bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
p38 MAP Kinase Inhibits Neutrophil Development Through Phosphorylation of C/EBPα on Serine 21
Authors: Geest Christian R. , Buitenhuis Miranda , Laarhoven Annemieke G. , Bierings Marc B. , Bruin Marrie C.A. , Vellenga Edo , Coffer Paul J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMany extracellular stimuli regulate growth, survival, and differentiation responses through activation of the dual specificity mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase three (MKK3) and its downstream effector p38 MAPK. Using CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, here we describe a novel role for MKK3-p38MAPK in the regulation of myelopoiesis. Inhibition of p38MAPK utilizing the pharmacological inhibitor SB203580, enhanced neutrophil development ex vivo, but conversely reduced eosinophil differentiation. In contrast, constitutive activation of MKK3 dramatically inhibited neutrophil differentiation. Transplantation of β2-microglobulin−/− nonobese diabetic/severe combined immune deficient (NOD/SCID) mice with CD34+ cells ectopically expressing constitutively active MKK3 resulted in reduced neutrophil differentiation in vivo, whereas eosinophil development was enhanced. Inhibitory phosphorylation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) on serine 21 was induced upon activation of p38MAPK. Moreover, ectopic expression of a non-phosphorylatable C/EBPα mutant was sufficient to abrogate MKK3-induced inhibition of neutrophil development. Furthermore, treatment of CD34+ progenitors from patients with severe congenital neutropenia with SB203580 restored neutrophil development. These results establish a novel role for MKK3-p38MAPK in the regulation of lineage choices during myelopoiesis through modulation of C/EBPα activity. This signaling module may thus provide an important therapeutic target in the treatment of bone marrow failure.Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Pretreated with Delivered Hph-1-Hsp70 Protein Are Protected from Hypoxia-Mediated Cell Death and Rescue Heart Functions from Myocardial Injury
Authors: Chang Woochul , Song Byeong-Wook , Lim Soyeon , Song Heesang , Shim Chi Young , Cha Min-Ji , Ahn Dong Hyuck , Jung Young-Gook , Lee Dong-Ho , Chung Ji Hyung , Choi Ki-Doo , Lee Seung-Kyou , Chung Namsik , Lee Sang-Kyou , Jang Yangsoo , Hwang Ki-Chul 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for myocardial injury has inherent limitations due to the poor viability of MSCs after cell transplantation. In this study, we directly delivered Hsp70, a protein with protective functions against stress, into MSCs, using the Hph-1 protein transduction domain ex vivo for high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Compared to control MSCs in in vitro hypoxic conditions, MSCs delivered with Hph-1-Hsp70 (Hph-1-Hsp70-MSCs) displayed higher viability and anti-apoptotic properties, including Bcl2 increase, reduction of Bax, JNK phosphorylation and caspase-3 activity. Hsp70 delivery also attenuated cellular ATP-depleting stress. Eight animals per group were used for in vivo experiments after occlusion of the left coronary artery. Transplantation of Hph-1-Hsp70-MSCs led to a decrease in the fibrotic heart area, and significantly reduced the apoptotic positive index by 19.5 ± 2%, compared to no-treatment controls. Hph-1-Hsp70-MSCs were well-integrated into the infarcted host myocardium. The mean microvessel count per field in the infarcted myocardium of the Hph-1-Hsp70-MSC-treated group (122.1 ± 13.5) increased relative to the MSC-treated group (75.9 ± 10.4). By echocardiography, transplantation of Hph-1-Hsp70-MSCs resulted in additional increases in heart function, compared to the MSCs-transplanted group. Our results may help formulate better clinical strategies for in vivo MSC cell therapy for myocardial damage.Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Snail and Slug Mediate Radioresistance and Chemoresistance by Antagonizing p53-Mediated Apoptosis and Acquiring a Stem-Like Phenotype in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Kurrey Nawneet K. , Jalgaonkar Swati P. , Joglekar Alok V. , Ghanate Avinash D. , Chaskar Prasad D. , Doiphode Rahul Y. , Bapat Sharmila A. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
The transcriptional repressors Snail and Slug contribute to cancer progression by mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which results in tumor cell invasion and metastases. We extend this current understanding to demonstrate their involvement in the development of resistance to radiation and paclitaxel. The process is orchestrated through the acquisition of a novel subset of gene targets that is repressed under conditions of stress, effectively inactivating p53-mediated apoptosis, while another subset of targets continues to mediate EMT. Repressive activities are complemented by a concurrent derepression of specific genes resulting in the acquisition of stem cell-like characteristics. Such cells are bestowed with three critical capabilities, namely EMT, resistance to p53-mediated apoptosis, and a self-renewal program, that together define the functionality and survival of metastatic cancer stem cells. EMT provides a mechanism of escape to a new, less adverse niche; resistance to apoptosis ensures cell survival in conditions of stress in the primary tumor; whereas acquisition of “stemness” ensures generation of the critical tumor mass required for progression of micrometastases to macrometastases. Our findings, besides achieving considerable expansion of the inventory of direct genes targets, more importantly demonstrate that such elegant cooperative modulation of gene regulation mediated by Snail and Slug is critical for a cancer cell to acquire stem cell characteristics toward resisting radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-mediated cellular stress, and this may be a determinative aspect of aggressive cancer metastases.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Astrocytes Reverted to a Neural Progenitor-like State with Transforming Growth Factor Alpha Are Sensitized to Cancerous Transformation
Authors: Dufour Christelle , Cadusseau Josette , Varlet Pascale , Surena Anne-Laure , de Faria Giselle P , Dias-Morais Amelie , Auger Nathalie , Léonard Nadine , Daudigeos Estelle , Dantas-Barbosa Carmela , Grill Jacques , Lazar Vladimir , Dessen Philippe , Vassal Gilles , Prevot Vincent , Sharif Ariane , Chneiweiss Herve , Junier Marie-Pierre 
Published: June 2009

AbstractGliomas, the most frequent primitive central nervous system tumors, have been suggested to originate from astrocytes or from neural progenitors/stem cells. However, the precise identity of the cells at the origin of gliomas remains a matter of debate because no pre-neoplastic state has been yet identified. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, an epidermal growth factor family member, is frequently overexpressed in the early stages of glioma progression. We previously demonstrated that prolonged exposure of astrocytes to TGF-α is sufficient to trigger their reversion to a neural progenitor-like state. To determine whether TGF-α dedifferentiating effects are associated with cancerous transforming effects, we grafted intracerebrally dedifferentiated astrocytes. We show that these cells had the same cytogenomic profile as astrocytes, survived in vivo, and did not give birth to tumors. When astrocytes dedifferentiated with TGF-α were submitted to oncogenic stress using gamma irradiation, they acquired cancerous properties: they were immortalized, showed cytogenomic abnormalities, and formed high-grade glioma-like tumors after brain grafting. In contrast, irradiation did not modify the lifespan of astrocytes cultivated in serum-free medium. Addition of TGF-α after irradiation did not promote their transformation but decreased their lifespan. These results demonstrate that reversion of mature astrocytes to an embryonic state without genomic manipulation is sufficient to sensitize them to oncogenic stress.
Evaluating Erythropoietin-Associated Tumor Progression Using Archival Tissues from a Phase III Clinical Trial
Authors: Miller Chris P. , Lowe Kimberly A. , Valliant-Saunders Karine , Kaiser Joringel F. , Mattern Dominik , Urban Nicole , Henke Michael , Blau C. Anthony 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Despite the prevalence of anemia in cancer, recombinant erythropoietin (Epo) has declined in use because of recent Phase III trials showing more rapid cancer progression and reduced survival in subjects randomized to Epo. Since Epo receptor (EpoR), Jak2, and Hsp70 are well-characterized mediators of Epo signaling in erythroid cells, we hypothesized that Epo might be especially harmful in patients whose tumors express high levels of these effectors. Because of the insensitivity of immunohistochemistry for detecting low level EpoR protein, we developed assays to measure levels of EpoR, Jak2 and Hsp70 mRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumors. We tested 23 archival breast tumors as well as 136 archival head and neck cancers from ENHANCE, a Phase III trial of 351 patients randomized to Epo versus placebo concomitant with radiotherapy following complete resection, partial resection, or no resection of tumor. EpoR, Jak2, and Hsp70 mRNA levels varied &gt;30-fold, &gt;12-fold, and &gt;13-fold across the breast cancers, and &gt;30-fold, &gt;40-fold, and &gt;30-fold across the head and neck cancers, respectively. Locoregional progression-free survival (LPFS) did not differ among patients whose head and neck cancers expressed above- versus below-median levels of EpoR, Jak2 or Hsp70, except in the subgroup of patients with unresected tumors (n = 28), where above-median EpoR, above-median Jak2, and below-median Hsp70 mRNA levels were all associated with significantly poorer LPFS. Our results provide a framework for exploring the relationship between Epo, cancer progression, and survival using archival tumors from other Phase III clinical trials.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
The Impacts of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Socioeconomic Development on the Living Arrangements of Older Persons in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Country‐Level Analysis
Authors: Cheng Sheung-Tak , Siankam Benjamin 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis study investigates whether socioeconomic development and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are associated with living arrangement patterns in older persons in 23 sub‐Saharan African countries. Country‐level aggregate data were taken from previous household surveys and information provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. Results showed that 13.5% of older persons (aged 60 years or over) were living with grandchildren but not adult children (i.e., skipped generation households). Countries higher in HIV/AIDS prevalence had more skipped generation households, and also more older persons living with spouse only and fewer older persons living with other relatives. Countries with higher socioeconomic development had fewer older persons living with children younger than 25 years old and more living with spouse only or with other relatives and unrelated persons. The pandemic and socioeconomic development combine to accelerate the breakdown of the extended family structure so that older persons are less and less likely to reside with, and to receive support from, their children.
Skeletal tuberculosis in children in the Western world: 18 new cases with a review of the literature
Authors: Hosalkar Harish S. , Agrawal Nina , Reddy Swapna , Sehgal Kriti , Fox Edward J. , Hill Robert A. 
Published: June 2009

Purpose The occurrence of pediatric skeletal (extra-spinal) tuberculosis in the developed world is extremely rare. The purpose of this study was to review the cases at our institutions. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all pediatric biopsy-proven skeletal (extra-spinal) cases of tuberculosis over a five-year period. Results Eighteen patients of biopsy-proven tuberculosis were identified. The mean age was 12 years (range 7–20). Lesion locations included: distal humerus, ulna, scapula, acetabulum, proximal femur, proximal tibia, distal tibia, and calcaneus. All had symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness. Five cases had multi-focal involvement. Twenty-four lesions were noted in 18 patients. Nineteen lesions were cystic in nature at presentation. The sedimentation rate was normal in six and purified protein derivative (PPD) was negative in five patients. All received chemotherapy. Six patients underwent surgery. Conclusions The diagnosis of pediatric skeletal tuberculosis can be made with good correlation of clinical, radiographic, and laboratory findings. Biopsy and culture are the gold standards in diagnosis. Prognosis is good with chemotherapy and non-operative management. Surgical intervention may be needed in select cases.
Periostin localizes to cells in normal skin, but is associated with the extracellular matrix during wound repair
Authors: Jackson‐Boeters Linda , Wen Weiyan , Hamilton Douglas W. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractEpidermal tissue repair represents a complex series of temporal and dynamic events resulting in wound closure. Matricellular proteins, not normally expressed in quiescent adult tissues, play a pivotal role in wound repair and associated extracellular matrix remodeling by modulating the adhesion, migration, intracellular signaling, and gene expression of inflammatory cells, pericytes, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Several matricellular proteins show temporal expression during dermal wound repair, but the expression pattern of the recently identified matricellular protein, periostin, has not yet been characterized. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether periostin protein is present in healthy human skin or in pathological remodeling (Nevus). The second aim was to determine if periostin is expressed during dermal wound repair. Using immunohistochemistry, periostin reactivity was detected in the keratinocytes, basal lamina, and dermal fibroblasts in healthy human skin. In pathological nevus samples, periostin was present in the extracellular matrix. In excisional wounds in mice, periostin protein was first detected in the granulation tissue at day 3, with levels peaking at day 7. Periostin protein co‐localized with α‐smooth muscle actin‐positive cells and keratinocytes, but not CD68 positive inflammatory cells. We conclude that periostin is normally expressed at the cellular level in human and murine skin, but additionally becomes extracellular during tissue remodeling. Periostin may represent a new therapeutic target for modulating the wound repair process.
Prevalence and predictors of dysmenorrhea among students at a university in Turkey
Authors: Ozerdogan Nebahat , Sayiner Deniz , Ayranci Unal , Unsal Alaettin , Giray Sevgi 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students and to evaluate the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the condition.MethodA cross‐sectional survey of 857 students conducted by questionnaire in April 2007 at a university in Turkey. A visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test and logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 55.5% (444 out of 800 women). Risk of dysmenorrhea was approximately 1.5‐times higher in women with a satisfactory spending allowance (OR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05–2.13); 3.5‐times higher in women with a family history of dysmenorrhea (OR 3.48; 95% CI, 2.54–4.78); 1.5‐times higher in women who were underweight compared with overweight/obese women (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.99–2.33); 1.6‐times higher in women who reported a history of smoking (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.10–2.25); and 1.8‐times higher in women with an excessive sugar intake (OR 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15–2.72).ConclusionThe high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students is a significant health problem that requires attention.
Comparison of parametric and non-parametric methods for analysing genotype×environment interactions in safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL.)
Authors: MOGHADDAM M. J. , POURDAD S. S. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYGenotype×environment interaction (GEI) is a major factor in the development of stable and high-yielding safflower cultivars under rain-fed conditions. In order to quantify GEI effects on the seed yield of 17 safflower genotypes and to identify stable genotypes, multi-environment yield trials (multi-environment trials (MET)) were conducted for four consecutive years in 33 different environments (year–location combinations) during 2003–06. The results indicated that GEI was significant using the Hildebrand (1980) procedure for non-crossover interaction (no change in genotypic rank) and by the Azzalini & Cox (1984) and the De Kroon & Van Der Laan (1981) tests for crossover interaction (change in genotypic rank). The rank-interaction was not significant when assessed using the Bredenkamp (1974) method. Fifteen univariate stability methods measuring different aspects of stability were used to determine stable genotypes. A principal component analysis based on rank correlation matrix separated those methods based on a dynamic concept of yield stability (change in genotypic performance corresponds to the predicted level for each environment) from those which are based on a static one (the lowest changes in genotypic performance across environments). The methods could be grouped into three distinct classes: (i) those which were associated with yield level and the dynamic concept of stability; (ii) those which were associated with environmental variance, which represents static stability; and (iii) those which were grouped with non-parametric stability statistics, which also represent static stability. The superiority index of cultivar performance, coefficient of regression, Rank-Sum (sum of ranks of yield and stability variance) and TOP (number of environments at which the cultivar occurred in the top third of the ranks) defined the dynamic stability.In this MET, the genotype PI-537598 was identified as the genotype with the highest yield and high stability of yield.
WIFE ABUSE IN RURAL BANGLADESH
Authors: DALAL KOUSTUV , RAHMAN FAZLUR , JANSSON BJARNE 
Published: June 2009

SummaryIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health and gender problem, especially in low-income countries. The study focused on verbal abuse, physical abuse and abuse by restricting food provision to wives by their husbands by victim and perpetrator characteristics, emphasizing the socioeconomic context of rural Bangladesh. Using a cross-sectional household survey of 4411 randomly selected married women of reproductive age, the study found that a majority of the respondents are exposed to verbal abuse (79%), while 41% are exposed to physical abuse. A small proportion (5%) of the women had suffered food-related abuse. Risk factors observed were age of the wife, illiteracy (of both victims and perpetrators), alcohol misuse, dowry management, husband's monetary greed involving parents-in-law, and wife's suspicions concerning husband's extramarital affairs. Well-established risk factors for wife abuse, along with dowry and husband's monetary greed, have a relatively high prevalence in rural Bangladesh.
Socio-economic inequalities in physical functioning: a comparative study of English and Greek elderly men
Authors: TABASSUM FAIZA , VERROPOULOU GEORGIA , TSIMBOS CLEON , GJONCA EDLIRA , BREEZE ELIZABETH 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTThe associations between socio-economic position (SEP) and physical functioning have frequently been investigated but little is known about which measures of SEP are the best to use for older people. This study examined how different SEP indicators related to the physical functioning of men aged 50 or more years in England and Greece. The data derived from Wave 1 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Self-reported physical functioning limitations and mobility difficulties were combined and categorised into ‘no disability’, ‘mild disability’ and ‘severe disability’. The SEP indicators studied were: wealth, educational level and occupational class. The findings indicate that respondents with less wealth, fewer educational qualifications and lower occupational class were more likely to experience mild or severe physical disability than those of high SEP. When all three measures of SEP were adjusted for each other, in both samples wealth maintained a strong association with mild and severe disability, while education was associated with severe disability but only among English men. Occupational class was not strongly associated with physical disability in either case. Hence, among English and Greek older men, wealth was a more important predictor of physical functioning difficulties than either occupational class or education.
Altruistic behaviour and social capital as predictors of well-being among older Canadians
Authors: THEURER KRISTINE , WISTER ANDREW 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTSelf-reported altruistic activity and social capital were examined as predictors of perceived happiness and life satisfaction among a sample of 4,486 Canadians aged 65 or more years from the 2003Canadian General Social Services Survey, Cycle 17. Altruistic behaviour was measured by number of volunteer hours per month and helping others (not including family and friends). Social capital was measured using dimensions of belonging to one's community, community and neighbour trust, and group activities. Drawing on generativity and role-identity theories, it was hypothesised that altruistic behaviour and social capital are positively associated with well-being (using perceived happiness and life satisfaction), and that social capital mediates the relationship. For both perceived happiness and life satisfaction, after controlling for demographic, health status, and social support variables, measures of altruistic behaviour demonstrated statistically significant associations. Once measures of social capital were entered into the analysis in the final block, however, the altruistic behaviour variables were no longer statistically significant. Robust associations were found for social capital and the two measures of well-being, particularly between sense of belonging, trust in neighbours, and perceived happiness and life satisfaction. The findings suggest that altruistic behaviour is mediated by social capital. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to understanding the well-being of older Canadians.
Records that play: the present past in sampling practice
Authors: CHANG VANESSA 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMuch of the discourse surrounding sampling practice has been couched in an archaic rhetoric of originality and creativity, predicated on the reproductive mode of creation rather than the practice's own creative logic. These notions have emerged from a metaphysics which privileges the origin as the centre of semantic production. However, this discursive preoccupation with the past is not entirely irrelevant in sampling practice. Rather, the historically inscribed aura of the original holds a redefined, but necessary, place in the practice.This essay examines the theoretical underpinnings of the discussion so far, then reconciling these with the specific culture of sample-based hip-hop production. Through close readings of some musical examples, it posits a theoretical framework for sampling practice which takes its unique properties into account. By mapping the trajectory of several samples from source to new incarnation, the sample is revealed as the space of simultaneous play and rupture, where the past both defines the present and is effaced by it. As such, sampling creates a tradition that involves the past without deferring to its structures and limitations, restoring a revised mode of agency to the practice.