bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical Detection of the Putative Mechanoproteins ASIC2 and TRPV4 in Avian Herbst Sensory Corpuscles
Authors: Cabo R. , Gálvez A. , Laurà R. , San José I. , Pastor J.F. , López‐Muñiz A. , García‐Suárez O. , Vega J.A. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe avian Herbst corpuscles are the equivalent of the Pacinian corpuscles in mammals, and detect vibration and the movement of joints and feathers. Therefore, they can be regarded as rapidly adapting low‐threshold mechanoreceptors. In recent years, it has been establish that some ion channels are involved in mechanosensation and are present in both mechanosensory neurons and mechanoreceptors. Here we have used immunohistochemistry to localize some putative mechanoproteins in the Herbst corpuscles from the rictus of Columba livia. The proteins investigated were the subunits of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC), the transient‐receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), and the acid‐sensing ion channel 2 (ASIC2). Immunoreactivity for ENaC subunits was never found in Herbst corpuscles, while the axon expressed ASIC2 and TRPV4 immunoreactivity. Moreover, TRPV4 was also detected in the cell forming the inner core. The present results demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of mechanoproteins in avian low‐threshold mechanoreceptors and provide further evidence for a possible role of the ion channels in mechanosensation. Anat Rec, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Force modulated conductance of artificial coiled‐coil protein monolayers
Authors: Atanassov Alexander , Hendler Ziv , Berkovich Inbal , Ashkenasy Gonen , Ashkenasy Nurit 
Published: November 2012

AbstractStudies of charge transport through proteins bridged between two electrodes have been the subject of intense research in recent years. However, the complex structure of proteins makes it difficult to elucidate transport mechanisms, and the use of simple peptide oligomers may be an over simplified model of the proteins. To bridge this structural gap, we present here studies of charge transport through artificial parallel coiled‐coil proteins conducted in dry environment. Protein monolayers uniaxially oriented at an angle of ∼ 30° with respect to the surface normal were prepared. Current voltage measurements, obtained using conductive‐probe atomic force microscopy, revealed the mechano‐electronic behavior of the protein films. It was found that the low voltage conductance of the protein monolayer increases linearly with applied force, mainly due to increase in the tip contact area. Negligible compression of the films for loads below 26 nN allowed estimating a tunneling attenuation factor, β0, of 0.5–0.6 Å−1, which is akin to charge transfer by tunneling mechanism, despite the comparably large charge transport distance. These studies show that mechano‐electronic behavior of proteins can shed light on their complex charge transport mechanisms, and on how these mechanisms depend on the detailed structure of the proteins. Such studies may provide insightful information on charge transfer in biological systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 100: 93–99, 2013.
Randomized control study of the outback LTD reentry catheter versus manual reentry for the treatment of chronic total occlusions in the superficial femoral artery
Authors: Gandini Roberto , Fabiano Sebastiano , Spano Sergio , Volpi Tommaso , Morosetti Daniele , Chiaravalloti Antonio , Nano Giovanni , Simonetti Giovanni 
Published: November 2012

PurposeTo assess the efficacy and safety of the Outback device in patients with a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the superficial femoral artery and evaluate its impact on fluoroscopy and procedural times.Materials and methodsFrom October 2006 to March 2007, 52 patients affected by TASC II‐D superficial femoral artery CTO were treated with subintimal recanalization. Clinical indications for endovascular recanalization were: claudication, tissue loss, and at rest leg pain with critical limb ischemia. In 26 patients the manual reentry technique was used and in 26 the OUTBACK®LTD Re‐Entry Catheter was used. Total procedure time, fluoroscopy time and precision in targeting the expected reentry site have been compared.ResultsTechnical success was achieved in all cases (100%). In group 2, the planned in‐target re‐entry was achieved in 11/26 cases (42.3%). The procedure was performed with a traditional antegrade approach in 23/26 (88.4%) cases and in three cases (11.6%) a combined antegrade/retrograde approach was necessary. In group 1, the in‐target re‐entry was achieved in 26/26 cases (100%). In group 2, the mean procedural time was 55.4 ± 14.2 min with a mean fluoroscopy time 39.6 ± 13.9 min compared to 36.0 ± 9.4 min and 29.8 ± 8.9 min, respectively, of group 1 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsIn our experience, the use of this device is very useful for the revascularization of chronic femoral occlusions, even calcific, in which an accurate re‐entry cannot be achieved with the conventional subintimal technique. In these cases, the Outback device grants high technical success rates and a significant reduction of procedural and fluoroscopy times. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nitrogen‐Rich Bis‐1,2,4‐triazoles—A Comparative Study of Structural and Energetic Properties
Authors: Dippold Alexander A. , Klapötke Thomas M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn this contribution, the synthesis and full structural and spectroscopic characterization of five bis‐1,2,4‐triazoles in combination with different energetic moieties like amino, nitro, nitrimino, azido, and dinitromethylene groups is presented. The main goal is a comparative study on the influence of those energetic moieties on the structural and energetic properties. A complete characterization including IR, Raman, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy of all compounds is presented. Additionally, X‐ray crystallographic measurements were performed and deliver insight into structural characteristics as well as inter‐ and intramolecular interactions. The standard enthalpies of formation were calculated for all compounds at the CBS‐4M level of theory, the detonation parameters were calculated by using the EXPLO5.05 program. Additionally, the impact as well as the friction sensitivities and the sensitivity against electrostatic discharge were determined. The potential application of the synthesized compounds as energetic material will be studied and evaluated by using the experimentally obtained values for the thermal decomposition, the sensitivity data, and the calculated performance characteristics.
Site‐Specific Labeling of Proteins with a Chemically Stable, High‐Affinity Tag for Protein Study
Authors: Yang Yin , Li Qing‐Feng , Cao Chan , Huang Feng , Su Xun‐Cheng 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSite‐specific labeling of proteins with paramagnetic lanthanides offers unique opportunities by virtue of NMR spectroscopy in structural biology. In particular, these paramagnetic data, generated by the anisotropic paramagnetism including pseudocontact shifts (PCS), residual dipolar couplings (RDC), and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE), are highly valuable in structure determination and mobility studies of proteins and protein–ligand complexes. Herein, we present a new way to label proteins in a site‐specific manner with a high‐affinity and chemically stable tag, 4‐vinyl(pyridine‐2,6‐diyl)bismethylenenitrilo tetrakis(acetic acid) (4VPyMTA), through thiol alkylation. Its performance has been demonstrated in G47C and E64C mutants of human ubiquitin both in vitro and in a crowded environment. In comparison with the published tags, 4VPyMTA has several interesting features: 1) it has a very high binding affinity for lanthanides (higher than EDTA), 2) there is no heterogeneity in complexes with lanthanides, 3) the derivatized protein is stable and potentially applicable to the in situ analysis of proteins.
Deep Desulfurization by Amphiphilic Lanthanide‐Containing Polyoxometalates in Ionic‐Liquid Emulsion Systems under Mild Conditions
Authors: Xu Junhua , Zhao Shen , Ji Yuanchun , Song Yu‐Fei 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAmphiphilic lanthanide‐containing polyoxometalates (POMs) were prepared by surfactant encapsulation. Investigation of these lanthanide‐containing POMs in oxidative desulfurization (ODS) showed that highly efficient deep desulfurization could be achieved in only 14 min with 100 % conversion of dibenzothiophene under mild conditions by using (DDA)9LaW10/[omim]PF6 (DDA=dimethyldioctadecylammonium, omim=1‐octyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium) in the presence of H2O2. Furthermore, deep desulfurization proceeds smoothly in model oil with an S content as low as 50 ppm. A scaled‐up experiment in which the volume of model oil was increased from 5 to 1000 mL with S content of 1000 ppm indicated that about 99 % sulfur removal can be achieved in 40 mins in an ionic‐liquid emulsion system. To the best of our knowledge, the (DDA)9LaW10/[omim]PF6 catalyst system with H2O2 as oxidant is one of the most efficient desulfurization systems reported so far.
Direct Nucleophilic Addition to N‐Alkoxyamides
Authors: Yanagita Yuta , Nakamura Hugh , Shirokane Kenji , Kurosaki Yusuke , Sato Takaaki , Chida Noritaka 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWhile the synthesis of amide bonds is now one of the most reliable organic reactions, functionalization of amide carbonyl groups has been a long‐standing issue due to their high stability. As an ongoing program aimed at practical transformation of amides, we developed a direct nucleophilic addition to N‐alkoxyamides to access multisubstituted amines. The reaction enabled installation of two different functional groups to amide carbonyl groups in one pot. The N‐alkoxy group played important roles in this reaction. First, it removed the requirement for an extra preactivation step prior to nucleophilic addition to activate inert amide carbonyl groups. Second, the N‐alkoxy group formed a five‐membered chelated complex after the first nucleophilic addition, resulting in suppression of an extra addition of the first nucleophile. While diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL‐H) and organolithium reagents were suitable as the first nucleophile, allylation, cyanation, and vinylation were possible in the second addition including inter‐ and intramolecular reactions. The yields were generally high, even in the synthesis of sterically hindered α‐trisubstituted amines. The reaction exhibited wide substrate scope, including acyclic amides, five‐ and six‐membered lactams, and macrolactams.
New Reactivity of the Uranyl(VI) Ion
Authors: Baker Robert J. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe chemistry of the uranyl ion ([UO2]2+) has evolved remarkably over the past few years, with unexpected reactivity observed that challenge our understanding of this ion, and of actinides in general. This review highlights some recent advances in the field, focussing on the organometallic chemistry of the uranyl moiety, which is not well developed in comparison to lower oxidation states of uranium. The use of uranyl as a catalyst is highlighted and the newly developed supramolecular chemistry is described. The uranyl oxygen atoms have been considered as inert, but recent work has shown that is not necessarily the case and is discussed herein. Finally, reduction to the [UO2]+ ion will be discussed.
The Clinical Value of Echocardiography and Acoustic Cardiography to Monitor Patients Undergoing Anthracycline Chemotherapy
Authors: Toggweiler Stefan , Odermatt Yvonne , Brauchlin Andreas , Zander Thilo , Müller Andrea , Zuber Michel , Winterhalder Ralph , Erne Paul 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundInvestigate the usefulness of echocardiography and acoustic cardiography to monitor patients exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy.HypothesisSerial echocardiographies to monitor systolic function may not be neccessary in all patients undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy.MethodsIn a prospective study, consecutive patients undergoing anthracycline‐containing chemotherapy were evaluated with echocardiography and acoustic cardiography at baseline, after completion of chemotherapy, and after a median follow‐up of 3.8 years. Systolic dysfunction was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤50%.ResultsA total of 187 patients (83% female) with a mean age of 55 ± 14 years underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer (73%), malignant lymphoma (23%), and sarcoma (4%). None of the patients had systolic dysfunction at baseline. Patients were treated with doxorubicin 276 ± 74 mg/m2 or epirubicin 317 ± 55 mg/m2. After chemotherapy, 170 (91%) had normal systolic function, 8 (4%) developed systolic dysfunction, and 9 (5%) had died. Of those 8 patients with systolic dysfunction, 4 (50%) improved to normal systolic function, 1 (13%) remained unchanged, and 3 (37%) died. Patients with normal systolic function after chemotherapy had a mortality rate of 3.5%, and 1.8% developed late systolic dysfunction. Acoustic cardiography‐derived percent electromechanical activation time >12.4% had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 84% to identify patients with systolic dysfunction (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.87).ConclusionsPatients with systolic dysfunction early after anthracycline treatment had worse outcome. Acoustic cardiography was able to identify these patients with a high sensitivity and specificity. Based on the findings of this study, we propose a simple algorithm to monitor patients undergoing anthracycline‐containing chemotherapy.The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography for vascular imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical and biological significance
Authors: Sato Kota , Tanaka Shinji , Mitsunori Yusuke , Mogushi Kaoru , Yasen Mahmut , Aihara Arihiro , Ban Daisuke , Ochiai Takanori , Irie Takumi , Kudo Atsushi , Nakamura Noriaki , Tanaka Hiroshi , Arii Shigeki 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Abnormal tumor vascularity is one of the typical features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, the significance of contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography (CEIOUS) images of HCC vasculature was evaluated by clinicopathological and gene expression analyses. We enrolled 82 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection for HCC with CEIOUS. Clinicopathological and gene expression analyses were performed according to CEIOUS vasculature patterns. CEIOUS images of HCC vasculatures were classified as reticular HCC or thunderbolt HCC. Thunderbolt HCC was significantly correlated with higher alpha-fetoprotein levels, tumor size, histological differentiation, portal vein invasion, and tumor-node-metastasis stage, and these patients demonstrated a significantly poorer prognosis for both recurrence-free survival (

P

= 0.0193) and overall survival (

P

= 0.0362) compared with patients who had reticular HCC. Gene expression analysis revealed that a rereplication inhibitor geminin was significantly overexpressed in thunderbolt HCCs (

P

= 0.00326).

In vitro

knockdown of geminin gene reduced significantly the proliferation of human HCC cells. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed overexpression of geminin protein in thunderbolt HCC (

P

< 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed geminin expression to be an independent factor in predicting poor survival in HCC patients (

P

= 0.0170).

Conclusion

: CEIOUS vascular patterns were distinctly identifiable by gene expression profiling associated with cellular proliferation of HCC and were significantly related to HCC progression and poor prognosis. These findings might be clinically useful as a determinant factor in the postoperative treatment of HCC.
Chimeric hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus envelope proteins elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies and constitute a potential bivalent prophylactic vaccine
Authors: Beaumont Elodie , Patient Romuald , Hourioux Christophe , Dimier-Poisson Isabelle , Roingeard Philippe 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

The development of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become an important medical priority, because 3-4 million new HCV infections are thought to occur each year worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is another major human pathogen, but infections with this virus can be prevented with a safe, efficient vaccine, based on the remarkable ability of the envelope protein (S) of this virus to self-assemble into highly immunogenic subviral particles. Chimeric HBV-HCV envelope proteins in which the N-terminal transmembrane domain of S was replaced with the transmembrane domain of the HCV envelope proteins (E1 or E2) were efficiently coassembled with the wild-type HBV S protein into subviral particles. These chimeric particles presented the full-length E1 and E2 proteins from a genotype 1a virus in an appropriate conformation for formation of the E1-E2 heterodimer. Produced in stably transduced Chinese hamster ovary cells and used to immunize New Zealand rabbits, these particles induced a strong specific antibody (Ab) response against the HCV and HBV envelope proteins in immunized animals. Sera containing anti-E1 or anti-E2 Abs elicited by these particles neutralized infections with HCV pseudoparticles and cell-cultured viruses derived from different heterologous 1a, 1b, 2a, and 3 strains. Moreover, the anti–hepatitis B surface response induced by these chimeric particles was equivalent to the response induced by a commercial HBV vaccine.

Conclusions:

Our results provide support for approaches based on the development of bivalent HBV-HCV prophylactic vaccine candidates potentially able to prevent initial infection with either of these two hepatotropic viruses.
An investigation of risk factors for renal cell carcinoma by histologic subtype in two case‐control studies
Authors: Purdue Mark P. , Moore Lee E. , Merino Maria J. , Boffetta Paolo , Colt Joanne S. , Schwartz Kendra L. , Bencko Vladimir , Davis Faith G. , Graubard Barry I. , Janout Vladimir , Ruterbusch Julie J. , Beebe‐Dimmer Jennifer , Cote Michele L. , Shuch Brian , Mates Dana , Hofmann Jonathan N. , Foretova Lenka , Rothman Nathaniel , Szeszenia‐Dabrowska Neonilia , Matveev Vsevolod , Wacholder Sholom , Zaridze David , Linehan W. Marston , Brennan Paul , Chow Wong‐Ho 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTo investigate whether renal cell carcinoma (RCC) histologic subtypes possess different etiologies, we conducted analyses of established RCC risk factors by subtype (clear cell, papillary and chromophobe) in two case‐control studies conducted in the United States (1,217 cases, 1,235 controls) and Europe (1,097 cases, 1,476 controls). Histology was ascertained for 706 U.S. cases (58% of total) and 917 European cases (84%) through a central slide review conducted by a single pathologist. For the remaining cases, histology was abstracted from the original diagnostic pathology report. Case‐only analyses were performed to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) summarizing subtype differences by age, sex and race. Case‐control analyses were performed to compute subtype‐specific ORs for other risk factors using polytomous regression. In case‐only analyses, papillary cases (N = 237) were older (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4 per 10‐year increase), less likely to be female (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.4–0.8) and more likely to be black (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.8–3.9) as compared to clear cell cases (N = 1,524). In case‐control analyses, BMI was associated with clear cell (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–1.3 per 5 kg/m2 increase) and chromophobe RCC (N = 80; OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), but not papillary RCC (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0–1.2; test versus clear cell, p = 0.006). No subtype differences were observed for associations with smoking, hypertension or family history of kidney cancer. Our findings support the existence of distinct age, sex and racial distributions for RCC subtypes, and suggest that the obesity‐RCC association differs by histology.
The dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP‐BEZ235 and chloroquine synergize to trigger apoptosis via mitochondrial‐lysosomal cross‐talk
Authors: Seitz Christian , Hugle Manuela , Cristofanon Silvia , Tchoghandjian Aurélie , Fulda Simone 
Published: November 2012

AbstractOn the basis of our previous identification of aberrant phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling as a novel poor prognostic factor in neuroblastoma, we evaluated the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 in the present study. Here, BEZ235 acts in concert with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine (CQ) to trigger apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells in a synergistic manner, as calculated by combination index (CI < 0.5). Surprisingly, inhibition of BEZ235‐induced autophagy is unlikely the primary mechanism of this synergism as reported in other cancers, since neither inhibition of autophagosome formation by knockdown of Atg7 or Atg5 nor disruption of the autophagic flux by Bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) enhance BEZ235‐induced apoptosis. BEZ235 stimulates enlargement of the lysosomal compartment and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while CQ promotes lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). In combination, BEZ235 and CQ cooperate to trigger LMP, Bax activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and caspase‐dependent apoptosis. Lysosome‐mediated apoptosis occurs in a ROS‐dependent manner, as ROS scavengers significantly reduce BEZ235/CQ‐induced loss of MMP, LMP and apoptosis. There is a mitochondrial‐lysosomal cross‐talk, since lysosomal enzyme inhibitors significantly decrease BEZ235‐ and CQ‐induced drop of MMP and apoptosis. In conclusion, BEZ235 and CQ act in concert to trigger LMP and lysosome‐mediated apoptosis via a mitochondrial‐lysosomal cross‐talk. These findings have important implications for the rational development of PI3K/mTOR inhibitor‐based combination therapies.
Activation of the human immune system via toll‐like receptors by the oncolytic parvovirus H‐1
Authors: Sieben Maike , Schäfer Petra , Dinsart Christiane , Galle Peter R. , Moehler Markus 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the function of toll‐like receptors (TLRs) during oncolytic parvovirus H‐1 (H‐1PV)‐induced human immune responses. First, the role of TLRs in the activation of the NFκB transcription factor was characterized; second, the immunologic effects of H‐1PV‐induced tumor cell lysates (TCL) on human antitumor immune responses were evaluated. A human ex vivo model was used to study immune responses with dendritic cells (DCs). Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) transfected to stably express TLRs were used as potential human DC equivalents to further investigate the role of specific TLRs during immune activation. TLR3 and TLR9 were activated by H‐1PV infection, which correlated with NFκB translocation to the nucleus and a reduced cytoplasmic IκB expression. Using a TLR‐signaling reporter plasmid (pNiFty‐Luc), NFκB activity was increased following H‐1PV infection. In addition, human DCs coincubated with H‐1PV‐induced TCL demonstrated increased TLR3 and TLR9 expression. These data suggest that H‐1PV‐induced TCL stimulate human DCs at least in part through TLR‐dependent signaling pathways. Thus, DC maturation occurred through exposure to H‐1PV‐induced TCL through TLR‐signaling leading to NFκB‐dependent activation of the adaptive immune system as indicated by the increased expression of CD86, TLR3 and TLR9. Furthermore, the transcription of various cytokines indicates the activation of immune response, therefore the production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF‐α was determined. Here, H‐1PV‐induced TCL significantly enhanced the TNF‐α level by DCs after coculture. H‐1PV oncolytic virotherapy enhances immune priming by different effects on DCs and generates antitumor immunity. These findings potentially offer a new approach to tumor therapy.