bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Type of desmin expression in cardiomyocytes – a good marker of heart failure development in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Pawlak A. , Gil R. J. , Kulawik T. , Pronicki M. , Karkucińska‐Więckowska A. , Szymańska‐Dębińska T. , Gil K. , Lagwinski N. , Czarnowska E. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract.Pawlak A, Gil RJ, Kulawik T, Pronicki M, Karkucińska‐Więckowska A, Szymańska‐Dębińska T, Gil K, Lagwinski N, Czarnowska E (Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Warsaw; Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Academy of Science, Warsaw; The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland; and Community Medical Centers, Fresno, CA, USA). Type of desmin expression in cardiomyocytes – a good marker of heart failure development in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. J Intern Med 2012; 272: 287–297.Aim.  The aim of this study was to determine whether remodelling of the desmin (DES) cytoskeleton affects myocardial function and whether it could be a useful marker of disease progression in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).Material and methods.  Endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 195 IDCM patients, and five to six specimens were collected from the left ventricle. DES expression was evaluated using tissue immunostaining and Western blotting. The study population was assigned to four groups according to DES expression type: I, normal DES staining at Z‐lines giving a regular pattern of cross‐striation (n = 57); IIA, increased DES staining with a regular pattern of cross‐striation (n = 40); IIB, increased DES staining with an irregular pattern of cross‐striation and/or the presence of aggregates (n = 56); and III, decreased/lack of DES staining (n = 42). Fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and ultrastructure were assessed for the four types of DES expression.Results.  The pathological types of DES expression (IIB or III) were associated with pathological changes in mitochondria and the contractile apparatus. Cardiomyocyte diameter and level of fibrosis were both significantly affected. DES expression type correlated with NYHA class, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction and the level of N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic protein.Conclusion.  The type of immunohistochemical DES expression correlated with the level of myocardial injury at the cellular and organ levels. This correlation was similar to that observed between DES expression and the well‐established biochemical, echocardiographic and clinical parameters of heart failure (HF). DES expression type could be used as an important diagnostic feature of HF development.
Prevention of breast cancer in the context of a national breast screening programme
Authors: Howell A. , Astley S. , Warwick J. , Stavrinos P. , Sahin S. , Ingham S. , McBurney H. , Eckersley B. , Harvie M. , Wilson M. , Beetles U. , Warren R. , Hufton A. , Sergeant J. , Newman W. , Buchan I. , Cuzick J. , Evans D. G. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract.  Howell A, Astley S, Warwick J, Stavrinos P, Sahin S, Ingham S, McBurney H, Eckersley B, Harvie M, Wilson M, Beetles U, Warren R, Hufton A, Sergeant J, Newman W, Buchan I, Cuzick J, Evans DG (Genesis Prevention Centre and Nightingale Breast Screening Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester; School of Cancer and Enabling Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester; Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London; School of Community Based Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester; Genetic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester and Central Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester; and Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; UK). Prevention of breast cancer in the context of a national breast screening programme (Review). J Intern Med 2012; 271: 321–330.Breast cancer is not only increasing in the West but also particularly rapidly in Eastern countries where traditionally the incidence has been low. The rise in incidence is mainly related to changes in reproductive patterns and lifestyle. These trends could potentially be reversed by defining women at greatest risk and offering appropriate preventive measures. A model for this approach was the establishment of Family History Clinics (FHCs), which have resulted in improved survival in younger women at high risk. New predictive models of risk that include reproductive and lifestyle factors, mammographic density and measurement of risk‐associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may give more precise information concerning risk and enable better targeting for mammographic screening programmes and of preventive measures. Endocrine prevention using anti‐oestrogens and aromatase inhibitors is effective, and observational studies suggest lifestyle modification may also be effective. However, referral to FHCs is opportunistic and predominantly includes younger women. A better approach for identifying older women at risk may be to use national breast screening programmes. Here were described pilot studies to assess whether the routine assessment of breast cancer risk is feasible within a population‐based screening programme, whether the feedback and advice on risk‐reducing interventions would be welcomed and taken up, and to consider whether the screening interval should be modified according to breast cancer risk.
Environmental and genetic influences on body mass and resting metabolic rates (RMR) in a natural population of weasel Mustela nivalis
Authors: ZUB KAROL , PIERTNEY STUART , SZAFRAŃSKA PAULINA A. , KONARZEWSKI MAREK 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBody mass (BM) and resting metabolic rates (RMR) are two inexorably linked traits strongly related to mammalian life histories. Yet, there have been no studies attempting to estimate heritable variation and covariation of BM and RMR in natural populations. We used a marker‐based approach to construct a pedigree and then the ‘animal model’ to estimate narrow sense heritability (h2) of these traits in a free‐living population of weasels Mustela nivalis—a small carnivore characterised by a wide range of BM and extremely high RMR. The most important factors affecting BM of weasels were sex and habitat type, whereas RMR was significantly affected only by seasonal variation of this trait. All environmental factors had only small effect on estimates of additive genetic variance of both BM and RMR. The amount of additive genetic variance associated with BM and estimates of heritability were high and significant in males (h2 = 0.61), but low and not significant in females (h2 = 0.32), probably due to small sample size for the latter sex. The results from the two‐trait model revealed significant phenotypic (rP = 0.62) and genetic correlation (rA = 0.89) between BM and whole body RMR. The estimate of heritability of whole body RMR (0.54) and BM corrected RMR (0.45) were lower than estimates of heritability for BM. Both phenotypic and genetic correlations between BM corrected RMR and BM had negative signals (rP = −0.42 and rA = −0.58). Our results indicate that total energy expenditures of individuals can quickly evolve through concerted changes in BM and RMR.
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease: Applying Occam’s Razor to competing hypotheses
Authors: PEACOCK DAVID , MUTZE GREG , SINCLAIR RON , KOVALISKI JOHN , COOKE BRIAN 
Published: January 2012

AbstractRabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a highly virulent lagovirus endemic in Europe and Australasian populations of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. It has also caused several unexplained disease outbreaks in domestic European rabbits in North America. Non‐pathogenic spread of RHDV leading to persistent infection which later reactivated has recently been proposed as the cause of overt disease and death of a pet rabbit in Canada, the first confirmed case of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in that country. We suggest that there is little evidence to support non‐pathogenic spread of virulent RHDV, some evidence that is contradictory, and evidence to support a simpler alternative hypothesis. RHDV can be spread over long distances between sparse rabbit populations by fomites or flying insects. Although highly pathogenic, RHDV can be limited in its spread within rabbit populations, or its presence masked by closely related but non‐pathogenic lagoviruses which can provide protection against acute disease. In the absence of any evidence from clinical studies to support reactivation of persistent RHDV infection, the simpler explanation seems more likely to be correct.
The transcriptomic response to thermal stress is immediate, transient and potentiated by ultraviolet radiation in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis
Authors: MOYA A. , GANOT P. , FURLA P. , SABOURAULT C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAmong the environmental threats to coral reef health, temperature and ultraviolet increases have been proposed as major agents, although the relative contribution of each in the cnidarian/zooxanthellae symbiosis breakdown has been poorly addressed. We have investigated the transcriptomic response to thermal stress, with and without ultraviolet radiation (UVR), in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Using the Oligo2K A. viridis microarray, dedicated to genes potentially involved in the symbiosis interaction, we monitored the gene expression profiles after 1, 2 and 5 days of stresses that further lead to massive losses of zooxanthellae. Each stress showed a specific gene expression profile with very little overlap. We showed that the major response to thermal stress is immediate (24 h) but returns to the baseline gene expression profile after 2 days. UVR alone has little effect but potentiates thermal stress, as a second response at 5 days was observed when the two stresses were coupled. Several pathways were highlighted, such as mesoglea loosening, cell death and calcium homeostasis and described in more details. Finally, we showed that the dermatopontin gene family, potentially involved in collagen fibrillogenesis, issued from actinarian‐specific duplication events, with one member preferentially expressed in the gastroderm and specifically responding to stress.
Impact of Theiler's virus infection on hippocampal neuronal progenitor cells: differential effects in two mouse strains
Authors: Jafari M. , Haist V. , Baumgärtner W. , Wagner S. , Stein V. M. , Tipold A. , Wendt H. , Potschka H. 
Published: January 2012

M. Jafari, V. Haist, W. Baumgärtner, S. Wagner, V. M. Stein, A. Tipold, H. Wendt and H. Potschka (2012) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 38, 647–664Impact of Theiler's virus infection on hippocampal neuronal progenitor cells: differential effects in two mouse strainsAims: Disease‐associated alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis are discussed as an important factor contributing to long‐term consequences of central nervous system diseases. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the impact of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection on hippocampal cell proliferation, neuronal progenitor cells and neurogenesis as well as the influence of microglia on respective disease‐associated alterations. Methods: The impact of the infection was evaluated in two mouse strains which differ in the disease course, with an acute polioencephalitis followed by virus elimination in C57BL/6 mice and a chronic demyelinating disease in SJL/J mice. Results: Infection with the low neurovirulent BeAn strain did not exert significant acute effects regardless of the mouse strain. In the chronic phase, the number of neuronal progenitor cells and early postmitotic neurones was significantly reduced in infected SJL/J mice, whereas no long‐term alterations were observed in C57BL/6 mice. A contrasting course of microglia activation was observed in the two mouse strains, with an early increase in the number of activated microglia cells in SJL/J mice and a delayed increase in C57BL/6 mice. Quantitative analysis did not confirm a correlation between the number of activated microglia and the number of neuronal progenitor cells and early postmitotic neurones. However, flow cytometric analyses revealed alterations in the functional state of microglial cells which might have affected the generation of neuronal progenitor cells. Conclusions: Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection can exert delayed effects on the hippocampal neuronal progenitor population with long‐term alterations evident 3 months following infection. These alterations proved to depend on strain susceptibility and might contribute to detrimental consequences of virus encephalitis such as cognitive impairment.
Isotope labelling of Rubisco subunits provides in vivo information on subcellular biosynthesis and exchange of amino acids between compartments
Authors: ALLEN DOUG K. , LACLAIR RUSSELL W. , OHLROGGE JOHN B. , SHACHAR‐HILL YAIR 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTThe architecture of plant metabolism includes substantial duplication of metabolite pools and enzyme catalyzed reactions in different subcellular compartments. This poses challenges for understanding the regulation of metabolism particularly in primary metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. To explore the extent to which amino acids are made in single compartments and to gain insight into the metabolic precursors from which they derive, we used steady state 13C labelling and analysed labelling in protein amino acids from plastid and cytosol. Ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a major component of green tissues and its large and small subunits are synthesized from different pools of amino acids in the plastid and cytosol, respectively. Developing Brassica napus embryos were cultured in the presence of [U‐13C]‐sucrose, [U‐13C]‐glucose, [U‐13C]‐glutamine or [U‐13C]‐alanine to generate proteins. The large subunits (LSU) and small subunits (SSU) of Rubisco were isolated and the labelling in their constituent amino acids was analysed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Amino acids including alanine, glycine and serine exhibited different 13C enrichment in the LSU and SSU, demonstrating that these pools have different metabolic origins and are not isotopically equilibrated between the plastid and cytosol on the time scale of cellular growth. Potential extensions of this novel approach to other macromolecules, organelles and cell types of eukaryotes are discussed.
Deciphering energy‐associated gene networks operating in the response of Arabidopsis plants to stress and nutritional cues
Authors: Avin‐Wittenberg Tamar , Tzin Vered , Angelovici Ruthie , Less Hadar , Galili Gad 
Published: January 2012

SummaryPlants need to continuously adjust their transcriptome in response to various stresses that lead to inhibition of photosynthesis and the deprivation of cellular energy. This adjustment is triggered in part by a coordinated re‐programming of the energy‐associated transcriptome to slow down photosynthesis and activate other energy‐promoting gene networks. Therefore, understanding the stress‐related transcriptional networks of genes belonging to energy‐associated pathways is of major importance for engineering stress tolerance. In a bioinformatics approach developed by our group, termed ‘gene coordination’, we previously divided genes encoding for enzymes and transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana into three clusters, displaying altered coordinated transcriptional behaviors in response to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses (Plant Cell, 23, 2011, 1264). Enrichment analysis indicated further that genes controlling energy‐associated metabolism operate as a compound network in response to stress. In the present paper, we describe in detail the network association of genes belonging to six central energy‐associated pathways in each of these three clusters described in our previous paper. Our results expose extensive stress‐associated intra‐ and inter‐pathway interactions between genes from these pathways, indicating that genes encoding proteins involved in energy‐associated metabolism are expressed in a highly coordinated manner. We also provide examples showing that this approach can be further utilized to elucidate candidate genes for stress tolerance and functions of isozymes.
Relationship between positive end‐expiratory pressure and internal jugular vein cross‐sectional area
Authors: LEE S. C. , HAN S. S. , SHIN S. Y. , LIM Y. J. , KIM J. T. , KIM Y. H. 
Published: January 2012

BackgroundApplication of positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been used to increase the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the right internal jugular vein (IJV) in order to facilitate catheterisation. We aimed to determine the PEEP level at which the maximum increase of CSA occurred.MethodsWe enrolled 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II patients undergoing general endotracheal anaesthesia. The CSA was measured in the supine position with no PEEP (control condition, P0) and after applying five different PEEPs in random order: 3 (P3), 6 (P6), 9 (P9), 12 (P12), and 15 (P15) cm H2O. Ultrasound was used to measure and record the CSA of the right IJV at the level of the cricoid cartilage.ResultsAll PEEP levels increased the CSA of the right IJV relative to the control (all P < 0.05). On average, P3, P6, P9, P12, and P15 increased the CSA by 21.5, 37.4, 51.9, 66.5, and 72.4%, respectively. There was no significant increase in CSA above a PEEP of 12 cm H2O.ConclusionThe application of PEEP effectively increases the CSA of the right IJV. The PEEP giving the largest CSA is 12 cm H2O.
Thiopental dose requirements for induction of anaesthesia and subsequent endotracheal intubation in patients with complete spinal cord injuries
Authors: YOO K. Y. , JEONG C. W. , JEONG H. J. , LEE S. H. , NA J. H. , KIM S. J. , JEONG S. T. , LEE J. 
Published: January 2012

BackgroundDose requirements of thiopental depend on patient characteristics and infusion rate. We determined thiopental dose requirements for induction of anaesthesia, and the effects of remifentanil on cardiovascular and bispectral index (BIS) responses to tracheal intubation in spinal cord‐injured (SCI) patients undergoing general anaesthesia.MethodsTwenty patients with traumatic complete SCI undergoing elective surgery were enrolled. Twenty patients without SCI served as control. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental, followed by remifentanil 1 μg/kg and rocuronium 0.8 mg/kg, and maintained with 2% sevoflurane and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen after tracheal intubation. Thiopental was administered at a rate of 50 mg/15 s until abolition of the eyelash reflex. Thiopental doses, BIS values, systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR) and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured.ResultsTotal thiopental dose required to abolish the eyelash reflex based on total body weight (BW) (5.26 ± 0.87 vs. 3.91 ± 1.07 mg/kg, P < 0.001) or lean BW (6.56 ± 1.37 vs. 5.24 ± 1.36 mg/kg, P < 0.01) were significantly smaller in the SCI group than in the control. SAP was decreased by induction of anaesthesia with thiopental and remifentanil, and increased by tracheal intubation in both groups. However, the peak SAP after intubation was smaller in the SCI patients. HR increased significantly above baseline values following intubation in both groups with no significant intergroup differences. Hypertension was more frequent in the control group. Norepinephrine concentrations remained unaltered following intubation in both groups.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the dose requirements of thiopental for induction of general anaesthesia and subsequent tracheal intubation are reduced in the SCI patients.
Rumen microbial variation and nutrient utilisation in mithun (Bos frontalis) under different feeding regimes
Authors: Prakash B. , Saha S. K. , Khate K. , Agarwal N. , Katole S. , Haque N. , Rajkhowa C. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of feeding different diets on fermentation, enzyme activities and microbial population in the rumen fluid of mithun (Bos frontalis). In a randomized block design, 20 male mithun (6–8 months of age, 152 ± 12.6 kg body weight) were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 5/group) and fed experimental diets ad libitum for 180 days. The diet R1 contained tree foliages (TF), R2 comprised of 50% concentrate mixture (CM) and 50% TF, R3 contained 50% CM and 50% rice straw, and R4 contained 50% CM, 25% TF and 25% rice straw. Rumen liquor was collected at 0 and 180 days of the experiment for estimation of different ruminal parameters and a digestion trial was conducted at the end of the experiment. Rumen fluid was analysed for pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N), total‐N, ruminal enzymes, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial profile. The relative quantification of ruminal microbes was carried out with real‐time PCR using bacteria as the house keeping gene. The dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility, body weight gain, NH3‐N, total‐N, carboxymethyl cellulase, avicelase, xylanase, amylase, protease and molar proportion of butyrate were (p < 0.05) higher in mithun fed R2, R3 and R4 compared to those fed R1 diet. In contrast, increased (p < 0.05) ruminal pH, molar proportion of acetate and, acetate to propionate ratio was recorded in mithun fed only TF than those fed concentrate supplemented diets. Similarly, an increase (p < 0.05) in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and total bacteria were evident in mithun fed R2, R3 and R4 compared to those fed R1. Therefore, it is concluded that TF 25% and/or rice straw 25% along with CM 50% may be fed to the growing mithun for improved rumen ecology, nutrient utilization and thus better performance under stall fed system.
Non‐linear input–output properties of the cortical networks mediating TMS‐induced short‐interval intracortical inhibition in humans
Authors: Lackmy‐Vallee Alexandra , Giboin Louis‐Solal , Marchand‐Pauvert Véronique 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on post‐discharge histograms of single motor units in the first dorsal interosseous have been tested to estimate the input–output properties of cortical network‐mediating short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) to pyramidal cells of the human primary motor cortex. SICI was studied using the paired pulse paradigm (2‐ms interval): test TMS intensity was varied to evoke peaks of different size in post‐discharge histograms, reflecting the corticospinal excitatory post‐synaptic potential in the relevant spinal motoneuron, and conditioning TMS intensity was constant (0.6 × the resting motor threshold). Navigated brain stimulation was used to monitor the coil position. A linear relationship was observed between test peak size and test TMS intensity, reflecting linear summation of excitatory inputs induced by TMS. SICI was estimated using the difference between conditioned (produced by the paired pulses) and test peaks (produced by the isolated test pulse). Although the conditioning intensity (activating cortical inhibitory interneurons mediating SICI) was kept constant throughout the experiments, the level of SICI changed with the test peak size, in a non‐linear fashion, suggesting that low‐threshold cortical neurons (excitatory interneurons/pyramidal cells) are less sensitive to SICI than those of higher threshold. These findings provide the first experimental evidence, under physiological conditions, for non‐linear input/output properties of a complex cortical network. Consequently, changes in the recruitment gain of cortical inhibitory interneurons can greatly modify the excitability of pyramidal cells and their response to afferent inputs.