bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index, but not intima‐media thickness, are early indicators of vascular damage in hypercholesterolemic children
Authors: Riggio S. , Mandraffino G. , Sardo M. A. , Iudicello R. , Camarda N. , Imbalzano E. , Alibrandi A. , Saitta C. , Carerj S. , Arrigo T. , Saitta A. 
Published: February 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (3): 250–257AbstractBackground  Arterial stiffness is an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. It is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking. However, there are conflicting data about the relationship between arterial stiffness and hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, augmentation index (AIx), a measure of systemic arterial stiffness, has not been previously investigated in hypercholesterolemic (HCh) children. Aim of our study was to evaluate local and systemic arterial stiffness as well as carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) in HCh children and also to investigate the relation between serum cholesterol levels and arterial stiffness.Materials and methods  We determined lipid profile, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate, carotid IMT and several arterial stiffness parameters, as β‐index, elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and AIx, in 44 untreated HCh children (mean age 10·7 ± 2·8 years; 18 with familial hypercholesterolemia, FH, and 26 with primary hypercholesterolemia, PHC) and 18 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. HCh children never received any medication, including antihypertensive and lipid lowering drugs.Results  Respect to controls and to PHC, FH had significantly higher (P < 0·001) β‐index (5·22 ± 1·13 vs. 3·13 ± 0·74 and 3·60 ± 1·02), PWV (4·72 ± 0·72 m s−1 vs. 3·66 ± 0·55 m s−1 and 4·10 ± 0·67 m s−1), AIx (3·55 ± 3·97% vs. −4·43 ± 4·09% and 0·61 ± 2·39%) and Ep (64·4 ± 19·6 kPa vs. 36·2 ± 11·3 kPa and 42·9 ± 13·1), whereas AC (1·25 ± 0·48 mm2 kPa−1 vs. 1·9 ± 0·43 mm2 kPa−1 and 1·62 ± 0·43 mm2 kPa−1) was lower (P < 0·001). There was no significant difference in carotid IMT and blood pressure values between the groups. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant association of arterial stiffness values with plasma cholesterol levels (P < 0·0001).Conclusion  Our findings show that local and systemic arterial stiffness are increased in asymptomatic, normotensive HCh children, suggesting that HCh plays a key role in arterial mechanical impairment since the paediatric age.
Sulfido‐peptide leukotrienes in coronary heart disease – relationship with disease instability and myocardial ischaemia
Authors: De Caterina R. , Giannessi D. , Lazzerini G. , Bernini W. , Sicari R. , Cupelli F. , Lenzi S. , Rugolotto M. M. , Madonna R. , Maclouf J. 
Published: February 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (3): 258–272AbstractBackground  Urinary excretion of leukotriene (LT) E4 is an index of LTC4 biosynthesis and platelet–neutrophil interactions, which may occur in coronary heart disease and contribute to myocardial ischaemia. Enhanced LTC4 biosynthesis may be a consequence of myocardial ischaemia or be linked to its pathogenetic substrate.Methods and results  Overnight urine collections were obtained from 17 patients with chronic stable angina, three patients with Prinzmetal’s angina, 16 patients with non ST‐elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE‐ACS) and six patients with acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). LTE4 excretion was measured by enzyme immunoassay after HPLC separation. Compared with healthy controls (51·1 ± 21·3 pg mg−1 creatinine, mean ± SD, n = 11) and with non‐coronary cardiac controls (36·6 ± 9·8 pg mg−1 creatinine, n = 9), LTE4 excretion was unchanged in stable angina (40·5 ± 25·8 pg mg−1 creatinine), but significantly (P < 0·01) increased in NSTE‐ACS (122·7 ± 137·2 pg mg−1 creatinine) and STEMI (213·4 ± 172·4 pg mg−1 creatinine). In these patients, LTE4 excretion rapidly dropped after day 1, consistent with effective coronary reperfusion. In patients with NSTE‐ACS, the increase in LTE4 excretion was entirely restricted to patients with recent (< 48 h) spontaneous anginal episodes. Myocardial ischaemia elicited by a positive exercise stress test was not accompanied by any detectable increase in LTE4 excretion, while a significant (P < 0·01) increase was detected after a single‐vessel percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) procedure (n = 10), as compared with diagnostic angiography (n = 9).Conclusions  In coronary heart disease, increased LTC4 biosynthesis is restricted to ACS and not linked to myocardial ischaemia per se, but likely to the occurrence of plaque disruption.
Freshwater rock pools: a review of habitat characteristics, faunal diversity and conservation value
Authors: JOCQUE MERLIJN , VANSCHOENWINKEL BRAM , BRENDONCK LUC 
Published: February 2010

Summary1. In the light of the recent surge of interest in small and often temporary wetlands as model systems for ecological and evolutionary research, this article reviews current knowledge on freshwater rock pools and their fauna.2. Freshwater rock pools occur all over the globe in all major biomes and depend mainly on precipitation for filling. Rock pool clusters are some of the more persistent and oldest freshwater habitats worldwide. Interactions between climate and geology (e.g. limestone, sandstone, granite) generally determine the morphology and hydrology of rock pool habitats, with hydroperiods ranging from several days up to the whole year. Pool volume is usually small, resulting in strongly fluctuating environmental conditions, low conductivity and wide variations in pH (from 4.0 to 11.0) and temperature (from freezing point to 40 °C) often with well‐marked diel cycles. The highly variable environmental conditions, combined with the unpredictability of the flooding regime, require high stress tolerance of the inhabitants, with adaptations for surviving the dry phase such as the production of resistant stages and active emigration followed by recolonisation.3. About 460 aquatic animal species have been recorded from freshwater rock pools around the world. Approximately 170 of these are passive dispersers, which mainly disperse as resting stages via wind and overflow of water between pools. Successful long distance dispersal seems limited. This group is composed mainly of rock pool specialists with a high degree of endemicity. The remaining taxa can be considered active dispersers, with migration usually restricted to the adult stage. Often these taxa are broadly distributed and occur in a wide range of temporary habitats in addition to rock pools.4. The inherent characteristics of freshwater rock pools, such as their simple structure and occurrence on similar substrata all over the world, facilitate comparison of research results and promote rock pools as model systems for ecological and evolutionary research. Nevertheless, despite their potential as model systems, the unique fauna and their importance as sources of freshwater in dry countries, the ecology of freshwater rock pools remain virtually unexplored in large parts of the world.
Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 differentially modulates bacterial entry to dendritic and non‐phagocytic cells
Authors: Bueno Susan M. , Wozniak Aniela , Leiva Eduardo D. , Riquelme Sebastián A. , Carreño Leandro J. , Hardt Wolf‐Dietrich , Riedel Claudia A. , Kalergis Alexis M. 
Published: February 2010

Summary Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium can enter non‐phagocytic cells, such as intestinal epithelial cells, by virtue of a Type Three Secretion System (TTSS) encoded in the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI‐1), which translocates bacterial effector molecules into the host cell. Salmonella can also be taken up by dendritic cells (DCs). Although the role of SPI‐1 in non‐phagocytic cell invasion is well established, its contribution to invasion of phagocytic cells has not been evaluated. Here, we have tested the invasive capacity of a S. Typhimurium strain lacking a key component of its TTSS‐1 (ΔInvC) leading to defective translocation of SPI‐1‐encoded effectors. Whereas this mutant Salmonella strain was impaired for invasion of non‐phagocytic cells, it was taken up by DCs at a significantly higher rate than wild‐type Salmonella. Similar to wild‐type Salmonella, the ΔInvC mutant strain retained the capacity to avoid antigen presentation to T cells. However, mice infected with the ΔInvC mutant strain showed higher survival rate and reduced organ colonization. Our data suggest that, besides promoting phagocytosis by non‐phagocytic cells, SPI‐1 modulates the number of bacteria that enters DCs. The SPI‐1 could be considered not only as an inducer of epithelial cell invasion but as a controller of DC entry.
Chronic rejection of a lung transplant is characterized by a profile of specific autoantibodies
Authors: Hagedorn Peter H. , Burton Christopher M. , Carlsen Jørn , Steinbrüchel Daniel , Andersen Claus B. , Sahar Eli , Domany Eytan , Cohen Irun R. , Flyvbjerg Henrik , Iversen Martin 
Published: February 2010

SummaryObliterative bronchiolitis (OB) continues to be the major limitation to long‐term survival after lung transplantation. The specific aetiology and pathogenesis of OB are not well understood. To explore the role of autoreactivity in OB, we spotted 751 different self molecules onto glass slides, and used these antigen microarrays to profile 48 human serum samples for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM autoantibodies; 27 patients showed no or mild bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS; a clinical correlate of OB) and 15 patients showed medium to severe BOS. We now report that these BOS grades could be differentiated by a profile of autoantibodies binding to 28 proteins or their peptides. The informative autoantibody profile included down‐regulation as well as up‐regulation of both IgM and IgG specific reactivities. This profile was evaluated for robustness using a panel of six independent test patients. Analysis of the functions of the 28 informative self antigens showed that eight of them are connected in an interaction network involved in apoptosis and protein metabolism. Thus, a profile of autoantibodies may reflect pathological processes in the lung allograft, suggesting a role for autoimmunity in chronic rejection leading to OB.
T‐cell receptor revision: friend or foe?
Authors: Hale J. Scott , Fink Pamela J. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryT‐cell receptor (TCR) revision is a process of tolerance induction by which peripheral T cells lose surface expression of an autoreactive TCR, reinduce expression of the recombinase machinery, rearrange genes encoding extrathymically generated TCRs for antigen, and express these new receptors on the cell surface. We discuss the evidence for this controversial tolerance mechanism below. Despite the apparent heresy of post‐thymic gene rearrangement, we argue here that TCR revision follows the rules obeyed by maturing thymocytes undergoing gene recombination. Expression of the recombinase is carefully controlled both spatially and temporally, and may be initiated by loss of signals through surface TCRs. The resulting TCR repertoire is characterized by its diversity, self major histocompatibility complex restriction, self tolerance, and ability to mount productive immune responses specific for foreign antigens. Hence, TCR revision is a carefully regulated process of tolerance induction that can contribute to the protection of the individual against invading pathogens while preserving the integrity of self tissue.
cDNA cloning, homology modelling and evolutionary insights into novel endogenous cellulases of the borer beetleOncideres albomarginata chamela(Cerambycidae)
Authors: Calderón‐Cortés N. , Watanabe H. , Cano‐Camacho H. , Zavala‐Páramo G. , Quesada M. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractNovel endogenous cDNAs of β‐1, 4‐endoglucanases (Oa‐EGase I and Oa‐EGase II) were cloned from the cerambycid beetleOncideres albomarginata chamela. Oa‐EGase I‐ and Oa‐EGase II‐deduced proteins and three‐dimensional structures possess all features, including general architecture, signature motifs and catalytic domains, of glycosyl hydrolase families 5 and 45 (GHF5 and GHF45) and also share high levels of homology with other beetle cellulases. Total carboxymethylcellulase activity ofO. a. chamelawas 208.13 U/g of larvae. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that insect GHF5 and GHF45 are very ancient gene families and indicate, at least in the case of GHF5, that this family likely evolved from a common ancestor rather than, as is often reported, via horizontal gene transfer. Beetle GHF45 cellulases did not cluster with other metazoan cellulases. However, the presence of GHF45 cellulases in ancient molluscan taxa puts into question the hypothesis of horizontal gene transfer for the evolution of cellulases in animals.
Comparative analysis of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus responsive genes in fat body and haemocyte of B. mori resistant and susceptible strains
Authors: Bao Y‐Y. , Lv Z‐Y. , Liu Z‐B. , Xue J. , Xu Y‐P. , Zhang C‐X. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe infection profiles of the Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) in B. mori larvae revealed that the virus invaded the fat body and haemocyte of both KN and 306 strains, which are highly resistant and susceptible, respectively, to BmNPV infection. However, viral proliferation was notably slowed in the resistant B. mori strain. Using suppression subtractive hybridization, two fat body cDNA libraries were constructed to compare BmNPV responsive gene expression levels between the two silkworm lines. In total, 96 differentially expressed genes were obtained. Real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed that eight genes were significantly up‐regulated in the fat body and haemocyte of the KN strain following BmNPV injection. Our results suggest that these genes may have potential roles in B. mori antiviral infection mechanisms.
The neurotrophic factor pleiotrophin modulates amphetamine‐seeking behaviour and amphetamine‐induced neurotoxic effects: evidence from pleiotrophin knockout mice
Authors: Gramage Esther , Putelli Alessia , Polanco Maria J. , González‐Martín Carmen , Ezquerra Laura , Alguacil Luis F. , Pérez‐Pinera Pablo , Deuel Thomas F. , Herradón Gonzalo 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTPleiotrophin (PTN), a neurotrophic factor with important roles in survival and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons, is up‐regulated in the nucleus accumbens after amphetamine administration suggesting that PTN could modulate amphetamine‐induced pharmacological or neuroadaptative effects. To test this hypothesis, we have studied the effects of amphetamine administration in PTN genetically deficient (PTN −/−) and wild type (WT, +/+) mice. In conditioning studies, we found that amphetamine induces conditioned place preference in both PTN −/− and WT (+/+) mice. When these mice were re‐evaluated after a 5‐day period without amphetamine administration, we found that WT (+/+) mice did not exhibit amphetamine‐seeking behaviour, whereas, PTN −/− mice still showed a robust drug‐seeking behaviour. In immunohystochemistry studies, we found that amphetamine (10 mg/kg, four times, every 2 hours) causes a significant increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells in the striatum of amphetamine‐treated PTN −/− mice compared with WT mice 4 days after last administration of the drug, suggesting an enhanced amphetamine‐induced astrocytosis in the absence of endogenous PTN. Interestingly, we found in concomitantin vitrostudies that PTN (3 µM) limits amphetamine (1 mM)‐induced loss of viability of PC12 cell cultures, effect that could be related to the ability of PTN to induce the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. To test this possibility, we used specific Akt and ERK1/2 inhibitors uncovering for the first time that PTN‐induced protective effects against amphetamine‐induced toxicity in PC12 cells are mediated by the ERK1/2 signalling pathway. The data suggest an important role of PTN to limit amphetamine‐induced neurotoxic and rewarding effects.
IgE in the human placenta: why there?
Authors: Rindsjö E. , Joerink M. , Papadogiannakis N. , Scheynius A. 
Published: February 2010

To cite this article: Rindsjö E, Joerink M, Papadogiannakis N, Scheynius A. IgE in the human placenta: why there? Allergy 2010; 65: 554–560.AbstractImmunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies are key effector molecules in the allergic inflammatory response and are also involved in the protection against extracellular parasites. Allergic symptoms often develop early in life, and the intrauterine environment has been proposed to play an important role in affecting the risk of later allergy development. The placenta constitutes a selective barrier between the maternal and foetal circulation. Recently, we reported that maternal IgE antibodies are present on foetal macrophages in the villous tissue of the human placenta irrespective of maternal allergy status. This review discusses the presence of IgE antibodies in the human placenta and its possible roles in normal and pathologic pregnancy. It also deals with the relationship between placental IgE and development of allergy during childhood. A better understanding of the role of IgE in placenta could give us clues on how to prevent allergy development in the future generations.
Structure and putative function of NFX1‐like proteins in plants
Authors: Müssig C. , Schröder F. , Usadel B. , Lisso J. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe human NFX1 transcription factor constitutes a group of NFX1‐type zinc finger proteins. It forms a central Cys‐rich region with several NFX1‐type zinc finger domains that have been shown to mediate DNA binding. Proteins with NFX1‐type zinc fingers are found in protists, fungi, animals and plants, and may be ubiquitous in eukaryotes. This review discusses the structure and putative roles of NFX1‐like proteins, with a focus on human NFX1 and Arabidopsis NFXL1 proteins. By means of manual sequence analysis and application of hidden Markov models, we demonstrate that NFX1‐like proteins form a specific RING finger motif with a C4HC3 Zn ligand signature and additional distinct features, suggesting that these proteins function as E3 ubiquitin ligases. Phylogenetic analysis revealed different clades of NFX1‐like proteins. The plant proteins group into two distinct clades. The genomes of plants such as rice, Arabidopsis, poplar and grapevine encode one member of each clade, suggesting that the presence of two NFX1‐like factors is sufficient in flowering plants. The Arabidopsis proteins presumably fine‐tune opposed biotic and abiotic stress response pathways.
The distribution of QTL additive and dominance effects in porcine F2 crosses
Authors: Bennewitz J. , Meuwissen T.H.E. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryThe present study used published quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping data from three F2 crosses in pigs for 34 meat quality and carcass traits to derive the distribution of additive QTL effects as well as dominance coefficients. Dominance coefficients were calculated as the observed QTL dominance deviation divided by the absolute value of the observed QTL additive effect. The error variance of this ratio was approximated using the delta method. Mixtures of normal distributions (mixtures of normals) were fitted to the dominance coefficient using a modified EM‐algorithm that considered the heterogeneous error variances of the data points. The results suggested clearly to fit one component which means that the dominance coefficients are normally distributed with an estimated mean (standard deviation) of 0.193 (0.312). For the additive effects mixtures of normals and a truncated exponential distribution were fitted. Two components were fitted by the mixtures of normals. The mixtures of normals did not predict enough QTL with small effects compared to the exponential distribution and to literature reports. The estimated rate parameter of the exponential distribution was 5.81 resulting in a mean effect of 0.172.
Contributions of genetic and environmental components to changes in phenotypic variation between generations
Authors: Wolc A. , White I.M.S. , Lisowski M. , Hill W.G. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryWe evaluate the extent to which changes in phenotypic variation among generations of populations kept in the same environment are due to changes in genetic (VA) or in environmental (VE) variance. Data were available on body weight of adult poultry on a total of 89186 birds (mainly females) from six generations of each of seven lines of layers. There was substantial heterogeneity of variation between generations, shown to be in both VA and VE components. Based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC), the best fit was with both components changing, and a better fit was obtained if VA/VE (i.e. heritability) or VE, rather than VA, was assumed constant. In analyses of quantitative genetic data spanning environmental groups, attention should be paid to whether and how the variance components change among groups before undertaking detailed variance partition that may be sensitive to such changes.
Mykoserologie – sind wir weitergekommen? Aspergillus
Authors: Kappe R. , Rimek D. 
Published: February 2010

ZusammenfassungDie schwer zu diagnostizierenden Erkrankungen durch Aspergillus spp. erfordern ergänzende serologische Teste. Das ist das Ergebnis selektiver Literatur‐Recherche unter Berücksichtigung aktueller Leitlinien. Für die Manifestationsformen der Aspergillose wird derzeit zur Ergänzung der konventionellen Diagnostik (Bildgebung, Mikroskopie und Kultur) die Bestimmung folgender Parameter aus Blutserum empfohlen: Invasive und chronisch‐nekrotisierende Aspergillose: Aspergillus‐Galactomannan‐Antigen. Testformat: EIA auf der Basis des Ratten‐MAb EB‐A2. Cut‐off 0,5 (Index). Überwachung von Hochrisiko‐Patienten: 2 x wöchentlich. Aspergillus‐IgG (Testformat: EIA) als Bestätigungs‐Test bei Rekonstitution der Leukozyten‐Funktion unter Therapie. Aspergillom: Aspergillus‐IgG (Testformat: EIA). Allergische Aspergillose: Aspergillus‐IgE (Testformat: RAST). Der Galactomannan‐Antigen‐Nachweis hat einen festen Stellenwert in der Diagnostik invasiver Aspergillosen. Die Evaluation von Aspergillus‐Nukleinsäure‐Amplifikations‐Assays steht noch aus.
Leitliniengerechte Therapie der invasiven Aspergillose
Authors: Karthaus M. 
Published: February 2010

ZusammenfassungInvasive Pilzinfektionen durch Aspergillus spp. treten überwiegend bei gestörter Immunabwehr auf. Sie sind auch heute noch mit einer hohen infektionsassoziierten Sterblichkeit von bis zu über 50% behaftet. Erkrankungen werden beim Menschen hauptsächlich durch Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus und A. niger verursacht. Andere Spezies, z. B. A. terreus oder A. nidulans, spielen quantitativ eine untergeordnete Rolle. Die Primärtherapie der invasiven Aspergillose ist in den letzten zehn Jahren durch die Einführung neuer Azole und der Echinocandine effektiver und sicherer geworden. Für die Erstlinientherapie ist Voriconazol Mittel der Wahl. Die Effektivität von Voriconazol ist gut belegt, einschließlich disseminierter Infektionen bis zum Befall des ZNS. Amphotericin B‐Desoxycholat weist deutliche Nebenwirkungen bei i.v. Therapie auf. Die nordamerikanische Infectious Disease Society (IDSA) Guideline von 2008 empfiehlt Amphotericin B‐Desoxycholat aufgrund substantieller Toxizitäten nur noch für Regionen mit eingeschränkten Ressourcen, die in nicht entwickelten Ländern vorliegen können. Liposomales Amphotericin B in der Standarddosierung (3 mg/kg) weist ähnliche Ansprechraten wie Voriconazol in der Erstlinientherapie der invasiven Aspergillose auf. Allerdings fehlt ein direkter Vergleich mit Voriconazol aus randomisierten Studien. In der Zweitlinientherapie nach Versagen oder Intoleranz der Primärtherapie wurden in den letzten Jahren Caspofungin, Micafungin und Posaconazol untersucht. Kombinationstherapien werden bei refraktären Fällen einer invasiven Aspergillose im klinischen Alltag eingesetzt. Ergebnisse aus vergleichenden prospektiven kontrollierten Studien einer Kombinationstherapie gegenüber einer Monotherapie werden erst nach 2010 zu erwarten sein.