bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A multipoint method for meta‐analysis of genetic association studies
Authors: Bagos Pantelis G. , Liakopoulos Theodore D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMeta‐analyses of genetic association studies are usually performed using a single polymorphism at a time, even though in many cases the individual studies report results from partially overlapping sets of polymorphisms. We present here a multipoint (or multilocus) method for multivariate meta‐analysis of published population‐based case‐control association studies. The method is derived by extending the general method for multivariate meta‐analysis and allows for multivariate modelling of log(odds ratios (OR)) derived from several polymorphisms that are in linkage disequilibrium (LD). The method is presented in a genetic model‐free approach, although it can also be used by assuming a genetic model of inheritance beforehand. Furthermore, the method is presented in a unified framework and is easily applied to both discrete outcomes (using the OR), as well as to meta‐analyses of a continuous outcome (using the mean difference). The main innovation of the method is the analytical calculation of the within‐studies covariances between estimates derived from linked polymorphisms. The only requirement is that of an external estimate for the degree of pairwise LD between the polymorphisms under study, which can be obtained from the same published studies, from the literature or from HapMap. Thus, the method is quite simple and fast, it can be extended to an arbitrary set of polymorphisms and can be fitted in nearly all statistical packages (Stata, R/Splus and SAS). Applications in two already published meta‐analyses provide encouraging results concerning the robustness and the usefulness of the method and we expect that it would be widely used in the future. Genet. Epidemiol. 34: 702‐715, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural covariance in the cortex of very preterm adolescents: A voxel‐based morphometry study
Authors: Nosarti Chiara , Mechelli Andrea , Herrera Aimee , Walshe Muriel , Shergill Sukhi S. , Murray Robin M. , Rifkin Larry , Allin Matthew P.G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOn the basis of findings in normative samples that different cortical brain regions covary in gray matter volume, most likely as a result of mutually trophic influences during cortical development, we aimed to study whether patterns of covariation in regional gray matter, i.e., structural covariance, differed between adolescents who were born very preterm and full‐term controls. Optimized voxel‐based morphometry was used to study structural magnetic resonance imaging scans from 218 very preterm adolescents (gestational age <33 weeks) and 127 controls at 14–15 years of age. Local gray matter volumes were obtained for 18 regions of interest involved in sensorimotor and higher‐order cognitive functions. These were then used to predict local volumes in the remaining areas of the cortex, with total gray matter volume, age and gender used as confounding variables. Very preterm adolescents compared with controls demonstrated differential (i.e., both increased and decreased) structural covariance between medial, frontal and cingulate gyri, caudate nucleus, thalamus, primary visual cortex, cerebellum and several other cortical and subcortical regions of the cortex. These findings support previous research indicating that preterm birth is associated with altered cortical development, and suggest that developmental changes in one brain region may result in a cascade of alterations in multiple regions. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Visual phonetic processing localized using speech and nonspeech face gestures in video and point‐light displays
Authors: Bernstein Lynne E. , Jiang Jintao , Pantazis Dimitrios , Lu Zhong‐Lin , Joshi Anand 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe talking face affords multiple types of information. To isolate cortical sites with responsibility for integrating linguistically relevant visual speech cues, speech and nonspeech face gestures were presented in natural video and point‐light displays during fMRI scanning at 3.0T. Participants with normal hearing viewed the stimuli and also viewed localizers for the fusiform face area (FFA), the lateral occipital complex (LOC), and the visual motion (V5/MT) regions of interest (ROIs). The FFA, the LOC, and V5/MT were significantly less activated for speech relative to nonspeech and control stimuli. Distinct activation of the posterior superior temporal sulcus and the adjacent middle temporal gyrus to speech, independent of media, was obtained in group analyses. Individual analyses showed that speech and nonspeech stimuli were associated with adjacent but different activations, with the speech activations more anterior. We suggest that the speech activation area is the temporal visual speech area (TVSA), and that it can be localized with the combination of stimuli used in this study. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A note on “Human and Machine Effects in a Just‐In‐Time Scheduling Problem” [Eren, T. (2009). Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing, 19(4), 294–299]
Authors: Xu Dehua , Yin Yunqiang 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe aim of this article is to point out some flaws in the mathematical programming model proposed by Tamer Eren [Human and Machine Effects in a Just‐In‐Time Scheduling Problem, Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing, 19(4), 294–299 (2009)]. Ignoring these flaws may cause unexpected computational results. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synergistic effects of CTLA‐4 blockade with tremelimumab and elimination of regulatory T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Suarez Natalia , Alfaro Carlos , Dubrot Juan , Palazon Asis , Bolaños Elixabet , Erro Lorena , Hervas‐Stubbs Sandra , Martinez‐Forero Ivan , Morales‐Kastresana Aizea , Martin‐Algarra Salvador , Sangro Bruno , Lecanda Fernando , Perez‐Gracia Jose L. , Gonzalez Alvaro , Melero Ignacio 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAnti‐CTLA‐4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that block the interaction of CTLA‐4 with CD80 and CD86 such as tremelimumab and ipilimumab are currently being tested in the clinic for cancer treatment exploiting their properties to de‐repress tumor‐specific cellular immunity. Addition of the fully human anti‐CTLA‐4 (tremelimumab) to cultures of human T cells with allogenic dendritic cells (DCs) did not increase proliferation. Magnetic bead‐mediated elimination of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) before setting up those alloreactive cultures also largely failed to increase primary proliferation. In contrast, predepletion of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and culture in the presence of tremelimumab synergistically resulted in increased proliferation and DC:T‐cell aggregation. These effects were much more prominent in CD4 than in CD8 T cells. The synergy mechanism can be traced to enhanced CTLA‐4 expression in effector cells as a result of Treg elimination, thereby offering more targets to the blocking antibody. Human T cells and allogenic DCs (derived both from healthy donors and advanced cancer patients) were coinjected in the peritoneum of Rag2−/− IL‐2Rγ−/− mice. In these conditions, tremelimumab injected intravenously did not significantly enhance alloreactive proliferation unless Treg cells had been predepleted. Synergistic effects in vivo were again largely restricted to the CD4 T‐cell compartment. In addition, Treg depletion and CTLA‐4 blockade synergistically enhanced specific cytotoxicity raised in culture against autologous EBV‐transformed cell lines. Taken together, these experiments indicate that tremelimumab therapy may benefit from previous or concomitant Treg depletion.
Differential survival of γδT cells, αβT cells and NK cells upon engagement of NKG2D by NKG2DL‐expressing leukemic cells
Authors: Poggi Alessandro , Zancolli Marta , Boero Silvia , Catellani Silvia , Musso Alessandra , Zocchi Maria Raffaella 
Published: September 2010

AbstractHerein, we show that γδT, CD8+αβT lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells display a different sensitivity to survival signals delivered via NKG2D surface receptor. All the three effector cell populations activate Akt1/PKBalpha through the engagement of this molecule. Upon binding to leukemic cells expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL), including chronic lymphocytic leukemias treated with transretinoic acid, most γδT (>60%) and half CD8+αβT cells (about 50%) received a survival signal, at variance with the majority of NK cells (>80%) that underwent apoptosis by day 5. Interestingly, oligomerization of NKG2D in γδT or CD8+αβT cells, led to a significant rise in nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of both NF‐kBp52 and RelB, the two NF‐kB subunits mainly involved in the transcription of antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl family. Indeed, the ratio between the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 or Bcl‐xL and the proapoptotic protein Bax raised in γδT or CD8+αβT cells following NKG2D engagement by specific monoclonal antibodies or by NKG2DL expressing leukemic cells. Conversely, nuclear translocation of NF‐kBp52 or RelB did not increase, nor the Bcl‐2/Bax or the Bcl‐xL/Bax ratios changed significantly, in NK cells upon oligomerizaton of NKG2D. Of note, transcripts for α5 importin, responsible for nuclear translocation of NF‐kBp52/Rel B heterodimer, are significantly higher in γδT and CD8+αβT cells than in NK cells. These biochemical data may explain, at least in part, why γδT and CD8+αβT cells are cytolytic effector cells more resistant to target‐induced apoptosis than NK cells.
Fast and furious: effects of body size on strike performance in an arboreal viperTrimeresurus(Cryptelytrops)albolabris
Authors: Herrel Anthony , Huyghe Katleen , Oković Patricija , Lisičić Duje , Tadić Zoran 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBody size has a pervasive effect on animal functioning and life history with size dependent changes in performance and physiology throughout ontogeny being common in many ectothermic vertebrates. However, as selection on juvenile life history stages is strong, juveniles often offset the disadvantages of small body size by disproportionate levels of performance. Here, we investigate size‐related changes in defensive strike performance in an arboreal pit viper,Trimerusurus(Cryptelytrops)albolabris. Our data show a significant negative allometry in the scaling of head dimensions and head mass to body mass. However, strike velocity and strike distance are independent of body mass, with juveniles in our sample striking as fast and as far as adults. In contrast to model predictions suggesting that acceleration capacity should decrease with increasing body mass, acceleration capacity increases with snake body mass. Our results suggest that this is the result of a negative allometric scaling of head mass combined with an isometric scaling of the dorsal epaxial musculature. Finally, our data show a significant sexual dimorphism in body size and strike velocity with females being heavier and striking faster independent of the dimorphism in body size.J. Exp. Zool. 315:22–29, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Revisiting a classic example of transcription factor functional equivalence: are Eyeless and Pax6 functionally equivalent or divergent?
Authors: Lynch Vincent J. , Wagner Günter P. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA major, and sometimes heated, debate in evolutionary and developmental biology is about the genetic basis of morphological evolution and the molecular mechanisms of gene regulatory evolution. Central to this argument is whether gene regulation most often evolves from changes in the cis‐regulatory elements of genes or through changes in the transcription factors that bind to regulatory elements. Although various kinds of theoretical and experimental evidence have been used to advance the cause of both sides, none has been more influential than the finding that transcription factors from very different organisms can be functionally conserved. In this perspective, we review the now classic finding that Pax6 genes from flies and vertebrates are functionally conserved in eye development and can induce the formation of eyes when swapped between species. While a conserved role for Pax6 genes in eye development is undebatable, we show that evidence of divergent Pax6 functions has been overlooked and propose that Pax6 genes have evolved novel protein functions during the development of the Drosophila eye, coincident with the evolution of a novel eye developmental mechanism in cyclorrhaphan dipterans. Thus, we conclude that Pax6 genes are both functionally equivalent and divergent between species. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 316:93–98, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Did Paul Kammerer discover epigenetic inheritance? No and why not
Authors: Gliboff Sander 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn a recent article in this journal, Alexander Vargas presents a new, epigenetic explanation of Paul Kammerer's controversial midwife toad experiments, but he has constructed his model without first reading Kammerer's original articles. A look at the articles shows that Vargas is seriously misinformed about what Kammerer did and what the results even were. His model simply cannot explain the results as they were originally reported and it cannot easily be corrected. Similarly, Vargas' historical inferences about the Kammerer affair, Kammerer's priority for the discovery of parent‐of‐origin effects, and the negative reactions of geneticists to this purported discovery, are unsupported and do not stand up to scrutiny. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 314B:616–624, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Undetectable HIV‐1 RNA load with the Cobas TaqMan v1.0 in a patient diagnosed at the time of primary HIV‐1 infection
Authors: Ghosn Jade , Galimand Julie , Meyer Laurence , Descamps Diane , Vabret Astrid , Deveau Christiane , Yéni Patrick , Goujard Cécile , Rouzioux Christine , Chaix Marie‐Laure ,   for the French ANRS CO06 PRIMO Cohort
Published: September 2010

AbstractDiagnosis of primary HIV‐1 infection is challenging due to the presence of a serological window; thus, HIV‐1‐RNA quantitation and/or measurement of p24 antigenemia are recommended in such cases. A patient was diagnosed at the time of primary HIV‐1 infection, he harbored a CFR02_AG subtype virus; quantitation of plasma HIV‐1‐RNA yielded an undetectable result according to one commercial assay, while HIV‐1‐RNA was detectable when measured with three other assays. J. Med. Virol. 82:1816–1818, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis A virus genetic diversity in Venezuela: Exclusive circulation of subgenotype IA and evidence of quasispecies distribution in the isolates
Authors: Sulbaran Y. , Gutierrez C.R. , Marquez B. , Rojas D. , Sanchez D. , Navas J. , Rovallo E. , Pujol F.H. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractHepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is highly prevalent in Latin America, including Venezuela. Subgenotype IA seems to circulate in an almost exclusive fashion, except in Brazil. The aim of this study was the molecular characterization of the HAV infection in Venezuela, in order to characterize the circulating strains and to analyze the presence of quasispecies in sporadic cases and an epidemic outbreak. A total of 125 (113 sera and 12 feces) samples positive for anti‐HAV IgM from sporadic cases and epidemic outbreak, were submitted to hemi‐nested RT‐PCR for amplification of the VP1 N terminus or complete region of the HAV genome. Sequences obtained from 96 Venezuelan isolates were used for phylogenetic analysis. The quasispecies distribution was evaluated by cloning of HAV amplicons. Phylogenetic analysis of HAV sequences from Venezuela showed the exclusive circulation of subgenotype IA, but with co‐circulation of two lineages, not found in other countries. The genetic variability found among Venezuelan strains was also analyzed by single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). This technique allowed the detection of intra‐strain variability, which was indeed related to the presence of quasispecies populations in the isolates. The quasispecies heterogeneity was higher in some isolates derived from sporadic cases compared to the one observed in the outbreak. The molecular characterization of HAV isolates from Venezuela showed the circulation of a unique subgenotype IA, but with the presence of diverse strains and quasispecies inside the viral populations. J. Med. Virol. 82:1829–1834, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Predictors of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in Italian women
Authors: Cercato M.C. , Mariani L. , Vocaturo A. , Carrone A. , Terrenato I. , Morano G. , Benevolo M. , Rollo F. , Germelli C. , Paolini F. , Venuti A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractHPV infection is a “necessary cause” of cervical cancer and it is sexually transmitted. Due to upcoming mass vaccination investigation on risk factors for infection is the basis to implement prophylactic strategy even in older women. The aim of the study was to evaluate predictors of high‐risk (HR) HPV infection in adult women. Between 2006 and 2008, 100 women aged >18 years, with no previous treatment for cervical lesions, were screened for HR HPV infection in Rome, Italy. Risk factors for HPV infection were investigated through a questionnaire including: ethnicity, religion, education, marital status, sexual behavior, gynecological and obstetrical history, smoking and alcohol intake. Multivariate analysis identified the “never married–separated/divorced” status (OR: 3.38; 95% CI: 1.14–10.12) as predictor of HPV infection, while having a higher age at the first sexual intercourse (FSI) shows a protective effect (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.71–1.00). A trend for the association between the infection and having more than three lifetime partners was also observed (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 0.86–7.71). No significant association was found for other demographic characteristics investigated. These findings provide a contribution in the knowledge of an adult population defining a “high‐risk” sexual behavioral profile and could be helpful to target prophylactic strategies in older woman. J. Med. Virol. 82:1921–1927, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of the incidence of influenza in relation to climate factors during 2000–2007 in five countries
Authors: Tang Julian W. , Lai Florence Y.L. , Nymadawa P. , Deng Yi‐Mo , Ratnamohan Mala , Petric Martin , Loh Tze Ping , Tee Nancy W.S. , Dwyer Dominic E. , Barr Ian G. , Wong Felix Y.W. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractRelatively few international comparisons of the incidence of influenza related to climate parameters have been performed, particularly in the Eastern hemisphere. In this study, the incidence of influenza and climate data such as temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, from cities at different latitudes with contrasting climates: Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Vancouver (Canada), and three Australian cities (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) were examined to determine whether there was any overall relationship between the incidence of influenza and climate. Applying time‐series analyses to the more comprehensive datasets, it was found that relative humidity was associated with the incidence of influenza A in Singapore, Hong Kong, Brisbane, and Vancouver. In the case of influenza B, the mean temperature was the key climate variable associated with the incidence of influenza in Hong Kong, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Vancouver. Rainfall was not significantly correlated with the incidence of influenza A or B in any of these cities. J. Med. Virol. 82:1958–1965, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sero‐immunity and serologic response to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus in Hong Kong
Authors: Mak Gannon C. , Choy Perrin W.W. , Lee W.Y. , Wong Ann H. , Ng K.C. , Lim Wilina 
Published: September 2010

AbstractTo study the serologic response to the new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus in Hong Kong, the level of immunity was measured before and after the occurrence of the outbreak, and the titer of antibody to the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus in serum samples of laboratory confirmed cases. The presence of pre‐outbreak pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus antibodies in 37% of individuals older than >65 years suggested previous exposures to heterologous virus strains may have elicited cross‐reacting antibody. Following large outbreaks of pandemic influenza A 2009 virus that peaked in September 2009, there is a change in immunity level in various age groups consistent with the attack rates among population in Hong Kong. Among individuals with mild clinical presentation, the antibody response to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus was stronger in those individuals aged ≤24 years but took more time to reach a titer of 40 when compared with those aged >24 years; however, the antibody level declined slower among individuals aged ≤24 years. Regardless of age, the antibody response rose rapidly and reached much higher titer among individuals with severe clinical presentation. Further study is required to collect additional data on antibody persistence and determine how much protection is conferred by previous exposure to seasonal influenza A (H1N1) viruses. J. Med. Virol. 82:1809–1815, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enterovirus infection induces cytokine and chemokine expression in insulin‐producing cells
Authors: Nair Sandhya , Leung Kin‐Chuen , Rawlinson William D. , Naing Zin , Craig Maria E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDespite evidence supporting an association between enterovirus (EV) infection and type 1 diabetes, the etiological mechanism(s) for EV‐induced beta cell destruction is(are) not well understood. In this study, the effects of Coxsackievirus B (CVB) 1–6 on cell lysis and cytokine/chemokine expression in the insulinoma‐1 (INS‐1) beta cell line were investigated. Cytolysis was assessed using tissue culture infectious dose 50 (TCID50). Quantitative RT‐PCR was used to measure viral RNA and mRNA of cytokines interferon (IFN)‐α, IFN‐β, IFN‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10), chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5) in infected INS‐1 cells. CVB2, 4, 5, and 6 lysed and replicated in INS‐1 cells; TCID50 was lowest for CVB5 and highest for CVB6. IFN‐γ, CXCL10, and CCL5 mRNA levels all increased significantly following infection with CVB2, 4, 5, and 6 (P < 0.05). CCL2 mRNA increased with CVB2, 5, and 6 (P < 0.05), IFN‐α mRNA increased with CVB5 infection (P < 0.05), while TNF‐α mRNA and IFN‐β mRNA (P < 0.001) increased with CVB2 infection. Dose‐dependent effects of infection on cytokine mRNA levels were observed for all (P < 0.01) except IFN‐γ. Following inoculation of INS‐1 cells with CVB1 and 3, viral RNA was not detected and cytokine/chemokine mRNA levels were unchanged. In conclusion, CVB2, 4, 5, and 6 induce dose‐dependent cytokine and chemokine mRNA production from INS‐1 cells suggesting that pro‐inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion by beta cells is a potential mechanism for EV‐induced beta cell damage in type 1 diabetes. J. Med. Virol. 82:1950–1957, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.