bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel AMPK activator, WS070117, improves lipid metabolism discords in hamsters and HepG2 cells
Authors: Lian Zeqin , Li Yan , Gao Jian , Qu Kai , Li Jin , Hao Linghua , Wu Song , Zhu Haibo 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
WS070117 is a novel small molecule compound that significantly improves lipid metabolism disorders in high-fat-diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia in hamsters.

Methods and Results
We evaluated liver/body weight ratio, liver histology, serum and hepatic lipid content in HFD-fed hamsters treated with WS070117 for 8 weeks. Comparing with HFD fed hamsters, WS070117 (2 mg/kg per day and above) reduced serum triglyceride (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents. Oil Red O staining of liver tissue also showed that WS070117 improved lipid accumulation. We then carried out an experiment in the oleic acid (OLA)-induced steatosis model in HepG2 cell to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of WS070117. Oleic acid (0.25 mM) markedly induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, but WS070117 (10 μM) inhibited cellular lipid accumulation. In OLA-treated HepG2 cells, WS070117 (above 1 μM) treatment reduced lipid contents which synthesized from [1-14C] labeled acetic acid. Because WS070117 is an analog of adenosine, we evaluated the effect of WS070117 on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. The results showed that the activation of AMPK in OLA-induced steatosis in HepG2 cells was up-regulated by treatment with 0.1, 1 and 10 μM WS070117. The hepatic cellular AMPK phosphorylation is also up regulated by WS070117 (6 and 18 mg/kg) treatment in HFD fed hamsters.

Conclusion
These new findings identify WS070117 as a novel molecule that regulates lipid metabolism in the hyperlipidemia hamster model. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that WS070117 may regulate lipid metabolism through stimulating the activation of AMPK and its downstream pathways.
Effect of anti-IgE therapy on food allergen specific T cell responses in eosinophil associated gastrointestinal disorders
Authors: Foster Barbara , Foroughi Shabnam , Yin Yuzhi , Prussin Calman 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundAnti-IgE therapy inhibits mast cell and basophil activation, blocks IgE binding to both FcεRI and CD23 and down regulates FcεRI expression by antigen (Ag) presenting cells (APCs). In addition to its classical role in immediate hypersensitivity, IgE has been shownin vitroto facilitate Ag presentation of allergens, whereby APC bound IgE preferentially takes up allergens for subsequent processing and presentation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anti-IgE therapy, by blocking facilitated Ag presentationin vivo, attenuates allergen specific Th2 cell responses.MethodsTo test this hypothesis, food allergen specific T cell responses were examined during a 16-week clinical trial of omalizumab in nine subjects with eosinophilic gastroenteritis and food sensitization. Allergen specific T cell responses were measured using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester dye dilution coupled with intracellular cytokine staining and polychromatic flow cytometry. Four independent indices of allergen specific T cell response (proliferation, Ag dose response, precursor frequency, and the ratio of Th2:Th1 cytokine expression) were determined.ResultsEight of the 9 subjects had measurable food allergen specific responses, with a median proliferation index of 112-fold. Allergen specific T cell proliferation was limited to CD4 T cells, whereas CD8 T cell did not proliferate. Food allergen specific responses were Th2 skewed relative to tetanus specific responses in the same subjects. In contradistinction to the original hypothesis, anti-IgE treatment did not diminish any of the four measured indices of allergen specific T cell response.ConclusionsIn sum, using multiple indices of T cell function, this study failed to demonstrate that anti-IgE therapy broadly or potently inhibits allergen specific T cell responses. As such, these data do not support a major role for IgE facilitated Ag presentation augmenting allergen specific T cell responsesin vivo.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifierNCT00084097
Eriocaulon buergerianum extract protects PC12 cells and neurons in zebrafish against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced damage
Authors: Wang Meiwei , Zhang Zaijun , Cheang Lorita Chi-Veng , Lin Zhixiu , Lee Simon Ming-Yuen 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background

Ericaulon buergerianum (Gujingcao) is an ophthalmic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial Chinese medicinal herb. This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Ericaulon buergerianum ethanol extract (EBE) and to elucidate its underlying action mechanism.

Methods
The viability of dopaminergic (DA) neuron in zebrafish was examined by anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. The locomotor activity of zebrafish was assessed with a digital video tracking system. The viability and cellular damage of the PC12 cells were determined by MTT and LDH assays respectively. The nuclear morphological changes in apoptotic cells were evaluated with DNA staining by Hoechst 33342 dye. Intracellular nitric oxide (NO) was quantified by DAF-FM diacetate staining. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by Western blot.

Results
EBE inhibited the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in total distance of movement in zebrafish. Pretreatments of EBE (25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml) increased the viability of 6-OHDA-damaged PC12 cells in a dose dependent manner. Protection against 6-OHDA-induced nuclear fragmentation and accumulation of apoptotic bodies was also observed in EBE pretreated cells. Anti-oxidative (inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression in PC12 cells in vitro) activities of EBE are related to its neuroprotective effects in 6-OHDA-induced DA neuron damage.

Conclusion
EBE exhibited significant neuroprotective activities in zebrafish, including recovery of dopaminergic neuron loss caused by 6-OHDA in a dose-dependent manner in vivo, inhibition of 6-OHDA-induced decrease of total distance in movement in zebrafish. The iNOS-NO pathway may be involved.
Prevalence of antibody to Trypanosoma cruzi in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
Authors: Arena Roberto , Mathews Christine E , Kim Anne Y , Lenz Tim E , Southern Paul M 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Chagas disease constitutes an important public health threat in terms of morbidity and mortality in the areas in the United States where immigrant populations from Latin America are conspicuous. We conducted a survey to assess the prevalence of anti-T. cruzi antibody in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Findings
Five hundred serum specimens from Hispanic-surnamed patients were tested by a preliminary ELISA method. On a subset of 50 sera confirmatory testing was also performed using an alternative ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence, and TESA immunoblot. For 274 of 500 Hispanic-surnamed patients, we were able to ascertain immigration status upon medical chart review. Of the 274 sera analyzed, one sample tested as positive for anti-T. cruzi antibody by the preliminary ELISA, and by the three confirmatory methods.

Conclusions
The goal of this study is to increase the awareness of T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease in areas where the Latin American immigrant communities are growing. Our study highlights the importance of testing for Chagas disease in the populations most at risk, and the need for current data on the actual seroprevalence in areas where such immigrant populations are conspicuous. Larger-scale epidemiologic surveys on Chagas disease in the immigrant communities from Latin America are warranted.
A pilot histomorphology and hemodynamic of vasculogenic mimicry in gallbladder carcinomas in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Sun Wei , Fan Yue Z , Zhang Wen Z , Ge Chun Y 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), as a new blood supply for tumor growth and hematogenous metastases, has been recently described in highly aggressive human melanoma cells, etc. We previously reported VM in human gallbladder carcinomas and its clinical significance. In this study, we further studied histomorphology and hemodynamic of VM in gallbladder carcinomas in vivo and in vitro.

Methods
The invasive potential of human gallbladder carcinoma cell lines GBC-SD and SGC-996 were identified by Transwell membrane. The vasculogenic-like network structures and the signal intensities i.e. hemodynamic in gallbladder carcinomas stimulated via the three-dimensional matrix of GBC-SD or SGC-996 cells in vitro, the nude mouse xenografts of GBC-SD or SGC-996 cells in vivo were observed by immunohistochemistry (H&E staining and CD31-PAS double staining), electron microscopy and micro-MRA with HAS-Gd-DTPA, respectively.

Results
Highly aggressive GBC-SD or poorly aggressive SGC-996 cells preconditioned by highly aggressive GBC-SD cells could form patterned networks containing hollow matrix channels. 85.7% (6/7) of GBC-SD nude mouse xenografts existed the evidence of VM, 5.7% (17/300) channels contained red blood cells among these tumor cell-lined vasculatures. GBC-SD xenografts showed multiple high-intensity spots similar with the intensity observed at tumor marginal, a result consistent with pathological VM.

Conclusions
VM existed in gallbladder carcinomas by both three-dimensional matrix of highly aggressive GBC-SD or poorly aggressive SGC-996 cells preconditioned by highly aggressive GBC-SD cells in vitro and GBC-SD nude mouse xenografts in vivo.
Identification of Circulating Nonclassic Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G)–Like Molecules in Exudates
Authors: Gonzalez Álvaro , Alegre Estibaliz , Arroyo Ainhoa , LeMaoult Jöel , Echeveste José Ignacio 
Published: April 2011

BACKGROUNDHLA-G in biological fluids has been proposed to be useful as a tumor marker as both a diagnostic and prognostic factor. Most HLA-G measurement procedures are based on ELISA methods using highly specific antibodies. However, results of published studies are in conflict regarding the clinical utility and even the nature of HLA-G present in circulation.METHODSWe collected 118 exudates, 94 from cancer patients and 24 from patients without tumors. We measured HLA-G concentrations by ELISA using MEM-G/9 or G233 as capture antibody. Samples were immunoprecipitated with an anti–HLA-G antibody and analyzed by Western blot using a different anti–HLA-G antibody.RESULTSDiscrepancies in HLA-G concentrations in exudates were observed depending on what capture anti–HLA-G antibody was used for ELISA (r = 0.376). These discrepancies were not observed when the ELISAs were performed using culture supernatants from HLA-G1–transfected cells (r = 0.983). Immunoprecipitation and Western blot of cell culture supernatants with 2 different anti–HLA-G antibodies produced the typical band at 39 kDa assigned to HLA-G. When the immunoprecipitation and western blot were performed with exudates, however, there were bands at 53 kDa and 70–76 kDa, higher molecular weights than those usually assigned to HLA-G. These HLA-G–like molecules were associated with β2-microglobulin and could also form disulfide bridges with other HLA-G–like molecules.CONCLUSIONSThe main HLA-G antigenic molecules in exudates are HLA-G–like complexes, a factor that should be considered when analyzing HLA-G in biological fluids.
Epic, Exile, and the Global: Felicia Hemans's The Forest Sanctuary
Authors: Sussman Charlotte 
Published: April 2011

Charlotte Sussman, “Epic, Exile, and the Global: Felicia Hemans's The Forest Sanctuary” (pp. 481–512)
Why are there no children in the poems that Felicia Hemans wrote about the New World in the 1820s? Despite the longstanding representation of the Americas as a place where British culture might be renewed and reproduced, Hemans's poems depict it as a place where lineages end and human fecundity fails. From one perspective, these poems can be read as a topical political intervention into the widespread debate during this decade over the value of emigration. From another perspective, however, Hemans's poems can be seen as interrogating literary representations of the gendering of exile, particularly those inherited from epic poetry. The first issue is synchronic: it asks what the absence of child-bearing in these poems can tell us about the political landscape of the early nineteenth century. The second issue is diachronic: it raises questions about literary history—the development of genres over time. This essay argues that the two issues intersect in Hemans's The Forest Sanctuary (1826), in the poem's implicit reevaluation of the role of the female body in the individual and mass migrations that characterized the long eighteenth century. In this way, Hemans engages with epic to narrate neither the founding nor the decline of a nation. Rather, through this genre, she explores the detachment of persons from nations and from the demands of that social formation on the procreative capacity of the female body.
At World's Edge: Post/Coloniality, Charles Maturin, and the Gothic Wanderer
Authors: Doyle Laura 
Published: April 2011

Laura Doyle, “At World's Edge: Post/Coloniality, Charles Maturin, and the Gothic Wanderer” (pp. 513–547)
The Gothic text has been shown to represent colonialism's crimes through its literary tropes of imprisonment, terror, rape, and tyranny. This essay takes a further step to propose that Gothic texts also register the historical resistance to colonialism's crimes. That is, they refer to anti-colonial insurgency—in Ireland, India, the Caribbean, and elsewhere—in the process evincing ambivalent anxieties about global, imperial instability. After reviewing the Gothic‘s entanglement with discourses of both liberation and barbarism, reflective of its contradictory political investments, the essay focuses on Charles Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) to demonstrate the ways in which Gothic texts are structured against insurgency even as, in their “wandering,” haunted figures, they unveil a world in turmoil.
Natural Variation in CDC28 Underlies Morphological Phenotypes in an Environmental Yeast Isolate
Authors: Lee Hana N , Magwene Paul M , Brem Rachel B 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Morphological differences among individuals in a species represent one of the most striking aspects of biology, and a primary aim of modern genetics is to uncover the molecular basis of morphological variation. In a survey of meiosis phenotypes among environmental isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we observed an unusual arrangement of meiotic spores within the spore sac in a strain from Ivory Coast, West Africa. We mined population genomic data to identify CDC28 as the major genetic determinant of meiotic and budding cell shape behaviors in this strain. Molecular genetic methods confirmed the role of the Ivory Coast variant of CDC28 in the arrangement of spores after meiosis, in the shape of budding cells in rich medium and in the morphology of filamentous growth during nitrogen limitation. Our results shed new light on the role of CDC28 in yeast cell division, and our work suggests that with the growing availability of genomic data sets in many systems, a priori prediction of functional variants will become an increasingly powerful strategy in molecular genetics.
Transcription Initiation From Within P Elements Generates Hypomorphic Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: LaFave Matthew C , Sekelsky Jeff 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Numerous transposable element insertions in Drosophila melanogaster cause hypomorphic mutations. We report that transcription initiation within a region found in many P-element constructs provides an explanation for why some gene function is retained. We detected evidence of this transcription in four different types of P constructs, regardless of whether the insertion was in a coding exon, intron, 5′ untranslated region, or upstream of the gene span.
Physical Equilibrium Evaluation in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Rossi Angela Garcia , Schmidt Paula da Silva , Flores Franciele da Trindade 
Published: April 2011

Introduction: The Parkinson disease can be among the multiple causes of alterations in the physical equilibrium. Accordingly, this study has the objective to evaluate Parkinson patients' physical equilibrium.
Method: Potential study in which 12 Parkinson individuals were evaluated by way of tests of static and dynamic equilibrium, dynamic posturography and vectoelectronystagmograph. To compare the dynamic posturography results a group of gauged control was used.
Results: Alterations in Romberg-Barré, Unterberger and Walk tests were found. The vestibular exam revealed 06 normal cases, 04 central vestibular syndrome and 02 cases of peripheral vestibular syndrome. In the dynamic posturography, an equilibrium alteration has been verified, when compared to the control group in all Sensorial Organization Tests, in average and in the utilization of vestibular system.
Conclusion: Parkinson patients present a physical equilibrium alteration. The dynamic posturography was more sensitive to detect the equilibrium alterations than vectoelectronystagmograph.
Evaluation of the Central Hearing Process in Parkinson Patients
Authors: Klagenberg Karlin Fabianne , Muñoz Monica Barby , Gorski Leslie Palma , Teive Hélio A. Ghizoni , Santos Rosane Sampaio , Zeigelboim Bianca Simone 
Published: April 2011

Summary
Introduction: Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerating disease with a deceitful character, impairing the central nervous system and causing biological, psychological and social changes. It shows motor signs and symptoms characterized by trembling, postural instability, rigidity and bradykinesia.
Objective: To evaluate the central hearing function in PD patients.
Method: A descriptive, prospect and transversal study, in which 10 individuals diagnosed of PD named study group (SG) and 10 normally hearing individuals named control group (CG) were evaluated, age average of 63.8 and (SD) 5.96. Both groups went through otorhinolaryngological and ordinary audiological evaluations, and dichotic test of alternate disyllables (SSW).
Results: In the quantitative analysis, CG showed 80% normality on competitive right-ear hearing (RC) and 60% on the competitive left-ear hearing (LC) in comparison with the SG that presented 70% on RC and 40% on LC. In the qualitative analysis, the biggest percentage of errors was evident in the SG in the order effect. The results showed a difficulty in identifying a sound when there is another competitive sound and in the memory ability.
Conclusion: A qualitative and quantitative difference was observed in the SSW test between the evaluated groups, although statistical data does not show significant differences. The importance to evaluate the central hearing process is emphasized when contributing to the procedures to be taken at the therapeutic follow-up.
The Frequency of Le Fort I Osteotomy in Cleft Patients
Authors: Voshol I.E. , van der Wal K.G.H. , van Adrichem L.N.A. , Ongkosuwito E.M. , Koudstaal M.J. 
Published: April 2011

Objective The aim of this research was to study the frequency of Le Fort I osteotomy (LFI) in cleft patients treated according to the protocol of the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. Design Retrospective cohort study. Patients 508 cleft patients born between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1992, were evaluated. Main Outcome Measures Frequency of LFI and correlations with type and extent of cleft, gender, number of previous surgical procedures, age during alveolar augmentation, and missing teeth, respectively. Results 251 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 28 of the 251 patients (11.2%) required LFI: none for cleft lip (0.0%); 2 of 43 (4.7%) for cleft lip and alveolus; 24 of 100 (24.0%) for cleft lip, alveolus, and palate; 2 of 50 (4.0%) for cleft palate; and none for submucous clefts or the miscellaneous group (0.0%). The frequency of LFI increased with the severity of the cleft type. The number of previous surgical interventions is significantly higher in cases with an indication for LFI (p < .001). The frequency of LFI is significantly higher in male cleft patients (p < .05). Conclusions The overall frequency of LFI in the study group was 11.2%; this increased with the severity of the cleft type. A significant difference was noted in the number of previous surgical interventions between patients with and without an indication for an LFI. Delayed closure of the hard palate in the protocol might have influenced the low frequency of LFI.
Associations among Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, Proteinuria, and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes
Authors: Bello Aminu K. , Hemmelgarn Brenda , Lloyd Anita , James Matthew T. , Manns Braden J. , Klarenbach Scott , Tonelli Marcello 
Published: April 2011

Summary

Background and objectives
Most studies of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and outcomes focus on mortality and ESRD, with limited data on other adverse outcomes. This study examined the associations among proteinuria, eGFR, and adverse cardiovascular (CV) events.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
This was a population-based longitudinal study with patients identified from province-wide laboratory data from Alberta, Canada, between 2002 and 2007. Selected for this study from a total of 1,526,437 patients were 920,985 (60.3%) patients with at least one urine dipstick measurement and 102,701 patients (6.7%) with at least one albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) measurement. Time to hospitalization was considered for one of four indications: congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and stroke/transient ischemic attacks [TIAs] (cerebrovascular accident [CVA]/TIA).

Results
After a median follow-up of 35 months, in fully adjusted models and compared with patients with estimated GFR (eGFR) of 45 to 59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and no proteinuria, patients with heavy proteinuria by dipstick and eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 had higher rates of CABG/PCI and CVA/TIA. Similar results were obtained in patients with proteinuria measured by ACR.

Conclusions
Risks of major CV events at a given level of eGFR increased with higher levels of proteinuria. The findings extend current data on risk of mortality and ESRD. Measurement of proteinuria is of incremental prognostic benefit at every level of eGFR. The data support use of proteinuria measurement with eGFR for definition and risk stratification in CKD.
A Quadrature-Based Kinetic Model for Dilute Non-Isothermal Granular Flows
Authors: Passalacqua Alberto , Galvin Janine E. , Vedula Prakash , Hrenya Christine M. , Fox Rodney O. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractA moment method with closures based on Gaussian quadrature formulas is proposed to solve the Boltzmann kinetic equation with a hard-sphere collision kernel for mono-dispersed particles. Different orders of accuracy in terms of the moments of the velocity distribution function are considered, accounting for moments up to seventh order. Quadrature-based closures for four different models for inelastic collision-the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook, ES-BGK, the Maxwell model for hard-sphere collisions, and the full Boltzmann hard-sphere collision integral-are derived and compared. The approach is validated studying a dilute non-isothermal granular flow of inelastic particles between two stationary Maxwellian walls. Results obtained from the kinetic models are compared with the predictions of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a nearly equivalent system withfinite-sizeparticles. The influence of the number of quadrature nodes used to approximate the velocity distribution function on the accuracy of the predictions is assessed. Results for constitutive quantities such as the stress tensor and the heat flux are provided, and show the capability of the quadrature-based approach to predict them in agreement with the MD simulations under dilute conditions.