bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy in mice using direct application of Photofrin dissolved in lidocaine jelly
Authors: Murakami Hirotake , Kohno Eiji , Kohmura Yasuhiro , Ozawa Hidechika , Ito Hiroaki , Sugihara Kazuhiro , Horiuchi Kentaro , Hirano Toru , Kanayama Naohiro 
Published: September 2009

Background/purpose:Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non‐invasive cancer therapy that has a strong antitumor effect with intravenous administration of Photofrin. However, Photofrin causes light hypersensitivity that impairs the quality of life (QOL) of patients, and thus an improved method of administration is needed. Here, we report the antitumor effect of local administration of Photofrin in combination with a vasodilator, lidocaine hydrochloride.Method:The antitumor effect was investigated in nude mice transplanted with HeLa cells. An incision was made near the tumor and Photofrin dissolved in lidocaine jelly was applied directly to the tumor. The tumor was irradiated at 100 J/cm2with a yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)‐dye laser (630 nm) at 2 h after the direct application and the tumor volume was measured for 30 days after PDT to investigate the antitumor effect. In some mice, the tumor was excised 24 h after PDT and the depth of necrosis was measured in the excised specimen.Result:The tumor was mostly necrotized by PDT following direct application of 10 mg/ml Photofrin dissolved in lidocaine jelly and the effect was greater than with direct application of Photofrin alone. The increase in tumor volume observed in control mice was significantly inhibited in mice that received PDT after direct application of Photofrin in lidocaine jelly.Conclusion:PDT using direct application of Photofrin in lidocaine jelly has a strong antitumor effect in mice and this approach may avoid the adverse effects of systemic Photofrin administration.
Confocal laser‐scanning capillaroscopy: a novel approach to the analysis of skin capillaries in vivo
Authors: Hegyi J. , Hegyi V. , Messer G. , Arenberger P. , Ruzicka T. , Berking C. 
Published: September 2009

Background: New techniques for diagnostics and therapy in dermatology are becoming increasingly non‐invasive, among which confocal laser‐scanning microscopy (CLSM) is the most prevalent. It allows visualization of cellular structures of the skin up to a depth of 300 μm in vivo. Until now, most studies have been conducted on pathologically altered skin, mostly oncologic lesions. We now present a detailed analysis of capillaries located in the upper dermal papillae.Methods: Multiple measurements were performed on the dorsal and ventral surface of the right forearm of 30 healthy volunteers (22–88 years) under standard conditions (room temperature, body position, time of day). Images were obtained with the Vivascope 1500 (Lucid) under standard settings and analyzed using the freeware ImageJ with a customwritten macro plugin. The following parameters of the capillaries in vivo were measured: area, perimeter, circularity and maximum diameter.Results: Statistical analysis showed that all four parameters were constant within a narrow range, regardless of the body site, sex and age. In this physiological study, we can clearly demonstrate that by confocal laser‐scanning capillaroscopy (CLSC), it is possible to visualize and measure skin capillaries at the extremities in a reproducible manner.Conclusion: This new approach offers a considerable advantage compared with nailfold capillaroscopy, which can only be performed at the proximal nail segment, and over histological analysis, which can be hampered by fixation artifacts resulting in altered size and shape of the vessels to be analyzed. CLSC could allow for precise analysis of in vivo skin vasculature in systemic and proliferative diseases of the skin.
Wavelength effects on contrast observed with reflectance in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Luedtke Michael A. , Papazoglou Elisabeth , Neidrauer Michael , Kollias Nikiforos 
Published: September 2009

Background/purpose: The ability to optically section live biological tissue in vivo with laser light is made possible by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In this work, the effects of changing the wavelength of incident light used for CLSM imaging of human skin are reported and analyzed.Methods: Optical phantoms and the skin of eight human volunteers were imaged using CLSM systems having three different incident light wavelengths (405, 785, and 830 nm).Results: Qualitative and quantitative differences were observed between images obtained at each wavelength, despite the proximity of the two near infrared 785 and 830 nm wavelengths. Furthermore, the penetration depth achieved with the 405 nm CLSM permitted imaging into the papillary dermis.Conclusion: The laser wavelength used in CLSM reflectance imaging is important to properly understand and resolve different biological structures within human skin.
Oxidant/antioxidant status in recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Authors: Arikan S , Durusoy C , Akalin N , Haberal A , Seckin D 
Published: September 2009

Objective:  Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disorder characterized by recurrent, painful oral aphthae, and oxidative stress presumably contributes to its pathogenesis. The study was performed to evaluate the involvement of oxidant toxicity in this disorder.Methods:  Patients with RAS (n = 26) and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control subjects (n = 20) were included in this study. Following an overnight fast, blood specimens were obtained. Plasma malondialdehyde concentrations and erythrocytes glutathione peroxidase activities were determined. Also, plasma vitamin E and selenium levels were detected. Mann–Whitney U‐test was performed for statistical evaluation.Results:  Oxidative stress was confirmed by the significant elevation in plasma malondialdehyde levels and by the significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase activities, vitamin E and selenium levels (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Our results indicated that lipid peroxidation and the inadequacy of the defense system seem to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
Invasive grass litter facilitates native shrubs through abiotic effects
Authors: Wolkovich Elizabeth M. , Bolger Douglas T. , Cottingham Kathryn L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractQuestions:Plant invasions are considered one of the top threats to the biodiversity of native taxa, but clearly documenting the causal links between invasions and the decline of native species remains a major challenge of invasion biology. Most studies have focused on impacts of invaders' living biomass, rather than on mechanisms mediated by litter. However, invasive plant litter, which is often of a very different type and quantity than a system's native plant litter, can have multiple important effects on ecosystem processes – such as nitrogen cycling and soil microclimate – that may influence native plants.Location:We studied effects of litter of invasive grass species that are widespread throughout western North America on native shrubs in southern California's semi‐arid habitat of coastal sage scrub.Methods:We combined a 3‐year field manipulation of non‐native litter with structural equation modeling to understand interacting effects on non‐native grasses, native shrubs, soil nitrogen (available and total), and soil moisture.Results:Litter addition facilitated non‐native grass growth, revealing a positive feedback likely to enhance invasion success. Contrary to a major paradigm of invasion biology – that competition with invasive plant species causes declines of native plants – we found that litter also facilitated growth of the native dominant shrub, a result supported by observational trends. Structural equation models indicated that enhanced soil moisture mediated the positive effects of litter on shrub growth.Conclusions:We demonstrate that invasive plants, via their litter, can facilitate dominant native plants by altering soil moisture. Our results highlight that understanding the impacts and mechanisms of plant invasions may be enhanced by considering the role of invasive plant litter on native plants and ecosystem properties.
Increasing deterministic control of primary succession on Mount St. Helens, Washington
Authors: Del Moral Roger 
Published: September 2009

AbstractQuestion: Does the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic factors change during primary succession?Location: Small depressions (potholes) located on Mount St. Helens, Washington (46°13′51″N, 122°09′10″W, 1290 m).Methods: Pothole vegetation was described in 1993, 1997 and from 2001 to 2008. Explanatory variables included location and elevation (spatial factors), soil factors and Lupinus lepidus cover from prior years (a fertility surrogate). RDA assessed species‐variable relationships. DCA calculated β diversity and within‐year heterogeneity. Flexible sorting classified the vegetation. Species composition, richness, cover, H′ and evenness were also calculated.Results: Vegetation cover increased through 2001, and then fluctuated due to changes in L. lepidus cover. Richness peaked in 2005, after which pioneer species began to decline as persistent evergreen species increased. The six CTs recognized in 2008 were more scattered than were the six different CTs from 2001. DCA demonstrated that woody and rhizomatous species increased as pothole vegetation became less variable. RDA revealed weak spatial relationships in 1993, 1997 and 2001; thereafter, environmental and biological factors became important. The species‐explanatory data relationship increased during this study from 10.2% to 36.0%, leaving 64.0% of the variation unexplained.Conclusions: This is the first temporal study to demonstrate that deterministic control of vegetation development increases during succession. Pothole vegetation has converged somewhat due to deterministic factors, but the initial effects of chance, local disturbances and history remain large and may prevent strong convergence.
Identification of a potent immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide from Streptococcus thermophilus lacZ
Authors: SHIMOSATO Takeshi , TOHNO Masanori , SATO Takashi , NISHIMURA Junko , KAWAI Yasushi , SAITO Tadao , KITAZAWA Haruki 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTImmunostimulatory sequences of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), such as CpG ODNs, are potent stimulators of innate immunity. Here, we identified a strong immunostimulatory CpG ODN, which we named MsST, from the lac Z gene of Streptococcus (S.) thermophilus ATCC19258, and we evaluated its immune functions. In in vitro studies, MsST had a similar ability as the murine prototype CpG ODN 1555 to induce inflammatory cytokine production and cell proliferation. In mouse splenocytes, MsST increased the number of CD80+CD11c+and CD86+CD11c+ dendritic cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. We also analyzed the effects of MsST on the expression of regulatory cytokines by real‐time quantitative PCR. MsST was more potent at inducing interleukin‐10 expression than the ODN control 1612, indicating that MsST can augment the regulatory T cell response via Toll‐like receptor 9, which plays an important role in suppressing T helper type 2 responses. These results suggest that S. thermophilus, whose genes include a strong Immunostimulatory sequence‐ODN, is a good candidate for a starter culture to develop new physiologically functional foods and feeds.
Muscle type‐specific effect of myostatin deficiency on myogenic regulatory factor expression in adult double‐muscled Japanese Shorthorn cattle
Authors: MUROYA Susumu , WATANABE Kouichi , HAYASHI Shinichiro , MIYAKE Masato , KONASHI Shigeru , SATO Youichi , TAKAHASHI Manabu , KAWAHATA Shigeki , YOSHIKAWA Yoshisato , ASO Hisashi , CHIKUNI Koichi , YAMAGUCHI Takahiro 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTTo clarify muscle type‐specific effect of myostatin on myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), we examined mRNA expression of MRFs in five skeletal muscles of normal (NM) and myostatin‐deficient double‐muscled (DM) adult Japanese Shorthorn cattle by quantitative reverse‐transcribed PCR. Among the four MRFs, namely, Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and MRF4, MyoD expression was different among the muscles of the DM cattle (P < 0.01) but not of the NM cattle. Meanwhile, MyoD expression was significantly elevated only in masseter (MS) muscle in the DM cattle due to the myostatin deficiency (P < 0.05). Myf5 and MRF4 expression in semitendinosus (ST) was higher in the DM than in the NM cattle (P < 0.05). According to analysis of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform expression, more MyHC‐2x and ‐2a and less ‐slow isoforms were expressed in the longissimus and ST muscles compared to the MS muscle in both cattle (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in MyHC expression was observed between the NM and DM cattle. Taken together, myostatin has influences on Myf5 and MRF4 expression in faster‐type muscles and on MyoD expression in slower‐type muscles, suggesting a possible muscle type‐specific effect of myostatin in skeletal muscle growth and maintenance.
Comparison of Office, Ambulatory, and Home Blood Pressure Antihypertensive Response to Atenolol and Hydrochlorthiazide
Authors: Beitelshees Amber L. , Gong Yan , Bailey Kent R. , Turner Stephen T. , Chapman Arlene B. , Schwartz Gary L. , Gums John G. , Boerwinkle Eric , Johnson Julie A. 
Published: September 2009

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:14–21. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) demonstrate variable associations with outcomes. The authors sought to compare office BP (OBP), home BP (HBP), and ambulatory BP (ABP) for measuring responses to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), atenolol, and their combination. After completing washout, eligible patients were randomized to atenolol 50 mg or HCTZ 12.5 mg daily. Doses were doubled after 3 weeks and the alternate drug was added after 6 weeks if BP was >120/70 mm Hg (chosen to allow maximum opportunity to assess genetic associations with dual BP therapy in the parent study). OBP (in triplicate), HBP (twice daily for 5 days), and 24‐hour ABP were measured at baseline, after monotherapy, and after combination therapy. BP responses were compared between OBP, HBP, and ABP for each monotherapy and combination therapy. In 418 patients, OBP overestimated BP response compared with HBP, with an average 4.6 mm Hg greater reduction in systolic BP (P<.0001) and 2.1 mm Hg greater reduction in diastolic BP (P<.0001) across all therapies. Results were similar for atenolol and HCTZ monotherapy. ABP response was more highly correlated with HBP response (r=0.58) than with OBP response (r=0.47; P=.04). In the context of a randomized clinical trial, the authors have identified significant differences in HBP, OBP, and ABP methods of measuring BP response to atenolol and HCTZ monotherapy.
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Typhi-Specific Immunoglobulin A Antibody Responses in Plasma and Antibody in Lymphocyte Supernatant Specimens in Bangladeshi Patients with Suspected Typhoid Fever
Authors: Sheikh Alaullah , Bhuiyan M. Saruar , Khanam Farhana , Chowdhury Fahima , Saha Amit , Ahmed Dilruba , Jamil K. M. A. , LaRocque Regina C. , Harris Jason B. , Ahmad Mian Mashhud , Charles Richelle , Brooks W. Abdullah , Calderwood Stephen B. , Cravioto Alejandro , Ryan Edward T. , Qadri Firdausi 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Many currently available diagnostic tests for typhoid fever lack sensitivity and/or specificity, especially in areas of the world where the disease is endemic. In order to identify a diagnostic test that better correlates with typhoid fever, we evaluated immune responses to
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi (serovar Typhi) in individuals with suspected typhoid fever in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We enrolled 112 individuals with suspected typhoid fever, cultured day 0 blood for serovar Typhi organisms, and performed Widal assays on days 0, 5, and 20. We harvested peripheral blood lymphocytes and analyzed antibody levels in supernatants collected on days 0, 5, and 20 (using an antibody-in-lymphocyte-supernatant [ALS] assay), as well as in plasma on these days. We measured ALS reactivity to a serovar Typhi membrane preparation (MP), a formalin-inactivated whole-cell preparation, and serovar Typhi lipopolysaccharide. We measured responses in healthy Bangladeshi, as well as in Bangladeshi febrile patients with confirmed dengue fever or leptospirosis. We categorized suspected typhoid fever individuals into different groups (groups I to V) based on blood culture results, Widal titer, and clinical features. Responses to MP antigen in the immunoglobulin A isotype were detectable at the time of presentation in the plasma of 81% of patients. The ALS assay, however, tested positive in all patients with documented or highly suspicious typhoid, suggesting that such a response could be the basis of improved diagnostic point-of-care-assay for serovar Typhi infection. It can be important for use in epidemiological studies, as well as in difficult cases involving fevers of unknown origin.
Comparison of Three Reference Methods for Testing Susceptibility of Staphylococci to Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
Authors: Griffith R. , Creely D. , Revell P. , Dunne W. Michael , Shortridge D. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT
Three reference MIC methods approved by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute were compared by testing 567 staphylococci against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Category agreement ranged from 94.9% (broth macrodilution versus broth microdilution) to 98.6% (agar dilution versus broth microdilution). Twenty-seven strains resistant by broth macrodilution were susceptible by broth microdilution.
Preliminary Evaluation of the Br
EMA1
Gene as a Tool for Associating
Babesia rossi
Genotypes and Clinical Manifestation of Canine Babesiosis
Authors: Matjila P. T. , Carcy B. , Leisewitz A. L. , Schetters T. , Jongejan F. , Gorenflot A. , Penzhorn B. L. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Babesia rossi
, an intraerythrocytic protozoan, causes a severe, often life-threatening disease of domestic dogs. Dogs treated early for
B. rossi
infection usually recover from the disease, but dogs left untreated or treated at a later stage of infection seldom survive. Dogs infected with
B. rossi
have varied clinical manifestations that can be categorized as uncomplicated (with a good prognosis) or complicated (with a poor prognosis). One hundred twenty-one blood samples were collected from dogs presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital and diagnosed with babesiosis by the use of a thin blood smear. An additional 20 samples were obtained from
Babesia
-infected dogs from private clinics around the Onderstepoort, Johannesburg, Durban, White River, and Cape Town areas. The samples were screened by PCR targeting the
Babesia rossi
erythrocyte membrane antigen gene (Br
EMA1
) and by sequencing of the polymorphic region (i.e., region with a variable number of hexapeptide repeats). Analysis of PCR products revealed 11 different gene profiles, visualized by gel electrophoresis. Twelve distinct Br
EMA1
genotypes were identified by sequencing, but the numbers of hexapeptide repeats varied from 6 to 31 (classified as genotype6 to genotype31). The genotypes were retrospectively compared to the clinical case data. The most frequently encountered
B. rossi
parasites were those attributed to genotype19 (36.2%), genotype28 and genotype29 (20.6% each), and genotype11 (12.7%). These genotypes were also the ones associated with the poorest prognosis. This preliminary finding suggests clinically important differences between the various
B. rossi
genotypes identified.
Detection of PrP
sc
in Blood from Sheep Infected with the Scrapie and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents
Authors: Terry L. A. , Howells L. , Hawthorn J. , Edwards J. C. , Moore S. J. , Bellworthy S. J. , Simmons H. , Lizano S. , Estey L. , Leathers V. , Everest S. J. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The role of blood in the iatrogenic transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) or prion disease has become an increasing concern since the reports of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) transmission through blood transfusion from humans with subclinical infection. The development of highly sensitive rapid assays to screen for prion infection in blood is of high priority in order to facilitate the prevention of transmission via blood and blood products. In the present study we show that PrP
sc
, a surrogate marker for TSE infection, can be detected in cells isolated from the blood from naturally and experimentally infected sheep by using a rapid ligand-based immunoassay. In sheep with clinical disease, PrP
sc
was detected in the blood of 55% of scrapie agent-infected animals (
n
= 80) and 71% of animals with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (
n
= 7). PrP
sc
was also detected several months before the onset of clinical signs in a subset of scrapie agent-infected sheep, followed from 3 months of age to clinical disease. This study confirms that PrP
sc
is associated with the cellular component of blood and can be detected in preclinical sheep by an immunoassay in the absence of in vitro or in vivo amplification.
The Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP/GRP78 Is Important in the Structure and Function of the Human Cytomegalovirus Assembly Compartment
Authors: Buchkovich Nicholas J. , Maguire Tobi G. , Paton Adrienne W. , Paton James C. , Alwine James C. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT
We previously demonstrated that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone BiP functions in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) assembly and egress. Here, we show that BiP localizes in two cytoplasmic structures in infected cells. Antibodies to the extreme C terminus, which includes BiP's KDEL ER localization sequence, detect BiP in regions of condensed ER near the periphery of the cell. Antibodies to the full length, N terminus, or larger portion of the C terminus detect BiP in the assembly compartment. This inability of C-terminal antibodies to detect BiP in the assembly compartment suggests that BiP's KDEL sequence is occluded in the assembly compartment. Depletion of BiP causes the condensed ER and assembly compartments to dissociate, indicating that BiP is important for their integrity. BiP and pp28 are in association in the assembly compartment, since antibodies that detect BiP in the assembly compartment coimmunoprecipitate pp28 and vice versa. In addition, BiP and pp28 copurify with other assembly compartment components on sucrose gradients. BiP also coimmunoprecipitates TRS1. Previous data show that cells infected with a TRS1-deficient virus have cytoplasmic and assembly compartment defects like those seen when BiP is depleted. We show that a fraction of TRS1 purifies with the assembly compartment. These findings suggest that BiP and TRS1 share a function in assembly compartment maintenance. In summary, BiP is diverted from the ER to associate with pp28 and TRS1, contributing to the integrity and function of the assembly compartment.