bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Slightly elevated B‐type natriuretic peptide levels in a non‐heart failure range indicate a worse left ventricular diastolic function in individuals with, as compared with individuals without, type 2 diabetes: the Hoorn Study
Authors: van den Hurk Katja , Alssema Marjan , Kamp Otto , Henry Ronald M. , Stehouwer Coen D. , Diamant Michaela , Boomsma Frans , Heine Rob J. , Nijpels Giel , Paulus Walter J. , Dekker Jacqueline M. 
Published: July 2010

AimsHigher plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in a non‐heart failure (HF) range predicts HF and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the general population. Heart failure is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but associations of BNP to left ventricular (LV) mass and function in individuals with a different glucose status have not been compared. We therefore aimed to explore (i) the association of BNP levels in a non‐HF range with structural and functional markers of LV function, and (ii) possible effect modification by glucose tolerance categories.Methods and resultsLinear regression analyses were performed to investigate associations of BNP with 2D echocardiographic measures of LV mass index, LV systolic function, and markers of LV diastolic function in a population‐based study of men and women with normal glucose metabolism (NGM, n = 197), impaired glucose metabolism (IGM, n = 128), or T2DM (n = 204). Patients were aged between 50 and 87 years, had BNP levels below 50 pmol/L, and no LV wall motion abnormalities. B‐type natriuretic peptide levels ranged from 0.4 to 46.1 pmol/L, the median was 4.2 pmol/L. Higher BNP was significantly associated with increased LV mass and deteriorated LV diastolic function, but not with LV systolic function. B‐type natriuretic peptide was more strongly associated with LV diastolic function in T2DM compared with NGM and IGM.ConclusionB‐type natriuretic peptide was associated with LV mass and markers of LV diastolic function, and the association of BNP with the latter appeared to be particularly strong in individuals with T2DM. This implies that the presence or absence of T2DM should be taken into account if BNP levels are used to assess CVD risk.
Overlap, Common Features, and Essential Differences in Pediatric Granulomatous Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Damen Gerard M , van Krieken J Han , Hoppenreijs Esther , van Os Erim , Tolboom Jules JM , Warris Adillia , Yntema Jan‐Bart , Nieuwenhuis Edward ES , Escher Johanna C 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTOverlap in the clinical presentation of pediatric granulomatous inflammatory bowel disease may be substantial, depending on the mode of presentation. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) may present with granulomatous colitis, perianal abscesses, hepatic abscesses or granulomas, failure to thrive, and obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract (including esophageal strictures and dysmotility, delayed gastric emptying, and small bowel obstruction). Anemia, thrombocytosis, elevated C‐reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hypoalbuminemia are nonspecific and may occur in any of the granulomatous inflammatory bowel diseases. In histology, macrophages with cytoplasmic inclusions will be rather specific for CGD. Sarcoidosis may present with abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, weight loss, growth failure, delayed puberty, erythema nodosum, arthritis, uveitis, and hepatic granulomata. Only in 55% of the patients will angiotensin‐converting enzyme be elevated. The noncaseating epithelioid granulomata will be unspecific. Bronchoalveolar lymphocytosis and abnormalities in pulmonary function are reported in sarcoidosis and in Crohn disease (CD) and CGD. Importantly, patients with CD may present with granulomatous lung disease, fibrosing alveolitis, and drug‐induced pneumonitis. Sarcoidosis and concomitant gastrointestinal CD have been reported in patients, as well as coexistence of CD and sarcoidosis in siblings. Common susceptibility loci have been identified in CD and sarcoidosis. CD and CGD share defects in the defense mechanisms against different microbes. In the present review, common features and essential differences are discussed in clinical presentation and diagnostics—including histology—in CGD, sarcoidosis, and CD, together with 2 other granulomatous inflammatory bowel diseases, namely abdominal tuberculosis and Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome. Instructions for specific diagnosis and respective treatments are provided.
Functional Analysis of the Group 4 Late Embryogenesis Abundant Proteins Reveals Their Relevance in the Adaptive Response during Water Deficit in Arabidopsis
Authors: Olvera-Carrillo Yadira , Campos Francisco , Reyes José Luis , Garciarrubio Alejandro , Covarrubias Alejandra A. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Late-Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins accumulate to high levels during the last stages of seed development, when desiccation tolerance is acquired, and in vegetative and reproductive tissues under water deficit, leading to the hypothesis that these proteins play a role in the adaptation of plants to this stress condition. In this work, we obtained the accumulation patterns of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) group 4 LEA proteins during different developmental stages and plant organs in response to water deficit. We demonstrate that overexpression of a representative member of this group of proteins confers tolerance to severe drought in Arabidopsis plants. Moreover, we show that deficiency of LEA proteins in this group leads to susceptible phenotypes upon water limitation, during germination, or in mature plants after recovery from severe dehydration. Upon recovery from this stress condition, mutant plants showed a reduced number of floral and axillary buds when compared with wild-type plants. The lack of these proteins also correlates with a reduced seed production under optimal irrigation, supporting a role in fruit and/or seed development. A bioinformatic analysis of group 4 LEA proteins from many plant genera showed that there are two subgroups, originated through ancient gene duplication and a subsequent functional specialization. This study represents, to our knowledge, the first genetic evidence showing that one of the LEA protein groups is directly involved in the adaptive response of higher plants to water deficit, and it provides data indicating that the function of these proteins is not redundant to that of the other LEA proteins.
Physiological and Genetic Characterization of End-of-Day Far-Red Light Response in Maize Seedlings
Authors: Dubois Patrice G. , Olsefski Gregory T. , Flint-Garcia Sherry , Setter Tim L. , Hoekenga Owen A. , Brutnell Thomas P. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Developmental responses associated with end-of-day far-red light (EOD-FR) signaling were investigated in maize (Zea mays subspecies mays) seedlings. A survey of genetically diverse inbreds of temperate and tropical/semitropical origins, together with teosinte (Zea mays subspecies parviglumis) and a modern hybrid, revealed distinct elongation responses. A mesocotyl elongation response to the EOD-FR treatment was largely absent in the tropical/semitropical lines, but both hybrid and temperate inbred responses were of the same magnitude as in teosinte, suggesting that EOD-FR-mediated mesocotyl responses were not lost during the domestication or breeding process. The genetic architecture underlying seedling responses to EOD-FR was investigated using the intermated B73 × Mo17 mapping population. Among the different quantitative trait loci identified, two were consistently detected for elongation and responsiveness under EOD-FR, but none were associated with known light signaling loci. The central role of phytochromes in mediating EOD-FR responses was shown using a phytochromeB1 phytochromeB2 (phyB1 phyB2) mutant series. Unlike the coleoptile and first leaf sheath, EOD-FR-mediated elongation of the mesocotyl appears predominantly controlled by gibberellin. EOD-FR also reduced abscisic acid (ABA) levels in the mesocotyl for both the wild type and phyB1 phyB2 double mutants, suggesting a FR-mediated but PHYB-independent control of ABA accumulation. EOD-FR elongation responses were attenuated in both the wild type and phyB1 phyB2 double mutants when a chilling stress was applied during the dark period, concomitant with an increase in ABA levels. We present a model for the EOD-FR response that integrates light and hormonal control of seedling elongation.
The Tomato odorless-2 Mutant Is Defective in Trichome-Based Production of Diverse Specialized Metabolites and Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Insect Herbivores
Authors: Kang Jin-Ho , Liu Guanghui , Shi Feng , Jones A. Daniel , Beaudry Randolph M. , Howe Gregg A. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Glandular secreting trichomes of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) produce a wide array of volatile and nonvolatile specialized metabolites. Many of these compounds contribute to the characteristic aroma of tomato foliage and constitute a key part of the language by which plants communicate with other organisms in natural environments. Here, we describe a novel recessive mutation called odorless-2 (od-2) that was identified on the basis of an altered leaf-aroma phenotype. od-2 plants exhibit pleiotrophic phenotypes, including alterations in the morphology, density, and chemical composition of glandular trichomes. Type VI glandular trichomes isolated from od-2 leaves accumulate only trace levels of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids. Other foliar defensive compounds, including acyl sugars, glycoalkaloids, and jasmonate-regulated proteinase inhibitors, are produced in od-2 leaves. Growth of od-2 plants under natural field conditions showed that the mutant is highly susceptible to attack by an indigenous flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris, and the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The increased susceptibility of od-2 plants to Colorado potato beetle larvae and to the solanaceous specialist Manduca sexta was verified in no-choice bioassays. These findings indicate that Od-2 is essential for the synthesis of diverse trichome-borne compounds and further suggest that these compounds influence host plant selection and herbivore community composition under natural conditions.
Initial, habitual and compulsive alcohol use is characterized by a shift of cue processing from ventral to dorsal striatum
Authors: Vollstädt‐Klein Sabine , Wichert Svenja , Rabinstein Juri , Bühler Mira , Klein Oliver , Ende Gabriele , Hermann Derik , Mann Karl 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTAims  During the development of drug addiction, initial hedonic effects decrease when substance use becomes habitual and ultimately compulsive. Animal research suggests that these changes are represented by a transition from prefrontal cortical control to subcortical striatal control and within the striatum from ventral to dorsal domains of the striatum, but only limited evidence exists in humans. In this study we address this hypothesis in the context of alcohol dependence.Design, setting and participants  Non‐abstinent heavy social drinkers (n = 21, 5.0 ± 1.5 drinks/day, 13 of them were alcohol‐dependent according to DSM‐IV) and light social drinkers (n = 10, 0.4 ± 0.4 drinks/day) were examined.Measurements  We used a cue‐reactivity functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) design during which pictures of alcoholic beverages and neutral control stimuli were presented.Findings  In the dorsal striatum heavy drinkers showed significant higher activations compared to light drinkers, whereas light social drinkers showed higher cue‐induced fMRI activations in the ventral striatum and in prefrontal areas compared to heavy social drinkers [region of interest analyses, P < 0.05 false discovery rate (FDR)‐corrected]. Correspondingly, ventral striatal activation in heavy drinkers correlated negatively with obsessive‐compulsive craving, and furthermore we found a positive association between cue‐induced activation in the dorsal striatum and obsessive‐compulsive craving in all participants.Conclusions  In line with our hypothesis we found higher cue‐induced activation of the ventral striatum in social compared to heavy drinkers, and higher dorsal striatal activation in heavy drinkers. Increased prefrontal activation may indicate that social drinkers activate cortical control when viewing alcohol cues, which may prevent the development of heavy drinking or alcohol dependence. Our results suggest differentiating treatment research depending on whether alcohol use is hedonic or compulsive.
Identification of virulence genes in the corn pathogenColletotrichum graminicolabyAgrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation
Authors: MÜNCH STEFFEN , LUDWIG NANCY , FLOSS DANIELA S. , SUGUI JANYCE A. , KOSZUCKA ANNA M. , VOLL LARS M. , SONNEWALD UWE , DEISING HOLGER B. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYA previously developedAgrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation (ATMT) protocol for the plant pathogenic fungusColletotrichum graminicolaled to high rates of tandem integration of the whole Ti‐plasmid, and was therefore considered to be unsuitable for the identification of pathogenicity and virulence genes by insertional mutagenesis in this pathogen. We used a modified ATMT protocol with acetosyringone present only during the co‐cultivation ofC. graminicolaandA. tumefaciens. Analysis of 105 single‐spore isolates randomly chosen from a collection of approximately 2000 transformants, indicated that almost 70% of the transformants had single T‐DNA integrations. Of 500 independent transformants tested, 10 exhibited attenuated virulence in infection assays on whole plants. Microscopic analyses primarily revealed defects at different pre‐penetration stages of infection‐related morphogenesis. Three transformants were characterized in detail. The identification of the T‐DNA integration sites was performed by amplification of genomic DNA ends after endonuclease digestion and polynucleotide tailing. In one transformant, the T‐DNA had integrated into the 5′‐flank of a gene with similarity to allantoicase genes of other Ascomycota. In the second and third transformants, the T‐DNA had integrated into an open reading frame (ORF) and into the 5′‐flank of an ORF. In both cases, the ORFs have unknown function.
Relationship between serum IgG2 concentrations and antibody responses to pneumococcal polysaccharides in children with chronic chest symptoms
Authors: SMITH T F , BAIN R P , SCHIFFMAN G 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYWe measured IgG-class antibodies to 12 pneumococcal antigens pre- and post-immunization with polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine in 31 children who had experienced chronic chest symptoms. The purpose of the study was to determine the relation of IgG subclasses, especially IgG2, to the subjects’ antibody responses to bacterial polysaccharide antigens, to see if measuring IgG subclasses would predict these responses. Twenty-nine children (90%) had low or low-normal levels of one or more IgG subclasses, including 20 out of 31 (65%) with low or low normal levels of IgG2. Children studied had a relatively poor increase in levels of antibody to 10 of the 12 pneumococcal vaccine antigens investigated. Both pre- and post-immunization antibody levels were related to pre-immune serum concentrations of lgG2. Pre-immunization antibody levels were strongly related to post-immunization levels; when post-immunization antibody levels were adjusted for pre-immunization levels by partial correlation, the correlation between anticapsular antibody level post-immunization and IgG2 was no longer significant. Thus, in children with chronic chest symptoms, levels of antibody measured at a random interval after natural exposure to these bacterial polysaccharide antigens are related to levels of IgG2 subclass, but antibody increases after vaccination appear to be affected more by other factors.
Immunoblotting human C4 bound to human erythrocytesin vivoandin vitro
Authors: GILES C M , ROBSON T 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYA study of C4 bound to human erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo has been made by immunoblotting with mouse monoclonal anti-C4c and anti-C4d and human polyclonal anti-C4d (Rodgers and Chido) following SDS-PAGE. Multi-banded patterns differentiated between C4A and C4B isotypes. Treatment of EC4b with trypsin eliminated immunoblotting but not agglutination reactions. Serum inactivation (factor I) of EC4b resulted in banding patterns similar to those obtained from patients EC4d. Treatment of EC4b membranes with NH2OH affected many of the bands, two were lost, one was markedly reduced and others had altered SDS-PAGE mobility. Interpretation of the bands has been made in terms of C4-aceeptor complexes and inactivation fragments of C4. A distinct difference in the banding of C4A and C4B isotypes has been detected.
Effects of C4 null alleles and homoduplications on quantitative expression of C4A and C4B
Authors: HAMMOND A , OLLIER W , WALPORT M J 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYThe availability of MoAbs now allows the accurate quantification of the individual C4 isotypes, C4A and C4B. Using a sensitive two-site immunoradiometric technique to measure serum levels of C4A and C4B, we studied the relationship between genotype and phenotype and physiological factors affecting C4 expression in 129 fully genotyped healthy subjects. Our results confirm that there is extensive phenotypic overlap between genotypic groups and it was not possible to determine the presence of single null alleles from total serum C4. Of the factors which may influence C4 expression, we found that age contributes a very small influence but that gender has no effect and there was no evidence for the presence of feedback of null alleles on the expression of remaining genes. Potential problems in quantifying C4 arising from the complex relationship between isotypic identity and serotypic recognition were highlighted by the finding of reversed antigenic expression of a C4B*5 molecule which was recognized as C4A by the anti-Rg: 1 monoclonal used in these studies. We also confirmed that the extended MHC haplotype associated with Felty's syndrome, HLA-B44, C4A*3. C4BQ*O, HLA-DR4, encodes an expressed, duplicated, C4A gene.
Altered expression of cell adhesion molecules in uninvolved gut in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: SCHUERMANN G M , ABER-BISHOP A E , FACER P , LEE J C , RAMPTON D S , DORÉ C J , POLAK J M 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYAdhesion of circulating cells to vascular endothelium occurs in the early phase orinfiammation, and is mediated by specific cell adhesion molecules. Many such adhesion molecules are increased in inflamed regions of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) but there is limited knowledge of their expression in the uninvolved gut, adjacent to inflammation. We investigated immunohisto-chemically the expression of platelet endoihelial cell adhesion moleculc-1 (PECAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-l (ICAM-l)and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1.) on resected specimens taken at a distance of 2-4 cm from the inflamed area and without histological signs of inflammation. Compared with normal gut. we found (i) a significant increase of PECAM-1-positive vessels in the mucosa of uninvolved UC (149.0 ± 24.1 vesscls/mm2 (mean ± s.d.); normal colon = 123.1 ± 21.6; P= 0.004); (ii)a significant decrease of ICAM-1-positive vessels in uninvolved CD (111.9 ± 22.6 vessels/mm2 normal ileum = 136.9 ± 27.6; P=0.04); and (iii) a moderate but statistically insignificant increase of LFA-1 -positive cells in the mucosa of uninvolved UC and Crohn's ileitis. This altered expression of cell adhesion molecules may contribute to the early lesion in inflammatory bowel disease and provide new therapeutic opportunities.
Co-Stimulation with anti-CD28 (Kolt-2) enhances DNA synthesis by defective T cells in common variable immunodeficiency
Authors: NORTH M E , AKBAR A N , BORTHWICK N , SAGAWA K , FUNAUCHI M , WEBSTER A D B , FARRANT J 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYIn normal T cells, an ann-CD28 MoAb (Kolt-2) will synergize with the mitogenic stimuli Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). anti-CD3 (OKT3) or a combination of anti-CD2 antibodies (OKT11 and GT2) in the induction of DNA synthesis. A subgroup of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) show a defect in DNA synthesis by T cells stimulated in vitro with the above mitogens. We have now investigated whether anti-CD28 will correct the defect. This strategy partially restored DNA synthesis, providing evidence that the CD28 co-stimulatory pathway in CVID T cells is normal. Ligation of CT28 acts through co-stimulating IL-2 secretion. The natural ligand (B7) for CD28 on antigen-presenting cells from CVID patients is expressed normally. We conclude that the defect in CVID T cells lies in pathways that lead to transcription of the IL-2 gene other than that induced by ligation of CD2K with Kolt-2.
Active hepatitis C virus infection in bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia
Authors: GABRIELLI A , MANZIN A , CANDELA M , CANIGLIA M L , PAOLUCCI S , DANIELI M G , CLEMENTI M 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARY
The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic sequences was checked in plasma, liver, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bone marrow cells from 11 patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia positive for anti-HCV antibodies, and from 11 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis without serological evidence of cryoglobulinaemia. HCV RNA sequences were demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in seven plasma samples, in six PBMC samples, and in seven bone marrow cell samples from the 11 cryoglobulinaemia subjects; otherwise, viral specific nucleic acids were detected in 10 plasma samples, in one PBMC sample, and in two bone marrow cell samples from the 11 patients with chronic hepatitis. The HCV replicative intermediate was evidenced in four of the six PBMC and in five of the seven bone marrow aspirate HCV RNA-positive samples. Analysis of subpopulations isolated from bone marrow and peripheral blood samples showed HCV RNA sequences in mononuclear ceils belonging either to the CD2+ subset or to the CDI9+ subpopulation or to the adherent cells. Finally, we compared the nucleotide sequences of a large portion (-270 to -59) of the HCV 5′-untranslated region from five patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia and from seven patients with chronic hepatitis without cryoglobulinaemia; the degree of heterogeneity, compared with the prototype HCV sequence, was similar in both groups. These findings from two groups of HCV infected patients indicate that transient or permanent active HCV infection of bone marrow and PBMC is frequent in anti-HCV-positive patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia, and suggest that extra-hepatic infection may play a major role in influencing the pathophysiology of this infection as well as the viral persistence.