bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different Roles of Prostaglandins in Thromboembolic Processes in Arterioles and Venules In Vivo
Authors: Egbrink Mirjam G A oude , Tangelder Geert-Jan , Slaaf Dick W , Reneman Robert S 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe involvement of prostaglandins in thromboembolic processes, as induced by wall puncture, was studied in rabbit mesenteric arterioles and venules using intravital videomicroscopy. Inhibition of prostaglandin formation with aspirin (100 mg/kg, i. v.) significantly increased in arterioles duration of embolization (from 91 to 200 s) and number of emboli produced (from 4 to 8.5 per vessel), while rate of embolus production was not influenced. In venules, aspirin only influenced embolization rate (a significant decrease from one embolus/14 s to one/23 s). Specific blockade of TXA2-receptors by sulotroban (30 mg/kg, i. v) only influenced the arteriolar reaction: it significantly decreased embolization duration (from 560 to 218 s) and number of emboli produced (from 23 to 10 emboli per vessel), without affecting embolization rate. These findings indicate that both platelet activating and inhibiting prostaglandins play a more important role in thromboembolism in arterioles than in venules; this suggests a difference in prostaglandin synthetic capacity between arteriolar and venular endothelium.
Parameters of Fibrinolysis in Peritoneal Fluid and Plasma in Different Stages of the Menstrual Cycle
Authors: Dörr P J , Brommer E J P , Dooijewaard G , Vemer H M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to investigate differences in fibrinolytic activity in peritoneal fluid and plasma of women in the first and second part of the menstrual cycle. Given the classic concept of decreased fibrinolytic activity as a cause of adhesion formation, and if such differences are found, the stage of women’s menstrual cycle should be taken into consideration when scheduling a laparotomy.We measured fibrinolytic parameters in peritoneal fluid and plasma in eight women in the pre-ovulatory period and in eleven women in the post-ovulatory period of the menstrual cycle.There were no differences in t-PA-Ag, t-PA-Act, u-PA-Ag and scu-PA concentrations in peritoneal fluid between the pre- and post-ovulatory group. Nevertheless, PAI-1-Ag in peritoneal fluid was three-fold higher in the post-ovulatory phase (p <0.02). In peritoneal fluid the concentrations of both TDP and FbDP were three-fold higher at the same phase (p ≥0.05).Plasma u-PA-Ag and scu-PA concentrations were significantly lower (30%, p <0.05) in the post-ovulatory phase and also lower than plasma u-PA-Ag and scu-PA (measured with the same assay) in a group of 50 healthy individuals. No differences in t-PA and PAI concentration were found.In conclusion, the intraperitoneal fibrinolytic capacity might be impaired in the second part of the menstrual cycle, regarding the elevated levels of PAI-1-Ag, leading to an increased risk for postovulatory adhesion formation. The low plasma u-PA-Ag and scu- PA levels post-ovulatory may have clinical relevance.
Lithium Inhibits Adenylate Cyclase of Human Platelets
Authors: Imandt Leon , Tijhuis Dorien , Wessels Hans , Haanen Clemens 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe ADP-induced aggregation of human platelets is markedly increased after preincubation with lithiumchloride, whereas lithium has the opposite effect on rabbit platelets. Since this phenomenon might be related to cAMP metabolism, the influence of lithium on total cAMP content and adenylate cyclase activity was investigated. Lithium does not significantly change the total cAMP content of human platelets neither during incubation nor during ADP-induced aggregation. Basal adenylate cyclase activity, however, was slightly inhibited by lithium in human platelets. The inhibition of adenylate cyclase by ADP appeared to be enhanced by lithium. Prostacyclin induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase is counteracted by this ion.In rabbit platelets the prostacyclin stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is not affected by lithium.These data suggest that a correlation exists between the influence of lithium on the aggregation of human and rabbit platelets and the sensitivity of their adenylate cyclase for this ion.
A Factor VIII Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody and a Human Inhibitor Alloantibody Recognizing Epitopes in the C2 Domain Inhibit Factor VIII Binding to von Willebrand Factor and to Phosphatidylserine
Authors: Shima Midori , Scandella Dorothea , Yoshioka Akira , Nakai Hiroaki , Tanaka Ichiro , Kamisue Seiki , Terada Shigeki , Fukui Hiromu 
Published: July 2018

SummaryA neutralizing monoclonal antibody, NMC-VIII/5, recognizing the 72 kDa thrombin-proteolytic fragment of factor VIII light chain was obtained. Binding of the antibody to immobilized factor VIII (FVIII) was completely blocked by a light chain-specific human alloantibody, TK, which inhibits FVIII activity. Immunoblotting analysis with a panel of recombinant protein fragments of the C2 domain deleted from the amino-terminal or the carboxy-terminal ends demonstrated binding of NMC-VIII/5 to an epitope located between amino acid residues 2170 and 2327. On the other hand, the epitope of the inhibitor alloantibody, TK, was localized to 64 amino acid residues from 2248 to 2312 using the same recombinant fragments. NMC-VIII/5 and TK inhibited FVIII binding to immobilized von Willebrand factor (vWF). The IC50 of NMC-VIII/5 for the inhibition of binding to vWF was 0.23 μg/ml for IgG and 0.2 μg/ml for F(ab)'2. This concentration was 100-fold lower than that of a monoclonal antibody NMC-VIII/10 which recognizes the amino acid residues 1675 to 1684 within the amino-terminal portion of the light chain. The IC50 of TK was 11 μg/ml by IgG and 6.3 μg/ml by F(ab)'2. Furthermore, NMC-VIII/5 and TK also inhibited FVIII binding to immobilized phosphatidylserine. The IC50 for inhibition of phospholipid binding of NMC-VIII/5 and TK (anti-FVIII inhibitor titer of 300 Bethesda units/mg of IgG) was 10 μg/ml.
Potentiating Effect of Clopidogrel and SR 46349, a Novel 5-HT2 Antagonist, on Streptokinase-Induced Thrombolysis in the Rabbit
Authors: Herbert J M , Bernat A , Sainte-Marie M , Dol F , Rinaldi M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryCurrent thrombolytic strategies have a number of important shortcomings including resistance to recanalization and development of acute reocclusion. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the lysis of venous thrombi by streptokinase could be enhanced by SR 46349, a novel 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, or clopidogrel, an analogue of ticlopidine. The activity of these compounds was evaluated by following the lysis of radiolabelled fibrin under a continuous infusion of streptokinase (4,000 IU kg−1 h−1 over 4 h). Streptokinase alone induced 42% thrombolysis when compared to saline. The i. v. co-administration of SR 46349 or clopidogrel (10 mg/kg) enhanced significantly streptokinase-induced thrombolysis. Thrombolysis measured by [125I]-fibrinogen lysis increased to 65 and 59% respectively. This efficacy was achieved without additional prolongation of the template bleeding time observed with streptokinase alone.Thus, the concomitant use of a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist or an anti-ADP agent during streptokinase therapy may facilitate clot lysis.
Platelet Factor XIII Becomes Active without the Release of Activation Peptide during Platelet Activation
Authors: Muszbek László , Polgár János , Boda Zoltán 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe potentially active A subunit of factor XIII of blood coagulation has also been detected in platelets and monocytes/macrophages though the exact function of this cellular protransglutaminase has not yet been elucidated. In physiological conditions the first step in the activation of plasma factor XIII is the removal of an activation peptide from the N-terminal end of subunit A by thrombin. The A subunit then, in the presence of Ca2+, dissociates from the inhibitory B subunit and assumes an active conformation. Cellular factor XIII, which lacks B subunit, can be proteolytically activated in vitro by thrombin and the intracellular Ca2+ sensitive protease, calpain, in the same way as plasma factor XIII subunit A, and calpain has been suggested as the intracellular protease involved in the activation of cellular factor XIII in platelets. In the present experiments it was shown by SDS PAGE that during long-term stimulation of platelets with thrombin nondisulfide-crosslinked high M
r protein polymers not penetrating the concentrating gel were formed. The lack of these polymers in thrombin-stimulated factor XIII deficient platelets clearly indicated that their formation in normal platelets was due to factor XIII that became active during platelet activation. However, no release of the activation peptide could be detected by Western blotting during this process. Similarly, no proteolytic cleavage of factor XIII was detectable when platelets were stimulated by Ca2+ ionophore through this stimulus activated calpain as it was clearly demonstrated by the breakdown of major intracellular calpain substrates. The results indicate: 1) during thrombin induced platelet activation factor XIII becomes active and crosslinks platelet protein, 2) platelet factor XIII is not an intracellular substrate of calpain, 3) cellular factor XIII could be activated without the proteolytic removal of activation peptide. It is presumed that the nonproteolytic pathway for the activation of cellular factor XIII, we reported most recently, might have physiological implications under such conditions.
The Pharmacokinetics of LMW Dermatan Sulphate: Long-Term Persistence of Intact Material
Authors: Dawes Joan 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAn iodinated derivative of the low molecular weight dermatan sulphate Desmin 370 was administered to rats by intravenous, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes in conjunction with unlabelled Desmin 370. Following intravenous injection radiolabel was cleared from the plasma according to a tri-exponential function with elimination half-lives of 45 min and 13 h; there was a high concentration in tissues, particularly the kidney, compared with plasma. The apparent bioavailability following s. c. injection was 52-65%, but 84-100% after i. m. administration. Undegraded as well as desulphated molecules were identified in plasma, and intact 125I-Desmin 370 comprised > 85% of the radiolabel in urine 48 h post-injection. Thus intact Desmin 370 persists for a long period after a single injection. The pharmacological significance of these findings, however, remainsto be determined.
Single Step Purification of Platelet Factor XIII Using an Immobilized Factor XIII A-Subunit Monoclonal Antibody
Authors: Lukacova Daniela , Reed Guy L 
Published: July 2018

SummaryTo facilitate the analysis of the catalytic subunit of factor XIII we have developed a method for the immunoaffinity purification of this protein from platelets. This method employs a monoclonal antibody that binds to the a-subunit of factor XIII. The anti-factor XIII antibody was immobilized on agarose and then incubated with platelet lysate. Subsequently factor XIII was isolated from the platelet lysate in a single step with a 41% yield as measured by enzyme assay. The purified platelet factor XIII appeared nearly homogeneous when analyzed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and by immunoblotting with another factor XIII monoclonal antibody.
Dialysis and Renal Transplant in a Hemophiliac
Authors: Gomperts Edward D , Malekzadeh Mohammed H , Fine Richard N 
Published: July 2018

SummaryHemodialysis was initiated in a mild-moderate hemophiliac at 15 years of age. Hematuria had been a frequent and persisting feature from the age of five years without documented cause. Anemia and proteinuria was first detected at 13 years. A cadaver donor renal transplant was carried out after three months of hemodialysis. Massive intravesical bleeding complicated the immediate post-transplantation period. The allograft rejected after three months and the patient was maintained for eight years on home hemodialysis. A second cadaver donor allograft was
carried out at 23 years of age. Again, massive intravesical hemorrhage was a problem post-transplant. The allograft is currently functioning 27 months post-transplant. Factor VIIIc activities have fluctuated between 5% and 40% in the absence of factor infusions.
Neutralization of Human Extrinsic (Tissue-Type) Plasminogen Activator in Human Plasma: No Evidence for a Specific Inhibitor
Authors: Korninger C , Collen D 
Published: July 2018

SummaryHuman extrinsic plasminogen activator (EPA), highly purified from a melanoma cell culture fluid is inactivated in human plasma with a half-life (t ½) of 90–105 min. Gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 34 of mixtures of 125I-labeled EPA and human plasma, incubated at 37°C, revealed the progressive formation of two radioactive components, one with an apparent Mr of 150,000 and one eluting at the void volume. The component with an Mr of 150,000 was identified as consisting at least in part of EPA-α2-antiplasmin complex since: 1) it reacted with antibodies against α2-antiplasmin, but not with antibodies against the other known plasma protease inhibitors, and 2) formation of this component was strongly reduced in plasma specifically depleted in α2-antiplasmin or when the active site of EPA was blocked. The component eluting at the void volume was identified as consisting at least in part of EPA-α2-macroglobulin complex since: 1) it only reacted with antibodies against these two proteins and 2) was not formed in plasma depleted in α2-macroglobulin or when the active site of EPA was blocked.In purified systems α2-antiplasmin inhibited one-chain EPA with a rate constant of 60 M-1s-1 and two-chain EPA with a rate constant of 130 M-1s-1, which corresponds to a t ½ in plasma of 180 min or 90 min, respectively. α2-Macroglobulin inhibited one-chain EPA with a rate constant of 15 M-1s-1 and two-chain EPA with a rate constant of 30 M-1s-1, which corresponds to a t ½ plasma of 4 or 2 hrs.All these findings taken together indicate that EPA is slowly neutralized in human plasma primarily by α2-antiplasmin and to a lesser extent by α2-macroglobulin. There appears to be no specific inhibitor in human plasma, which would inactivate EPA either rapidly or to a significant extent.
Essential Athrombia
Authors: Khanduri U , Pulimood R , Sudarasanam A , Carman R H , Jadhav M , Pereira S , Pulimood B M 
Published: July 2018

SummaryFour cases of essential athrombia have been diagnosed in the 14 year period from June, 1966 to June, 1980 at the Coagulation Laboratory of the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore. All cases fit Inceman’s description of the original case and fulfill the diagnostic criteria of prolonged bleeding time, decreased platelet aggregation, normal platelet count, normal morphology and normal clot retraction. No cases have been reported from India in the past 15 years.
One-step fabrication of biomimetic PVDF-BaTiO3 nanofibrous
composite using DoE
Authors: Ramesh Dinesh , D’Souza Nandika Anne 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Dielectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and Barium titanate
(BaTiO3)-PVDF nano-fibrous composites were made using the
electrospinning process based on a design of experiments approach. An
ultrasonication process was optimized using 2
k

factorial DoE approach to disperse BaTiO3 particles in PVDF solution
in DMF. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure
of the fabricated mesh. The FT-IR and Raman analysis were carried out to
investigate the crystal structure of the prepared mesh. Surface morphology
contribution to the adhesive property of the composite was explained through
contact angle measurements. The capacitance of the prepared
PVDF-BaTiO3 nanofibrous mesh was a more than 40% increase
over the pure PVDF nanofibers. The results obtained indicates that
electrospinning offers a potential way to produce nanofibers with desired
crystalline nature which was not observed in molded samples. In addition,
BaTiO3 can be used to increase the capacitance, desired surface
characteristics of the PVDF nanofibers which can find potential application as
flexible piezoelectric sensor mimicking biological skin for use in structural
health monitoring applications.
Constructing disease onset signatures using multi-dimensional network-structured biomarkers
Authors: Li Xiang , Zeng Donglin , Marder Karen , Wang Yuanjia 
Published: July 2018

Summary
Potential disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative disorders need to be introduced prior to the symptomatic stage in order to be effective. However, current diagnosis of neurological disorders mostly rely on measurements of clinical symptoms and thus only identify symptomatic subjects in their late disease course. Thus, it is of interest to select and integrate biomarkers that may reflect early disease-related pathological changes for earlier diagnosis and recruiting pre-sypmtomatic subjects in a prevention clinical trial. Two sources of biological information are relevant to the construction of biomarker signatures for time to disease onset that is subject to right censoring. First, biomarkers’ effects on disease onset may vary with a subject’s baseline disease stage indicated by a particular marker. Second, biomarkers may be connected through networks, and their effects on disease may be informed by this network structure. To leverage these information, we propose a varying-coefficient hazards model to induce double smoothness over the dimension of the disease stage and over the space of network-structured biomarkers. The distinctive feature of the model is a non-parametric effect that captures non-linear change according to the disease stage and similarity among the effects of linked biomarkers. For estimation and feature selection, we use kernel smoothing of a regularized local partial likelihood and derive an efficient algorithm. Numeric simulations demonstrate significant improvements over existing methods in performance and computational efficiency. Finally, the methods are applied to our motivating study, a recently completed study of Huntington’s disease (HD), where structural brain imaging measures are used to inform age-at-onset of HD and assist clinical trial design. The analysis offers new insights on the structural network signatures for premanifest HD subjects.
Strong-lensing measurement of the total-mass-density profile out to three effective radii for z ∼ 0.5 early-type galaxies
Authors: Li Rui , Shu Yiping , Wang Jiancheng 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACT
We measure the total-mass-density profiles out to three effective radii for a sample of 63$z$ ∼ 0.5, massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) acting as strong gravitational lenses through a joint analysis of lensing and stellar dynamics. The compilation is selected from three galaxy-scale strong-lens samples, namely the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) Emission-Line Lens Survey (BELLS), the BELLS for GALaxy-Lyα EmitteR sYstems Survey (BELLS GALLERY), and the Strong Lensing Legacy Survey (SL2S). Utilizing the wide source-redshift coverage (0.8–3.5) provided by these three samples, we build a statistically significant ensemble of massive ETGs for which robust mass measurements can be achieved within a broad range of Einstein radii up to three effective radii. Characterizing the three-dimensional total-mass-density distribution by a power-law profile as ρ ∝ r−γ, we find that the average logarithmic density slope for the entire sample is $\langle \gamma \rangle =2.000_{-0.032}^{+0.033}$ (68 per cent CL) with an intrinsic scatter of $\delta =0.180_{-0.028}^{+0.032}$. Further parametrizing 〈γ〉 as a function of redshift $z$ and the ratio of Einstein radius to effective radius Rein/Reff, we find that the average density distributions of these massive ETGs become steeper at later cosmic times and at larger radii, with magnitudes $\mathrm{d} \langle \gamma \rangle / \mathrm{d}z=-0.309_{-0.160}^{+0.166}$ and $\mathrm{d} \langle \gamma \rangle / \mathrm{d} \log _{10} ({R_{\rm ein}}/{R_{\rm eff}})=0.194_{-0.083}^{+0.092}$.
Can Neuropathic Pain Predict Response to Arthroplasty in Knee Osteoarthritis? A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Soni Anushka , Leyland Kirsten M , Kiran Amit , Arden Nigel K , Cooper Cyrus , Wanigasekera Vishvarani , Tracey Irene , Javaid M Kassim , Price Andrew J 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA significant proportion of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) continue to have severe ongoing pain following knee replacement surgery. Central sensitization and features suggestive of neuropathic pain before surgery may result in a poor outcome post-operatively. In this prospective observational study of patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty (n=120), the modified PainDETECT score was used to divide patients, with primary knee OA, into nociceptive (<13), unclear (13–18) and neuropathic -like pain (>18) groups pre-operatively. Response to surgery was compared between groups using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the presence of moderate to severe long-term pain 12 months after arthroplasty. The analyses were replicated in a larger independent cohort study (n=404). 120 patients were recruited to the main study cohort: 63 (52%) nociceptive pain; 32 (27%) unclear pain; 25 (21%) neuropathic-like pain. Patients with neuropathic-like pain had significantly worse OKS pre and post-operatively, compared to the nociceptive pain group, independent of age, sex and BMI. At 12-months post-operatively the mean OKS was 4 points lower in the neuropathic-like group compared with the nociceptive group in the study cohort (non-significant); with a difference of 5 points in the replication cohort (p<0.001). Moderate to severe long-term pain after arthroplasty at 12-months was present in 50% of the neuropathic-like pain group versus 24% in the nociceptive pain group, in the replication cohort (p<0.001). Neuropathic pain is common and targeted therapy pre, peri and post-operatively may improve treatment response.
Illuminating women’s hidden contribution to the foundation of theoretical population genetics
Authors: Dung Samantha Kristin , López Andrea , Barragan Ezequiel Lopez , Reyes Rochelle-Jan , Thu Ricky , Castellanos Edgar , Catalan Francisca , Sanchez Emilia Huerta , Rohlfs Rori V. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPlentiful evidence shows an historic and continuing gender gap in participation and success in scientific research. However, less attention has been directed at clarifying obscured contributions of women to science. The lack of visible women role models (particularly in computational fields) contributes to a reduced sense of belonging and retention among women. We seek to counteract this cycle by illuminating the contribution of women programmers to the foundation of our own fields—population and evolutionary genetics. We consider past ‘acknowledged programmers’ (APs), who developed, ran, and sometimes analyzed the results of early computer programs. Due to authorship norms at the time, these programmers were credited in the acknowledgments sections of manuscripts, rather than being recognized as authors. For example, one acknowledgement reads “I thanks Mrs. M. Wu for help with the numerical work, and in particular for computing table I.”. We identified APs inTheoretical Population Biologyarticles published between 1970 and 1990. While only 7% of authors were women, 43% of APs were women. This significant difference (p = 4.0×10−10) demonstrates a substantial proportion of women’s contribution to foundational computational population genetics has been unrecognized. The proportion of women APs, as well as number of APs decreased over time. These observations correspond to the masculinization of computer programming, and the shifting of programming responsibilities to individuals credited as authors (likely graduate students). Finally, we note recurrent APs who contributed to several highly-cited manuscripts. We conclude that, while previously overlooked, historically, women have made substantial contributions to computational biology.