bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex-biased transcription enhancement by a 5' tethered Gal4-MOF histone acetyltransferase fusion protein in Drosophila
Authors: Schiemann Anja H , Li Fang , Weake Vikki M , Belikoff Esther J , Klemmer Kent C , Moore Stanley A , Scott Maxwell J 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
In male Drosophila melanogaster, the male specific lethal (MSL) complex is somehow responsible for a two-fold increase in transcription of most X-linked genes, which are enriched for histone H4 acetylated at lysine 16 (H4K16ac). This acetylation requires MOF, a histone acetyltransferase that is a component of the MSL complex. MOF also associates with the non-specific lethal or NSL complex. The MSL complex is bound within active genes on the male X chromosome with a 3' bias. In contrast, the NSL complex is enriched at promoter regions of many autosomal and X-linked genes in both sexes. In this study we have investigated the role of MOF as a transcriptional activator.

Results
MOF was fused to the DNA binding domain of Gal4 and targeted to the promoter region of UAS-reporter genes in Drosophila. We found that expression of a UAS-red fluorescent protein (DsRed) reporter gene was strongly induced by Gal4-MOF. However, DsRed RNA levels were about seven times higher in female than male larvae. Immunostaining of polytene chromosomes showed that Gal4-MOF co-localized with MSL1 to many sites on the X chromosome in male but not female nuclei. However, in female nuclei that express MSL2, Gal4-MOF co-localized with MSL1 to many sites on polytene chromosomes but DsRed expression was reduced. Mutation of conserved active site residues in MOF (Glu714 and Cys680) reduced HAT activity in vitro and UAS-DsRed activation in Drosophila. In the presence of Gal4-MOF, H4K16ac levels were enriched over UAS-lacZ and UAS-arm-lacZ reporter genes. The latter utilizes the constitutive promoter from the arm gene to drive lacZ expression. In contrast to the strong induction of UAS-DsRed expression, UAS-arm-lacZ expression increased by about 2-fold in both sexes.

Conclusions
Targeting MOF to reporter genes led to transcription enhancement and acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16. Histone acetyltransferase activity was required for the full transcriptional response. Incorporation of Gal4-MOF into the MSL complex in males led to a lower transcription enhancement of UAS-DsRed but not UAS-arm-lacZ genes. We discuss how association of Gal4-MOF with the MSL or NSL proteins could explain our results.
Slowing of axonal regeneration is correlated with increased axonal viscosity during aging
Authors: Lamoureux Phillip L , O'Toole Matthew R , Heidemann Steven R , Miller Kyle E 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
As we age, the speed of axonal regeneration declines. At the biophysical level, why this occurs is not well understood.

Results
To investigate we first measured the rate of axonal elongation of sensory neurons cultured from neonatal and adult rats. We found that neonatal axons grew 40% faster than adult axons (11.5 µm/hour vs. 8.2 µm/hour). To determine how the mechanical properties of axons change during maturation, we used force calibrated towing needles to measure the viscosity (stiffness) and strength of substrate adhesion of neonatal and adult sensory axons. We found no significant difference in the strength of adhesions, but did find that adult axons were 3 times intrinsically stiffer than neonatal axons.

Conclusions
Taken together, our results suggest decreasing axonal stiffness may be part of an effective strategy to accelerate the regeneration of axons in the adult peripheral nervous system.
TFPI-2 is a putative tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wang Shumin , Xiao Xue , Zhou Xiaoying , Huang Tingting , Du Chunping , Yu Nana , Mo Yingxi , Lin Longde , Zhang Jinyan , Ma Ning , Murata Mariko , Huang Guangwu , Zhang Zhe 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes play important roles in NPC tumorgenesis. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2), is a protease inhibitor. Recently, TFPI-2 was suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated whether TFPI-2 was inactivated epigenetically in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods
Transcriptional expression levels of TFPI-2 was evaluated by RT-PCR. Methylation status were investigated by methylation specific PCR and bisulfate genomic sequencing. The role of TFPI-2 as a tumor suppressor gene in NPC was addressed by re-introducing TFPI-2 expression into the NPC cell line CNE2.

Results

TFPI-2 mRNA transcription was inactivated in NPC cell lines. TFPI-2 was aberrantly methylated in 66.7% (4/6) NPC cell lines and 88.6% (62/70) of NPC primary tumors, but not in normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. TFPI-2 expression could be restored in NPC cells after demethylation treatment. Ectopic expression of TFPI-2 in NPC cells induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration.

Conclusions
Epigenetic inactivation of TFPI-2 by promoter hypermethylation is a frequent and tumor specific event in NPC. TFPI-2 might be considering as a putative tumor suppressor gene in NPC.
Use of simulator-based medical procedural curriculum: the learner's perspectives
Authors: Shanks David , Wong Roger Y , Roberts James M , Nair Parvathy , Ma Irene WY 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Simulation is increasingly used for teaching medical procedures. The goal of this study was to assess learner preferences for how simulators should be used in a procedural curriculum.

Methods
A 26-item survey was constructed to assess the optimal use of simulators for the teaching of medical procedures in an internal medicine residency curriculum. Survey domains were generated independently by two investigators and validated by an expert panel (n = 7). Final survey items were revised based on pilot survey and distributed to 128 internal medicine residents.

Results
Of the 128 residents surveyed, 106 (83%) responded. Most responders felt that simulators should be used to learn technical skills (94%), refine technical skills (84%), and acquire procedural teaching skills (87%).
Respondents felt that procedures most effectively taught by simulators include: central venous catheterization, thoracentesis, intubation, lumbar puncture, and paracentesis. The majority of learners felt that teaching should be done early in residency (97%).
With regards to course format, 62% of respondents felt that no more than 3-4 learners per simulator and an instructor to learner ratio of 1:3-4 would be acceptable.
The majority felt that the role of instructors should include demonstration of technique (92%), observe learner techniques (92%), teach evidence behind procedural steps (84%) and provide feedback (89%). Commonly cited barriers to procedural teaching were limitations in time, number of instructors and simulators, and lack of realism of some simulators.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that residents value simulator-based procedural teaching in the form of small-group sessions. Simulators should be an integral part of medical procedural education.
Absorption and translocation to the aerial part of magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles through the root of different crop plants
Authors: Cifuentes Zuny , Custardoy Laura , de la Fuente Jesús M , Marquina Clara , Ibarra M Ricardo , Rubiales Diego , Pérez-de-Luque Alejandro 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The development of nanodevices for agriculture and plant research will allow several new applications, ranging from treatments with agrochemicals to delivery of nucleic acids for genetic transformation. But a long way for research is still in front of us until such nanodevices could be widely used. Their behaviour inside the plants is not yet well known and the putative toxic effects for both, the plants directly exposed and/or the animals and humans, if the nanodevices reach the food chain, remain uncertain. In this work we show that magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles forming a biocompatible magnetic fluid (bioferrofluid) can easily penetrate through the root in four different crop plants (pea, sunflower, tomato and wheat). They reach the vascular cylinder, move using the transpiration stream in the xylem vessels and spread through the aerial part of the plants in less than 24 hours. Accumulation of nanoparticles was detected in wheat leaf trichomes, suggesting a way for excretion/detoxification. This kind of studies is of great interest in order to unveil the movement and accumulation of nanoparticles in plant tissues for assessing further applications in the field or laboratory.
Evolution of the HIV-1 nefgene in HLA-B*57 Positive Elite Suppressors
Authors: Salgado Maria , Brennan Timothy P , O'Connell Karen A , Bailey Justin R , Ray Stuart C , Siliciano Robert F , Blankson Joel N 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Elite controllers or suppressors (ES) are HIV-1 infected patients who maintain viral loads of < 50 copies/ml without antiretroviral therapy. CD8+ T cells are thought to play a key role in the control of viral replication and exert selective pressure on gag and nef in HLA-B*57 positive ES. We previously showed evolution in the gag gene of ES which surprisingly was mostly due to synonymous mutations rather than non-synonymous mutation in targeted CTL epitopes. This finding could be the result of structural constraints on Gag, and we therefore examined the less conserved nef gene. We found slow evolution of nef in plasma virus in some ES. This evolution is mostly due to synonymous mutations and occurs at a rate similar to that seen in the gag gene in the same patients. The results provide further evidence of ongoing viral replication in ES and suggest that the nef and gag genes in these patients respond similarly to selective pressure from the host.
Combinatorial regulation of transcription factors and microRNAs
Authors: Su Naifang , Wang Yufu , Qian Minping , Deng Minghua 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Gene regulation is a key factor in gaining a full understanding of molecular biology. Cis-regulatory modules (CRMs), consisting of multiple transcription factor binding sites, have been confirmed as the main regulators in gene expression. In recent years, a novel regulator known as microRNA (miRNA) has been found to play an important role in gene regulation. Meanwhile, transcription factor and microRNA co-regulation has been widely identified. Thus, the relationships between CRMs and microRNAs have generated interest among biologists.

Results
We constructed new combinatorial regulatory modules based on CRMs and miRNAs. By analyzing their effect on gene expression profiles, we found that genes targeted by both CRMs and miRNAs express in a significantly similar way. Furthermore, we constructed a regulatory network composed of CRMs, miRNAs, and their target genes. Investigating its structure, we found that the feed forward loop is a significant network motif, which plays an important role in gene regulation. In addition, we further analyzed the effect of miRNAs in embryonic cells, and we found that mir-154, as well as some other miRNAs, have significant co-regulation effect with CRMs in embryonic development.

Conclusions
Based on the co-regulation of CRMs and miRNAs, we constructed a novel combinatorial regulatory network which was found to play an important role in gene regulation, particularly during embryonic development.
Endothelin and nitric oxide as cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage / Endothelin und NO als Liquorbiomarker für cerebralen Vasospasmus nach Subarachnoidalblutung
Authors: Hegen Harald , Deisenhammer Florian 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a neurological emergency. One of the major complications is the development of delayed cerebral ischaemia due to cerebral vasospasm (CV) that significantly affects clinical outcome and accounts for up to 23% of disability and mortality related to SAH. Here, we review the literature on endothelin and nitric oxide related components as potential cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and discuss their clinical relevance to act as surrogate for CV detection and for prediction of clinical outcome. We classified recommendations for these markers as levels A to C according to the scheme approved for the European Federation of Neurological Societies guidelines. We identified significantly elevated CSF endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with SAH, especially in those who developed CV, as well as the potential role of nitrite/nitrate for clinical outcome prediction. Owing to mainly methodological shortcomings, none of the above biomarkers reached a level of recommendation that would justify implementation in clinical routine. Further prospective studies under standardised conditions are required.
Spielen Statine eine Rolle als adjuvante Therapie bei Entzündung? / Do statins play a role as an adjuvant therapy in inflammation?
Authors: Fraunberger Peter , Siegele Barbara , Walli Autar K. 
Published: November 2010

Zusammenfassung
Trotz der Fortschritte der Medizin stellen schwere Entzündungsreaktionen wie die Sepsis eine wesentliche Ursache für Mortalität und Morbidität auf Intensivstationen dar. Zur kausalen Therapie gehört neben der Beseitigung der auslösenden Ursache durch chirurgische Maßnahmen vor allem eine effektive Antibiose. Weiterhin werden supportive Maßnahmen wie Kreislaufunterstützung, Nierenersatztherapie, Therapie von Gerinnungsstörungen und metabolischer Entgleisung zur Therapie eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus wurde in den vergangenen Jahren eine Vielzahl von immunomodulatorischen Therapien untersucht. Hierzu gehören neutralisierende Antikörper gegen Endotoxin oder proinflam-matorische Zytokine, Kortison, Immunglobuline und spezifische Gerinnungsinhibitoren. Neuere Studien weisen darauf hin, dass Statine (HMG-CoA-Reduktase-Inhibitoren) antientzündliche Wirkung haben und eine andauernde Statintherapie mit verminderter Inzidenz bakterieller Infektionen assoziiert ist. Aus diesem Grund wurden Statine als neue adjuvante Therpaie bei schweren Entzündungen und Sepsis vorgeschlagen. Im Gegensatz zu anderen antientzündlichen Therapien wäre hier auch ein prophylaktischer Einsatz bei Hochrisikopatienten, zum Beispiel vor elektiven chirurgischen Eingriffen, möglich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit sind die pathophysiologischen Grundlagen der Sepsis sowie die experimentelle Hintergründe und die ersten klinischen Daten zum Einsatz der Statine bei Sepsis zusammengefasst.
Next-generation Sequencing und hochparallele Genexpressionsanalyse in der klinischen Diagnostik / Next-generation sequencing and massively parallel analysis of gene expression: uses in clinical diagnostics
Authors: Cullen Paul , Hoffmann Georg , Klein Hanns-Georg , Funke Harald 
Published: November 2010

Zusammenfassung
Die Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Hochdurchsatzsequenzierung sind selbst für Fachleute beeindruckend. Es ist heute möglich, ein komplettes Genom innerhalb weniger Tage für ca. 50.000 Euro zu erfassen. Somit rückt das Ziel des 1.000-Euro oder gar 100-Euro-Genoms und damit seine mögliche Einbettung in einen diagnostischen Kontext immer näher. Die Hochdurchsatzsequenzierung wird inzwischen in der Epigenomik, in der Populations- und medizinischen Genetik, in der Tumorgenomik, sowie in der Expressionsanalyse eingesetzt. Die Schwerpunkte der Tagung 2009 lagen auf der Bedeutung der hochparallelen Gensequenzanalyse (sog. „next generation sequencing“) für die medizinische Dia-gnostik der Zukunft, auf der bioinformatischen Auswertung sehr großer Datenmengen sowie auf Vorgehensweisen bei der Analyse von Genexpressionsdaten. Auch andere Methoden der hochparallelen Analytik wie die Massenspektro-metrie wurden vorgestellt.
Vapor Rub, Petrolatum, and No Treatment for Children With Nocturnal Cough and Cold Symptoms
Authors: Paul Ian M. , Beiler Jessica S. , King Tonya S. , Clapp Edelveis R. , Vallati Julie , Berlin Cheston M. 
Published: November 2010

OBJECTIVE:
To determine if a single application of a vapor rub (VR) or petrolatum is superior to no treatment for nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection.

METHODS:
Surveys were administered to parents on 2 consecutive days—on the day of presentation when no medication had been given the previous evening, and the next day when VR ointment, petrolatum ointment, or no treatment had been applied to their child's chest and neck before bedtime according to a partially double-blinded randomization scheme.

RESULTS:
There were 138 children aged 2 to 11 years who completed the trial. Within each study group, symptoms were improved on the second night. Between treatment groups, significant differences in improvement were detected for outcomes related to cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty; VR consistently scored the best, and no treatment scored the worst. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated the superiority of VR over no treatment for all outcomes except rhinorrhea and over petrolatum for cough severity, child and parent sleep difficulty, and combined symptom score. Petrolatum was not significantly better than no treatment for any outcome. Irritant adverse effects were more common among VR-treated participants.

CONCLUSIONS:
In a comparison of VR, petrolatum, and no treatment, parents rated VR most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child's nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection. Despite mild irritant adverse effects, VR provided symptomatic relief for children and allowed them and their parents to have a more restful night than those in the other study groups.
Helioxanthin Analogue 8-1 Inhibits Duck Hepatitis B Virus Replication in Cell Culture
Authors: Ying Chunxiao , Tan Shenglan , Cheng Yung-Chi 
Published: November 2010

Background: Current approved anti-HBV treatment cannot completely eliminate HBV infection, and emergence of resistant virus is an important treatment issue. Effective anti-HBV agents with different mechanisms of action on novel target sites are needed for the treatment of HBV infection and for combating the resistant virus, alone or in combination with current anti-HBV strategies. Helioxanthin analogue 8-1 displayed potent anti-HBV activity in human HBV in vitro and in animal models, with a unique antiviral mechanism. Its antiviral activity in other HBV system needs further study. Methods: The anti-duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) activity of 8-1, an analogue of a natural product, helioxanthin, was studied in the DHBV inducible cell line, dstet5, in comparison to and in combination with the nucleoside analogue, lamivudine (3TC). Results: Helioxanthin analogue 8-1 exhibited anti-DHBV activity as demonstrated by quantification of viral DNA, RNA, covalently closed circular DNA and protein synthesis. Analogue 8-1 did not affect the stability of cellular macromolecules and did not have a sustained antiviral effect after drug removal. When DHBV replication was induced, virus-harbouring cells were more susceptible to the cytotoxicity of 8-1 than non-induced cells. Conclusions: 8-1 exhibited effective inhibition on DHBV replication. The combination of 8-1 with 3TC resulted in additional anti-DHBV activity. Viral induced cells displayed higher susceptibility to 8-1 treatment than non-induced cells. HBV X protein might not be an essential factor in the initiation of the biological activity of 8-1, as demonstrated by its absence in DHBV. These findings warrant further development of 8-1 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and its associated diseases.
Increased B Cell Proliferation and Reduced Ig Production in DREAM Transgenic Mice
Authors: Savignac Magali , Mellström Britt , Bébin Anne-Gaëlle , Oliveros Juan C. , Delpy Laurent , Pinaud Eric , Naranjo Jose R. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractDREAM/KChIP-3 is a calcium-dependent transcriptional repressor highly expressed in immune cells. Transgenic mice expressing a dominant active DREAM mutant show reduced serum Ig levels. In vitro assays show that reduced Ig secretion is an intrinsic defect of transgenic B cells that occurs without impairment in plasma cell differentiation, class switch recombination, or Ig transcription. Surprisingly, transgenic B cells show an accelerated entry in cell division. Transcriptomic analysis of transgenic B cells revealed that hyperproliferative B cell response could be correlated with a reduced expression of Klf9, a cell-cycle regulator. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the defect in Ig production is associated with reduced translation rather than with increased protein degradation. Importantly, transgenic B cells showed reduced expression of the Eif4g3 gene, which encodes a protein related to protein translation. Our results disclose, to our knowledge, a novel function of DREAM in proliferation and Ig synthesis in B lymphocytes.
Inelastic Neutron Scattering Experiments on Van der Waals Glasses — A Test of Recent Microscopic Theories of the Glass Transition
Authors: Bartsch E. , Fujara F. , Kiebel M. , Sillescu H. , Petry W. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBy performing incoherent inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the Van der Waals glass o‐terphenyl we tested predictions made by a recent microscopic theory — the mode coupling theory of the glass transition. In agreement with theory we find — besides the structural relaxation or α‐process which follows a Kohlrausch‐Williams‐Watts behaviour — the existence of a secondary relaxation process which shows very unusual neutron scattering features. This secondary or ß‐process leads to an anomalous decrease of the Debye‐Waller factor which can be interpreted in terms of a critical (Tc‐T)‐behaviour as predicted by theory. According to mode coupling theory this behaviour should be connected to a critical slowing down of the density fluctuations in the vicinity of a critical temperature Tc which is situated typically 30 to 150 degrees above the caloric glass transition temperature Tg. We find our neutron scattering data to be compatible with the predictions of theory leading to a value of Tc that is situated well above Tg i.e. in the range 285–295 K as compared to Tg = 243 K. This agrees well with a value of Tc = 290 K derived independently by use of a power law, suggested by theory to hold for the behaviour of the viscosity at temperatures higher than Tc.
Defect‐chemical Investigations of Defined YBa2Cu3Ox‐Superconductors
Authors: Maier J. , Murugaraj P. , Pfundtner G. , Sitte W. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractUsing our K2CO3‐method we succeeded in preparing highly oriented ceramics and large crystals tolerating unusually high currents. Both results and our techniques to determine precisely the redox‐state and to improve durability against humid atmosphere are briefly reviewed. We also report on the possibility of an elemental disorder in the Ba‐ and Y‐sublattice. The use of oriented samples allowed us to measure the anisotropy of the electronic conductivity. At higher temperatures where equilibrium with the ambient oxygen containing atmosphere is achieved, both the ionic conductivity and the chemical oxygen diffusion coefficient are determined by a chemical and an electrochemical relaxation technique. Finally, a defect model is proposed that takes account of the high non‐stoichiometries and explains the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the electronic conductivity observed in our experiments as well as in the literature.