhalter Christine , Strohmer Ernst , Baumgarten Kurt , Fischer Michael 
Published: July 2018

SummaryFactor XII (FXII) deficiency has been reported to be a risk factor for the development of arterial and venous thromboembolism. However, no data are available on the prevalence of FXII deficiency within the normal population. Measuring APTT and FXII activity, seven FXII deficiencies could be detected among 300 healthy blood donors. This corresponds to an incidence of FXII deficiency of 2.3%. On the basis of these data the prevalence of severe and mild FXTT deficiency in the normal population can be estimated to be 1.5-3.0%. Assessment of FXII antigen levels revealed, that all seven FXII deficient individuals had FXII antigen levels matching the activity. One presented a severe FXII deficiency (1/300, 0.3%) without detectable FXII activity and an APTT prolongation of more than 120 s. The remaining six FXII deficiencies (6/300, 2.0%) were moderate variations with FXII activities ranging from 20-45% and less prolonged APTTs. Among the 300 healthy donors 16 (5.3%) subjects with prolonged APTTs were identified. Causes for APTT-prolongation were FXII deficiency (7/16), lupus anticoagulant (6/16), mild FVIII deficiency (1/16) and hepatic disorder (1/16). In the remaining sample (1/16) the cause for the prolongation of the APTT remained unexplained. Although 8.7% (26/300) of the donors had a positive family-history of thromboembolism (TE-FHX), none of the FXII deficient subjects were among those with positive TE-FHX.
Adenosine Diphosphate-Induced Aggregation of Human Platelets in Flow Through Tubes: III. Shear and Extrinsic Fibrinogen-Dependent Effects
Authors: Goldsmith H L , Frojmovic M M , Braovac Susan , McIntosh Fiona , Wong T 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe effect of shear rate and fibrinogen concentration on adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation of suspensions of washed human platelets in Poiseuille flow at 23°C was studied using a previously described double infusion technique and resistive particle counter size analysis (1). Using suspensions of multiple-centrifuged and -washed cells in Tyrodes-albumin [3 × 105 μl−1; (17)] with [fibrinogen] from 0 to 1.2μM, the, rate and extent of aggregation with 0.7 μM ADP in Tyrodes-albumin were measured over a range of mean transit times from 0.2 to 43 s, and at mean tube shear rates, Ḡ, = 41.9, 335 and 1,335 s−1. As measured by the decrease in singlet concentration, aggregation at 1.2 μM fibrinogen increased with increasing Ḡ up to 1,335 s1, in contrast to that previously reported in citratcd plasma, in which aggregation reached a maximum at Ḡ = 335 s−1. Without added fibrinogen, there was no aggregation at Ḡ = 41.9 s1; at Ḡ = 335 s1, there was significant aggregation but with an initial lag time, aggregation increasing further at Ḡ = 1,335 s−1. Without added fibrinogen, aggregation was abolished at all Ḡ upon incubation with the hexapeptide GRGDSP, but was almost unaffected by addition of an F(ab’)2 fragment of an antibody to human fibrinogen. Aggregation in the absence of added fibrinogen was also observed at 37°C. The activation of the multiple-washed platelets was tested using flow cytometry with the fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibodies FITC-PAC1 and FITC-9F9. It was shown that 57% of single cells in unactivated PRT expressed maximal GPIIb-IIIa fibrinogen receptors (MoAb PAC1) and 54% expressed pre-bound fibrinogen (MoAb 9F9), with further increases on ADP activation. However, incubation with GRGDSP and the F(ab’)2 fragment did not inhibit the prebound fibrinogen. Moreover, relatively unactivated cells (8% expressing receptor, 14% prebound fibrinogen), prepared from acidified cPRP by single centrifugation with 50 nM of the stable prostacyclin derivative, ZK 36 374, and resuspension in Tyrodes-albumin at 5 × 104 μl−1, aggregated with 2 and 5 μM ADP at Ḡ = 335 and 1,335 s−1 in the absence of added fibrinogen. We therefore postulate that a protein such as von Willebrand factor, secreted during platelet isolation or in flow at sufficiently high shear rates, may yield the observed shear-rate dependent aggregation without fibrinogen.
Antithrombotic Effects and Bleeding Time Prolongation with Synthetic Platelet GPIIb/llla Inhibitors in Animal Models of Platelet-Mediated Thrombosis
Authors: Collen Désiré , Lu Hua Rong , Stassen Jean-Marie , Vreys Ingrid , Yasuda Tsunehiro , Bunting Stuart , Gold Herman K 
Published: July 2018

SummaryCyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) containing synthetic peptides such as L-cysteine, N-(mercaptoacetyl)-D-tyrosyl-L-arginylglycyl-L-a-aspartyl-cyclic (1→5)-sulfide, 5-oxide (G4120) and acetyl-L-cysteinyl-L-asparaginyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl-glycyl-L-α-aspartyl-[0-methyltyrosyl]-L-arginyl-L-cysteinamide, cyclic 1→9-sulfide (TP9201) bind with high affinity to the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor.The relationship between antithrombotic effect, ex vivo platelet aggregation and bleeding time prolongation with both agents was studied in hamsters with a standardized femoral vein endothelial cell injury predisposing to platelet-rich mural thrombosis, and in dogs with a carotid arterial eversion graft inserted in the femoral artery. Intravenous administration of G4120 in hamsters inhibited in vivo thrombus formation with a 50% inhibitory bolus dose (ID50) of approximately 20 μg/kg, ex vivo ADP-induccd platelet aggregation with ID50 of 10 μg/kg, and bolus injection of 1 mg/kg prolonged the bleeding time from 38 ± 9 to 1,100 ± 330 s. Administration of TP9201 in hamsters inhibited in vivo thrombus formation with ID50 of 30 μg/kg, ex vivo platelet aggregation with an ID50 of 50 μg/kg and bolus injection of 1 mg/kg did not prolong the template bleeding time. In the dog eversion graft model, infusion of 100 μg/kg of G4120 over 60 min did not fully inhibit platelet-mediated thrombotic occlusion but was associated with inhibition of ADP-induccd ex vivo platelet aggregation and with prolongation of the template bleeding time from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 12 ± 2 min. Infusion of 300 μg/kg of TP9201 over 60 min completely prevented thrombotic occlusion, inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation, but was not associated with prolongation of the template bleeding time.TP9201, unlike G4120, inhibits in vivo platelet-mediated thrombus formation without associated prolongation of the template bleeding time.
Effect of Dried Ginger on Human Platelet Function
Authors: Lumb Andrew B 
Published: July 2018

SummaryEight healthy male volunteers took part in a randomised double blind study of the effects of 2 g dried ginger or placebo capsules on platelet function. Bleeding time, platelet count, thromboelastography and whole blood platelet aggregometry were performed before, 3 h, and 24 h after the capsules. There were no differences between ginger and placebo in any of the variables measured, It is concluded that the effect of ginger on thromboxane synthetase activity is dose dependent, or only occurs with fresh ginger, and that upto 2 g of dried ginger is unlikely to cause platelet dysfunction when used therapeutically.
Studies of Fibrinogen Metabolism in Healthy and Hypertensive Female Subjects with the Use of Autologous I-125-Fibrinogen
Authors: Takeda Y , Takeuchi T 
Published: July 2018

Summary10 healthy female subjects and 15 female patients with essential hypertension were studied with respect to fibrinogen metabolism in a steady state. Autologous I-125-labeled fibrinogen (I-125-fibrinogen) was used as a tracer. Comparison of the results showed that plasma volume, t½ of plasma I-125-fibrinogen and fractional catabolic rate (j3p) of plasma fibrinogen were not appreciably different in both groups of subjects, but plasma fibrinogen concentration, and catabolic flux of (synthesis rate) were significantly higher in hypertensive subjects, whereas extravascular fibrinogen and fractional transcapillary transfer rate (j1) of were significantly decreased in the patients. Further analyses of the data in both groups showed that there were significant correlations between diastolic blood pressure (P) and j1 with a regression equation of j1 = e−0.0285P, between 1 and between and j1 with a regression equation of 1. These results indicate that the observed decrease of j1 triggered the transition from normal to pathological steady state and is responsible for the altered metabolism and distribution of fibrinogen in hypertensive subjects.
Platelet Aggregation and Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Activity in Arteriosclerotic Patients
Authors: Yamazak Hiroh , Motomiya Takeshi , Mashimo Nobuaki , Asano Tomiko , Hidaka Hiroyoshi 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAlthough roles of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in platelets are thought to be important on platelet aggregation, little information on their phosphodiesterase (PDE) is available. Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolytic activities of platelets (cAMPPDE and cGMPPDE in platelets) and platelet aggregation by ADP and adrenaline were measured in 22 healthy volunteers, 26 arteriosclerotic patients and other 20 miscellaneous patients excluding vascular diseases. Activities of cAMPPDE and cGMPPDE of platelets were 2.37±0.52, 7.23 ± 1.84 in the healthy, 2.50±0.85, 7.53±2.60 in the arteriosclerotics and 2.38± 1.02, 6.98±2.59 pmol/min/107 platelets in the miscellaneous patients, respectively. No significant difference was observed among these three groups. Platelet aggregabilities also showed no significant difference. However, there was a significant inverse correlation between the aggregability by 1 μg/ml of adrenaline and the PDE activities only in the arteriosclerotic patients. The correlation coefficients were −0.61 between the primary aggregation and cAMPPDE,−0.65 between the primary aggregation and cGMPPDE, −0.58 between the 5 min aggregation and cAMPPDE and −0.76 between the 5 min aggregation and cGMPPDE. The inverse correlation between platelet aggregation and cyclic nucleotide metabolism in circulating platelets of the arteriosclerotic patients may suggest that interaction of platelets with arteriosclerotic vessel walls would produce a certain change in platelets.
The Subcellular Distribution of [3H]-Colchicine-Binding Activity and Tubulin in Pig Blood Platelets
Authors: Castle Alan G , Crawford Neville 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe subcellular distribution of the [3H]-colchidne-binding protein, believed to be tubulin, the subunit protein of microtubules, has been investigated in mammalian blood platelets. Studies on a soluble extract from pig platelets and two particulate fractions (viz. membrane-rich and granule-rich fractions) have shown that about 98% of the colchicine-binding activity in a platelet homogenate is located in the soluble phase. This result is in agreement with poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments which show that the soluble fraction contains a substantial amount of 55,000 MW tubulin, whereas the membrane and granule-rich fractions contain very little of this component. The [3H]-colchicine-binding activity of the platelet soluble phase is largely precipitated by 40-50% ammonium sulphate and also by vinblastine sulphate in millimolar concentrations. Moreover the colchicine-binding protein in the platelet soluble fraction has a sedimentation coefficient of 5.9 S, is eluted in the void volume of a Sephadex G-100 column, and binds to DEAE-Sephadex at low ionic strength and is eluted from this ion-exchanger at an ionic strength of 0.47 M-KC1. In addition, most of the col-chi cine-binding activity of the platelet soluble phase is associated with protein which will undergo temperature-dependent polymerization in vitro and which has a molecular weight on SDS-polyacrylamide gels of 55,000. All these experimental findings suggest that the col-chi cine-binding activity of pig platelet homogenates is due to the presence of the microtubule protein, tubulin, which is largely found in the soluble compartment of the cells.