bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of endothelium in the vasorelaxant effects of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum in aorta and mesenteric vascular bed of rats
Authors: Pires Alana F. , Madeira Socorro V. Frota , Soares Pedro M.G. , Montenegro Claudia M. , Souza Emmanuel P. , Resende Angela C. , Soares de Moura Roberto , Assreuy Ana M.S. , Criddle David N. 
Published: October 2012

This study investigated the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (EOOG) in aortas and mesenteric vascular beds isolated from rats. EOOG (3–300 µg/mL) relaxed the tonic contractions induced by phenylephrine (0.1 µmol/L) in isolated aortas in a concentration-dependent manner in both endothelium-containing and endothelium-denuded preparations. This effect was partially reversed by L-NAME (100 µmol/L) but not by indomethacin (10 µmol/L) or TEA (5 mmol/L). In mesenteric vascular beds, bolus injections of EOOG (30, 50, 100, and 300 ng) decreased the perfusion pressure induced by noradrenaline (6 µmol/L) in endothelium-intact preparations but not in those treated with deoxycholate. L-NAME (300 µmol/L) but not TEA (1 mmol/L) or indomethacin (3 µmol/L) significantly reduced the vasodilatory response to EOOG at all of the doses tested. Our data showed that EOOG exerts a dose-dependent vasodilatory response in the resistance blood vessels of rat mesenteric vascular beds and in the capacitance blood vessel, the rat aorta. This action is completely dependent on endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release in the mesenteric vascular beds but only partially dependent on NO in the aorta. These novel effects of EOOG highlight interesting differences between resistance and capacitance blood vessels.
Protective effect of C5 shRNA on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Tang Kai , Cheng Yunjiu , Wu Suhua , Liu Lijuan , Cheng Lingli 
Published: October 2012

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) injury is associated with activation of the complement system. Complement activation generates a series of bioactive substances, including early (C3a, C3b) and terminal (C5a, C5b-9) components. The terminal complement components are key mediators of MI/R injury. This study investigated whether C5 shRNA preconditioning has protective effects following MI/R injury and its potential mechanism. Rats were injected with C5 shRNA 2 days before induction of ischemia. The effects of C5 shRNA were evaluated by the assessment of heart function, infarct size, histopathology, inflammatory cytokine levels, and the plasma level of troponin T. Akt phosphorylation was assessed by immunoblotting. C5 shRNA efficiently inhibited C5 expression both in vitro and in vivo, and attenuated MI/R injury. C5 shRNA preconditioning significantly decreased the level of troponin T and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine. The infarct size was decreased by 40% in C5 shRNA treated rats. Akt phosphorylation increased after C5 shRNA preconditioning. These results suggest that C5 shRNA preconditioning in rats has protective effects following MI/R injury; this may be partly effected by mediating the activation of the PI3K pathway and by phosphorylation of Akt.
Multivoxel MR Spectroscopy in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Dani Krishna A. , An Li , Henning Erica C. , Shen Jun , Warach Steven ,   on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Natural History of Stroke Investigators
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—
Few patients with stroke have been imaged with MR spectroscopy (MRS) within the first few hours after onset. We compared data from current MRI protocols to MRS in subjects with ischemic stroke.

Methods—
MRS was incorporated into the standard clinical MRI stroke protocol for subjects <24 hours after onset. MRI and clinical correlates for the metabolic data from MRS were sought.

Results—
One hundred thirty-six MRS voxels from 32 subjects were analyzed. Lactate preceded the appearance of the lesion on diffusion-weighted imaging in some voxels but in others lagged behind it. Current protocols may predict up to 41% of the variance of MRS metabolites. Serum glucose concentration and time to maximum partially predicted the concentration of all major metabolites.

Conclusion—
MRS may be helpful in acute stroke, especially for lactate detection when perfusion-weighted imaging is unavailable. Current MRI protocols do provide surrogate markers for some indices of metabolic activity.
Persistent Hemodynamic Changes in Ruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
Authors: Illies Till , Forkert Nils Daniel , Saering Dennis , Wenzel Karolin , Ries Thorsten , Regelsberger Jan , Wegscheider Karl , Fiehler Jens 
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—
Hemodynamic properties of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with risk factors for a future hemorrhage are essentially unknown. We hypothesized that AVMs with anatomic properties, which are associated with an increased rupture risk, exhibit different hemodynamic characteristics than those without these properties.

Methods—
Seventy-two consecutive patients with AVMs diagnosed by conventional angiography underwent MRI examination, including time-resolved 3-dimensional MR angiography. Signal-intensity curves derived from the time-resolved 3-dimensional MR angiography datasets were used to calculate relative blood flow transit times through the AVM nidus based on the time-to-peak parameter. For identification of characteristics associated with altered transit times, a multiple normal regression model was fitted with stepwise selection of the following regressors: intracranial hemorrhage, deep nidus location, infratentorial location, deep drainage, associated aneurysm, nidus size, draining venous stenosis, and number of draining veins.

Results—

A previous intracranial hemorrhage is the only characteristic that was associated with a significant alteration of the relative transit time, leading to an increase of 2.4 seconds (95% CI, 1.2–3.6 seconds;,
P
<0.001) without adjustment and 2.1 seconds (95% CI, 0.6–3.6 seconds;
P
=0.007) with adjustment for all other regressors considered. The association was independent of the bleeding age.

Conclusion—
Hemodynamic parameters do not seem useful for risk assessment of an AVM-related hemorrhage because only a previous AVM rupture leads to a significant and permanent alteration of the hemodynamic situation.
Effects of music therapy on facial expression of individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study
Authors: Elefant Cochavit , Lotan Meir , Baker Felicity A. , Skeie Geir Olve 
Published: October 2012

Neurological degeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects the verbal as well as the nonverbal communicative potential of individuals diagnosed with PD. Communicating with significant others is crucial to quality of life and maintaining healthy and satisfying relationships. Evidence indicates that Music Therapy (MT) improves communication in a range of neurologically impaired populations; however there is no research that has studied its effect on the facial expressions of PD patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of group music therapy on facial expression in individuals with PD. Ten patients diagnosed with PD were recruited from a large demographic study at the Haukeland Hospital Rehabilitation Centre in Bergen, Norway. Two groups, with five individuals each group, met once a week for a 60 minute music therapy session for 20 weeks. Facial expressions were measured using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) tool, and the facial mobility and engagement evaluation. FACS results were measured twice by different observers to ensure stability (interrater reliability) of findings. Interrater reliability was found at ICC = 0.89. A large effect size was found in facial expression between pre- and post-test measurements taken during singing (ES = 0.9). A large effect size was found in both sets of data (singing and speaking) (ES = 0.8). A moderate effect size was found in facial expression between pre- and post-test measurements taken during speaking (ES = 0.5). We conclude that this MT program was found successful in significantly enhancing facial expression in individuals with PD.
Protein interactions of the transcription factor Hoxa1
Authors: Lambert Barbara , Vandeputte Julie , Remacle Sophie , Bergiers Isabelle , Simonis Nicolas , Twizere Jean-Claude , Vidal Marc , Rezsohazy René 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Hox proteins are transcription factors involved in crucial processes during animal development. Their mode of action remains scantily documented. While other families of transcription factors, like Smad or Stat, are known cell signaling transducers, such a function has never been squarely addressed for Hox proteins.

Results
To investigate the mode of action of mammalian Hoxa1, we characterized its interactome by a systematic yeast two-hybrid screening against ~12,200 ORF-derived polypeptides. Fifty nine interactors were identified of which 45 could be confirmed by affinity co-purification in animal cell lines. Many Hoxa1 interactors are proteins involved in cell-signaling transduction, cell adhesion and vesicular trafficking. Forty-one interactions were detectable in live cells by Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation which revealed distinctive intracellular patterns for these interactions consistent with the selective recruitment of Hoxa1 by subgroups of partner proteins at vesicular, cytoplasmic or nuclear compartments.

Conclusions
The characterization of the Hoxa1 interactome presented here suggests unexplored roles for Hox proteins in cell-to-cell communication and cell physiology.
The independent prokaryotic origins of eukaryotic fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase and sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphatase and the implications of their origins for the evolution of eukaryotic Calvin cycle
Authors: Jiang Yong-Hai , Wang De-Yong , Wen Jian-Fan 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
In the Calvin cycle of eubacteria, the dephosphorylations of both fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate (FBP) and sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphate (SBP) are catalyzed by the same bifunctional enzyme: fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase/sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphatase (F/SBPase), while in that of eukaryotic chloroplasts by two distinct enzymes: chloroplastic fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) and sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphatase (SBPase), respectively. It was proposed that these two eukaryotic enzymes arose from the divergence of a common ancestral eubacterial bifunctional F/SBPase of mitochondrial origin. However, no specific affinity between SBPase and eubacterial FBPase or F/SBPase can be observed in the previous phylogenetic analyses, and it is hard to explain why SBPase and/or F/SBPase are/is absent from most extant nonphotosynthetic eukaryotes according to this scenario.

Results
Domain analysis indicated that eubacterial F/SBPase of two different resources contain distinct domains: proteobacterial F/SBPases contain typical FBPase domain, while cyanobacterial F/SBPases possess FBPase_glpX domain. Therefore, like prokaryotic FBPase, eubacterial F/SBPase can also be divided into two evolutionarily distant classes (Class I and II). Phylogenetic analysis based on a much larger taxonomic sampling than previous work revealed that all eukaryotic SBPase cluster together and form a close sister group to the clade of epsilon-proteobacterial Class I FBPase which are gluconeogenesis-specific enzymes, while all eukaryotic chloroplast FBPase group together with eukaryotic cytosolic FBPase and form another distinct clade which then groups with the Class I FBPase of diverse eubacteria. Motif analysis of these enzymes also supports these phylogenetic correlations.

Conclusions
There are two evolutionarily distant classes of eubacterial bifunctional F/SBPase. Eukaryotic FBPase and SBPase do not diverge from either of them but have two independent origins: SBPase share a common ancestor with the gluconeogenesis-specific Class I FBPase of epsilon-proteobacteria (or probably originated from that of the ancestor of epsilon-proteobacteria), while FBPase arise from Class I FBPase of an unknown kind of eubacteria. During the evolution of SBPase from eubacterial Class I FBPase, the SBP-dephosphorylation activity was acquired through the transition “from specialist to generalist”. The evolutionary substitution of the endosymbiotic-origin cyanobacterial bifunctional F/SBPase by the two light-regulated substrate-specific enzymes made the regulation of the Calvin cycle more delicate, which contributed to the evolution of eukaryotic photosynthesis and even the entire photosynthetic eukaryotes.
Profiles of physical, emotional and psychosocial wellbeing in the Lothian birth cohort 1936
Authors: Zammit Andrea R , Starr John M , Johnson Wendy , Deary Ian J 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Physical, emotional, and psychosocial wellbeing are important domains of function. The aims of this study were to explore the existence of separable groups among 70-year olds with scores representing physical function, perceived quality of life, and emotional wellbeing, and to characterise any resulting groups using demographic, personality, cognition, health and lifestyle variables.

Methods
We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify possible groups.

Results
Results suggested there were 5 groups. These included High (n = 515, 47.2% of the sample), Average (n = 417, 38.3%), and Poor Wellbeing (n = 37, 3.4%) groups. The two other groups had contrasting patterns of wellbeing: one group scored relatively well on physical function, but low on emotional wellbeing (Good Fitness/ Low Spirits,n = 60, 5.5%), whereas the other group showed low physical function but relatively well emotional wellbeing (Low Fitness/Good Spirits, n = 62, 5.7%). Salient characteristics that distinguished all the groups included smoking and drinking behaviours, personality, and illness.

Conclusions
Despite there being some evidence of these groups, the results also support a largely one-dimensional construct of wellbeing in old age—for the domains assessed here—though with some evidence that some individuals have uneven profiles.
BMP and TGFbeta pathways in human central chondrosarcoma: enhanced endoglin and Smad 1 signaling in high grade tumors
Authors: Boeuf Stephane , Bovée Judith VMG , Lehner Burkhard , van den Akker Brendy , van Ruler Maayke , Cleton-Jansen Anne-Marie , Richter Wiltrud 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
As major regulators of normal chondrogenesis, the bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and transforming growth factor β (TGFB) signaling pathways may be involved in the development and progression of central chondrosarcoma. In order to uncover their possible implication, the aim of this study was to perform a systematic quantitative study of the expression of BMPs, TGFBs and their receptors and to assess activity of the corresponding pathways in central chondrosarcoma.

Methods
Gene expression analysis was performed by quantitative RT-PCR in 26 central chondrosarcoma and 6 healthy articular cartilage samples. Expression of endoglin and nuclear localization of phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 and Smad2 was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis.

Results
The expression of TGFB3 and of the activin receptor-like kinase ALK2 was found to be significantly higher in grade III compared to grade I chondrosarcoma. Nuclear phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 and Smad2 were found in all tumors analyzed and the activity of both signaling pathways was confirmed by functional reporter assays in 2 chondrosarcoma cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis furthermore revealed that phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 and endoglin expression were significantly higher in high-grade compared to low-grade chondrosarcoma and correlated to each other.

Conclusions
The BMP and TGFβ signaling pathways were found to be active in central chondrosarcoma cells. The correlation of Smad1/5/8 activity to endoglin expression suggests that, as described in other cell types, endoglin could enhance Smad1/5/8 signaling in high-grade chondrosarcoma cells. Endoglin expression coupled to Smad1/5/8 activation could thus represent a functionally important signaling axis for the progression of chondrosarcoma and a regulator of the undifferentiated phenotype of high-grade tumor cells.
Quinine localizes to a non-acidic compartment within the food vacuole of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Bohórquez Elaine B , Chua Michael , Meshnick Steven R 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
The naturally fluorescent compound quinine has long been used to treat malaria infections. Although some evidence suggests that quinine acts in the parasite food vacuole, the mechanism of action of quinine has not yet been resolved. The Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance (pfmdr1) gene encodes a food vacuolar membrane transporter and has been linked with parasite resistance to quinine. The effect of multiple pfmdr1 copies on the subcellular localization of quinine was explored.

Methods
Fluorescence microscopy was used to evaluate the subcellular localization of quinine in parasites containing different pfmdr1 copy numbers to determine if copy number of the gene affects drug localization. The acidotropic dye LysoTracker Red was used to label the parasite food vacuole. Time-lapse images were taken to determine quinine localization over time following quinine exposure.

Results
Regardless of pfmdr1 copy number, quinine overlapped with haemozoin but did not colocalize with LysoTracker Red, which labeled the acidic parasite food vacuole.

Conclusions
Quinine localizes to a non-acidic compartment within the food vacuole possibly haemozoin. Pfmdr1 copy number does not affect quinine subcellular localization.
Hypoxia and estrogen are functionally equivalent in breast cancer-endothelial cell interdependence
Authors: George Andrea L , Rajoria Shilpi , Suriano Robert , Mittleman Abraham , Tiwari Raj K 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Rapid breast tumor development relies on formation of new vasculature to supply the growing malignancy with oxygenated blood. Previously we found that estrogen aided in this neovasculogenesis via recruitment of bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs), leading to increased vessel formation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in vivo. However, the cellular mechanism of this induction and the signaling pathways involved need elucidation.

Results
Using the murine mammary cell line TG1-1 we observed estrogen (E2) lead to an up regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), an effect abrogated by the anti-estrogen Fulvestrant and the HIF-1 inhibitor YC-1 (3-(5’-hydroxymethyl-2’-furyl)-1-benzylindazole) suggesting the interchangeability of hypoxia and estrogen mediated effects. Estrogen modulation of HIF-1 and subsequent effects on endothelial cells is dependent on the Akt/PI3K pathway and protein synthesis as validated by the use of the inhibitors wortmannin and cycloheximide which abrogated estrogen’s effects respectively. Estrogen treated TG1-1 cells secreted higher levels of VEGF which were comparable to secreted levels from cells grown under hypoxic conditions. Soluble factors in conditioned media from E2 treated breast cancer cells also lead to migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro.

Conclusions
Our data provide evidence that estrogen signaling mediates the tumor vasculogenic process required for breast cancer progression and involves a key regulator of the hypoxia signaling pathway. Further, hypoxia and estrogen are interchangeable as both similarly modulate epithelial-endothelial cell interaction.
Three year follow-up of an early childhood intervention: is movement skill sustained?
Authors: Zask Avigdor , Barnett Lisa M , Rose Lauren , Brooks Lyndon O , Molyneux Maxine , Hughes Denise , Adams Jillian , Salmon Jo 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Movement skill competence (e.g. the ability to throw, run and kick) is a potentially important physical activity determinant. However, little is known about the long-term impact of interventions to improve movement skills in early childhood. This study aimed to determine whether intervention preschool children were still more skill proficient than controls three years after a 10 month movement skill focused intervention: ‘Tooty Fruity Vegie in Preschools’.

Methods
Children from 18 intervention and 13 control preschools in NSW, Australia were assessed at ages four (Time1), five (T2) and eight years (T3) for locomotor (run, gallop, hop, leap, horizontal jump, slide) and object control proficiency (strike, bounce, catch, kick, overhand throw, underhand roll) using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. Multi-level object control and locomotor regression models were fitted with variables time, intervention (yes/no) and a time*intervention interaction. Both models added sex of child and retained if significant, in which case interactions of sex of child with other variables were modelled and retained. SPSS (Version 17.0) was used.

Results
Overall follow-up rate was 29% (163/560). Of the 137 students used in the regression models, 53% were female (n = 73). Intervention girls maintained their object control skill advantage in comparison to controls at T3 (p = .002), but intervention boys did not (p = .591). At T3, there were no longer intervention/control differences in locomotor skill (p = .801).

Conclusion
Early childhood settings should implement movement skill interventions and more intensively target girls and object control skills.