bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chitin deacetylase family genes in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Xi Y. , Pan P.‐L. , Ye Y.‐X. , Yu B. , Zhang C.‐X. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractChitin deacetylases (CDAs) are enzymes required for one of the pathways of chitin degradation, in which chitosan is produced by the deacetylation of chitin. Bioinformatic investigations with genomic and transcriptomic databases identified four genes encoding CDAs in Nilaparvata lugens (NlCDAs). Phylogenetic analysis showed that insect CDAs were clustered into five major groups. Group I, III and IV CDAs are found in all insect species, whereas the pupa‐specific group II and gut‐specific group V CDAs are not found in the plant‐sap/blood‐sucking hemimetabolous species from Hemiptera and Anoplura. The developmental and tissue‐specific expression patterns of four NlCDAs revealed that NlCDA3 was a gut‐specific CDA, with high expression at all developmental stages; NlCDA1, NlCDA2 and NlCDA4 were highly expressed in the integument and peaked periodically during every moulting, which suggests their roles in chitin turnover of the insect old cuticle. Lethal phenotypes of cuticle shedding failure and high mortality after the injection of double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) for NlCDA1, NlCDA2 and NlCDA4 provide further evidence for their functions associated with moulting. No observable morphological and internal structural abnormality was obtained in insects treated with dsRNA for gut‐specific NlCDA3.
The regulatory T cell effector molecule fibrinogen‐like protein 2 is necessary for the development of rapamycin‐induced tolerance to fully MHC‐mismatched murine cardiac allografts
Authors: Urbanellis Peter , Shyu Wendy , Khattar Ramzi , Wang Jihong , Zakharova Anna , He Wei , Sadozai Hassan , Amir Achiya Z. , Shalev Itay , Phillips M. James , Adeyi Oyedele , Ross Heather , Grant David , Levy Gary A. , Chruscinski Andrzej 
Published: July 2014

SummaryTherapies that promote tolerance in solid organ transplantation will improve patient outcomes by eliminating the need for long‐term immunosuppression. To investigate mechanisms of rapamycin‐induced tolerance, C3H/HeJ mice were heterotopically transplanted with MHC‐mismatched hearts from BALB/cJ mice and were monitored for rejection after a short course of rapamycin treatment. Mice that had received rapamycin developed tolerance with indefinite graft survival, whereas untreated mice all rejected their grafts within 9 days. In vitro, splenic mononuclear cells from tolerant mice maintained primary CD4+ and CD8+ immune responses to donor antigens consistent with a mechanism that involves active suppression of immune responses. Furthermore, infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain WE led to loss of tolerance suggesting that tolerance could be overcome by infection. Rapamycin‐induced, donor‐specific tolerance was associated with an expansion of regulatory T (Treg) cells in both the spleen and allograft and elevated plasma levels of fibrinogen‐like protein 2 (FGL2). Depletion of Treg cells with anti‐CD25 (PC61) and treatment with anti‐FGL2 antibody both prevented tolerance induction. Tolerant allografts were populated with Treg cells that co‐expressed FGL2 and FoxP3, whereas rejecting allografts and syngeneic grafts were nearly devoid of dual‐staining cells. We examined the utility of an immunoregulatory gene panel to discriminate between tolerance and rejection. We observed that Treg‐associated genes (foxp3, lag3, tgf‐β and fgl2) had increased expression and pro‐inflammatory genes (ifn‐γ and gzmb) had decreased expression in tolerant compared with rejecting allografts. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that Treg cells expressing FGL2 mediate rapamycin‐induced tolerance. Furthermore, a gene biomarker panel that includes fgl2 can distinguish between rejecting and tolerant grafts.
Sensitivity to Confidence Cues Increases during the Second Year of Life
Authors: Brosseau‐Liard Patricia E. , Poulin‐Dubois Diane 
Published: July 2014

We investigated the emergence in infancy of a preference to imitate individuals who display confidence over lack of confidence. Eighteen‐ and 24‐month‐olds (N = 70) were presented with an experimenter who demonstrated the use of several objects accompanied by either nonverbal expressions of confidence or lack of confidence. At 24 months, infants were more likely to imitate the actions when demonstrated by a confident experimenter than by an unconfident experimenter; 18‐month‐olds showed no such preference. The experimenter then presented an additional imitation trial and a word‐learning trial while displaying a neutral expression. Twenty‐four‐month‐olds persisted in preferentially imitating a previously confident experimenter, but prior confidence had no effect on their word learning. These findings demonstrate a developmental increase in infants’ use of confidence cues toward the end of the second year of life.
Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of human rhinoviruses in South Africa
Authors: Pretorius Marthi A. , Tempia Stefano , Treurnicht Florette K. , Walaza Sibongile , Cohen Adam L. , Moyes Jocelyn , Hellferscee Orienka , Variava Ebrahim , Dawood Halima , Chhagan Meera , Haffjee Sumayya , Madhi Shabir A. , Cohen Cheryl , Venter Marietjie 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundRhinoviruses (RV) are a well‐established cause of respiratory illness. RV‐C has been associated with more severe illness. We aimed to characterize and compare the clinical presentations and disease severity of different RV type circulating in South Africa.MethodWe performed two analyses of RV‐positive specimens identified through surveillance in South Africa across all age groups. First, RV‐positive specimens identified through severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance in four provinces was randomly selected from 2009 to 2010 for molecular characterization. Second, RV‐positive specimens identified through SARI, influenza‐like illness (ILI) and control surveillance at hospitals and outpatient clinics in during 2012–2013 were used to determine the association of RV type with severe disease. Selected specimens were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed.ResultsAmong the 599 sequenced specimens from 2009 to 2010 and 2012 to 2013, RV‐A (285, 48%) and RV‐C (247, 41%) were more commonly identified than RV‐B (67, 11%), with no seasonality and a high genetic diversity. A higher prevalence of RV infection was identified in cases with SARI [515/962 (26%); aRRR = 1·6; 95% CI 1·21; 2·2] and ILI [356/962 (28%); aRRR = 1·9; 95% CI 1·37; 2·6] compared with asymptomatic controls (91/962, 22%). There was no difference in disease severity between the different type when comparing SARI, ILI and controls.ConclusionAll three type of RV were identified in South Africa, although RV‐A and RV‐C were more common than RV‐B. RV was associated with symptomatic respiratory illness; however, there was no association between RV type and disease severity.
A set covering based matheuristic for a real‐world city logistics problem
Authors: Boschetti Marco , Maniezzo Vittorio 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThis paper describes an application of a matheuristic algorithm to a real‐world city logistics problem for a mid‐sized town, whose core could be modeled as a multitrip vehicle routing problem with time windows, pickup and deliveries, and heterogeneous fleet. The proposed matheuristic is based on a dual ascent procedure applied to an extended set covering model (SCC) and on a randomized constructive heuristic. It starts by constructing an initial set of feasible solutions. The corresponding routes are the starting subset of columns of SCC. At each iteration, the dual ascent based on a Lagrangian optimization of the SCC computes a near‐optimal dual solution that is returned along with a primal solution obtained by a Lagrangian heuristic. The dual costs are used for generating new feasible solutions by means of the constructive heuristic, and the corresponding routes are the new columns added to the SCC. At the end of the algorithm, the best heuristic solution is pruned to get a feasible solution for the city logistics problem. The matheuristic could actually solve different city logistics scenarios to be used as a basis for a successive stakeholders concertation process. A further interesting byproduct of this research is the dual ascent procedure that also proved effective on the classical set covering problem, in addition to its extension considered in this paper.
Redescription of the Little‐known Ciliate Apoamphisiella vernalis (Stokes, 1887) Berger, 2006 (Ciliophora, Hypotricha) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
Authors: Paiva Thiago Da Silva , Dias Roberto Júnio Pedroso , Da Silva‐Neto Inácio Domingos 
Published: July 2014

AbstractApoamphisiella Foissner, 1997 is a genus of hypotrichous ciliates reported to occur in various locations in the world, but that seems particularly widespread in the Americas. In this study, the first record of Apoamphisiella vernalis for Brazil is presented based on a population from the Atlantic Forest of the Minas Gerais state. A redescription of A. vernalis made from light and scanning electron microscopy observations unveils a unique combination of diagnostic features for this species, namely the presence of green cortical granules, one contractile vacuole lacking collecting canals, and the rear end of both left and right marginal cirral rows located at same level. Moreover, A. vernalis is found to be an omnivorous predator, feeding on arcelline testate amoebae, rotifers, and other organisms.
A Quantitative Real‐Time Immuno‐PCR Assay for Detection of Staphylococcus Aureus Enterotoxin H
Authors: Kwon Ka Hee , Hwang Sun Young , Park Young Kyung , Yoon Jang Won , Kim Sangphil , Hong Joonbae 
Published: July 2014

AbstractRapid, quantitative and sensitive detection methods are essential for prevention and risk assessment of food poisoning. In this study, we developed quantitative real‐time immuno‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐iPCR), a highly sensitive and efficient method for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin H (SEH). The qRT‐iPCR is based on antigen–antibody recognition, similar to the traditional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, unlike ELISA, the method relies on DNA probes and RT‐PCR for detection rather than on a chromogenic reaction. We produced recombinant SEs and monoclonal antibodies for SEH. Then, coupled RT‐PCR using DNA probes was applied. This qRT‐iPCR showed a lower limit of detection (LOD) than traditional ELISA did. In the sandwich format, qRT‐iPCR system could detect approximately 4.5 pg/mL of SEH. Our qRT‐iPCR system simplified the detection and quantification of SEH and accelerated the process compared with traditional ELISA. To our knowledge, this is the most sensitive technique for detection of SEH reported to date.Practical ApplicationsSensitive and rapid commercial kits to detect and quantify staphylococcal enterotoxin H, which could not be detected by the existing kits, would be developed based on the quantitative real‐time immuno‐polymerase chain reaction method in this study and they can improve the process of risk assessment of food poisoning.
Unmet treatment needs of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia Pacific Survey
Authors: Goh Khean Lee , Choi Myung Gyu , Hsu William Ping I , Chun Hoon Jai , Mahachai Varocha , Kachintorn Udom , Leelakusolvong Somchai , Kim Nayoung , Rani Abdul Aziz , Wong Benjamin CY , Wu Justin , Chiu Cheng Tang , Chu Romeo , Shetty Vikram , Bocobo Joseph C , Chan Melchor M , Lin Jaw Town 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground and AimData on patient satisfaction with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are scarce in Asia. The perspectives of Asian patients with GERD and their satisfaction with PPI therapy were investigated.MethodsThe GERD in Asia Pacific Survey (GAPS) was conducted from December 2011 to March 2012. Patients aged 21–55 years with self‐reported doctor‐diagnosed GERD, who had experienced symptoms in the previous 12 months, and were currently taking PPIs were enrolled. After a pilot study, a questionnaire was completed by respondents from six Asian countries during face‐to‐face interviews.ResultsA total of 450 patients with GERD participated in the GAPS. Although the respondents generally complied with treatment, response to therapy was only partially successful. Most respondents indicated that PPIs eliminated pain (72%), took effect within 30 min (76%), provided sustained relief (73%), and provided nocturnal relief (77%). However, 45% of respondents reported limited improvement in nocturnal symptoms, and 49% continued to take adjunctive therapy to manage their symptoms. After treatment, respondent's “well‐being” had improved. However, GERD still had a negative impact on well‐being for 76% of respondents after treatment, compared with 94% before treatment.ConclusionsAsian patients reported a negative impact of GERD on their daily lives. Many respondents continued to experience symptoms despite reporting good compliance with PPI therapy, emphasizing the shortcomings of currently available therapy for GERD. This survey is the first to highlight Asian patients' perspectives of GERD and PPI therapy, and provides a platform for further evaluation.
Major predictors of portal hypertensive enteropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Aoyama Taiki , Oka Shiro , Aikata Hiroshi , Igawa Atsushi , Nakano Makoto , Naeshiro Noriaki , Yoshida Shigeto , Tanaka Shinji , Chayama Kazuaki 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground and AimPortal hypertensive enteropathy (PHE) is acknowledged as a source of bleeding, and predicting its presence has become more important. We assessed PHE using capsule endoscopy (CE) and investigated factors that may predict its presence, including portosystemic shunts (PSs).MethodsWe analyzed data from 134 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis, from February 2009 to September 2013. All patients had undergone dynamic computed tomography and esophagogastroduodenoscopy before CE examination. The frequencies and types of PHE lesions, and the relationships between the presence of PHE and patients' clinical characteristics were evaluated. The distribution of the lesions was also determined.ResultsPHE was found in 91 (68%), erythema in 70 (52%), erosions in 25 (19%), angioectasia in 24 (18%), villous edema in 18 (13%), and varices in 10 (7%) patients. Most lesions were located in the jejunum. The clinical characteristics associated with the presence of PHE were a Child‐Pugh grade of B or C (P = 0.0058), and the presence of PSs (P < 0.0001), ascites (P = 0.0017), portal thrombosis (P = 0.016), esophageal varices (P = 0.0017), and portal hypertensive gastropathy (P = 0.0029). The presence of PSs was an independent predictor of PHE (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–7.95). Among the shunt types, left gastric vein (OR: 5.31; 95% CI: 1.97–17.0) and splenorenal shunts (OR: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.29–19.4) were independent predictors of PHE.ConclusionPSs, especially left gastric vein and splenorenal shunts, appear to reliably predict the presence of PHE.
Chloride intracellular channel 1 participates in migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting maspin
Authors: Wei Xuyong , Li Jie , Xie Haiyang , Wang Hangxiang , Wang Jianguo , Zhang Xuanyu , Zhuang Runzhou , Lu Di , Ling Qi , Zhou Lin , Xu Xiao , Zheng Shusen 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground and AimOur previous proteomic research found that chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues with portal vein tumor thrombus. The present study aimed to determine the role of CLIC1 in HCC invasion.MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to explore protein expression of CLIC1 in 15 cirrhotic tissues and 69 pairs of HCC and paracarcinoma tissues. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmids were transfected into HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells, and the in vitro function of CLIC1 in these cells were assessed with cell counting kit‐8 assays, cell apoptosis assays, scratch assays, and transwell assays. Microarray analysis was also performed to further explore the candidate genes related to CLIC1.ResultsOur results confirmed that upregulated CLIC1 expression was significantly correlated with vascular invasion (P = 0.034) in HCC tissues. Knockdown of CLIC1 decreased cell viability and the invasive potency of HepG2 cells, whereas CLIC1 overexpression resulted in an opposite effect in SMMC7721 cells. Microarray analysis identified 618 genes that were differentially expressed (fold change ≥ 2, P < 0.05) between HepG2 cells transfected with CLIC1 siRNA and the negative control. Further studies indicate that knockdown of CLIC1 increased maspin expression and reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrixmetalloproteinase‐2 (MMP2), MMP9, MMP11, and MMP12 expression. In contrast, overexpression of CLIC1 decreased maspin expression and increased VEGF, MMP2, MMP12, and MMP13 expression.ConclusionsCLIC1 protein expression is significantly correlated with vascular invasion, and the present study suggests a previously unknown mechanism of CLIC1‐mediated control of HCC invasiveness by targeting maspin.
Smoking behaviour modifies IL23r‐associated disease risk in patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Doecke James D , Simms Lisa A , Zhao Zhen Zhen , Roberts Rebecca L , Fowler Elizabeth V , Croft Anthony , Lin Angela , Huang Ning , Whiteman David C , Florin Timothy H J , Barclay Murray L , Merriman Tony R , Gearry Richard B , Montgomery Grant W , Radford‐Smith Graham L 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground and AimThe etiology of Crohn's disease (CD) implicates both genetic and environmental factors. Smoking behavior is one environmental risk factor to play a role in the development of CD. The study aimed to assess the contribution of the interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R) in determining disease susceptibility in two independent cohorts of CD, and to investigate the interactions between IL23R variants, smoking behavior, and CD‐associated genes, NOD2 and ATG16L1.MethodsTen IL23R single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 675 CD cases, and 1255 controls from Brisbane, Australia (dataset 1). Six of these SNPs were genotyped in 318 CD cases and 533 controls from Canterbury, New Zealand (dataset 2). Case–control analysis of genotype and allele frequencies, and haplotype analysis for all SNPs was conducted.ResultsWe demonstrate a strong increased CD risk for smokers in both datasets (odds ratio 3.77, 95% confidence interval 2.88–4.94), and an additive interaction between IL23R SNPs and cigarette smoking. Ileal involvement was a consistent marker of strong SNP–CD association (P ≤ 0.001), while the lowest minor allele frequencies for location were found in those with colonic CD (L2). Three haplotype blocks were identified across the 10 IL23R SNPs conferring different risk of CD. Haplotypes conferred no further risk of CD when compared with single SNP analyses.ConclusionIL23R gene variants determine CD susceptibility in the Australian and New Zealand population, particularly ileal CD. A strong additive interaction exists between IL23R SNPs and smoking behavior resulting in a dramatic increase in disease risk depending upon specific genetic background.
The immunomodulatory effects of human mesenchymal stem cells on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in ALS patients
Authors: Kwon Min‐Soo , Noh Min‐Young , Oh Ki‐Wook , Cho Kyung‐Ah , Kang Byung‐Yong , Kim Kyung‐Suk , Kim Young‐Seo , Kim Seung H. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn a previous study, we reported that intrathecal injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) slowed disease progression in G93A mutant superoxide dismutase1 transgenic mice. In this study, we found that intrathecal MSC administration vastly increased the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the spinal cord of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice (G93A mutant superoxide dismutase1 transgenic). Thus, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of MSCs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in ALS patients, focusing on regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg; CD4+/CD25high/FoxP3+) and the mRNA expression of several cytokines (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐17, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐13, and TGF‐β). Peripheral blood samples were obtained from nine healthy controls (HC) and sixteen patients who were diagnosed with definite or probable ALS. Isolated PBMCs from the blood samples of all subjects were co‐cultured with MSCs for 24 or 72 h. Based on a fluorescence‐activated cell sorting analysis, we found that co‐culture with MSCs increased the Treg/total T‐lymphocyte ratio in the PBMCs from both groups according to the co‐culture duration. Co‐culture of PBMCs with MSCs for 24 h led to elevated mRNA levels of IFN‐γ and IL‐10 in the PBMCs from both groups. However, after co‐culturing for 72 h, although the IFN‐γ mRNA level had returned to the basal level in co‐cultured HC PBMCs, the IFN‐γ mRNA level in co‐cultured ALS PBMCs remained elevated. Additionally, the levels of IL‐4 and TGF‐β were markedly elevated, along with Gata3 mRNA, a Th2 transcription factor mRNA, in both HC and ALS PBMCs co‐cultured for 72 h. The elevated expression of these cytokines in the co‐culture supernatant was confirmed via ELISA. Furthermore, we found that the increased mRNA level of indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) in the co‐cultured MSCs was correlated with the increase in Treg induction. These findings of Treg induction and increased anti‐inflammatory cytokine expression in co‐cultured ALS PBMCs provide indirect evidence that MSCs may play a role in the immunomodulation of inflammatory responses when MSC therapy is targeted to ALS patients.
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We propose the following mechanism for the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) administered intrathecally in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): MSCs increase infiltration of peripheral immune cells into CNS and skew the infiltrated immune cells toward regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) and Th2 lymphocytes. Treg and Th2 secret anti‐inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐4, IL‐10, and TGF‐β. A series of immunomodulatory mechanism provides a new strategy for ALS treatment.
A distinct subfraction of Aβ is responsible for the high‐affinity Pittsburgh compound B‐binding site in Alzheimer's disease brain
Authors: Matveev Sergey V. , Spielmann Hans Peter , Metts Brittney M. , Chen Jing , Onono Fredrick , Zhu Haining , Scheff Stephen W. , Walker Lary C. , LeVine Harry 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe positron emission tomography (PET) ligand 11C‐labeled Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) is used to image β‐amyloid (Aβ) deposits in the brains of living subjects with the intent of detecting early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, deposits of human‐sequence Aβ in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice and non‐human primates bind very little PIB. The high stoichiometry of PIB:Aβ binding in human AD suggests that the PIB‐binding site may represent a particularly pathogenic entity and/or report local pathologic conditions. In this study, 3H‐PIB was employed to track purification of the PIB‐binding site in > 90% yield from frontal cortical tissue of autopsy‐diagnosed AD subjects. The purified PIB‐binding site comprises a distinct, highly insoluble subfraction of the Aβ in AD brain with low buoyant density because of the sodium dodecyl sulfate‐resistant association with a limited subset of brain proteins and lipids with physical properties similar to lipid rafts and to a ganglioside:Aβ complex in AD and Down syndrome brain. Both the protein and lipid components are required for PIB binding. Elucidation of human‐specific biological components and pathways will be important in guiding improvement of the animal models for AD and in identifying new potential therapeutic avenues.image
A lipid‐associated subpopulation of Aβ accounts for the high‐affinity binding of Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) in Alzheimer's disease brain. Mass spectrometry of the isolated PIB‐binding site from frontal cortex identified Aβ peptides and a set of plaque‐associated proteins in AD but not age‐matched normal brain. The PIB‐binding site may represent a particularly pathogenic entity and/or report local pathologic conditions.