bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitric Reductase-Dependent Nitric Oxide Production Is Involved in Cold Acclimation and Freezing Tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhao Min-Gui , Chen Lei , Zhang Li-Li , Zhang Wen-Hao 
Published: August 2009

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule involved in many physiological processes in plants. We evaluated the role of NO in cold acclimation and freezing tolerance using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) wild type and mutants nia1nia2 (for nitrate reductase [NR]-defective double mutant) and Atnoa1/rif1 (for nitric oxide associated1/resistant to inhibition by fosmidomycin1) that exhibit defects in NR and reduced NO production, respectively. Cold acclimation induced an increase in endogenous NO production in wild-type and Atnoa1/rif1 leaves, while endogenous NO level in nia1nia2 leaves was lower than in wild-type ones and was little changed during cold acclimation. Cold acclimation stimulated NR activity and induced up-regulation of NIA1 gene expression. In contrast, cold acclimation reduced the quantity of NOA1/RIF1 protein and inhibited NO synthase (NOS) activity. These results indicate that up-regulation of NR-dependent NO synthesis underpins cold acclimation-induced NO production. Seedlings of nia1nia2 were less tolerant to freezing than wild-type plants. Pharmacological studies using NR inhibitor, NO scavenger, and NO donor showed that NR-dependent NO level was positively correlated with freezing tolerance. Furthermore, cold acclimation up- and down-regulated expression of P5CS1 and ProDH genes, respectively, resulting in enhanced accumulation of proline (Pro) in wild-type plants. The stimulation of Pro accumulation by cold acclimation was reduced by NR inhibitor and NO scavenger, while Pro accumulation by cold acclimation was not affected by the NOS inhibitor. In contrast to wild-type plants, cold acclimation up-regulated ProDH gene expression in nia1nia2 plants, leading to less accumulation in nia1nia2 plants than in wild-type plants. These findings demonstrate that NR-dependent NO production plays an important role in cold acclimation-induced increase in freezing tolerance by modulating Pro accumulation in Arabidopsis.
Abnormal Physiological and Molecular Mutant Phenotypes Link Chloroplast Polynucleotide Phosphorylase to the Phosphorus Deprivation Response in Arabidopsis
Authors: Marchive Chloe , Yehudai-Resheff Shlomit , Germain Arnaud , Fei Zhangjun , Jiang Xingshan , Judkins Joshua , Wu Hong , Fernie Alisdair R. , Fait Aaron , Stern David B. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA prominent enzyme in organellar RNA metabolism is the exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), whose reversible activity is governed by the nucleotide diphosphate-inorganic phosphate ratio. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, PNPase regulates chloroplast transcript accumulation in response to phosphorus (P) starvation, and PNPase expression is repressed by the response regulator PSR1 (for PHOSPHORUS STARVATION RESPONSE1) under these conditions. Here, we investigated the role of PNPase in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) P deprivation response by comparing wild-type and pnp mutant plants with respect to their morphology, metabolite profiles, and transcriptomes. We found that P-deprived pnp mutants develop aborted clusters of lateral roots, which are characterized by decreased auxin responsiveness and cell division, and exhibit cell death at the root tips. Electron microscopy revealed that the collapse of root organelles is enhanced in the pnp mutant under P deprivation and occurred with low frequency under P-replete conditions. Global analyses of metabolites and transcripts were carried out to understand the molecular bases of these altered P deprivation responses. We found that the pnp mutant expresses some elements of the deprivation response even when grown on a full nutrient medium, including altered transcript accumulation, although its total and inorganic P contents are not reduced. The pnp mutation also confers P status-independent responses, including but not limited to stress responses. Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that the activity of the chloroplast PNPase is involved in plant acclimation to P availability and that it may help maintain an appropriate balance of P metabolites even under normal growth conditions.
6  VENTRICULAR INTER‐ AND LEFT VENTRICULAR INTRA VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC ASYNCHRONY IN PATIENTS WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND THE EFFECT OF CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY
Authors: Gessner M. , Gruska M. , Blazek G. , Dornaus C. , Kainz W. , Kunschitz E. , Gaul. G. 
Published: August 2009

Aim: Data dealing with the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on myocardial or interventricular systolic asynchrony derived by pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (PDTI) and pulsed flow Doppler imaging are scare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ventricular inter‐ and left ventricular intraventricular systolic asynchrony and to describe the effects of CRT on Doppler imaging in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: 217 consecutive patients (96 patients with left bundle branch bloc[LBBB]) with DCM underwent a standard and PDTI echocardiography examination. We measured the interval between Q wave in the electrocardiogram and the beginning of the systolic velocity profile (Q ‐ Sb) recorded from the right and left ventricular outflow tract by pulsed Doppler imaging (PWD) and from 5 basal segments (right ventricle, septal‐, lateral‐, anterior‐, inferior left ventricle) by PDTI from an apical approach. In 18 patients a biventricular pacing system was implanted and the effect of the cardiac resynchronization therapy was evaluated 1 month after implantation by echo examination. Results: A high‐grade interventricular systolic asynchrony (> 60 ms) was measured in 3 patients (2.5%) without LBBB versus 33 patients (16%) with LBBB. A severe left ventricular intraventricular systolic asynchrony (> 60 ms) was documented in 33 patients (27%) without LBBB versus 27 patients (28%) with LBBB. CRT in 18 patients reduced the interventricular systolic asynchrony from 52 ± 29 (20–116) ms to 14 ± 10 (0–32) ms (p < 0.01). Left ventricular intraventricular systolic asynchrony was reduced from 87 ± 35 (42–168) ms to 29 ± 14 (4–52) ms (p < 0.001). All patients with CRT showed an improvement in NYHA functional status. Conclusions: Patients with LBBB and DCM showed a significant intense degree of interventricular systolic asynchrony compared with patients without LBBB. The incidence of high‐grade left ventricular intraventricular systolic asynchrony was not influenced by LBBB. CRT is able to reduce inter‐ and left ventricular intraventricular systolic asynchrony. We recommend the use of PWD and PDTI in all patients with DCM as an additional important selection criteria for CRT.
Case of schwannomatosis
Authors: MURAKAMI Yukako , WATAYA‐KANEDA Mari , TANAKA Mari , MYOUI Akira , SAKATA Yoshiharu , KATAYAMA Ichiro 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA 40‐year‐old man presented to our hospital with painful tumors in his left carotid space and left knee. He had no family history of neurofibromatosis type II (NF II), no history of hearing loss or vestibular problems, and no symptoms of NF I. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed no intracranial tumors including vestibular schwannoma (VS). MRI of the left carotid and left knee demonstrated T1‐weighted mass lesions. They were excised and all of them were pathologically diagnosed as schwannoma. Thus, this case was diagnosed as definite schwannomatosis in reference to the diagnostic criteria.
Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection
Authors: Paintsil Elijah , Verevochkin Sergei V. , Dukhovlinova Elena , Niccolai Linda , Barbour Russell , White Edward , Toussova Olga V. , Alexander Louis , Kozlov Andrei P. , Heimer Robert 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTAims  To understand the epidemiology and transmission patterns of hepatitis C virus (HCV), the predominant blood borne‐pathogen infecting injection drug users (IDUs), in a part of the former Soviet Union.Design  Cross‐sectional respondent‐driven sample of IDUs.Setting  St Petersburg, Russia.Participants  A total of 387 IDUs were recruited in late 2005 and throughout 2006.Measurements  Participants were surveyed to collect demographic, medical and both general and dyad‐specific drug injection and sexual behaviors. A blood sample was collected to detect antibodies to hepatitis C and to amplify viral RNA for molecular analysis. The molecular data, including genotypes, were analyzed spatially and linkage patterns were compared to the social linkages obtained by respondent‐driven sampling (RDS) for chains of respondents and among the injection dyads.Findings  HCV infection was all but ubiquitous: 94.6% of IDUs were HCV‐seropositive. Among the 209 viral sequences amplified, genotype 3a predominated (n = 119, 56.9%), followed by 1b (n = 61, 29.2%) and 1a (n = 25, 11.9%). There was no significant clustering of genotypes spatially. Neither genotypes nor closely related sequences were clustered within RDS chains. Analysis of HCV sequences from dyads failed to find associations of genotype or sequence homology within pairs.Conclusions  Genotyping reveals that there have been at least five unique introductions of HCV genotypes into the IDU community in St Petersburg. Analysis of prevalent infections does not appear to correlate with the social networks of IDUs, suggesting that simple approaches to link these networks to prevalent infections, rather than incident transmission, will not prove meaningful. On a more positive note, the majority of IDUs are infected with 3a genotype that is associated with sustained virological response to antiviral therapy.
Psychometric validation of the Taiwan Chinese version of the 25‐Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire
Authors: Lin Jen‐Chieh , Chie Wei‐Chu 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectives  To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of a Taiwan Chinese version of the 25‐Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI‐VFQ 25) in patients with visual impairment.Methods  The NEI‐VFQ 25 was translated and adapted into the Taiwan Chinese version. In total, 222 patients responded to the questionnaire. To examine reliability, Cronbach's alpha for each subscale was used as an index of internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients. Regarding construct validity, both convergent and discriminant validities were calculated by means of multi‐trait analysis. Clinical validity was examined by correlation of clinical measurements and subscale scores and known‐groups comparison. Finally, correlation between different subscales was examined to evaluate hypothetical relationship between subscales.Results  Five patient groups were studied, each including participants with a single cause of visual impairment. Group 1 consisted of 53 cataract patients; group 2 included 51 subjects with glaucoma; group 3 included 36 subjects with age‐related macular degeneration (ARMD); and group 4 included 48 subjects with diabetic retinopathy. Thirty‐four individuals with uncorrected refractive error comprised the control group. NEI‐VFQ scores (mean ± SD) for the cataract, glaucoma, ARMD, diabetic retinopathy and control groups were: 73.5 ± 17.1, 69.2 ± 20.4, 62.3 ± 23.7, 63.7 ± 20.8 and 80.7 ± 12.0, respectively. Item analysis revealed moderate data skewing. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of subscales ranged from 0.956 (mental health) to 0.964 (near activities). Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 (driving) to 0.846 (distance activities). All items passed the convergent and discriminant validity tests. Moderate correlations were detected between visual acuity and the ‘general vision’, ‘distance activities’ and ‘near activities’ subscales. Significant correlations were detected between visual field deficits and the vision associated subscales.Conclusion  This study revealed that the Taiwan Chinese version of the NEI‐VFQ 25 is a valid and reliable instrument to measure vision‐related quality of life in patients with visual impairment.
Menopause impacts the relation of plasma adiponectin levels with the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Henneman P. , Janssens A. C. J. W. , Zillikens M. C. , Frolich M. , Frants R. R. , Oostra B. A. , Van Duijn C. M. , Van Dijk K. Willems 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.  Henneman P, Janssens ACJW, Carola Zillikens M, Frolich M, Frants RR, Oostra BA, van Duijn CM, van Dijk KW (Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands). Menopause impacts the relation of plasma adiponectin levels with the metabolic syndrome. J Intern Med 2010; 267: 402–409.Objective.  Plasma adiponectin is negatively correlated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components obesity and insulin sensitivity. Here, we set out to evaluate the effect of menopause on the association of plasma adiponectin with MetS.Design.  Data on plasma adiponectin and MetS were available from 2256 individuals participating in the Erasmus Rucphen Family study. Odds ratios for MetS were calculated by logistic regression analysis using plasma adiponectin quartiles. The discriminative accuracy of plasma adiponectin for MetS was determined by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operator. Analyses were performed in women and men, pre‐ and postmenopausal women and younger and older men.Results.  Virtually all determinants of MetS differed significantly between groups. Low plasma adiponectin showed the highest risk for MetS in postmenopausal women (odds ratio = 18.6, 95% CI = 7.9–44.0). We observed a high discriminative accuracy of age and plasma adiponectin for MetS not only in postmenopausal women (AUC = 0.76) but also in other subgroups (AUC from 0.67 to 0.87). However, in all groups, the discriminative accuracy of age and body mass index (BMI) for MetS was similar to the discriminative accuracy of age and plasma adiponectin.Conclusions.  Low plasma levels of adiponectin are associated with increased prevalence of MetS, especially in postmenopausal women. Age and BMI have similar discriminatory accuracies for presence of MetS when compared with age and plasma adiponectin. Thus, we conclude that the association of plasma adiponectin with MetS is significantly affected by menopause but challenge the additional value of adiponectin for the discriminatory accuracy for presence of MetS.
Osteoprotegerin concentrations and prognosis in acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Jensen J. K. , Ueland T. , Atar D. , Gullestad L. , Mickley H. , Aukrust P. , Januzzi J. L. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.  Jensen JK, Ueland T, Atar D, Gullestad L, Mickley H, Aukrust P, Januzzi JL (Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Massachusetts General Hospital, USA). Osteoprotegerin concentrations and prognosis in acute ischaemic stroke. J Intern Med 2010; 267: 410–417.Aim.  Concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been associated with the presence of vascular and cardiovascular diseases, but the knowledge of this marker in the setting of ischaemic stroke is limited.Methods and results.  In 244 patients with acute ischaemic stroke (age: 69 ± 13 years), samples of OPG were obtained serially from presentation to day 5. Patients with overt ischaemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation were excluded. The patients were followed for 47 months, with all‐cause mortality as the sole end‐point. Multivariable predictors of OPG values at presentation included haemoglobin (T = −2.82; P = 0.005), creatinine (T = 4.56; P < 0.001), age (T = 9.66; P < 0.001), active smoking (T = 2.25; P = 0.025) and pulse rate (T = 3.23; P = 0.001). At follow‐up 72 patients (29%) had died. Patients with OPG ≤2945 pg mL−1 at baseline had a significantly improved survival rate on univariate analysis (P < 0.0001); other time‐points did not add further prognostic information. In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, stroke severity, C‐reactive protein levels, troponin T levels, heart and renal failure concentrations of OPG independently predicted long‐term mortality after stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.9; P = 0.024).Conclusion.  Osteoprotegerin concentrations measured at admission of acute ischaemic stroke are associated with long‐term mortality.
Evidence of a partial melt zone beneath Stromboli volcano (Italy) from inversion of teleseismic receiver functions
Authors: Martinez‐Arevalo Carmen , Musumeci Carla , Patanè Domenico 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTeleseismic body waves from broadband seismic stations are used to investigate the crustal and uppermost mantle structure of Stromboli volcano through inversion of the receiver functions (RFs). First, we computed RFs in the frequency domain using a multiple‐taper spectral correlation technique. Then, the non‐linear neighbourhood algorithm was applied to estimate the seismic shear wave velocity of the crust and uppermost mantle and to define the main seismic velocity discontinuities. The stability of the inversion solution was tested using a range of initial random seeds and model parameterizations. A shallow Moho, present at depth of 14.8 km, is evidence of a thinned crust beneath Stromboli volcano. However, the most intriguing and innovative result is a low S velocity layer in the uppermost mantle, below 32 km. The low S velocity layer suggests a possible partial melt region associated with the volcanism, as also recently supported by tomographic studies and petrological estimations.
Reported symptoms to peanut between 4 and 8 years among children sensitized to peanut and birch pollen – results from the BAMSE birth cohort
Authors: Asarnoj A. , Östblom E. , Ahlstedt S. , Hedlin G. , Lilja G. , Van Hage M. , Wickman M. 
Published: August 2009

To cite this article: Asarnoj A, Östblom E, Ahlstedt S, Hedlin G, Lilja G, van Hage M, Wickman M. Reported symptoms to peanut between 4 and 8 years among children sensitized to peanut and birch pollen – results from the BAMSE birth cohort. Allergy 2010; 65: 213–219.AbstractBackground:  Specific IgE tests are sometimes difficult to interpret due to structural similarities between certain food and pollen allergens. This may be the reason why concomitant sensitization to peanut and birch pollen is frequently seen. The aim of this study was to investigate reported symptoms to peanut‐ and birch pollen in relation to sensitization.Methods:  The data originate from 1928 children in the BAMSE birth cohort. Background factors and clinical parameters were obtained and the levels of IgE antibodies to peanut and birch pollen measured at 4 and 8 years.Results:  IgE antibodies to peanut were found in 5.5% and 7.4% of the children at 4 and 8 years, respectively. The IgE antibody levels to peanut were higher in children sensitized to peanut but not birch than in children sensitized to peanut and birch among both 4‐ and 8‐year‐olds (P = 0.093 and P = 0.003, respectively). Eight‐year‐olds sensitized to peanut but not birch, more often reported symptoms to peanut than children sensitized to both peanut and birch pollen (76%vs 46%, P = 0.002). The probability of reported symptoms to peanut increased significantly with increasing IgE levels to peanut, especially in 8‐year‐olds not sensitized to birch.Conclusions:  Children sensitized to both peanut and birch pollen are less likely to report symptoms to peanut than children sensitized to peanut but not to birch pollen at 8 years. This is likely due to cross reactions between birch pollen and peanut and can explain the high sensitization rate to peanut in areas where birch trees are common.
Incidence and clinical predictors of primary opportunistic deep cutaneous mycoses in solid organ transplant recipients: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Tessari Gianpaolo , Naldi Luigi , Piaserico Stefano , Boschiero Luigino , Nacchia Francesco , Forni Alberto , Rugiu Carlo , Faggian Giuseppe , Dall’Olio Elena , Fortina Anna Belloni , Alaibac Mauro , Sassi Fabrizia , Gotti Eliana , Fiocchi Roberto , Fagioli Stefano , Girolomoni Giampiero 
Published: August 2009

Tessari G, Naldi L, Piaserico S, Boschiero L, Nacchia F, Forni A, Rugiu C, Faggian G, Dall’Olio E, Fortina AB, Alaibac M, Sassi F, Gotti E, Fiocchi R, Fagioli S, Girolomoni G. Incidence and clinical predictors of primary opportunistic deep cutaneous mycoses in solid organ transplant recipients: a multicenter cohort study. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 328–333. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Background:  Primary opportunistic deep cutaneous fungal  infections may cause significant morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients (OTR), but no data exist about their incidence, timing, and clinical predictors in a long‐term follow‐up.Patients and methods:  A series of 3293 consecutive OTR including 1991 kidney, 929 heart, and 373 liver transplant recipients were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up since time at transplantation (mean 5.5 yr ±5.9 SD) and primary opportunistic fungal infections registered. Persons‐year at risk (PYs), incidence rates (IR), incidence rate ratios (IRR), and 95% confidence intervals were computed.Results:  Twenty‐two cases of deep cutaneous mycoses were detected, (IR 1.2 cases per 1000 PYs) after a mean follow‐up time since transplantation of 2.5 yr ± 2.0 SD (median 1.8 yr). Six patients had subsequent systemic involvement and three patients died of systemic dissemination. A higher risk for mycoses was observed in the first two yr after transplantation, (IRR 35.9, p < 0.0001), in renal transplant recipients (IRR 5.1 p = 0.030), and in patients transplanted after the age of 50 (IRR 11.5 p = 0.020).Conclusions:  Primary deep cutaneous opportunistic mycoses in OTR occur mainly in the first two yr after transplantation, in renal transplant recipients, and in older patients.
Unilateral ischemic preconditioning and heterologous preconditioning in living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Testa Giuliano , Angelova Victoria , Laricchia‐Robbio Leopoldo , Rondelli Damiano , Chejfec Gregorio , Anthony Tiffany , Benedetti Enrico 
Published: August 2009

Testa G, Angelova V, Laricchia‐Robbio L, Rondelli D, Chejfec G, Anthony T, Benedetti E. Unilateral ischemic preconditioning and heterologous preconditioning in living donor liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 334–340. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Ischemic preconditioning (IP) exerts a protective effect on tissues undergoing prolonged ischemia. No studies have been performed to assess the clinical impact of IP on normal human liver used for living donor transplantation (LDLT). Heterologous preconditioning (HP) protects liver tissue as demonstrated in a rat model. Our study investigates the impact that IP and HP have on the donor and recipient liver in LDLT. Twenty candidates for living donor right hepatectomy were divided in two groups. The study group underwent 10′ unilateral ischemia by clamping the right portal vein and hepatic artery at the end of the parenchymal transection. Demographics, laboratory values, biopsy studies, IL‐1Ra, Ki‐67, and CytoDEATH stains were compared. The results show that 10′ ischemia does not exert significant clinical and laboratory changes in living donor hepatectomy candidates.