bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulatory T cells for the prevention of graft‐versus‐host disease: Professionals defeat amateurs
Authors: Edinger Matthias 
Published: October 2009

AbstractCD4+CD25+ Treg are pivotal for the maintenance of self‐tolerance and the adoptive transfer of Treg is envisaged for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the induction of tolerance after allogeneic organ or stem cell transplantation. Owing to the paucity of natural Treg in peripheral blood, isolation of Treg for therapeutic purposes is cumbersome and not easily translatable into clinical trials. To circumvent such hurdles, many groups are exploring the de novo induction of Treg from conventional T cells for potential clinical applications. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, a paper examines the therapeutic efficacy of natural and induced Treg in a model of graft‐versus‐host disease and report that induced Treg rapidly lose their Treg features in an allogeneic environment and are unable to prevent disease. Thus, the stability of induced Treg is of major concern as discussed in this Commentary.
Silver Nanofibres by a Novel Electrospinning Process: Nanofibres with Plasmon Resonance in the IR Region and Thermal Hysteresis Electrical Conductivity Features
Authors: Barakat Nasser A. M. , Farrag Taha E. , Kanjwal Muzafar A. , Park Soo‐Jin , Sheikh Faheem A. , Yong Kim Hak 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIn this study, we have introduced electrospinning of a colloidal solution rather than the conventional sol–gel process as a novel strategy to produce silver nanofibres. Typically, a silver acetate/polyvinyl alcohol colloidal solution was successfully electrospun. Electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses have affirmed that the electrospun solution is a colloid with a ζ‐potential of –2 mV and average particle diameter of 373 ± 1 nm. Moreover, FTIR analysis affirmed that neither the polymer nor silver acetate nanoparticles were affected during the electrospinning process. Calcination of the electrospun mats at 700 °C in an argon atmosphere produced smooth and unbroken pure silver nanofibres. Surface plasmon resonance of the resultant silver nanofibres was detected at 962 nm which is biologically beneficial. Furthermore, the synthesised silver nanofibres revealed thermal hysteresis in the electrical conductivity properties. These advantageous physical features strongly suggest utilising the prepared nanofibres in various fields.
Lanthanopolyoxometalates as Building Blocks for Multiwavelength Photoluminescent Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials
Authors: Granadeiro Carlos M. , Ferreira Rute A. S. , Soares‐Santos Paula C. R. , Carlos Luís D. , Nogueira Helena I. S. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractOrganic–inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by combining lanthanide(III) substituted Wells–Dawson anions as inorganic building blocks and 3‐hydroxypicolinate (picOH) as the organic ligand. The organic–inorganic hybrids obtained Kn[Lnx(α2‐P2M17O61)(picOH)7]·yH2O (MVI = W and LnIII = La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Er; or MVI = Mo and LnIII = Eu) were characterized by chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods such as FTIR and FT‐Raman, 31P and 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy. Photoluminescence measurements on the prepared hybrid materials were performed showing the intra‐4fN emission in the visible (EuIII, TbIII compounds) and in the near‐infrared (ErIII compound) spectral regions, being, in all the cases, sensitized by both the picOH ligand and the polyoxometalate moiety. A maximum quantum yield value of 0.18 was found for K11[Eu2(α2‐P2Mo17O61)(picOH)7]·10H2O.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Ferromagnetic Properties of a Trinuclear Nickel(II) Complex with a Trithiocyanurate Bridge
Authors: Kopel Pavel , Mrozinski Jerzy , Doležal Karel , Langer Vratislav , Boča Roman , Bieńko Alina , Pochaba Andrzej 
Published: October 2009

AbstractA novel trinuclear nickel(II) complex with N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (pmdien) and a trithiocyanurate(3–) (ttc3–) bridge of composition [Ni3(pmdien)3(μ‐ttc)](ClO4)3 (1) was prepared. The X‐ray crystal structure of 1 was determined, revealing the tris‐N,S chelating mode of the trithiocyanurate bridge, forming a regular triangular NiII3 core. A deformed trigonal bipyramidal arrangement of the central atoms was further achieved by coordination of three pmdien N atoms. The complex shows a ferromagnetic exchange interaction among the NiII magnetic centers that is tuned by single‐ion anisotropy and/or antisymmetric exchange. The complex orders ferromagnetically at Tc = 10 K and exhibits spin‐glass properties.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
CEC: A tool for mimicking collagen–surface interactions with apolipoprotein B‐100 peptides
Authors: D'Ulivo Lucia , Witos Joanna , Öörni Katariina , Kovanen Petri. T. , Riekkola Marja‐Liisa 
Published: October 2009

AbstractCollagens I and III are involved in the formation of the extracellular matrix and presumably in the development of several diseases, such as atherosclerosis. In this study, stable collagen and collagen–decorin coatings were prepared on the inner surfaces of fused silica CEC capillaries, enabling study of the interactions between collagen and selected peptide fragments of apolipoprotein B‐100 (apoB‐100), the main protein of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Interactions of positive, neutral, and negative peptide fragments of apoB‐100 were elucidated. The selected positive peptide contains the sequence involved in the interaction of LDL with LDL receptor and proteoglycans. Retention factors of the peptides that were determined without any voltage, by exploiting pressure, gave numerical information about interactions with the collagen coatings. The inclusion of decorin in the coatings confirmed the importance of glycosaminoglycans in mediating the interactions between collagens and apoB‐100 peptide fragments. The studies support earlier findings that collagens I and III take part in the retention of LDL particles in the intima through binding with a specific positive site on apoB‐100. The method developed is simple, but also inexpensive since only small amounts of peptides and collagens are required. Atomic force microscopy images provided valuable information about the topography of collagen and collagen–decorin coatings on the capillary wall.
The incremental value of a futures hedge using realized volatility
Authors: Lai Yu‐Sheng , Sheu Her‐Jiun 
Published: October 2009

AbstractA number of prior studies have developed a variety of multivariate volatility models to describe the joint distribution of spot and futures, and have applied the results to form the optimal futures hedge. In this study, the authors propose a new class of multivariate volatility models encompassing realized volatility (RV) estimates to estimate the risk‐minimizing hedge ratio, and compare the hedging performance of the proposed models with those generated by return‐based models. In an out‐of‐sample context with a daily rebalancing approach, based on an extensive set of statistical and economic performance measures, the empirical results show that improvement can be substantial when switching from daily to intraday. This essentially comes from the advantage that the intraday‐based RV potentially can provide more accurate daily covariance matrix estimates than RV utilizing daily prices. Finally, this study also analyzes the effect of hedge horizon on hedge ratio and hedging effectiveness for both the in‐sample and the out‐of‐sample data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 30:874–896, 2010
Development of design flood hydrographs using probability density functions
Authors: Pramanik Niranjan , Panda Rabindra K. , Sen Drubajyoti 
Published: October 2009

AbstractProbability density functions (PDFs) are used to fit the shape of hydrographs and have been popularly used for the development of synthetic unit hydrographs by many hydrologists. Nevertheless, modelling the shapes of continuous stream flow hydrographs, which are probabilistic in nature, is rare. In the present study, a novel approach was followed to model the shape of stream flow hydrographs using PDF and subsequently to develop design flood hydrographs for various return periods. Four continuous PDFs, namely, two parameter Beta, Weibull, Gamma and Lognormal, were employed to fit the shape of the hydrographs of 22 years at a site of Brahmani River in eastern India. The shapes of the observed and PDF fitted hydrographs were compared and root mean square errors, error of peak discharge (EQP) and error of time to peak (ETP) were computed. The best‐fitted shape and scale parameters of all PDFs were subjected to frequency analysis and the quartiles corresponding to 20‐, 50‐, 100‐ and 200‐year were estimated. The estimated parameters of each return period were used to develop the flood hydrographs for 20‐, 50‐, 100‐ and 200‐year return periods. The peak discharges of the developed design flood hydrographs were compared with the design discharges estimated from the frequency analysis of 22 years of annual peak discharges at that site. Lognormal‐produced peak discharge was very close to the estimated design discharge in case of 20‐year flood hydrograph. On the other hand, peak discharge obtained using the Weibull PDF had close agreement with the estimated design discharge obtained from frequency analysis in case of 50‐, 100‐ and 200‐year return periods. The ranking of the PDFs based on estimation of peak of design flood hydrograph for 50‐, 100‐ and 200‐year return periods was found to have the following order: Weibull > Beta > Lognormal > Gamma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A gastrin precursor, gastrin‐gly, upregulates VEGF expression in colonic epithelial cells through an HIF‐1‐independent mechanism
Authors: Bertrand Claudine , Kowalski‐Chauvel Aline , Do Catherine , Résa Cécile , Najib Souad , Daulhac Laurence , Wang Timothy C. , Ferrand Audrey , Seva Catherine 
Published: October 2009

AbstractOne of the major angiogenic factor released by tumor cells is VEGF. Its high expression is correlated with poor prognosis in colorectal tumors. In colon cancer, gastrin gene expression is also upregulated. In these tumors, gastrin precursors are mainly produced and act as growth factors. Recently, a study has also shown that the gastrin precursor, G‐gly induced in vitro tubules formation by vascular endothelial cells suggesting a potential proangiogenic role. Here, we demonstrate that stimulation of human colorectal cancer cell lines with G‐gly increases the expression of the proangiogenic factor VEGF at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, blocking the progastrin autocrine loop leads to a downregulation of VEGF. Although HIF‐1 is a major transcriptional activator for VEGF our results suggest an alternative mechanism for VEGF regulation in normoxic conditions, independent of HIF‐1 that involves the PI3K/AKT pathway. Indeed we show that G‐gly does not lead to HIF‐1 accumulation in colon cancer cells. Moreover, we found that G‐gly activates the PI3K/AKT pathway and inhibition of this pathway reverses the effects of G‐gly observed on VEGF mRNA and protein levels. In correlation with these results, we observed in vivo, on colon tissue sections from transgenic mice overexpressing G‐gly, an increase in VEGF expression in absence of HIF‐1 accumulation. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that gastrin precursors, known to promote colon epithelial cells proliferation and survival can also contribute to the angiogenesis process by stimulating the expression of the proangiogenic factor VEGF via the PI3K pathway and independently of hypoxia conditions.
CHEK2 mutations and HNPCC‐related colorectal cancer
Authors: Suchy Janina , Cybulski Cezary , Wokołorczyk Dominika , Oszurek Oleg , Górski Bohdan , Dębniak Tadeusz , Jakubowska Anna , Gronwald Jacek , Huzarski Tomasz , Byrski Tomasz , Dziuba Ireneusz , Gogacz Marek , Wiśniowski Rafał , Wandzel Piotr , Banaszkiewicz Zbigniew , Kurzawski Grzegorz , Kładny Józef , Narod Steven A. , Lubiński Jan 
Published: October 2009

AbstractRecently, the 1100delC variant of cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) has been reported to confer a colorectal cancer risk in hereditary non‐polyposis‐colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and HNPCC‐related families in the Netherlands. To investigate whether CHEK2 mutations confer increased cancer risk in HNPCC and HNPCC‐related families in Poland, we genotyped 463 probands from HNPCC and HNPCC‐related families, and 5,496 controls for 4 CHEK2 alleles (1100delC, IVS2+1G>A, del5395, I157T). All 463 probands were screened for mutations in the HNPCC‐related genes MSH2, MLH1 and MSH6. A positive association was observed for HNPCC‐related cancer and the I157T missense CHEK2 mutation (OR = 1.7; p = 0.007), but not for the truncating alleles (OR = 1.0; p = 1.0). The association with the I157T was seen both for the 117 cases who fulfill Amsterdam criteria (OR = 1.9; p = 0.1) and for the 346 cases who do not fulfill the criteria (OR = 1.6; p = 0.03). One hundred forty‐five of the 463 families had a mutation in MSH2, MLH1 or MSH6 (MMR‐positive families). A positive association between the CHEK2 I157T mutation and HNPCC‐related cancer was observed only for MMR‐negative cases (OR = 2.1; p = 0.0004), but not for MMR‐positive cases (OR = 0.8; p = 0.9). The association with I157T was particularly strong for MMR‐negative cases with familial colorectal cancer (2 or more first‐degree relatives affected) (OR = 2.5; p < 0.0001). We conclude that the I157T variant of CHEK2 increases the risk of colorectal cancer among MMR‐negative, HNPCC/HNPCC‐related families in Poland.
Achievements and future of nutritional cancer epidemiology
Authors: Miller Anthony B. , Linseisen Jakob 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWe consider some of the earlier work and some recent results on diet and cancer (since the 2007 WCRF/AICR report on Diet and Cancer), discuss challenges facing nutritional cancer epidemiology, and consider the field from the perspective of the need to apply what we know in cancer control. We highlight 2 current difficulties; first, we are uncertain on the stage of carcinogenesis on which many nutritional factors act, second, we often do not know what dose of a nutritional factor is needed to achieve its expected protective effect in humans. Part of the difficulty is the measurement error associated with food frequency questionnaires. Calibration studies (as in the European Prospective Investigation on diet and Cancer) have helped to reduce this, and pooled studies have helped to clarify associations. However, there is too little work on new biomarkers of nutrition; with the new techniques available (especially proteomics, and metabolomics) it should be possible to identify more and better biomarkers that could be used in repeated blood or urine samples and give very good information on diet. In cancer control we need to determine how to reduce the prevalence of obesity and increase physical activity in populations, not whether they are causal factors. This could be achieved by community‐based interventions linked to some of the new cohort studies being initiated. We conclude we have reached the stage in nutritional cancer epidemiology where we need to concentrate more on applying the lessons we have learnt, than in seeking new aetiological associations.
Plasma microRNAs are promising novel biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer
Authors: Huang Zhaohui , Huang Dan , Ni Shujuan , Peng Zhilei , Sheng Weiqi , Du Xiang 
Published: October 2009

AbstractMicroRNA (miRNA) opens up a new field for molecular diagnosis of cancer. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in plasma/serum in cancer diagnosis is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma miRNAs can be used as biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We measured the levels of 12 miRNAs (miR‐134, −146a, −17‐3p, −181d, −191, −221, −222, −223, −25, −29a, −320a and −92a) in plasma samples from patients with advanced colorectal neoplasia (carcinomas and advanced adenomas) and healthy controls using real‐time RT‐PCR. We found that plasma miR‐29a and miR‐92a have significant diagnostic value for advanced neoplasia. MiR‐29a yielded an AUC (the areas under the ROC curve) of 0.844 and miR‐92a yielded an AUC of 0.838 in discriminating CRC from controls. More importantly, these 2 miRNAs also could discriminate advanced adenomas from controls and yielded an AUC of 0.769 for miR‐29a and 0.749 for miR‐92a. Combined ROC analyses using these 2 miRNAs revealed an elevated AUC of 0.883 with 83.0% sensitivity and 84.7% specificity in discriminating CRC, and AUC of 0.773 with 73.0% sensitivity and 79.7% specificity in discriminating advanced adenomas. Collectively, these data suggest that plasma miR‐29a and miR‐92a have strong potential as novel noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of CRC.
Beta‐carotene supplementation and cancer risk: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Druesne‐Pecollo Nathalie , Latino‐Martel Paule , Norat Teresa , Barrandon Emilie , Bertrais Sandrine , Galan Pilar , Hercberg Serge 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe effect of beta‐carotene supplementation on cancer incidence has been investigated in several randomized controlled trials. The objective was to review the effect of beta‐carotene supplementation on cancer incidence in randomized trials by cancer site, beta‐carotene supplementation characteristics and study population. Relevant trials were retrieved by searching PubMed (up to April 2009). Authors involved in selected studies were contacted for additional information. Thirteen publications reporting results from 9 randomized controlled trials were included. Overall, no effect of beta‐carotene supplementation was observed on the incidence of all cancers combined (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98–1.04), pancreatic cancer (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.73–1.36), colorectal cancer (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.85–1.09), prostate cancer (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91–1.07), breast cancer (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.85–1.10), melanoma (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.65–1.46) and non melanoma skin cancer (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.93–1.05). The incidence of lung and stomach cancers were significantly increased in individuals supplemented with beta‐carotene at 20–30 mg day−1 (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06–1.27 and RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.06–1.70), in smokers and asbestos workers (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.34 and RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08–2.19) compared to the placebo group. Beta‐carotene supplementation has not been shown to have any beneficial effect on cancer prevention. Conversely, it was associated with increased risk not only of lung cancer but also of gastric cancer at doses of 20–30 mg day−1, in smokers and asbestos workers. This study adds to the evidence that nutritional prevention of cancer through beta‐carotene supplementation should not be recommended.
pH‐dependent antitumor activity of proton pump inhibitors against human melanoma is mediated by inhibition of tumor acidity
Authors: De Milito Angelo , Canese Rossella , Marino Maria Lucia , Borghi Martina , Iero Manuela , Villa Antonello , Venturi Giulietta , Lozupone Francesco , Iessi Elisabetta , Logozzi Mariantonia , Mina Pamela Della , Santinami Mario , Rodolfo Monica , Podo Franca , Rivoltini Licia , Fais Stefano 
Published: October 2009

AbstractMetastatic melanoma is associated with poor prognosis and still limited therapeutic options. An innovative treatment approach for this disease is represented by targeting acidosis, a feature characterizing tumor microenvironment and playing an important role in cancer malignancy. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as esomeprazole (ESOM) are prodrugs functionally activated by acidic environment, fostering pH neutralization by inhibiting proton extrusion. We used human melanoma cell lines and xeno‐transplated SCID mice to provide preclinical evidence of ESOM antineoplastic activity. Human melanoma cell lines, characterized by different mutation and signaling profiles, were treated with ESOM in different pH conditions and evaluated for proliferation, viability and cell death. SCID mice engrafted with human melanoma were used to study ESOM administration effects on tumor growth and tumor pH by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). ESOM inhibited proliferation of melanoma cellsin vitroand induced a cytotoxicity strongly boosted by low pH culture conditions. ESOM‐induced tumor cell death occurredviarapid intracellular acidification and activation of several caspases. Inhibition of caspases activity by pan‐caspase inhibitor z‐vad‐fmk completely abrogated the ESOM‐induced cell death. ESOM administration (2.5 mg kg−1) to SCID mice engrafted with human melanoma reduced tumor growth, consistent with decrease of proliferating cells and clear reduction of pH gradients in tumor tissue. Moreover, systemic ESOM administration dramatically increased survival of human melanoma‐bearing animals, in absence of any relevant toxicity. These data show preclinical evidence supporting the use of PPI as novel therapeutic strategy for melanoma, providing the proof of concept that PPI target human melanoma modifying tumor pH gradients.
Therapy‐induced antitumor vaccination in neuroblastomas by the combined targeting of IL‐2 and TNFα
Authors: Balza Enrica , Carnemolla Barbara , Mortara Lorenzo , Castellani Patrizia , Soncini Debora , Accolla Roberto S. , Borsi Laura 
Published: October 2009

AbstractL19‐IL2 and L19TNFα are fusion proteins composed of L19(scFv), specific for the angiogenesis‐associated ED‐B containing fibronectin isoform and IL‐2 or TNFα. Because of the tumor targeting properties of L19, IL‐2 and TNFα concentrate at therapeutic doses at the tumor vascular level. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of L19‐IL2 and L19mTNFα in neuroblastoma (NB)‐bearing mice, A/J mice bearing Neuro2A or NIE115 NB were systemically treated with L19‐IL2 and L19mTNFα, alone or in combination protocols. Seventy percent of Neuro2A‐ and 30% of NIE115‐bearing mice were cured by the combined treatment with L19‐IL2 and L19mTNFα, and further rejected a homologous tumor challenge, indicating specific antitumor immune memory. The immunological bases of tumor cure and rejection were studied. A highly efficient priming of CD4+T helper cells and CD8+CTL effectors was generated, paralleled by massive infiltration in the tumor tissue of CD4+and CD8+T cells at day 16 after tumor cell implantation, when, after therapy, tumor volume was drastically reduced and tumor necrosis reached about 80%. The curative treatment resulted in a long‐lasting antitumor immune memory, accompanied by a mixed Th1/Th2 type of response. Concluding, L19‐IL2 and L19mTNFα efficiently cooperate in determining a high percentage of NB cure that, in our experimental models, is strongly associated to the generation of adaptive immunity involving CD4+and CD8+T cells.