bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Programmed cell removal biomarkers calreticulin and CD47 implicated in oral lichen planus
Authors: Allon I , Vered H , Hirshberg A 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate the expression of the programmed cell removal markers, calreticulin (CRT) and CD47, known to be involved in various autoimmune diseases, in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), and to investigate the association with clinical behavior.Materials and methodsBiopsies of 78 patients with OLP were included. The clinical data were collected from patients' charts. The expression of CRT and CD47 was immunomorphometrically analyzed in the epithelial (CRTep, CD47ep) and inflammatory cells (CRTinf, CD47inf), and the results were correlated with the clinical presentation.ResultsThe epithelial and inflammatory cells expressed CRT (2.83 ± 6.62 and 5.13 ± 3.72) and CD47 (7.92 ± 4.6 and 10.7 ± 7.16). The expressions of CD47ep and CD47inf were associated (R = 0.64, P < 0.0005) with one another. The expressions of CRTinf and CD47ep were higher in atrophic erosive forms (A/ELP) than in the keratotic form of patients with OLP (6.46 ± 0.76 and 9.38 ± 0.87 vs 4.2 ± 0.61 and 6.84 ± 0.91, respectively, P = 0.002 and P = 0.021). The expression of CRTep was associated with more localized lesions (P < 0.009) and more abundant in males (P = 0.049), and the expression of CRTinf was associated with the presence of skin lesions and symptoms (P < 0.034 and P = 0.047, respectively). Only in A/ELP patients, the expression of CRTep was associated with high expression of CD47ep (R = 0.6, P = 0.004), where both CD47ep and CD47inf were associated with lower age of the patients (R = −0.48, P = 0.03 and R = −0.54, P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe pattern of expression of CRT and CD47 in OLP suggests a general programmed cell removal response in OLP. Symptomatic patients may benefit from CRT/CD47 targeted therapy in the future.
Microarray‐based IgE detection in tears of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: Leonardi Andrea , Borghesan Franco , Faggian Diego , Plebani Mario 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundA specific allergen sensitization can be demonstrated in approximately half of the vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients by conventional allergic tests. The measurement of specific IgE in tears using a multiplex allergen microarray may offer advantages to identify local sensitization to a specific allergen.MethodsIn spring–summer 2011, serum and tears samples were collected from 10 active VKC patients (three females, seven males) and 10 age‐matched normal subjects. Skin prick test, symptoms score and full ophthalmological examination were performed. Specific serum and tear IgE were assayed using ImmunoCAP ISAC, a microarray containing 103 components derived from 47 allergens.ResultsNormal subjects resulted negative for the presence of specific IgE both in serum and in tears. Of the 10 VKC patients, six resulted positive to specific IgE in serum and/or tears. In three of these six patients, specific IgE was found positive only in tears. Cross‐reactivity between specific markers was found in three patients. Grass, tree, mites, animal but also food allergen‐specific IgE were found in tears. Conjunctival provocation test performed out of season confirmed the specific local conjunctival reactivity.ConclusionsMultiple specific IgE measurements with single protein allergens using a microarray technique in tear samples are a useful, simple and non‐invasive diagnostic tool. ImmunoCAP ISAC detects allergen sensitization at component level and adds important information by defining both cross‐ and co‐sensitization to a large variety of allergen molecules. The presence of specific IgE only in tears of VKC patients reinforces the concept of possible local sensitization.
Dust mite avoidance for the primary prevention of atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bremmer Samuel F. , Simpson Eric L. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundDust mite sensitization plays a controversial role in the development of atopic dermatitis. Despite a lack of evidence for its efficacy, dust mite avoidance is commonly recommended for the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. We aimed to evaluate whether dust mite avoidance strategies reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in high‐risk infants compared to randomized controls.MethodsStudies were obtained by searching MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and The Global Resource of Eczema Trials databases. We included randomized, controlled trials of high‐risk infants treated with a dust mite avoidance intervention and assessed for atopic dermatitis. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using predefined criteria.ResultsSeven randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria (total n = 3040). Studies were largely unblinded but otherwise of reasonable quality. Three trials utilizing a dust mite avoidance approach but not additional interventions were combined in a meta‐analysis. Dust mite avoidance provided no benefit in the prevention of atopic dermatitis (relative risk (RR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78–1.49, I2 = 73%).ConclusionsDust mite avoidance strategies alone or in combination with additional allergen avoidance modalities do not decrease the risk of developing atopic dermatitis and, given the current state of the evidence, should not be recommended for this purpose. The utility of dust mite avoidance for the treatment of atopic dermatitis or for the prevention and treatment of asthma or seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis are outside the scope of this review.
Cutting stems before relaxing xylem tension induces artefacts in Vitis coignetiae, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ogasa Mayumi Y. , Utsumi Yasuhiro , Miki Naoko H. , Yazaki Kenichi , Fukuda Kenji 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIt was recently reported that cutting artefacts occur in some species when branches under tension are cut, even under water. We used non‐destructive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the change in xylem water distribution at the cellular level in Vitis coignetiae standing stems before and after relaxing tension. Less than 3% of vessels were cavitated when stems under tension were cut under water at a position shorter than the maximum vessel length (MVL) from the MRI point, in three of four plants. The vessel contents remained at their original status, and cutting artefact vessel cavitation declined to <1% when stems were cut at a position farther than the MVL from the MRI point. Water infiltration into the originally cavitated vessels after cutting the stem, i.e. vessel refilling, was found in <1% of vessels independent of cutting position on three of nine plants. The results indicate that both vessel cavitation and refilling occur in xylem tissue under tension following stem cutting, but its frequency is quite small, and artefacts can be minimized altogether if the distance between the monitoring position and the cutting point is longer than the MVL.
Tissue plasminogen activator treatment of bilateral pulmonary emboli in a pediatric patient supported with a ventricular assist device
Authors: Godown Justin , Dodd Debra A. , Doyle Thomas P. , Smith Andrew H. , Janssen Dana , Mettler Bret A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBleeding and thrombosis are well‐known potential complications of VAD support. We present a pediatric patient who developed massive bilateral pulmonary emboli while on BiVAD support that was successfully treated with intravenous tPA and bridged to heart transplant.
Administration of naloxone in combination with recombinant Plasmodium vivax AMA‐1 in BALB/c mice induces mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses
Authors: Someabozorg M. A. , Mirkazemi S. , Mehrizi A. A. , Shokri F. , Djadid N. D. , Zakeri S. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryNaloxone (NLX) has the ability to shift the immune response to a Th1 profile. Therefore, the adjuvant efficacy of NLX with recombinant P. vivax apical membrane antigen‐1(rPvAMA‐1) in BALB/c mice was evaluated. Mice were immunized subcutaneously with purified rPvAMA‐1 formulated with NLX (doses of 5 mg/kg body weight) alone or in combination with IFA. A significant increase in anti‐PvAMA‐1 IgG antibody after the second boost (mean OD490 = 2·08 and 2·17, in groups received, rPvAMA‐1/NLX and rPvAMA‐1/NLX/IFA, respectively) was detected. IgG1 and IgG2b were the predominant isotypes in all immunized mouse groups. In immunized mice with rPvAMA‐1/NLX (mean: 1036 pg/mL) and with rPvAMA‐1/NLX/IFA (mean: 1024 pg/mL), IFN‐γ was elicited in response to rPvAMA‐1 after the second boost. No detectable IL‐4 secretion was determined in all tested groups. In conclusion, the administration of NLX alone or NLX/IFA with rPvAMA‐1 in BALB/c mice, which induced mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses, was comparable with that of the same recombinant antigen with CFA/IFA adjuvant. The results indicate that NLX alone may possibly not be considered as a potent Th1 adjuvant in PvAMA‐1‐based vaccine. However, in order to modulate immune responses from mixed Th1/Th2 to strong and protective Th1 response, further study is warranted on combination of NLX with other adjuvants such as CpG motifs or MPL in proper vaccine formulation. Additionally, dose–response study is necessary to determine the effect of different doses of antigen combined with NLX (at various doses) in Balb/c mice.
Resident Macrophages and Lymphocytes in the Canine Endometrium
Authors: Pires MA , Payan‐Carreira R 
Published: August 2015

ContentResident immune cells play a major role in endometrial immunity and in tissue homoeostasis. This study aimed to analyse the distribution of macrophages, B and T lymphocytes (respectively, Mø, B‐Lym and T‐Lym) in the canine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle and in late involution (at the proestrus stage post‐parturition). An immunohistochemistry technique was used on samples from 50 post‐pubertal healthy female dogs, of which five in late post‐partum. The distribution of resident immune cells was analysed in three endometrial layers (superficial, intermediate and basal areas). Mø, B‐Lym and T‐Lym were demonstrated to reside in the endometrium in all the stages of the canine cycle; their numbers being considerably higher during late involution. T‐Lym were scattered in the stroma or amidst the glandular epithelium, constituting the predominant immune cell population in anestrus and proestrus, but decreased in number at all other stages. Endometrial B‐Lym remained fairly constant during the canine cycle, although its numbers were higher in late involution. Mø counts were higher during anestrus compared to the other stages, the cells being displaced into the superficial endometrial layer. Mø demonstrated the highest level in late involution samples, forming small aggregates below the surface epithelium. The number of immune cells was not normally distributed, suggesting the influence of individual factors, such as age or parity, not explored herein due to limited sample availability. Still, this study provides important information for the interpretation of endometrial biopsies in dogs and for the understanding of the increased susceptibility to uterine infection during dioestrus found in the bitch.
Patients’ experience of a nurse‐led lifestyle clinic at a Swedish health centre
Authors: Nymberg Peter , Drevenhorn Eva 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundIn Sweden, 56% of the population aged 16–84 have an unhealthy lifestyle. The primary health care (PHC) has been instructed to offer citizens health promotion and disease‐preventive actions. Very few studies have been conducted about how individuals experience interventions from the PHC intended to help them to change lifestyle.AimThe purpose of the study was to explore patients’ experiences of visiting a nurse‐led lifestyle clinic.MethodsPatients (n = 137), who participated in a screening test at a lifestyle clinic, were invited to focus group interviews. Of these, 14 patients agreed to participate. The data were analysed using content analysis.ResultsThe patients felt that the visit to the lifestyle clinic gave insight into their habits and diminished their fear of not being healthy. Primary health care was seen as a safe provider in this matter. Disappointment was occasioned by the unfulfilled expectations of blood tests, lack of follow‐up visit and inconsistencies of approach during the visit to the lifestyle clinic. Personal chemistry was perceived to be crucial for how the encounter with the public health nurse evolved.ConclusionLifestyle clinics can give patients opportunity to change lifestyle and also to confirm the good habits. It may also be important to have follow‐up visits to give the patients’ support when changing lifestyle. Nurses counselling patients about lifestyle changes need to have recurrent training in Motivational Interviewing.
Assessing Regional Risks From Pandemic Influenza: A Scenario Analysis
Authors: Verikios George , Sullivan Maura , Stojanovski Pane , Giesecke James , Woo Gordon 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe analyse the economic risks from two influenza pandemics that represent extremes along the virulence‐infectiousness continuum of possible pandemics: a high virulence–low infectiousness event and a low virulence–high infectiousness event. Our analysis involves linking an epidemiological model and a quarterly computable general equilibrium model. We find that global economic activity is more strongly affected by a pandemic with high infection rates rather than high virulence rates, all else being equal. Regions with a higher degree of economic integration with the world economy face greater risks of negative effects than less integrated regions.
Offshoring and the Skill‐premium: Evidence from Individual Workers’ Data
Authors: Tempesti Tommaso 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDuring the 1980s the United States has experienced an increase in both international trade and the skill‐premium. The association between these two phenomena has proven elusive in the early empirical literature on the subject. Indeed, the consensus among labour economists seems to be that trade has not been the main cause of such increase in the skill‐premium. This view has been challenged by Feenstra and Hanson (1999, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 114, 3, 907) who find that offshoring sizably affects the skill‐premium. I revisit this debate using individual workers’ data from the March Current Population Survey combined with industry‐level trade data. This strategy improves upon the work of Feenstra and Hanson who do not control for the demographic characteristics of the labour force. In my results, offshoring can explain between 9 and 30 per cent of the increase in the college wage premium, relative to high‐school workers. In addition, I find that offshoring can explain 21 per cent of the increase in the relative employment of skilled labour. These results suggest that offshoring may play an important role in the increase in the relative demand of skilled workers.
Intellectual Property Rights,FDI, R&D and Economic Growth: A Cross‐country Empirical Analysis
Authors: Liu Wen‐Hsien 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper aims to empirically examine how intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection, foreign direct investment (FDI) and research and development (R&D), along with other possible variables, may affect the economic growth of the host country. Using the panel data of 92 countries during 1970–2007, I conclude from the system generalised method of moments estimation that domestic investment share,FDI, R&D capacity, openness to trade, human capital andIPRs protection all have statistically significant and positive impacts on economic growth. A further investigation of countries at different levels of development suggests two striking findings. First, besides the domestic investment, openness, human capital andIPRs protection, R&D is the key to drive economic growth in the higher‐income countries, whileFDIis the engine of growth in both higher‐income and middle‐income countries. Second, a positive and significant impact ofIPRs protection on economic growth is found in both higher‐income and lower‐income countries. However, such an impact is not detected in the middle‐income countries.
High Specificity of a Quantitative PCR Assay Targeting a Saxitoxin Gene for Monitoring Toxic Algae Associated with Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in the Yellow Sea
Authors: Gao Yan , Yu Ren-Cheng , Murray Shauna A. , Chen Jian-Hua , Kang Zhen-Jun , Zhang Qing-Chun , Kong Fan-Zhou , Zhou Ming-Jiang 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

The identification of core genes involved in the biosynthesis of saxitoxin (STX) offers a great opportunity to detect toxic algae associated with paralytic shellfish toxins (PST). In the Yellow Sea (YS) in China, both toxic and nontoxic
Alexandrium
species are present, which makes it a difficult issue to specifically monitor PST-producing toxic algae. In this study, a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting
sxtA4
, a domain in the
sxt
gene cluster that encodes a unique enzyme involved in STX biosynthesis, was applied to analyze samples collected from the YS in spring of 2012. The abundance of two toxic species within the
Alexandrium tamarense
species complex, i.e.,
A. fundyense
and
A. pacificum
, was also determined with TaqMan-based qPCR assays, and PSTs in net-concentrated phytoplankton samples were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector. It was found that the distribution of the
sxtA4
gene in the YS was consistent with the toxic algae and PSTs, and the quantitation results of
sxtA4
correlated well with the abundance of the two toxic species (
r
= 0.857). These results suggested that the two toxic species were major PST producers during the sampling season and that
sxtA
-based qPCR is a promising method to detect toxic algae associated with PSTs in the YS. The correlation between PST levels and
sxtA
-based qPCR results, however, was less significant (
r
= 0.552), implying that
sxtA
-based qPCR is not accurate enough to reflect the toxicity of PST-producing toxic algae. The combination of an
sxtA
-based qPCR assay and chemical means might be a promising method for monitoring toxic algal blooms.
Hansenula polymorpha Hac1p Is Critical to Protein
N
-Glycosylation Activity Modulation, as Revealed by Functional and Transcriptomic Analyses
Authors: Moon Hye-Yun , Cheon Seon Ah , Kim Hyunah , Agaphonov M. O. , Kwon Ohsuk , Oh Doo-Byoung , Kim Jeong-Yoon , Kang Hyun Ah 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Aggregation of misfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induces a cellular protective response to ER stress, the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is mediated by a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, Hac1p/Xbp1. In this study, we identified and studied the molecular functions of a
HAC1
homolog from the thermotolerant yeast
Hansenula polymorpha
(Hp
HAC1
). We found that the Hp
HAC1
mRNA contains a nonconventional intron of 177 bp whose interaction with the 5′ untranslated region is responsible for the translational inhibition of the Hp
HAC1
mRNA. The
H. polymorpha
hac1
-null (Hp
hac1
Δ) mutant strain grew slowly, even under normal growth conditions, and was less thermotolerant than the wild-type (WT) strain. The mutant strain was also more sensitive to cell wall-perturbing agents and to the UPR-inducing agents dithiothreitol (DTT) and tunicamycin (TM). Using comparative transcriptome analysis of the WT and Hp
hac1
Δ strains treated with DTT and TM, we identified Hp
HAC1
-dependent core UPR targets, which included genes involved in protein secretion and processing, particularly those required for
N
-linked protein glycosylation. Notably, different glycosylation and processing patterns of the vacuolar glycoprotein carboxypeptidase Y were observed in the WT and Hp
hac1
Δ strains. Moreover, overexpression of active HpHac1p significantly increased the
N
-linked glycosylation efficiency and TM resistance. Collectively, our results suggest that the function of HpHac1p is important not only for UPR induction but also for efficient glycosylation in
H. polymorpha
.
Comparison of Sewage and Animal Fecal Microbiomes by Using Oligotyping Reveals Potential Human Fecal Indicators in Multiple Taxonomic Groups
Authors: Fisher Jenny C. , Eren A. Murat , Green Hyatt C. , Shanks Orin C. , Morrison Hilary G. , Vineis Joseph H. , Sogin Mitchell L. , McLellan Sandra L. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Most DNA-based microbial source tracking (MST) approaches target host-associated organisms within the order
Bacteroidales
, but the gut microbiota of humans and other animals contain organisms from an array of other taxonomic groups that might provide indicators of fecal pollution sources. To discern between human and nonhuman fecal sources, we compared the V6 regions of the 16S rRNA genes detected in fecal samples from six animal hosts to those found in sewage (as a proxy for humans). We focused on 10 abundant genera and used oligotyping, which can detect subtle differences between rRNA gene sequences from ecologically distinct organisms. Our analysis showed clear patterns of differential oligotype distributions between sewage and animal samples. Over 100 oligotypes of human origin occurred preferentially in sewage samples, and 99 human oligotypes were sewage specific. Sequences represented by the sewage-specific oligotypes can be used individually for development of PCR-based assays or together with the oligotypes preferentially associated with sewage to implement a signature-based approach. Analysis of sewage from Spain and Brazil showed that the sewage-specific oligotypes identified in U.S. sewage have the potential to be used as global alternative indicators of human fecal pollution. Environmental samples with evidence of prior human fecal contamination had consistent ratios of sewage signature oligotypes that corresponded to the trends observed for sewage. Our methodology represents a promising approach to identifying new bacterial taxa for MST applications and further highlights the potential of the family
Lachnospiraceae
to provide human-specific markers. In addition to source tracking applications, the patterns of the fine-scale population structure within fecal taxa suggest a fundamental relationship between bacteria and their hosts.
Active-Site Engineering of ω-Transaminase for Production of Unnatural Amino Acids Carrying a Side Chain Bulkier than an Ethyl Substituent
Authors: Han Sang-Woo , Park Eul-Soo , Dong Joo-Young , Shin Jong-Shik 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTω-Transaminase (ω-TA) is a promising enzyme for use in the production of unnatural amino acids from keto acids using cheap amino donors such as isopropylamine. The small substrate-binding pocket of most ω-TAs permits entry of substituents no larger than an ethyl group, which presents a significant challenge to the preparation of structurally diverse unnatural amino acids. Here we report on the engineering of an (S)-selective ω-TA fromOchrobactrum anthropi(OATA) to reduce the steric constraint and thereby allow the small pocket to readily accept bulky substituents. On the basis of a docking model in whichl-alanine was used as a ligand, nine active-site residues were selected for alanine scanning mutagenesis. Among the resulting variants, an L57A variant showed dramatic activity improvements in activity for α-keto acids and α-amino acids carrying substituents whose bulk is up to that of ann-butyl substituent (e.g., 48- and 56-fold increases in activity for 2-oxopentanoic acid andl-norvaline, respectively). An L57G mutation also relieved the steric constraint but did so much less than the L57A mutation did. In contrast, an L57V substitution failed to induce the improvements in activity for bulky substrates. Molecular modeling suggested that the alanine substitution of L57, located in a large pocket, induces an altered binding orientation of an α-carboxyl group and thereby provides more room to the small pocket. The synthetic utility of the L57A variant was demonstrated by carrying out the production of optically purel- andd-norvaline (i.e., enantiomeric excess [ee] > 99%) by asymmetric amination of 2-oxopantanoic acid and kinetic resolution of racemic norvaline, respectively.