bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular and clinical effects of betamethasone in human t‐cell lymphotropic virus type‐i‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis patients
Authors: Alberti Carolina , Cartier Luis , Valenzuela María A. , Puente Javier , Tanaka Yuetsu , Ramirez Eugenio 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThere is no effective therapy for human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I)‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Glucocorticoids are effective to reduce the motor disability in these patients, but its role as anti‐spastic drugs is unknown. Here it is reported the use of corticosteroids in HAM/TSP. The goal was to find reliable molecular markers linked to treatment effectiveness. The clinical efficacy of corticosteroids was studied in 22 HAM/TSP. The treatment was a single dose of 7.0 mg of systemic betamethasone. Pre‐treatment samples were obtained immediately before steroid administration and post‐treatment samples were collected after 5 days. Neurological disability was evaluated by the Osame's Motor Disability Scales. Relative levels of Tax, Foxp3, IL‐10, TGF‐β, CTLA‐4, and GITR mRNA were measured and the percentage of CD4+Foxp3+ and CD4+Tax+ populations was quantified in PBMCs by real‐time PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The same parameters were studied in eight untreated carriers. Betamethasone treatment showed neurological improvement in 21 HAM/TSP patients, with one patient without response to treatment. This therapy was associated with a decrease in Tax mRNA load and CD4+Tax+ T cells in HAM/TSP. Simultaneously, an increase in Foxp3 mRNA and CD4+Foxp3+ T cell was detected in these patients. The other markers studied had no significant changes after treatment. Clinical improvement in betamethasone‐treated HAM/TSP was associated with an inverse relationship between a decrease in Tax and an increase in Foxp3 at the mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest that both Tax and Foxp3 may represent potential biomarkers for drug treatment assessments in HAM/TSP. J. Med. Virol. 83:1641–1649, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epstein–Barr virus‐related lymphoproliferative disorder, cytomegalovirus reactivation, and varicella zoster virus encephalitis during treatment of medulloblastoma
Authors: Ohta Motoki , Taga Takashi , Nomura Akitaka , Kato Hirofumi , Takano Tomoyuki , Maruo Yoshihiro , Takeuchi Yoshihiro , Ishida Mitsuaki , Ohta Shigeru 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe case of a 14‐year‐old girl who developed Epstein–Barr virus‐related lymphoproliferative disorder, cytomegalovirus reactivation, and Varicella zoster virus encephalitis during treatment for medulloblastoma is described. The patient was diagnosed with a cerebral medulloblastoma and treated with systemic chemotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Six months later, she developed persistent low‐grade fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Several mucosal or ulcerated lesions of the stomach and colon were found on fiberscopy. The infiltrating cells were positive for CD20 and EBER1, and the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorder was made. CMV antigen was found in the peripheral lymphocytes at that time. At the same time, it was noted that the patient's language was inappropriate for her age, and a facial and abdominal rash, as well as a right facial palsy, had developed. She was then diagnosed as having VZV encephalitis, because VZV was detected in the CSF. She was treated subsequently with acyclovir and oral steroid, and the VZV encephalitis resolved. The lymphoproliferative disorder improved gradually with rituximab, ganciclovir, and total nutritional support. At the time of the development of the lymphoproliferative disorder and VZV encephalitis, the patient had severe lymphopenia and this may have caused these rare phenomena in a non‐transplant setting. J. Med. Virol. 83:1582–1584, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antiviral combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin does not induce a therapeutically resistant mutation in the HCV core region regardless of genetic polymorphism near the IL28B gene
Authors: Toyoda Hidenori , Kumada Takashi , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Honda Takashi , Katano Yoshiaki , Goto Hidemi , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Murakami Yoshiki , Matsuda Fumihiko 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAn association has been reported between genetic polymorphism near IL28B gene and the prevalence of mutation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core region residue 70, both of which have been associated with a lack of virologic response to antiviral combination therapy with peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin. This study investigated whether PEG‐IFN/ribavirin combination therapy induces amino acid (AA) mutation at residue 70 of HCV and whether genetic polymorphism near IL28B gene affects it. AA substitutions at residue 70 of the HCV core region were measured and compared before and after combination therapy in 65 non‐responders and 88 relapsers to the combination therapy. In three patients in whom both wild‐type AA (arginine) and mutant‐type AA (glutamine or histidine) were detected at residue 70 before treatment, only mutant‐type AA was identified after treatment. In two patients who had wild‐type AA solely before treatment, both wild‐type and mutant‐type AAs were identified at residue 70 after treatment. In five patients, in whom the AA had changed at residue 70 between before and after treatment, four patients carried the TT genotype at a polymorphic locus (rs8099917) near the IL28B gene and one carried the TG/GG genotype. No difference was found in the prevalence of this change of AA at residue 70 between the TT and the TG/GG genotype. Antiviral combination therapy with PEG‐IFN and ribavirin does not appear to induce mutation of HCV core region residue 70 regardless of genetic polymorphism near the IL28B gene in Japanese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. J. Med. Virol. 83:1559–1564, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in hepatitis B surface antigen negative HIV/HBV co‐infected adults: A rare opportunistic illness
Authors: Landrum Michael L. , Roediger Mollie P. , Fieberg Ann M. , Weintrob Amy C. , Okulicz Jason F. , Crum‐Cianflone Nancy F. , Ganesan Anuradha , Lalani Tahaniyat , Macalino Grace E. , Chun Helen M. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractChanges in serologic status in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co‐infected individuals with either isolated anti‐HBc or resolved HBV infection have been reported, but the frequency of clinically meaningful long‐term serologic changes is not well‐defined. This study therefore, examined longitudinal serologic status for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative HIV/HBV co‐infected participants in a large cohort. Among 5,222 cohort participants, 347 (7%) were initially isolated anti‐HBc positive, and 1,073 (21%) had resolved HBV infection (concurrently reactive for anti‐HBc and anti‐HBs). Thirty‐three (10%) of the 347 participants with isolated anti‐HBc were later positive for HBsAg at least once, compared with 3 (0.3%) of those with resolved HBV (P < 0.001). A total of 14 participants became persistently positive for HBsAg and were thus classified as having late‐onset chronic HBV infection at a median of 3.7 years after initial HBV diagnosis. For those initially with HBsAg‐negative HIV/HBV co‐infection, the rate of late‐onset chronic HBV infection was 1.39/1,000 person‐years. Those with late‐onset chronic HBV infection experienced significant decreases in CD4 cell counts (P = 0.002) with a mean of 132 cells/µl at the time of late‐onset chronic HBV infection, but no factor distinguished those who were positive for HBsAg only once from those that developed late‐onset chronic HBV infection. Over a median of 2.9 years following late‐onset chronic HBV infection, 3 of 14 subsequently lost HBsAg. The occurrence of late‐onset chronic HBV infection in HBsAg negative HIV/HBV co‐infected adults appears to be one important, albeit rare, clinical event seen almost exclusively in those with isolated anti‐HBc and low CD4 cell count. J. Med. Virol. 83:1537–1543, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development and clinical validation of multiplex TaqMan® assays for rapid diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis
Authors: Feeney S.A. , Armstrong V.J. , Mitchell S.J. , Crawford L. , McCaughey C. , Coyle P.V. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThere is a need to provide rapid, sensitive, and often high throughput detection of pathogens in diagnostic virology. Viral gastroenteritis is a serious health issue often leading to hospitalization in the young, the immunocompromised and the elderly. The common causes of viral gastroenteritis include rotavirus, norovirus (genogroups I and II), astrovirus, and group F adenoviruses (serotypes 40 and 41). This article describes the work‐up of two internally controlled multiplex, probe‐based PCR assays and reports on the clinical validation over a 3‐year period, March 2007 to February 2010. Multiplex assays were developed using a combination of TaqMan™ and minor groove binder (MGB™) hydrolysis probes. The assays were validated using a panel of 137 specimens, previously positive via a nested gel‐based assay. The assays had improved sensitivity for adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus (97.3% vs. 86.1%, 100% vs. 87.8%, and 95.1% vs. 79.5%, respectively) and also more specific for targets adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus (99% vs. 95.2%, 100% vs. 93.6%, and 97.9% vs. 92.3%, respectively). For the specimens tested, both assays had equal sensitivity and specificity for astrovirus (100%). Overall the probe‐based assays detected 16 more positive specimens than the nested gel‐based assay. Post‐introduction to the routine diagnostic service, a total of 9,846 specimens were processed with multiplex 1 and 2 (7,053 pediatric, 2,793 adult) over the 3‐year study period. This clinically validated, probe‐based multiplex testing algorithm allows highly sensitive and timely diagnosis of the four most prominent causes of viral gastroenteritis. J. Med. Virol. 83:1650–1656, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation of epoxy‐based macroporous monolithic columns for the fast and efficient immunofiltration of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Ott Sonja , Niessner Reinhard , Seidel Michael 
Published: July 2011

AbstractMacroporous epoxy‐based monolithic columns were used for immunofiltration of bacteria. The prepared monolithic polymer support is hydrophilic and has large pore sizes of 21 μm without mesopores. A surface chemistry usually applied for immobilization of antibodies on glass slides is successfully transferred to monolithic columns. Step‐by‐step, the surface of the epoxy‐based monolith is hydrolyzed, silanized, coated with poly(ethylene glycol diamine) and activated with the homobifunctional crosslinker di(N‐succinimidyl)carbonate for immobilization of antibodies on the monolithic columns. The functionalization steps are characterized to ensure the coating of each monolayer. The prepared antibody‐immobilized monolithic column is optimized for immunofiltration to enrich Staphylococcus aureus as an important food contaminant. Different kinds of geometries of monolithic columns, flow rates and elution buffers are tested with the goal to get high recoveries in the shortest enrichment time as possible. An effective capture of S. aureus was achieved at a flow rate of 7.0 mL/min with low backpressures of 20.1±5.4 mbar enabling a volumetric enrichment of 1000 within 145 min. The bacteria were quantified by flow cytometry using a double‐labeling approach. After immunofiltration the sensitivity was significantly increased and a detection limit of the total system of 42 S. aureus/mL was reached.
Simultaneous determination of vinblastine and its monomeric precursors vindoline and catharanthine in Catharanthus roseus by capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry
Authors: Chen Qinhua , Li Na , Zhang Wenpeng , Chen Jing , Chen Zilin 
Published: July 2011

AbstractCatharanthus roseus is an important dicotyledonous medicinal plant that contains various anticancer components, such as vinblastine (VLB) and its monomeric precursors (vindoline and catharanthine). A capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE‐MS) approach for the simultaneous determination of three components was developed in this work. Baseline separation for three components was achieved by using a running buffer consisting of 20 mM ammonium acetate and 1.5% acetic acid in <20 min. Quantification of three components was assigned in positive‐ion mode at a protonated molecular ion [M+H]+. The CE‐MS method was validated for linearity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision, and then used to determine the content of the above components. The detection limits of VLB, catharanthine and vindoline are 0.8, 0.1 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. The precision was not more than 4.54% and the mean recovery of the analytes was 95.04–97.04%. The CE‐MS method was successfully applied to determine VLB and its monomeric precursors in real sample C. roseus.
Optimum conditions for the water extraction of L‐theanine from green tea
Authors: Vuong Quan V. , Stathopoulos Costas E. , Golding John B. , Nguyen Minh H. , Roach Paul D. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractTheanine is a unique non‐protein amino acid found in tea (Camellia sinensis). It contributes to the favourable umami taste of tea and is linked to various beneficial effects in humans. There is an increasing interest in theanine as an important component of tea, as an ingredient for novel functional foods and as a dietary supplement. Therefore, optimal conditions for extracting theanine from tea are required for the accurate quantification of theanine in tea and as an efficient first step for its purification. This study examined the effects of four different extraction conditions on the yield of theanine from green tea using water and applied response surface methodology to further optimise the extraction conditions. The results showed that temperature, extraction time, ratio of water‐to‐tea and tea particle sizes had significant impacts on the extraction yield of theanine. The optimal conditions for extracting theanine from green tea using water were found to be extraction at 80°C for 30 min with a water‐to‐tea ratio of 20:1 mL/g and a tea particle size of 0.5–1 mm.
Enhanced Performance for Polymer Solar Cells by Using Surfactant‐Modified PEDOT:PSS as the Anode Buffer Layer
Authors: Fang Gang , Wu Shupeng , Xie Zhiyuan , Geng Yanhou , Wang Lixiang 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe influence of the poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) modified with a kind of cationic surfactant, N,N,N‐trimethyl‐1‐hexadecanaminiu bromide (CTAB), on the above poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C6‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend morphology and the performance of the resultant solar cells is investigated. The CTAB modification reduces the enrichment of insulating PSS on the top surface of the PEDOT:PSS layer and enhances the contact of conductive PEDOT in the PEDOT:PSS layer to the active layer. Moreover, the CTAB‐modified PEDOT:PSS layer favors P3HT crystallization and phase segregation with PCBM in the active layer. A 50% increase of power conversion efficiency is achieved for the solar cell with CTAB‐modified PEDOT:PSS instead of the commonly used PEDOT:PSS layer.magnified image
Assessing the RAFT Equilibrium Constant via Model Systems: An EPR Study
Authors: Meiser Wibke , Buback Michael 
Published: July 2011

AbstractReversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) equilibrium constants, Keq, for the model system cyano‐iso‐propyl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) – cyano‐iso‐propyl radical (CIP) have been deduced via electron paramagnetic reso1494nce (EPR) spectroscopy. The CIP species is produced by thermal decomposition of azobis‐iso‐butyronitrile (AIBN). In solution of toluene at 70 °C, Keq has been determined to be (9 ± 1) L · mol−1. Measurement of Keq = kad/kβ between 60 and 100 °C yields ΔEa = (–28 ± 4) kJ · mol−1 as the difference in the activation energies of kad and kβ. The data measured on the model system are indicative of fast fragmentation of the intermediate radical produced by addition of CIP to CPDB.magnified image
Effects of Thermal Annealing Upon the Nanomorphology of Poly(3‐hexylselenophene)‐PCBM Blends
Authors: Lilliu Samuele , Agostinelli Tiziano , Verploegen Eric , Pires Ellis , Hampton Mark , Al‐Hashimi Mohammed , Heeney Martin J. , Toney Michael F. , Nelson Jenny , Macdonald J. Emyr 
Published: July 2011

AbstractGrazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (GI‐XRD) is used to characterize the crystallographic dynamics of low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) poly(3‐hexylselenophene) (P3HS) films and blend films of P3HS with [6‐6‐]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as a function of ‘step‐by‐step’ thermal annealing, from room temperature to 250 °C. The temperature‐dependent GIXRD data show how the melting point of P3HS crystallites is decreased by the presence of PCBM. P3HS crystallite domain sizes dramatically increase upon annealing to the P3HS melting temperature. The formation of well‐oriented HMW P3HS crystallites with the (100) plane parallel to the substrate (edge‐on orientation), when cooled from melt, are observed. We compare the behaviour of P3HS pure and blend films with that of poly(3‐hexyl)thiophene (P3HT) pure and PCBM blended films and suggest that the similar temperature dependent behaviour we observe may be a common to polythiophene and related polymers and their blends.magnified image
MicroRNAs, diet, and cancer: New mechanistic insights on the epigenetic actions of phytochemicals
Authors: Parasramka Mansi A. , Ho Emily , Williams David E. , Dashwood Roderick H. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThere is growing interest in the epigenetic mechanisms that impact human health and disease, including the role of microRNAs (miRNAs). These small (18–25 nucleotide), evolutionarily conserved, non‐coding RNA molecules regulate gene expression in a post‐transcriptional manner. Several well‐orchestered regulatory mechanisms involving miRNAs have been identified, with the potential to target multiple signaling pathways dysregulated in cancer. Since the initial discovery of miRNAs, there has been progress towards therapeutic applications, and several natural and synthetic chemopreventive agents also have been evaluated as modulators of miRNA expression in different cancer types. This review summarizes the most up‐to‐date information related to miRNA biogenesis, and critically evaluates proposed miRNA regulatory mechanisms in relation to cancer signaling pathways, as well as other epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation patterns, histone marks) and their involvement in drug resistance. We also discuss the mechanisms by which dietary factors regulate miRNA expression, in the context of chemoprevention versus therapy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation restores normal rapid eye movement sleep in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Nishida Namiko , Murakami Tokiko , Kadoh Kunihiro , Tohge Rie , Yamanegi Miki , Saiki Hidemoto , Ueda Keita , Matsumoto Sadayuki , Ishikawa Masatsune , Takahashi Jun A. , Toda Hiroki 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground:In Parkinson's disease, sleep disturbance is a common occurrence.Methods:We evaluated sleep in 10 patients with Parkinson's disease (age, 57.5 ± 9.8 years; disease duration, 12.3 ± 2.7 years) before and after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation using the Parkinson's disease sleep scale and polysomnography.Results:Their total sleep scale scores and daytime sleepiness subscale scores significantly improved after subthalamic nucleus‐deep brain stimulation. The novel findings from this study significantly increased normal rapid eye movement sleep, and decreased abnormal rapid eye movement sleep without atonia after deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease. The improved total sleep scale score correlated with decreased wakefulness after sleep onset. Moreover, improved daytime sleepiness correlated with increased normal rapid eye movement sleep time. Sleep improvement did not significantly correlate with resolution of motor complication or reduced dopaminergic dosages.Conclusions:Subthalamic nucleus‐deep brain stimulation may have beneficial effects on sleep disturbance in advanced Parkinson's disease by restoring sleep architecture and normal rapid eye movement sleep. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Advanced MudPIT as a next step toward high proteome coverage
Authors: Fränzel Benjamin , Wolters Dirk A. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe present a simple, time‐ and cost‐efficient approach to tackle the proteome of prokaryotic organisms. To obtain large data sets of complex biological experiments high‐throughput and time‐ and cost‐efficient methods still have to be developed and refined. In this study, we combined well‐approved techniques, namely elevated chromatographic temperatures, long RP columns and the multidimensional protein identification technology MudPIT to achieve high proteome coverage. The advanced MudPIT approach has been evaluated and delivered very comprehensive results for Gram‐positive as well as Gram‐negative bacteria (53% proteome coverage for Corynebacterium glutamicum and 46% proteome coverage for Escherichia coli). Also, a high identification rate for the challenging integral membrane proteins was achieved. The competitiveness of the advanced MudPIT technology is strengthened by the fact that in this approach only two fractions were analyzed with both, simple and time‐efficient sample preparation, and a moderate data acquisition time.
Significantly improved photovoltaic performances of the dithiophene‐benzothiadiazole‐alt‐fluorene copolymers by incorporating carbazole units in fluorene moiety
Authors: Liu Ming , Wang Yafei , Zhang Zhiyong , Li Jianming , Liu Yu , Tan Hua , Ni Meijun , Lei Gangtie , Zhu Meixiang , Zhu Weiguo 
Published: July 2011

AbstractTo exploit an effective way to improve polymeric photovoltaic performance, a series of dithiophene‐benzothiadiazole‐alt‐fluorene copolymers containing carbazole groups at C‐9 positions of the alternating fluorene units (PFO‐FCz‐DBT) were synthesized and characterized. The effect of the carbazole groups on the optophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these copolymers was investigated. By comparison, this type of copolymers with carbazole units exhibited significantly improved photovoltaic properties than poly(2,7‐(9,9‐dioctyl‐fluorene)‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐2′,1′,3′‐benzothiadiazole) (PFO‐DBT) in the bulk heterojunction solar cells. A maximum power‐conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.41% and a highest short‐circuit current density (Jsc) of 9.68 mA cm−2 were obtained for the PFO‐FCz‐DBT30, which are about two times higher than the corresponding levels for the PFO‐DBT30. This work demonstrated that introducing a hole‐transporting carbazole unit into copolymer is a simple and effective method to improve the Jsc and PCE. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Synthesis of high molecular weight polymer nanoparticles by [Cp2ZrCl2] catalyzed emulsion polymerization
Authors: De Sudip K. , Bhattacharjee Manish 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAn early transition metal metallocene compound, Cp2ZrCl2, with an anionic surfactant, sodium n‐dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as emulsifier and NaBPh4 as cocatalyst has been found to be an effective catalytic system for polymerization and copolymerization of monomers like styrene and methyl methacrylate in aqueous medium. The diameters of the latex particles were found to be in between 20 and 40 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011